Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Post-La Salle Interview with BU coach Joe Jones
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
Q: What are your general thoughts on your team’s 70-53 loss to La Salle tonight?
“I was pleased with our effort for the most part. La Salle’s a very good team, very well coached, very talented team. I felt we played hard, and I’m happy with the effort. I thought we went through a span again where we failed to score and they went on a run. Again, we couldn’t muster up a run. We had some opportunities, especially early in the second half. Some shots hit the basket, tough shots. We just didn’t convert when we were trying to close the gap, and I thought that really hurt us. I was happy with the effort. I couldn’t have said that after the Bucknell game [back on Dec. 22].”
Q: You made some noticeable changes to your starting lineup by inserting sophomore guard Mike Terry Jr. and leaving senior co-captain Patrick Hazel on the bench. What went into your decision-making?
“I wanted to definitely recognize some of the effort that guys had provided in practice. I wanted those guys to get recognized. I just felt like that lineup was the one I felt deserved the most to be out there.”
Q: What was your overall impression of your team’s defensive performance?
“We were better defensively tonight. I thought their athletic ability allowed them to score just because they were a little bigger and stronger, so they were able to make some plays. But I was happy for the most part in our defense. I thought there were some opportunities we could have taken some charges and gotten to loose balls, some box-out situations where we didn’t do a great job boxing out. But they were less than they were on Thursday against Bucknell last week.”
Q: What are your general thoughts on your team’s 70-53 loss to La Salle tonight?
“I was pleased with our effort for the most part. La Salle’s a very good team, very well coached, very talented team. I felt we played hard, and I’m happy with the effort. I thought we went through a span again where we failed to score and they went on a run. Again, we couldn’t muster up a run. We had some opportunities, especially early in the second half. Some shots hit the basket, tough shots. We just didn’t convert when we were trying to close the gap, and I thought that really hurt us. I was happy with the effort. I couldn’t have said that after the Bucknell game [back on Dec. 22].”
Q: You made some noticeable changes to your starting lineup by inserting sophomore guard Mike Terry Jr. and leaving senior co-captain Patrick Hazel on the bench. What went into your decision-making?
“I wanted to definitely recognize some of the effort that guys had provided in practice. I wanted those guys to get recognized. I just felt like that lineup was the one I felt deserved the most to be out there.”
Q: What was your overall impression of your team’s defensive performance?
“We were better defensively tonight. I thought their athletic ability allowed them to score just because they were a little bigger and stronger, so they were able to make some plays. But I was happy for the most part in our defense. I thought there were some opportunities we could have taken some charges and gotten to loose balls, some box-out situations where we didn’t do a great job boxing out. But they were less than they were on Thursday against Bucknell last week.”
No brotherly love: BU falls, 70-53, to La Salle in Philly
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
In its third and final trip to Philadelphia this month alone, the Boston University men’s basketball team dropped its fifth straight decision Thursday night, losing 70-53 to La Salle University at Tom Gola Arena. BU hasn’t won since notching a 75-61 victory at Boston College back on Dec. 3.
Redshirt freshman Malik Thomas continued to impress in just his sixth collegiate game, recording a career-high 17 points and eight rebounds to pace the Terriers (4-9). Senior guard Darryl Partin, who played two seasons at La Salle before transferring to BU at the end of the 2009-09 campaign, struggled from the offensive end once again, shooting 4-of-16 from the field for a mere 12 points, eight points below his season average of 20.8 points per game.
For the Explorers (9-4), guard Tyreek Duren led all scorers with 23 points and dished out a team-high five assists. Guard Ramon Galloway chipped in 13 points and forward Jerrell Wright added 10 points and eight boards, as La Salle posted its eighth win in a row at home – a program record at the facility.
Both teams were without the services of star offensive players with La Salle’s Sam Mills and BU’s D.J. Irving out due to injuries. The Terriers seized an early 5-3 advantage but it was all downhill from that point on. By halftime, the Explorers found themselves ahead, 43-29, and their lead reached as many as 25 points in the second half.
BU will look to break out of this winless slump Saturday afternoon when it travels to Hamden, Conn., to face Quinnipiac University with tip-off set for 12 p.m.
In its third and final trip to Philadelphia this month alone, the Boston University men’s basketball team dropped its fifth straight decision Thursday night, losing 70-53 to La Salle University at Tom Gola Arena. BU hasn’t won since notching a 75-61 victory at Boston College back on Dec. 3.
Redshirt freshman Malik Thomas continued to impress in just his sixth collegiate game, recording a career-high 17 points and eight rebounds to pace the Terriers (4-9). Senior guard Darryl Partin, who played two seasons at La Salle before transferring to BU at the end of the 2009-09 campaign, struggled from the offensive end once again, shooting 4-of-16 from the field for a mere 12 points, eight points below his season average of 20.8 points per game.
For the Explorers (9-4), guard Tyreek Duren led all scorers with 23 points and dished out a team-high five assists. Guard Ramon Galloway chipped in 13 points and forward Jerrell Wright added 10 points and eight boards, as La Salle posted its eighth win in a row at home – a program record at the facility.
Both teams were without the services of star offensive players with La Salle’s Sam Mills and BU’s D.J. Irving out due to injuries. The Terriers seized an early 5-3 advantage but it was all downhill from that point on. By halftime, the Explorers found themselves ahead, 43-29, and their lead reached as many as 25 points in the second half.
BU will look to break out of this winless slump Saturday afternoon when it travels to Hamden, Conn., to face Quinnipiac University with tip-off set for 12 p.m.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Irving-less Terriers taken down by Bison, 75-61
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
If mired in a three-game losing streak weren’t bad enough for the Boston University men’s basketball team during the holiday season, news broke that BU would be without the services of its star point guard – sophomore D.J. Irving – for Thursday’s matchup with Bucknell University due to a concussion he suffered 10 days ago.
Yet, senior guard Matt Griffin filled in admirably for Irving in the starting lineup against the Bison (8-5), posting team highs of four rebounds and five assists, the Terriers (4-8) committed a season-low nine turnovers and to top it all off, they shot 50 percent the field and 55 percent from 3-point territory for the game.
Still, forward Joe Willman and reigning Patriot League Player of the Year Mike Muscala – two-thirds of Bucknell’s lengthy frontcourt – proved to be too much for BU (4-8) to handle, combining for 39 points on 13-of-21 shooting and 13 total rebounds in their team’s 75-61 win at Case Gymnasium.
Sitting in an empty coaches’ dressing room afterward, BU coach Joe Jones told two reporters that he was satisfied with his squad’s efforts on the offensive end, especially since it was missing its second leading scorer in Irving.
But it was Willman and Muscala’s domination of the paint and the Bison’s 34-17 edge in rebounding, a stat Jones said he had never seen before in his 17 years in the coaching business, that did the Terriers in last night.
If mired in a three-game losing streak weren’t bad enough for the Boston University men’s basketball team during the holiday season, news broke that BU would be without the services of its star point guard – sophomore D.J. Irving – for Thursday’s matchup with Bucknell University due to a concussion he suffered 10 days ago.
Yet, senior guard Matt Griffin filled in admirably for Irving in the starting lineup against the Bison (8-5), posting team highs of four rebounds and five assists, the Terriers (4-8) committed a season-low nine turnovers and to top it all off, they shot 50 percent the field and 55 percent from 3-point territory for the game.
Still, forward Joe Willman and reigning Patriot League Player of the Year Mike Muscala – two-thirds of Bucknell’s lengthy frontcourt – proved to be too much for BU (4-8) to handle, combining for 39 points on 13-of-21 shooting and 13 total rebounds in their team’s 75-61 win at Case Gymnasium.
Sitting in an empty coaches’ dressing room afterward, BU coach Joe Jones told two reporters that he was satisfied with his squad’s efforts on the offensive end, especially since it was missing its second leading scorer in Irving.
But it was Willman and Muscala’s domination of the paint and the Bison’s 34-17 edge in rebounding, a stat Jones said he had never seen before in his 17 years in the coaching business, that did the Terriers in last night.
Injury Update: D.J. Irving (concussion) day-to-day
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
Sophomore point guard D.J. Irving is listed as day-to-day with a concussion, Boston University men’s basketball coach Joe Jones said after BU’s 75-61 loss to Bucknell University Thursday at Case Gymnasium.
The speedy floor general from Philadelphia, Pa., was blossoming in his second collegiate season, averaging 12.6 points, 4.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game through 11 contests. But Irving suffered a slight head injury back on Dec. 13 against Villanova University and was unavailable for the Terriers’ matchup with the Bison last night.
“He got hit in the Villanova game," Jones said. "He was fine obviously during the game. Then after the game, he got a little bit of a headache. And then the next day, when we got back, he had to go see the trainer because he had the headaches. That’s when it started.”
Irving gradually improved over the course of this past week. But he began experiencing concussion-like symptoms again on Thursday and was downgraded to out prior to the 7 p.m. tip-off.
Sophomore point guard D.J. Irving is listed as day-to-day with a concussion, Boston University men’s basketball coach Joe Jones said after BU’s 75-61 loss to Bucknell University Thursday at Case Gymnasium.
The speedy floor general from Philadelphia, Pa., was blossoming in his second collegiate season, averaging 12.6 points, 4.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game through 11 contests. But Irving suffered a slight head injury back on Dec. 13 against Villanova University and was unavailable for the Terriers’ matchup with the Bison last night.
“He got hit in the Villanova game," Jones said. "He was fine obviously during the game. Then after the game, he got a little bit of a headache. And then the next day, when we got back, he had to go see the trainer because he had the headaches. That’s when it started.”
Irving gradually improved over the course of this past week. But he began experiencing concussion-like symptoms again on Thursday and was downgraded to out prior to the 7 p.m. tip-off.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
BU vs. Bucknell Live Blog
Starting lineups:
Bucknell University Bison
F Joe Willman
F Mike Muscala
G Steven Kaspar
G Bryan Cohen
G Cameron Ayers
Boston University Terriers
F Dom Morris
F Travis Robinson
F Patrick Hazel
G Darryl Partin
G Matt Griffin
Final Score: Bucknell 75, BU 61
Team leaders:
Points
Bucknell: Mike Muscala, 20
BU: Darryl Partin, 17
Rebounds
Bucknell: Mike Muscala, 11
BU: Matt Griffin, 4
Assists
Bucknell: Cameron Ayers, 5
BU: Matt Griffin, 5
Irving out Thursday vs. Bucknell
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Sophomore point guard D.J. Irving will not play for the Boston University men's basketball team in its game against Bucknell University Thursday night due to a concussion, according to Irving's Facebook page.
"Game Tonight vs Bucknell! I won't be playing due to a concussion. My Boys Still Going To Get The Job Done!!!!" the status said.
Irving has made serious strides in his second collegiate season, ranking second on the team in scoring with 12.6 points per game to go along with 4.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game.
More details to come after tonight's game.
Sophomore point guard D.J. Irving will not play for the Boston University men's basketball team in its game against Bucknell University Thursday night due to a concussion, according to Irving's Facebook page.
"Game Tonight vs Bucknell! I won't be playing due to a concussion. My Boys Still Going To Get The Job Done!!!!" the status said.
Irving has made serious strides in his second collegiate season, ranking second on the team in scoring with 12.6 points per game to go along with 4.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game.
More details to come after tonight's game.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Villa-no-fun: Terriers thumped, 68-43, by Wildcats
By Shep Hayes/DFP Staff
Despite leading Villanova University 26-23 at the end of the first half, the Boston University men’s basketball team scored only 17 points in the second, falling to the Wildcats, 68-43, Wednesday evening at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
The Terriers (4-7) scored the opening basket and held the lead through the entire first half and all the way into the second, holding a nine-point advantage over the Wildcats (6-4) at one moment. When his team headed into the locker room at the half, BU coach Joe Jones said the Terriers “felt good.”
“I thought the guys were confident we could play a good second half,” Jones said by phone after the game.
In reality, however, BU struggled from the beginning of the second half. The Wildcats came out of the locker room on a tear, jumping ahead of the Terriers just a few minutes into the half and not looking back the rest of the way. Villanova dropped 41 points in the half alone and ended up dominating every statistical category for the game, making 37.3 percent of its field goal attempts, 73.3 percent of its free throw attempts and 25.9 percent of its 3-point field goal attempts.
Despite leading Villanova University 26-23 at the end of the first half, the Boston University men’s basketball team scored only 17 points in the second, falling to the Wildcats, 68-43, Wednesday evening at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
The Terriers (4-7) scored the opening basket and held the lead through the entire first half and all the way into the second, holding a nine-point advantage over the Wildcats (6-4) at one moment. When his team headed into the locker room at the half, BU coach Joe Jones said the Terriers “felt good.”
“I thought the guys were confident we could play a good second half,” Jones said by phone after the game.
In reality, however, BU struggled from the beginning of the second half. The Wildcats came out of the locker room on a tear, jumping ahead of the Terriers just a few minutes into the half and not looking back the rest of the way. Villanova dropped 41 points in the half alone and ended up dominating every statistical category for the game, making 37.3 percent of its field goal attempts, 73.3 percent of its free throw attempts and 25.9 percent of its 3-point field goal attempts.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Terriers meet their (A)maker, fall to Harvard, 76-52
By Shep Hayes/DFP Staff
In the middle of the toughest nonconference stretch of its 2011-12 schedule, the Boston University men’s basketball team was saddled with a 76-52 loss to the No. 24 Harvard University Crimson on Saturday afternoon at Agganis Arena.
For the first 12:17 of the game, the game was not a blowout. The Terriers (4-6) and the Crimson (9-1) went back and forth, the teams exchanging the lead every few possessions. The largest margin either team was able to hold over the other in that span was three points, a feat Harvard did twice and BU accomplished once.
BU was on defense and up by one when senior forward Jeff Pelage fouled Harvard senior Oliver McNally, sending the latter to the free-throw line to shoot twice. McNally sank both his free throws, and the Harvard didn’t look back.
The Crimson went on a 21-3 run to close out the half, entering the locker room up 37-21. Between a shot made from the charity stripe from senior guard Darryl Partin with 6:07 left in the half and a jumper from senior Patrick Hazel with only a second remaining, Harvard dropped 18 unanswered points on BU.
“I thought we locked in pretty well,” said Harvard head coach Tommy Amaker.
In the middle of the toughest nonconference stretch of its 2011-12 schedule, the Boston University men’s basketball team was saddled with a 76-52 loss to the No. 24 Harvard University Crimson on Saturday afternoon at Agganis Arena.
For the first 12:17 of the game, the game was not a blowout. The Terriers (4-6) and the Crimson (9-1) went back and forth, the teams exchanging the lead every few possessions. The largest margin either team was able to hold over the other in that span was three points, a feat Harvard did twice and BU accomplished once.
BU was on defense and up by one when senior forward Jeff Pelage fouled Harvard senior Oliver McNally, sending the latter to the free-throw line to shoot twice. McNally sank both his free throws, and the Harvard didn’t look back.
The Crimson went on a 21-3 run to close out the half, entering the locker room up 37-21. Between a shot made from the charity stripe from senior guard Darryl Partin with 6:07 left in the half and a jumper from senior Patrick Hazel with only a second remaining, Harvard dropped 18 unanswered points on BU.
“I thought we locked in pretty well,” said Harvard head coach Tommy Amaker.
Offense, well, offensive in blowout loss
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
As senior guard Matt Griffin, along with seldom-used players like sophomore guard Mike Terry, Jr., senior center Jeff Pelage, freshman guard Zach Chionuma and freshman forward James Kennedy, waited at the foot of the scorers’ table to check in, a white flag of sorts for the Boston University men’s basketball team, a daunting figure hung above the heads of the players on the Agganis Arena scoreboard under the heading ‘Terriers’ – 39.
With just under six minutes remaining in BU’s game against No. 24 Harvard University, the 39 was not the Terriers’ field goal percentage or number of rebounds up to that point.
Rather, in front of a rare crowd of 3,010 at Agganis Arena, that was the number of points BU had scored in the game’s first 35 minutes.
Though many things went wrong for the Terriers in their lopsided 76-52 loss Saturday to the Crimson, it all began on the offensive end where BU was routinely held in check, searching for answers.
“Harvard’s going to take you out of your offense,” BU head coach Joe Jones said after the game. “That’s what they do.”
As senior guard Matt Griffin, along with seldom-used players like sophomore guard Mike Terry, Jr., senior center Jeff Pelage, freshman guard Zach Chionuma and freshman forward James Kennedy, waited at the foot of the scorers’ table to check in, a white flag of sorts for the Boston University men’s basketball team, a daunting figure hung above the heads of the players on the Agganis Arena scoreboard under the heading ‘Terriers’ – 39.
