CU Men's Basketball Preview - vs. RIT/Hobart (1/30-31)

Only two teams in the century of Clarkson University Men's Basketball have started off a season 14-3 and the Golden Knights have a chance to stand alone with a solid weekend against RIT and Hobart at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights, 14-3 overall and 7-1 in the Liberty League, matched the start of the 1934-35 season, a team which began 15-3 but lost its next game, also the final match up of that year. Challenging Clarkson this weekend are Liberty League playoff hopefuls RIT (10-7 overall, 5-3 Liberty League) and Hobart College (10-6, 5-2). Clarkson beat both teams the first time around, beating RIT 68-57 and taking down the Statesmen 66-56.

The Knights lead the conference in a variety of categories, including scoring defense (59.3 ppg), margin of victory (+10.2 ppg), field goal percentage (45.6), 3-point field goal defense (30.7%), assists per game (17.2 apg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.47). Senior John Coleman is within striking distance of Clarkson's all-time scoring record, but won't likely hit that mark this weekend. He is averaging 17.6 points per game, the top figure in the conference, and also leads the league in field goal percentage (54.6%) and steals per game (2.2 spg). Coleman had an impressive game against Hobart in early January with 25 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three blocks, and has always dominated the Tigers, averaging 20.0 ppg with a 64.7% rate of shooting from the field in seven all-time contests.

RIT started off the season strong and had a mid-season slump before recovering to win five of its first eight games in the Liberty League. The Tigers average nearly eight 3-pointers per game, but struggle from the free throw line at just 61.4%. However, the Tigers lead the conference in steals (8.8 spg) and are second in blocks (3.5 bpg). AJ Horde ranks 12th in the league in scoring at 13.2 ppg and is narrowly behind Coleman with 2.2 steals per contest. He also ranks fifth in the league in 3-pointers made (37). JP Reagan (11.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and Joe Stortini (10.8 ppg) also average double figures for the Tigers, while Kamron Davis is a solid inside force with 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.

Hobart has been a strong defensive team through 16 games this year, ranking second in the league in scoring defense (61.7 ppg), field goal defense (39.5%) and 3-point field goal defense (31.0%). The Statesmen, long a team that has focused on all-star forwards, have strayed from their normal formula this year, leading the league in 3-pointers with 8.3 makes per game. Connor Rehbaum is the team's leading scorer at 15.9 points per game and ranks first in the conference in 3-pointers made with 40, while Andrew Hoy is fourth in the league in that category with 38 makes from long distance. Hoy is averaging 12.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, and is also among the league's top free throw shooters at 86.3%. Trey Blanding is the Statesmen's third scoring option at 9.6 points per game, and he finds the Hobart shooters well, placing second in the conference in assists (4.4 apg).

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Players Mentioned

#22 John Coleman: F; 6' 4"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#22 John Coleman
: 6' 4"; Senior
: F

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

#22 John Coleman

Players Mentioned

#22 John Coleman