Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Patrick Chambers' post-game transcript 11/30

Opening statement
All I can say is that must have been one heck of a halftime speech. I’m going to have to ask him for a copy of that. We played pretty hard for 20 minutes, and then their talent, their strength between them I mean they’re really talented and Coach Cal’s a great coach. We were hoping to just hang and hang as long as we could. And that spurt in the first five minutes (of the second half) was just crushing, absolutely crushing. I’m proud of our kids, I didn’t think they stopped competing and they didn’t stop playing. That’s what you always teach; don’t hang your head, just keep competing, keep playing hard, keep playing through adversity and there was a ton of it out there tonight with the fans and the made 3s, and, you know, balls not going your way, bouncing the other way and missing shots. But that’s credit to Kentucky. It’s obvious in that second half they were still thinking about UConn. They came out and really stuck it to us and that’s what great teams do and that’s why they’re ranked as high as they are. I give them all the credit in the world, and this is going to be a great experience for our team. And down the road, the next time we’re in a venue like this, we’re going to learn from it and we’re going to play a little bit better and maybe steal it. Again, all the credit in the world to Kentucky. I’m proud of my guys, I thought we competed, we’re just not as talented.

From the FreeP: M. basketball faces national contender in Kentucky

By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff

After an early-season slate of games largely against teams that Ohio State University president E. Gordon Gee would be liable to deem "Little Sisters of the Poor," the Boston University men's basketball team will travel across the Mason-Dixon Line to take on perennial power University of Kentucky at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. on Tuesday night.

The Terriers (4-3) are coming off a 66-61 home win against Cornell University on Saturday, when they earned consecutive wins for the first time in the young season.

In the victory over the Big Red, BU was carried by junior guard Darryl Partin, a transfer from La Salle University, whose career-high 32 points were ultimately the deciding factor in propelling the Terriers over the .500 plateau.

Despite having won three of their last four games, the Terriers have struggled on the offensive end, shooting a combined 31.5 percent from the field. BU ranks 297th in Division I in field goal percentage at 39 percent.

Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com

Monday, November 29, 2010

From the FreeP: M. basketball beats Cornell for first close win

By René Reyes/DFP Staff

The Boston University men's basketball team has craved for another early-season test to prove that it could pull out the victory in a close game.

It got that and much more from defending Ivy League champion Cornell University – the Cinderella team that made the exhilarating run to the Sweet 16 in last season's NCAA Tournament – Saturday at Case Gymnasium.

In contests decided by five points or less entering Saturday's matchup, the Terriers were 0-2, having dropped two-point and one-point losses to Northeastern University and Hampton University, respectively.

Make it a 1-2 record now.

Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com

From the FreeP: Partin latest Terrier to take opponent by surprise after great second half

By René Reyes/DFP Staff

First-year Cornell coach Bill Courtney acknowledged that he didn't focus the bulk of his gameplan on Boston University men's basketball junior guard Darryl Partin, who torched his Big Red squad for a career-high 32 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from beyond the arc Saturday at Case Gymnasium.

"He hadn't done that yet this year," said the Cornell University bench boss. "No, you don't figure on that. You knew he was kind of a streak shooter, and we talked to the guys about not letting him get going."

And did Partin ever get going.

The 6-foot-6, 190-pound transfer from La Salle University scored 30 second-half points to propel BU past three-time defending Ivy League champion Cornell by a score of 66-61 in the Terriers' first home contest since Nov. 19.

Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com

Friday, November 26, 2010

BU vs. Cornell Live Blog



Starting lineups:
Cornell Big Red

F Adam Wire
F Mark Coury
G Chris Wroblewski
G Max Groebe
G Drew Ferry

Boston University Terriers
F Jake O'Brien
F John Holland
F Patrick Hazel
G Darryl Partin
G D.J. Irving

Final score: BU 66, Cornell 61

Team leaders:
Points

CU: Drew Ferry, 22
BU: Darryl Partin, 32

Rebounds
CU: Adam Wire, 9
BU: Patrick Hazel, 8

Assists
CU: Chris Wroblewski, 8
BU: D.J. Irving, 5

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Terriers heat up, finish off Nevada in NIT finale

By Luke Coughlan/DFP Staff

The Boston University men’s basketball team lost the battle of the boards badly to the University of Nevada on Tuesday evening, 47-32. However, in an ironic twist of fate, it was solid rebounding by the Terriers toward the end of the contest that iced BU’s third win of the season and second victory in the Preseason National Invitational Tournament by a score of 66-57.

