In the paint

BY RODERICK BOONE

While at Shea Stadium last night, I was surfing the Web checking out a few things when I saw a headline for a story. It said something to the effect of "Donovan loses another."

I was curious about this for two reasons. First, Florida is my halfmamater because I spent two years at UF before finishing up my degree at Auburn University Montgomery. Second, Billy Donovan is a Rockville Centre guy and I wanted to see what was going on with him.

So I clicked on it to see that it was former Mr. New York Basketball Jonathan Mitchell of Mount Vernon that was bolting Gainesville. Can't say that surprised me because Mitchell has been riding the pine mostly in his two seasons down in beautiful Central Florida. Despite the Gators losing most of their team to the NBA Draft last June, Mitchell hasn't benefitted. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged just 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds during his sophomore season and has started only one game in his career at the college located just off I-75.

I wanted to do a little more investigating so I checked out the Gainesville Sun. This is where Hofstra comes into the picture. In the story, Hofstra was mentioned as a possible destination for Mitchell. Herb Mitchell, Jonathan's uncle who's handling his transfer, apparently laughed when Hofstra was brought up by the reporter and said that's the first time he's heard Hofstra mentioned.

I can tell you after speaking with several people in the know today that J-Mitch won't be wearing a Hofstra uniform after he sits out his mandatory one-year residency requirement. So let's just squash that rumor right now. It's almost a given, I was told, that Mitchell is headed to Rutgers. Former high school teammate Michael Coburn is already there and Fred Hill has a good relationship with Bob Cimmino, Mitchell's high school coach at Mount Vernon. Either way, Mitchell won't be in Hempstead -- unless somehow Rutgers plays the Pride at Mack Sports Complex within the next three seasons.

Also, there have been a few rumblings that Middle Village's Larry Davis has Hofstra on his radar as he looks to transfer out of Seton Hall. Davis played in all 61 Seton Hall games over the last two seasons and averaged 6.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in his Pirates' career.

Davis coming to Hofstra is a long shot at best and there's a better chance he'll land at a school on the West Coast, such as Loyola Marymount. Never say never. There's always the chance I can wake up tomorrow and be bald. But in the meantime, we'll put that baby to bed, too.

BY RODERICK BOONE

Well that was rather quick, wasn't it?

Hofstra's season ended minutes ago with an eye-hurting 81-66 loss to No. 9 Towson in the first round of the CAA Tournament at Richmond Coliseum in Virginia. The Pride, seeded eighth and the designated home team, was the gang that couldn't shoot straight. It hit 3 of its first 26 shots from the floor and finished with a meager four field goals in the first half.

"First half, we just got off to a slow start and we didn't shoot the ball well, and on top of that we weren't defending," Antoine Agudio said. "That's what got us down in the first half and that hurts a lot."

In typical fashion, Hofstra stormed back to make a game of it and actually cut an 18-point halftime deficit down to 51-48 with just under eight minutes remaining. But Towson, which will meet top-seeded VCU in the quarterfinals at noon Saturday, outscored the Pride 30-18 the rest of the way to close things out.

Agudio scored 25 of his 27 points in the second half and finished his outstanding career as Hofstra's leading scorer with 2,276 career points. There will be no postseason tournament for the senior guard.

"It's ashamed because he is such a quality young man," Hofstra coach Tom Pecora said. "You want it to end like a fairytale for him, but life's not fair. We talk all the time about sports and competing in college is like a microcosm of the real world. Sometimes things don't work out."

Charles Jenkins, fresh of being named the CAA's rookie of the year, had all 14 of his points in the second half.

So Hofstra finishes its disappointing season with a 12-18 record and Pecora vowed a season like this won't become the norm. Whether you want to believe it or not, Hofstra has been the most successful program in the metropolitan area these last few years and don't think Pecora isn't well aware of that.

"I take this very seriously," Pecora said, adding he's about to hit the recruiting trails immediately. "It's part of my legacy. I don't want my legacy to be a 12-17 season and it won't be that way next year."

Here's the boxscore from today's game.

BY RODERICK BOONE

Can't make it down to Richmond this weekend? Well, don't worry. We've got you taken care of. I'm going to give you the blow by blow predictions right here. Just call me Doc Brown.

I've hopped in the DeLorean (photo is courtesy of flickr.com) and motored into next week. But ssshhh. Don't tell anybody. It will be our little secret.

FIRST ROUND
Tomorrow

No. 8 Towson vs. No. 9 Hofstra, noon -- The Tigers and Pride split their regular season meetings, but Towson will have trouble with Antoine (The Scoring Machine) Agudio and Hofstra takes the rubber match and lives to play another day.

No. 5 William & Mary vs. No. 12 Georgia State, 2:30 p.m. -- William & Mary has been one of the biggest surprises in the conference, posting 10 wins. It's the second-highest conference win total for W&M in program history. The feel-good season continues against an overmatched Georgia State team.

No. 7 Delaware vs. No. 10 Drexel, 6 p.m. -- The Dragons have serious problems scoring and that trend won't stop against the Blue Hens. Drexel did beat Delaware by two in the Feb. 16 meeting, but the Dragons have limped down the stretch. Delaware concluded its season with a loss to Towson, but should have no problem beating its rival in this one.

No. 6 Northeastern vs. No. 11 James Madison, 8:30 p.m. -- Both teams have struggled mightily of late, so this isn't exactly an easy one to pick. JMU could pull the upset, but Northeastern won't be taking the Dukes lightly since the Huskies lost to them by three way back on Dec. 1.

QUARTERFINALS
Saturday
No. 8 Hofstra vs. No. 1 VCU, noon -- Agudio's career comes to a halt against the hot Rams. The Pride had serious trouble matching VCU's firepower in their last meeting and playing in what should be a hostile environment among hundreds of VCU fans wont help.

No. 5 William & Mary vs. No. 4 Old Dominion, 2:30 p.m. -- Neither team has the upper hand in this one after splitting the regular-season series. ODU did get the best of W&M last time out and having fresh legs thanks to the first-round bye should spring it over the top.