With just under six minutes remaining in BU’s game against No. 24 Harvard University, the 39 was not the Terriers’ field goal percentage or number of rebounds up to that point.
Rather, in front of a rare crowd of 3,010 at Agganis Arena, that was the number of points BU had scored in the game’s first 35 minutes.
Though many things went wrong for the Terriers in their lopsided 76-52 loss Saturday to the Crimson, it all began on the offensive end where BU was routinely held in check, searching for answers.
“Harvard’s going to take you out of your offense,” BU head coach Joe Jones said after the game. “That’s what they do.”
Saturday, December 10, 2011
BU vs. Harvard Live Blog
Starting lineups:
Harvard University Crimson
F Kyle Casey
F Keith Wright
G Brandyn Curry
G Oliver McNally
G Christian Webster
Boston University Terriers
F Dom Morris
F Travis Robinson
F Patrick Hazel
G Darryl Partin
G D.J. Irving
Final Score: Harvard 76, BU 52
Team leaders:
Points
Harvard: Kyle Casey, 20
BU: Darryl Partin, 12
Rebounds
Harvard: Kyle Casey and Keith Wright, 9
BU: Patrick Hazel, 9
Assists
Harvard: Brandyn Curry, 7
BU: D.J. Irving, 5
BU to take on ranked Harvard University Saturday
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
On Saturday, the Boston University men's basketball team returns to Agganis Arena, the sight of its program-defining win in last year's America East Championship game, for a late afternoon tilt with a ranked opponent from across the Charles River.
BU (4-5) will have its hands full when it welcomes No. 24 Harvard University (8-1) to the Greek with tip-off scheduled for 4 p.m. The heavily promoted game will be televised live on NESN.
Darryl Partin will lead the Terriers in their first game against a ranked team since they hosted St. Joseph’s University back on Nov. 25, 2003 at the Roof. The senior guard is averaging 23.9 points per game, good for second in the country, and has tallied 20-plus points in his last seven games. He scored a team-high 24 points for the Terriers last Wednesday.
Sophomore guard D.J. Irving stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists, but it wasn’t enough as BU fell to St. Joseph’s, 75-68, snapping its four-game winning streak.
On Saturday, the Boston University men's basketball team returns to Agganis Arena, the sight of its program-defining win in last year's America East Championship game, for a late afternoon tilt with a ranked opponent from across the Charles River.
BU (4-5) will have its hands full when it welcomes No. 24 Harvard University (8-1) to the Greek with tip-off scheduled for 4 p.m. The heavily promoted game will be televised live on NESN.
Darryl Partin will lead the Terriers in their first game against a ranked team since they hosted St. Joseph’s University back on Nov. 25, 2003 at the Roof. The senior guard is averaging 23.9 points per game, good for second in the country, and has tallied 20-plus points in his last seven games. He scored a team-high 24 points for the Terriers last Wednesday.
Sophomore guard D.J. Irving stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists, but it wasn’t enough as BU fell to St. Joseph’s, 75-68, snapping its four-game winning streak.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Birds of war: Terriers come up short against Hawks
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Entering Wednesday night’s game against Saint Joseph’s University, the Boston University men’s basketball team was looking to continue a run, one that began after starting the season 0-4 and extended over nearly two-week span in which the Terriers didn’t lose.
However, BU was not able to break the .500 threshold for the first time in the young season as it was not able to recover from a late first half scoring drought as it fell to the Hawks 75-68 at Michael J. Hagan Arena in Philadelphia.
For all the strides the Terriers (4-5) made in their four-game win streak, they were not able to maintain many of these improvements and momentum gained in that time.
“We didn’t do a good job tonight,” BU head coach Joe Jones said in a phone interview. “We have to make sure to do a better job of sharing [the ball] – we held it too long, we didn’t move it, we let them lock in on us, we could have gotten better shots. It was a tough game and they’re a good team.”
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Entering Wednesday night’s game against Saint Joseph’s University, the Boston University men’s basketball team was looking to continue a run, one that began after starting the season 0-4 and extended over nearly two-week span in which the Terriers didn’t lose.
However, BU was not able to break the .500 threshold for the first time in the young season as it was not able to recover from a late first half scoring drought as it fell to the Hawks 75-68 at Michael J. Hagan Arena in Philadelphia.
For all the strides the Terriers (4-5) made in their four-game win streak, they were not able to maintain many of these improvements and momentum gained in that time.
“We didn’t do a good job tonight,” BU head coach Joe Jones said in a phone interview. “We have to make sure to do a better job of sharing [the ball] – we held it too long, we didn’t move it, we let them lock in on us, we could have gotten better shots. It was a tough game and they’re a good team.”
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
From the FreeP: Bird is the word: Terriers prepare for Hawks
By Shep Hayes/DFP Staff
Fresh off its first win against Boston College since 1974 and finally out of the hole dug with a season-opening four game losing streak, the Boston University men’s basketball team will begin what is arguably the toughest stretch on its 2011-12 schedule. The Terriers (4-4) will make two trips to Philadelphia in the next week, sandwiched around a home game against a ranked opponent in Harvard University at Agganis Arena.
The challenge begins Wednesday evening, as the Terriers make their first trip to Pennsylvania, this time to play the Saint Joseph’s University Hawks. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Michael J. Hagan Center.
Speaking in the lobby of the Walter Brown Arena on Tuesday, senior forward Patrick Hazel was still impressed with the team’s 75-61 win over BC on Saturday afternoon.
“It was huge,” Hazel said. “You don’t like to make a big deal about things like that, but it really does mean a lot to our university.
“I was telling my teammates when I went to class, I was surprised because my classmates were clapping for me, cheering for me.”
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Fresh off its first win against Boston College since 1974 and finally out of the hole dug with a season-opening four game losing streak, the Boston University men’s basketball team will begin what is arguably the toughest stretch on its 2011-12 schedule. The Terriers (4-4) will make two trips to Philadelphia in the next week, sandwiched around a home game against a ranked opponent in Harvard University at Agganis Arena.
The challenge begins Wednesday evening, as the Terriers make their first trip to Pennsylvania, this time to play the Saint Joseph’s University Hawks. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Michael J. Hagan Center.
Speaking in the lobby of the Walter Brown Arena on Tuesday, senior forward Patrick Hazel was still impressed with the team’s 75-61 win over BC on Saturday afternoon.
“It was huge,” Hazel said. “You don’t like to make a big deal about things like that, but it really does mean a lot to our university.
“I was telling my teammates when I went to class, I was surprised because my classmates were clapping for me, cheering for me.”
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Soaring with the Eagles: Men's basketball gets historic win
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
CHESTNUT HILL – As first-year Boston University men’s basketball coach Joe Jones addressed reporters in a lobby outside his team’s locker room at Conte Forum, he was very adamant about one thing from the start – that the final score of the game was not a reflection of what he saw as a hard-fought contest.
Jones’ sentiment notwithstanding, there was a simple, coherent truth that came with the score under question – it made history as BU was able to do something it had not done since Gerald Ford was president.
Behind a 44-point second-half, the Terriers went on the road and knocked off rival Boston College 75-61, marking the first time since 1974 that BU had beaten the Eagles.
Senior guard Darryl Partin led all scorers with a game-high 27 points, his second-straight 27-point performance, but made his biggest mark when he scored seven consecutive points midway through the second half to extend BU’s lead from three points to 10, putting a game that had been largely back-and-forth firmly in the Terriers’ (4-4) control.
Jones’ sentiment notwithstanding, there was a simple, coherent truth that came with the score under question – it made history as BU was able to do something it had not done since Gerald Ford was president.
Behind a 44-point second-half, the Terriers went on the road and knocked off rival Boston College 75-61, marking the first time since 1974 that BU had beaten the Eagles.
Senior guard Darryl Partin led all scorers with a game-high 27 points, his second-straight 27-point performance, but made his biggest mark when he scored seven consecutive points midway through the second half to extend BU’s lead from three points to 10, putting a game that had been largely back-and-forth firmly in the Terriers’ (4-4) control.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Hot-shooting Partin the difference
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
CHESTNUT HILL – Darryl Partin has an undeniable scorer's mentality.
He's known primarily as a perimeter shooter, who has the forte to slash apart defenses. As the Boston University men's basketball team's No. 1 offensive weapon, the 6-foot-6 senior swingman is averaging 23.9 points per game, which ranks him fifth in the nation, by raining in contested jumpers from all spots on the floor and converting layups in traffic – a lethal combination for any college player.
He's led the Terriers (4-4) in scoring in seven of their first eight contests and netted 20-plus points in six straight games, all coming against rigorous competition in BU's non-conference slate, including a season-high 29-point outburst at Cornell University on Nov. 20.
Yet, Partin's greatest strength can also be his greatest weakness, admits BU coach Joe Jones.
Partin is attempting a team-high 18.5 shots per game – nearly eight shots more than sophomore point guard D.J. Irving is averaging – and can fall into the bad habit of forcing up shots when he's blanketed on defense, as he did on Wednesday in BU's 73-67 win over the University of Delaware when he missed a total of 14 shots.
He's known primarily as a perimeter shooter, who has the forte to slash apart defenses. As the Boston University men's basketball team's No. 1 offensive weapon, the 6-foot-6 senior swingman is averaging 23.9 points per game, which ranks him fifth in the nation, by raining in contested jumpers from all spots on the floor and converting layups in traffic – a lethal combination for any college player.
He's led the Terriers (4-4) in scoring in seven of their first eight contests and netted 20-plus points in six straight games, all coming against rigorous competition in BU's non-conference slate, including a season-high 29-point outburst at Cornell University on Nov. 20.
Yet, Partin's greatest strength can also be his greatest weakness, admits BU coach Joe Jones.
Partin is attempting a team-high 18.5 shots per game – nearly eight shots more than sophomore point guard D.J. Irving is averaging – and can fall into the bad habit of forcing up shots when he's blanketed on defense, as he did on Wednesday in BU's 73-67 win over the University of Delaware when he missed a total of 14 shots.
Grading the Terriers: 12/3 at Boston College
By Shep Hayes/DFP Staff
Offense: B
For the first time since 1974, Boston College and Boston University faced off in men’s basketball and the Terriers won. BU scored a season-high 75 points en route to victory and played one of its best games of the season as a team. Offensively, Darryl Partin continued to assert his position as one of the top scorers in the country, posting 27 points. After playing for few points but many assists on Wednesday night against Delaware, D.J. Irving bounced back to his normal scoring level, dropping 17 points. Though the lead changed 13 times, the Terriers were able to begin pulling away with about 12 minutes left in the game, closing out better than they did at the start of the season against Northeastern University and Cleveland State University.
Dom Morris had a double-double in one of his best performances of the year, with 11 points and 11 rebounds. He made all four of his shots in the paint, and even his lone 3-point attempt fell into the basket. At one point in the second, Morris was able to get an offensive rebound and then pushed the ball back up into the air for two. How he did it is anyone’s guess.
Offense: B
For the first time since 1974, Boston College and Boston University faced off in men’s basketball and the Terriers won. BU scored a season-high 75 points en route to victory and played one of its best games of the season as a team. Offensively, Darryl Partin continued to assert his position as one of the top scorers in the country, posting 27 points. After playing for few points but many assists on Wednesday night against Delaware, D.J. Irving bounced back to his normal scoring level, dropping 17 points. Though the lead changed 13 times, the Terriers were able to begin pulling away with about 12 minutes left in the game, closing out better than they did at the start of the season against Northeastern University and Cleveland State University.
Dom Morris had a double-double in one of his best performances of the year, with 11 points and 11 rebounds. He made all four of his shots in the paint, and even his lone 3-point attempt fell into the basket. At one point in the second, Morris was able to get an offensive rebound and then pushed the ball back up into the air for two. How he did it is anyone’s guess.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
BU @ BC Live Blog
Starting lineups:
Boston College Eagles
C KC Caudill
G Gabe Moton
G Matt Humphrey
G Lonnie Jackson
G Patrick Heckmann
Boston University Terriers
F Dom Morris
F Travis Robinson
F Patrick Hazel
G Darryl Partin
G D.J. Irving
Final Score: BU 75, BC 61
Team leaders:
Points
BC: Lonnie Jackson, 11
BU: Darryl Partin, 27
Rebounds
BC: Gabe Moton and Dennis Clifford, 4
BU: Dom Morris, 11
Assists
BC: Patrick Heckmann, 4
BU: D.J. Irving, 7
Friday, December 2, 2011
Party like it's 2004: Terriers and Eagles take to the hardwood
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Separated by just four miles of Commonwealth Avenue pavement, the men’s basketball programs at Boston University and Boston College share a distance far greater than a quick ride on the Green Line – seven years to be exact.
Coaches have been fired and taken other jobs, players have passed through the respective schools’ classrooms and locker rooms and the programs hardly resemble what they did even less than a decade ago.
But on Saturday afternoon, for the first time since 2004, all that will change as the natural rivals will take the court at Conte Forum for a scheduled 2 p.m. tip-off.
The matchup pits two teams heading in relatively opposite directions as the Terriers (3-4) have recovered from a slow start to win their last three games, while the Eagles (2-5) have lost five of their last six games.
Separated by just four miles of Commonwealth Avenue pavement, the men’s basketball programs at Boston University and Boston College share a distance far greater than a quick ride on the Green Line – seven years to be exact.
Coaches have been fired and taken other jobs, players have passed through the respective schools’ classrooms and locker rooms and the programs hardly resemble what they did even less than a decade ago.
But on Saturday afternoon, for the first time since 2004, all that will change as the natural rivals will take the court at Conte Forum for a scheduled 2 p.m. tip-off.
The matchup pits two teams heading in relatively opposite directions as the Terriers (3-4) have recovered from a slow start to win their last three games, while the Eagles (2-5) have lost five of their last six games.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
From the FreeP: Terriers send Blue Hens back to coop
By Shep Hayes/DFP Staff
Sophomores D.J. Irving and Travis Robinson posted career-highs Wednesday night as the Boston University men’s basketball team earned its first home win of the season against the University of Delaware, 73-67.
Both teams entered the game at Case Gymnasium having won their last two games – Delaware (2-3) owning wins at home against Cornell University and Lafayette University, and BU (3-4) having won two-of-three in Kingston, R.I. as part of the TicketCity Legends Classic.
In the end however, BU prevailed over its old America East foe for its third straight win.
The Terriers moved away from the Blue Hens, with whom they had traded the lead a total of 13 times, after a Robinson 3-pointer with 6:30 remaining in the game.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Sophomores D.J. Irving and Travis Robinson posted career-highs Wednesday night as the Boston University men’s basketball team earned its first home win of the season against the University of Delaware, 73-67.
Both teams entered the game at Case Gymnasium having won their last two games – Delaware (2-3) owning wins at home against Cornell University and Lafayette University, and BU (3-4) having won two-of-three in Kingston, R.I. as part of the TicketCity Legends Classic.
In the end however, BU prevailed over its old America East foe for its third straight win.
The Terriers moved away from the Blue Hens, with whom they had traded the lead a total of 13 times, after a Robinson 3-pointer with 6:30 remaining in the game.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
From the FreeP: Here’s to you, Mr. Robinson
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Seemingly from the moment he stepped foot on the Boston University campus, things have not exactly gone according to plan for Travis Robinson.
With the two separate broken nose injuries restricting the kind of playing time and chance for development that fellow then-freshmen D.J. Irving and Dom Morris enjoyed, Robinson, once the highest-rated player in a banner seven-player 2010 recruiting class, seemed to be behind the proverbial curve.
But even in a brief career where so many breaks and opportunities have gone the wrong way, on Wednesday night against the University of Delaware, everything went right for Robinson.
Capitalizing on an increase in playing time he has gotten the past several games, the sophomore forward went off for a career-high 16 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting performance from the field in the Terriers’ 73-67 win over the Blue Hens.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Seemingly from the moment he stepped foot on the Boston University campus, things have not exactly gone according to plan for Travis Robinson.
With the two separate broken nose injuries restricting the kind of playing time and chance for development that fellow then-freshmen D.J. Irving and Dom Morris enjoyed, Robinson, once the highest-rated player in a banner seven-player 2010 recruiting class, seemed to be behind the proverbial curve.
But even in a brief career where so many breaks and opportunities have gone the wrong way, on Wednesday night against the University of Delaware, everything went right for Robinson.
