Checking Out the Delaware Blue Hens

At a time like this, it's hard to know exactly what to say. They were due? The sun even shines on a dog's ass? I don't know. My tongue is tied in the face of the sudden surgence of the Delaware Blue Hens. (Yeah, I said surgence. You can't resurge if you never surged).

This it not even a case of "This year, they're suddenly good", it's like "This past five minutes, they've been really good". The Blue Hens started the season with four straight losses to less-than-stellar competition and entered conference play at 4-7. They looked poised to be the same old toothless birds that have built a nest in the CAA basement.

Then they won two straight on the road to begin their Colonial season. At William & Mary and at Drexel isn't likely to impress anyone this year, but it was still a nice start. Then it was a couple of home dates, in which the Hens used a lotta overtime to beat both George Mason and Old Dominion, picked to lead the league in preseason polls. The ODU win pushed them over .500 for the first time this season.

In searching for a catalyst for this recent improvement, the first thing that jumps out to a reader unfamiliar with the Blue Hens (and isn't that all of us?) is the fact that 6'6" Junior Guard Marc Egerson missed the first seven games of the season since transferring from Georgetown. Since he came back to his home state, the Hens are 6-2 overall. Egerson is playing 35 minutes per game and quickly became the second leading scorer for Delaware, with 14 per contest. In rebounding, he's tops, with a rugged 7 per game average.

Herb Courtney is throwing in almost identical numbers, with more than a block per game for good measure, and Sophomore Guard Brian Johnson is the rock, averaging over 37 minutes of floor time, distributing the ball with alacrity and scoring when necessary. Freshman G Alphonso Dawson has taken to the third scorer's spot with ease (just don't ask him to hit a three - ugh).

The Hens will be tested in their roadie vs. VCU tonight, but with the balanced attack they have going right now, they might be up to the task. I'm just not sure I'm ready to live in a world where we have to talk about the bubble prospects of cerulean barnyard fowl. I guess I'll just have to deal.