No. 7 Delaware vs. No. 2 UNC Wilmington, 6 p.m. -- This is my upset special. Every bracket needs one of them, otherwise why would we do this? If things went as planned, we could just give the top seed the automatic bid and move on. Anyway, the Blue Hens are winning this one. Why? You mean besides the fact Delaware beat UNCW by a point in their only meeting this season? Just a gut feeling. I believe of all the high seeds, UNC Wilmington is the one that can be had.

No. 6 Northeastern vs. No. 3 George Mason, 8:30 p.m. -- Northeastern knocked off Mason in the regular-season finale, but don't think a 28-point pasting earlier in the season won't be in the back of the Huskies' heads. No matter, though, because the Patriots roll onto the semis.

SEMIFINALS
Sunday
No. 4 Old Dominion vs. No. 1 VCU, 3 p.m. -- Stop me if you've heard this before: The two teams split their two regular-season meetings. So this could be one of those coin-flip outcomes. But with Eric Maynor likely showcasing why he's the CAA's player of the year, the edge goes to the Rams. He averaged 14 points, 6.5 rebounds, and seven assists per game last week for the Rams and will propel VCU into the title game.

No. 7 Delaware vs. No. 3 George Mason, 5:30 p.m. -- Will Thomas won't be denied a shot at one more NCAA tournament berth. The senior forward is on pace to become the seventh player in school history to average a double-double and he'll pad his stats against the Blue Hens. Delaware's nice run comes to a screeching halt.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Monday
No. 3 George Mason vs. No. 1 VCU, 7 p.m. -- Thomas and Company go out on top by stunning the Rams and using the same formula that earned them a 63-51 win in their only meeting of the season. So yes, much to the chagrin of Hofstra fans, it will be George Mason cutting down the nets inside Richmond Coliseum sometime around 9:15 or so.

Tune in next week (same bat time, same bat channel) when we break down the Big East.

BY RODERICK BOONE

Now that its disappointing regular season is in the books, Hofstra can turn its attention to the postseason. March Madness is officially upon us and it begins on Friday for the Pride when it takes on Towson in the first round of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament in Richmond, Va.

Hofstra is the No. 8 seed and Towson is No. 9 in the 12-team tournament. The teams split the regular season series with the Tigers taking the first meeting in Baltimore, 60-51, on Jan. 30. Rocky Coleman had 17 points off the bench and guard C.C. Williams was a catalyst with 10 assists to go along with 10 points. The Pride avenged that win with a 81-67 win Feb. 20. Antoine Agudio dropped in 27 that day.

Of course, the Pride came close to having to play Drexel in the first round and the players are probably glad not to see Bruiser Flint and Company again. Drexel gave Agudio fits. The senior went 8-for-26 from the floor, had 19 total points, and turned the ball over 13 times in their two regular-season meetings. But the Pride's draw still isn't a good one.

If Hofstra gets past the Tigers of Baltimore, next up on Saturday would be a matchup with No. 1 seed VCU. The Rams beat the Pride 59-49 on Jan. 12 and clobbered Hofstra 82-65 Jan. 23 at Mack Sports Complex. With that in mind, some are already saying it's one and done for the Pride.

Are you among that contingent or are you of the belief Hofstra is going to put together a run in the CAA Tournament like Siena did in 2001-02 when it strung together a bevy of upsets on the way to claiming the MAAC Tournament crown with a losing record? Inquiring minds want to know.

BY RODERICK BOONE

NEWARK, Del. – It’s his. Antoine Agudio’s name now sits atop Hofstra’s career scoring list.

Agudio’s season-long pursuit of the record came to a climax moments ago inside Delaware’s Bob Carpenter Center. With a 15-foot fadeaway jumper with 18:18 left in the second half of the Pride’s CAA matchup with the Blue Hens, the Hofstra senior guard eclipsed Steve Nisenson’s 43-year-old record of 2,222 points.

Agudio needed just 11 to break the mark coming in and wanted to get it over with. He sure looked that way at the outset, scoring Hofstra’s first points of the game on a jumper a step away from the free throw line. He had 10 points in the first half before hitting the bucket to shave Delaware’s lead to 31-29.

The Walt Whitman High School product likely would have broken the record sooner had he not sat out three games midway through the season with an ankle injury. Agudio has now reached the double-digit scoring plateau in 60 of his last 61 games and 114 times in 120 career games.

Hofstra plans on honoring Agudio at the senior day festivities Saturday prior to tipoff against Drexel in the Pride’s regular-season finale at Mack Sports Complex. The ceremony is expected to start at 11:30, a half hour before the game’s noon start.

BY RODERICK BOONE

NEWARK, Del. -- I'm setting up shop here at the Bob Carpenter Center. We're here to see if Hofstra can keep this thing going and move to within one game of .500 in the CAA.

Ok, really we are here to witness history. As many of you are likely aware, Antoine Agudio is 11 points shy of breaking Hofstra's 43-year-old career scoring record, which was set by Steve Nisenson. Funny, but Agudio was one of the last ones to emerge from the Hofstra locker room. Perhaps he was making sure he is going to look good for the TV cameras.

Oh wait, there aren't any here since this game isn't on TV. One of the local TV stations could always show up, however. But mostly, if you want to view video of Agudio's feat, you will have to check back with this amateur photographer/videographer. I plan on getting video of the record breaker and have it posted on our Web site. Wish me luck.

When he does break the record, we will make sure you guys are the first to know so keep it right here. Now it's time to get back to work.

UPDATE 7:24 p.m. -- Agudio has four points with 7:36 left in the first half. He's struggling a little bit, hitting just 2 of 7 shots. He's 0-for-1 from three.

UPDATE 7:30 -- A fastbreak layup gives Agudio six points and he's five shy of breaking the record now.

UPDATE 7:45 -- Agudio scored four points in the final 1:17, including a long jumper with 23.9 left. It initially appeared as if the shot was a three, but his foot was clearly over the line. He's officially tied with Nisenson an his next bucket will put him in a class by himself.

