UMBC Sports Blog

Probable Starters:

UMBC (0-6):
C- Robbie Jackson (9.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, .509FG%)
G- Adrian Satchell (5.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, .517 FG%)
G- Chauncey Gilliam (13.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.7 spg)
G- Matt Spadafora (7.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.2 spg)
G- Chris De La Rosa (6.3 ppg, 6.5 apg, 3.2 rpg)

Key Reserves:
F- Jake Wasco (0.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.5 bpg)
G- Shawn grant (12.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, .509 FG%)
G- Nick Groce (2.3 ppg, 1.8 apg, .217 FG%)
G- Brian Neller (3.2 ppg, 1.0 rpg, .250 3-pt%)
G- Bakari Smith (1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, .250 FG%)

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Freshman Shawn Grant had a breakout performance against the local rival Towson Tigers as he led all scorers with 28 points as he went 10-14 from the field and 4-6 from both three point range and the foul line.

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Probable Starters:

UMBC (0-5):
C- Robbie Jackson (10.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.0 bpg)
G- Adrian Satchell (4.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.0 bpg)
G- Matt Spadafora (8.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, .357 FG%)
G- Chauncey Gilliam (14.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, .418 FG%)
G- Chris De La Rosa (5.6 ppg, 6.4 apg, 2.8 rpg)

Key Reserves:
F- Jake Wasco (0.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.6 bpg)
G- Shawn Grant (9.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, .429 FG%)
G- Nick Groce (2.4 ppg, 1.2 apg, .263 FG%)
G- Brian Neller (3.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1 three per game)
G- Bakari Smith (1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, .250 FG%)

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In the final 12 seconds both Chris De La Rosa and Matt Spadafora had chances to tie the game, but neither of their shots fell as the Retrievers fell 53-51, and to an 0-5 start.

While Robbie Jackson led the team in both points and rebounds for a second straight game with 13 and seven respectively. He also blocked two James Madison shots. He only played 19 minutes due to foul trouble. If UMBC wants to be successful he absolutely has to stay in the game. It will come in time because he has only played five games in over a year, but he has to stop the early fouls, and quick.

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Probable Starters:

UMBC (0-4):
C- Robbie Jackson (9.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, .571 FG%)
G- Adrian Satchell (3.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.3 bpg)
G- Chauncey Gilliam (15.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.3 spg)
G- Matt Spadafora (7.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.3 spg)
G- Chris De La Rosa (6.5 ppg, 7.3 apg, 3.3 rpg)

Key Reserves:
F- Jake Wasco (0.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, .500 FT%)
G- Bakari Smith (1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, .250 FG%)
G- Shawn Grant (10.5 ppg, 1.3 spg, .484 FG%)
G- Nick Groce (2.5 ppg, 1.0 apg, 0.8 rpg)
G- Brian Neller (3.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, .222 3-PT%)

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Coming back from a 19 point deficit is nearly impossible to do. Even if there is 12 minutes left, too many things have to go your way for that to happen. UMBC got within four points of Coppin State with under two minutes left, but were outscored 16-4 after that with 14 of those points for the Golden Eagles coming from the foul line.

Even though UMBC came out great, scoring the first seven points of the game, they were completely shut down in the final seven minutes of the first half as they were outscored 18-5. Three of those points came with just 13 seconds left in the game as Matt Spadafora scored three of his four points in the game to break a 5:29 scoring drought for the Retrievers, sending UMBC to the locker room down by 11 points at the half.