Capitalizing on an increase in playing time he has gotten the past several games, the sophomore forward went off for a career-high 16 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting performance from the field in the Terriers’ 73-67 win over the Blue Hens.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Grading the Terriers: 11/30 vs. Delaware
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
Offense: B-
Seventy-three points are nearly 10 points above what the Terriers have normally averaged during the course of the 2011-12 campaign (64.33 points per game entering Wednesday night). Darryl Partin dropped a game-high 27 points and outscored the nation's leading scorer in the Blue Hens' Devon Saddler by seven points. Yet, Partin did jack up a total of 26 shots to reach those 27 points, and on any other night, his 14 misses – he shot 12-of-26 from the field – could have proven to be BU's downfall. Luckily for DP, Travis Robinson picked up some of the scoring slack and had himself a career night with 16 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting, including four made 3-pointers and a rim-rattling two-handed flush. Speedy point guard D.J. Irving dished out a personal-best 11 dimes, but did seem rather hesitant pushing the ball up court and driving it down the defense's throat. Why the B-? Partin and Robinson were the only Terriers to score in double figures, while other players (Patrick Hazel, Dom Morris, Matt Griffin) hardly contributed on the offensive end.
Offense: B-
Seventy-three points are nearly 10 points above what the Terriers have normally averaged during the course of the 2011-12 campaign (64.33 points per game entering Wednesday night). Darryl Partin dropped a game-high 27 points and outscored the nation's leading scorer in the Blue Hens' Devon Saddler by seven points. Yet, Partin did jack up a total of 26 shots to reach those 27 points, and on any other night, his 14 misses – he shot 12-of-26 from the field – could have proven to be BU's downfall. Luckily for DP, Travis Robinson picked up some of the scoring slack and had himself a career night with 16 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting, including four made 3-pointers and a rim-rattling two-handed flush. Speedy point guard D.J. Irving dished out a personal-best 11 dimes, but did seem rather hesitant pushing the ball up court and driving it down the defense's throat. Why the B-? Partin and Robinson were the only Terriers to score in double figures, while other players (Patrick Hazel, Dom Morris, Matt Griffin) hardly contributed on the offensive end.
Here's to you, Mr. Robinson: Sophomore forward goes off for career high
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Seemingly, from the moment he stepped foot on the Boston University campus, things have not exactly gone according to plan for Travis Robinson.
With the two separate broken nose injuries restricting the kind of playing time and chance for development that fellow freshmen D.J. Irving and Dom Morris enjoyed, Robinson, once the highest-rated player in a banner seven-player 2010 recruiting class, seemed to be behind the proverbial curve.
But even in a brief career where so many breaks and opportunities have gone the wrong way, on Wednesday night against the University of Delaware, everything – quite literally – went right for Robinson.
Capitalizing on an increase in playing time he has gotten the past several games, the sophomore guard went off for a career-high 16 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting performance from the field in the Terriers’ 73-67 win over the Blue Hens.
“I wasn’t really expecting it,” Robinson said with a grin after the game. “I’ve been working on my jump shot all summer and coming into the season, we knew they were going to focus a lot on DP [senior guard Darryl Partin], so it was going to leave a lot of people open. I guess I just had the hot hand.”
Seemingly, from the moment he stepped foot on the Boston University campus, things have not exactly gone according to plan for Travis Robinson.
With the two separate broken nose injuries restricting the kind of playing time and chance for development that fellow freshmen D.J. Irving and Dom Morris enjoyed, Robinson, once the highest-rated player in a banner seven-player 2010 recruiting class, seemed to be behind the proverbial curve.
But even in a brief career where so many breaks and opportunities have gone the wrong way, on Wednesday night against the University of Delaware, everything – quite literally – went right for Robinson.
Capitalizing on an increase in playing time he has gotten the past several games, the sophomore guard went off for a career-high 16 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting performance from the field in the Terriers’ 73-67 win over the Blue Hens.
“I wasn’t really expecting it,” Robinson said with a grin after the game. “I’ve been working on my jump shot all summer and coming into the season, we knew they were going to focus a lot on DP [senior guard Darryl Partin], so it was going to leave a lot of people open. I guess I just had the hot hand.”
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
BU vs. Delaware Live Blog
Starting lineups:
University of Delaware Blue Hens
F Josh Brinkley
F Jamelle Hagins
G Khalid Lewis
G Devon Saddler
G Kyle Anderson
Boston University Terriers
F Dom Morris
F Travis Robinson
F Patrick Hazel
G Darryl Partin
G D.J. Irving
Final Score: BU 73, UD 67
Team leaders:
Points
UD: Devon Saddler, 20
BU: Darryl Partin, 27
Rebounds
UD: Jamelle Hagins, 12
BU: Darryl Partin and D.J. Irving, 7
Assists
UD: Khalid Lewis and Kyle Anderson, 2
BU: D.J. Irving, 11
From the FreeP: Ruffling feathers: Terriers take on Blue Hens
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Walking off the court of the University of Rhode Island’s Ryan Center last Friday afternoon, the Boston University men’s basketball team was at a crossroads.
On a day known as Black Friday across the country, the Terriers (2-4) were in their darkest moment of the young season, having just given up a two-possession lead in the final 10 seconds of what turned out to be a 63-62 loss to Cleveland State University, a loss that kept BU winless on the season.
But at a time when a team adjusting to a first-year head coach could have easily unraveled, the opposite occurred. The Terriers came together and responded by winning their final two games in the TicketCity Legends Classic in Kingston, R.I. by dispatching Rhode Island and Hofstra University.
For senior center Patrick Hazel, who sent a reassuring text message to coach Joe Jones after the Cleveland State loss, the tournament provided the Terriers with a chance to quickly rebound from such a big disappointment.
“That was the beauty of it, that’s why you have to love playing in those tournaments – you get the chance to go right back out and do it the next day,” Hazel, one of the team tri-captains, said. “That was the mindset we had – be upset about it, but come tomorrow morning, get ready to go and focus on our game plan against Rhode Island, and that’s what we did. We tried to move past it and forget about it.”
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Walking off the court of the University of Rhode Island’s Ryan Center last Friday afternoon, the Boston University men’s basketball team was at a crossroads.
On a day known as Black Friday across the country, the Terriers (2-4) were in their darkest moment of the young season, having just given up a two-possession lead in the final 10 seconds of what turned out to be a 63-62 loss to Cleveland State University, a loss that kept BU winless on the season.
But at a time when a team adjusting to a first-year head coach could have easily unraveled, the opposite occurred. The Terriers came together and responded by winning their final two games in the TicketCity Legends Classic in Kingston, R.I. by dispatching Rhode Island and Hofstra University.
For senior center Patrick Hazel, who sent a reassuring text message to coach Joe Jones after the Cleveland State loss, the tournament provided the Terriers with a chance to quickly rebound from such a big disappointment.
“That was the beauty of it, that’s why you have to love playing in those tournaments – you get the chance to go right back out and do it the next day,” Hazel, one of the team tri-captains, said. “That was the mindset we had – be upset about it, but come tomorrow morning, get ready to go and focus on our game plan against Rhode Island, and that’s what we did. We tried to move past it and forget about it.”
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
From the FreeP: Far from your Average Joe
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
At a Tuesday practice in mid-November, two days after the University of Texas battered his Boston University men’s basketball team by 36 points, Joe Jones approaches a group of players gathered around the Gatorade cooler, his bald scalp and sweaty forehead glistening under the lights of Case Gymnasium.
As he draws nearer, his slender, 6-foot-2 frame comes into focus and his bulging calf muscles are a little more noticeable, reminiscent of his playing days at the State University of New York at Oswego.
Judging by his scowling facial expression, Jones doesn’t look too pleased.
“I’m not watching us play tough! We’re supposed to be tough!” he yells, yanking his right ear as his players slowly make their way back to the left baseline in preparation for the next drill.
His dissatisfaction with the Terriers’ execution is evident as the three hour practice drags on. “Attack the basket,” “Make layups,” Go hard to the basket” and “Get a better shot” are some of the key points he reiterates to his players.
He is not like that every day, though. Seeing that his squad was not performing at a high level on that particular Tuesday, Jones ripped into it at the first practice since the embarrassing 82-46 loss to Texas.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
At a Tuesday practice in mid-November, two days after the University of Texas battered his Boston University men’s basketball team by 36 points, Joe Jones approaches a group of players gathered around the Gatorade cooler, his bald scalp and sweaty forehead glistening under the lights of Case Gymnasium.
As he draws nearer, his slender, 6-foot-2 frame comes into focus and his bulging calf muscles are a little more noticeable, reminiscent of his playing days at the State University of New York at Oswego.
Judging by his scowling facial expression, Jones doesn’t look too pleased.
“I’m not watching us play tough! We’re supposed to be tough!” he yells, yanking his right ear as his players slowly make their way back to the left baseline in preparation for the next drill.
His dissatisfaction with the Terriers’ execution is evident as the three hour practice drags on. “Attack the basket,” “Make layups,” Go hard to the basket” and “Get a better shot” are some of the key points he reiterates to his players.
He is not like that every day, though. Seeing that his squad was not performing at a high level on that particular Tuesday, Jones ripped into it at the first practice since the embarrassing 82-46 loss to Texas.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
MAZUREK: A personalized Thanksgiving postcard from Kingston
By Teddy Mazurek/DFP Staff
My Thanksgiving plans were written in stone: go home for Thanksgiving, spend time with my family and high school friends and then meet up with other Boston University students Saturday night at Madison Square Garden for Red Hot Hockey, before coming back to Boston.
Great plan, right? It probably resembles the holiday plans of many other BU students.
My first Red Hot Hockey experience was back in 2009, when BU scored a goal in the last minute of play to force a 3-3 tie. The sea of red comprising students and alumni from both schools in the world’s most famous arena! How can you beat that? As a senior how could I miss that?
Then on Aug. 25, BU athletics announced that the men’s basketball team was chosen to take part in the TicketCity Legends Classic, which consisted of a game at the University of Texas, followed by three games in three days at host University of Rhode Island over Thanksgiving break.
I was at the crossroads of a difficult BU athletics decision. It is never fun to support one BU team over another; however, every year there are times when games coincide. Obviously, Red Hot Hockey is a must-see event. But does it outweigh three straight days of BU basketball, which included a total of six college basketball games?
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
My Thanksgiving plans were written in stone: go home for Thanksgiving, spend time with my family and high school friends and then meet up with other Boston University students Saturday night at Madison Square Garden for Red Hot Hockey, before coming back to Boston.
Great plan, right? It probably resembles the holiday plans of many other BU students.
My first Red Hot Hockey experience was back in 2009, when BU scored a goal in the last minute of play to force a 3-3 tie. The sea of red comprising students and alumni from both schools in the world’s most famous arena! How can you beat that? As a senior how could I miss that?
Then on Aug. 25, BU athletics announced that the men’s basketball team was chosen to take part in the TicketCity Legends Classic, which consisted of a game at the University of Texas, followed by three games in three days at host University of Rhode Island over Thanksgiving break.
I was at the crossroads of a difficult BU athletics decision. It is never fun to support one BU team over another; however, every year there are times when games coincide. Obviously, Red Hot Hockey is a must-see event. But does it outweigh three straight days of BU basketball, which included a total of six college basketball games?
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Monday, November 28, 2011
From the FreeP: Inspired Jones gets first wins of BU career
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
KINGSTON, R.I. – Right after the Boston University men’s basketball team’s 63-62 loss to Cleveland State University Friday, senior forward Patrick Hazel sent coach Joe Jones an encouraging text message.
He told his new bench boss that they had to be ready to face the University of Rhode Island and Hofstra University and couldn’t hang their heads with a chance to win the remaining two games in the sub-regional round of the TicketCity Legends Classic.
“That said it all,” Jones said.
Seniors Matt Griffin, Darryl Partin, Jeff Pelage and Hazel made Jones’ job a lot easier following the heartbreaking loss to the Vikings by leading by example and maintaining a positive attitude during the team meeting. Heeding its upperclassmen’s model behavior, BU (2-4) responded valiantly in comeback fashion at the Ryan Center, beating URI (1-5), 70-64, on Saturday and downing Hofstra (3-4), 68-61, on Sunday.
“I was proud of the way our guys battled,” Jones said. “Three games in three days is tough, but I was very impressed by the way our team battled back this weekend.”
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
KINGSTON, R.I. – Right after the Boston University men’s basketball team’s 63-62 loss to Cleveland State University Friday, senior forward Patrick Hazel sent coach Joe Jones an encouraging text message.
He told his new bench boss that they had to be ready to face the University of Rhode Island and Hofstra University and couldn’t hang their heads with a chance to win the remaining two games in the sub-regional round of the TicketCity Legends Classic.
“That said it all,” Jones said.
Seniors Matt Griffin, Darryl Partin, Jeff Pelage and Hazel made Jones’ job a lot easier following the heartbreaking loss to the Vikings by leading by example and maintaining a positive attitude during the team meeting. Heeding its upperclassmen’s model behavior, BU (2-4) responded valiantly in comeback fashion at the Ryan Center, beating URI (1-5), 70-64, on Saturday and downing Hofstra (3-4), 68-61, on Sunday.
“I was proud of the way our guys battled,” Jones said. “Three games in three days is tough, but I was very impressed by the way our team battled back this weekend.”
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
On heels of upset victory to heartbreaking defeat: BU suffers shocking 63-62 loss to Cleveland State
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
KINGSTON, R.I. – To some, the Boston University men’s basketball team had no business carrying a 24-21 lead over Cleveland State University into halftime, let alone nursing a 62-61 edge in the tilt’s final 5.6 seconds.
Not when Cleveland State (5-0) is the defending co-Horizon League regular-season champions. Not when it recently knocked off then-No.7 Vanderbilt University in the opening round of the TickeyCity Legends Classic two weeks ago. Not when it was favored by 11 points, billed as the stronger, deeper squad and featured a starting lineup that weighed nearly 60 pounds heavier than BU’s (0-4).
Yet for the first 39 minutes and 54.4 seconds, the Terriers vastly outplayed coach Gary Waters’ Vikings, a club ranked 26th in the latest Associated Press poll entering Friday’s subregional matchup, from top to bottom.
It only took four games into the Joe Jones Era, but BU finally lived up to its potential. The Terriers displayed an aggressive style of basketball – on both ends of the floor – that Jones knew they were fully capable of playing, shot 40 percent (16-of-40) from the field and forced the Vikings into 16 turnovers.
KINGSTON, R.I. – To some, the Boston University men’s basketball team had no business carrying a 24-21 lead over Cleveland State University into halftime, let alone nursing a 62-61 edge in the tilt’s final 5.6 seconds.
Not when Cleveland State (5-0) is the defending co-Horizon League regular-season champions. Not when it recently knocked off then-No.7 Vanderbilt University in the opening round of the TickeyCity Legends Classic two weeks ago. Not when it was favored by 11 points, billed as the stronger, deeper squad and featured a starting lineup that weighed nearly 60 pounds heavier than BU’s (0-4).
Yet for the first 39 minutes and 54.4 seconds, the Terriers vastly outplayed coach Gary Waters’ Vikings, a club ranked 26th in the latest Associated Press poll entering Friday’s subregional matchup, from top to bottom.
It only took four games into the Joe Jones Era, but BU finally lived up to its potential. The Terriers displayed an aggressive style of basketball – on both ends of the floor – that Jones knew they were fully capable of playing, shot 40 percent (16-of-40) from the field and forced the Vikings into 16 turnovers.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Grading the Terriers: 11/25 vs. Cleveland State
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
Offense: C
Almost felt tempted to give the Terriers a higher grade for their offensive efforts, due in large part to their combined 40 percent shooting from the field, nearly seven percentage points higher than the opposing Vikings. BU had three players in double figures, as senior guard Darryl Partin scored a game-high 24 points, senior forward Patrick Hazel tallied 15 points and sophomore guard D.J. Irving contributed 13 points of his own. But only two other players generated the rest of BU’s 10 points in the contest: sophomore forwards Dom Morris (eight points) and Travis Robinson (two points). The Terriers’ abysmal performance from 3-point territory was their undoing and deserving of their C grade. Collectively, BU was 2-of-13 shooting the 3-ball with Partin knocking down its only treys – back-to-back triples in a 36-second span – early on in the second half. To make matters even more one-sided, he attempted all seven of the Terriers’ second-half 3-pointers. Sophomore forward Travis Robinson, freshman guard Zach Chionuma and senior guard Matt Griffin came up empty on their 3s in the first half. On positive notes, Hazel netted his career-high 15 points on an efficient 5-of-9 shooting, including two dunks, and BU converted a number of layups and alley-oops that yielded its 45 shooting percentage and an 11-point lead at one juncture in the final frame.