UPDATE 7:50 -- We are at the half.

UPDATE 7:55 -- Agudio hit a fallaway jumper near the free throw line to give him the record breaker.

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Saturday will mark Antoine Agudio Day at Hofstra. That is not an official Hofstra designation but there is no denying the day will be all about the senior guard who likely will enter the last regular season game of the year as Hofstra’s all-time leading scorer. Agudio will undoubtedly get the 11 points he needs tomorrow night at Delaware.

A pre-game ceremony on Senior Day is expected to include Steve Nisenson (2,222 points), the soon to be former record holder who wore the same uniform number (13) as Agudio. By the way, that number will not be retired any time soon. Hofstra athletic director Jack Hayes said the university is exploring a format for retiring numbers. No basketball players have had their numbers retired.

BY RODERICK BOONE

He's almost there.

Antoine Agudio rebounded from a slow start and dropped in 24 points this afternoon in Hofstra's relatively easy 81-63 win over Iona. The senior guard is now just 11 points shy of breaking the program's 43-year-old mark of 2,222 set by Steve Nisenson.

He's got at least three games left and something unforseen would have to take place for him to not finish off a brilliant career as the guy who scored the most points in a Hofstra uniform.

Really, though, Charles Jenkins stole the spotlight from Agudio against the Gaels. Jenkins poured in a career-high 28 points and swiped a career-best 10 boards to help the Pride win to its season-long third straight win.

By the way, starting point guard Greg Johnson bruised the upper thigh in his right leg in the opening moments of the second half when he collided with a teammate at midcourt. He had to be helped off the court and didn't return, sitting on the bench with a bandage and ice wrapped around it. Coach Tom Pecora didn't seem too worried about the injury, but it will bear watching.

Even without Johnson, and despite an ineffective Dane Johnson (two points, two rebounds), Hofstra still had its way with Iona on the Gaels' turf. It's looking like the Pride has turned the proverbial corner, but the players don't think they've completely hit their stride.

"We haven't really peaked yet," Agudio said.

With the postseason two weeks away, that could be a good thing. Hofstra is on its best run of the season, scoring 80 points in three consecutive games for the first time since the 1999-2000 team did it for seven straight contests. It's been an exciting, and promising, stretch.

"This is what I envisioned us being," Pecora said.

And now, back to our regular scheduled program. Here's the latest edition of The Agudio Watch.

THE ANTOINE AGUDIO WATCH
Total career points: 2,212
Points shy of breaking school scoring record: 11
Last outing: Scored 24 points vs. Iona Saturday
Next game: Wednesday at Delaware
Latest projection: Unless something crazy happens, Agudio is virtually assured of breaking the record against Delaware. He's averaging 22.8 points per game and scored 26 against the Blue Hens in the Pride's Feb. 2 meeting at Mack Sports Complex.

THE ANTOINE AGUDIO WATCH
Total career points: 2,188
Points shy of breaking school scoring record: 35
Last outing: Scored 27 points vs. Towson Wednesday
Next game: Saturday at Iona
Latest projection: At his current pace of 22.8 points per game, he will break the record Wednesday in the Pride's final regular-season road game at rival Delaware.

RODERICK BOONE

BY MARCUS HENRY

There has been one thing missing from Hofstra during the Antoine Agudio, Loren Stokes era; an inside presence. During Hofstra's NIT seasons, the Pride relied on Agudio, Stokes and Carlos Rivera to carry the team. When coach Tom Pecora needed a basket down the stretch, he knew he could rely on one of his big three to produce.

But if one or two of the aforementioned stars were off, finding offense was difficult. The tide appears to be changing at Hofstra. Oh, don't worry, Antoine Agudio is still the main man for the Pride. He scored 27, including 12 during a key second-half run in Hofstra's 81-67 win over Towson Wednesday night. Charles Jenkins, Hofstra's second leading scorer added 17 points.

But Agudio, who's 35 points away from becoming Hofstra's all-time leading scorer, and Jenkins had a lot of help, Dane Johnson finished with 10 points, Darren Townes added eight points and Greg Washington finished with 4. A combined 22 points from the Pride's three frontcourt players may not sound like a lot, but when you consider how little of an offense presence Hofstra has had over the years,

Pecora sees the potential in Johnson, Townes and Washington. But he won't let either one of them rest. "It's huge," Pecora said when asked about the impact his froncourt players have had. He also added that he wants more. "Dane has got to be a double double guy," Pecora said of Johnson's five rebounds.

As for Townes, his athleticism allows him to finish with authority. But he has a penchant for missing layups, which is something that has driven Pecora crazy at times this year. "Darren misses a layup a game," Pecora joked.

It's no coincidence that Hofstra's recent run of success comes at the same time its big men have improved. Johnson has scored eight or more points in eight of his last 12 games and Townes has eclipsed double figures in three of his last four contests.

Hofstra has a chance to finish .500 in the CAA and to really make some noise in the conference tournament. If Agudio doesn't have to shoulder the load every night, the Pride could surprise.

BY RODERICK BOONE

With Antoine Agudio's pursuit of Hofstra's record heating up, so too is our Newsday coverage of senior guard's potential feat.

Mark Herrmann wrote a great story on Steve Nisenson and his thoughts on the distinct possibility of his 43-year-old record going down within the next few weeks. It's a good read and you can check it out here.

Also, another veteran Newsday scribe, Steven Marcus, explores the possibility of Tom Pecora pulling Agudio out of the Pride's game at Delaware a week from tomorrow if the game is well in hand. At his current pace, that's when Agudio is projected to break the record. But anyone who follows Hofstra knows there's been very few instances this season where the Pride had the luxury of sitting Agudio down because a favorable outcome had long been decided. The guy leads the nation in minutes per game at 39.3 and has played 40 minutes or more nine times this season.

But it's kind of intriguing, really. Hofstra people, of course, would love to see Agudio break the record at home and it's going to be fun to see how and when he does it.

