Showing posts with label Maine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maine. Show all posts
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Live Blog: University of Maine Black Bears vs. Boston University Terriers
Starting lineups:
University of Maine Black Bears
F Terrance Mitchell
F Murphy Burnatowski
C Sean McNally
G Junior Bernal
G Gerald McLemore
Boston University Terriers
F Valdas Sirutis
F Sherrod Smith
G Corey Lowe
G Carlos Strong
G Tyler Morris
Final score: BU 76, Maine 56
Team leaders:
Points
Maine: Gerald McLemore, 15
BU: John Holland, 23
Rebounds
Maine: Troy Barnies, 6
BU: Jake O'Brien, 8
Assists
Maine: Junior Bernal and Malachi Peay, 3
BU: Tyler Morris, 5
Links:
BU makes a statement on Senior Night vs. Maine
Nine seniors say goodbye to Case on high note
Friday, November 6, 2009
Nine Teams, Nine Days: Maine
Last season: 9-21 (4-12 America East), lost in play-in game to Hartford.
Head coach: Ted Woodward, five seasons, 54-93 record (29-55 AE).
Departing players: Phillipe Tchekane Bofia, Jordan Cook, Jason Hight, Doran Mitchell, Kaimondre Owes, Mark Socoby
Incoming players: Jon McAllian, Mike Allison, Jerrell Boswell, Murphy Burnatowski, Terrance Mitchell, Travon Wilcher (eligible 2nd half).
Expected starting lineup (position, name, year, 2008-09 stats):
G Junior Bernal, senior, 7.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.1 APG
G Gerald McLemore, sophomore, 11.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.1 SPG
G/F Malachi Peay, junior, 6.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.1 SPG
F Troy Barnies, junior, 7.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 0.9 APG
F Sean McNally, junior, 9.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.5 BPG
Player to watch: McLemore. As a freshman, the 6-foot-3 guard from San Diego wasted little time introducing observers to his offensive capabilities, dropping 24 points on Northern Illinois in his collegiate debut. When McLemore is on, he is the rare Black Bear who can create his own offense. However, an eFG% below 50 in 2008-09 points to McLemore's relative inefficiency, common among freshmen but not a desirable trait for a primary scoring threat. Even when McLemore is cold, he commands the defense's attention, but more often than not the players surrounding him were unable to take advantage of the opportunities his presence created. If the Black Bears are going to make strides toward respectability this season, the dangerous, effective McLemore will need to show up more than the shot-happy, inefficient version.
Biggest strength: Perimeter defense. Maine held opposing shooters to a 31.1% rate from beyond the arc last season; while that rate was somewhat higher during conference play, defending perimeter players remained one of the Black Bears' relative strengths last season. Perhaps more importantly, Maine returns the key personnel responsible for containing opposing sharpshooters. It all begins with Junior Bernal, who runs the point for Maine but stands 6-foot-5, allowing the senior guard to defend a variety of positions and close out against shooters. McLemore's athleticism also helps Maine matching up against perimeter threats; if McLemore displays the defensive improvement exhibited by many sophomores, there's reason to expect Maine's perimeter defense will be a strength again this season.
Biggest weakness: Interior defense. While the Black Bears are capable of blocking their fair share of shots, there isn't much positive to say about the rest of their interior defense. Sure, Maine's bigs stay out of foul trouble. They also stay out of the opponent's way. Maine's foes converted on two-point shots at a 51.6 percent rate last year, the worst rate allowed by any America East defense. Add abysmal defensive rebounding -- the Black Bears grabbed just 62.2 percent of opponents' missed shots -- and you might as well lay out the red carpet when the other team approaches the rim. Peay is a much better rebounder than Socoby and figures to absorb a large chunk of Socoby's minutes, but that alone won't be enough to fix Maine's porous interior defense. Sean McNally and Troy Barnies aren't plagued by foul trouble; both need to take advantage of their typically low foul totals and play more aggressive defense, whether it be defending the post, offering help, or grabbing rebounds.