Offense: C
Almost felt tempted to give the Terriers a higher grade for their offensive efforts, due in large part to their combined 40 percent shooting from the field, nearly seven percentage points higher than the opposing Vikings. BU had three players in double figures, as senior guard Darryl Partin scored a game-high 24 points, senior forward Patrick Hazel tallied 15 points and sophomore guard D.J. Irving contributed 13 points of his own. But only two other players generated the rest of BU’s 10 points in the contest: sophomore forwards Dom Morris (eight points) and Travis Robinson (two points). The Terriers’ abysmal performance from 3-point territory was their undoing and deserving of their C grade. Collectively, BU was 2-of-13 shooting the 3-ball with Partin knocking down its only treys – back-to-back triples in a 36-second span – early on in the second half. To make matters even more one-sided, he attempted all seven of the Terriers’ second-half 3-pointers. Sophomore forward Travis Robinson, freshman guard Zach Chionuma and senior guard Matt Griffin came up empty on their 3s in the first half. On positive notes, Hazel netted his career-high 15 points on an efficient 5-of-9 shooting, including two dunks, and BU converted a number of layups and alley-oops that yielded its 45 shooting percentage and an 11-point lead at one juncture in the final frame.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
BU vs. Cleveland State Live Blog -- TicketCity Legends Classic
Starting lineups:
Cleveland State University Vikings
F Tim Kamczyc
F Aaron Pogue
G D'Aundray Brown
G Trevon Harmon
G Jeremy Montgomery
Boston University Terriers
F Dom Morris
F Patrick Hazel
G Darryl Partin
G Travis Robinson
G D.J. Irving
Final Score: CSU 63, BU 62
Team leaders:
Points
CSU: D'Aundray Brown and Anton Grady, 14
BU: Darryl Partin, 24
Rebounds
CSU: Aaron Pogue, 11
BU: Darryl Partin and Patrick Hazel, 8
Assists
CSU: Trevon Harmon, 4
BU: Dom Morris and Darryl Partin, 3
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Terriers face a high-quality squad in Cleveland State Friday in TicketCity Legends Classic
By Shep Hayes/DFP Staff
Searching for both its first win of the 2011-2012 season and of the Joe Jones era, the Boston University men’s basketball team will face off against Cleveland State University at 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon. As part of the Kingston Subregional of the TicketCity Legends Classic, the game will be played at the Thomas M. Ryan Center on the campus of the University of Rhode Island.
The Terriers enter the contest on a three-game losing streak, after falling 71-66 to the Cornell University Big Red last Sunday in Ithaca, N.Y. One week before that game, the Terriers (0-3) lost in the opening round of the Legends Classic to the University of Texas Longhorns, 82-46, in Austin, Texas. BU opened its season with a 82-74 overtime loss to the Northeastern University Huskies in a packed Case Gymnasium two nights before it played the Longhorns.
Through the three losses, senior guard Daryl Partin has led the Terriers in scoring by a large margin, averaging 22.7 points per game. Partin has also been one of the more efficient shooters for BU, getting an average of one point with each of his possessions. Sophomore guard D.J. Irving follows Partin in scoring, with an average of 12.3 points per game. Sophomore forward Dom Morris leads the Terriers in both rebound categories, with 8 offensive and 20 defensive boards.
Searching for both its first win of the 2011-2012 season and of the Joe Jones era, the Boston University men’s basketball team will face off against Cleveland State University at 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon. As part of the Kingston Subregional of the TicketCity Legends Classic, the game will be played at the Thomas M. Ryan Center on the campus of the University of Rhode Island.
The Terriers enter the contest on a three-game losing streak, after falling 71-66 to the Cornell University Big Red last Sunday in Ithaca, N.Y. One week before that game, the Terriers (0-3) lost in the opening round of the Legends Classic to the University of Texas Longhorns, 82-46, in Austin, Texas. BU opened its season with a 82-74 overtime loss to the Northeastern University Huskies in a packed Case Gymnasium two nights before it played the Longhorns.
Through the three losses, senior guard Daryl Partin has led the Terriers in scoring by a large margin, averaging 22.7 points per game. Partin has also been one of the more efficient shooters for BU, getting an average of one point with each of his possessions. Sophomore guard D.J. Irving follows Partin in scoring, with an average of 12.3 points per game. Sophomore forward Dom Morris leads the Terriers in both rebound categories, with 8 offensive and 20 defensive boards.
More from last Friday's one-on-one interview with Jones
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
For the "Building more than a basketball team the Joe Jones Way" story, I wrote a coaching profile on Joe Jones, Boston University's new basketball coach. I met with him last Friday in his office suite in the BU athletics department. Here are some of the questions that I asked him during the interview and his responses that weren't included in the feature:
Who is Joe Jones, as a basketball coach and as a person off the court?
I would tell you that I’m pretty passionate about people, about life, anything that I’m involved with I do with a lot of emotion, a lot of energy. That’s just who I am. I think I’m interested in people, in the game of basketball, my family. I don’t golf. I’m pretty simplistic when it comes to what I do on a daily basis. I just love the game. I love to coach the game. I love to find out more about the game. I love the recruits. All the things that go into this job I love. I love my family and friends. It’s very simple.
How would you describe your coaching style, specifically in practice?
When I feel that we need to have more energy, more emotion, there are times in practice where I show that and I get out there. There are other times where I talk. It depends really on what our team needs at that particular moment.
Do you think people have an idea of what your coaching style may be like?
I don’t know. I don’t know. My thing has always been trying to say more positive things to one negative thing and just being positive. But there are going to be times where you have to get on guys and get the most out of them. I’d much rather prefer to be someone that’s more positive, reinforcing positive things and getting on my guys when I need to. I’d prefer to be more positive than negative.
For the "Building more than a basketball team the Joe Jones Way" story, I wrote a coaching profile on Joe Jones, Boston University's new basketball coach. I met with him last Friday in his office suite in the BU athletics department. Here are some of the questions that I asked him during the interview and his responses that weren't included in the feature:
Who is Joe Jones, as a basketball coach and as a person off the court?
I would tell you that I’m pretty passionate about people, about life, anything that I’m involved with I do with a lot of emotion, a lot of energy. That’s just who I am. I think I’m interested in people, in the game of basketball, my family. I don’t golf. I’m pretty simplistic when it comes to what I do on a daily basis. I just love the game. I love to coach the game. I love to find out more about the game. I love the recruits. All the things that go into this job I love. I love my family and friends. It’s very simple.
How would you describe your coaching style, specifically in practice?
When I feel that we need to have more energy, more emotion, there are times in practice where I show that and I get out there. There are other times where I talk. It depends really on what our team needs at that particular moment.
Do you think people have an idea of what your coaching style may be like?
I don’t know. I don’t know. My thing has always been trying to say more positive things to one negative thing and just being positive. But there are going to be times where you have to get on guys and get the most out of them. I’d much rather prefer to be someone that’s more positive, reinforcing positive things and getting on my guys when I need to. I’d prefer to be more positive than negative.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Building more than a basketball team the Joe Jones Way
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
At a Tuesday practice in mid-November, two days after the University of Texas battered his Boston University men’s basketball team by 36 points, Joe Jones approaches a group of players gathered around the Gatorade cooler, his bald head and sweaty forehead glistening under the lights of Case Gymnasium.
As he draws nearer, his 6-foot-2 slender frame comes into focus and his bulging calf muscles are a little more noticeable, reminiscent of his playing days at State University of New York at Oswego.
By his scowling facial expression, Jones doesn’t look too pleased.
“I’m not watching us play tough! We’re supposed to be tough!” he yells, yanking his right ear in the process, as his players slowly make their way back to the left baseline in preparation for the next exercise.
His dissatisfaction with the Terriers’ execution is evident as the three-hour practice drags on. "Attack the basket," "Go hard to the basket," "Make layups," and "Get a better shot" are some of the key points he reiterates to his players.
At a Tuesday practice in mid-November, two days after the University of Texas battered his Boston University men’s basketball team by 36 points, Joe Jones approaches a group of players gathered around the Gatorade cooler, his bald head and sweaty forehead glistening under the lights of Case Gymnasium.
As he draws nearer, his 6-foot-2 slender frame comes into focus and his bulging calf muscles are a little more noticeable, reminiscent of his playing days at State University of New York at Oswego.
By his scowling facial expression, Jones doesn’t look too pleased.
“I’m not watching us play tough! We’re supposed to be tough!” he yells, yanking his right ear in the process, as his players slowly make their way back to the left baseline in preparation for the next exercise.
His dissatisfaction with the Terriers’ execution is evident as the three-hour practice drags on. "Attack the basket," "Go hard to the basket," "Make layups," and "Get a better shot" are some of the key points he reiterates to his players.
From the FreeP: Cornell pulls away late from men’s basketball
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
In many respects, the Boston University men’s basketball team took a step forward in its third game under new head coach Joe Jones.
For the second consecutive game, the Terriers out-rebounded their opponent, shot well from the free throw line and saw nearly four of their players score in double figures.
Yet, at the end, BU fell short of its first win of the season as Cornell University withstood a second half rally to hold on for a 71-66 win Sunday in Ithaca, N.Y.
The loss to the Big Red (2-2) drops the Terriers to 0-3 on the season.
After opening the game on a 7-0 run in the first minute and a half of play, BU quickly fell victim to a scoring barrage from Cornell over the next seven minutes as the Big Red put up 20 unanswered points, including three consecutive 3-pointers from guard Drew Ferry.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
In many respects, the Boston University men’s basketball team took a step forward in its third game under new head coach Joe Jones.
For the second consecutive game, the Terriers out-rebounded their opponent, shot well from the free throw line and saw nearly four of their players score in double figures.
Yet, at the end, BU fell short of its first win of the season as Cornell University withstood a second half rally to hold on for a 71-66 win Sunday in Ithaca, N.Y.
The loss to the Big Red (2-2) drops the Terriers to 0-3 on the season.
After opening the game on a 7-0 run in the first minute and a half of play, BU quickly fell victim to a scoring barrage from Cornell over the next seven minutes as the Big Red put up 20 unanswered points, including three consecutive 3-pointers from guard Drew Ferry.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
COUGHLAN: For once, BU community comes through for men’s basketball
By Luke Coughlan/DFP Staff
There was no way that they were going to fill Case Gymnasium.
No way. No how.
No way that Boston University fans were going to show up for a 5 p.m. men’s basketball game on a Friday. Not when they had a men’s ice hockey bout between BU and Merrimack College for which to prepare at the same time.
Nope. Not without John Holland, and not without departed head coach Patrick Chambers.
They weren’t going to show up . . .
And then, they did.
Defying a precedent as old as the venue itself, Boston University basketball fans packed The Roof on Friday for the Terriers’ season opener against the Northeastern University Huskies, squeezing a sold out crowd of 1,875 into the rickety bleachers to set a program record for attendance at Case Gym.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
There was no way that they were going to fill Case Gymnasium.
No way. No how.
No way that Boston University fans were going to show up for a 5 p.m. men’s basketball game on a Friday. Not when they had a men’s ice hockey bout between BU and Merrimack College for which to prepare at the same time.
Nope. Not without John Holland, and not without departed head coach Patrick Chambers.
They weren’t going to show up . . .
And then, they did.
Defying a precedent as old as the venue itself, Boston University basketball fans packed The Roof on Friday for the Terriers’ season opener against the Northeastern University Huskies, squeezing a sold out crowd of 1,875 into the rickety bleachers to set a program record for attendance at Case Gym.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
From the FreeP: Big feat at stake against the Big Red
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
Searching for that evasive first win of the Joe Jones era, the Boston University men’s basketball team continues its demanding non-conference slate with a Sunday tilt against Cornell University at Newman Arena in Ithaca, N.Y.
BU (0-2) enters the game fresh off of receiving an 82-46 thumping from the University of Texas in the opening round of the TicketCity Legends Classic. In their first-ever meeting with the Longhorns this past Sunday at the Erwin Center, the Terriers were outscored 51-25 in the second half and committed 24 turnovers in the contest that turned into 27 Texas points.
For the second-consecutive game, senior guard Darryl Partin and sophomore guard D.J. Irving led all BU players with 14 and 10 points, respectively, despite combining to shoot 10-of-27 from the field.
But for a squad that is still adjusting to the graduation of John Holland, the program’s second all-time leading scorer with 2,212 points, finding a balanced offensive attack has been rather difficult.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Searching for that evasive first win of the Joe Jones era, the Boston University men’s basketball team continues its demanding non-conference slate with a Sunday tilt against Cornell University at Newman Arena in Ithaca, N.Y.
BU (0-2) enters the game fresh off of receiving an 82-46 thumping from the University of Texas in the opening round of the TicketCity Legends Classic. In their first-ever meeting with the Longhorns this past Sunday at the Erwin Center, the Terriers were outscored 51-25 in the second half and committed 24 turnovers in the contest that turned into 27 Texas points.
For the second-consecutive game, senior guard Darryl Partin and sophomore guard D.J. Irving led all BU players with 14 and 10 points, respectively, despite combining to shoot 10-of-27 from the field.
But for a squad that is still adjusting to the graduation of John Holland, the program’s second all-time leading scorer with 2,212 points, finding a balanced offensive attack has been rather difficult.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
From the FreeP: Shot selection among early points of emphasis for Terriers
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Though just two games into the 2011-12 season, the Boston University men’s basketball team has already encountered an old problem, one that plagued them for much of last season even on a run to the NCAA Tournament – poor shooting.
After losses to Northeastern University and the University of Texas, the Terriers have shot 36.3 percent from the field on the season, a figure that includes a 29.8 percent shooting performance in the team’s 82-46 loss at Texas.
Their current shooting percentage ranks the Terriers 283rd among Division I teams, something that first-year head coach Joe Jones feels is a product of both poor shot selection and the ball just not falling into the basket.
“We’re taking some bad ones, we’re not playing side-to-side, inside-out better,” Jones said. “It’s a combination of both.”
Shots not falling through for BU is nothing new as the 2010-11 team ranked among the bottom third of Division I basketball teams with a shooting percentage of 40.2 percent.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Though just two games into the 2011-12 season, the Boston University men’s basketball team has already encountered an old problem, one that plagued them for much of last season even on a run to the NCAA Tournament – poor shooting.
After losses to Northeastern University and the University of Texas, the Terriers have shot 36.3 percent from the field on the season, a figure that includes a 29.8 percent shooting performance in the team’s 82-46 loss at Texas.
Their current shooting percentage ranks the Terriers 283rd among Division I teams, something that first-year head coach Joe Jones feels is a product of both poor shot selection and the ball just not falling into the basket.
“We’re taking some bad ones, we’re not playing side-to-side, inside-out better,” Jones said. “It’s a combination of both.”
Shots not falling through for BU is nothing new as the 2010-11 team ranked among the bottom third of Division I basketball teams with a shooting percentage of 40.2 percent.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Post-Texas Interview with Jones
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Q: How much did those 24 turnovers hurt your team against a talented, major conference team like Texas on the road?
“It was a huge factor in the game. Obviously, when you give a team 20-plus opportunities to score a ball on you, it takes away the momentum, it takes you out of your flow. It really hurts you.”
Q: What really allowed Texas to pull away so quickly in the second half?
“I thought it was a combination of us being impatient offensively, really not sharing the ball the way that we have in practice, and turnovers. It was a combination of both of those and also missing makeable shots. We haven’t shot the ball well in the two games we’ve played.”
Q: What's at the root of your team's shooting problems? Is it poor shot selection or are the shots simply just not falling?
“We’re taking some bad ones, we’re not playing side-to-side, inside-out better. It’s a combination of both.”
Q: Being down by so much about midway through the second half, do you feel your team kept playing with a certain level of intensity?
“I thought in that area, for a period of time when we didn’t come out in the second half and play as well as I thought we would, the score really affected us and we hung our heads a little bit at that time.”
Q: What does Patrick Hazel have to work on in order to stay out of foul trouble and stay in the game?
“We’ve been talking about that – it’s technique and making smarter decisions on the defensive end.”
Q: How much did those 24 turnovers hurt your team against a talented, major conference team like Texas on the road?
“It was a huge factor in the game. Obviously, when you give a team 20-plus opportunities to score a ball on you, it takes away the momentum, it takes you out of your flow. It really hurts you.”
Q: What really allowed Texas to pull away so quickly in the second half?
“I thought it was a combination of us being impatient offensively, really not sharing the ball the way that we have in practice, and turnovers. It was a combination of both of those and also missing makeable shots. We haven’t shot the ball well in the two games we’ve played.”
Q: What's at the root of your team's shooting problems? Is it poor shot selection or are the shots simply just not falling?
“We’re taking some bad ones, we’re not playing side-to-side, inside-out better. It’s a combination of both.”
Q: Being down by so much about midway through the second half, do you feel your team kept playing with a certain level of intensity?
“I thought in that area, for a period of time when we didn’t come out in the second half and play as well as I thought we would, the score really affected us and we hung our heads a little bit at that time.”
Q: What does Patrick Hazel have to work on in order to stay out of foul trouble and stay in the game?
