MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Most of the players on Barry University men's basketball team would have no idea about where the Buccaneers' 10-1 start stands in school history. So here's a little history lesson:
This year's start is one of the three best of all time in Barry's 31-year history. A win over Palm Beach Atlantic Saturday would match the 2000-01 team's 11-1 start.
"Any time you can set a school record for wins to start a season, it is a special accomplishment," Bucs second-year assistant coach Justin Furr said. "We want to continue to build this program that was started with so many great teams and coaches before us."
No. 7/8 Barry hosts PBA (5-6) at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Health & Sports Center in a game to be carried on the Buccaneers Broadcast Network.
The Buccaneers beat Palm Beach Atlantic twice last year, but both games were decided by single digits. Barry won its home game against the Sailfish last season, 78-69. This year, PBA is 1-4 on the road. Conversely, the Bucs are 6-1 at home.
This marks the first game in the HSC since Dec. 16 -- the Bucs' only loss of the season, a 78-73 setback to No. 9 Indianapolis. Saturday's game is also the start of a three-game homestand. Barry will also host Florida Tech on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and Nova Southeastern on Jan. 17 at 4 p.m.
Barry has won four straight -- all away from the HSC.
"We had a great first semester and a strong start in conference play here in early January," Furr said. "Our guys' mental focus has been sharp. They have really been focused on one game at a time."
GAME NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: Barry came back in the second half to beat Rollins on the road Wednesday ... Yunio Barrueta had 19 points and nine rebounds, Deric Hill had 17 points, eight assists and two steals.
SERIES RECORD: Barry is 23-4 all-time against the Sailfish ... The Bucs swept the season series last year, winning the last game, 84-78, in West Palm Beach on Feb. 12, 2014.
EYES ON OPPONENTS: The Sailfish are set to become affiliate members of the Sunshine State Conference ... They have lost six straight, including a 72-70 setback at Florida Tech on Tuesday ... Evin Graham leads PBA in scoring (14.1) and assists (3.2) ... Ronnell Ross is averaging 13.1 ppg and 8.1 reb ... Garet Tucker is scoring 12.1 ppg and shooting 55.8 % FG.
MILESTONE MARK: Soph. PG Deric Hill reached 300 assists in his two-year Bucs career Wednesday ... He ranks third all-time in school history behind Bucs assistant coach Ryan Saunders (578) and Nelson Fonseca (480) ... Saunders finished in 2007, Fonseca in 1995.
VOTE FOR YUNIO: Jr. F Yunio Barrueta was nominated for Bennett Rank’s Stud of the Week honor ... Vote for him at http://www.bennettrank.com/collegebasketball/d2-mens-basketball-studs-week-week-8/#
ROBINSON’S REBOUNDS: Sr. F Jevoni Robinson leads the Bucs in offensive rebounds (23) ... He had six of Barry’s 14 on Wednesday ... Robinson ranks fourth in the Sunshine State Conference at 7.4 per game.
SCORING SPIKE: Deric Hill has spiked his scoring average from 8.3 ppg to 10.1 ppg in the last four games ... He’s reached double figures in his last three games ... He had double-doubles in points and assists in two of them.
ASSISTANCE: Barry has recorded over 20 assists in seven games this year ... The Bucs rank fourth in the country at 21.5 assists per game.
LEAGUE LEADERS: Barrueta leads the SSC in defensive rebounds (6.5) ... Hill is tops in assists (7.7) ... Barry is first in rebound margin (10.8), assists (21.5) and 3-point FG % (.393).
STRONG START: Barry is off to a 10-1 start for the third time in school history ... The Bucs were 10-1 in 2000-01 and 2002-03.
2014-15 BUCS RECORD WHEN ...
Overtime Games: 0-0
Home Games: 6-1
Road Games: 2-0
Neutral Games: 2-0
Night Games: 9-1
Day Games: 1-0
Leading at Halftime: 9-1
Trailing at Halftime: 1-0
Tied at Halftime: 0-0
After a Loss: 1-0
Scoring 80+ points: 7-0
Scoring 70-79 points: 2-0
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: 1-1
Games Decided by 10 points or Less: 4-1
Games Decided by 11-20 Points: 0-0
Games Decided by over 20 Points: 6-0
Outrebounding Opponents: 10-1
Opponents Outrebound Bucs: 0-0
Matching Opponents in Rebounds: 0-0
Committing 15 or Fewer Turnovers: 5-0
Committing over 15 Turnovers: 5-1