Offseason: While grumbling about the state of Maine hockey continues to increase in volume with each passing year, it would be easy to overlook the troubles that have befallen Maine basketball. Yet it was not the most pleasant of summers for the Black Bears, either. Assistant head coach Mike Burden resigned after being charged with sexual assault, and leading scorer Mark Socoby left the team with a year of eligibility remaining.
There aren't any indications from the Maine athletic department that head coach Ted Woodward may be on the hot seat, but after a couple of respectable seasons, Woodward's teams have spent consecutive years toiling away at the bottom of the conference standings. Maine fans are left hoping their team's fortunes have taken a turn for the better since the Black Bears were last seen on the hardwood.
Guards: Maine's hopes are pinned squarely on Gerald McLemore's jersey. McLemore may not be a great distributor or an adept rebounder, but make no mistake, the man can shoot. Last season, McLemore hit 70 shots from 20 feet, 9 inches or farther. Relying heavily on threes can lead to a feast-or-famine offensive game, though, and McLemore's inefficiency is in large part a product of his inability to reliably convert from inside the arc. 40.6% from 2-point range just doesn't cut it; that, coupled with an inability to get to the line, at times renders McLemore a one-dimensional offensive player. A significant improvement in efficiency for McLemore's sophomore season wouldn't be a surprise, but the Black Bears won't surprise without it.
Bernal is the "point guard" running the Black Bear attack. Point forward might be more accurate. Bernal attempted a grand total of six threes last year over the course of some 800-plus minutes despite opponents regularly daring him to shoot. He led Maine in free throw rate (or FTRate, measured as free throws attempts per field goal attempt), only to display poor form while at the charity stripe. He has the size and strength to guard opposing wings. Sounds like a forward, no? Bernal runs the point for the Black Bears, and while his playmaking and turnover-avoidance might not be top-notch, he's displayed marginal improvement from year to year and is Maine's best option at this point.
Andrew Rogers will be backing up Bernal and represents the other end of the point guard spectrum. At 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds, Rogers is outsized by most opposing guards; Maine's perimeter defense will take a hit with him on the floor. Where the sophomore guard shines is as a distributor. An A/TO of 1.4 is solid for a freshman guard, and improvement in Rogers' sophomore campaign seems likely. The primary barrier between Rogers and serious minutes is his lack of offensive firepower. Rogers shot just 30.8% from the field in 2008-09 and rarely gave the defense a reason to worry about him. Rogers' ability to spread the ball around is enough to warrant rotation minutes, but until he makes defenses pay for daring him to shoot, this pint-sized point guard will bear the backup label.
Terrance Mitchell is one of two junior college transfers to arrive in Orono. Mitchell shined while attending Faulkner State Community College in Alabama, earning an NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention and averaging over 20 points per game. The 6-foot-3 junior guard can be deadly accurate from 3-point range -- he hit 12 treys in a single game last February -- and isn't afraid to go after rebounds. At a minimum, Mitchell should be a suitable substitute for McLemore; if his offensive skills translate well to Division-I, Mitchell offers Woodward the ability to spread the floor with multiple shooters. With Bernal more than capable of guarding small forwards, it's possible Mitchell could receive the starting nod over Peay or Barnies.
Jerrell Boswell is the other junior college addition at guard. If Mitchell is a good 3-point shooter, words fail to fully describe some of Boswell's feats. Boswell once hit 15 threes in a single game, which ranks as the second-highest total of all time among NJCAA players. To put 15 threes into context, no Division-I player made more than 11 3-point shots in a single game last year. Boswell stands 6-foot-0, so the Black Bears' defensive options are somewhat limited with him on the court as compared to Mitchell, but any lineup with Bernal running the point can accommodate two additional guards on the defensive end. If either Boswell or Mitchell can make an immediate impact, the Black Bears should be improved offensively compared to last year.
Ryan Martin is the second 5-foot-9 guard on Maine's roster. Unlike Rogers, Martin is a walk-on guard and saw very little playing time as a freshman. Martin was named Mr. Maine Basketball by the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches while in high school. Unfortunately for Martin, such accolades have done little to earn him much playing time. With Boswell and Mitchell in front of him, Martin's shooting ability is devalued, and as the third, possibly fourth guard off the bench, he is unlikely to make a significant impact.