“We’ve been talking about that – it’s technique and making smarter decisions on the defensive end.”
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Texas-sized win: Longhorns rout Terriers, 82-46
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
The conditions for the Boston University men's basketball team entering its second game of the season were not exactly ideal.
Having played a heated game against a cross-town rival that went into overtime on Friday night, the team had to wake up early the next morning to catch a flight to Austin, Texas.
Also, it doesn't help when the team you're traveling to play has made 13 straight NCAA Tournaments and sports one of the highest-rated freshmen classes in college basketball.
The culmination of these factors was one that the Terriers experienced the full effect of as they could not recover from a fast second-half start from the University of Texas en route to a 82-46 drubbing at the hands of the host Longhorns.
Texas guard J'Covan Brown exploded for a game-high 28 points and eight assists, while guard Julien Lewis made his collegiate debut an impressive one with 18 points.
The conditions for the Boston University men's basketball team entering its second game of the season were not exactly ideal.
Having played a heated game against a cross-town rival that went into overtime on Friday night, the team had to wake up early the next morning to catch a flight to Austin, Texas.
Also, it doesn't help when the team you're traveling to play has made 13 straight NCAA Tournaments and sports one of the highest-rated freshmen classes in college basketball.
The culmination of these factors was one that the Terriers experienced the full effect of as they could not recover from a fast second-half start from the University of Texas en route to a 82-46 drubbing at the hands of the host Longhorns.
Texas guard J'Covan Brown exploded for a game-high 28 points and eight assists, while guard Julien Lewis made his collegiate debut an impressive one with 18 points.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Sputtering offense, missed Irving free throws doom Terriers in overtime session
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
D.J. Irving and Darryl Partin sat next to their new coach Joe Jones in a media room a couple of floor levels below Case Gymnasium, their shoulders slumped, their heads down, their faces expressionless.
The sophomore and senior guards dropped 17 and 25 points, respectively, and accounted for eight of the Boston University men’s basketball team’s 10 points in overtime against Northeastern University.
Unfortunately for Irving and Partin, their offensive contributions fell to the wayside, as the Huskies (1-0) outscored the Terriers (0-1) 18-10 in that extra session and pulled away late for an 82-74 victory Friday night.
Despite trailing 62-51 with 4:53 remaining in this bitter, emotionally filled tilt, BU mounted a furious comeback and scored 13 of the contest’s next 15 points to tie it at 64 apiece. On the Terriers’ second-to-last opportunity to eke out a win, senior guard Matt Griffin drove and dished it out to Irving, whose shot was emphatically blocked out of bounds by guard Jonathan Lee.
With 1.1 seconds to go, Irving lobbed the ball to Patrick Hazel, but the 6-foot-6 senior forward couldn’t convert on the alley-oop feed near the basket, sending both teams' season opener into overtime.
D.J. Irving and Darryl Partin sat next to their new coach Joe Jones in a media room a couple of floor levels below Case Gymnasium, their shoulders slumped, their heads down, their faces expressionless.
The sophomore and senior guards dropped 17 and 25 points, respectively, and accounted for eight of the Boston University men’s basketball team’s 10 points in overtime against Northeastern University.
Unfortunately for Irving and Partin, their offensive contributions fell to the wayside, as the Huskies (1-0) outscored the Terriers (0-1) 18-10 in that extra session and pulled away late for an 82-74 victory Friday night.
Despite trailing 62-51 with 4:53 remaining in this bitter, emotionally filled tilt, BU mounted a furious comeback and scored 13 of the contest’s next 15 points to tie it at 64 apiece. On the Terriers’ second-to-last opportunity to eke out a win, senior guard Matt Griffin drove and dished it out to Irving, whose shot was emphatically blocked out of bounds by guard Jonathan Lee.
With 1.1 seconds to go, Irving lobbed the ball to Patrick Hazel, but the 6-foot-6 senior forward couldn’t convert on the alley-oop feed near the basket, sending both teams' season opener into overtime.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Same story, different chapter: Northeastern narrowly tops BU, 82-74, in overtime
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
For two basketball programs in Boston University and Northeastern University that experienced so much change in the offseason, Friday night's game, by most accounts, carried an eery sense of deja vu.
Just as it was last season, with both teams opening the season against one another in front of an intense crowd, the Terriers and Huskies played a largely back-and-forth game, one defined by runs made by both teams in a contest that wasn't decided until the bitter end.
And ultimately, in a game marred by similarities, the result proved to be the same as Northeastern defeated BU 82-74 in overtime in front of a sell-out crowd of 1,875, the largest in Case Gymnasium history.
"Just another boring Northeastern-BU game, right?" Northeastern head coach Bill Coen quipped after the game.
The game served as an unveiling of sorts for the BU program, as it was the Terriers' first game under new head coach Joe Jones.
For two basketball programs in Boston University and Northeastern University that experienced so much change in the offseason, Friday night's game, by most accounts, carried an eery sense of deja vu.
Just as it was last season, with both teams opening the season against one another in front of an intense crowd, the Terriers and Huskies played a largely back-and-forth game, one defined by runs made by both teams in a contest that wasn't decided until the bitter end.
And ultimately, in a game marred by similarities, the result proved to be the same as Northeastern defeated BU 82-74 in overtime in front of a sell-out crowd of 1,875, the largest in Case Gymnasium history.
"Just another boring Northeastern-BU game, right?" Northeastern head coach Bill Coen quipped after the game.
The game served as an unveiling of sorts for the BU program, as it was the Terriers' first game under new head coach Joe Jones.
Grading the Terriers: 11/11 vs. Northeastern
By Shep Hayes/DFP Staff
Sophomore forward Dom Morris: C
Compared to last season, Morris played an overall average game to start the 2011-12 BU basketball campaign. Offensively, he had eight points, making 50 percent of his shots inside the arc, about on par with how he shot last year. His biggest weakness against the Huskies was outside of the arc, where he shot much weaker than on the inside. Morris attempted five 3-pointers, including one coming off of a timeout in overtime that would have given BU a two-point lead with under one minute remaining. He did not make that shot, and he also failed to complete any of his other four attempts, dragging down his otherwise decent play in the Northeastern end of the court.
Morris was able to make up his offensive futility on the defensive end, however. He snagged six balls off the glass for the Terriers, tied with Jeff Pelage for the most in the game for BU. In a game when BU struggled to rebound at both ends of the court, Morris’ contributions made a difference.
Sophomore forward Dom Morris: C
Compared to last season, Morris played an overall average game to start the 2011-12 BU basketball campaign. Offensively, he had eight points, making 50 percent of his shots inside the arc, about on par with how he shot last year. His biggest weakness against the Huskies was outside of the arc, where he shot much weaker than on the inside. Morris attempted five 3-pointers, including one coming off of a timeout in overtime that would have given BU a two-point lead with under one minute remaining. He did not make that shot, and he also failed to complete any of his other four attempts, dragging down his otherwise decent play in the Northeastern end of the court.
Morris was able to make up his offensive futility on the defensive end, however. He snagged six balls off the glass for the Terriers, tied with Jeff Pelage for the most in the game for BU. In a game when BU struggled to rebound at both ends of the court, Morris’ contributions made a difference.
BU vs. Northeastern Live Blog
Starting lineups:
Northeastern University Huskies
F Kauri Black
F Kashief Edwards
G Jonathan Lee
G Joel Smith
G Alwayne Bigby
Boston University Terriers
F Dom Morris
F Patrick Hazel
G Darryl Partin
G Matt Griffin
G D.J. Irving
Final Score: NU 82, BU 74 (OT)
Team leaders:
Points
NU: Joel Smith, 20
BU: Darryl Partin, 25
Rebounds
NU: Joel Smith, 12
BU: Dom Morris, 7
Assists
NU: Jonathan Lee, 6
BU: Patrick Hazel, 2
Thursday, November 10, 2011
From the FreeP: Men’s basketball: Jonesing for a championship
By Craig Meyer and René Reyes/DFP Staff
As the players jumped raucously in jubilation, as the fans rushed the court in utter bliss and as the confetti streamed down from the rafters to the Agganis Arena floor, the Boston University men’s basketball program was experiencing a dream fully realized.
After clawing back to take down Stony Brook University in the America East Tournament championship game, the Terriers were headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in almost a decade and were part of a March Madness montage usually reserved for other, more successful schools.
Amid the celebration and chaos, however, stood a man who had watched the game from behind the bench, a man who, unbeknownst to BU players, coaches and fans, would be the person who with the responsibility of harnessing this success as the program’s next head coach – Joe Jones.
Having just completed his first season as the Boston College associate head coach, Jones made the trip east down Commonwealth Avenue to watch his good friend Patrick Chambers coach the Terriers and at the time, never could have imagined he would soon be in Chambers’ position.
But now that he is, he couldn’t be happier.
“I wanted the job really badly,” Jones said. “When the job opened, I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity. It’s the best job in the league and that’s the kind of job that you want as a head coach, so when that job opened up it was an absolute no-brainer.”
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
As the players jumped raucously in jubilation, as the fans rushed the court in utter bliss and as the confetti streamed down from the rafters to the Agganis Arena floor, the Boston University men’s basketball program was experiencing a dream fully realized.
After clawing back to take down Stony Brook University in the America East Tournament championship game, the Terriers were headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in almost a decade and were part of a March Madness montage usually reserved for other, more successful schools.
Amid the celebration and chaos, however, stood a man who had watched the game from behind the bench, a man who, unbeknownst to BU players, coaches and fans, would be the person who with the responsibility of harnessing this success as the program’s next head coach – Joe Jones.
Having just completed his first season as the Boston College associate head coach, Jones made the trip east down Commonwealth Avenue to watch his good friend Patrick Chambers coach the Terriers and at the time, never could have imagined he would soon be in Chambers’ position.
But now that he is, he couldn’t be happier.
“I wanted the job really badly,” Jones said. “When the job opened, I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity. It’s the best job in the league and that’s the kind of job that you want as a head coach, so when that job opened up it was an absolute no-brainer.”
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
From the FreeP: Catch me if you can: After a promising first season, speedy point guard D.J. Irving is ready for stardom
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Lounging back in a booth at T. Anthony Restaurant on an overcast, non-descript Veterans’ Day in 2009, then-Boston University men’s basketball head coach Patrick Chambers could not get his mind off a certain thing.
It wasn’t his team’s first game of the season that Friday at Iona College, the game that would not only mark the beginning of Chambers’ tenure at BU, but also the start of his head coaching career. Nor was his brain wrapped around a heralded pair of recruits – Dominic Morris and Travis Robinson of Friends’ Central High School outside Philadelphia – who had just committed to BU about a week before.
Rather, on this day, all Chambers could think about was a speedy high school senior about six hours south in Chester, Pa.
“We’ve got this point guard coming in next year, from Philly, who is lightning,” he said with a pronounced emphasis on the last word. “This kid is going to be a star one day in this league, I can guarantee that.”
Roughly two years later, and with Chambers now the head coach at Penn State University, the faceless, ambiguous “lightning” that Chambers spoke of that day is now well-known across campus and the America East Conference by a different name – D.J. Irving.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Lounging back in a booth at T. Anthony Restaurant on an overcast, non-descript Veterans’ Day in 2009, then-Boston University men’s basketball head coach Patrick Chambers could not get his mind off a certain thing.
It wasn’t his team’s first game of the season that Friday at Iona College, the game that would not only mark the beginning of Chambers’ tenure at BU, but also the start of his head coaching career. Nor was his brain wrapped around a heralded pair of recruits – Dominic Morris and Travis Robinson of Friends’ Central High School outside Philadelphia – who had just committed to BU about a week before.
Rather, on this day, all Chambers could think about was a speedy high school senior about six hours south in Chester, Pa.
“We’ve got this point guard coming in next year, from Philly, who is lightning,” he said with a pronounced emphasis on the last word. “This kid is going to be a star one day in this league, I can guarantee that.”
Roughly two years later, and with Chambers now the head coach at Penn State University, the faceless, ambiguous “lightning” that Chambers spoke of that day is now well-known across campus and the America East Conference by a different name – D.J. Irving.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
From the FreeP: Partin the Interruption: Leading scorer Darryl Partin looks to fill leadership role on and off the court
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
A 32-point night against Cornell University in November 2010 generated multiple left shoulder shrugs from Partin in his postgame presser. An unsightly 3-for-11 shooting performance in the America East Conference championship game last March still failed to break his calm demeanor afterward.
At the BU men’s basketball team’s open practice Monday, a rare sequence unfolded on the first court of the Fitness and Recreation Center. Co-captain Matt Griffin went around a Mat Piotrowski screen and drove relatively untouched down the lane for an easy bucket. Partin, the Seattle native who’s quiet by nature, was visibly upset with his teammates for the blown defensive rotation.
And he let them know it.
He gathered guards D.J. Irving and Zach Chionuma and forwards Dom Morris and Patrick Hazel in a circle near the free-throw line. On that particular possession, Partin barked, they should have slid over to the weak side and prevented the drive. Whoever was caught underneath the hoop, he added, would take the charge.
The Scarlet squad answered with a smothering display of defense on the White team’s next offensive trip down the floor, culminating in a Hazel block that started the fast break. Partin’s fiery exchange during a break in the scrimmage provided just a glimpse into his emergence as a vocal leader for BU.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
A 32-point night against Cornell University in November 2010 generated multiple left shoulder shrugs from Partin in his postgame presser. An unsightly 3-for-11 shooting performance in the America East Conference championship game last March still failed to break his calm demeanor afterward.
At the BU men’s basketball team’s open practice Monday, a rare sequence unfolded on the first court of the Fitness and Recreation Center. Co-captain Matt Griffin went around a Mat Piotrowski screen and drove relatively untouched down the lane for an easy bucket. Partin, the Seattle native who’s quiet by nature, was visibly upset with his teammates for the blown defensive rotation.
And he let them know it.
He gathered guards D.J. Irving and Zach Chionuma and forwards Dom Morris and Patrick Hazel in a circle near the free-throw line. On that particular possession, Partin barked, they should have slid over to the weak side and prevented the drive. Whoever was caught underneath the hoop, he added, would take the charge.
The Scarlet squad answered with a smothering display of defense on the White team’s next offensive trip down the floor, culminating in a Hazel block that started the fast break. Partin’s fiery exchange during a break in the scrimmage provided just a glimpse into his emergence as a vocal leader for BU.
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
MAZUREK: Numbers don't lie with BU basketball attendance
By Teddy Mazurek/DFP Columnist
Let me begin with a warning – in this column, I will be dropping hard facts to get my point across because I do not believe in sugar-coating the problems that concern Boston University athletics.
The biggest issue I have seen during my tenure at BU has been below average – actually I’d go as far to say pathetic – attendance.
Nowhere does this prove truer than at men’s basketball games.
Nov. 11 has been a date that Terrier fans have circled on their calendars since the men’s schedule was released.
On the one hand, I am excited that the season opener is home against city rival Northeastern University and I applaud the efforts of former BU coach Patrick Chambers and Northeastern coach Bill Coen for showing a commitment to strengthening a city rivalry.
On the other hand, I fear that the game might turn out to be another poor showing by BU students to support men’s basketball. An even greater worry is that Northeastern fans might outnumber BU fans on their own court.
The problem of poor attendance, specifically at basketball games, has been written about by past columnists. However, an in-depth look at attendance has never been published. This column is a response to this void.
Let me begin with a warning – in this column, I will be dropping hard facts to get my point across because I do not believe in sugar-coating the problems that concern Boston University athletics.
The biggest issue I have seen during my tenure at BU has been below average – actually I’d go as far to say pathetic – attendance.
Nowhere does this prove truer than at men’s basketball games.
Nov. 11 has been a date that Terrier fans have circled on their calendars since the men’s schedule was released.
On the one hand, I am excited that the season opener is home against city rival Northeastern University and I applaud the efforts of former BU coach Patrick Chambers and Northeastern coach Bill Coen for showing a commitment to strengthening a city rivalry.
On the other hand, I fear that the game might turn out to be another poor showing by BU students to support men’s basketball. An even greater worry is that Northeastern fans might outnumber BU fans on their own court.
The problem of poor attendance, specifically at basketball games, has been written about by past columnists. However, an in-depth look at attendance has never been published. This column is a response to this void.
Friday, October 14, 2011
BU tabbed as preseason favorite in America East; Partin named first-teamer
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
HARTFORD, Conn. -- For those around the Boston University men's basketball program, the past several months have been a time of rapid and fundamental change.
The Terriers first lost their leading scorer and reigning America East Player of the Year in forward John Holland, who graduated in May after spending the greater part of the last four years as the face of the BU basketball program.