Stay tuned.

BY RODERICK BOONE

Really, he needs no introduction to most. Anyone who has followed Hofstra basketball over the last few years knows precisely who Loren Stokes is. But anyway, here's a refresher.

Stokes, whose career began in 2003 and ended last season, paired with Carlos Rivera and Agudio to form the nation's most potent backcourt last season. He guided the Pride to three consecutive 20-win seasons and a trio of berths in the NIT. After coming close to earning the award his previous two seasons, he was the CAA's player of year his senior year after averaging a career-high 20.3 points per game. The three-time first-team All-CAA pick barely missed out on earning CAA player of the year honors during his sophomore and junior seasons, finishing twice in the voting both years.

When Stokes left Hofstra, he was fifth in the assists (377) and steals (180) category, not to mention racked up enough rebounds (657) to place him 15th. He was a Cal Ripken-like ironman, tying the school record for most games played in with 124 after failing to miss one game during his outstanding career.

Stokes was also a big contributor during his junior season, aiding in the Pride's program-trying 26-win campaign. It was one of Hofstra's most memorable seasons -- especially since the Pride felt jilted it didn't get invited to the NCAA Tournament -- and one that saw the Pride earn its first two Division I postseason victories on the way to making it to the NIT quarterfinals.

Stokes was easily one of the most electrifying players even to don Hofstra's gold, blue, and white unis. He had a cup of coffee with the Orlando Magic in the summer league before bouncing overseas to Belgium, where he's now playing for Aalstar.

BY RODERICK BOONE

With the exception of Speedy Claxton, Antoine Agudio doesn't know much about the people he's blowinig by as he ascends up Hofstra's all-time scoring list. But he knows plenty about the guy the he passed Saturday afternoon on the way to dropping 30 points in the Pride's 86-85 win over James Madison in Harrisonburg, Va.

Agudio needed just 17 points to tie former teammate Loren Stokes and went ahead of him with his 24-point first-half output. He did it in a variety of ways, showing off his deadly jump shot as well as driving to the basket and scoring under control. So now when it comes to the freshman class of 2003, the bragging rights belong to Agudio, although he praised the skills of his former teammate.

"He was a great player, a great scorer," Agudio said.

Never one who likes to talk about his individual accomplishments, Agudio did admit that today's effort has a special feel to it. Not only did he pass Stokes, but it came in a victory. It doesn't get much sweeter than that.

"It means a lot," Agudio said. "It's a great accomplishment because he was a great player. I feel much better now. I'm happy that I moved up on the list and we got the win. So I feel real, real good right now."

Agudio's eyes remain fixed on the No. 1 spot occupied by Steve Nisenson, who recorded 2,222 points in three seasons and has held the record for 43 years. He has 2,161 career points and needs 62 to break it. He's on track to do it Feb. 27 in the Pride's final road game of the season at Delaware.

THE ANTOINE AGUDIO WATCH
Total career points: 2,131
Points shy of school scoring record: 91
Last outing: Scored 13 points vs. Northeastern Wednesday
Next game: Saturday at James Madison
Latest projection: At his current pace of 22.2 points per game, he will break the record March 1 in the regular-season finale against Drexel at home.

RODERICK BOONE

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Hofsta was 5-13 in the 2001-2002 season—its first in the CAA—and went to the post season tournament as an unheralded doormat. But it beat Towson and then George Mason in the first two games. Suddenly, Tom Pecora’s first year as head coach was considered successful. This uneven season appears to be setting up the same interesting scenerio. Hofstra has meandered through the regular season but the presence of presumptive CAA player of the year Antoine Agudio may mean some excitement at the end. In a year where little has been expected, Pecora may yet have some surprises.

BY RODERICK BOONE

With a layup late in the first half of Hofstra's 57-45 win over Georgia State today, Antoine Agudio moved into sole possession of third place and past Rich Laurel on the school's all-time scoring list. So who exactly is Laurel? We 'splain below in our latest Hofstra hoops history lesson.

Laurel played for Hofstra from 1973-77, guiding it to a 23-7 mark, an East Coast Conference championship, and a berth against Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament during his senior season. He averaged a whopping 30.3 points per game, the highest single-season mark in program history. He scored 908 points in his senior year alone, shooting 53.5 percent from the field and 80.8 percent from the charity stripe. He was Hofstra's leading scorer in 20 consecutive games and scored at least 25 points in 17 of those contests, a big reason he was the recipient of the Haggerty Award. It's given annually to best player in the metropolitan area.

As a junior, he helped lead Hofstra to its first Division I appearance in the NCAA Tournament with a 20.3 points per game average.

Following his impressive career at Hofstra, he was a first-round draft selection of the Portland Trail Blazers and played for a portion of one season with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Here's the latest tally after Hofstra's 57-45 win over Georgia State this afternoon at Mack Sports Complex.

THE ANTOINE AGUDIO WATCH
Total career points: 2,118
Points shy of school scoring record: 104
Last outing: Scored 25 points vs. Georgia State Saturday
Next game: Wednesday vs. Northeastern
Latest projection: At his current pace of 22.7 points per game, he will break the record Feb. 27 at Delaware.

RODERICK BOONE

THE ANTOINE AGUDIO WATCH
Total career points: 2,071
Points shy of school scoring record: 151
Last time out: Scored 26 points vs. Delaware Saturday
Tonight's opponent: William & Mary
Next game: Saturday vs. Georgia State
Latest projection: At his current pace of 22.6 points per game, he'll break the mark Feb. 27 at Delaware.

RODERICK BOONE

BY RODERICK BOONE

If you read the game story recapping Hofstra's 64-58 win over Delaware Saturday, you probably noticed the reference to Bill Thieben. He was the guy Agudio moved past and into fourth place on the Pride's all-time scoring list all by his lonesome.

You also likely have no clue about who Thieben was. So that's what we are here for: to provide you the fans with all the insighttful information /commentary you could ever ask for. So why go any place else?

