Delaware March Breakdown

Beware The Fightin' Blue Hens! Delaware has the ability and experience to knock off a big or two and must be on everyone's radar for one main reason--points. Not only do the Colonial Athletic champs score at a 79.5 clip and have five players in double figures including three players averaging 18 ppg or more but their opponents will score too and you must leave a draft with either one of their guys or one of their opponents' scorers. Winning a college hoops draft involves much more than advancing players as sometimes you advance ten guys averaging 10 ppg and the guy in first only advanced seven players but they average 18 ppg. Delaware is good and the CAA has of course, produced upsets before. The Mud Hens also have a situation that will reward those doing their homework. Point guard Jarvis Threatt is back from suspension and the Mud Hens are certainly better with arguably their best player back in fold. But, when he was gone others scored more points and so Threatt (18.1 ppg, 19.2 ppg last 5, 42-69)sits in third place on the team's scoring table yet should be first on your list. The ball will be in his hands folks. Senior guards Devon Saddler (19.7, 16.4 last 5, 44-35-71) and Davon Usher (19.4, 16.8, 45-36-74) are very good, and both shoot 3s, but will go a round or two before the better Threatt. Delaware's main big Carl Baptiste (11.3, 15.4, 58-70)--like Saddler and Usher a senior (other two starters are juniors)--is an intriguing case as he is coming off a career high 24 points including the game winner in the title game versus William and Mary but is a smaller conference big. That said he is big, 6'9, 240, and should hold his own but may have too much to do against a team with a wave of big men to throw at him. If you draft him pray for him to stay out of foul trouble. In games earlier in the season against Villanova, Notre Dame and Ohio State, Baptiste averaged 8.7 ppg. Guard Kyle Anderson (11, 10.6 40-39-75) is consistent. He is the team's last option though so save for a late round. Delaware, which went 25-9, 14-2, is ranked 73 in rpi, 98 in bpi and are ninth in the mid majors top 25. Coach Monte Ross, who has rebuilt this program, has another advantage having been a top assistant at St. Joseph's when they went to the Elite 8 in 2004. Baring an awful seeding I am bullish on the Fightin' Mud Hens.