Hello from the Harbor: Fairfield/Canisius

Hello from Harbor Yard! It's been a while, but we're all glad to be back here for Stags' basketball. Tonight, Fairfield takes on the Canisius Golden Griffs. The Stags will play them in two of the next three games; the two teams have yet to meet this season.

Fairfield comes off of an exciting, yet tense overtime victory against St. Peter's College. Following the game, head coach Ed Cooley said he was pleased with the outcome, but not with the overall tempo and the team's "unselfishness". Will the dangerous Stags come out tonight?

As for the oposition, the Griffs have only one MAAC victory this season. In Canisius' las contest, the Siena Saints handily won, 77-49. Frank Turner is the team's main threat, as he is averaging 12.1 ppg and comes off a strong 15-point effort against Siena.

Some pre-game notes:

• Fairfield will clearly look to shut down Frank Turner, the Griffs' only reliable scoring option. Expect Jon Han and Devin Johnson to draw that assignment early and often again against the 5'10" sophomore guard.
  
• Winable game? Time will tell. If the Stags want to make a MAAC run, they need to start winning games like this.
  
• X-Factor: Which Mike Evanovich will we see tonight? If it is the Evanovich we saw against Wake, or even against St. Pete's, the Stags will be in great shape. He needs to develop as a consistent scoring threat.
• Mamadou Diakhate is dressed, warmed up, and is expected to play. Sources say he was still suffering post-concussion symptoms - but is now back and available to play.
• Pre-game meal: Chinese style with beef and broccoli, egg roll, and rice. Confucius say: spicy food so good.

- Keith Connors