After a tumultuous regular season set against the backdrop of widespread misconduct and uncertainty about the program's future, the Binghamton University Bearcats have withdrawn from the America East Tournament.
While Binghamton's withdrawal was included in today's notebook, the timing of the announcement is particularly odd. Binghamton's absence affects every single team's quarterfinal matchup (and in the case of UMBC and Albany, allows them to bypass the play-in game and earn quarterfinal berths). In addition, many tickets have already been sold to Binghamton supporters whose team is no longer participating. Thursday's play-in game session no longer features a game from the men's bracket.
Binghamton University President Lois DeFleur, herself a party in the turmoil surrounding the Bearcats' basketball program, cited "possible distractions that may occur this weekend" and "the controversy currently surrounding the program" as key factors influencing the decision. Per DeFleur, the decision to withdraw was made by the university, not by the conference.
Absent an official statement from America East concerning the withdrawal, there is no way to confirm or deny the role the conference played in arriving at this decision. However, given the significant affect Binghamton's absence will have on the tournament, it's safe to say the conference was probably involved to some degree.
Showing posts with label Binghamton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Binghamton. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Post-game audio: Boston University 93, Binghamton 51
Head coach Patrick Chambers' opening statement
Tyler Morris on coming out strong to start the second half
Jake O'Brien on whether the end of the Hartford game carried over to Saturday
O'Brien on his improvement as a rebounder this season
Morris on John Holland's maturation
Morris on finding the guy with the hot hand
Morris thinks BU's increased focus on defense is paying dividends
Chambers on providing entertainment versus competitive play
Chambers on getting Holland going early
Chambers on BU's shooters finding their range
Chambers on Michael Schulze's role (and apparent unwillingness to shoot)
Chambers on finding ways to get the bench involved
Chambers on avoiding a letdown after a big win
Chambers on his team's most complete effort of the season
Tyler Morris on coming out strong to start the second half
Jake O'Brien on whether the end of the Hartford game carried over to Saturday
O'Brien on his improvement as a rebounder this season
Morris on John Holland's maturation
Morris on finding the guy with the hot hand
Morris thinks BU's increased focus on defense is paying dividends
Chambers on providing entertainment versus competitive play
Chambers on getting Holland going early
Chambers on BU's shooters finding their range
Chambers on Michael Schulze's role (and apparent unwillingness to shoot)
Chambers on finding ways to get the bench involved
Chambers on avoiding a letdown after a big win
Chambers on his team's most complete effort of the season
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Live Blog: Binghamton University Bearcats vs. Boston University Terriers
Starting lineups:
Binghamton University Bearcats
F Greer Wright
F Mahamoud Jabbi
G Moussa Camara
G Dylan Talley
G Chretien Lukusa
Boston University Terriers
F Jake O'Brien
F John Holland
C Jeff Pelage
G Carlos Strong
G Tyler Morris
Final score: BU 93, Binghamton 51
Team leaders:
Points
Binghamton: Moussa Camara, 12
BU: Carlos Strong, 23
Rebounds
Binghamton: Kyrie Sutton, 6
BU: Jake O'Brien, 11
Assists
Binghamton: Greer Wright, 4
BU: Tyler Morris, 5
Links:
Reaching new heights
John Holland bounces back in a big way
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Nine Teams, Nine Days: Binghamton
Last season: 23-9 (13-3 America East), conference champions, lost in NCAA Round of 64 to Duke.
Head coach (suspended): Kevin Broadus, 2 seasons, 37-24 record (22-10 AE)
Interim head coach: Mark Macon, first season.
Departing players: Malik Alvin, Theo Davis, David Fine, Reggie Fuller, Brandon Herbert, Emanuel Mayben, Jaan Montgomery, Matt Mullins, D.J. Rivera, Sean Watson.
Incoming players: Jimmy Gray, Pina Guillaume, Mahamoud Jabbi, Taylor Johnston, Umur Peten, Dylan Talley, Greer Wright.
Expected starting lineup (position, name, year, 2008-2009 stats):
G Chretien Lukusa, junior, 4.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.9 SPG
G/F Moussa Camara, junior, 3.4 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.3 SPG
F Taylor Johnston, freshman, no previous college experience
F Greer Wright, junior, 11.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.2 APG (City College of San Francisco)
C Kyrie Sutton, sophomore, 1.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.2 BPG
Player to watch: Lukusa. Binghamton returns the least of America East's nine teams. The Bearcats are particularly weak at guard. Of the team's remaining scholarship players, Lukusa is the only one standing under 6'5". Although Lukusa is well-regarded as a perimeter defender, he is neither a natural point guard nor a dangerous threat from beyond the arc. However, given the current roster construction, Lukusa will at times be asked not only to run the offense, but create scoring opportunities. It's far from an ideal situation. The degree to which Lukusa can assume these duties in an effective manner will go a long way toward determining whether Binghamton can remain competitive this season.
Biggest strength: Length. There isn't a whole lot to go on when looking at Binghamton's roster because the cupboard is bare and the remaining pieces are mostly raw, but if the Bearcats have a strength, it's the length of the players currently on the roster. At 6-foot-5, Dylan Talley will outsize most of the guards trying to defend him. Taylor Johnston is an athletic 6-foot-7 wing who can shoot. In general, the entire Binghamton roster is built around size and athleticism, which could pose some problems for the less athletic teams in the conference. Whether having capable athletes will translate into any measurable success on the court is another question entirely.
Biggest weakness: Experience. The Bearcats return 240 points from last season. There were four players on last year's team who scored more than that individually, and a fifth, Dwayne Jackson, who most likely would have had he remained on the team past midseason. Lukusa, Sutton, and junior forward Moussa Camara are the only players on the roster with any Division-I experience. None of them have experience as a go-to player in pressure situations; only Lukusa has regularly logged starters' minutes. Learning on the fly is usually a painful process, so although the Bearcats will likely be a better team at the end of the season than at the beginning, it's safe to expect more than a few stretches of ugly basketball, especially early in the season.
Offseason: How quickly things change.
At one point, Binghamton was favored by many pundits to repeat as America East champions for the 2009-2010 season. Of the departing players, only Reggie Fuller was a significant contributor from the previous year's team. Sean Watson played only two games before being lost for the season due to a back injury. Dwayne Jackson and Theo Davis had left the team prior to the Bearcats' championship run. One outgoing transfer, Brandon Herbert, was a role player; the other, Matt Mullins, was a walk-on and had logged just five minutes in 2008-09.