Jon McAllian redshirted last season and retains his freshman status. At 6-foot-6, McAllian has the size to consistently release his shot without fear of rejection. Another local product (McAllian hails from Bangor), McAllian's game resembles that of a poor man's Mark Socoby -- he can do a little of everything. There isn't any evidence he does these things well enough to carve out a niche and earn some playing time. While McAllian may surface from time to time, don't expect more than the occasional on-court appearance.
Forwards: Sean McNally upped his production in 2008-09, emerging as one of Maine's main offensive threats. An increase in playing time was partially responsible, but as a sophomore McNally displayed significant evolution as a shotblocker, free throw shooter, and offensive rebounder. McNally's low foul rate allows him to stay on the floor, but his poor fundamental defense limits the benefits his offensive presence provides. Maine was regularly abused by opposing forwards last year, but McNally can make a point of establishing -- and maintaining -- better defensive position without excess fear of foul trouble. On the offensive end, McNally already does a good job getting to the line, but every additional foul drawn brings more opportunities at the charity stripe. For a free throw shooter whose success rate approached 80 percent last season, McNally would be well served by a more combative approach at both ends.
Malachi Peay missed a month during the later part of non-conference play before starting nine games against America East opponents, including 42 minutes of game time in Maine's closely contested 78-75 double-overtime victory versus New Hampshire. Peay, like Bernal, is a slasher who rarely attempts longer-range shots, so a starting lineup featuring both he and Bernal may not offer enough to stretch zones, but Peay adds value as an excellent defensive rebounder, something Maine needs in spades. A frontcourt of McNally, Peay and Barnies may be the recipe to curing what ails Maine's interior defense. At the very least, Peay's on-court presence should help prevent second-chance opportunities.
Troy Barnies emerged as Maine's most efficient scorer last season, posting an eFG% of 56.4 while averaging 7.4 points per game. Barnies also showed improvement on the boards, with solid rebounding rates at both ends. Barnies has good range for a forward standing 6-foot-7, with the ability to hit a 3 if left open (he was 8-of-17 from long range last year). Barnies, like McNally, needs to make a more concerted effort to prevent opponents from creating high-percentage shot opportunities, either by denying the ball or by using his body to establish position and cut off access to the rim. The Black Bear frontcourt has plenty of size, and that size needs to be used effectively.
Travon Wilcher arrives in Orono after a stint at UMass. Wilcher saw limited playing time as a freshman, appearing in six games before deciding to transfer. Because Wilcher was enrolled at Maine for the spring semester last season, he will be eligible to compete after the fall semester concludes. Wilcher is an excellent athlete and should be well-equipped to help the Black Bears on the boards due to his leaping ability. In addition, Wilcher is not strictly limited to attempting shots in and around the basket, as he reportedly has a functional mid-range game.
Mike Allison and Murphy Burnatowski are Maine's two freshman frontcourt additions. Both Allison and Burnatowski are Canadian, and each has played for the Under-19 Canadian National Team. Burnatowski, a small forward, is the shorter of the two, measuring 6-foot-7; he is a solid shooter but is unlikely to create his own offense. Allison is 6-foot-9 but very lean, weighing just 205 pounds. Allison is expected to be a shotblocker -- he blocked eight shots in 95 minutes at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship -- and has decent shooting range for a big, but is not noted for his rebounding. Without any established presence backing up the forward positions, Allison and Burnatowski should get at least occasional opportunities to earn playing time.
Center: There are players on the Maine roster tall enough (Mike Allison) or strong enough (Sean McNally) to be considered a Division-I center, but the 6-foot-9, 265 pound Svetoslav Chetinov is the only player satisfying both categories. Chetinov has the size and strength to be a presence down low but lacks the necessary finesse and control to use that size effectively. There is certainly offensive potential there, as Chetinov can pass out of the post and hit open shots from midrange. Chetinov's troubles are more defensive in nature, as poor defensive positioning, slow feet, and unrefined technique leave him prone to foul trouble. Still, the sophomore was a capable rebounder and shotblocker in limited minutes, and will likely see rotation minutes.
