The Rowan Profs are heading to Jersey City to take on the New Jersey City University Gothic Knights this Saturday in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) playoffs. The winner quarterfinal takes on the one-loss Montclair State Red Hawks in the next round.
The Profs finished the regular season on a three-game losing streak, while NJCU entered the game having won just two of its final eight regular-season games. The beauty about the playoffs is that you get a blank slate to start and the Profs know this very well.
“Your regular season record doesn’t matter.” senior Chris McCarron said. “Once you step on the court in a playoff game, everybody’s 0-0.”
Profs leading scorer, Taz Cantey feels the same way.
“Like Chris said,” he said “We start 0-0 and it’s a brand new season.”
Rowan won the last time these two teams played back on January 24, 74-69. The game was at Jersey City but the stakes are higher and the atmosphere is going to be different this time around.
Head coach Eric Brennan, who has led Rowan to three straight playoff berths, knows very well what a playoff atmosphere is like.
“We have Jersey City experience under our belts, but the Jersey City playoff game will be much different,” Brennan said. “More exciting, more intense.
Rowan has been the better team in this matchup the past couple of seasons. In the Brennan era, Rowan is 4-2 in the last six games. Half of those wins have come in Jersey City.
“Gotta get them knowing that we’re capable,” Brennan said.” I think it’s a little easier because we won up there, but not every game’s the same.
NJCU will be looking for revenge, not only to avenge their home loss earlier this season but because they beat Rowan earlier in the season. The Gothic Knights beat Rowan, 85-72, right in Esbjornson Gymnasium.
Rowan and NJCU are polar opposites. Rowan scores 79 points a game, 10 more points than NJCU. The Gothic Knights on the other hand allow just 68 points per game — 11 less than the Profs.
What NJCU has that Rowan does not is a signature win. NJCU topped the two-seed in the NJAC, The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) on Feb. 14, 70-69. Rowan is 1-7 against the top four teams in the conference.
Rowan on the other hand shoots the cover off the ball. As a team the Profs shoot 45% from the field, NJCU just 41% from the field. From three, Rowan shoots 30% and NJCU just 27%.
If the Profs want to survive and advance, they will have to shoot the ball efficiently and stay composed against a battle tested Gothic Knights team.
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