Then, without any gradual buildup, the combustible material holding together Binghamton's fragile basketball program burst into flames. Tiki Mayben was arrested on September 23 for allegedly dealing cocaine. Following news of the arrest, Mayben was released from the team, followed shortly thereafter by the release of five other players, including D.J. Rivera and Malik Alvin. Just like that, every last one of Binghamton's primary scoring threats had been removed from the program.
The damage was not limited to players on the roster. Binghamton athletic director Joel Thirer was reassigned and replaced on an interim basis by James Norris. Shortly after a report surfaced indicating that head coach Kevin Broadus had contacted potential recruits during a time period where said contact was prohibited, Norris instituted a ban on all off-campus recruiting; later, Broadus would be put on paid leave of absence and replaced by then-assistant coach Mark Macon.
Head coach (suspended): Kevin Broadus, 2 seasons, 37-24 record (22-10 AE)
Interim head coach: Mark Macon, first season.
Departing players: Malik Alvin, Theo Davis, David Fine, Reggie Fuller, Brandon Herbert, Emanuel Mayben, Jaan Montgomery, Matt Mullins, D.J. Rivera, Sean Watson.
Incoming players: Jimmy Gray, Pina Guillaume, Mahamoud Jabbi, Taylor Johnston, Umur Peten, Dylan Talley, Greer Wright.
Expected starting lineup (position, name, year, 2008-2009 stats):
G Chretien Lukusa, junior, 4.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.9 SPG
G/F Moussa Camara, junior, 3.4 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.3 SPG
F Taylor Johnston, freshman, no previous college experience
F Greer Wright, junior, 11.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.2 APG (City College of San Francisco)
C Kyrie Sutton, sophomore, 1.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.2 BPG
Player to watch: Lukusa. Binghamton returns the least of America East's nine teams. The Bearcats are particularly weak at guard. Of the team's remaining scholarship players, Lukusa is the only one standing under 6'5". Although Lukusa is well-regarded as a perimeter defender, he is neither a natural point guard nor a dangerous threat from beyond the arc. However, given the current roster construction, Lukusa will at times be asked not only to run the offense, but create scoring opportunities. It's far from an ideal situation. The degree to which Lukusa can assume these duties in an effective manner will go a long way toward determining whether Binghamton can remain competitive this season.Biggest strength: Length. There isn't a whole lot to go on when looking at Binghamton's roster because the cupboard is bare and the remaining pieces are mostly raw, but if the Bearcats have a strength, it's the length of the players currently on the roster. At 6-foot-5, Dylan Talley will outsize most of the guards trying to defend him. Taylor Johnston is an athletic 6-foot-7 wing who can shoot. In general, the entire Binghamton roster is built around size and athleticism, which could pose some problems for the less athletic teams in the conference. Whether having capable athletes will translate into any measurable success on the court is another question entirely.
Biggest weakness: Experience. The Bearcats return 240 points from last season. There were four players on last year's team who scored more than that individually, and a fifth, Dwayne Jackson, who most likely would have had he remained on the team past midseason. Lukusa, Sutton, and junior forward Moussa Camara are the only players on the roster with any Division-I experience. None of them have experience as a go-to player in pressure situations; only Lukusa has regularly logged starters' minutes. Learning on the fly is usually a painful process, so although the Bearcats will likely be a better team at the end of the season than at the beginning, it's safe to expect more than a few stretches of ugly basketball, especially early in the season.
Offseason: How quickly things change.
At one point, Binghamton was favored by many pundits to repeat as America East champions for the 2009-2010 season. Of the departing players, only Reggie Fuller was a significant contributor from the previous year's team. Sean Watson played only two games before being lost for the season due to a back injury. Dwayne Jackson and Theo Davis had left the team prior to the Bearcats' championship run. One outgoing transfer, Brandon Herbert, was a role player; the other, Matt Mullins, was a walk-on and had logged just five minutes in 2008-09.
Then, without any gradual buildup, the combustible material holding together Binghamton's fragile basketball program burst into flames. Tiki Mayben was arrested on September 23 for allegedly dealing cocaine. Following news of the arrest, Mayben was released from the team, followed shortly thereafter by the release of five other players, including D.J. Rivera and Malik Alvin. Just like that, every last one of Binghamton's primary scoring threats had been removed from the program.
The damage was not limited to players on the roster. Binghamton athletic director Joel Thirer was reassigned and replaced on an interim basis by James Norris. Shortly after a report surfaced indicating that head coach Kevin Broadus had contacted potential recruits during a time period where said contact was prohibited, Norris instituted a ban on all off-campus recruiting; later, Broadus would be put on paid leave of absence and replaced by then-assistant coach Mark Macon.
The off-court drama permeating Binghamton athletics is not limited to the basketball program. Suffice it to say that the Bearcats' cupboard is, for the moment, extremely bare. Binghamton will aim to remain competitive in America East by relying on the few capable players who return from last year and the incoming crop of freshmen and transfers.
Guards: If anything is going to go right for the Bearcats this season, it will have to start with Chretien Lukusa. Last year's Binghamton team had no shortage of offensive threats, freeing up Lukusa to focus on other aspects of the game. Lukusa is well-regarded as a stopper, making life difficult for opposing guards and playing hard-nosed defense. As a scoring guard Lukusa is miscast; as a facilitator he is in need of major improvement. Lukusa's assist-to-turnover ratio was an unhealthy 0.64 last season, and he was not the primary ballhandler or a playmaker. Efficiency generally decreases as usage rate increases, so it will be a challenge for Binghamton to get the necessary volume from the junior guard in an economical manner. At the very least, however, Lukusa can be counted on to make life difficult for opposing perimeter players and provide value on the defensive end.
Moussa Camara, in contrast to Lukusa, profiles as a scoring guard -- although the Bearcats list him as a forward, Camara's height does not prohibit him from playing two-guard, and the overall length of Binghamton's roster leaves Camara as the starting two-guard more or less by default. Camara was much more efficient last season than in his freshman campaign -- his eFG% jumped from 41.0 to 52.5. Despite this, Camara averaged less than 15 minutes per game last season. Camara offers little in addition to scoring -- 23 rebounds and five assists in approximately 300 minutes doesn't amount to much. In any case, the Bearcats are ill-equipped to try and out-shoot their opponents. While Camara's shooting skills are much needed, he isn't an exceptional shooter -- merely a capable one. Unless he becomes a better perimeter defender, look for the Bearcats to gradually give more minutes to freshmen at Camara's expense, possibly including the loss of a starting role.
