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.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)