By: Ryan Chichester
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The Quinnipiac men’s basketball team earned a home win on Sunday by enjoying its most efficient shooting performance from the field in years, while forcing four shot clock violations with gritty defense and finishing a balanced victory with five different players scoring in double figures.
Ask which of these encouraging stats is the one to be most excited about, and the answer may be none of the above.
How about the performance from a new-look Chaise Daniels?
(PC: Quinnipiac Athletics)
No, we’re not talking about the new haircut. We’re also not talking about his 17 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting. It is an impressive statline, but with Daniels currently the fourth-most efficient shooter in the MAAC from the field, that’s still old news.
The new look came from the senior’s decisions with the ball in the post, and his electrifying play on the defensive end.
“He was sprinting in transition defense,” Dunleavy said of his senior forward. “We challenged him to play harder than he ever played, and he would like the results.”
The results were Daniels’ best all-around game of the season. The scoring numbers were there as they often are, but Daniels anchored an interior defense that allowed just 18 points in the paint, while the Bobcats scored 42 of their own on the other end.
“I was just playing with a clear mind and for my teammates,” Daniels said of his stellar effort.
Mental clarity had been a hot topic surrounding Daniels since he was issued a technical foul and benched in the Bobcats’ two-point loss at Hartford back in December, resulting in a three-game hiatus for Daniels in what Dunleavy called a “personal leave” for the senior. Daniels has yet to make his way back into the starting lineup, but should he continue to play the way he did on Sunday, that will change.
Daniels didn’t just play with a clearer mind, but seemed to fog up the minds of his opponents, especially Siena forward Evan Fisher. Arguably the Saints’ most reliable scorer (he put up 21 points on New Year’s Day against the Bobcats, Daniels first game back), Daniels went after Fisher in the paint as soon as he checked in from the bench. Just minutes after coming into the game, Daniels flexed his way past Fisher for a left-handed layup, while a frustrated Fisher shoved Daniels to the ground on his way by. After review, Fisher was whistled for a flagrant, and Daniels hit both free throws to complete the four-point swing.
In the second half, Daniels’ newfound defensive aggression resulted in a steal of Fisher and a layup at the other end, where once again Fisher committed a foul. It was the fifth foul on Fisher, who committed all five of his fouls while trying to guard Daniels. With Siena’s scoring threat on the bench, the Bobcats pulled away.
“I just focused on the defensive end and knew the offense would take care of itself,” Daniels said after the win.
The offense took care of itself in more than just an efficient shooting day. Daniels appeared to abandon his old ways of looking to score as soon as he touched the ball inside. Far too often earlier in the season, an entry pass to Daniels would result in a double-team, a wild shot and a frustrated Daniels. That was hardly the case on Sunday.
Daniels consistently kicked the ball back out to his shooters when he sensed a double-team coming, and highlighted his new mentality in the second half when the Bobcats broke a Siena full-court press and got the ball to Daniels at the free throw line. A double-team quickly swarmed Daniels, who had his back to the basket. Instead of forcing a contested shot, Daniels found a cutting Cam Young wide open for an easy layup to keep the offense moving and keep the Bobcats in control.
Chaise Daniels draws a double-team vs. Niagara and kicks it out to Jacob Rigoni for a three-point attempt.
Recently, Daniels has proven what he could mean to the Bobcats down the stretch. Any talk of Daniels not fitting the Bobcats’ new offensive system was a fallacy. Perhaps just the style of Daniels’ play was the problem.
Whether Daniels’ on-court revolution is a result of his time away from the hardwood is unknown. Wherever his performance against Siena came from doesn’t really matter. Dunleavy and the Bobcats just hope it stays for good.