There are two other guards on the roster, both of whom are freshmen. Dylan Talley's offensive game centers around dribble-drive penetration, a critical part of Binghamton's offense last season. If the offensive system employed by Macon resembles Broadus' strategy from last year, Talley should be a natural fit as a guard who uses his size and strength to force his way into the painted area. The freshman guard will get minutes from day one out of necessity, but if he improves on the defensive end -- there are questions about his ability as an on-ball defender -- he should command significant playing time. The other freshman guard, Jimmy Gray, is a walk-on from nearby Binghamton High School and is not expected to contribute significantly.
Forwards: Taylor Johnston will most likely play small forward for Binghamton but has the skills of a two-guard, both off the dribble and from beyond the arc. At 6-foot-7, Johnston can use his length to his advantage, shooting over smaller perimeter players without being forced to alter his shot or bringing them to the post. The usual freshman adjustment should be expected, but all reports point to his scoring ability and on-court awareness as reasons why he should make an impact this season. Given the Bearcats' roster situation, that impact will be necessary.
Greer Wright is eligible to play this season after transferring from City College of San Francisco. Although Wright is 6-foot-8 and a frontcourt player, he was a guard in high school and has range. Theo Davis aside, Binghamton's on-court track record with incoming transfers has produced results, and Wright does not carry the baggage of previous Bearcat transfers. Wright was a productive player in junior college and should provide some badly-needed offense for the Bearcats -- the question is, how much?
Center: While Lukusa has the highest floor of the returning Bearcats, sophomore center Kyrie Sutton has the highest ceiling. Sutton logged 15 starts last season as a true freshman but never saw more than 23 minutes in a game due to a combination of foul trouble and his own offensive limitations. Sutton was effective on the defensive end, particularly as a shot blocker. His 1.2 BPG in limited playing time came from a 10.9 BLK%, nearly doubling Reggie Fuller's rate and outpacing even Marqus Blakely on a per-possession basis. Couple that with effective rebounding on both ends of the floor and you have a useful player. Sutton is a physical presence and one of America East's few true centers but has yet to display any substantial scoring ability. For now, if Sutton can manage to stay out of foul trouble -- he committed 6.7 fouls per 40 minutes last season -- other teams will stay out of the post.
Umur Peten and Pina Guillaume are also listed as centers on the Bearcats' roster. Peten is a junior walk-on who arrived in Vestal via Turkey. He was a major contributor on a championship-winning college team in Turkey, but whether he can contribute anything of value to a Division-I team is anyone's guess. There are relatively few examples of walk-on big men providing significant value. More interesting is the freshman Guillaume, who was a force his junior year of high school -- he averaged 20 points and five blocks per game -- but missed his senior season due to injury. Guillaume reportedly lacks polish on the offensive end, but shot-blocking is a valuable commodity, and with the foul-prone Sutton set to start Binghamton could use a defensive presence to rotate in off the bench.
New walk-ons: Almost every team has at least one walk-on player. Binghamton is a special case -- with the significant player losses, the Bearcats needed to add players in order to fill out the roster. After open tryouts, Binghamton announced six additions to the team: Ramon Bernardez, Charlie Fackler, Mike Horn, Preston Peña, Javon Ralling, and Anthony Valerio. None is likely to be a significant contributor.
Outlook: There is very little depth on the Binghamton roster. Any injury will be exceptionally difficult to absorb. Lapses on defense will tax an already overwhelmed offense. Early in the season, the Bearcats may be able to hide their various weaknesses, but as teams present Binghamton with varying styles of play and strategies designed to expose the Bearcats' myriad deficiencies, it will become increasingly difficult for this team to keep up with its opponents for a full 40 minutes.
Guards: If anything is going to go right for the Bearcats this season, it will have to start with Chretien Lukusa. Last year's Binghamton team had no shortage of offensive threats, freeing up Lukusa to focus on other aspects of the game. Lukusa is well-regarded as a stopper, making life difficult for opposing guards and playing hard-nosed defense. As a scoring guard Lukusa is miscast; as a facilitator he is in need of major improvement. Lukusa's assist-to-turnover ratio was an unhealthy 0.64 last season, and he was not the primary ballhandler or a playmaker. Efficiency generally decreases as usage rate increases, so it will be a challenge for Binghamton to get the necessary volume from the junior guard in an economical manner. At the very least, however, Lukusa can be counted on to make life difficult for opposing perimeter players and provide value on the defensive end.
Moussa Camara, in contrast to Lukusa, profiles as a scoring guard -- although the Bearcats list him as a forward, Camara's height does not prohibit him from playing two-guard, and the overall length of Binghamton's roster leaves Camara as the starting two-guard more or less by default. Camara was much more efficient last season than in his freshman campaign -- his eFG% jumped from 41.0 to 52.5. Despite this, Camara averaged less than 15 minutes per game last season. Camara offers little in addition to scoring -- 23 rebounds and five assists in approximately 300 minutes doesn't amount to much. In any case, the Bearcats are ill-equipped to try and out-shoot their opponents. While Camara's shooting skills are much needed, he isn't an exceptional shooter -- merely a capable one. Unless he becomes a better perimeter defender, look for the Bearcats to gradually give more minutes to freshmen at Camara's expense, possibly including the loss of a starting role.
There are two other guards on the roster, both of whom are freshmen. Dylan Talley's offensive game centers around dribble-drive penetration, a critical part of Binghamton's offense last season. If the offensive system employed by Macon resembles Broadus' strategy from last year, Talley should be a natural fit as a guard who uses his size and strength to force his way into the painted area. The freshman guard will get minutes from day one out of necessity, but if he improves on the defensive end -- there are questions about his ability as an on-ball defender -- he should command significant playing time. The other freshman guard, Jimmy Gray, is a walk-on from nearby Binghamton High School and is not expected to contribute significantly.
Forwards: Taylor Johnston will most likely play small forward for Binghamton but has the skills of a two-guard, both off the dribble and from beyond the arc. At 6-foot-7, Johnston can use his length to his advantage, shooting over smaller perimeter players without being forced to alter his shot or bringing them to the post. The usual freshman adjustment should be expected, but all reports point to his scoring ability and on-court awareness as reasons why he should make an impact this season. Given the Bearcats' roster situation, that impact will be necessary.
Greer Wright is eligible to play this season after transferring from City College of San Francisco. Although Wright is 6-foot-8 and a frontcourt player, he was a guard in high school and has range. Theo Davis aside, Binghamton's on-court track record with incoming transfers has produced results, and Wright does not carry the baggage of previous Bearcat transfers. Wright was a productive player in junior college and should provide some badly-needed offense for the Bearcats -- the question is, how much?