Thieben suited up from 1953-56 and averaged 26.8 points and 22.7 rebounds (no, that is not a misprint) in helping Hofstra complie 22 wins against four losses in Butch van Breda Koff's first season. His junior season, had the second-highest single season output in program history, netting 29.2 points per game. He established a single-game school record for points with a 48-point outing against Wilkes, and he racked up 1,837 rebounds in his three seasons. For a little context, nibble on this: only one other player in program (John Irving) history even has surpassed 1,000 career boards.

Thieben holds the record for highest scoring average as a sophomore, his 25.8 points remaining tops to this day, just as his 43 rebounds in one game does. As a senior, he was the recipient of the prestigious Haggerty Award, which is given annually to the best college player in the New York metro area.

Thieben, who finished his collegiate career with 2,045 points, was a third-round NBA draft pick of the Fort Wayne Pistons and played for them for two seasons.

In short, he had a great career in Hempstead.

THE ANTOINE AGUDIO WATCH
Total career points: 2,045
Points shy of school scoring record: 177
Last time out: Scored 10 points at Towson Wednesday
Tonight's opponent: Delaware (first meeting of season)
Next game: Wednesday at William & Mary
Latest projection: At his current pace, he'll need to average 17.8 points per game the next 10 games (that includes nine regular-season games and one guaranteed CAA tourney game) to break the mark.

RODERICK BOONE

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Hofstra-Delaware used to be a hot ticket when the teams were rivals in the America East Conference. Hofstra’s glory days of basketball trace back to beating Delaware twice (with WFAN's Mike and the Mad Dog broadcasting the games) to make the NCAA Tournament.

That has become very old news--circa 2000-2001--and today’s home game holds no such charm. Or does it? Delaware is 6-4 in the CAA, its best showing in years, and Hofstra is 3-7, its poorest in years. A Delaware win keeps it in the conversation for a top-four finish. For Hofstra, a victory moves it closer to respectability and shows it can still beat an old foe. And there’s always Antoine Agudio as a drawing card

BY RODERICK BOONE

Hofstra's season continues to spiral in the wrong direction. Just when you think things can't get any worse in a tough season for the Pride, it suffers another blow to the gut.

Arminas Urbutis is out for six weeks with a third degree sprain of his MCL. That means the season is essentially over for the junior forward who hails from Kaunas Lithuania. Urbutis injured his knee Monday in Hofstra's win over Longwood. He went down with about 14 minutes left in the second half near the south baseline and immediately clucthed his right knee.

He was averaging about 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game. He gave the Pride another good body inside the paint to help compliment Antoine Agudio and Charles Jenkins and did a nice job of spelling Dane Johnson and Darren Townes.

The latest installment ...

THE ANTOINE AGUDIO WATCH
Total career points: 2,035
Points shy of school scoring record: 187
Last time out: Scored 28 points vs. Longwood Monday
Tonight's opponent: Towson (first meeting of season)
Next game: Saturday vs. Delaware
Latest projection: At his current pace of 23.2 points per game, he'll break the record at Delaware Feb 27.

RODERICK BOONE

BY RODERICK BOONE

With Hofstra taking on Longwood (who? yeah I know) Monday night, I didn't write a normal game story and chose to author a mini feature on Antoine Agudio. So just so some things don't get lost, we'll make use of this great thing we call a blog and highlight a few important nuggets in the Pride's 75-60 win over the Lancers.

-- Arminas Urbutis went down with a knee injury with 16:46 left in the second half and did not return. He couldn't put any pressure on it as he was helped to the locker room. Coach Tom Pecora said the junior forward is scheduled to undergo an MRI Tuesday. It doesn't look too good for Urbutis, but Pecora isn't asking for any sympathy.

"Those things I don't worry about because I can't control them," Pecora said. "As coaches, we worry about everything we can control. Some of us are more control freaks than others. But I mean, injuries, there's just nothing you can do about it. So we'll say a little prayer and hope for the best."

-- Expect Greg Washington, who was in the doghouse and played sparingly of late, to see more action. The freshman forward played well after Urbutis went down, scoring four points and grabbing five rebounds in 13 minutes.

-- Greg Johnson had easily one of his best games of the season, registering his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He also had four assists and, better yet, zero turnovers. His confidence is growing and he's looking for his perimeter shot more. "Coach Pecora always tells me to keep my head on the basket," Johnson said. "If I keep my head on the basket, I can see everything. So I've just been taking good shots."

-- Dane Johnson continued his beast-like play inside. He had 12 points, five rebounds and swatted seven shots, two coming in a matter of seconds on one possession. He's giving the Pride that much-needed interior presence and is turning into a major force.

-- The students, although not many of them were at the game, are back and they actually let loose a few boos in the direction of Zygis Sestokas when he missed the first of three three-point attempts. The boos weren't as loud on his second miss, but were still noticeable. Sestokas has struggled with his shot and even though the students have been gone seemingly forever, they apparently were aware of his 31 percent (and 32.1 from beyond the arc) shooting percentage coming into the game. Longtime Newsday editor Greg Gutes, who's attended his fare share of Hofstra games over the years, was sitting next to me and couldn't remember the last time he heard boos hurled at a Hofstra player like that.

-- Lastly, for those of you who can't stop trying to figure who the heck Longwood is, I'll provide the insight. It's located in that bustling town of Farmville, Va. The reason Hofstra played the game so late in the season despite being in the midst of conference play is simple: there was no other time the Pride could schedule the game. Pecora would've preferred to play it in November, but the schedule wouldn't allow it. FYI: It's a return game from the meeting the two teams had Dec. 6, 2004 at Longwood, when Hofstra played there on the back end of a road trip to James Madison. It's the first full-fledged year of Division I for Longwood, which joined UC Davis and Northern Colorado as the latest additions to the D-I ranks.

Since Hofstra is pretty much going nowhere, we now bring to you The Agudio Watch. Antoine Agudio broke 2,000 points and is on his way to topping the 2,222-point school record, which was set 43 years by Steve Nisenson. Before every game, we'll detail his progress, beginning with tonight's non-conference game with Longwood.

