Navy men’s basketball ready for impromptu weekend DH
Coach Ed DeChellis has repeatedly told his players and assistants that Navy men’s basketball needs to be flexible during a season played amid a pandemic.
The Midshipmen got the first taste of what the 10th-year head coach meant this week.
Navy was supposed to be off this weekend after its scheduled games against Loyola Maryland were postponed on New Year’s Eve. However, the Patriot League rearranged the schedule after learning American could not play this weekend due to a Tier 1 positive test for COVID-19 within its program.
American was supposed to play games against Lehigh on Saturday and Sunday. Since Navy and Lehigh were both going to be idle this weekend, the conference chose to have those schools play each other.
Navy and Lehigh were not originally scheduled to play this season. Apparently, the Patriot League is taking the approach of playing as many games as possible in anticipation that future games may get canceled.
DeChellis told The Capital on Monday afternoon that he was going to organize this week’s basketball activities as though the Mids were playing. He learned Wednesday morning that was indeed the case.
“I heard rumors from different people there might be some issues with American, so I told the staff we’ll just do our normal preparation,” DeChellis said. “I just had a feeling we would wind up playing somebody.”
The Patriot League is playing home-andhome weekend doubleheaders involving the same schools this season. Navy hosted Bucknell last Saturday, then traveled to Lewisburg for an immediate rematch the following day during the opening weekend of play. The Midshipmen swept the Bison, winning a pair of back-and-forth contests by single digits.
Now the Midshipmen will find out what it’s like to go on the road Saturday instead of Sunday. Traveling back and forth to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, will be tiring and DeChellis is curious how his team will respond when it tips off again Sunday at 3 p.m.
“I don’t know whether it’s tougher to travel Saturday or Sunday. We’ll find out this weekend,” DeChellis said. “You have to show up to play wherever and whenever you are supposed to do so. We’ll play [Saturday], then figure out how best to manage the Sunday game.”
Navy will board the bus bound for Bethlehem at 9 a.m. on Saturday with an expected arrival around noon for a 2 p.m. game. The Midshipmen will have pizza or sub sandwiches on the bus ride back, then eat a more substantial meal at the academy.
Players will receive treatment later Saturday night before getting to bed early in order to rest up for the Sunday game. DeChellis said the coaching staff will break down the Saturday game film during the return trip.
Sunday’s schedule begins at 10 a.m. with film review and a walk-through at Alumni Hall followed by pregame meal. Players needing additional treatment will visit the training room after eating lunch.
Navy learned Tuesday that senior forward Luke Loehr has suffered a season-ending knee injury. On the bright side, the Midshipmen will regain the services of sophomore guard Sean Yoder, who did not play last weekend due to a knee ailment.
DeChellis said junior wing guard Greg Summers and freshman point guard Austin Inge, who both got hurt during Sunday’s game at Bucknell, practiced this week and will be available for Lehigh.
“We’re at full strength other than Luke,” DeChellis said.
Senior forward Alec Loehr is expected to receive more playing time in the frontcourt in place of his twin brother.
“We’re going to need Al to help cover Luke’s minutes,” DeChellis said.
Women
UMBC pauses season: The UMBC women’s basketball program halted its season Friday after an unspecified individual tested positive for the coronavirus.
The team, which has a 2-6 overall record and 2-4 mark in the America East, announced that this weekend’s home series against conference rival New Hampshire (2-7, 2-4) is postponed. Makeup dates for those games have not been finalized.
This is the third pause for the Retrievers due to COVID-19. Games against Howard on Dec. 10 and Coppin State on Dec. 16 were canceled, and games against Stony Brook on Saturday and Sunday were postponed.