Center: While Lukusa has the highest floor of the returning Bearcats, sophomore center Kyrie Sutton has the highest ceiling. Sutton logged 15 starts last season as a true freshman but never saw more than 23 minutes in a game due to a combination of foul trouble and his own offensive limitations. Sutton was effective on the defensive end, particularly as a shot blocker. His 1.2 BPG in limited playing time came from a 10.9 BLK%, nearly doubling Reggie Fuller's rate and outpacing even Marqus Blakely on a per-possession basis. Couple that with effective rebounding on both ends of the floor and you have a useful player. Sutton is a physical presence and one of America East's few true centers but has yet to display any substantial scoring ability. For now, if Sutton can manage to stay out of foul trouble -- he committed 6.7 fouls per 40 minutes last season -- other teams will stay out of the post.
Umur Peten and Pina Guillaume are also listed as centers on the Bearcats' roster. Peten is a junior walk-on who arrived in Vestal via Turkey. He was a major contributor on a championship-winning college team in Turkey, but whether he can contribute anything of value to a Division-I team is anyone's guess. There are relatively few examples of walk-on big men providing significant value. More interesting is the freshman Guillaume, who was a force his junior year of high school -- he averaged 20 points and five blocks per game -- but missed his senior season due to injury. Guillaume reportedly lacks polish on the offensive end, but shot-blocking is a valuable commodity, and with the foul-prone Sutton set to start Binghamton could use a defensive presence to rotate in off the bench.
New walk-ons: Almost every team has at least one walk-on player. Binghamton is a special case -- with the significant player losses, the Bearcats needed to add players in order to fill out the roster. After open tryouts, Binghamton announced six additions to the team: Ramon Bernardez, Charlie Fackler, Mike Horn, Preston Peña, Javon Ralling, and Anthony Valerio. None is likely to be a significant contributor.
Outlook: There is very little depth on the Binghamton roster. Any injury will be exceptionally difficult to absorb. Lapses on defense will tax an already overwhelmed offense. Early in the season, the Bearcats may be able to hide their various weaknesses, but as teams present Binghamton with varying styles of play and strategies designed to expose the Bearcats' myriad deficiencies, it will become increasingly difficult for this team to keep up with its opponents for a full 40 minutes.
The best chance for Binghamton to win this season involves limiting possessions and playing excellent defense. If the Bearcats can slow the game down to a snail's pace, the opponent's superior talent will have fewer opportunities to impose its will. Keep a game close until the final few minutes and anything can happen. Of course, "anything" still includes former Boston University head coach Dennis Wolff's prediction that "it's conceivable (Binghamton) could not win a game" all season.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Dennis Wolff opines on Binghamton
The main story of the America East offseason has been the ongoing saga unfolding at Binghamton, where six players were released from the program following guard Tiki Mayben's arrest on drug charges. The released players included three of the most significant returning contributors from last spring's championship team -- D.J. Rivera, Malik Alvin, and Mayben -- as well as Corey Chandler, an incoming recruit from Rutgers. In the wake of this news, Binghamton athletic director Joel Thirer was reassigned. Interim athletic director James Norris has since barred all Binghamton coaches from off-campus recruiting after a report surfaced that head coach Kevin Broadus had contacted potential recruits during a period where said contact was prohibited by NCAA rules.
Dennis Wolff was asked to comment on the evolving situation at Binghamton. The former BU head coach expressed concern over how Binghamton's problems affect the rest of the league, saying, "I feel badly for the programs that are doing right because they get kind of pulled into this when that's not how they're doing it."
Wolff also noted that recent events at Binghamton were not unforseen by other members of the America East Conference: "Anyone in the league that acts surprised, there's such a tremendous amount of naïveté that I don't know you should even be in college athletics. There were a lot of discussions among coaches and athletic directors. There were warning signs."
When asked what to expect from Binghamton on the court this season, Wolff was direct. "It's conceivable (Binghamton) could not win a game." The prediction underlines the impact recent events have had on Binghamton's program, only seven months removed from its first visit to the NCAA Tournament. Prior to Mayben's arrest, the Bearcats had been forecast as among the favorites in America East for the upcoming season.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Live Blog: No. 1 Binghamton University vs. No. 4 University of New Hampshire
Hello and welcome to this afternoon's live blog of the second semifinal of the day to see who will face No. 6 UMBC in the America East Championship game. The top-seeded Binghamton University Bearcats (21-8) will face the No. 4 University of New Hampshire Wildcats (14-15).
Here are the starting lineups:
No. 1 Binghamton University Bearcats
02 D.J. Rivera
03 Malik Alvin
25 Reggie Fuller
32 Emanuel Mayben
34 Chretien Lukusa
No. 4 University of New Hampshire Wildcats
01 Dane DiLiegro
04 Tyrece Gibbs
21 Tyrone Conley
23 Eric Gilchrese
32 Radar Onguetou
Final Score: No. 1 University of Binghamton 72, No. 4 University of New Hampshire 67
Leading scorers:
UNH -- Tyrece Gibbs, 18
BING -- D.J. Rivera, 26
Leading rebounders:
UNH -- Radar Onguetou, 8
BING -- D.J. Rivera, 8
Leading assists:
UNH -- Two tied at 5
BING -- Malik Alvin, 3
Binghamton will host UMBC at the Events Center on Saturday, March 14 at 11:00 a.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
GAMEDAY: America East Championship, Semifinals Preview
Five of the America East Championship's eight games are already in the books after the conclusion of an eventful quarterfinal round, but there are still three remaining, including two today. Yesterday determined which teams are truly in position to make a run at the title, but today's games set the stage for next week's ultimate battle. Without further ado, let's get to the matchups.
Sunday, March 8:
No. 6 Maryland-Baltimore County (14-16, 8-9) vs. No. 7 Albany (15-15, 7-10), 2:07 p.m.
Two quarterfinal upset winners meet in the semifinals for an unlikely pairing. Albany burst out of the gates in its quarterfinal matchup but had to survive a serious comeback attempt by Vermont and took 45 minutes before securing the victory. Not to be outdone in the drama department, the Retrievers needed all of Darryl Proctor's 33 points, including a game-tying shot with 2.5 seconds remaining, to force overtime and ultimately defeat Boston University. Two more different teams could not be found. UMBC makes the most of its possessions by relying on its senior leaders for major point production, protects the basketball, and suffers from rebounding woes. The Great Danes, in contrast, are not efficient in the traditional sense on offense but crash the boards to get second chance opportunities for an offense built around a junior and a sophomore. These teams' two previous meetings produced a split, with the home team winning each contest. Albany looks to improve to 11-3 at home, while UMBC is looking for a repeat trip to the finals.
