Can Monmouth basketball get around? 3 keys while the Hawks head for Hofstra for the Caa Key Test

Since the start of the CAA game seven weeks ago, it has been a step forward, one step back for Monmouth, solidifying its place in the middle of the ranking.

With four games to do in the regular season, he makes them point directly to the 8-9 match at the CAA tournament. You know, the one they had last year, when they won an opening match, but had to come back 24 hours later to face a seeded seed 1.

Last year, it was Charleston, and this year, he looked like Towson, with the Tigers trampling Monmouth, 80-54, last Saturday for their second victory against the Hawks in a week.

It is a recipe for an outing in the quarterfinals.

Monmouth (9-18, 7-7 CAA) must devote a certain momentum before the playoffs. And to avoid the best teams as long as possible, in order to take momentum at the tournament, is enormous.

More: Monmouth basketball pounded by Towson from first place: “They intimidated us”

Can Hawks return a switch and become a coherent high-level CAA competitor?

He must start against Hofstra in Hempstead, New York tonight (7 p.m.; CBS Sports Network).

Monmouth has two games on the road and two at home before the CAA tournament in Washington DC on March 7.

Hofstra (12-15, 4-10) arrives after losing five in a row. The second year goalkeeper is the second year goalkeeper Jean Aranguren, an iona transfer with an average of 14.6 points and 5.7 rebounds. Cruz Davis is a second year guard who played Iona, then St. John’s, is on average 14.5 points per game, while 6-8 Michael Graham grabs 8.2 rebounds, to go with 7.7 points .

Here are three keys to Monmouth against Hofstra. Return later Thursday evening for full game coverage:

1. Defensive intensity

Hofstra is one of the best defensive teams in the CAA, abandoning 65.9 points on average. Monmouth is one of the worst with 76.5 ppg.

If Monmouth does not dig into the defensive for 40 minutes, their road problems will continue, having spent 3-13 during the CAA matches on the road in the last two seasons. The Hawks have a 2-5 file in the CAA road matches this season, abandoning less than 70 points in the two victories, while abandoning an average of 81.5 points in the defeats.

Hold Hofstra less than 70 points and Monmouth victories.

2. Big Game of Bashir

Abdi Bashir Jr. still leads the CAA with an average of 20.1 points per game – Ryan Forrest from North Carolina A&T is second at 19.1 ppg. – And it’s 10^th At the national level, while its 100 three points are tied for the most in the country.

But the student in the second year 6-7 went from 13 minutes to the bench as recruit at an average of 33 minutes, with opposing teams hunting it at one end and Monmouth making a large defensive request to the other.

Wear begins to show. Bashir comes out of five seasonal points against Towson and is on average 12 points per game. In the last four games, jumping 28% on the field and 31% of Deep.

Bashir needs four 3 points to cross the brand in a season of George Papas, and the Hawks will need him to do much more than if they hope to take a late race.

3. Protect, share the balloon

It is like a record broken at this stage. When Monmouth protects the ball and sharing, they generally win. Against Towson, Monmouth’s 13 reversals led to 20 points for tigers, while their 10 assists were simply not sufficient.

Monmouth has very little margin of error, especially on the road. Getting the most out of each possession and making this additional pass, was a successful formula.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Monmouth basketball against Hofstra: how to look, playing time, analysis