When the final buzzer sounds in Fairfax tonight, we’ll be halfway through the regular season. Hard to believe.

In my mind tonight’s games are also the biggest challenge in the five-in-11 grind. Everyone will be fatigued by Wednesday, the fourth game in the stretch. Every coach will have the same message: fight through being tired. And they are correct. But that’s Wednesday. There’s 40 minutes (or more) of basketball yet to play–the third game, the dreaded middle child where “we’re playing a game” excitement begins to be replaced by fatigue.

Tonight represents a conquering of rubbery legs. Players have a varying degree of fatigue and are likely flashing back to some of those October drills that reduced them to a walk that looked more like the Funky Chicken dance.

That can make for some weird games and surprising outcomes. So tonight’s games are a challenge for the favored, our theme of the day. It’s about aggression and pushing through the one-day freshman wall, even if you are a senior.

Drexel (6-2) at William & Mary (2-6): The challenge for Drexel is to shoot a reasonable percentage from the field–Bruiser Flint always quotes 42% as the number–and defend without fouling. Both coaches admitted this morning how the officials call this game is critical to how it plays out.

Drexel plays physical, and William & Mary has killed the Dragons in past years with its Foul Line Parade. The Tribe has won five straight over Drexel in Williamsburg and shot 99-130 from the line in those games. That’s 20-26 per game. Whistles matter. “No time for a pity party,” says Tony Shaver.

Drexel 67, William & Mary 60.

Hofstra (1-7) at VCU (6-2): The challenge here for VCU is not about avoiding a let down. Rather, it’s avoiding a let up. There is a difference, and it surrounds stoking the fire. The Rams will punch Hofstra early, but the Dutchmen are not a glass jaw group.

VCU will have to keep the engine running hot, and it may have to do with Juvonte Reddic. Shaka Smart is practically begging Reddic to play hard every time out. The coach believes the player can be a double-double player every night. This is that kind of night for Reddic, who has size advantage over Hofstra’s front line.

VCU 71, Hofstra 56.

UNCW (4-4) at Mason (7-1): The challenge for Mason is similar to VCU, but very different. The Patriots have to step on the gas pedal early, and keep flooring it. UNCW is playing pretty confident basketball right now and can be a very efficient offensive team. This is the old school “letting them hang around” type of game that can bite you.

Keith Rendleman is going to need clean looks against the Mason aggressive and big front line. In order to get those looks he needs space. Also, Mason has to get UNCW out of sorts on defense–the Seahawks are not a good defensive team, so the less they get to set up the better. That becomes about pace. The faster the better for Mason.

Mason 82, UNCW 69.

JMU (2-6) at Georgia State (5-3): The challenge for Georgia State is tapping their ruby shoes together. The fun run to 5-1 was brought back to Earth with two roadie losses this past week, the last in double overtime. That can drill a team used to losing. This is a game winners win, be it by two points or 20 points. It’s probably a good thing that they have no time to dwell on last week.

Of note, Devon Moore badly sprained his wrist in Saturday’s loss to Hofstra. That may make JMU too one-dimensional against the aggressive matchup zone of the Panthers. Enoch Hood may struggle, and JMU will need double-digit threes.

Georgia State 65, JMU 56.

Towson (0-8) at Delaware (4-4): The challenge for Delaware is to avoid taking a bevy of bad shots, especially threes. Jarvis Threatt is feeling good about himself; however confidence can betray the best of players. And Kyle Anderson is staring full-on at the freshman wall. With Devon Saddler scuffling a little with his shooting percentage, a night of bricks is possible.

It’s really a “run your stuff” evening for the Hens. This oughta’ look old school inside-out: Bob Nwankwo is a beast, but he has to choose between Jamelle Hagins or Josh Brinkley. By starting on the blocks, Delaware should effectively open up good threes. But if Monte Ross’s freshies start acting like freshies, you never know.

Delaware 74, Towson 54.

Northeastern (5-3) at Old Dominion (6-2): This is our game of the night. The challenge for the Monarchs is to set aside everything but what occurs in their huddle. Yes they were blasted by their rivals, and yes they have to wear road uniforms, and yes the turnaround is fast. I’d even wager they start slow and everyone in The Ted gets uncomfortable.

But they cannot let that distract them, or Northeastern will beat them. ODU relies on patterns and execution–you saw what happens when they step out of that comfort zone. What’s more, on defense you can bet they have their hands full with Bill Coen–the league’s best pure tactician. The final challenge is not allowing offense to impact defense–that’s how they weather storms in Norfolk.

ODU 58, NU 55.

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