If one were to ask the BU Zoo which America East school rates as Binghamton’s fiercest rival, the response would probably include lots of votes for Albany, a good number for Vermont and a few for the recently vanquished Terriers from the “other” BU.
Fans would be surprised to discover that none of those aforementioned schools can boast the basketball success of the Hartford Hawks this season. The combined conference record of their men’s and women’s programs stands at 19-6, which is tops in the America East.
It is therefore apropos that the men’s matchup against the Hawks Saturday at the Events Center is the America East TV game of the week. Binghamton (13-11, 10-3 AE) is riding a four-game winning streak in which the closest game was an 11-point win over New Hampshire. Hartford (11-13, 7-6 AE) has won three of its last four with the only loss coming at the hands of Albany, the conference pacesetters.
The Bearcats’ primary objective tomorrow will be to contain the conference’s leading scorer and rebounder in center Kenny Adeleke, who averages a whopping 20.6 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. Adeleke has drawn looks from many NBA scouts and drew nothing but praise from Bearcats head coach Al Walker.
“Kenny Adeleke is the most talented big man in the league,” Walker said. “We’re not just going to have Sebastian [Hermenier] guarding Adeleke by himself.”
Although Adeleke is the favorite to win Conference Player of the Year, Hartford’s rise from the America East cellar cannot only be attributed to the 6-foot-9 behemoth. Hawks shooting guard Aaron Cook is the most notorious mad bomber in the conference.
“Cook went for 40 points against Maine, so we’ve really got to key on him,” Walker said.
BU top gun Andre Heard concurred with Walker’s assessment of Cook.
“He’s a great shooter,” Heard said. “We have to negate him from getting the ball in places on the court where he can score.”
On the women’s side, the Bearcats (13-10, 6-6 AE) have struggled as of late. They have lost three straight, and now face the America East’s version of scaling Mount Everest. Battered by injuries, they must deal with a healthy and rampant Hawks squad (20-2, 12-0 AE) at Hartford’s Chase Arena. The Hawks, winners of 14 straight, are undefeated on their home court.
Despite the daunting task that awaits the Bearcats this Saturday, head coach Rich Conover is confident that his team can persevere and beat the odds.
“Hartford is unquestionably the best team in the conference,” Conover said. “What better way to go on the road and get back on track than with a big effort at Hartford?”
Hartford head coach Jen Rizzotti, a former National Player of the Year at the University of Connecticut, preaches defense to her team. The Hawks concede only 54.7 points a contest, which places them near the top of the national rankings in team defense. In the first meeting between these squads at the Events Center, an inspired Bearcats squad pierced the Hawks’ stifling defense for 41 points in a classic second half, but dropped a 65-64 heartbreaker.
Since their incredible confrontation in Vestal, the Hawks have transformed into one of the best mid-major teams in the country, receiving votes for the Associated Press Top 25. Conversely, the Bearcats have seen the enormous snowball they rolled up at the start of the season almost completely melt into a murky puddle.
Senior forward and emotional leader Jen Haubrich insist there is still time to right the ship and roll another snowball of positive momentum.
“We have four games remaining until the conference tournament and we’ve got to get this turned around,” Haubrich emphatically stated.
Both the men’s and women’s tilts against this underrated rival stack up as enormous tests. The results of these games may go a long way towards the fate of both hoops teams as we approach tournament time.
EXTRA BOX:
Men: Hartford @ Binghamton
12 p.m. TV Game at the Events Center
Last meeting: Binghamton 57-55 (Mike Gordon coast-to-coast for the winning layup as time expired)
Binghamton
– Andre Heard: 16.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.88 spg (1st in AE)
– Sebastian Hermenier: Two consecutive 20+ pt games
– Mike Gordon: 4.46 apg (2nd)
Hartford
– Kenny Adeleke, center: 20.6 ppg (1st), 12.6 rpg (1st)
– Aaron Cook, shooting guard: 16.5 ppg (3rd)
Women: Binghamton @ Hartford
2 p.m. at Chase Arena, West Hartford, Conn.
Last meeting: Hartford 65-64 at the Events Center (Shooting guard Ikea Witt hit the game-winning free throws with 1.7 seconds left in the 65-64 instant classic)
Binghamton
– Laine Kurpniece, center: 12.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg
– Rachel Laws, wing: 10.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg
– Jen Blues, guard: 10.9 ppg, 42.2 percent from downtown
– Jen Haubrich, power forward: 8.0 ppg, team captain
Hartford
– Danielle Hood, center: 13.8 ppg (5th AE)
– Erica Beverly, power forward: 10.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg (5th)
– Erika Messam, point guard: 10.0 ppg, 3.95 apg (3rd)