The last-place Delaware Blue Coats fell to the first-place Greensboro Swarm at home on Friday, March 7 by a final score of 118-107.

The Coats entered the game as clear underdogs, but hope arose earlier in the day when Ricky Council IV was assigned to Delaware by the Philadelphia 76ers. Council IV was a two-way player last season but performed well enough across both the NBA and G League to earn a four-year, non-guaranteed contract with the Sixers.

One of the G League’s top players last season, Council IV averaged 23.1 points and 5.4 rebounds over 11 games in the 2023-24 season. He was assigned to the G League back in January, performed well, and carried that success into a five-game stretch with the Sixers.

Now struggling again in the NBA, the Sixers hope he can regain his rhythm.

In a game with few bright spots for Delaware, Council IV was one of them. He scored a career-high 40 points on 14-of-27 shooting. Perhaps more importantly, he hit four three-pointers—an aspect of his game that could determine his long-term NBA success.

“He has to find his rhythm,” head coach Mike Longabardi said. “That’s the big thing. He hasn’t played as much recently, so he wants to get out there. I thought he did a really good job, and he scored at a high level.”

Despite Council IV’s strong play, the Blue Coats struggled in the first quarter, primarily due to Greensboro’s hot shooting. The Swarm shot 70% from the field in the opening quarter.

Rookie second-round pick KJ Simpson tormented Delaware throughout the game. He scored 10 points in the first quarter, missing just one shot.

The Blue Coats had trouble defending in transition and closing out on three-point shooters.

After a strong second quarter, Delaware took a lead into halftime. Council IV thrived during this stretch, hitting numerous difficult shots. His athleticism, a major advantage in the G League, overwhelmed the Swarm’s defense.

Fellow two-way player Jeff Dowtin Jr. also had a strong second quarter, and a solid game overall. Though not as athletic or physically imposing as Council IV, Dowtin Jr. is a well-rounded player. In this game, he showcased his ability to create off the dribble, scoring in a variety of ways. He was particularly effective in pick-and-roll situations against defenders playing drop coverage, punishing them with mid-range jumpers.

However, both Council IV and Dowtin Jr. struggled to create for others, which became evident in the third quarter, when the Swarm regained the lead and never relinquished it.

Greensboro frequently doubled Delaware’s two-way players, forcing tough shots.

“That’s an elite defensive team,” Longabardi said. “We’ve got to be really tuned in to what we need to do, from a game plan perspective.”

The Blue Coats finished with just 12 assists. The team sorely missed Judah Mintz, their season leader in assists. The two-way players bring a different style.

“Ricky is a one-on-one player, and so is Jeff,” Longabardi said. “The assists may go down a little bit, but we have to be better in that area.”

Council IV attempted to spark a comeback with a buzzer-beating three-pointer at the end of the third quarter. He scored 13 points in the fourth, cutting the deficit to four at one point, but a 12-2 Swarm run sealed the Coats’ fate.

With the NBA season’s home stretch approaching, Council IV will likely return to the Sixers. Time will tell if he can translate his G League dominance back to the NBA.

“I am finding my love for the game,” Council IV said. “Sometimes, it’s tough up there. You’re playing, then you’re not playing. And when you get thrown in, sometimes things don’t go right. I’m just trying to find my rhythm, and my love for the game.”

For comments/questions about this story DM us on Instagram @TheWhitSports or email sports@thewhitonline.com