Projected starting lineups:
![[SL-UMBC2.bmp]](//3.bp.blogspot.com/_CrpArfyfHVQ/SbGCjEzzjHI/AAAAAAAAA0M/_ccAkdPmABc/s1600/SL-UMBC2.bmp)
![[SL-UA3.bmp]](//2.bp.blogspot.com/_CrpArfyfHVQ/SbF37WIVwoI/AAAAAAAAAzM/SdSC_NNHRX4/s1600/SL-UA3.bmp)
No. 1 Binghamton (21-8) vs. No. 4 New Hampshire (14-16), 5:07 p.m.
The early game may feature two upset winners, but today's second game matches chalk against chalk. The Bearcats have won nine straight and have a head of steam, but don't be so quick to discount the Wildcats' chances. UNH gave Binghamton a real scare during its visit to Vestal, leading by six with three minutes to go in regulation before the Bearcats managed to sneak away with a one-point overtime win. Nobody in the conference can match Binghamton's speed and athleticism, so New Hampshire will need its shotmakers to create and convert open looks in order to keep pace. No high seeds on the other side of the bracket guarantees this game's winner will host the final.
Projected starting lineups:
![[SL-UNH3.bmp]](//4.bp.blogspot.com/_CrpArfyfHVQ/SbF7odj3SWI/AAAAAAAAAzs/OUdzjOmtI38/s1600/SL-UNH3.bmp)
![[SL-BING2.bmp]](//1.bp.blogspot.com/_CrpArfyfHVQ/SbGAmy72GnI/AAAAAAAAAz8/PY_qmmtaaHI/s1600/SL-BING2.bmp)
Sunday, March 8:
No. 6 Maryland-Baltimore County (14-16, 8-9) vs. No. 7 Albany (15-15, 7-10), 2:07 p.m.
Two quarterfinal upset winners meet in the semifinals for an unlikely pairing. Albany burst out of the gates in its quarterfinal matchup but had to survive a serious comeback attempt by Vermont and took 45 minutes before securing the victory. Not to be outdone in the drama department, the Retrievers needed all of Darryl Proctor's 33 points, including a game-tying shot with 2.5 seconds remaining, to force overtime and ultimately defeat Boston University. Two more different teams could not be found. UMBC makes the most of its possessions by relying on its senior leaders for major point production, protects the basketball, and suffers from rebounding woes. The Great Danes, in contrast, are not efficient in the traditional sense on offense but crash the boards to get second chance opportunities for an offense built around a junior and a sophomore. These teams' two previous meetings produced a split, with the home team winning each contest. Albany looks to improve to 11-3 at home, while UMBC is looking for a repeat trip to the finals.
Projected starting lineups:
![[SL-UMBC2.bmp]](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CrpArfyfHVQ/SbGCjEzzjHI/AAAAAAAAA0M/_ccAkdPmABc/s1600/SL-UMBC2.bmp)
![[SL-UA3.bmp]](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CrpArfyfHVQ/SbF37WIVwoI/AAAAAAAAAzM/SdSC_NNHRX4/s1600/SL-UA3.bmp)
No. 1 Binghamton (21-8) vs. No. 4 New Hampshire (14-16), 5:07 p.m.
The early game may feature two upset winners, but today's second game matches chalk against chalk. The Bearcats have won nine straight and have a head of steam, but don't be so quick to discount the Wildcats' chances. UNH gave Binghamton a real scare during its visit to Vestal, leading by six with three minutes to go in regulation before the Bearcats managed to sneak away with a one-point overtime win. Nobody in the conference can match Binghamton's speed and athleticism, so New Hampshire will need its shotmakers to create and convert open looks in order to keep pace. No high seeds on the other side of the bracket guarantees this game's winner will host the final.
Projected starting lineups:
![[SL-UNH3.bmp]](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CrpArfyfHVQ/SbF7odj3SWI/AAAAAAAAAzs/OUdzjOmtI38/s1600/SL-UNH3.bmp)
![[SL-BING2.bmp]](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CrpArfyfHVQ/SbGAmy72GnI/AAAAAAAAAz8/PY_qmmtaaHI/s1600/SL-BING2.bmp)
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Post-game Audio: (America East Quarterfinals)
Post-game audio from the University at Albany's 56-52 overtime win against the University of Vermont:
Albany coach Will Brown's opening statement
Brown on finding ways to score despite poor shooting
Brown discusses the loose ball Marqus Blakely lost out of bounds
Tim Ambrose talks about trying to stay loose down the stretch
Will Harris on Albany's confidence heading into the tournament
Mike Johnson credits his coaches for improved free-throw shooting
Johnson talks about his first half and Albany's group dynamic
Check back again later for more audio!
Albany coach Will Brown's opening statement
Brown on finding ways to score despite poor shooting
Brown discusses the loose ball Marqus Blakely lost out of bounds
Tim Ambrose talks about trying to stay loose down the stretch
Will Harris on Albany's confidence heading into the tournament
Mike Johnson credits his coaches for improved free-throw shooting
Johnson talks about his first half and Albany's group dynamic
Check back again later for more audio!
Live Blog: No. 1 Binghamton University vs. No. 9 University of Hartford
Hello and welcome to the first game of the afternoon session between the play-in game winner, the No. 9 University of Hartford (7-25, 3-14) and top-seeded Binghamton University (20-8, 13-3). Tip-off is set for 6:07 p.m.
No. 9 University of Hartford Hawks
01 Jaret von Rosenberg
03 Michael Turner
11 Andres Torres
23 Morgan Sabia
25 Anthony Minor
No. 1 Binghamton University Bearcats
02 D.J. Rivera
03 Malik Alvin
25 Reggie Fuller
32 Emmanuel Mayen
34 Chretien Lukusa
Final Score: No. 1 University of Binghamton 73, No. 9 University of Hartford 65
Leading scorers:
UH -- Michael Turner, 20
BING -- Malik Alvin, 29
Leading rebounds:
UH -- Morgan Sabia, 8
BING -- D.J. Rivera, 11
Leading assists:
UH -- Andres Torres, 8
BING -- Emanuel Mayben, 5
Friday, March 6, 2009
GAMEDAY: America East Championship, Play-In and Quarterfinals Preview
The weekend that defines the America East Conference is finally here. The tournament kicks off Friday night at 7:05 p.m. between the No. 8 University of Maine and the No. 9 University of Hartford. Then Saturday features eight teams in the most exciting day of the conference's season. One NCAA bid is on the line so without wasting too much of your time, let's get right to the previews.
