On Sunday, Delaware coasted to a 100-94 win at the 2024 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off over a physically tough and well coached Yale program.
The Blue Hens’ first 100-point effort against a Division I opponent since 2013, it was a record setting night with a season-high in points, field goal percentage, three-point percentage, assists and more.
Leading the way, Virginia Tech transfer John Camden contributed a career-high 30 points and eight rebounds, shooting 7-for-11 from deep and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
His third consecutive double-digit scoring performance for the Hens, Camden’s growth within head coach Martin Ingelsby’s rotation was evident over the past week.
“I feel like guys found me early and I just kind of got into a grove early,” Camden said. “Guys continued to find me but we had a lot of [others] step up and play some big minutes which was a lot of fun tonight.”
It’s been a long journey to this point for the Dowinington, PA native but that experience is invaluable and Ingelsby needs Camden to be a leader for this youthful Blue Hens roster.
“[Camden’s] been fantastic ever since he stepped foot on campus this summer with his confidence and willingness to work,” Ingelsby said. “We’re trying to continue putting him in positions where he can be successful [but] we just want him to continue to be confident and he knows he’s got the ultimate green light.”
Now that he’s finding consistent minutes it seems obvious why high-level programs like Memphis, Virginia Tech, and Xavier were interested in the 6-foot-8 wing out of high school.
Camden hasn’t done it alone though with junior guard Cavan Reilly averaging a career-high 13.5 PPG which included a season-high 23 points to help complete the upset of Yale.
Additionally, Izaiah Pasha has exploded onto the scene and already looks one of the CAA’s top freshmen having contributed 17 points, nine boards and three assists against the veteran Bulldog backcourt.
“[Pasha] is super talented,” Ingelsby said. “He’s got so much growth ahead of him as a basketball player. He’s done a good job of getting guys involved and attacking the basket, when you have scoring out of that position it opens up other things for [Camden] and [Reilly]. It’s important to give us a great balance so we’re really excited about the weekend [Pasha] had.”
However, the biggest development of the night was undoubtedly from Jefferson (D2) transfer Erik Timko, a two-time CACC Player of the Year selection in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
He’s had some solid showings early this season including 20 points in the opener with Bucknell and later added 7 points and 10 boards against Bryant but Sunday was Timko’s most complete performance.
Finishing 3-for-7 from the field without missing from the line at 5-for-5, Timko managed 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists to showcase his playmaking ability.
While typically there’s a transition period from the DII to DI level, Timko is already proving his scoring prowess will be a major addition for Delaware as he continues to adjust and learn.
“I thought [tonight] was a big step forward for [Timko],” Ingelsby said. “Coming from Division II where he scored a ton of points, he’s stepping up a level and just getting acclimated to the size, speed and quickness. He’s done a great job on the defensive blackboard for us and was able to get some stuff in transition to give him confidence. It was an important day for him moving forward.”
Delaware has battled to start the season with wins over Robert Morris, Iona and now Yale while the program’s most recent losses are by one possession to Bryant and a four-point loss to Vermont.
Though it led to just a .500 start with a 3-3 record, this Delaware team is talented and already looks one of the CAA’s top programs despite being selected fifth earlier this preseason.
Next up on the schedule for the Blue Hens is a trip to Rider before local-rival Delaware State visits the Carpenter Center on Dec. 3. Behind the growth of its transfer class, Delaware will have every chance to build on last season’s 19-14 finish before departing for Conference USA in 2025.
