A critical win for the Blue Devils if ever there was one. Central needed to show it had put Saturday's collapse in the rearview mirror and that it could win on the road.
Check and check.
Throw in the bonus of gaining a game in the standings on Wagner and Quinnipiac (which gave up 50-plus points in the second half to Bryant and lost a 20-point lead) and this was a very productive day for the Blue Devils. I'm still wary of the fact that Central seems to go long periods of time without scoring and struggles at times against the zone, but the Blue Devils were more than good enough on this night.
Justin Rutty didn't play again tonight for Quinnipiac and you saw above what happened. With the reigning NEC player of the year out four weeks, the Devils must seize the opportunity to get a big road win. That would set them up perfectly for another good stretch.
But, first things first. Before we can deal with the future, we must examine the past.
Let's go man-to-man.
Chris Baskerville: It's fitting that he's listed first in the box score I have in front of me, as it makes sure his contribution does not get buried. With Central now thin up front, Baskerville needs to contribute more. He has taken the minutes left by Markeys Deans and made the most of them. Earned a start tonight and it's hard to imagine him not being introduced in the lineup Saturday.
Ken Horton: The numbers were there as usual, but Horton's contributions are also strategic. When he gets the ball at the foul line, the opponent's zone collapses. He was also fantastic at jumping into passing lanes inside, grabbing five steals.
Shemik Thompson: The leader. Seven boards, seven assists, one turnover. Only had 10 points, but a bunch of them came at a key time in the second half when Central was making its run. He picked his spots beautifully.
Devan Bailey: If Thompson is the leader, Bailey is the glue. He does the things that don't show up on the sheet but are critically important. He gets the ball past traps. He defends the other team's best perimeter player. He makes sure the ball goes to the right place, and he provides a sense of calm.
Robby Ptacek: Central didn't drive the ball well against LIU, but did so Thursday. Ptacek led the way, getting to the lane for his pullup and drawing a host of fouls. Howie Dickenman was not happy with Ptacek's rebounding, but he scored the ball very well and was aggressive on offense.
Vince Rosario: Only played two minutes, didn't get a shot up. I hope for his sake that he doesn't get down after the other night. I don't think he will. He'll be back.
De'Angelo Speech: Nothing spectacular, but he needs to continue to provide energy and, more importantly, rest for a thin team.
Joe Efese: Time to make the leap. After a bad start to the year, Efese has progressed to a solid contributor again. Now it's time for him to get back to where he was at the end of last year.
Terrell Allen: Plenty of time for him to become a factor as a Blue Devil. But it wasn't tonight.
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