Anyone willing to go on the record and guess what game he'll break the record? I'm no Neil Best or Bob Glauber, but I'll find a way to reward the winner somehow. First one to guess correctly wins!

THE ANTOINE AGUDIO WATCH
Total Points: 2,007
Points shy of record: 215
Last time out: Scored 32 points vs. Northeastern Saturday
Tonight's opponent: Longwood, a team in its first year as a Division I program
Next game: Wednesday at Towson

RODERICK BOONE

BY STEVEN MARCUS

A former Hofstra player has something in common with the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer. Steve Nisenson holds the Hofstra record of 2,222 points in only three seasons. That is the same number of years it took Pete Maravich (1967-70) to score an NCAA record 3,667 for LSU. Remember, no three pointers and one less year of competition because freshmen were not eligible until 1973. Nisenson averaged 26.8 points in a varsity career of 83 games.

Fast forward to 2008: Hofstra’s Antoine Agudio, with 110 games in his four-year career, needs to average 18 points over the next 12 games to pass Nisenson’s 43-year-old mark. He is ranked eighth in the nation at 22.9 points a game and has 2,007 for his career.

BY MARCUS HENRY

Anyone who attended the Crotty Classic at Hofstra yesterday got a glimpse at the Pride’s future in Bishop Ford point guard Chaz Williams. Williams, a 5-9 junior who made a verbal commitment to the Pride, put on a show scoring 17 of his game-high 32 points in the second half of a 60-54 win over Massapequa.

Williams said it was a thrill to get a chance to play on the Pride’s home court. “It was pretty fun,” he said. “It’s a new atmosphere and I’m adapting to it.”

As for choosing Hofstra, Williams said it was an easy choice. “It’s a good place. The coaching staff is good and so are the players,” Williams said. “They teach you to play and do things the right way.”

As for his current team’s plight, the Falcons are 11-5 overall and are a top the CHSAA A South division standings with a 4-1 mark.

“We got off to a slow start, but we’ve been playing a lot better lately,” he said. "We definitely want to challenge for the city A title."

BY MARCUS HENRY

Hearing a coach utter the phrase "I look for positives in a loss" or "There were some positives last night we can build on" sounds a lot like they are searching for a moral victory.

Hofstra coach Tom Pecora could say with a straight face (If he wanted to) that the Pride could take several positives from Wednesday night's 82-65 loss to VCU without it sounding like he's looking for a moral victory. The one positive from the loss is the way big men Dane Johnson, Darren Townes and Urbutis Arminas played.

Last year Hofstra's guards did all of the heavy lifting as Antoine Agudio, Loren Stokes and Carlos Rivera were the be all, end all of the Hofstra offense. Chris Gadley showed flashes in the paint, but was nowhere near a consistent player and Mike Davis-Sabb was rarely a factor on offense.

This year things are a little different. The Pride (4-13, 2-6 CAA) are struggling, but their young players are developing. Townes had 16 points, five rebounds and three blocks and Dane Johnson added eight points and six boards and three blocks.

"I'm starting to feel my groove now and they are making plays for me," Townes said.

Agudio, who has struggled the past two games, scoring a combine 16 points, including 10 on Wednesday, lauded Townes and Johnson. "I'm starting to trust my teammate more," he said. "Darren's been playing well [and so has] Dane."

With Charles Jenkins emerging as a prime time player and Nathaniel Lester showing star potential, it's important that Pecora have big men who are capable of having an impact. Townes and Johnson have both showed they can produce.

Townes, who is scoring 7.6 points per game, is averaging 10.6 points over his last 9 games. He scored 11 or more points in five of those contests. Johnson is averaging five points per game, but has eclipsed double figures in two of his last three contests. Arminas, who had seven points, four rebounds and two blocks last night, has scored in all but three games he has played in this season.

Finding dominant big men at the mid-major level has always been difficult. Hofstra may not have a Patrick Ewing or Hakeem Olajuwon on its roster, but it does have a productive trio in Townes , Johnson and Urbutis.

The matchup: Virginia Commonwealth (13-4, 6-1 CAA) at Hofstra (4-12, 2-5)
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Mack Sports Complex
TV/Radio: YES Network/WHRU (88.7)
Key players: Hofstra – Antoine Agudio, Sr., G (25.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.2 apg); Charles Jenkins, Fr., G (13.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.4 apg); Nathaniel Lester, Fr., G (7.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg); VCU – Eric Maynor, Jr., G (18.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 5.3 apg); Jamal Shuler, Sr., G (15.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.0 apg); Michael Anderson, Sr., F (7.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg)
All-time series: VCU leads 8-5
Current streaks: Hofstra won 1; VCU won 5
Last time out: Hofstra beat Drexel 67-58; VCU beat Old Dominion 78-68
The skinny on VCU: VCU, the reigning CAA champion, is in sole possession of first place in the conference. Junior point guard Eric Maynor, the CAA's Preseason Player of the Year, headlines the VCU offense. He's scoring 18.2 points per game and handing out 5.3 assists per game. The Rams are the top defensive team in the CAA, holding opponents to 37.1 percent shooting from the field and an average of 58.6 points per contest. They also are holding opponents to 25.4 percent from three-point range, which ranks tops in the nation.

RODERICK BOONE

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Hofstra left the friendly confines of America East for the Colonial Athletic Association and the promise of multiple post season bids to the NCAA Tournament. We all know how that hasn’t worked out for Hofstra. Zero since joining the CAA in the 2001-2002 season. While other mid major conferences (despite their disdain for that term) may state a case for three or four bids, the CAA most likely will have no more than two this season. After VCU (13-4) and George Mason (13-5), eight of the remaining 12 members are under .500 and out of at-large consideration. The only way to get three in this season would be for the front runners to keep winning and a third team emerge by winning the tournament and automatic bid. Don’t hold your breath.

