University of Delaware Athletics
Column: Offensive Balance Is Guiding Delaware To A Historic Undefeated Start
12/3/2019 11:07:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The elements that make Delaware men's basketball such a fun offensive team to watch were all on display within the first two minutes of Monday night's 84-76 win over Columbia.
On the first possession of the game, sophomore forward Justyn Mutts drove through the Lions' zone defense and dished a pass for junior guard Kevin Anderson to drain a three from the wing. The next possession, Mutts went to work down low himself and buried a hook shot. Three-pointers from junior guards Nate Darling and Ryan Allen on the next two trips down the floor gave the Blue Hens an 11-2 lead less than two minutes into the game.
Four shots taken. Four shots made. Four different scorers.
That balance has been key to Delaware's 9-0 start to 2019-20, the most consecutive wins to open a season in the history of the program. The Hens have been hot enough to attract national attention, earning a vote in the latest Associated Press Top 25 Poll for the first time since 1999-2000.
"I think it's a luxury that we have with our group," head coach Martin Ingelsby said. "You have weapons out there. Ryan, Kevin, Nate. Those guys are really starting to gel on the offensive end and do a really good job playing off each other."
Under five minutes into the second half, the four players who got the scoring started for Delaware were each in double figures. Senior forward Collin Goss, who threw down an emphatic dunk in the first half, made it five-for-five for Delaware starters in double digits with a reverse lay-in as the Blue Hens closed out the win late in the game.
Even with the balance, the star of the night was Mutts, whose 24 points and 15 rebounds marked several milestones: 1) Mutts' career high for points, 2) Mutts' fourth-straight double-double, 3) Mutts' second straight game with 20 points and 15 rebounds, the first time a Delaware player has done that since December of 1996 (Greg Smith).
Mutts, whose dynamic athleticism made a difference on both ends of the court, took advantage of a size mismatch against the Lions and dominated down low. The sophomore from Millville, N.J. started the game by making his first five field goals.
"He's such a confident offensive player right now that that settled us down and didn't let us rely on jump shots as much. That's where we had a little bit of an advantage and a mismatch," Ingelsby said. "I thought he was fabulous going to work and getting us into the bonus so we could shoot free throws down the stretch, and also kicking it out to some guys to get some driving areas."
"I spend a lot of time talking to my coaches, watching a lot of film, so that really helps me with getting in the game, being locked in," Mutts said. "Just trying to stay active, be energetic."
While Mutts stole the show Monday night, he was the third different scoring leader in the three games of the home stand for the Blue Hens. Allen, who finished with 20 points Monday night, led the way with 22 points in a 75-61 win over Stony Brook Wednesday night. Darling, who entered Monday night in seventh in all of Division I men's basketball averaging 23.4 points per game, poured in 23 against Maryland Eastern Shore in a 75-56 win Friday night.
"There's so many great players on this team," Mutts said. "It's just fun being around them and it enhances my game too."
Darling, Allen and Anderson can all hit from long range, spreading the floor for Mutts and Goss to be effective in the post. But additionally, Darling has been effective driving the lane to either sink floaters or kick the ball out to open shooters. Allen has been automatic at the free throw line, while Anderson keeps the offense ticking at point guard. All the pieces coming together creates quite the attractive brand of basketball.
While the offense has made the Hens fun to watch, their effort on the defensive end is what has kept them in the win column throughout the early stages of the season. With Columbia roaring back into the game in the second half, Delaware got several key stops and knocked down free throws to seal its historic ninth straight win.
"That's the most important part," Mutts said of the team's defense. "Offense wins games, but defense wins championships. We're trying to be the best defensive team we can be, and if we're the best defensive team we can be, then sky's the limit for this team."
The Blue Hens take their unblemished record on the road to George Washington this Saturday for a 4 p.m. tip-off. A win against the Colonials would move Delaware to 10-0 ahead of its nationally televised showdown with No. 23 Villanova on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
"We've made unbelievable progress, not just on the basketball court, but in our basketball program, in our culture and what we've established," Ingelsby said. "I love our team. I love our group."