Nursing a six point lead with just under two minutes to play, the Terriers (3-3) managed to pull in the final six boards of the contest and ultimately run out the clock on Nevada’s (1-4) comeback. Senior guard John Holland, junior forward Patrick Hazel, and freshman guard D.J. Irving combined for the final six rebounds, with the first two coming during an offensive possession in which the Terriers went 0-2 from the field, but managed to grab the offensive rebound after every miss.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

From the FreeP: Cold as ice

By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff

Playing its fifth game in 11 days, the Boston University men's basketball team fell short in the final minutes and lost to Hampton University 51-50 Monday night in the consolation round of the Preseason National Invitational Tournament at the Charles E. Smith Center in Washington, D.C.

Senior forward John Holland led all Terriers in scoring with 12 points but had a poor shooting day, going only 4-of-16 from the field.

Poor shooting plagued the entire BU roster throughout the game as the Terriers (2-3) matched Holland's shooting percentage for the night, going 16-of-64 for an unnerving 25 percent.

Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com

Monday, November 22, 2010

From the FreeP: M. basketball beats Marist in defensive struggle

By Luke Coughlan/DFP Staff

When a basketball game ends with a final score of 58-37, it usually indicates a strong, if not downright dominating, performance by the victorious side. That wasn't the case Friday.

The Boston University men's basketball team eventually defeated Marist College by 21 points on Friday night, but the Red Foxes did not make it an easy feat. The Terriers' home opener at Case Gymnasium included eight lead changes, and BU was unable to put much distance between itself and the defensively-minded Red Foxes until 13:29 remained in the game.

After trading baskets with Marist (0-3) for the first seven minutes of the second half, the Terriers (2-2) finally began to pull away during a 10:35 stretch in which they outscored the Red Foxes by a 26-6 margin. During that run, Marist failed to score any points except from the foul line, and 18 of the Terrier's 26 points came from the hot hand of junior guard Matt Griffin.

Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com

From the FreeP: Griffin brings life to BU offense after severely lackluster first half

By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff

The scene inside Case Gymnasium was placid if not downright sterile. A once-exuberant Boston University crowd had watched as its men's basketball team became entangled in a low-scoring struggle against a Marist College team that went all of 1-29 last season.

The hard bass lines of "Teach Me How To Dougie" reverberated and echoed through the rafters of The Roof as both teams continued to pile up turnovers and missed shots.

Even with only 15 minutes left in the game, the score was still locked in the 20s. The game didn't merely need a star. It was clamoring for one.

And then came Matt Griffin.

Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Grading the Terriers: 11/19 vs. Marist

By René Reyes/DFP Staff

Junior forward Jake O’Brien: Incomplete

O’Brien tallied four of the Terriers’ first nine points of the ballgame. He had an emphatic putback slam off a Daryl Partin missed jumper and then hit a floater over his defender from the low block. O’Brien registered just four points on 2-of-4 shooting on the night, adding a rebound and a block before he exited the contest with less than 10 minutes left in the first half and never returned. At the postgame press conference, BU coach Patrick Chambers said that O’Brien played just nine minutes – and zero in the second half – because he was sick and suffering from a stomach virus.

Friday, November 19, 2010

BU-Marist Press Conference

BU vs. Marist Live Blog



Starting lineups:
Marist College Red Foxes

F Pieter Prinsloo
F Menelik Watson
G Dejuan Goodwin
G Jay Bowie
G Candon Rusin

Boston University Terriers
F Jake O'Brien
F John Holland
F Patrick Hazel
G Daryl Partin
G D.J. Irving

Final score: BU 58, Marist 37

Team leaders:
Points

MC: Candon Rusin, 16
BU: Matt Griffin, 21

Rebounds
MC: Menelik Watson, 5
BU: Patrick Hazel, 13

Assists
MC: Dejuan Goodwin, 3
BU: John Holland, 2

From the FreeP: M. basketball looking to rebound in first game at The Roof

By Luke Coughlan/DFP Staff

There's no place like home for the Boston University men's basketball team.