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Until it strings together some wins, Hofstra’s season is all about Antoine Agudio and his attempt to become the university’s all-time leading scorer. The senior guard has 1,965 points —258 away from breaking Steve Nisenson’s 43-year-old record of 2,222. With 13 games left (and at least one in the CAA Tournament) Agudio will have to average 18.4 points. That is certainly within the realm of possibility for a player averaging 23.2, but hardly a given as pressure will no doubt mount as he closes in on the mark. It also did not help that he missed four games with an ankle injury. Next up for Hofstra: Virgina Commonwealth Wednesday.

BY RODERICK BOONE

Hofstra-George Mason.

Over the last few seasons, this has been one of the hottest rivalries in the CAA and the latest chapter takes place Thursday at Mack Sports Complex. Here's Pride coach Tom Pecora's thoughts on the Hofstra-Mason series.

"There's lot of history. We've always beaten them here and they've always beaten us there. They beat us here the first year we were in the league. I remember the play ... offensive rebound. They got an offensive rebound with about eight seconds to go in the game, put it in to go up one and that's how they beat us -- on a missed jump shot. We finally beat them in the Patriot Center. Last year was the first time we beat them down there. There's great history. And obviously, you can't avoid it. They went on that (Final Four) run two years ago in that (NCAA) tournament we were supposed to be in, so that is always going to be a part of the history of these two teams."

Below is a scouting report on the game.

The matchup: George Mason (11-5, 3-2 CAA) at Hofstra (3-11, 1-4)
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Mack Sports Complex
TV/Radio: ESPNU/WHRU (88.7)
Key players: Hofstra – Antoine Agudio, Sr., G (25.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.2 apg); Charles Jenkins, Fr., G (13.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.4 apg); Nathaniel Lester (7.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg); George Mason – Will Thomas, Sr., F (15.7 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.0 apg); John Vaughan, Jr., G (13.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.3 apg); Folarian Campbell, Sr., G (11.6, 4.4 rpg, 3.0 apg)
All-time series: Hofstra leads 7-6
Current streaks: Hofstra lost 2; George Mason won 1
Last time out: Hofstra lost to VCU 59-49; GMU beat Northeastern 80-52
The skinny on Mason: George Mason is coming off a 28-point pasting of Northeastern, the Patriots' second-largest win of the season. They opened the season with a nice 6-1 mark, but have cooled off more than the temperature of late, going 5-4 since. The Patriots are 1-3 on the road and winless (0-2) in CAA action away from road games. They haven't fared well in Hempstead, having lost four straight. This will be the first time the two have met since the Patriots beat Hofstra 64-61 in the CAA Tournament. Actually, they have eliminated each other in the CAA Tournament in the last two seasons. Mason is a good defensive team, allowing only 62.8 points per game and are also among the top rebounding teams in the conference with a +4.5 margin.
Outlook: Just when fans are ready to wrap their arms around the Pride, it returns to its losing ways with back-to-back road losses at UNC Wilmington and VCU. Those two losses put Hofstra in a 1-4 hole in the CAA. It's going to be hard to get out of the conference cellar if the Pride don't find a way to beat Mason. Games at Drexel and then a home date with VCU are on the horizon and Hofstra could be starting at an 1-7 conference mark. Bottom line: Hofstra's three wins have all come at the friendly confines of the Mack Sports Complex and it's imperative the Pride find a way to win this one. Fans have already lost interest, so the Pride at least need to give them a reason to press the snooze button and stay awake -- even if it's only momentarily.

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Check out the Colonial Athletic Association standings. It is refreshing to see the Delaware Blue Hens lead the pack at 5-0 over the usual suspects. Perhaps it will not last, but included in Delaware's perfect CAA record is victories over George Mason and Old Dominion, two of the old guard CAA teams. Delaware has had little success in the conference since coming over from the America East with Hofstra, Towson and Drexel in the 2001-2002 season. Hofstra and Delaware owned the later years of America East, with Hofstra winning the last two titles before leaving. Now Delaware is at the top and Hofstra is at the bottom in the CAA.

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Unless you go for junior college basketball, this is probably another weak week for Long Island’s Division I schools. Suffolk CC-Selden, now 14-0 and ranked third in NJCAA play, hosts Fashion Institute Thursday in what coach Rich Wrase is calling the game of the season.

But the season continues in free fall for our D-I schools. Stony Brook (4-11) plays at Binghamton Tuesday and hosts Boston University Saturday. Hofstra (3-11) is home to George Mason (remember when that was exciting?) and travels to Drexel Saturday. Stony Brook is still trying to make an impact in Division I and is built on promise, not wins. Hofstra is hoping to salvage something out of what surely has become a rebuilding season. Take away top scorer Antoine Agudio and watching young and inexperienced is getting old.

BY RODERICK BOONE

Because it sure seems like Hofstra has lost more heartbreakers than any team in the nation. And so it went again last night in North Carolina. Hofstra played admirably and had a lead in the waning minutes before watching UNC Wilmington finish off the game -- and the Pride's chances for its first two-game win streak -- with a 6-0 run.

T.J. Carter went berserk, hitting a big three and another driving floater in the final two minutes to send Hofstra to a 74-69 loss. Stop me if you've heard this before: A few plays here and there down the stretch, and rather than finding themselves wondering how it let the game slip away, the Pride would've won.

"We're very inexperienced and we don't know how to close games out on the road yet," Pride coach Tom Pecora said. "These kind of losses are accumulating for us."

You can check out a recap of the game here.

BY RODERICK BOONE

The Pride's next opponent, which coincidentally handed Hofstra its first CAA loss of the season, will be without its head coach when the teams meet Thursday in North Carolina.

UNC Wilmington coach Benny Moss has been issued a one-game suspension by CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager. The commish felt Moss violated of the conference’s standards of sportsmanship when he was hit with two technical fouls and was ejected from the Seahawks’ game with VCU on Saturday.

