GETTING INSIDE
With the start of Atlantic 10 play right around the corner, it is obvious how much St. Bonaventure will count on sophomore forward Andrew Nicholson this season.
Nicholson was ejected in the second half for hitting Andy Rautins of Syracuse in the groin on Dec. 19 and St. Bonaventure wound up losing 85-72.
In another road game three days later, Nicholson scored 24 points against Niagara, but was limited to 16 minutes because of foul trouble and the Bonnies lost again, 77-71.
The back-to-back losses dropped St. Bonaventure to 6-5 with two non-conference games to go before its Atlantic 10 opener on Jan. 6 against George Washington.
Nicholson is averaging 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds a game, both team-leading figures. He is the only big man in a four-guard starting lineup.
Senior guard Chris Matthews is St. Bonaventure’s top outside shooting threat and is averaging 11.8 points. Jonathan Hall, another senior guard, scores most of his points by penetrating and is averaging 11.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
Sophomore guard Michael Davenport moved into the starting lineup four games ago, and is averaging 8.5 points and 3.0 assists. Junior point guard Malcolm Eleby has averages of 7.0 points and 4.6 assists.
While St. Bonaventure has a deep and varied backcourt, it is still Nicholson who makes things go. When he stays on the floor, the Bonnies stack up with a lot of opponents.
NOTES, QUOTES
• St. Bonaventure has lost all four of its true road games this season. The Bonnies started 7-0 on the road last season.
• St. Bonaventure has had at least 17 turnovers four times this season.
January At A Glance: The Bonnies took a major step forward when they got to .500 last season and they feel they are ready to go beyond that this winter. They have played solidly throughout the preseason, having been in every game except a 52-point blowout at Mississippi State, and want to carry that over and be consistent in Atlantic 10 play with the chance to earn a decent seeding for the conference tournament.
Quote To Note: “Everybody has to take responsibility. We need to work on doing a better job when he is not in the game.”—St. Bonaventure coach Mark Schmidt after a 77-71 loss at Niagara on Dec. 22 in which F Andrew Nicholson scored 24 points but was limited to 16 minutes because of foul trouble.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Season Recap: Sophomore forward Andrew Nicholson is even better this season after being the Atlantic 10’s Newcomer of the Year last winter. However, the Bonnies need better guard play to take some pressure off their only legitimate inside scoring threat, so seniors Chris Matthews and Jonathan Hall need to step up their games.
Player Rotation: Usual starters—F Andrew Nicholson, G Chris Matthews, G Jonathan Hall, G Malcolm Eleby, G Michael Davenport. Key subs—F DaQuan Cook, G Dimitrios Conger, G Ogo Adegboye, G Marquise Simmons.
Game Review:
St. Bonaventure 79, Savannah State 47
Syracuse 85, St. Bonaventure 72
Niagara 77, St. Bonaventure 71
Game Preview:
Vs. Canisius, Wednesday, Dec. 30
At Marshall, Saturday, Jan. 2
Vs. George Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 6
At Charlotte, Saturday, Jan. 9
Vs. Saint Joseph’s, Saturday, Jan. 16
In Foucs: The visit to Marshall is important because St. Bonaventure is 0-4 in true road games and it is the Bonnies’ final non-conference game away from home. St. Bonaventure would like to build some confidence that it can win on the road before Atlantic 10 play begins.
Roster Report:
• G Lewis Leonard did not dress for the 77-71 loss at Niagara on Dec. 22 because of a groin injury and is questionable for the Dec. 30 game against Canisius. He has appeared in only five games this season off the bench, averaging 1.6 points in 5.2 minutes.
• F Jake Housekhecht played a career-high nine minutes off the bench against Niagara, but did not score. The freshman has seen action in five games this season, averaging 5.2 minutes, after taking being a redshirt last winter.
• G Malcolm Eleby, a junior, had the first dunk of his career in the loss at Niagara.
