Underpreview: Delaware vs. Radford University
Published: Monday, December 3, 2012
Updated: Monday, December 3, 2012 19:12
Men’s basketball
Time: Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Location: Bob Carpenter Sports Center
About the teams:
About Delaware: The Hens are 2-6, with five straight losses. Delaware has not yet played a home game this season. The team was picked to finish seventh in the conference in the preseason coaches’ poll. Junior guard Devon Saddler is averaging a CAA-high 21.6 points per game. Senior forward Jamelle Hagins leads the conference in rebounding, with 12.5 per game.
About Radford: The Highlanders are 5-3 and are on a three-game winning streak. Radford was picked to finish 10th in the 12-team Big South before the year. Guard Javonte Green leads the team with 15.3 points per game and 7.8 boards a game. Radford beat Delaware, 58-54, last year, in the only previous meeting between the two.
Why the Hens can win:
Delaware has struggled so far this year, but has played tough competition. Going against teams like the University of Pittsburgh and Duke University has likely toughened the Hens up. Delaware was 11-3 at home last season, compared with 7-11 elsewhere. Saddler looks like a star and has improved his scoring every season thus far. With him and Hagins, the Hens can match up with most teams.
Why the Hens could lose:
Radford has a decent record this year, and Green is a talented player. He’s bolstered by guard R. J. Price, who is averaging 14.0 points per game. Price has 22 threes, and if he goes off against the Hens, Delaware could be in trouble.
The numbers:
12.1: The number of points per game that Hagins has this season.
3.4: Delaware’s rebounding margin per game, better than Radford’s 2.0.
100: The number of rebounds Hagins has grabbed after eight games. Only one player in the country has more total boards.
The prediction:
Delaware will be anxious to get a win. Playing on their home court agaxinst a team that went 6-26 last year, I think the Hens will do that. Saddler and Hagins will continue their stellar play.
Delaware: 70
Radford: 61
Matt Bittle
Sports Editor
is a member of the 
