Previewing Delaware

Mason is back on the road Wednesday as they face-off against Delaware for a possible share of first place in the CAA standings at stake. It would be nice to see some consistency and a full 40 minutes from the Patriots but I really don't know what to expect from these guys lately. Delaware on the other hand has been hot of late and which is largely due to their incoming transfers from a year ago becoming eligible on December 14th. The Blue Hen's have gone 4-2 since Marc Egerson (Georgetown) and Jim Ledsome (Nebraska) began suiting up. Egerson has been averaging nearly 13 points a game and helping take some of the scoring load off of All-CAA candidate Herb Courtney. Meanwhile Ledsome have given the Hens some flexibility and a shot blocking presence (he had 7 against Maryland).

This could be a tough match-up for the Patriots on the road and it doesn't help that Delaware is currently swelling with confidence. What makes the Blue Hen's a dangerous team this year is that they have already surpassed their win total from last season and everything after that is just gravy to them. Then you have a team like Mason where the expectations have been sky high since the summer, making every game a gritty battle lately. What really needs to start happening for the Patriots is continuing solid play from their bench, which we have not seen in oh I'd say about a month and a half. Will Thomas and Vaughan have been consistent enough with the scoring load to take pressure off guys like Campbell and Smith but occasionally it would be nice to see either one of these guys take over a game in the 2nd half as they have done in the past. I know Mason plays better when more guys are involved and scoring in double digits but every now and then I feel we are missing out on a 25 point night from Campbell or a 6 for 8 three-point shooting night from Dre. They have the potential, we have gotten a taste of it before but will it come out when they need it?