On the first possession of the game, sophomore forward Justyn Mutts drove through the Lions' zone defense and dished a pass for junior guard Kevin Anderson to drain a three from the wing. The next possession, Mutts went to work down low himself and buried a hook shot. Three-pointers from junior guards Nate Darling and Ryan Allen on the next two trips down the floor gave the Blue Hens an 11-2 lead less than two minutes into the game.
.@_BabyRy_ FOR THREE! Hens are 🔥 to start. #BlueHens pic.twitter.com/S4MMzUldB9
— Delaware Men's Basketball (@DelawareMBB) December 3, 2019
Four shots taken. Four shots made. Four different scorers.
That balance has been key to Delaware's 9-0 start to 2019-20, the most consecutive wins to open a season in the history of the program. The Hens have been hot enough to attract national attention, earning a vote in the latest Associated Press Top 25 Poll for the first time since 1999-2000.
"I think it's a luxury that we have with our group," head coach Martin Ingelsby said. "You have weapons out there. Ryan, Kevin, Nate. Those guys are really starting to gel on the offensive end and do a really good job playing off each other."
Under five minutes into the second half, the four players who got the scoring started for Delaware were each in double figures. Senior forward Collin Goss, who threw down an emphatic dunk in the first half, made it five-for-five for Delaware starters in double digits with a reverse lay-in as the Blue Hens closed out the win late in the game.
🐰🐰@goss_isBoss 🐰🐰#BlueHens lead Columbia, 26-15. pic.twitter.com/6nSOCcBg9C
— Delaware Men's Basketball (@DelawareMBB) December 3, 2019
Even with the balance, the star of the night was Mutts, whose 24 points and 15 rebounds marked several milestones: 1) Mutts' career high for points, 2) Mutts' fourth-straight double-double, 3) Mutts' second straight game with 20 points and 15 rebounds, the first time a Delaware player has done that since December of 1996 (Greg Smith).
Mutts, whose dynamic athleticism made a difference on both ends of the court, took advantage of a size mismatch against the Lions and dominated down low. The sophomore from Millville, N.J. started the game by making his first five field goals.
"He's such a confident offensive player right now that that settled us down and didn't let us rely on jump shots as much. That's where we had a little bit of an advantage and a mismatch," Ingelsby said. "I thought he was fabulous going to work and getting us into the bonus so we could shoot free throws down the stretch, and also kicking it out to some guys to get some driving areas."
"I spend a lot of time talking to my coaches, watching a lot of film, so that really helps me with getting in the game, being locked in," Mutts said. "Just trying to stay active, be energetic."
While Mutts stole the show Monday night, he was the third different scoring leader in the three games of the home stand for the Blue Hens. Allen, who finished with 20 points Monday night, led the way with 22 points in a 75-61 win over Stony Brook Wednesday night. Darling, who entered Monday night in seventh in all of Division I men's basketball averaging 23.4 points per game, poured in 23 against Maryland Eastern Shore in a 75-56 win Friday night.
"There's so many great players on this team," Mutts said. "It's just fun being around them and it enhances my game too."
Darling, Allen and Anderson can all hit from long range, spreading the floor for Mutts and Goss to be effective in the post. But additionally, Darling has been effective driving the lane to either sink floaters or kick the ball out to open shooters. Allen has been automatic at the free throw line, while Anderson keeps the offense ticking at point guard. All the pieces coming together creates quite the attractive brand of basketball.
While the offense has made the Hens fun to watch, their effort on the defensive end is what has kept them in the win column throughout the early stages of the season. With Columbia roaring back into the game in the second half, Delaware got several key stops and knocked down free throws to seal its historic ninth straight win.
"That's the most important part," Mutts said of the team's defense. "Offense wins games, but defense wins championships. We're trying to be the best defensive team we can be, and if we're the best defensive team we can be, then sky's the limit for this team."
🗣 PUT US IN THE BOOKS! 🗣#BlueHens pic.twitter.com/sVIlyqXNA5
— Delaware Men's Basketball (@DelawareMBB) December 3, 2019
The Blue Hens take their unblemished record on the road to George Washington this Saturday for a 4 p.m. tip-off. A win against the Colonials would move Delaware to 10-0 ahead of its nationally televised showdown with No. 23 Villanova on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
"We've made unbelievable progress, not just on the basketball court, but in our basketball program, in our culture and what we've established," Ingelsby said. "I love our team. I love our group."
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