Drexel Fighting Through Struggles And Injuries
By Matt Leon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Dragons have dropped three straight, and four of five after losing their Colonial Athletic Association opener on Wednesday night against William and Mary, 85-73.
"We got down, the game was pretty much won in the first half," Drexel head coach Bruiser Flint tells KYW Newsradio. "We got it down close [in the second half], we just couldn't make a basket, or a play to sort of get us over the hump and really put some pressure on them in the second half."
8-6 Drexel played on Wednesday night without junior forward Kazembe Abif, he is dealing with a knee injury. Then during the game, senior forward Dartaye Ruffin went down with a calf injury.
"Hopefully we get Kaz back in the next week or so," Flint says. "Dartaye, he just went for the MRI [on Thursday], so we're not sure what's going on with him yet."
These injuries leave the Dragons awfully thin up front. But Flint says it just means other guys have to step up.
"Like I told guys after the game [Wednesday], 'Some of you guys have been waiting to play, you're getting ready to get your chance so you've got to be ready,'" Flint says. "[Freshman]Rodney Williams, who actually I think has been playing pretty good for us anyway, just got to stay out of a little foul trouble, and [senior] Goran Pantovic, those guys have to be ready to play. [Freshman] Mohamed Bah and even [freshman] Khris Lane, who hasn't played that much, you're going to get your opportunity now."
Next up for the Dragons is a CAA home game on Saturday with 4-11 Northeastern, a team that Flint says is built in a way that will make them a tough match-up, given Drexel's current state.
"Their big guys [redshirt junior] Scott Eatherton and [junior] Reggie Spencer, are two of the best big guys in the league," Flint says. "Both almost averaging a double-double. And when you're out your two big guys, that's not good to have. But those are two of the better big guys in the league and we've got to be ready to combat them on Saturday."
Tip-off on Saturday at the DAC is set for 2:00pm.
You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.