The 2009-10 squad went 10-4 at home with a 6-2 record at Case Gymnasium last season, and this year's team will look to make home as comfortable a place as its predecessors did when it takes on Marist College at The Roof on Friday night.

The Terriers (1-2) should be up to the task. They started the season with a three-game road trip that included bus rides across town to Northeastern University and down south to Villanova University. While they have a losing record, they can boast a dominant victory over George Washington University for just the second time in team history, and they held their own against the seventh-ranked team in the nation in the Wildcats.

Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com

Thursday, November 18, 2010

From the FreeP: Still much to learn

By René Reyes/DFP Staff

Round one goes to the mentor.

In the first head-to-head meeting between No. 6/7 Villanova University's Jay Wright and former understudy Patrick Chambers of the Boston University men's basketball team, it was Wright who gained the upper hand over his former associate head coach Wednesday night.

The Wildcats rode a torrid first-half shooting performance and never looked back en route to an 82-66 victory over the Terriers at The Pavilion in the second round of the Preseason National Invitational Tournament.

Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com

Seven Questions: John Holland

By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff

Sporadically throughout the season, the Daily Free Press -- and, in effect, Full Court Press -- will be featuring seven questions asked to a BU basketball player in a segment known as Seven Questions. Some of the questions relate directly to BU basketball, but for the most part, it is an opportunity to get a little look into the personalities of BU basketball players through a series of brief questions.

For the first edition of Seven Questions for the 2010-11 season, the featured player is senior forward John Holland who, through the season's first three games, is averaging a team-high 22.3 points-per-game.

1.) What's your favorite TV show?

John: The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

2.) What's your pregame routine?

John: I just listen to music and visualize what I have to do in the game.

3.) Who's the best player you've ever played with or against?

John: Probably (Minnesota Timberwolves forward) Michael Beasley when I was in high school.

4.) Who's your favorite musician?

John: Jay-Z.

5.) Do you think the Knicks are going to land Carmelo?

John: Yeah it's only a matter of time. Everyone knows he wants to be a Knick.

6.) What's your favorite on-campus restaurant?

John: University Grill or T. Anthony's.

7.) What's it like being a Yankees fan in Boston?

John: There's a lot of Yankees haters in Boston, so it's tough, but I just try to remind them of our 27 championships.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

From the FreeP: History lesson

By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff

The Boston University men's basketball team knew the history and the stakes of its matchup against George Washington University in the first round of the Preseason National Invitational Tournament.

The Terriers had lost 17 of their 18 all-time games against the Colonials, including the past 11, meaning that BU had not defeated their opponent since Jimmy Carter was in the White House in 1979.

Yet none of it mattered to this remodeled Terrier team and program as they rode to a hot start and held off a fervent second-half comeback to beat the Colonials 76-67 on Wednesday night at The Pavilion at Villanova University.

Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

From the FreeP: Chambers heads to old home for Preseason NIT

By Luke Coughlan/DFP Staff

Boston University men's basketball coach Patrick Chambers is going back to his roots. When the Terriers take on George Washington University on Tuesday night in their first game of the Dick's Sporting Goods National Invitational Tournament Season Tip-Off, they will be playing on the same floor where Chambers began his collegiate coaching career in 2004 with Villanova University.

Chambers helped coach some very successful teams during his time at Villanova, including the 2009 squad that earned a berth in the NCAA tournament's Elite Eight. Chambers was associate head coach for the team that year. Tuesday's game will mark his first game at the Pavilion since accepting the head coaching job at BU in 2009.

Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com

Monday, November 15, 2010

From the FreeP: M. basketball can't catch Northeastern in opener

By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Despite a strong and urgent second-half comeback, the Boston University men's basketball team opened its 2010-11 season with a 66-64 road loss to rival Northeastern University at Matthews Arena.
With a reassembled roster that features seven freshmen to go along with three transfers and only three returning players, the Terriers (0-1) struggled through much of the first half, falling behind 41-29 at halftime.
Early on, BU struggled to consistently find or create open shots, often settling for contested jump shots or forcing up deep 3-pointers.
"I want uncontested shots," said BU coach Patrick Chambers. "I'd like to see us share the ball a little bit more. The best thing to do is get a one-on-one early, drive the basketball, get to the foul line and make some plays."