Friday, March 6:
No. 8 Maine (9-20, 4-12) vs. No. 9 Hartford (6-25, 2-14), 7:05 p.m.
The Hawks are coming off an emotional loss to Boston University in which they came extremely close to ending their dismal 14-game losing streak. While Hartford deserved to win the game, they couldn't make enough plays and/or 3-pointers at the end to pull it out. Maine, on the other hand, lost to Vermont sans Mike Trimboli and is probably playing the worst basketball in the conference. Troy Barnies and Gerald McLemore have been a diamonds in the rough for the Black Bears, but when Mark Socoby's not scoring, it makes things difficult. McLemore could be a difference-maker as the most athletic player on the court in the play-in game, but Hartford's newfound energy could be enough to propel them forward. The winner doesn't get much of a reward, however, as they have to take on top-seeded Binghamton on Saturday. Hartford and Maine split the season series.
Projected starting lineups
Saturday, March 7:
No. 2 Vermont (23-7, 13-3) vs. No. 7 Albany (14-15, 6-10), 12:07 p.m.
Almost all the talk surrounding this game has been centered on Mike Trimboli's mysterious "illness/serious viral infection" and whether or not the first-team senior guard will play on Saturday. According to the Burlington Free Press, he's already returned to practice and made the trip to Albany. It would be a complete shock to see him held out of the lineup, especially in his senior year. How effective he'll be, however, remains to be see. Even if Trimboli doesn't play, UVM still has AE Player of the Year Marqus Blakely and a great supporting cast. The Great Danes are in rough shape as their rookie point guard Anthony Raffa and Louis Barraza will likely miss the game with injuries and not even a home-court advantage can help cure that. With a severe lack of depth and being losers of seven of their last eight -- as well as history (a No. 7 seed has never topped a No. 2 seed in the America East Tournament) -- things aren't looking good for the Danes. One glimmer of hope could be that Albany has beaten UVM this season, 82-77 at Patrick Gymnasium.
Projected Starting Lineups
No. 3 Boston U. (17-12, 11-5) vs. No. 6 UMBC (13-16, 7-9), 2:30 p.m.
*See Gameday post above for detailed information.
No. 1 Binghamton (20-8, 13-3) vs. Winner of No. 8/No. 9 play-in game, 6:07 p.m.
Obviously we won't know who Binghamton's playing until the play-in game is over, but it's a safe bet that the Bearcats will match up well against their opponent. Binghamton is the most athletic team in the conference and is on an eight-game winning streak (though some have been by the thinnest of margins) entering the tournament. We'll have more info on this matchup once it's determined.
(Edit: Hartford, by virtue of winning the play-in game, has advanced to the quarterfinals and will be Binghamton's opponent. The Hawks will have to improve on their regular season results against the Bearcats (two losses by seven and 18 points, respectively) while dealing with the effects of playing on short rest with a relatively short bench. Hartford's victory puts the Hawks on their first winning streak since mid-January and nine of the Bearcats' 13 conference wins were by single digits, so don't be surprised if this one stays close.)
Projected Starting Lineup
No. 4 New Hampshire (13-15, 8-8) vs. No. 5 Stony Brook (16-13, 8-8), 8:30 p.m.
These two teams faced each other in a thriller at the end of the season with UNH capturing the higher seed on the strength of a 58-57 overtime victory. The Wildcats have beaten the Seawolves twice this season and have won four of their last five games, with the one loss coming to Binghamton by one point in overtime. The Seawolves have been one of the most surprising teams in the conference given their youth and inexperience, but with Tommy Brenton (second in the conference in rebounding) and Muhammad El-Amin does the bulk of the scoring. SBU presents a nice balanced scoring attack and is the best defensive team in the conference. If, however, the Wildcats begin to light it up from beyond the arc -- combined with the in-game coaching of Bill Herrion -- the Wildcats could move on. Given the matchup and the fact they just played one another, this game could turn into a first-round gem.
Projected Starting Lineups
Friday, March 6:
No. 8 Maine (9-20, 4-12) vs. No. 9 Hartford (6-25, 2-14), 7:05 p.m.
The Hawks are coming off an emotional loss to Boston University in which they came extremely close to ending their dismal 14-game losing streak. While Hartford deserved to win the game, they couldn't make enough plays and/or 3-pointers at the end to pull it out. Maine, on the other hand, lost to Vermont sans Mike Trimboli and is probably playing the worst basketball in the conference. Troy Barnies and Gerald McLemore have been a diamonds in the rough for the Black Bears, but when Mark Socoby's not scoring, it makes things difficult. McLemore could be a difference-maker as the most athletic player on the court in the play-in game, but Hartford's newfound energy could be enough to propel them forward. The winner doesn't get much of a reward, however, as they have to take on top-seeded Binghamton on Saturday. Hartford and Maine split the season series.
Projected starting lineups
Saturday, March 7:
No. 2 Vermont (23-7, 13-3) vs. No. 7 Albany (14-15, 6-10), 12:07 p.m.
Almost all the talk surrounding this game has been centered on Mike Trimboli's mysterious "illness/serious viral infection" and whether or not the first-team senior guard will play on Saturday. According to the Burlington Free Press, he's already returned to practice and made the trip to Albany. It would be a complete shock to see him held out of the lineup, especially in his senior year. How effective he'll be, however, remains to be see. Even if Trimboli doesn't play, UVM still has AE Player of the Year Marqus Blakely and a great supporting cast. The Great Danes are in rough shape as their rookie point guard Anthony Raffa and Louis Barraza will likely miss the game with injuries and not even a home-court advantage can help cure that. With a severe lack of depth and being losers of seven of their last eight -- as well as history (a No. 7 seed has never topped a No. 2 seed in the America East Tournament) -- things aren't looking good for the Danes. One glimmer of hope could be that Albany has beaten UVM this season, 82-77 at Patrick Gymnasium.
Projected Starting Lineups
No. 3 Boston U. (17-12, 11-5) vs. No. 6 UMBC (13-16, 7-9), 2:30 p.m.
*See Gameday post above for detailed information.
No. 1 Binghamton (20-8, 13-3) vs. Winner of No. 8/No. 9 play-in game, 6:07 p.m.
Obviously we won't know who Binghamton's playing until the play-in game is over, but it's a safe bet that the Bearcats will match up well against their opponent. Binghamton is the most athletic team in the conference and is on an eight-game winning streak (though some have been by the thinnest of margins) entering the tournament. We'll have more info on this matchup once it's determined.
