Observations from the Sacred Heart Win

The Mount ended its month long losing streak with a good win on the road at Sacred Heart, 69-65 on Saturday afternoon. Some additional thoughts and observations on the game and where it leaves the Mount at this point

• Kelly Beidler had a very nice game for the Mount. The senior has probably been the Mount's most consistent performer this season. He leads the team in rebounding and has become a very good second or third option offensively. I'd like to see him finish a little better inside, but he continues to get big buckets when needed.
• Sacred Heart made 10 three pointers which really kept them in the game. I think the Pioneers and their fans may feel they had a bad day shooting the basketball. However, I think much of that had to do with the Mount defense. However, every time SHU needed a basket to stay within striking distance they got a key three. Sometimes in well-defended situations.
• Shawn Atupem had a good game Saturday. The QU announcers sort of blamed Atupem, or at least the Mount's strategy to goto Atupem so often for the loss on Thursday night. But Atupem stepped forward and had a big game on Saturday afternoon. He seemed more under control around the basket and finished a little stronger.
• The gory part of the schedule is over. Certainly, we all expected the Mount to fare better during it. But we also knew that with the tough non-conference schedule and the tough opening to conference play that a rough patch was possible. No one expected it to be this rough. But the Mount has played 3 of the top 4 conference teams on the road already. (Unless you're willing to throw Monmouth into that bunch).
• With that said, there may not be a game the Mount is thought of as an underdog the rest of the way. Games at Monmouth and Long Island may be the lone exceptions. But the Mount must capatilize on this easier part of the schedule and build on what happened on Saturday. I think if they do that a 12-6 (or possibly better) conference record is still in the cards and with that would likely come at least one home game in the NEC conference tournament.
• Jeremy Goode is now two assists away from matching Gregory Harris as the all-time assist leader in Mount history. He'll likely surpass Harris on Thursday night against St. Francis (NY). Stand up and give #1 a hand when he achieves the milestone. He deserves it.