A couple of months after Holland played his last game in a BU uniform, head coach Pat Chambers, on the heels of a NCAA Tournament appearance in just his second season on Commonwealth Ave., accepted the head coaching position at Penn State University, leaving the school with the task of searching for its third basketball coach in four years.
However, amidst all of this transformation, one thing has remained a constant for BU over the past half-decade -- lofty preseason expectations, a trend that continued Thursday as the Terriers were slated as the preseason favorite in the America East coaches poll.
It marked the fifth-consecutive year in which BU was the No. 1 team in the preseason poll.
HARTFORD, Conn. -- For those around the Boston University men's basketball program, the past several months have been a time of rapid and fundamental change.
The Terriers first lost their leading scorer and reigning America East Player of the Year in forward John Holland, who graduated in May after spending the greater part of the last four years as the face of the BU basketball program.
A couple of months after Holland played his last game in a BU uniform, head coach Pat Chambers, on the heels of a NCAA Tournament appearance in just his second season on Commonwealth Ave., accepted the head coaching position at Penn State University, leaving the school with the task of searching for its third basketball coach in four years.
However, amidst all of this transformation, one thing has remained a constant for BU over the past half-decade -- lofty preseason expectations, a trend that continued Thursday as the Terriers were slated as the preseason favorite in the America East coaches poll.
It marked the fifth-consecutive year in which BU was the No. 1 team in the preseason poll.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
From the FreeP: For men's basketball, it's always sunny in Philadelphia
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
With the arrival of former head men’s basketball coach Patrick Chambers to Boston University in 2009, a pipeline was created, a bond that linked along the East Coast all the way from Boston to Philadelphia.
It was a connection that Chambers used to recruit talented players who helped to revitalize a stagnant BU program and were instrumental in leading the Terriers to their first America East Conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance in almost a decade.
When Chambers left for Penn State University in early June and former Boston College associate head Coach Joe Jones was hired to replace him, the question naturally arose – would Jones be able to maintain not only Chambers’ success, but also the valuable connection to one of the most talent-rich areas in the nation?
Just over two months into his tenure, Jones has begun to answer those questions, doubts and concerns in one fell swoop when he landed a verbal commitment from class of 2012 point guard Maurice Watson.
The 5’9” floor general from Boys’ Latin School in Philadelphia announced his decision on Aug. 31, three months before he was originally scheduled to, choosing a school that over time became a clear and perfect fit for him.
“Everything felt right and I have no regrets about my decision,” Watson said in a phone interview with The Daily Free Press. “I didn’t feel like waiting anymore – I knew where I wanted to go and I just didn’t want to waste coach Jones’ time.”
Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com.
With the arrival of former head men’s basketball coach Patrick Chambers to Boston University in 2009, a pipeline was created, a bond that linked along the East Coast all the way from Boston to Philadelphia.
It was a connection that Chambers used to recruit talented players who helped to revitalize a stagnant BU program and were instrumental in leading the Terriers to their first America East Conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance in almost a decade.
When Chambers left for Penn State University in early June and former Boston College associate head Coach Joe Jones was hired to replace him, the question naturally arose – would Jones be able to maintain not only Chambers’ success, but also the valuable connection to one of the most talent-rich areas in the nation?
Just over two months into his tenure, Jones has begun to answer those questions, doubts and concerns in one fell swoop when he landed a verbal commitment from class of 2012 point guard Maurice Watson.
The 5’9” floor general from Boys’ Latin School in Philadelphia announced his decision on Aug. 31, three months before he was originally scheduled to, choosing a school that over time became a clear and perfect fit for him.
“Everything felt right and I have no regrets about my decision,” Watson said in a phone interview with The Daily Free Press. “I didn’t feel like waiting anymore – I knew where I wanted to go and I just didn’t want to waste coach Jones’ time.”
Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
From the FreeP: Out before the count
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Over halfway through its season and stuck at a critical turning point, the Boston University men’s basketball team was forced to cope with yet another setback in what, at that time, had amounted to a 10-13 record as it was announced that junior forward Jake O’Brien would be out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his injured foot.
The Terriers ultimately went on a run that led them all the way to the NCAA Tournament, even without their sidelined star.
But now, more than seven months later, it’s a reality that they will have to deal with yet again as the school confirmed Monday that O’Brien will miss the entirety of the 2011-12 season after having yet another surgery on the same foot.
“Jake is such a huge part of our program – I think he really exemplifies what we’re all about from a student-athlete standpoint,” said BU head coach Joe Jones. “Any time you lose someone like that, it affects your program.
“But we’re really optimistic that we’ll get Jake back and hopefully this season we can have him back practicing and get him back in uniform when he’s ready to come back.”
Over halfway through its season and stuck at a critical turning point, the Boston University men’s basketball team was forced to cope with yet another setback in what, at that time, had amounted to a 10-13 record as it was announced that junior forward Jake O’Brien would be out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his injured foot.
The Terriers ultimately went on a run that led them all the way to the NCAA Tournament, even without their sidelined star.
But now, more than seven months later, it’s a reality that they will have to deal with yet again as the school confirmed Monday that O’Brien will miss the entirety of the 2011-12 season after having yet another surgery on the same foot.
“Jake is such a huge part of our program – I think he really exemplifies what we’re all about from a student-athlete standpoint,” said BU head coach Joe Jones. “Any time you lose someone like that, it affects your program.
“But we’re really optimistic that we’ll get Jake back and hopefully this season we can have him back practicing and get him back in uniform when he’s ready to come back.”
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
BREAKING NEWS: O'Brien out for season
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Last season, Boston University men's basketball senior forward Jake O'Brien went down with a foot injury, one that forced him to undergo surgery and miss half of the Terriers' season, only to see his team go on a tear in the season's final months to win an America East Conference title.
This season, O'Brien won't even get that chance as it has been confirmed that the former America East Rookie of the Year will miss all of the 2011-12 season after finishing a second surgery on the injured foot this week.
Yesterday afternoon, O'Brien posted on his Facebook profile the following message:
"Just got out of surgery to get this foot right, would give anything to play right now, just didnt work out that way...but i WILL be back and 100% for another season"
That same day, Sam Perkins of the America East basketball blog One Bid Wonders was the first to report the news that O'Brien would indeed be out indefinitely.
The loss of the Weymouth, Ma. native comes as a big blow to a BU team under new head coach Joe Jones that expected a lot from several key returning players, particularly O'Brien. The 6'8" forward has averaged no less than 10.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in a season in his three seasons on Commonwealth Ave.
Team spokesman Scott Ellis couldn't be reached for comment on the situation.
Last season, Boston University men's basketball senior forward Jake O'Brien went down with a foot injury, one that forced him to undergo surgery and miss half of the Terriers' season, only to see his team go on a tear in the season's final months to win an America East Conference title.
This season, O'Brien won't even get that chance as it has been confirmed that the former America East Rookie of the Year will miss all of the 2011-12 season after finishing a second surgery on the injured foot this week.
Yesterday afternoon, O'Brien posted on his Facebook profile the following message:
"Just got out of surgery to get this foot right, would give anything to play right now, just didnt work out that way...but i WILL be back and 100% for another season"
That same day, Sam Perkins of the America East basketball blog One Bid Wonders was the first to report the news that O'Brien would indeed be out indefinitely.
The loss of the Weymouth, Ma. native comes as a big blow to a BU team under new head coach Joe Jones that expected a lot from several key returning players, particularly O'Brien. The 6'8" forward has averaged no less than 10.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in a season in his three seasons on Commonwealth Ave.
Team spokesman Scott Ellis couldn't be reached for comment on the situation.
Friday, September 9, 2011
BU releases 2011-12 schedule
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
It may have taken some time, but after months of planning and deliberation, the Boston University men's basketball team now knows what lies ahead of it this season, as the school's athletic department released the team's full 2011-12 schedule today.
The move comes days after the America East Conference released the 2012 conference schedule, which makes up for roughly half of the Terriers' slate of games.
For the second time in as many years, BU will open its season against nearby rival Northeastern University, this time with a home game at Case Gymnasium. Also of particular interest will be the Terriers' first game since 2004 against crosstown rival Boston College, a game that will take place Dec. 3 at BC's Conte Forum.
With the conference schedule already posted, here is BU's full non-conference schedule:
11/11 -- Northeastern, 5 p.m. at Case Gym
11/13 -- at the University of Texas, TBA
11/20 -- at Cornell University, 2 p.m.
11/25 -- Cleveland State University, 4:30 p.m. in Kingston, RI
11/26 -- at the University of Rhode Island, 3:30 p.m.
11/27 -- Hofstra University, 12 p.m. in Kingston, RI
11/30 -- University of Delaware, 7 p.m. at Case Gym
12/3 -- at Boston College, 2 p.m.
12/7 -- at Saint Joseph's University (Pa), TBA
12/10 -- Harvard University, TBA at Agganis Arena
12/13 -- at Villanova University, 7 p.m.
12/22 -- Bucknell University, 7 p.m. at Case Gym
12/29 -- at La Salle University, TBA
12/31 -- at Quinnipiac University, 12 p.m.
Full Court Press will have analysis on several of BU's major non-conference games in the coming days.
It may have taken some time, but after months of planning and deliberation, the Boston University men's basketball team now knows what lies ahead of it this season, as the school's athletic department released the team's full 2011-12 schedule today.
The move comes days after the America East Conference released the 2012 conference schedule, which makes up for roughly half of the Terriers' slate of games.
For the second time in as many years, BU will open its season against nearby rival Northeastern University, this time with a home game at Case Gymnasium. Also of particular interest will be the Terriers' first game since 2004 against crosstown rival Boston College, a game that will take place Dec. 3 at BC's Conte Forum.
With the conference schedule already posted, here is BU's full non-conference schedule:
11/11 -- Northeastern, 5 p.m. at Case Gym
11/13 -- at the University of Texas, TBA
11/20 -- at Cornell University, 2 p.m.
11/25 -- Cleveland State University, 4:30 p.m. in Kingston, RI
11/26 -- at the University of Rhode Island, 3:30 p.m.
11/27 -- Hofstra University, 12 p.m. in Kingston, RI
11/30 -- University of Delaware, 7 p.m. at Case Gym
12/3 -- at Boston College, 2 p.m.
12/7 -- at Saint Joseph's University (Pa), TBA
12/10 -- Harvard University, TBA at Agganis Arena
12/13 -- at Villanova University, 7 p.m.
12/22 -- Bucknell University, 7 p.m. at Case Gym
12/29 -- at La Salle University, TBA
12/31 -- at Quinnipiac University, 12 p.m.
Full Court Press will have analysis on several of BU's major non-conference games in the coming days.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Terriers to travel to Villanova
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
On a schedule that already is set to feature two games in the Philadelphia area against Saint Joseph's University on Dec. 7 and La Salle University on Dec. 29, it was revealed today that the Boston University men's basketball team will be getting a third game in the City of Brotherly Love, as the Terriers will travel south on Dec. 13 to take on Villanova University at the Wells Fargo Center.
The game will mark the second time in as many seasons that the two teams have faced off. Last December, the Terriers fell to the then-No.6 Wildcats 82-66 in the Preseason NIT at the Pavilion on the Villanova campus.
Last season's matchup received headlines for pitting former BU coach Patrick Chambers against his mentor in Villanova coach Jay Wright, but the game against the Wildcats will also serve as a homecoming of sort for new BU coach Joe Jones, who was an assistant coach at Villanova for six seasons.
Additionally, seven players on the BU roster hail from the Philadelphia area.
No date has been set at this time for the release of the Terriers' full 2011-12 schedule.
On a schedule that already is set to feature two games in the Philadelphia area against Saint Joseph's University on Dec. 7 and La Salle University on Dec. 29, it was revealed today that the Boston University men's basketball team will be getting a third game in the City of Brotherly Love, as the Terriers will travel south on Dec. 13 to take on Villanova University at the Wells Fargo Center.
The game will mark the second time in as many seasons that the two teams have faced off. Last December, the Terriers fell to the then-No.6 Wildcats 82-66 in the Preseason NIT at the Pavilion on the Villanova campus.
Last season's matchup received headlines for pitting former BU coach Patrick Chambers against his mentor in Villanova coach Jay Wright, but the game against the Wildcats will also serve as a homecoming of sort for new BU coach Joe Jones, who was an assistant coach at Villanova for six seasons.
Additionally, seven players on the BU roster hail from the Philadelphia area.
No date has been set at this time for the release of the Terriers' full 2011-12 schedule.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Terriers' AE schedule released
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
While most college basketball programs in the country have known their 2010-11 schedules for weeks at this point, the Boston University men's basketball team's schedule remains incomplete.
However, what was a previously blank slate is starting to fill quickly, a trend that continued today as the America East Conference released its men's basketball schedule for the 2010-11 season.
As it is every year, the Terriers will be facing each of the conference's other eight teams twice, and the schedule is as follows:
Thurs., 1/5: at the University of Vermont
Sun., 1/8: Binghamton University
Wed., 1/11: at the University of Maine
Sat., 1/14: Stony Brook University
Mon., 1/16: University at Albany
Thurs., 1/19: at the University of New Hampshire
Sun., 1/22: at the University of Hartford
Tues., 1/24: University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Fri., 1/27: at Stony Brook
Wed., 2/1: Vermont
Sat., 2/4: at Binghamton
Mon., 2/6: at Albany
Thurs., 2/9: Maine
Wed., 2/15: New Hampshire
Wed., 2/22: at UMBC
Sat., 2/25: Hartford
*All times to-be-announced
In addition to its in-conference schedule, BU's out-of-conference slate will feature games against the University of Texas, Hofstra University, Cleveland State University, the University of Rhode Island (all four games will be part of Ticket City Legends' Classic), Cornell University, the University of Delaware, Saint Joseph's (Pa.) University and La Salle University.
While most college basketball programs in the country have known their 2010-11 schedules for weeks at this point, the Boston University men's basketball team's schedule remains incomplete.
However, what was a previously blank slate is starting to fill quickly, a trend that continued today as the America East Conference released its men's basketball schedule for the 2010-11 season.
As it is every year, the Terriers will be facing each of the conference's other eight teams twice, and the schedule is as follows:
Thurs., 1/5: at the University of Vermont
Sun., 1/8: Binghamton University
Wed., 1/11: at the University of Maine
Sat., 1/14: Stony Brook University
Mon., 1/16: University at Albany
Thurs., 1/19: at the University of New Hampshire
Sun., 1/22: at the University of Hartford
Tues., 1/24: University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Fri., 1/27: at Stony Brook
Wed., 2/1: Vermont
Sat., 2/4: at Binghamton
Mon., 2/6: at Albany
Thurs., 2/9: Maine
Wed., 2/15: New Hampshire
Wed., 2/22: at UMBC
Sat., 2/25: Hartford
*All times to-be-announced
In addition to its in-conference schedule, BU's out-of-conference slate will feature games against the University of Texas, Hofstra University, Cleveland State University, the University of Rhode Island (all four games will be part of Ticket City Legends' Classic), Cornell University, the University of Delaware, Saint Joseph's (Pa.) University and La Salle University.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Watson commits to BU
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
New Boston University men's basketball coach Joe Jones has received another big commitment early in his tenure with the Terriers as he landed a verbal commitment from Philadelphia Boys' Latin point guard Maurice Watson, the 5'9" floor general announced in a press conference this morning.
Watson is a two-star player rated as a 88 on ESPN.com, making him the No. 29-ranked point guard in the class of 2012, according to the website's database.
The commitment from Watson is the second Jones has received in the past month from the class of 2012, as Connecticut shooting guard John Papale. Watson has been praised by several recruiting outlets for his ball distribution skills and his savvy decision-making, as well as his speed.
Watson selected BU after it made the cut of his final four schools last week, a list that also included the University of Virginia, Hofstra University and La Salle University.
New Boston University men's basketball coach Joe Jones has received another big commitment early in his tenure with the Terriers as he landed a verbal commitment from Philadelphia Boys' Latin point guard Maurice Watson, the 5'9" floor general announced in a press conference this morning.
Watson is a two-star player rated as a 88 on ESPN.com, making him the No. 29-ranked point guard in the class of 2012, according to the website's database.
The commitment from Watson is the second Jones has received in the past month from the class of 2012, as Connecticut shooting guard John Papale. Watson has been praised by several recruiting outlets for his ball distribution skills and his savvy decision-making, as well as his speed.
Watson selected BU after it made the cut of his final four schools last week, a list that also included the University of Virginia, Hofstra University and La Salle University.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
BU recruit set to announce decision Saturday
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Maurice Watson, a point guard in the class of 2012, is set to announce his college decision on Saturday with BU remaining as one of his final four choices, according to his personal Twitter account.