(Edit: Hartford, by virtue of winning the play-in game, has advanced to the quarterfinals and will be Binghamton's opponent. The Hawks will have to improve on their regular season results against the Bearcats (two losses by seven and 18 points, respectively) while dealing with the effects of playing on short rest with a relatively short bench. Hartford's victory puts the Hawks on their first winning streak since mid-January and nine of the Bearcats' 13 conference wins were by single digits, so don't be surprised if this one stays close.)
Projected Starting Lineup
No. 4 New Hampshire (13-15, 8-8) vs. No. 5 Stony Brook (16-13, 8-8), 8:30 p.m.
These two teams faced each other in a thriller at the end of the season with UNH capturing the higher seed on the strength of a 58-57 overtime victory. The Wildcats have beaten the Seawolves twice this season and have won four of their last five games, with the one loss coming to Binghamton by one point in overtime. The Seawolves have been one of the most surprising teams in the conference given their youth and inexperience, but with Tommy Brenton (second in the conference in rebounding) and Muhammad El-Amin does the bulk of the scoring. SBU presents a nice balanced scoring attack and is the best defensive team in the conference. If, however, the Wildcats begin to light it up from beyond the arc -- combined with the in-game coaching of Bill Herrion -- the Wildcats could move on. Given the matchup and the fact they just played one another, this game could turn into a first-round gem.
Projected Starting Lineups
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Day After: (Binghamton 60, BU 59)
Pros:
-- The crowd: For the first time all season, the crowd at The Roof was into it. It was loud, and didn't count the Terriers out when they were down big in the first half. When Corey Lowe hit his first 3-pointer of the game in front of BU's bench to give the Terriers their first lead since early in the first half, the energy was fabulous. Too bad that isn't a regular occurrence at BU.
-- Scott Brittain's performance: Brittain tied a career-high with 20 points (though a few more free-throws made at the end of the game might have changed the outcome, as well as a few more field goal conversions in the first half) and has played with increasing confidence as the season's drawn on.
-- Second-half comeback: After getting run out of the gym in the first half, the Terriers slowly chipped away at the Bearcats' lead and showed the right amount of grit in an extremely important regular-season game.
Cons:
-- Defending the fast break: Binghamton took it to the Terriers and before they could turn around, they were down 10. The Bearcats are arguably the most athletic teams in the league and it showed in the first half (before they resorted to running a half-court offense) as they hit a number of NBA-type shots.
Links:
Clawed by the Bearcats
Bearcats' aggressiveness and pace reveal on of BU's weaknesses
Boston University rally rims out
Wolffs want to pack in more
Bearcats escape Boston with rare win
-- The crowd: For the first time all season, the crowd at The Roof was into it. It was loud, and didn't count the Terriers out when they were down big in the first half. When Corey Lowe hit his first 3-pointer of the game in front of BU's bench to give the Terriers their first lead since early in the first half, the energy was fabulous. Too bad that isn't a regular occurrence at BU.
-- Scott Brittain's performance: Brittain tied a career-high with 20 points (though a few more free-throws made at the end of the game might have changed the outcome, as well as a few more field goal conversions in the first half) and has played with increasing confidence as the season's drawn on.
-- Second-half comeback: After getting run out of the gym in the first half, the Terriers slowly chipped away at the Bearcats' lead and showed the right amount of grit in an extremely important regular-season game.
Cons:
-- Defending the fast break: Binghamton took it to the Terriers and before they could turn around, they were down 10. The Bearcats are arguably the most athletic teams in the league and it showed in the first half (before they resorted to running a half-court offense) as they hit a number of NBA-type shots.
Links:
Clawed by the Bearcats
Bearcats' aggressiveness and pace reveal on of BU's weaknesses
Boston University rally rims out
Wolffs want to pack in more
Bearcats escape Boston with rare win
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Post-game Photos & Audio: (Binghamton 60, BU 59)
Here's sound clips from BU coach Dennis Wolff's post-game press conference following his teams' 60-59 loss to Binghamton University.
BU coach Dennis Wolff's opening statement
Wolff talks about the conference and his offense's shot selection
Wolff discusses the final play to junior guard Corey Lowe
Wolff feels certain players need to work harder in practice
Live Blog: Binghamton University vs. Boston University
Here are the starting lineups for this afternoon's game between the Binghamton University Bearcats (16-8, 9-3) and the Boston University Terriers (14-10, 9-3). Tip-off it set for 1:00 p.m. at Case Gymnasium.
Binghamton University Bearcats
02 G D.J. Rivera
04 G Brandon Herbert
32 G Emanuel Mayben
34 G Chretien Lukusa
25 F Reggie Fuller
Boston University Terriers
02 F Matt Wolff
13 G Corey Lowe
21 F Jake O'Brien
23 F John Holland
31 F Scott Brittain
Final Score: Binghamton University 60, Boston University 59
Leading scorers:
Bing -- D.J. Rivera, 20
BU -- Scott Brittain, 20
Leading rebounders:
Bing -- D.J. Rivera, 12
BU -- Scott Brittain, 9
Leading assists:
Bing -- Emanuel Mayben, 6
BU -- Corey Lowe, 6
GAMEDAY: Binghamton University vs. Boston University
It seems to happen this time of year that every game that appears next on the schedule consequently becomes, "the biggest game of the year." Media hypes the game up and the crowds pour in (at least the did in BU's Wednesday night's game against Vermont) to get a taste of playoff/tournament-like basketball. And while the crowd at Case Gymnasium Saturday afternoon will most likely be sparse (as even on the heels of an eight-game winning streak, the majority of the student population has failed to notice the Terriers' successes), the magnitude of the game won't. Not only will Binghamton look to avenge a blowout loss (one of two home losses the Bearcats suffered at the Events Center this season), but the game will go a long way toward determining the conference champion as well as the second and third seeds.Entering the matchup, the Terriers and Bearcats are tied for second place in the conference standings (9-3) a half game behind the University of Vermont. While UVM has downed the Terriers twice, the Bearcats have beaten the Catamounts two times, meaning that a win by Binghamton(which has won four in a row and six of its last seven) would put them in the drivers' seat, as far as attaining the top seed goes.