Outlook: Maine has the pieces in place to play solid basketball night in and night out. McLemore is a star in the making, McNally is a good source of interior offense, and there are several other players on the roster with useful skills. On the other hand, the Black Bears are not fundamentally different from the team that went 4-12 in conference play last year. Blowout losses shouldn't be expected, but Maine hung around in many of its games last year only to find ways to lose at the end. On paper, Maine should be able to improve where there were weaknesses and emerge as a solid if not spectacular team -- it's the years of underwhelming results that make said improvement seem unlikely. Mark Maine down for 7th place, with little hope of finishing above 6th.
Head coach: Ted Woodward, five seasons, 54-93 record (29-55 AE).
Departing players: Phillipe Tchekane Bofia, Jordan Cook, Jason Hight, Doran Mitchell, Kaimondre Owes, Mark Socoby
Incoming players: Jon McAllian, Mike Allison, Jerrell Boswell, Murphy Burnatowski, Terrance Mitchell, Travon Wilcher (eligible 2nd half).
Expected starting lineup (position, name, year, 2008-09 stats):
G Junior Bernal, senior, 7.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.1 APG
G Gerald McLemore, sophomore, 11.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.1 SPG
G/F Malachi Peay, junior, 6.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.1 SPG
F Troy Barnies, junior, 7.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 0.9 APG
F Sean McNally, junior, 9.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.5 BPG
Player to watch: McLemore. As a freshman, the 6-foot-3 guard from San Diego wasted little time introducing observers to his offensive capabilities, dropping 24 points on Northern Illinois in his collegiate debut. When McLemore is on, he is the rare Black Bear who can create his own offense. However, an eFG% below 50 in 2008-09 points to McLemore's relative inefficiency, common among freshmen but not a desirable trait for a primary scoring threat. Even when McLemore is cold, he commands the defense's attention, but more often than not the players surrounding him were unable to take advantage of the opportunities his presence created. If the Black Bears are going to make strides toward respectability this season, the dangerous, effective McLemore will need to show up more than the shot-happy, inefficient version.Biggest strength: Perimeter defense. Maine held opposing shooters to a 31.1% rate from beyond the arc last season; while that rate was somewhat higher during conference play, defending perimeter players remained one of the Black Bears' relative strengths last season. Perhaps more importantly, Maine returns the key personnel responsible for containing opposing sharpshooters. It all begins with Junior Bernal, who runs the point for Maine but stands 6-foot-5, allowing the senior guard to defend a variety of positions and close out against shooters. McLemore's athleticism also helps Maine matching up against perimeter threats; if McLemore displays the defensive improvement exhibited by many sophomores, there's reason to expect Maine's perimeter defense will be a strength again this season.
Biggest weakness: Interior defense. While the Black Bears are capable of blocking their fair share of shots, there isn't much positive to say about the rest of their interior defense. Sure, Maine's bigs stay out of foul trouble. They also stay out of the opponent's way. Maine's foes converted on two-point shots at a 51.6 percent rate last year, the worst rate allowed by any America East defense. Add abysmal defensive rebounding -- the Black Bears grabbed just 62.2 percent of opponents' missed shots -- and you might as well lay out the red carpet when the other team approaches the rim. Peay is a much better rebounder than Socoby and figures to absorb a large chunk of Socoby's minutes, but that alone won't be enough to fix Maine's porous interior defense. Sean McNally and Troy Barnies aren't plagued by foul trouble; both need to take advantage of their typically low foul totals and play more aggressive defense, whether it be defending the post, offering help, or grabbing rebounds.
Offseason: While grumbling about the state of Maine hockey continues to increase in volume with each passing year, it would be easy to overlook the troubles that have befallen Maine basketball. Yet it was not the most pleasant of summers for the Black Bears, either. Assistant head coach Mike Burden resigned after being charged with sexual assault, and leading scorer Mark Socoby left the team with a year of eligibility remaining.
