Drexel enters homestretch with revved-up offense

WITH A 13-GAME winning streak and a 21-5 overall record, it's no surprise Drexel men's basketball coach Bruiser Flint calls these Dragons his "best offensive team."

Since stifling defense has always been Drexel's strength in Flint's 11 seasons at Drexel, skeptics who haven't seen these Dragons might suggest they could be only one click up on the offense meter.

Not so. Drexel, tied with Virginia Commonwealth and George Mason for first place in the Colonial Athletic Association (each 13-2), leads the CAA in three-point field goal percentage (.377), free throw percentage (.746) and scoring (9.2) and rebounding margins (6.5). Predictably, the Dragons are the CAA's best defensive team, yielding only 55.0 points per game.

"We have more weapons, we're more versatile," Flint said yesterday on a conference call.

Sophomore point guard Frantz Massenat is the CAA's top long-distance shooter (.473) and is third in assists (4.3). The 6-4 Trenton Catholic graduate also is fourth in free throw shooting at .803.

No Drexel player is in the top 10 in CAA scoring, but Massenat is 11th (13.4), with freshman Damion Lee 17th at 12.2 and Samme Givens, Drexel's only senior, 19th at 11.8.

The Dragons, who host William & Mary tonight, no longer have to rely on Chris Fouch's instant offense off the bench. Fouch missed the season's first four games while recuperating from offseason knee surgery. The junior guard is averaging 9.6 points after a season-high 25-point outburst vs. Hofstra Saturday.

"When [Fouch] was cleared to play, we just threw him out there," Flint said. "He had no preseason. Although his stats aren't the same, having him back is a big deal for us."

Fouch has collected 1,012 career points. He ranks second among CAA free throw shooters at .825.

After seeing Drexel beat his Hofstra squad, 78-67, coach Mo Cassara noted the contributions of the Dragons' imposing frontcourt of Givens (7.3 rebounds), Daryl McCoy (6.9) and Dartaye Ruffin (5.0)

"They have size and toughness," Cassara said. "Their point guard has developed. With Lee and Fouch, they are dynamic. They're tough to guard."

Looking ahead to facing Drexel, William & Mary coach Tony Shaver said: "They're playing as well as anybody [in the CAA]. Nationally, they can play with a lot of people."

William & Mary, 10th in the CAA with a 3-12 (5-22 overall) record, halted a nine-game losing streak on Saturday with a decisive 79-54 victory over Northeastern (7-8, 11-14). William & Mary's defense is second worst in the CAA, allowing 70.1 points per game.

CAA gets TV deal

The CAA yesterday announced a 5-year agreement with the NBC Sports Network that will provide national TV coverage of the conference's men's basketball and football games, plus regional coverage of CAA men's and women's hoops and football through Comcast SportsNet. NBC Sports Network is the former Versus.