MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – This much the Buccaneers know about Tampa: the Spartans have one of the best big men in the league.
Barry University men’s basketball team is about to get an up-close look at 6-foot-8, 260-pound senior center Eugene McCrory as the No. 3/4 Bucs (15-1, 7-0 Sunshine State Conference) host Tampa (11-6, 4-3) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Health & Sports Center. The game will be carried on the Buccaneer Broadcasting Network.
McCrory is averaging 17.2 points per game, which ranks fourth in the league. The University of Central Florida transfer is second in rebounding at 9.8 per game. He’s shooting a league-best 68.6 percent from the field, going 120 of 175 from the floor
And no, none of them are 3-pointers.
“McCrory scores in the post as well as anyone we will see all year,” Barry second-year assistant coach Justin Furr said. “Our bigs have a tough assignment trying to contain him, and make it tough as possible.”
Last week, Buccaneers head coach Butch Estes said he wanted to improve his team’s interior play. Wednesday’s matchup with McCrory beckons for that.
Of course, the Spartans aren’t limited to its strong post presence. Senior guard Jordan Davis, a week removed from being named SSC Player of the Week, is averaging 15.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game. He is second in the league in assists behind Barry senior point guard Deric Hill. Davis is shooting 90.7 percent from the free throw line, which ranks third behind Barry junior guard Anders Haas. All the more impressive, Davis is fifth in the league in rebounding – as a 5-10 guard, mind you – behind Barry forwards Yunio Barrueta and Jevoni Robinson.
“Davis is one of the toughest guards for us to defend, dating back to last season,” Furr said. “He has a tendency to always make the big play, and really does a great job of finding open guys and hurting our pressure.”
Last year, Davis had 17 points and 10 assists in Barry’s win at the Health & Sports Center. He scored 15 points, had eight assists, five rebounds and two steals in the Spartans’ win in Tampa.
“Tampa has the best one-two punch in the league with McCrory and Davis,” Furr said.
Spartans sophomore swingman Austin Rettig is averaging 14.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, while shooting 45.3 from the field and 80.4 percent from the stripe. He is seventh in the league in rebounding.
“We have our hands full tomorrow night,” Furr said.
But the Buccaneers have been game for challenges all season, overcoming deficits to prevail, racing out to large leads to win comfortably and making just enough to plays to win tight games. The Bucs have won six of their conference games by nine points or less.
Wednesday is another test.
BUCCANEERS BROADCASTING NETWORK
GAME NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: Barry overcame a 17-point deficit in the final 6:59 to win in double overtime at Eckerd ... Yunio Barrueta had 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists ... Arie Williams had 16 points, and hit some clutch 3-pointers ... Juan Ferrales had 20 points and two steals.
SERIES RECORD: Barry is 23-40 all-time against Tampa ... The Bucs and Spartans split the season series last year, each winning on its home court.
EYES ON OPPONENTS: The Spartans are coming off an 82-71 win at Rollins on Saturday ... C Eugene McCrory is averaging 17.2 ppg and 9.8 reb, while shooting 68.6 percent from the floor ... G Jordan Davis has a multi-faceted game, what with his 15.1 ppg, 7.1 reb and 6.8 apg, and is a 90.7 percent free throw shooter ... Austin Rettig scores 14.9 ppg and pulls down 6.2 reb ... The Spartans have won five of their last six.
FINISHING FIRST HALF: Wednesday’s game marks the completion of the first half of Sunshine State Conference play ... The Bucs begin the second half of league play Saturday at Saint Leo before returning home to host No. 2/3 Florida Southern at 7:30 p.m. next Wednesday.
CLOSE CALLS: The last two Barry wins at Eckerd (2012 and 2014) were decided by a total of five points ... The Bucs beat the Tritons, 68-65, last year in St. Petersburg ... Barry won 68-66 in 2012 on a last-second shot.
NEARLY NATIONAL: Barry’s 30-for-31 shooting from the free throw at Lynn last week for 96.8 percent just missed a 30-year national record ... On Feb. 6, 1985, Dowling went 31-for-31 vs. Southampton to set the record.
DARK HORSE DUNKER: Sr. F Jevoni Robinson will be entered in a Dark Horse Dunker competition on Facebook in February ... He will need votes in a bracket style Facebook competition to advance ... Stay tuned to Barry Athletics Facebook page and www.GoBarryBucs.com
STEALING THE SPOTLIGHT: Sr. PG Deric Hill has had four steals in each of his last three games ... His 114 steals in his two seasons at Barry rank ninth all-time ... He is seven away from moving into sixth place.
JANUARY JUGGERNAUT: Jr. F Yunio Barrueta was named SSC Player of the Week for the third time this month ... He’s averaged 20.7 ppg and 9.8 rebounds with three double-doubles in seven January games.
2014-15 BUCS RECORD WHEN ...
Overtime Games: 1-0
Home Games: 9-1
Road Games: 4-0
Neutral Games: 2-0
Night Games: 11-1
Day Games: 4-0
Leading at Halftime: 12-1
Trailing at Halftime: 3-0
Tied at Halftime: 0-0
After a Loss: 1-0
Scoring 80+ points: 11-0
Scoring 70-79 points: 3-1
Scoring 60-69 points: 1-0
Scoring 50-59 points: 0-0
Games Decided by 2 points or Less: 0-0
Games Decided by 5 points or Less: 2-1
Games Decided by 10 points or Less: 7-1
Games Decided by 11-20 Points: 2-0
Games Decided by over 20 Points: 6-0
Outrebounding Opponents: 13-1
Opponents Outrebound Bucs: 2-0
Matching Opponents in Rebounds: 0-0
Committing 15 or Fewer Turnovers: 9-0
Committing over 15 Turnovers: 6-1