By Andy Walter

PITTSBURGH — Kevin Anderson’s last act as a Delaware men’s basketball player was just to go down the bench, hugging each person.

The senior guard admits it wasn’t easy.

Anderson has been a Blue Hen player for five pretty impactful years of his life.

“It was just hitting me, like, ‘Wow, it’s really over,’” he said. “I feel like my past five years I really matured, especially with the coaching staff. I matured as a man, and they helped me. And I appreciate them so much for that.

“I was telling them on the bench, this is like the first time in a long time where I felt like the team was a real actual family and we stuck together no matter what, ups and downs throughout the year.”

But that season finally ended on Friday with Delaware’s 80-60 loss to Villanova in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at PPG Paints Arena.
With longtime senior guards Anderson and Ryan Allen playing their final games, it was definitely the end of an era.

Allen was playing in his 133rd career game, seven more than other player in program history. He also played more minutes (4,496) and hit more three-pointers (304) than anyone else.

“Even when we were in the locker room, I cried a little bit,” said Allen, who was the last UD player out of the locker room. “But, at the same time, I was smiling. It was one of those careers, I wouldn’t change a thing.

“We won a (CAA) championship. We’re still champions. We’re not going to forget about that.”

For sixth-year Delaware coach Martin Ingelsby, Allen and Anderson were the two early recruits that he built this program around.

Anderson, who played in 119 games, is third in program history in minutes played (4,102).

Center Dylan Painter was also a big part of the veteran group after transferring from Villanova three years ago. Those three seniors all decided to return this winter just for the chance to win a CAA title and play in the NCAAs.

“I told them after the game. ... they’re going to be able to hang a banner, they’re going to have a ring,” said Ingelsby. “They moved our program forward. I think they raised the bar for Delaware basketball on a big stage.

“I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done to our program. It was an honor to coach those guys. Every day they came ready to compete, they were proud to represent the University of Delaware in everything that they did.

“We’ll have some time to reflect on this, and hopefully I can go out and buy them a beer sometime soon and enjoy that moment with them.”

Davis keeps impressing

Freshman Zyare Davis continued to show why people are excited about his future at Delaware.

The freshman forward tallied a team-high 17 points on Friday. He’d already been named the CAA’s Rookie of the Year and the MVP of the CAA Tournament.

“I learned a lot,” Davis said after hitting 7-of-10 shots from the floor. “I definitely know how I’m being used by my team, by my coaches. It’s an honor to be with those guys every day, and it’s really an honor that my coaches and teammates believe in me to perform for them.”

Free throws

Delaware is now 0-16 vs. Villanova, 0-6 in the NCAAs and 0-35 all-time against Top-25 teams. ... Delaware was able to play all 13 of its players that were in uniform. ... Andrew Carr, who scored 13 points, played only 20 minutes after picking up two first-half fouls.

Follow Andy Walter on Twitter at @DSNSports.