There aren't any indications from the Maine athletic department that head coach Ted Woodward may be on the hot seat, but after a couple of respectable seasons, Woodward's teams have spent consecutive years toiling away at the bottom of the conference standings. Maine fans are left hoping their team's fortunes have taken a turn for the better since the Black Bears were last seen on the hardwood.
Guards: Maine's hopes are pinned squarely on Gerald McLemore's jersey. McLemore may not be a great distributor or an adept rebounder, but make no mistake, the man can shoot. Last season, McLemore hit 70 shots from 20 feet, 9 inches or farther. Relying heavily on threes can lead to a feast-or-famine offensive game, though, and McLemore's inefficiency is in large part a product of his inability to reliably convert from inside the arc. 40.6% from 2-point range just doesn't cut it; that, coupled with an inability to get to the line, at times renders McLemore a one-dimensional offensive player. A significant improvement in efficiency for McLemore's sophomore season wouldn't be a surprise, but the Black Bears won't surprise without it.
Bernal is the "point guard" running the Black Bear attack. Point forward might be more accurate. Bernal attempted a grand total of six threes last year over the course of some 800-plus minutes despite opponents regularly daring him to shoot. He led Maine in free throw rate (or FTRate, measured as free throws attempts per field goal attempt), only to display poor form while at the charity stripe. He has the size and strength to guard opposing wings. Sounds like a forward, no? Bernal runs the point for the Black Bears, and while his playmaking and turnover-avoidance might not be top-notch, he's displayed marginal improvement from year to year and is Maine's best option at this point.
Andrew Rogers will be backing up Bernal and represents the other end of the point guard spectrum. At 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds, Rogers is outsized by most opposing guards; Maine's perimeter defense will take a hit with him on the floor. Where the sophomore guard shines is as a distributor. An A/TO of 1.4 is solid for a freshman guard, and improvement in Rogers' sophomore campaign seems likely. The primary barrier between Rogers and serious minutes is his lack of offensive firepower. Rogers shot just 30.8% from the field in 2008-09 and rarely gave the defense a reason to worry about him. Rogers' ability to spread the ball around is enough to warrant rotation minutes, but until he makes defenses pay for daring him to shoot, this pint-sized point guard will bear the backup label.
Terrance Mitchell is one of two junior college transfers to arrive in Orono. Mitchell shined while attending Faulkner State Community College in Alabama, earning an NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention and averaging over 20 points per game. The 6-foot-3 junior guard can be deadly accurate from 3-point range -- he hit 12 treys in a single game last February -- and isn't afraid to go after rebounds. At a minimum, Mitchell should be a suitable substitute for McLemore; if his offensive skills translate well to Division-I, Mitchell offers Woodward the ability to spread the floor with multiple shooters. With Bernal more than capable of guarding small forwards, it's possible Mitchell could receive the starting nod over Peay or Barnies.
Jerrell Boswell is the other junior college addition at guard. If Mitchell is a good 3-point shooter, words fail to fully describe some of Boswell's feats. Boswell once hit 15 threes in a single game, which ranks as the second-highest total of all time among NJCAA players. To put 15 threes into context, no Division-I player made more than 11 3-point shots in a single game last year. Boswell stands 6-foot-0, so the Black Bears' defensive options are somewhat limited with him on the court as compared to Mitchell, but any lineup with Bernal running the point can accommodate two additional guards on the defensive end. If either Boswell or Mitchell can make an immediate impact, the Black Bears should be improved offensively compared to last year.
Ryan Martin is the second 5-foot-9 guard on Maine's roster. Unlike Rogers, Martin is a walk-on guard and saw very little playing time as a freshman. Martin was named Mr. Maine Basketball by the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches while in high school. Unfortunately for Martin, such accolades have done little to earn him much playing time. With Boswell and Mitchell in front of him, Martin's shooting ability is devalued, and as the third, possibly fourth guard off the bench, he is unlikely to make a significant impact.