A standout at Boys' Latin School in Philadelphia, the 5'9" Watson has narrowed his college choices to BU, the University of Virginia, Hofstra University and La Salle University. The announcement is set to take place at his high school.
Widely-noted as an exceptionally cerebral floor general, Watson is rated as an 88 by ESPN.com's recruiting database, making him the No. 29 rated point guard in the country.
Maurice Watson, a point guard in the class of 2012, is set to announce his college decision on Saturday with BU remaining as one of his final four choices, according to his personal Twitter account.
A standout at Boys' Latin School in Philadelphia, the 5'9" Watson has narrowed his college choices to BU, the University of Virginia, Hofstra University and La Salle University. The announcement is set to take place at his high school.
Widely-noted as an exceptionally cerebral floor general, Watson is rated as an 88 by ESPN.com's recruiting database, making him the No. 29 rated point guard in the country.
BU gets commit from 2012 shooting guard
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Among former Boston University men's basketball coach Patrick Chambers' greatest achievements in his time with the program was his ability to recruit heralded talent to Commonwealth Ave.
It's early, but Chambers' successor, first-year head coach Joe Jones, looks to be picking up exactly where Chambers left off as Jones picked up his first commitment in his tenure as the Terriers' new coach as Choate-Rosemary Hall (Conn.) shooting guard John Papale, this according to Adam Finkelstein of ESPN.com and the New England Recruiting Report.
Papale reportedly had offers from 23 other Division-I schools, a list that included the likes of the University of Massachusetts and the University of Rhode Island, before ultimately settling on the Terriers.
"First and foremost, BU is an excellent school and the opportunity to receive a world-class education in a great city like Boston is a situation I feel great about," Papale told the New England Recruiting Report. "From a basketball standpoint, I feel really comfortable with Coach Jones and the entire staff and feel confident that I can come in and make a significant impact right away towards helping the program succeed."
The 6'3" Papale is a two-star prospect on ESPN.com's recruiting database, an 85 overall, and is rated as the No. 81 shooting guard in the nation.
Among former Boston University men's basketball coach Patrick Chambers' greatest achievements in his time with the program was his ability to recruit heralded talent to Commonwealth Ave.
It's early, but Chambers' successor, first-year head coach Joe Jones, looks to be picking up exactly where Chambers left off as Jones picked up his first commitment in his tenure as the Terriers' new coach as Choate-Rosemary Hall (Conn.) shooting guard John Papale, this according to Adam Finkelstein of ESPN.com and the New England Recruiting Report.
Papale reportedly had offers from 23 other Division-I schools, a list that included the likes of the University of Massachusetts and the University of Rhode Island, before ultimately settling on the Terriers.
"First and foremost, BU is an excellent school and the opportunity to receive a world-class education in a great city like Boston is a situation I feel great about," Papale told the New England Recruiting Report. "From a basketball standpoint, I feel really comfortable with Coach Jones and the entire staff and feel confident that I can come in and make a significant impact right away towards helping the program succeed."
The 6'3" Papale is a two-star prospect on ESPN.com's recruiting database, an 85 overall, and is rated as the No. 81 shooting guard in the nation.
Terriers to face three more in Legends Classic
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Over a month and a half ago, it was revealed that the Boston University men's basketball team would be participating in the Ticket City Legends Classic and would face the University of Texas.
Now, two more opponents have been added to that slate as the BU athletic department announced today in a press release that the Terriers will also face Cleveland State University, the University of Rhode Island and Hofstra University in the round robin-style tournament.
Play will begin for the Terriers on Nov. 13 as they will travel to Austin to square off against head coach Rick Barnes and the Longhorns.
Less than two weeks later, tournament play will resume for BU as it takes on the three aforementioned opponents in consecutive days, as it will play against Cleveland State on Nov. 25, Rhode Island on Nov. 26 and Hofstra on Nov. 27. Those three games will be taking place at the Ryan Center on the Rhode Island campus.
All four of the opponents for first-year head coach Joe Jones and the Terriers were ranked in the top 100 of the RPI last season, with each of the four teams qualifying for postseason tournaments, albeit only one (Texas) reaching the NCAA Tournament.
Full Court Press will continue to provide updates as BU's non-conference schedule continues to take form.
Over a month and a half ago, it was revealed that the Boston University men's basketball team would be participating in the Ticket City Legends Classic and would face the University of Texas.
Now, two more opponents have been added to that slate as the BU athletic department announced today in a press release that the Terriers will also face Cleveland State University, the University of Rhode Island and Hofstra University in the round robin-style tournament.
Play will begin for the Terriers on Nov. 13 as they will travel to Austin to square off against head coach Rick Barnes and the Longhorns.
Less than two weeks later, tournament play will resume for BU as it takes on the three aforementioned opponents in consecutive days, as it will play against Cleveland State on Nov. 25, Rhode Island on Nov. 26 and Hofstra on Nov. 27. Those three games will be taking place at the Ryan Center on the Rhode Island campus.
All four of the opponents for first-year head coach Joe Jones and the Terriers were ranked in the top 100 of the RPI last season, with each of the four teams qualifying for postseason tournaments, albeit only one (Texas) reaching the NCAA Tournament.
Full Court Press will continue to provide updates as BU's non-conference schedule continues to take form.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Jones adds another assistant
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
With Curtis Wilson and Shaun Morris already on board for new Boston University men's basketball coach Joe Jones' first staff, Jones added another assistant to the list, hiring Carmen Maciariello as an assistant coach.
Maciariello spent only a few months as the coordinator of basketball operations for Providence College, following new Friars coach Ed Cooley after working under him as an assistant coach for three seasons at Fairfield University. At Fairfield, he was the lead recruiter for Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference all-rookie team member Maurice Barrow. In his three seasons under Cooley at Fairfield, the Stags went 64-33 went two postseason appearances, albeit neither of them NCAA Tournament berths.
Prior to his time at Fairfield, Maciariello spent the 2005-06 season as the director of basketball operations for his alma mater, Siena College. Maciariello also spent time as the vice president and coach of the Albany City Rocks, an Elite Nike travel team that allowed Maciariello to work with players such as Jimmer Fredette and Talor Battle.
Jones' hire of Maciariello will likely complete his first staff at BU, a staff that also includes Wilson, Morris and director of basketball operations Joe Bianco.
With Curtis Wilson and Shaun Morris already on board for new Boston University men's basketball coach Joe Jones' first staff, Jones added another assistant to the list, hiring Carmen Maciariello as an assistant coach.
Maciariello spent only a few months as the coordinator of basketball operations for Providence College, following new Friars coach Ed Cooley after working under him as an assistant coach for three seasons at Fairfield University. At Fairfield, he was the lead recruiter for Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference all-rookie team member Maurice Barrow. In his three seasons under Cooley at Fairfield, the Stags went 64-33 went two postseason appearances, albeit neither of them NCAA Tournament berths.
Prior to his time at Fairfield, Maciariello spent the 2005-06 season as the director of basketball operations for his alma mater, Siena College. Maciariello also spent time as the vice president and coach of the Albany City Rocks, an Elite Nike travel team that allowed Maciariello to work with players such as Jimmer Fredette and Talor Battle.
Jones' hire of Maciariello will likely complete his first staff at BU, a staff that also includes Wilson, Morris and director of basketball operations Joe Bianco.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Lowe signs pro contract in Israel
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
After spending last season playing in Greece, former Boston University men's basketball standout Corey Lowe will continue his professional career, signing a contract with Maccabi Ashdod of the Israeli League.
A four-year starter at guard for the Terriers from 2006-09, Lowe finished his BU career as the program's fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,815 points and the program's all-time leader with 313 3-pointers made.
A highly-touted recruit coming out of Newton North High School, Lowe was a three-time all-America East Conference performer, netting AE first team honors in 2009, and second team honors in 2008 and 2010.
Lowe becomes the former BU player to ink a professional contract overseas this summer, joining former teammate John Holland, who signed a contract in July with Chorale de Roanne of the French Pro A Division.
After spending last season playing in Greece, former Boston University men's basketball standout Corey Lowe will continue his professional career, signing a contract with Maccabi Ashdod of the Israeli League.
A four-year starter at guard for the Terriers from 2006-09, Lowe finished his BU career as the program's fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,815 points and the program's all-time leader with 313 3-pointers made.
A highly-touted recruit coming out of Newton North High School, Lowe was a three-time all-America East Conference performer, netting AE first team honors in 2009, and second team honors in 2008 and 2010.
Lowe becomes the former BU player to ink a professional contract overseas this summer, joining former teammate John Holland, who signed a contract in July with Chorale de Roanne of the French Pro A Division.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Holland among finalists for P.R. national team; Strong cut
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Former Boston University men's basketeball forward and reigning America East Conference Player of the Year John Holland is among 17 finalists to make the Puerto Rico national basketball team.
Though Holland is still contending for a spot on the team, his former BU teammate, guard Carlos Strong, did not make it through the recent series of cuts.
The Puerto Rican team will ultimately feature 12 players on the final roster, a roster that will compete in the FIBA Americas Championship in Argentina from August 30 to September 11 and will also attempt to capture one of two available spots in the 2012 Olympics in London.
Along with Holland, some notable players among the final 17 include Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea, Boston Celtics guard Carlos Arroyo, New York Knicks forward Renaldo Balkman, former Kansas State University guard Denis Clemente and guard Ricardo Ledo, a consensus top 15 recruit in the class of 2012.
Former Boston University men's basketeball forward and reigning America East Conference Player of the Year John Holland is among 17 finalists to make the Puerto Rico national basketball team.
Though Holland is still contending for a spot on the team, his former BU teammate, guard Carlos Strong, did not make it through the recent series of cuts.
The Puerto Rican team will ultimately feature 12 players on the final roster, a roster that will compete in the FIBA Americas Championship in Argentina from August 30 to September 11 and will also attempt to capture one of two available spots in the 2012 Olympics in London.
Along with Holland, some notable players among the final 17 include Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea, Boston Celtics guard Carlos Arroyo, New York Knicks forward Renaldo Balkman, former Kansas State University guard Denis Clemente and guard Ricardo Ledo, a consensus top 15 recruit in the class of 2012.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Bianco named Director of Basketball Operations
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Joe Bianco, who has spent the last two seasons as an administrative assistant with the Boston University men's basketball team, has been named the team's director of basketball operations by new BU head coach Joe Jones, the school confirmed in a press release Thursday.
Bianco began his work at BU in 2009 shortly after Patrick Chambers was appointed as the program's next head coach. His duties as an administrative assistant included breaking down film, assisting with on-campus recruiting visits, as well as helping with film exchange.
"We are very fortunate to have Joey Bianco as our director of operations," Jones said in a statement. "In a short time, I have been very impressed with Joey's relationships with our players and his work ethic. I am really looking forward to watching Joey's development."
Before arriving at BU, Bianco served as a manager for the men's basketball team at Villanova for four seasons before graduating from the school in 2009.
Bianco replaces Adam Fisher, who left the program June 21 to join Chambers at Penn State University, and he becomes the third member of Jones' inaugural staff at BU, joining assistant coaches Curtis Wilson and Shaun Morris.
Joe Bianco, who has spent the last two seasons as an administrative assistant with the Boston University men's basketball team, has been named the team's director of basketball operations by new BU head coach Joe Jones, the school confirmed in a press release Thursday.
Bianco began his work at BU in 2009 shortly after Patrick Chambers was appointed as the program's next head coach. His duties as an administrative assistant included breaking down film, assisting with on-campus recruiting visits, as well as helping with film exchange.
"We are very fortunate to have Joey Bianco as our director of operations," Jones said in a statement. "In a short time, I have been very impressed with Joey's relationships with our players and his work ethic. I am really looking forward to watching Joey's development."
Before arriving at BU, Bianco served as a manager for the men's basketball team at Villanova for four seasons before graduating from the school in 2009.
Bianco replaces Adam Fisher, who left the program June 21 to join Chambers at Penn State University, and he becomes the third member of Jones' inaugural staff at BU, joining assistant coaches Curtis Wilson and Shaun Morris.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Holland, Strong participating in P.R. mini-camp
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Former Boston University men's basketball standouts John Holland and Carlos Strong are reuniting after a year apart, albeit on a different stage in an entirely different venue.
Holland and Strong are two of 40 players that are training in a mini-camp for the Puerto Rico national basketball team. Puerto Rico will be participating in the FIBA Americas Championship in Argentina from August 30 to September 11 and will work to qualify for one of two available spots in the 2012 Olympics.
The 40 players invited to camp will be narrowed down to a 12-man roster by head coach Flor Melendez, who replaced former BU and current University of Louisville head coach Rick Pitino after Pitino opted not to continue with his duties as the team's coach. Holland and Strong will work to make a roster that is likely to feature such NBA players as Jose Juan Barea and Carlos Arroyo.
Holland finished his BU career by averaging 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game en route to capturing the America East Conference's Player of the Year award. He culminated his BU career, one in which he became the program's second player to score over 2,000 points, by leading the Terriers to an AE Tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Strong concluded a, appropriately enough, strong collegiate career as he averaged 10.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 47.5 percent from 3-point range his senior season, a season in which he helped lead BU to the semifinals of the 2010 College Basketball Invitational.
Former Boston University men's basketball standouts John Holland and Carlos Strong are reuniting after a year apart, albeit on a different stage in an entirely different venue.
Holland and Strong are two of 40 players that are training in a mini-camp for the Puerto Rico national basketball team. Puerto Rico will be participating in the FIBA Americas Championship in Argentina from August 30 to September 11 and will work to qualify for one of two available spots in the 2012 Olympics.
The 40 players invited to camp will be narrowed down to a 12-man roster by head coach Flor Melendez, who replaced former BU and current University of Louisville head coach Rick Pitino after Pitino opted not to continue with his duties as the team's coach. Holland and Strong will work to make a roster that is likely to feature such NBA players as Jose Juan Barea and Carlos Arroyo.
Holland finished his BU career by averaging 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game en route to capturing the America East Conference's Player of the Year award. He culminated his BU career, one in which he became the program's second player to score over 2,000 points, by leading the Terriers to an AE Tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Strong concluded a, appropriately enough, strong collegiate career as he averaged 10.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 47.5 percent from 3-point range his senior season, a season in which he helped lead BU to the semifinals of the 2010 College Basketball Invitational.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
An early look at BU's 2012 recruiting
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
After a busier-than-expected June due to the departure of former Boston University men's basketball coach Pat Chambers and the hire of new head coach Joe Jones, the summer recruiting period officially began July 6 with college coaches traversing the country to try to build the foundations of their respective program for years to come.
After Chambers hauled in two of the top recruiting classes in the America East Conference in his lone two seasons at the helm, Jones will look to build upon that success as he puts together his first recruiting class at BU, a 2012 class that will become especially important given the fact that the Terriers will graduate six players next year.
After a busier-than-expected June due to the departure of former Boston University men's basketball coach Pat Chambers and the hire of new head coach Joe Jones, the summer recruiting period officially began July 6 with college coaches traversing the country to try to build the foundations of their respective program for years to come.
After Chambers hauled in two of the top recruiting classes in the America East Conference in his lone two seasons at the helm, Jones will look to build upon that success as he puts together his first recruiting class at BU, a 2012 class that will become especially important given the fact that the Terriers will graduate six players next year.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Jones tabs Wilson and Morris to fill assistant coaching slots at BU
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
New Boston University men’s basketball coach Joe Jones has chosen Curtis Wilson and Shaun Morris to join his staff as assistant coaches, the school announced Thursday.
Wilson spent the last 12 seasons at Yale University under Jones’ older brother, James, and served as an associate head coach of the Bulldogs for the past five years from 2006-2011.
“Curtis is a tremendous coach whose experience and knowledge will be invaluable to the program," Jones said. "He is a hard-working family man who will serve as a great role model to our players. I have known Coach Wilson for over 15 years and am thrilled to finally have the opportunity to work with him.”
Morris, on the other hand, worked at Division III powerhouse Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., the last two seasons under head coach Mike Maker. The Ephs advanced to the NCAA Final Four twice in Morris’ two-year stint at Williams and capped off the 2010 campaign as national runner-ups.
“Shaun is a rising star in the coaching world," Jones said. "He spent the last two seasons helping Williams College reach back-to-back Division III Final Fours. His energy and passion for teaching the game of basketball is exactly what I was looking for in a coach.”
Below is a link to the press release on the BU athletics website:
http://www.goterriers.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/070711aaa.html
New Boston University men’s basketball coach Joe Jones has chosen Curtis Wilson and Shaun Morris to join his staff as assistant coaches, the school announced Thursday.
Wilson spent the last 12 seasons at Yale University under Jones’ older brother, James, and served as an associate head coach of the Bulldogs for the past five years from 2006-2011.
