CofC Begins Homestand with Drexel

College of Charleston (12-13, 4-6)

Drexel University (13-10, 5-5)

TD Arena

Tipoff at 7pm on NBC Sports Network

The Cougars need a win bad. After an epic collapse against Delaware and a less epic, but equally painful, inability to close out Towson the Cougars are falling precipitously lower in the CAA standings with just 6 games to go. Like 77% of this conference, Drexel is also in the quagmire that is the middle of the Colonial standings. Thanks to a scheduling quirk the Cougars are facing the Dragons for the first time this season in mid February. It's a blackout (snow-out?) down in Charleston and Wojcik and the gang need to get back on the horse during a 3 game home stand. Will it come tonight on national TV? Let's take a look at Drexel.

Are the Drexel Dragons any good?

Like CofC, the Dragons are having trouble living up to their preseason expectations. Many anticipated Towson, Drexel and Charleston to be battling for CAA supremacy but it has been hard going for all three. At 5-5 in conference the Dragons are about even with the Cougs. Bruiser Flint's squad is led by a trio of seniors - backcourt mates Chris Fouch and Frantz Massenat along with big man Dartay Ruffin. Fouch and Massenat drive the offense, each averaging over 17 points per game, while Ruffin leads the team in rebounding. For the most part the Dragons have lost to the CAA's premier teams (Towson twice, W&M, Delaware) and have handled the likes of UNCW, Hofstra and JMU. They have a pretty strict rotation of about seven guys.

What do they do well?

Drexel is one of the top teams in the nation in not turning the ball over. In fact they are the best team in the country in this department with barely 8 per contest. The Cougars aren't one to force turnovers anyway but if they are going to win this game they can't bank on getting any additional free possessions from their opponent. With two stud guards in Fouch and Massenat, the Dragons put a lot of pressure on a defense (Oh god I'm turning into Wojcik). But seriously, we all know containing guards from the perimeter and into the paint has been a major struggle all year. It's why Baru has fouled out in so many conference games and why the free throw disparity almost never favors the Cougars (more on this later). But sag off either one and they can hit a jumper (Mike Burwell smiles and nods). 

What do they struggle with?

Like many guard-centric teams in the CAA and elsewhere, Drexel can occasionally fall victim to bad shots and inefficient offense. They also have a bad habit of fouling, especially from their forwards. As the blog Dragons Speak has dubbed it, this game could be Foulapalooza 2014. I would not be surprised to see Baru and Wishon hack mindlessly at Drexel's penetrators and I can totally see the Drexel bigs having to bump Baru and Willis Hall in the paint in order to contain the Cougar's interior. Did I mention both teams rank at the bottom of the league's free throw shooting percentages? This game could get ugly so I hope the tough lessons learned from being unable to close out Delaware and Towson has the guys shooting free throws inside TD Arena even after the lights have been turned out.

X-Factor

Defenders playing offense and shooters playing defense. If Drexel had a springy and athletic small forward who likes to shoot threes, or a heady big man to throw it down low to, I would feel better about CofC's chances. Anthony Thomas can shut down opposing wings (except Davon Usher apparently) and the Baru/Wishon combo is a stout 1-2 defensive punch. Unfortunately, Stitt and Johnson will be tasked with containing Drexel's backcourt and Baru/Hall need to play like All-CAA selections going up against the foul-prone Dragons. Nori has been doing a remarkably solid job guarding opposing 2's since he began starting games but Stitt and Chealey really need to turn up the pressure when they get screened. Conversely, Baru needs to stay on the court and be able to finish the looks he will get inside and especially at the line.

Matchup to watch for

Nori Johnson versus Chris Fouch. Two talented shooting guards, both capable of pouring on the points - but in different ways. Nori is a shooter while Fouch is the scorer. Both have the green light and one of them having a better-than-average game could be the difference in a dead even game. They will also likely be defending each other just to add to the entertainment factor.