City of Basketball Love

Stephen Pianovich (@SPianovich)
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The last time both Bruiser Flint and Monte Ross were in Baltimore for CAA media day in October, there’s no way they could have predicted how their respective 2015-16 seasons could have gone.

Both Flint’s Drexel squad and Ross’ Delaware team were torn apart by injuries and the two finished at the bottom of the Colonial Athletic Association. Unless either side makes a run, both teams’ season will come to a close this weekend. But there’s always a chance for upsets in the 10-team tournament.

Here’s six things to watch – three for both teams – in Friday's matchups.

No. 9 Drexel (5-24, 3-15) vs. No. 8 Elon (16-15, 7-11)

A motivated Tavon Allen

The Dragon’s leading scorer and senior has been playing some of his best basketball with his time in a Drexel uniform winding down. After scoring just 13 points in a three-game stretch about a month ago, Allen has responded by averaging 19.3 points per game in his last four contests.

Production from at least one Drexel big

In the Dragons’ two earlier losses to Elon – which came by a combined 10 points – Rodney Williams and Kazembe Abif both had strong showings on different occasions. In the first meeting, Williams went for 19 points and seven boards while Abif scored 16 and pulled down nine rebounds in the second game.

A concerned Drexel fan base

The Dragons’ season could be over by 8 p.m. Friday and the biggest question of the offseason for the Dragons will be whether Flint remains the head coach of the team after back-to-back losing seasons. Flint is about to wrap up his 14th season as Drexel’s head coach and his previous low win total was 11, coming last season.

No. 10 Delaware (7-22, 2-16) vs. No. 7 College of Charleston (16-13, 8-10)

Strong perimeter defense

One of the Hens’ two conference wins came against Charleston, and Delaware got that victory largely in part to strong defense – especially at the 3-point line. The Hens limited Charleston to a 27.3 percent (6-for-22) shooting performance from beyond the arc and held on for a three-point victory at home.

A lot of Kory Holden

Delaware’s sophomore point guard has been their best player all season, scoring 17.3 points and averaging 4.3 assists per game. For that, Holden was a second-team All-CAA selection and he’ll need another big night if the Hens are going to move on in the tournament.

A moderately healthy but seriously hungry Marvin King-Davis

The senior forward is probable for Friday night’s game with a hamstring issue, but it would take a lot to keep King-Davis out of what could be his final college game. A starter on the 2014 team which made it to the NCAA Tournament, King-Davis has seen success in his time at Delaware and won’t want to go out quietly. He was a third-team all-conference pick and posted a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) in that earlier win over Charleston.