“Curtis is a tremendous coach whose experience and knowledge will be invaluable to the program," Jones said. "He is a hard-working family man who will serve as a great role model to our players. I have known Coach Wilson for over 15 years and am thrilled to finally have the opportunity to work with him.”
Morris, on the other hand, worked at Division III powerhouse Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., the last two seasons under head coach Mike Maker. The Ephs advanced to the NCAA Final Four twice in Morris’ two-year stint at Williams and capped off the 2010 campaign as national runner-ups.
“Shaun is a rising star in the coaching world," Jones said. "He spent the last two seasons helping Williams College reach back-to-back Division III Final Fours. His energy and passion for teaching the game of basketball is exactly what I was looking for in a coach.”
Below is a link to the press release on the BU athletics website:
http://www.goterriers.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/070711aaa.html
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Terriers to play Texas in Legends Classic Tournament
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
In the same week in which the university's athletic department unveiled Joe Jones as its new head coach, the Boston University men's basketball team has unveiled an opponent for its non-conference schedule in the 2011-12 season with the announcement that the Terriers will take on the University of Texas in the regional round of the Legends Classic on Nov. 13 in Austin, Texas, Texas athletics confirmed in a press release today.
The Longhorns' game against BU will be their season opener, though it is unclear whether the trip to the Lone Star State will open the Terriers' season.
Head coach Rick Barnes and the Longhorns are coming off a 28-8 season in which it finished second to the University of Kansas before losing to the University of Arizona 70-69 in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Though Texas is bringing in a recruiting class that is widely-ranked among the top ten in the country, it loses several key players from last season's team, most notably forwards Tristan Thompson and Jordan Hamilton, as well as guard Cory Joseph, all three of whom were selected in last week's NBA Draft.
Texas joins a non-conference slate that reportedly includes such schools as Northeastern University, the University of Delaware, Cornell University and crosstown rival Boston College, among others.
Below is a link to the Texas press release:
http://www.texassports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/070111aaa.html
In the same week in which the university's athletic department unveiled Joe Jones as its new head coach, the Boston University men's basketball team has unveiled an opponent for its non-conference schedule in the 2011-12 season with the announcement that the Terriers will take on the University of Texas in the regional round of the Legends Classic on Nov. 13 in Austin, Texas, Texas athletics confirmed in a press release today.
The Longhorns' game against BU will be their season opener, though it is unclear whether the trip to the Lone Star State will open the Terriers' season.
Head coach Rick Barnes and the Longhorns are coming off a 28-8 season in which it finished second to the University of Kansas before losing to the University of Arizona 70-69 in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Though Texas is bringing in a recruiting class that is widely-ranked among the top ten in the country, it loses several key players from last season's team, most notably forwards Tristan Thompson and Jordan Hamilton, as well as guard Cory Joseph, all three of whom were selected in last week's NBA Draft.
Texas joins a non-conference slate that reportedly includes such schools as Northeastern University, the University of Delaware, Cornell University and crosstown rival Boston College, among others.
Below is a link to the Texas press release:
http://www.texassports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/070111aaa.html
Holland signs with French team
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Former Boston University men's basketball standout forward John Holland has signed to play with Chorale de Roanne in France's Pro A Division, former BU and current Penn State University head coach Patrick Chambers announced on Twitter Saturday.
Holland's agreement with the French team comes just over a week after Holland was not selected in the NBA Draft, as was projected by many scouts and analysts.
Chorale de Roanne finished in fifth place in France's Pro A Division with a 18-12 record. The club's current roster features players like former Boston Celtic and NBA player Ricky Davis and former Vanderbilt guard and Boston native Alex Gordon.
Holland had previously been drafted by a professional team in Puerto Rico, but declined the offer to play for the team.
The signing comes months after Holland capped off his storied career at BU. In a benchmark senior season, Holland became the second player in program history to eclipse the 2,000 career point barrier, was named as the America East Conference Player of the Year, and additionally, helped carry the Terriers to an AE Tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament, the program's first since 2002.
Former Boston University men's basketball standout forward John Holland has signed to play with Chorale de Roanne in France's Pro A Division, former BU and current Penn State University head coach Patrick Chambers announced on Twitter Saturday.
Holland's agreement with the French team comes just over a week after Holland was not selected in the NBA Draft, as was projected by many scouts and analysts.
Chorale de Roanne finished in fifth place in France's Pro A Division with a 18-12 record. The club's current roster features players like former Boston Celtic and NBA player Ricky Davis and former Vanderbilt guard and Boston native Alex Gordon.
Holland had previously been drafted by a professional team in Puerto Rico, but declined the offer to play for the team.
The signing comes months after Holland capped off his storied career at BU. In a benchmark senior season, Holland became the second player in program history to eclipse the 2,000 career point barrier, was named as the America East Conference Player of the Year, and additionally, helped carry the Terriers to an AE Tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament, the program's first since 2002.
Friday, July 1, 2011
A stone untapped: The story of Patrick Chambers' tenure at and departure from Boston University
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
As he walked off the court and strode through the bowels and arteries of the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla., Patrick Chambers was content if not downright and outwardly satisfied.
The Boston University men’s basketball coach had been at the helm of and overseen one of the most accomplished seasons in the recent history of the program and was fresh off an NCAA Tournament appearance in which his Terriers were within single digits of the No.1 seed University of Kansas for a majority of a game played in front of a national television audience.
Even though his team ultimately lost by 19 points, it certainly didn’t feel that way for many close to the program; rather, there existed a prevailing sentiment of pride and accomplishment for an admirable performance and perhaps more than anything, a sense of excitement and anticipation for what laid ahead of the program with their perpetually-energetic 39-year-old coach leading the way.
But perhaps for Chambers, bliss derived from ignorance, for amidst all the joy and eagerness that had overcome the BU program in the aftermath of an America East title and a berth in the Big Dance rested a salient truth – Chambers has just coached his last game for the Terriers.
Just over two months and a two-year contract extension later, the school announced on June 3 that Chambers, the young up-and-comer who had turned around the program in just two short years, had left BU to accept the head coaching position at Penn State University.
“I looked at those kids at the end of that game in the locker room and I knew we were close to building something really special and we had to keep it going,” Chambers said. “That’s all I was thinking about.”
As he walked off the court and strode through the bowels and arteries of the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla., Patrick Chambers was content if not downright and outwardly satisfied.
The Boston University men’s basketball coach had been at the helm of and overseen one of the most accomplished seasons in the recent history of the program and was fresh off an NCAA Tournament appearance in which his Terriers were within single digits of the No.1 seed University of Kansas for a majority of a game played in front of a national television audience.
Even though his team ultimately lost by 19 points, it certainly didn’t feel that way for many close to the program; rather, there existed a prevailing sentiment of pride and accomplishment for an admirable performance and perhaps more than anything, a sense of excitement and anticipation for what laid ahead of the program with their perpetually-energetic 39-year-old coach leading the way.
But perhaps for Chambers, bliss derived from ignorance, for amidst all the joy and eagerness that had overcome the BU program in the aftermath of an America East title and a berth in the Big Dance rested a salient truth – Chambers has just coached his last game for the Terriers.
Just over two months and a two-year contract extension later, the school announced on June 3 that Chambers, the young up-and-comer who had turned around the program in just two short years, had left BU to accept the head coaching position at Penn State University.
“I looked at those kids at the end of that game in the locker room and I knew we were close to building something really special and we had to keep it going,” Chambers said. “That’s all I was thinking about.”
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Brian Daly to complete Chambers' Penn State staff
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Having been passed over for the program's head coaching position, Boston University men's basketball associate head coach Brian Daly has resigned and will take a job as an assistant coach under Patrick Chambers at Penn State University, as confirmed in a press release from the Penn State athletic department today.
Daly was the only remaining member of Chambers' staff still at BU, so his departure will allow new BU head coach Joe Jones to compose an entirely new coaching staff.
Jones was introduced as the Terriers' head coach in a press conference Monday.
Daly joins former BU assistant Ross Condon and former director of basketball operations Adam Fisher at Penn State, both of whom left the BU program over the last week. Eugene Burroughs and Keith Urgo are the other two assistants on Chambers' first Nittany Lions staff.
"I am very excited for this opportunity and would like to thank Coach Chambers for welcoming me to the Penn State family," Daly said in a statement.
Daly reportedly interviewed for the head coaching position at BU on June 22, the same day that news broke of Jones' hire. Before his two years with the BU program, Daly was the head coach for the Monsignor Bonner High School boys' basketball team in Drexel Hill, Pa.
Having been passed over for the program's head coaching position, Boston University men's basketball associate head coach Brian Daly has resigned and will take a job as an assistant coach under Patrick Chambers at Penn State University, as confirmed in a press release from the Penn State athletic department today.
Daly was the only remaining member of Chambers' staff still at BU, so his departure will allow new BU head coach Joe Jones to compose an entirely new coaching staff.
Jones was introduced as the Terriers' head coach in a press conference Monday.
Daly joins former BU assistant Ross Condon and former director of basketball operations Adam Fisher at Penn State, both of whom left the BU program over the last week. Eugene Burroughs and Keith Urgo are the other two assistants on Chambers' first Nittany Lions staff.
"I am very excited for this opportunity and would like to thank Coach Chambers for welcoming me to the Penn State family," Daly said in a statement.
Daly reportedly interviewed for the head coaching position at BU on June 22, the same day that news broke of Jones' hire. Before his two years with the BU program, Daly was the head coach for the Monsignor Bonner High School boys' basketball team in Drexel Hill, Pa.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Jones introduced as new Terrier head coach
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
BOSTON – Nearly three weeks ago to the day since Patrick Chambers was hired by Penn State University as its new men’s basketball coach, Director of Athletics Mike Lynch couldn’t have been more thrilled Monday to formally introduce a 45-year-old to the Boston University community.
Out of approximately 50 candidates, Lynch spoke directly with 12 coaches and interviewed seven of them during the exhaustive three-week search for Chambers’ replacement. Last Thursday, he offered the job to a man he believes is best served to build on the successful foundation left behind by Chambers at BU, a man who was also responsible for the third-best single-season turnaround in Ivy League history.
That man is Joe Jones, the former associate head coach at Boston College, who was accompanied by his wife, Kristin, and 5-year-old son, JJ, at his unveiling at Agganis Arena as the 25th head coach in Terrier basketball history.
“It’s a really exciting time to be a part of our program … back-to-back 21-win seasons, couple of opportunities to go to postseason play, last year advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and putting on a fantastic showing against [the University of] Kansas on national television,” Lynch said. “I’d have to imagine that whoever steps into this seat, knowing the team we have back, has got to be really excited.
“I’m just really, really enthusiastic about this hire. I think Joe’s going to do a fantastic job for BU basketball.”
BOSTON – Nearly three weeks ago to the day since Patrick Chambers was hired by Penn State University as its new men’s basketball coach, Director of Athletics Mike Lynch couldn’t have been more thrilled Monday to formally introduce a 45-year-old to the Boston University community.
Out of approximately 50 candidates, Lynch spoke directly with 12 coaches and interviewed seven of them during the exhaustive three-week search for Chambers’ replacement. Last Thursday, he offered the job to a man he believes is best served to build on the successful foundation left behind by Chambers at BU, a man who was also responsible for the third-best single-season turnaround in Ivy League history.
That man is Joe Jones, the former associate head coach at Boston College, who was accompanied by his wife, Kristin, and 5-year-old son, JJ, at his unveiling at Agganis Arena as the 25th head coach in Terrier basketball history.
“It’s a really exciting time to be a part of our program … back-to-back 21-win seasons, couple of opportunities to go to postseason play, last year advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and putting on a fantastic showing against [the University of] Kansas on national television,” Lynch said. “I’d have to imagine that whoever steps into this seat, knowing the team we have back, has got to be really excited.
“I’m just really, really enthusiastic about this hire. I think Joe’s going to do a fantastic job for BU basketball.”
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Ross Condon to join Chambers at Penn State
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Boston University men's basketball assistant coach Ross Condon has resigned his post with the team to accept the same position with coach Patrick Chambers at Penn State University, Penn State athletics confirmed in a press release today.
It was first reported yesterday that Condon had left BU, but it was not confirmed as to whether he was heading to State College, Pa. with Chambers.
Condon arrived at BU after spending two years as the director of basketball operations at Radford University. Prior to that, Condon was a walk-on for the Villanova University basketball team, playing for Chambers for three seasons.
His departure means that Brian Daly is the only remaining member of Chambers' staff who has not yet left the program and new head coach Joe Jones.
Boston University men's basketball assistant coach Ross Condon has resigned his post with the team to accept the same position with coach Patrick Chambers at Penn State University, Penn State athletics confirmed in a press release today.
It was first reported yesterday that Condon had left BU, but it was not confirmed as to whether he was heading to State College, Pa. with Chambers.
Condon arrived at BU after spending two years as the director of basketball operations at Radford University. Prior to that, Condon was a walk-on for the Villanova University basketball team, playing for Chambers for three seasons.
His departure means that Brian Daly is the only remaining member of Chambers' staff who has not yet left the program and new head coach Joe Jones.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Boston University hires Joe Jones as head coach
By Tim Healey and Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
Photo credit: gocolumbialions.com
Joe Jones, the associate head coach of the Boston College men's basketball team, has been hired to be Boston University's new head coach, according to multiple outlets after it was first reported by Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com.
"We are thrilled to have Joe Jones take over the reins of a BU basketball program that is on the rise," BU athletic director Mike Lynch said in a statement. "Joe comes with impressive credentials and past head coaching experience that will help take the program to the next level."
Jones just finished his first year at BC under new Eagles head coach Steve Donahue, but was previously the head coach at Columbia University for seven years where he compiled a 86-108 record with no Ivy League championships. However, Jones' final graduating class at Columbia totaled 26 Ivy League wins, the most conference wins for any Lions graduating class since 1994. Jones voluntarily left for the position in Chestnut Hill in 2010.
He also served under Jay Wright as an assistant coach at Hofstra University (1994-97) and Villanova University (2001-03), while also working as an assistant at Villanova from 1997-01 under then-Wildcats head coach Steve Lappas. In 1999, Jones was named one of the nation's top recruiters by the magazine Eastern Basketball and was a member of the staff that helped bring in heralded recruits like Allan Ray, Randy Foye and Curtis Sumpter, a nucleus that helped lead Villanova to a No. 1 seed and an Elite Eight appearance in the 2006 NCAA Tournament.
A press conference is scheduled for Monday at 11 a.m. at Agganis Arena to unveil Jones as BU's next head coach.
The news comes approximately three weeks after Patrick Chambers left BU to be the head coach at Penn State University, and just one day after Chambers said BU interim head coach Brian Daly would interview for the position today.
The Indianapolis Star also reported that Butler University assistant coach Matthew Graves was a finalist for the position with the Terriers.
Below is a link to the press release on the BU athletics website, complete with quotes from Jones, Lynch and BU president Robert Brown:
http://www.goterriers.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/062311aaa.html
Joe Jones, the associate head coach of the Boston College men's basketball team, has been hired to be Boston University's new head coach, according to multiple outlets after it was first reported by Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com.
"We are thrilled to have Joe Jones take over the reins of a BU basketball program that is on the rise," BU athletic director Mike Lynch said in a statement. "Joe comes with impressive credentials and past head coaching experience that will help take the program to the next level."
Jones just finished his first year at BC under new Eagles head coach Steve Donahue, but was previously the head coach at Columbia University for seven years where he compiled a 86-108 record with no Ivy League championships. However, Jones' final graduating class at Columbia totaled 26 Ivy League wins, the most conference wins for any Lions graduating class since 1994. Jones voluntarily left for the position in Chestnut Hill in 2010.
He also served under Jay Wright as an assistant coach at Hofstra University (1994-97) and Villanova University (2001-03), while also working as an assistant at Villanova from 1997-01 under then-Wildcats head coach Steve Lappas. In 1999, Jones was named one of the nation's top recruiters by the magazine Eastern Basketball and was a member of the staff that helped bring in heralded recruits like Allan Ray, Randy Foye and Curtis Sumpter, a nucleus that helped lead Villanova to a No. 1 seed and an Elite Eight appearance in the 2006 NCAA Tournament.
A press conference is scheduled for Monday at 11 a.m. at Agganis Arena to unveil Jones as BU's next head coach.
The news comes approximately three weeks after Patrick Chambers left BU to be the head coach at Penn State University, and just one day after Chambers said BU interim head coach Brian Daly would interview for the position today.
The Indianapolis Star also reported that Butler University assistant coach Matthew Graves was a finalist for the position with the Terriers.
Below is a link to the press release on the BU athletics website, complete with quotes from Jones, Lynch and BU president Robert Brown:
http://www.goterriers.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/062311aaa.html
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