Nova Southeastern and Barry set for basketball showdown – unless COVID interferes
Nova Southeastern University’s men’s basketball team is ranked fifth in the nation in NCAA Division II, and the Sharks have a possible showdown looming.
The Sharks (10-0) are set to visit 19th-ranked Barry University (8-1) on Dec. 31. Barry had been ranked 12th in the nation before a six-point loss to Rollins on Dec. 11.
That Dec. 31 game is in doubt, however, because Barry has had two straight games cancelled due to COVID.
NSU is led by 6-5 wing Sekou Sylla, named Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week on Dec. 13. NSU guard Nick Smith was named SSC Defensive Player of the Week on the same day.
Sylla had 31 points and 14 rebounds on Sunday as NSU beat Virginia Union in overtime, 93-88. With 0.4 seconds left in regulation, NSU was down by two points, but, on an in-bounds pass from Nick Smith, Kobe Rodgers banked in a short jumper to send the game to OT.
Sharks coach Jim Crutchfield said the play was supposed to be a lob for Sylla or RJ Sunahara, but that was covered.
“I was hoping Nick would see what I saw,” Crutchfield said. “Kobe was open for a one-foot shot, and Nick saw him.”
Barry, meanwhile, is off to a good start thanks primarily to its bench. Barry reserves, through nine games, are averaging 46 points per game – 29.4 points more than their counterparts.
“We have an amazing bunch from the perspective of how unselfish they are,” Barry coach Butch Estes said.
Estes said four of his players and four staff members have tested positive for COVID and are under quarantine for at least seven days, but he added that the Dec. 31 game against NSU is still on as of now.
“We are 100 percent vaccinated,” Estes said. “But we still have one (assistant) coach and two players sick. The rest are asymptomatic.
“I hope we can play. It should be a really good game -- two nationally ranked teams.”
THIS AND THAT
▪ FIU’s starting offensive line has been raided as left tackle Miles Frazier transferred to LSU, left guard Sione Finau left for Purdue, and right guard Dontae Keys bolted to Colorado State.
▪ DJ Aiken, a 6-3, 235-pound prep defensive end from South Carolina, has verbally committed to FIU. He can sign in February.
▪ FIU’s men’s basketball team is in its first slump of the season with two losses followed by two cancellations. The Panthers will host Old Dominion on Dec. 31 as FIU will be looking for its first win in 26 days.
▪ FIU point guard Tevin Brewer ranks third in Conference USA in assists (5.5) and seventh in points (16.0). FIU also has two of the top five shot-blockers in the league in Clevon Brown (third, with 2.1) and Seth Pinkney (fifth, 1.64).
▪ Former FIU point guard Antonio Daye Jr. had 13 points, a game-high six assists and five rebounds on Dec. 12 as his Fordham Rams lost to the Miami Hurricanes, 72-66. For the season, Daye leads the Rams in scoring (17.6) and assists (3.3).
This story was originally published December 22, 2021 at 12:30 PM.