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Probable Starters:

UMBC (0-3):
C- Robbie Jackson (7.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, .429 FG%)
F- Adrian Satchell (3.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, .500 FG5)
G- Chauncey Gilliam (13.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.3 apg)
G- Matt Spadafora (9.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.3 spg)
G- Chris De La Rosa (4.7 ppg, 6.0 apg, 3.3 rpg)

Key Reserves:
F- Jake Wasco (0.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.7 bpg)
G- Shawn Grant (10.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg, .480 FG%)
G- Brian Neller (4.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.7 apg)
G- Nick Groce (3.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, .333 FG%)
G- Bakari Smith (1.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, .333 FG%)

Coppin State (3-1):
C- Ceslovas Kucinskas (5.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, .727 FG%)
F- Brandon Doughty (10.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.8 bpg)
G- Lenny Young (14.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.0 apg)
G- Kareem Brown (11.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.0 apg)
G- Vince Goldsberry (8.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.5 apg)

Key Reserves:
C- Sam Coleman (3.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .278 FG%)
F- Jonathan Landry (7.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .409 FG%)
F- Eddie Hayden (4.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, .500 FG%)
G- George Jackson (6.2 ppg, 2.8 apg, 1.0 spg)
G- Quinston Reggins (1.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.8 apg)

It has been 10 years since these two local rivals have met up and this year UMBC is providing another great local basketball game to fans. So far they have played Morgan State and Loyola and still have Towson on their schedule. So they have potential to get some local bragging rights, but right now that is not happening. they are 0-3 and desperate for a win. While Coppin State is 3-1, the three wins are all against none Division I schools. But that does not mean it is a shoe in win for UMBC. While they could break their losing streak with this game, Coppin has one thing that could really kill UMBC a lot of size. While Robbie Jackson is a big presence in the paint, this season his time has been limited by foul trouble and when he’s out teams are just using their size to get by the five guard set on the court for UMBC.

Right now UMBC has to find a groove. Aside from their last game they have played well aside from key parts of the game, which cost them wins. They have a good trio of scorers in Matt Spadafora, Chauncey Gilliam, and Shawn Grant, but they all have to step up and soon if they want to go anywhere.

Spadafora is a fifth year senior and has looked good in stretches, but he has struggled at times. While 9.0 ppg is not horrible by any means, he has to give the Retrievers more offense than that. Again, he’s a fifth year senior and is starting his third year.

Gilliam has played very well for UMBC but has had very bad dry spells. As I’ve been saying for the last year, he has star in the making written all over him but he has yet to take over a game and lead UMBC to a win aside from his 21 point performance last year against Nebraska. But one game does not get rid of the in the making status. He can be great but needs to step up and be more consistent.

Grant however is playing very well for a freshman. His issues are expected to happen with being a freshman, but he does have to cut down on rushed shots. When those three and Chris De La Rosa, who has been playing great, get things together with Jackson staying out of foul trouble, the team can be very dangerous. But until then they will make you pull your hair out.

This is a perfect opportunity to get things together and build, and Randy Monroe will have them ready, they just have to execute.

When your first three possessions of a basketball game are turnovers, it is usually a sign that the game is not going to go your way. With five freshman, two transfers, and just four available players from last years team, two of whom are just in their second year, UMBC is going through growing plains right now and are learning how to play together.

After their third game of the season UMBC fell to 0-3 after suffereing a big road loss to George Washington, 94-51. They just could not get anything going, offensively or defensively.

It took the Colonials just four minutes a double-digit lead, and while they never trailed in the game, they got that big of a lead back and never let go of it.

The highlight of the night for UMBC was freshman Shawn Grant, who came off the bench but looks to be developing very quickly. While he is still inconsistent from three point range (he went 3-5 against Loyola and just 1-5 against George Washington) he scored 14 points while shooting 50.05 from the field. He also recorded two steals.

Meanwhile, sophomore Chauncey Gilliam had a season low eight points, but recorded two six rebounds with it.

That duo looks to be a good one-two punch for UMBC and as they develop and mature, they have the potential to be one of the top tandems in the conference, but right now they are a freshman and sophomore trying to be more consistent.

While 7′0″ center Robbie Jackson recorded eight points, he has to be more aggressive inside. This season he has been the biggest person in every game (and most likely will be for the rest of the season) yet he has only recorded eight rebounds (2.6 per game). His other problem is foul trouble. He fouled out against George Washington and recorded four fouls each against Morgan State and Loyola, limiting his time and taking a key player for UMBC’s style of play on the bench.

But the same is true of all three of UMBC’s big men this season. Freshman Adrian Satchell and Sophomore Jake Wasco also have 12 fouls in three games and have forced UMBC to go five guards.

