Under the Radar Game of the Day: Goldey-Beacom College at Coppin State (and Puppet Ramblings, Thursday, Dec 15)

Goldey-Beacom College at Coppin State, 7:30 PM Eastern, coppinstatesports.com

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For the past six years, we here at HoopsHD have given an annual “award” to the team that in our opinion, had the worst season among all 351 Division I teams.  This award includes with it the honor of being among the teams that we will keep on our Nomination Board during our Mock Committee meetings in March.  Last season, the Chicago State Cougars took the Award.  And last night, we almost saw one of the greatest upsets in a long time as that same Chicago State team just barely came up short at Northwestern, in what would have been the most significant win in their school’s history.  In honor of this near miss by Chicago State (and yes, we were pulling for them and the amazing story it would have made), tonight’s Under the Radar Game of the Day is focusing in on one of this year’s top candidates for the Award.

Coppin State enters play tonight at 0-12 on the season.  11 of those losses have come away from home, and most of them in buy games against major conference teams.  However, the Eagles have played one home game, against non-D1 Chestnut Hill, and came up short in that one as well.  Tonight, the Eagles get another non-D1 opponent as Goldey-Beacom College from Wilmington, Delaware is in town to challenge them.  The Goldey-Beacom Lightning are 7-2 on their Division II season, having run off six straight wins heading into tonight’s game.  A win by Coppin State will take them off the ever-diminishing list of teams without a win yet this season, while a loss will clearly turn them into the frontrunners for this season’s Centenary Award.

For the complete history and more information on the Centenary Award, CLICK HERE.

PUPPET RAMBLINGS

-The fact that Chad picked the game that he did for the UTR GOTD is a testament to just how little is happening tonight.  NC State, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Auburn are playing home buy games.  Auburn’s game against Coastal Carolina isn’t technically a buy game, but part of a series.  Cliff Ellis, who was the coach a Auburn the last time the team was any good, is now the coach at Coastal Carolina, so it’s a good series for that reason.

-Two other games worth pointing out are Charleston at East Carolina and UCF at George Washington.  Charleston is off to a good start this year and their program appears to be turning around in a hurry.  They go to an ECU team that’s also off to a notably good start.  UCF is coming off a rather surprising home loss to Penn, especially considering how good they had looked prior to that game, and will look to rebound against a GW team that’s sometimes hot, but more oftentimes cold.

-Notable results from last night include Northwestern’s near escape against Chicago State, which Chad mentioned above.  That would have been far more notable had Chicago state pulled off the upset.  East Tennessee State picked up a nice road win at Mississippi State, and on paper are suddenly looking just as good as Chattanooga, who we felt could not only win the SoCon, but perhaps contend for an at-large bid.  Middle Tennessee picked up another true road win at Belmont, and continues to build what looks to be an impressive profile.