Jon McAllian redshirted last season and retains his freshman status. At 6-foot-6, McAllian has the size to consistently release his shot without fear of rejection. Another local product (McAllian hails from Bangor), McAllian's game resembles that of a poor man's Mark Socoby -- he can do a little of everything. There isn't any evidence he does these things well enough to carve out a niche and earn some playing time. While McAllian may surface from time to time, don't expect more than the occasional on-court appearance.
Forwards: Sean McNally upped his production in 2008-09, emerging as one of Maine's main offensive threats. An increase in playing time was partially responsible, but as a sophomore McNally displayed significant evolution as a shotblocker, free throw shooter, and offensive rebounder. McNally's low foul rate allows him to stay on the floor, but his poor fundamental defense limits the benefits his offensive presence provides. Maine was regularly abused by opposing forwards last year, but McNally can make a point of establishing -- and maintaining -- better defensive position without excess fear of foul trouble. On the offensive end, McNally already does a good job getting to the line, but every additional foul drawn brings more opportunities at the charity stripe. For a free throw shooter whose success rate approached 80 percent last season, McNally would be well served by a more combative approach at both ends.
Malachi Peay missed a month during the later part of non-conference play before starting nine games against America East opponents, including 42 minutes of game time in Maine's closely contested 78-75 double-overtime victory versus New Hampshire. Peay, like Bernal, is a slasher who rarely attempts longer-range shots, so a starting lineup featuring both he and Bernal may not offer enough to stretch zones, but Peay adds value as an excellent defensive rebounder, something Maine needs in spades. A frontcourt of McNally, Peay and Barnies may be the recipe to curing what ails Maine's interior defense. At the very least, Peay's on-court presence should help prevent second-chance opportunities.
Troy Barnies emerged as Maine's most efficient scorer last season, posting an eFG% of 56.4 while averaging 7.4 points per game. Barnies also showed improvement on the boards, with solid rebounding rates at both ends. Barnies has good range for a forward standing 6-foot-7, with the ability to hit a 3 if left open (he was 8-of-17 from long range last year). Barnies, like McNally, needs to make a more concerted effort to prevent opponents from creating high-percentage shot opportunities, either by denying the ball or by using his body to establish position and cut off access to the rim. The Black Bear frontcourt has plenty of size, and that size needs to be used effectively.
Travon Wilcher arrives in Orono after a stint at UMass. Wilcher saw limited playing time as a freshman, appearing in six games before deciding to transfer. Because Wilcher was enrolled at Maine for the spring semester last season, he will be eligible to compete after the fall semester concludes. Wilcher is an excellent athlete and should be well-equipped to help the Black Bears on the boards due to his leaping ability. In addition, Wilcher is not strictly limited to attempting shots in and around the basket, as he reportedly has a functional mid-range game.
Mike Allison and Murphy Burnatowski are Maine's two freshman frontcourt additions. Both Allison and Burnatowski are Canadian, and each has played for the Under-19 Canadian National Team. Burnatowski, a small forward, is the shorter of the two, measuring 6-foot-7; he is a solid shooter but is unlikely to create his own offense. Allison is 6-foot-9 but very lean, weighing just 205 pounds. Allison is expected to be a shotblocker -- he blocked eight shots in 95 minutes at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship -- and has decent shooting range for a big, but is not noted for his rebounding. Without any established presence backing up the forward positions, Allison and Burnatowski should get at least occasional opportunities to earn playing time.
Center: There are players on the Maine roster tall enough (Mike Allison) or strong enough (Sean McNally) to be considered a Division-I center, but the 6-foot-9, 265 pound Svetoslav Chetinov is the only player satisfying both categories. Chetinov has the size and strength to be a presence down low but lacks the necessary finesse and control to use that size effectively. There is certainly offensive potential there, as Chetinov can pass out of the post and hit open shots from midrange. Chetinov's troubles are more defensive in nature, as poor defensive positioning, slow feet, and unrefined technique leave him prone to foul trouble. Still, the sophomore was a capable rebounder and shotblocker in limited minutes, and will likely see rotation minutes.
