MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Barry University’s No. 8-ranked men’s basketball team hosts No. 9 Indianapolis 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in a battle of unbeatens to kick off the Cruzin’ Classic hosted by Trip Sports.
The game will air on the Buccaneers Broadcast Network with Danny Rabinowitz handling the call.
This marks the first ranked opponent for both teams this season. Barry (6-0) and Indianapolis (7-0) have not played since each won their respective conference openers on Dec. 6. Tuesday’s tilt is the first between the two schools since Dec. 18, 2010 when the Greyhounds beat the Buccaneers, 67-57, in Boca Raton, Fla.
“It’s not about the polls or the standings,” Bucs second-year coach Butch Estes said. “It’s about trying to conduct yourself each and every day as a champion.”
Both teams competed in the NCAA Division II National Tournament last season. Both teams are scoring over 84 points per game. Both teams rank in the top 12 in the country in five different team statistical categories.
The Greyhounds are second in the nation in assists per game (22.1). Barry is eighth (20.0). Indy is outscoring teams by 27 points per game, which ranks second nationally. The Bucs are eighth at a 22.0-points per game differential. Barry ranks seventh in the country in rebound margin (12.0). Indianapolis is 11th at 11.0.
“Playing against the No. 12 team in the country, you always have to have your mind right, and know the team you’re playing against,” said Bucs junior forward Yunio Barrueta, who is averaging 16.5 points and 7.7 rebounds. “Taking the rankings away, this is a regular game – just go out there and play hard like we always do.”
Indy point guard Lucas Barker, a 6-foot junior from Cranbourne, Australia, leads the nation in assists per game (8.9). A Kentucky Wesleyan transfer, Barker is also shooting 51 percent from the field, including 44 percent from three-point range, while averaging 9.7 points per game. He’s had a career-high 11 assists in two games this year.
Barker will be matched up with Barry senior point guard Deric Hill, who is tied for 15th in the country in assists per game at 6.2. Hill was fourth in the nation (7.6) last year. He is averaging 9.8 points per game, and shooting 47 percent.
Greyhounds 6-7 senior forward Joe Lawson is averaging 21 points and 8.7 rebounds per game,while shooting 59 percent from the floor. Brennan McElroy, a 6-7 senior forward, is shooting 76.8 percent, which ranks second in the country. He’s averaging 13.9 points and 9.4 rebounds. Guards Jordan Loyd (11.4) and Dai-Jon Parker (10.1) are also scoring in double figures.
“Statistically, they are as impressive as any team that I’ve ever coached against,” said Estes, who is in his 32nd year as a collegiate coach. “We did have an opportunity to watch a few minutes of their (exhibition) game against the University of Indiana, which they competed very, very well against. This is a strong, big, physical team with impressive numbers, coming here undefeated. They’re used to winning. They’ve been in the Top 20 the last three or four years on a consistent basis, so this is a premier program. And you know, it’ll be a great opportunity for our guys. What a challenge, and our guys like those challenges, and they usually rise to the occasion. So it will be so much fun to see how we can compete at ultimately the top level of Division II basketball in the country.”
GAME NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: Then-No. 12 Barry waged through its lowest scoring output of the season in the conference opener, holding on to beat Saint Leo for the first time in seven games ... Sr. G Juan Ferrales scored 17 points, and Sr. G Deric Hill had 16 points, six assists and two steals.
SERIES RECORD: Barry is 1-2 all-time against Indianapolis ... In the last meeting, the Greyhounds won 67-57 on Dec. 18, 2010 in Boca Raton, Fla. ... Indy beat the Buccaneers, 73-55, on Nov. 27, 1999 in the only meeting in Miami Shores ... Barry’s win, 44-43, came on Dec. 21, 2002 in Boca Raton.
EYES ON OPPONENTS: The Greyhounds are averaging 89.1 points per game, and have a 27-point average margin of victory in their seven games ... Indy’s closest game was a 19-point victory ... Sr. F/C Joe Lawson is averaging 21 ppg, 8.6 reb and 1.7 blk, while hitting 59.2 percent of his shots ... Sr. F Brennan McElroy is averaging 13.9 ppg, 9.4 reb and 2.5 stl, while shooting 76.8 percent from the floor, which ranks second in the country ... Jr. G Jordan Loyd is scoring 11.4 ppg and shooting 40 percent from 3-pt range ... Sr. G Dai-Jon Parker is scoring 10.1 ppg ... Jr. G Lucas Barker leads the nation in assists per game (8.9) ... Indy is shooting 54.5 percent from the field, including 40 percent from 3-point range.
SHARING MEANS SCORING: Barry ranks eighth in the country in assists per game (20.0) ... Indy ranks second (22.1) ... That helps explain why both teams are scoring over 84 points per game.
BARRY IT OR BURY IT?: In four of the six games this year, the Bucs have hit 10 or more 3-pointers, with a season-high of 12 ... In two games, Barry made just six triples ... The Bucs are coming off a season-low .214 three-point shooting effort after going 6 of 28 from beyond the arc.
TAKING CARE OF THINGS: The Bucs committed a season-low six turnovers in the win over Saint Leo ... That is the fewest amount of turnovers Barry has committed under head coach Butch Estes in his two years.
2 FOR 20s: Only two players have scored over 20 points for the Bucs in a game this year, Jr. F Yunio Barrueta and Soph. F Adrian Gonzalez ... Conversely, Indy’s Joe Lawson and Dai-Jon Parker have reached 20 or more a combined six times, with Lawson accounting for five of them.
ON THE REBOUND: Barry has outrebounded all six opponents this year.
2014-15 BUCS RECORD WHEN ...
Overtime Games: 0-0
Home Games: 6-0
Road Games: 0-0
Neutral Games: 0-0
Night Games: 5-0
Day Games: 1-0
Leading at Halftime: 6-0
Trailing at Halftime: 0-0
Tied at Halftime: 0-0
After a Loss: 0-0
Scoring 80+ points: 4-0
Scoring 70-79 points: 1-0
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: 0-0
Games Decided by 10 points or Less: 1-0
Games Decided by 11-20 Points: 0-0
Games Decided by over 20 Points: 5-0
Outrebounding Opponents: 6-0
Opponents Outrebound Bucs: 0-0
Matching Opponents in Rebounds: 0-0
Committing 15 or Fewer Turnovers: 5-0
Committing over 15 Turnovers: 1-0