Joe Jones signs extension through 2017–18

By Sarah Kirkpatrick and Christopher Dela Rosa / DFP Staff

Following a postseason appearance during the 2012-13 season, Boston University men’s basketball head coach Joe Jones has signed a contract extension to remain with the team through 2017-18, Director of Athletics Mike Lynch announced Monday.

“I’ve really enjoyed my experience at BU, from working with the administration, to our staff and our players,” Jones said. “I look forward to being here and enjoying my time here.”

In two years with the Terriers, Jones has compiled a record of 33-29.

This past season, he led the team to a 17-13 record and a berth in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, where they lost in the first round to Loyola University-Maryland. Jones was also named a finalist for the Ben Jobe Award, which is given to the best minority coach in Division I Basketball each year.

In 2012-13, then-junior guard D.J. Irving played his way onto the All-America East First Team after averaging 14.2 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per game during the regular season. His classmate, forward Dom Morris, led the team in rebounding with 6.4 boards per game and improved his scoring to 11.6 points per game, earning him All-Conference Third Team Honors.

Both of these stars will return next season, along with plenty of other talent, boding well for Jones in the team’s transition to the Patriot League. After a stellar freshman campaign, guard Maurice Watson, Jr. will return in the backcourt looking to replicate his rookie success, which included leading the America East in assists per game (5.4). His classmate and backcourt partner John Papale, who shot 41.9 percent from 3-point range, will also return for the Terriers.

A few fresh faces will also join the team for Jones’s third season, including incoming freshman guard Cedric Hankerson and his classmate 7-foot-0 forward Dylan Haines. Two transfers are also reported to be joining the team, including 6-foot-11 forward Blaise Mbargorba, formerly of Southern Methodist University, and Wagner College guard Eric Fanning.

“Looking to the future we’re trying to build a team with players that fit and I feel that we are doing that,” Jones said.

College Basketball coming to TD Garden in 2013

By Christopher Dela Rosa/DFP Staff

Entering the 2013-14 season, Boston University sports fans have plenty to anticipate. From Frozen Fenway against the University of Maine to the Beanpot and Red Hot Hockey at Madison Square Garden in New York, BU is going to compete in many special games.

Men’s basketball will be added to the unique events for BU athletics this year as CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reports that college basketball will be coming to TD Garden this fall.

November 11, six Division I teams in Massachusetts will meet at TD Garden for a basketball tripleheader to open up the season.

In an effort to keep their season-opening rivalry going, the Terriers will face Northeastern University.  BU coach Joe Jones and the rest of the Terriers will look to exact some revenge against the Huskies who defeated the Terriers on a last-second 3-point buzzer beater. The loss was the first of a five-game losing streak to open up the season.

Meanwhile, in the other games of the day, College of the Holy Cross will take on Harvard University and Boston College will be pitted against the University of Massachusetts.

This will be the first event of its kind for these teams as each school looks to start a new college basketball tradition in Massachusetts.

Zach Chionuma not returning to Boston University

By Christopher Dela Rosa/DFP Staff

It was confirmed Thursday night that junior guard Zach Chionuma will not return to Boston University in the fall of 2013 and will be transferring elsewhere to continue his collegiate basketball career.

"I think Zach made a decision we supported, we wish him nothing but the best.  He is a great player and teammate," said BU head coach Joe Jones.

Chionuma’s departure comes after a season with minimal playing time.  Although he played in 29 games during the 2012–13 campaign, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged only six minutes per game, scoring 1.5 points per game.

With the dynamic duo of senior guard D.J. Irving and sophomore guard Maurice Watson Jr. manning the backcourt along with the addition of the sharp-shooting freshman guard John Papale, who shot nearly 42 percent from behind the 3-point arc in his first year at BU, there was little room for Chionuma to get playing time.

It appears as if Chionuma’s spot on the roster will be taken by incoming freshman guard Cedric Hankerson.  Hankerson is a 6-foot-5 All-State First Team honoree guard out of Miami. In his senior season at Coral Reef High School, Hankerson averaged 24.5 points per game as well as 7.7 boards per contest. 

BU lands two transfers for the 2014-15 Season

By Christopher Dela Rosa/DFP Staff

From this looks of it, Boston University men’s basketball coach Joe Jones is not quite done building his dream basketball team.

Earlier this offseason, the university announced that the 7-foot-0 center Dylan Haines and the 6-foot-5 guard Cedric Hankerson would both be joining the team. Now two more fresh faces will be donning the scarlet and white.

The first of the new transfers is center Blaise Mbargorba.  It was reported Wednesday evening that the former Southern Methodist University player chose BU over Seton Hall University despite being a New Jersey native.

Mbargorba stands at 6-foot-11 and will add more depth and height to a center position that was lacking both attributes during the 2012–13 campaign.  Per NCAA transfer rules, Mbargorba will not be able to play until the 2014–15 season.

Wagner College guard Eric Fanning is another transfer that will also soon be calling Boston his home.  Fanning is 6–foot–4 and, like the incoming freshman Cedric Hankerson, will also add size in a small backcourt.

In his time at Wagner, Fanning played in 22 games, averaging just under 17 minutes, scoring 6.4 points per game and also recording 2.9 rebounds per game as well.

BU has made no comment yet on the state of the roster for the upcoming 2013-14 season.