Hofstra Pride
CAA (26-8, 14-4)
Hofstra has won at least a share of the Colonial Athletic Association regular season title three times in the last five years. Coach Joe Mihalich has built a very competitive program with the Pride, but despite that success this is Hofstra’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001. This is an experienced squad that could make things interesting in the first round of the tournament thanks to their outside shooting ability.
Big Wins: 11/21 at UCLA (88-78), 2/1 at William & Mary (83-60), 2/22 at Delaware (78-62)
Bad Losses: 11/6 San Jose State (71-79), 11/13 at Bucknell (71-86), 2/27 Towson (65-76)
Coach: Joe Mihalich
Why They Can Surprise:
Hofstra has five players who average in double digits in the scoring department and four of them are very dangerous outside shooters. Senior Desure Buie leads the way with 18.2 points per game. The point guard knocks down an impressive 41.7 percent of his attempt from beyond the arc and does a great job of attacking the basket and finding a teammate or finishing himself. Eli Pemberton is slightly less prolific and consistent beyond the arc, but he is a big 6-5 guard who can finish above the rim. Jalen Ray and Tareq Coburn shoot over 39 percent from long range and if those four perimeter starters are hitting their shots, Hofstra can be extremely difficult to defend.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Isaac Kante is the big man who will stay in the paint. The 6-7 junior does a good job offensively, averaging 11.4 points per game and he is tough on the glass too. The concern is that this is not a big team and running into a squad that has a couple talented scoring big men could prove problematic. And that problem will become even larger if there is any foul trouble. Coach Mihalich will go with his five starters as much as possible. In the CAA championship game the starting lineup accounted for all but six minutes of game time. If somebody needs to sit for a few minutes due to foul trouble, there will be a drop-off in production that Hofstra may not be able to afford if they want to pull off an upset.
Probable Starters:
Desure Buie, Senior, Guard, 18.2 ppg, 5.9 apg, 2.0 spg
Tareq Coburn, Senior, Guard, 10.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg
Eli Pemberton, Senior, Guard, 17.6 ppg, 1.9 apg, 5.6 rpg
Jalen Ray, Junior, Guard, 11.9 ppg, 1.9 apg
Isaac Kante, Junior, Forward, 11.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg
Key Role Players:
Stafford Trueheart, Senior, Forward, 1.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 76.6 (37th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 68.9 (163, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.3 (93, 4)
Field-Goal Defense: 44.5 (260, 8)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.1 (84, 2)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 36.9 (33, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 77.8 (10, 2)
Rebound Margin: 0.5 (171, 6)
Assists Per Game: 12.5 (226, 6)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.2 (28, 2)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2019 | NIT | First Round loss to North Carolina State |
| 2016 | NIT | First Round loss to George Washington |
| 2015 | CBI | First Round loss to Vermont |
| 2011 | CBI | First Round loss to Evansville |
| 2010 | CBI | First Round loss to IUPUI |
| 2007 | NIT | First Round loss to DePaul |
| 2006 | NIT | First Round win over Nebraska |
| 2006 | NIT | Second Round win over St. Joseph's |
| 2006 | NIT | Quarterfinal loss to Old Dominion |
| 2005 | NIT | Opening Round loss to St. Joseph's |
*all team stats through 3/8