When UMBC did that against George Washington they just used their size advantage, pushed UMBC’s five guards around of defense, and muscled past them on offense.

Probable Starters:

UMBC (0-2):
C- Robbie Jackson (7.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.0 bpg)
F- Adrian Satchell (5.5 pp, 6.5 rpg, .556 FG%)
G- Chauncey Gilliam (16.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, .476 FG%)
G- Matt Spadafora (11.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, .450 FG%)
G- Chris De La Rosa (6.0 ppg, 6.5 apg, 4.5 rpg)

Key Reserves:
F- Jake Wasco (0.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.0 bpg)
G- Shawn Grant (8.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, .462 FG%)
G- Brian Neller (3.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg, .200 FG%)
G- Nick Groce (2.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, .400 FG%)
G- Bakari Smith (1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.000 FT%)

George Washington (2-0)
C- Joseph Katuka (0.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 13.5 mpg)
F- Damian Hollis (9.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.5 apg)
G- Tony Taylor (10.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.5 apg)
G- Lasan Kromah (12.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, .444 FG%)
G- Tim Johnson (8.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.5 apg)

Key Reserves:
F- Aaron Ware (13.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, .500 FG%)
F- Herman Opoku (2.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .333 FG%)
F- David Pellom (6.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.000 FG%)
F- Jabari Edwards (2.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, .400 FG%)
G- Travis King (1.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, .250 FG%)
G- Bryan Bynes (5.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.0 apg)

For the third time in as many games UMBC is going to get a good look at where they stand as George Washington has recently beated Boston U. UMBC is a better team than their 0-2 start. They have played good teams and this will be a test for them. Their team is young and they are getting ready for their first road game of the season. If they keep the fire under them the entire game they could come out on top.

Sophomore swingman Chauncey Gilliam scored a career high 22 points against local rival Loyola, but the Greyhounds just got past the Retrievers 69-66 as UMBC falls to 0-2.

While Gilliam came out on fire scoring nine points including a three and a crowd roaring dunk in the first five minutes of the game, Loyola switched to a zone-defense and really forced Gilliam to pass the ball around, only allowing him one more point in the half. But in the second half he rattled off 12 points to keep UMBC in the game.

Loyola held the lead for the majority of the game, but in the final seven minutes there were six lead changed and three ties. With a 10 point deficit at the half, 36-26, UMBC played well to get back in the game and after three straight three point played UMBC got the lead back with 6:58 left. But the Retrievers could never build on an of their following leads as Loyola would get it back on the next possession each time.

With 1:40 left to play Loyola got their final lead of the game, which they kept, but gave UMBC plenty of time to gt back in. On the next UMBC possession Chris De La Rosa, who recorded six points and eight assist with three steals and three rebounds in the game, took a go ahead shot but it just rattled out. After that it was free throw time for Loyola as they were sent to the line four times.

With three seconds left UMBC got the ball to De La Rosa for the game tying three, but Loyola guard Brian Rudolph made a smart foul to send him to the line for just two shots while down three. While De La Rosa made both and UMBC made an immediate foul on the inbound, after the two Loyola free throws a full court pass in hopes of a game tying three went out of bounds, thus ending the game.

For UMBC to battle back in this game after what happened their last outing, they showed a lot of improvement. They were patient, they were hitting threes, and thy played well against a zone defense, but it just wasn’t enough. During UMBC’s comeback at the end of the game coach Randy Monroe made a switch to a five guard set, mostly because of poor play by Robbie Jackson and foul trouble for Jake Wasco and Adrian Satchell. From then on the team relied on their speed, which did work, but Loyola slammed inside and took the ball to the basket when they had possession from then on.

The start of the second half was much like the first, a hot Retriever leading the charge. This time it was Matt Spafafora who scored six of his 10 points in the beginning moments of the second half. The only other Retriever to score in double figures was freshman Shawn Grant who showed a lot of promise as he scored 11 points going 3-4 from three points range.

Next for UMBC is George Washington on Saturday at 2:00 pm