The Seahawks needed overtime to beat the Pride 87-83 at Mack Sports Complex Dec. 1. Maybe without Moss roaming the sideline, it could even things out since UNCW will have the home-court advantage this time around.

Right about now, the youthful Pride will take any breaks they can get.

BY RODERICK BOONE

It's going to be a crazy, unpredictable season in the Colonial Athletic Association. Honestly, would we want it any differently?

Heading into last night, the CAA was the lone conference in which every team had at least one conference victory and there have already been a few upsets a week and a half in.

How about Georgia State, yes Georgia State, taking down George Mason. James Madison got off to a 2-0 start, it's best mark in years, before falling to Hofstra. The top team in the standings at 3-0 is ... Delaware? Hey, this isn't football season is it?

And check this out: As of today, seven of the CAA's 12 teams have 1-2 records so there is hope yet for you Hofstra fans out there.

"I think it's going to be a year that is going to be wild," Hofstra coach Tom Pecora said today. "I think it's going to be a year where we go to into a conference tournament with a lot of teams having beat each other and seeding kind of not being as big an issue as it might have been in year's past, in the sense of their being two, three or four teams being at the upper level of the conference and a bunch of teams below that. I don't see that happening this year. I think there is great parity and a lot of these young teams are growing up."

Looking at it from Hofstra's perspective, parity could be just what the doctor, er, Pride ordered.

"I think as the year goes on and we mature as a team, obviously we are going to become better if we are all doing our jobs," Pecora said. "Late in the year, I hope that we are able to compete with anybody in the conference."

BY RODERICK BOONE

Just when things were beginning to look bleak for Hofstra, the Pride score a huge win over James Madison.

The Pride played well in every facet, save for is trademark of turning the ball over and racking up unforced errors. But instead of finding a way to lose, as has been the case in many of its contests, Hofstra came through with big plays in the end. It's exactly what we've been waiting for and need to see more of. And that leads my to my next thought:

Now, can Hofstra build on this win as it heads into what should be a tough week with games at UNC Wilmington and VCU before returning home for a big one with George Mason? It better. In baseball, they say momentum is only as good as the next day's starting pitcher.

Well in this case it's only as good as Antoine Agudio's supporting cast. Darren Townes and Charles Jenkins need to remain aggressive and continue giving the Pride three double-digit scorers, and Nathaniel Lester has to stay consistent. Otherwise, Hofstra will be swiming upstream every night out.

The matchup: James Madison (9-3, 2-0 CAA) at Hofstra (2-9, 0-2)
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Mack Sports Complex
TV/Radio: MSG/WNYG (1440)
Key players: Hofstra – Antoine Agudio, Sr., G (26.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.3 apg); Charles Jenkins, Fr., G (13.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.6 apg); Nathaniel Lester (8.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg); James Madison – Abdulai Jalloh Jr., G (15.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.8 apg); Terrance Carter, Sr., F (15.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.0 apg); Juwann James, Jr., F (12.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
All-time series: Hofstra leads 6-4
Current streaks: Hofstra lost 4; James Madison won 1
Last time out: Hofstra lost to ODU 75-54; JMU beat VCU 62-61
The skinny on JMU: Talk about a resurgence. JMU's 9-3 record is the team's best mark the Dukes have posted through 12 games since starting 10-2 in 1986-87. They're 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 1994-95. Truly, their starting lineup is one of the more balanced ones in the CAA. All but one average in double figures and junior forward Kyle Swanson, who's scoring 9.4 points per game, isn't far off the pace set by the other four. The Dukes look to score from anywhere on the court and are tossing in 80.7 points per game. They are also shooting at a good clip, knocking down 48.4 percent of their shots.
Pecora's keys: "They really want to play uptempo basketball. They want to score in the 80s and push the ball up the floor. So we've got to control tempo a little bit more and I think we've just got to bear down defensively."
Outlook: Things should be somewhat better for Hofstra now that Antoine Agudio appears to be back and ready to go. Agudio missed the last three games with a left ankle sprain, and Hofstra has looked lost without the nation's third-leading scorer. To have a any shot against the Dukes, the Pride need to play with more of a sense of urgency and stop falling behind by these ridiculous margins early on. Bottom line: With a two-game road trip that takes them to UNC Wilmington and Virginia Commonwealth, it's imperative the Pride win this one if it has any legit chance at turning this thing around and making any sort of noise in the conference. Another loss and all the talk about being a better team as the season winds down becomes moot. By then, the fans and the students might have already lost interest.

RODERICK BOONE

BY RODERICK BOONE

No, I wasn't talking about me making a triumphant return after some time off. I'm talking about Mr. Hofstra Basketball himself, Antoine Agudio.

I watched some of Hofstra's practice today at the Mack Sports Complex as the Pride prepared for its meeting with James Madison tomorrow, and Agudio went through nearly every portion of the practice save for a drill here or there. He's probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 percent, but that will have to do for now. He injured his left ankle in practice the day after Christmas and it's just now starting to feel better.

Hofstra is stuggling mightily, having dropped four straight -- all by double digits. Agudio sat out the last three and has been itching to get back out there to help the Pride salvage this season before it becomes too late.

"It was rough," Agudio said. "I was a cheerleader on the bench. It hurt a little bit to watch my team."

Agudio, who's 26.8 points per game place him third in the nation, tried his best to keep his teammates upbeat as he was forced to watch from the pine.

"I told them I have all the confidence in you in the world," Agudio said. "Just go out there and play. I know you can win with me or without me."

Agudio's return is coming at a crucial time for the Pride. Although it is still somewhat early, Hofstra is about to sink its teeth into CAA play and faces a brutal stretch this month. After taking on JMU tomorrow, it hits the road for tilts at UNC Wilmington and VCU before returning home for a date with George Mason on Jan. 17. Ouch.

It could get even uglier for the Pride if it doesn't find a way to climb out of this swoon. Hofstra can start by playing a complete game, something it has done sparingly in its first 11 outings.

"I think we just have to play for a whole 40 minutes," freshman guard Nathaniel Lester said. "Either we play the fi