A win by the Terriers would make things very interesting as BU would find themselves tied with Vermont (10-3), but in second because of the tiebreaker procedures. It would also make it very difficult for Binghamton to attain the top seed/NIT bid/homecourt advantage should they reach the America East Championship without some help from the two teams that would be in front.While seeding is a concern, it's a periphery one, as the Terriers should be much more focused on executing at a higher level following a lackluster performance against Vermont. The game marked the first time since BU's first loss to UVM that the team didn't function like a cohesive unit, turning the ball over 21 times and assisting five baskets while running bad offense. Credit Vermont's defense for applying even more ball pressure and throwing harder presses at BU than they did in the teams' first meeting, but by no means was that game representative of the Terriers' best effort.
What's equally worrisome is the element of fatigue, as BU has now played 12 games with a seven-man rotation and five of those seven players logging roughly 36-40+ minutes a game. The problem is, because BU's playing to attain the highest seed possible, the Terriers will be unable to rest before the start of the conference tournament. That said, not having fresh legs for the biggest weekend of the season is also an issue.
As far as Saturday's contest goes, the Bearcats -- while one of the most athletic teams in the league -- don't match up well against the Terriers and BU coach Dennis Wolff and his players were able to exploit those differences well in the teams' first meeting, so much so that Binghamton's leading scorer, D.J. Rivera (20.7 points per game), reportedly left the bench area in the second half and started toward the locker room out of frustration. Binghamto's makeup is similar to BU's prior to the injuries to Tyler Morris and Carlos Strong -- with four very athletic and capable guards who can score at will (and are all averaging in double figures) -- but since, the Terriers have morphed into a forward-heavy lineup, while Binghamton still relies on their athleticism and outside shooting (their 3-point field goal percentage is first in the conference after the Bearcats struggled mightily from beyond the arc in non-conference play). Malik Alvin is, however, nursing a sore ankle and knee, so his role could be limited. Also, Theo Davis officially left the Bearcats Thursday because "he simply doesn’t want to play basketball anymore," according to coach Kevin Broadus.
Playing in a familiar gym (where Binghamton has won only two times in its history) should help the Terriers relax and not appear as disjointed as the did on Wednesday, but it will be interesting to see how the veteran team responds to coming up short in the first of two extremely important conference battles this week.
Links:
Bearcats shorthanded vs. Boston
In battle of BU's, Bearcats aim for top spot
Vermont beats Boston, now it's our chance
Projected starting lineups:
Sunday, January 18, 2009
The Day After: BU 81, Binghamton 64
Usually, by this point in a season, a team has somewhat established itself. Fans can get a good sense of what to expect on a nightly basis and change their hopes as believes based on that. With the Boston University men's basketball team, however, that's not even close to the case.
The Terriers, if anything else, have kept things interesting with a number of developing plot lines related to game performances that have made it impossible to predict what team will show up on a given night. Comparing BU's performances against Cornell, Holy Cross and Vermont to their efforts against Northeastern, Notre Dame and Binghamton, you'd think you were analyzing two different teams.
The team that showed up on Saturday against Binghamton -- one of the better teams at the start of the conference schedule, but is on a three-game losing streak -- was a glimpse as to how good (even with two of their top five scorers) the Terriers could be. BU coach Dennis Wolff called it the best team effort of the season, and that was evident in the box score (81-64). Every member of the team save Marques Johnson (eight minutes) had a major impact on the victory and they did so where it didn't show in the box score as well -- defense. The matchup zone was extremely successful against Binghamton, especially their best player in D.J. Rivera (who came in averaging 20.9 points per game) who didn't lead the Bearcats in scoring for the first time all season.
There's no doubt the Terriers don't deserve to be written off whatsoever, especially given the way the conference has played out thus far. America East is one of the more wide-open conferences in the nation and it will be interesting to see how the games shake out on a nightly basis, because (as we've seen) it's hard to know what team will show up on any given night. But, if the Terriers that embarassed Binghamton on their home floor Saturday shows up more often than not, there's no reason BU shouldn't be re-inserted into the talk about potential conference champions.
Pros:
-- Second-half intensity: After losing a grip on a 12-point advantage early in the first half and entering the break up by four, the Terriers came out firing, extending the lead and burying the Bearcats. A fantastic sign for a team that has trouble closing games out.
-- Five dunks: Wolff was searching for aggressiveness and five dunks should have found it, including one by Scott Brittain (his first of the season).
Cons:
-- Marques Johnson's minutes: Wolff said the players on the floor were playing well, which is very true as the individual efforts were all excellent, but Johnson might need more playing time if BU begins to have turnover issues or become fatigued.
-- Binghamton's late run: This is being picky, but it's never good to see 9-0 runs no matter what the score.
Links:
Holland-led Terriers bounce back, rout Binghamton
Boston flattens Bearcats
The Terriers, if anything else, have kept things interesting with a number of developing plot lines related to game performances that have made it impossible to predict what team will show up on a given night. Comparing BU's performances against Cornell, Holy Cross and Vermont to their efforts against Northeastern, Notre Dame and Binghamton, you'd think you were analyzing two different teams.
The team that showed up on Saturday against Binghamton -- one of the better teams at the start of the conference schedule, but is on a three-game losing streak -- was a glimpse as to how good (even with two of their top five scorers) the Terriers could be. BU coach Dennis Wolff called it the best team effort of the season, and that was evident in the box score (81-64). Every member of the team save Marques Johnson (eight minutes) had a major impact on the victory and they did so where it didn't show in the box score as well -- defense. The matchup zone was extremely successful against Binghamton, especially their best player in D.J. Rivera (who came in averaging 20.9 points per game) who didn't lead the Bearcats in scoring for the first time all season.
There's no doubt the Terriers don't deserve to be written off whatsoever, especially given the way the conference has played out thus far. America East is one of the more wide-open conferences in the nation and it will be interesting to see how the games shake out on a nightly basis, because (as we've seen) it's hard to know what team will show up on any given night. But, if the Terriers that embarassed Binghamton on their home floor Saturday shows up more often than not, there's no reason BU shouldn't be re-inserted into the talk about potential conference champions.
Pros:
-- Second-half intensity: After losing a grip on a 12-point advantage early in the first half and entering the break up by four, the Terriers came out firing, extending the lead and burying the Bearcats. A fantastic sign for a team that has trouble closing games out.
-- Five dunks: Wolff was searching for aggressiveness and five dunks should have found it, including one by Scott Brittain (his first of the season).
Cons:
-- Marques Johnson's minutes: Wolff said the players on the floor were playing well, which is very true as the individual efforts were all excellent, but Johnson might need more playing time if BU begins to have turnover issues or become fatigued.
-- Binghamton's late run: This is being picky, but it's never good to see 9-0 runs no matter what the score.
Links:
Holland-led Terriers bounce back, rout Binghamton
Boston flattens Bearcats
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