11/29: Post De La Rosa Era begins with Scarlet beating for UMBC while Hartford preps for offense minded Yale

Did you hear the big news today UMBC fans? Yea, not exactly what you want to hear when you are 0-5 and getting ready to play a Big East team.

UMBC 56, Rutgers 94

Less than 10 hours after it put out an official release that star guard Chris De La Rosa  was leaving the program, UMBC had to play a game. As expected, they lost. It really wasn't even a loss. It was a complete beat down. Rutgers never looked worried and cruised to an easy 94-56 victory over the Retrievers. New star Retriever Chase Plummer led the team all-around, finishing with 11 points and seven rebounds.

The loss of De La Rosa may have opened the door for JC transfer Ryan Cook. The former Chestnut Hill College walk-on saw his first action of the season, finishing with 11 points and two assists off the bench. Problem is he did shoot 1 for 7 from three point range and 3 for 13 overall from the field. However, we should not go to hard on him. UMBC was 7 for 21 from behind the arc on the night. In other words...EVERYONE SUCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE TONIGHT.

Brian Neller is continuing to show growth in his junior season. He finished with nine points and three assists. However, despite the "reasonable" offense, the Retrievers could do little to shutdown the Rutgers offense. The Scarlet Knights finished with four guys in double figures and shot 55% from the field. They also went 10 for 17 from three point range.

UMBC continues to sit dead last in the conference at 0-6 with Hartford. They will now travel to American University before heading to Towson in a "Baltimore Battle" against another win-less team. Can we say first victory of the season?

Up Tonight

7:00 pm

Yale vs. Hartford

This will be the first of two games this week against the America East for the preppy Bulldogs. They are 1-1 vs. Connecticut teams, defeating Central Connecticut State to start the season, but losing to Quinnipiac. Hartford needs to find a way to score. However, when you are going up against  the 70th ranked team in the nation in scoring and your team is ranked 333rd in scoring, you know it will probably be a long night. If you go to the game or watch it online, watch the play of Bulldogs forward Greg Mangano. He is a Ivy League beast!