After years of yielding the spotlight to Elena Delle Donne and the University of Delaware women’s hoop program, the UD men’s squad is now in the spotlight.
The 19-7 Blue Hens have won 13 in a row and sit atop the Colonial Athletic Association with an 11-0 league record.
It’s the kind of break-out season UD has been waiting for under 8th year head coach Monte Ross. Ross says he appreciates the school’s administration having the patience to allow him to build toward this success.
“When you’re in this business you always worry about patience running out," said Ross. "But that’s one of the things about this administration, (UD President) Patrick Harker, (Exec. Vice-President) Scott Douglass, when those guys came to the university one of the things they said to me – we’re going to give you time to build it and build it the right way. And I think we’re repaying them for their patience with us now.”
Ross and his Blue Hens try to take another step toward capturing their first-ever Colonial Athletic Association regular season title Monday night when they visit second place Towson for a 7 pm tip-off.
UD leads the 17-9 Tigers by three games in the standings with five games left in the regular season. The Hens beat Towson in their first meeting this season 83-76 at the Bob Carpenter Center on Jan. 25th.
But to earn a coveted NCAA Tournament bid, the Hens will likely have to win next month’s CAA Tournament in Baltimore.
Ross says he will address that pressure with his team, reminding them that it is a prvilage that comes with the level of success they are having this season. He expects these players will embrace the challenge.
“This is a very loose group," said Ross. "Sometimes it drives me nuts because their loose, but they play better that way. So we try to keep it loose as a staff and allow them to play their best basketball.”
The Hens have not been to the NCAA tournament since the 1998-1999 season.
