After loss to Lafayette, FDU's need for defensive rhythm a concern

Despite loss to Lafayette that snapped three-game losing streak, Greg Herenda is still optimistic about FDU's overall prospects, but insists Knights need to improve defensive efforts. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

By Ray Floriani (@rfloriani)

TEANECK, NJ -- A Sunday afternoon home game was approached with eager anticipation, and why not? 

FDU, following a season-opening loss at Rutgers, had won three straight -- the most recent a satisfying victory on the road at Princeton the past Wednesday -- before Lafayette came into Rothman Center with a 1-3 record. 

Yes, there was optimism among FDU faithful, yet head coach Greg Herenda remained concerned. There is no way Herenda may have called this the proverbial trap game with a trip to Providence to take on the Friars only two days away. All coaches are uneasy as gameday approaches, and Herenda knew Lafayette was a legitimate threat. His concern over Lafayette’s offensive weapons became reality after the Leopards downed FDU, 80-76.

“I was happy we held them to 33 the first half,” Herenda admitted. “It seemed like we really didn’t get into a defensive rhythm all game long. I take my hat off to Lafayette. They made plays in the stretch, we didn't.” 

FDU led by as many as twelve points in the first half, ultimately surging ahead at the intermission by a 40-33 margin. One of the major reasons was the Knights finding the mark from three-point range. FDU looks to get out in transition, and if the three is there, the Knights will take it, as evidenced by a 7-for-14 showing from distance.

Two factors came into play the second half as Fran O’Hanlon’s team came back, though: First, the three-point shooting improved as Lafayette made seven of twelve shots from behind the arc after missing all but one of its eleven attempts from deep in the opening stanza. Second -- and most importantly --  Alex Petrie was breaking down FDU’s interior defense. Last season’s Patriot League Freshman of the Year,, Petrie finished with a game-high 26 points, coming off a 21-point outing in his last game, a loss to St. Francis Brooklyn. 

“Petrie hurt us, no doubt,” Herenda said of the 6-foot-3 sophomore guard.

While the Knights had difficulty containing Lafayette’s attack, especially in the second half, a key factor was an inability to turn the Leopards over. 

“We forced Lafayette into only eight turnovers,” Herenda said. “That’s a big factor because we have been turning teams over this year.”

Greg Herenda pleads his case with official during FDU's loss to Lafayette. (Photo by Ray Floriani/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

On the offensive end, Xzavier Malone-Key paced FDU with 19 points while Darnell Edge and Mike Holloway added 17 and 15, respectively. The Knights also crashed the glass, leading Lafayette by a 15-5 margin in offensive rounding. “I thought Elyjah Williams (a game-high 11 rebounds) really gave us a great effort,” Herenda said.

While some may mark this down as a mild upset, Herenda was not surprised about what Lafayette could bring to the table. 

“Their record (now 2-3) is deceiving," Herenda said of his most recent adversary. “They won (over La Salle) on an Atlantic 10 court. Fran O’Hanlon was an excellent player at Villanova, an assistant at Penn and 23 years ago when Lafayette opened up, I applied. Fran got the job and he’s never left. He just does a great job and has one of the best offensive teams we'll face all year.”

Moving on, defense will be a priority for the Knights. 

“Offense was not a problem,” Herenda said. “You make twelve threes for the game at home, you should win the game.” 

Herenda knows it is a long season, and thus there is no need to panic in making the adjustments that are needed. 


“We need to find a defensive rhythm for the whole game,” Herenda said, citing the vital adjustment on the list. “At this point, we as a team just have to stay consistent, get back to practice and move on from here.”