The Fairfield Stags squared off vs. Sacred Heat on Tuesday night to the tune of a 70-54 win.
This off the heels of being demolished by nearly 3o points by a good but partially rebuilding Memphis squad last week. Most pre-season prognosticators have picked Fairfield to win the silver medal in the MAAC, as they have 4 starters back and return 6 of their top-6 scorers from a team that closed in a very strong way to end last year.
Fatigue could help our Hokies as Fairfield has had less days off between this rather lengthy roadie, and we arrived a day ahead of Fairfield in our travels to Puerto Rico. But who will win? Lets take a closer look.
Fairfield Stags vs. #34 Virginia TechÂ
11am on ESPNU
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The Stags are opening up 2008-2009 lead by their high-scoring point-forward Vienna
Virginia native in one Mr. Warren Edney. All Mr. Edney (6`4“ 2oo lbs) did was average a stellar 24 points per game last year as a Freshman; while finishing 14th in the NCAA in assists. That’s not bad, and neither are his running mates. Jonny Han averaged a cool 18 per last year from the 2-guard slot, and Greg Nero pitched in with 10 points per game. All three return, as do several pretty decent sized frontcourt ballers. Which is at least a touch unusual for a most small conference teams, and that’s not smack. The MAAC is my favorite D-1 college hoops conference as I have enjoyed watching their featured Friday night game on DIRECTV for years. The MAAC typically has the most intriguing assortment of mis-matched big guys and very small guys who can score like mothers. The circus freakshow of D-1 hoops if you will.
Though do be perfectly clear that Fairfield is the Georgetown of the MAAC; as they routinely dig up a 7` pivot or some professional sized frontcourt baller most years. This year the Stags have brought in 2 big-time sized guys to man the Center and Power-Forward spots as true freshman. Though it remains to be seen what Mr. Davis and Mr. Olander will do respectively only 6 months removed from their senior prom.
The Stags have been a pretty solid 3-ball team from downtown for several years; but have been unremarkable in other categories overall. That leaves me a bit underwhelmed by this years
Fairfield hoops squad. Not a bad team, but clearly not a great team when you consider their rightful rank among all 328 D-1 hoops teams. That said Fairfield has a very savvy D-1 defensive reputation. That tells me that this is a low-scoring affair. Two unfamiliar teams, both traveling on long-distance arrival flights, distractions galore on the beaches of Puerto Rico and a virtual total unfamiliarity with the shooting ambiance, LOS, and shadowing of a brand new gym. First team to 6o…………wins.
Virginia Tech=60 Fairfield=55
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