From the FreeP: Holland, Irving form dynamic duo of senior, freshman in BU backcourt

By René Reyes/DFP Staff

Before the season began, coach Patrick Chambers didn't select him as one of his squad's three co-captains despite compiling 1,558 career points and numerous America East accolades in his first three years on campus.

But there's no doubt that the 2010-11 edition of the Boston University men's basketball team belongs to senior forward John Holland.

Following BU's 66-64 loss to Northeastern University Friday at Matthews Arena, Holland may have found a new sidekick to replace his former running mate Corey Lowe in 6-foot, 165-pound freshman guard D.J. Irving.

"I thought they made a really good one-two punch," Chambers said.

Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Grading the Terriers: 11/12 @ Northeastern

By Luke Coughlan/DFP Staff

Junior forward Jake O’Brien: C+

In the first half of the game, O’Brien played exactly like the “constant” that BU coach Patrick Chambers called him at halftime of the Scarlet and White Scrimmage on November 8. In that half, he scored a team-high 11 points off of a 5-for-9 shooting performance. A consistent ability to back down defenders and hit jump shots from close range made him the Terriers’ best weapon in the first. Unfortunately, he fizzled in the second half, going 0-for-4 shooting.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

BU @ Northeastern Live Blog



Starting lineups:
Northeastern University Huskies

F Kauri Black
F Ryan Pierson
G Chaisson Allen
G Joel Smith
G Alwayne Bigby

Boston University Terriers
F Jake O'Brien
F John Holland
G Matt Griffin
G D.J. Irving
G Patrick Hazel

Final score: NU 66, BU 64

Team leaders:
Points

NU: Chaisson Allen, 20
BU: John Holland, 25

Rebounds
NU: Kauri Black, 12
BU: Jake O'Brien 8

Assists
NU: Chaisson Allen, 5
BU: D.J. Irving, 5

From the FreeP: M. basketball to face Northeastern in season opener

By Luke Coughlan/DFP Staff

Following an offseason that saw the replacement of nine graduating seniors with four transfer students and seven incoming freshmen, a rebuilding of team chemistry and a preseason scrimmage to prepare in front of a live crowd, the Boston University men's basketball team is finished getting their feet wet. When it takes on Northeastern University Friday night at Matthews Arena in their regular-season opener, it will be diving headfirst into the deep end.

The game will feature the long-anticipated debut of junior forward Patrick Hazel and junior guards Matt Griffin and Darryl Partin, all of whom had been waiting patiently to play from the bench last year because of NCAA transferring rules.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

From the FreeP: Newcomers take center stage in hoops scrimmage

By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff

In an unofficial start to the 2010-11 season for the Boston University men's basketball team, the Scarlet team defeated the White team 22-16 in the first annual Scarlet & White Scrimmage at Agganis Arena.

The intra-squad scrimmage was comprised of two 10-minute halves.

The Scarlet team was led by junior guard Darryl Partin, a transfer from LaSalle University, whose 11 points led all scorers. Junior forward and co-captain Jake O'Brien added seven points for the Scarlet team.

The White team was paced by eight points and five rebounds from freshman forward Travis Robinson.

Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com

Monday, November 8, 2010

Notebook: Terriers give fans a sneak peak in Scarlet & White Scrimmage

By Luke Coughlan/DFP Staff

The Boston University basketball team entertained fans with a scrimmage on Monday evening at Agganis Arena in which the Scarlet half of the team overcame the White half by a score of 22-16. The match featured two ten minute halves and saw the debut of eleven players that had not yet donned a BU jersey in front of fans.

While both teams took 23 shots, only 13 were converted. Junior guard Darryl Partin led all scorers with 11 points, going 3-3 at the free throw line and 2-4 from beyond the arc. Junior forward Jake O'Brien assisted in the winning effort by adding seven points of his own.

While those two players stole the show on the Scarlet side of the ball, the White team was led by freshman forward Travis Robinson, who scored eight points including two baskets from three point land.

Scarlet & White Scrimmage Videos





Sunday, November 7, 2010

Scarlet & White Scrimmage Live Blog