Outlook: Maine has the pieces in place to play solid basketball night in and night out. McLemore is a star in the making, McNally is a good source of interior offense, and there are several other players on the roster with useful skills. On the other hand, the Black Bears are not fundamentally different from the team that went 4-12 in conference play last year. Blowout losses shouldn't be expected, but Maine hung around in many of its games last year only to find ways to lose at the end. On paper, Maine should be able to improve where there were weaknesses and emerge as a solid if not spectacular team -- it's the years of underwhelming results that make said improvement seem unlikely. Mark Maine down for 7th place, with little hope of finishing above 6th.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Post-game Audio: (No. 9 Hartford 65, No. 8 Maine 56)
Here's audio clips from the press conference following No. 9 Hartford's 65-56 victory over No. 8 University of Maine. The Hawks will face top-seeded Binghamton University tomorrow at 6:07 p.m. at the start of the second session.
Hartford coach Dan Leibovitz's opening statement
Leibovitz discusses his team's guarding of Maine's Sean McNally
Jaret von Rosenberg talks about the boost Genesis Maciel gave the team
Leibovitz reflects on his teams' second-half defensive switch
Michael Turner feels his team's effort has remained constant all season
Von Rosenberg looks ahead to Saturday's matchup against Binghamton
Maine coach Ted Woodward's opening statement
Maine's Gerald McLemore and Sean McNally talk about Andres Torres' 3-pointer
McLemore attributes the game's choppiness to turnovers
Woodward attempts to rationalize the loss
Woodward speaks about stumbling upon McLemore while recruiting
Woodward wishes he had more time with this group of players and looks forward
Hartford coach Dan Leibovitz's opening statement
Leibovitz discusses his team's guarding of Maine's Sean McNally
Jaret von Rosenberg talks about the boost Genesis Maciel gave the team
Leibovitz reflects on his teams' second-half defensive switch
Michael Turner feels his team's effort has remained constant all season
Von Rosenberg looks ahead to Saturday's matchup against Binghamton
Maine coach Ted Woodward's opening statement
Maine's Gerald McLemore and Sean McNally talk about Andres Torres' 3-pointer
McLemore attributes the game's choppiness to turnovers
Woodward attempts to rationalize the loss
Woodward speaks about stumbling upon McLemore while recruiting
Woodward wishes he had more time with this group of players and looks forward
Live Blog: No. 8 University of Maine vs. No. 9 University of Hartford
Hello and welcome to your live coverage of the America East Conference Tournament. The tournament kicks off tonight with the play-in game between the No. 8 University of Maine and the No. 9 University of Hartford. The winner will face top-seeded Binghamton tomorrow evening in the first game of the afternoon session (6:07 p.m.).
For a preview of the game, check the post below.
Here are the starting lineups for tonight's game:
No. 8 University of Maine Black Bears
12 Junior Bernal
22 Mark Socoby
32 Gerald McLemore
03 Troy Barnies
21 Sean McNally
No. 9 University of Hartford Hawks
01 Jaret von Rosenberg
03 Michael Turner
11 Andres Torres
23 Morgan Sabia
25 Anthony Minor
Final Score: No. 9 University of Hartford 65, No. 8 University of Maine 56
Box Score
Leading Scorers:
UH -- Jaret von Rosenberg, 21
UM -- Gerald McLemore, 13
Leading Rebounders:
UH -- Two tied at two
UM -- Sean McNally, 7
Leading Assists:
UH -- Andres Torres, 4
UM -- Sean McNally, 4
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
Friday, February 27, 2009
The Day After: (BU 76, Maine 65)
Regardless of the fact that the victory came against the University of Maine (one of the two clear-cut sub-par teams in the conference), the Terriers pieced together one of their most complete team efforts of the season. The win was significant in marking the 1,000th win in program history in the 100th season of basketball at Boston University.
In addition, John Holland became the second player under BU coach Dennis Wolff to score 500+ points in a season and he's clearly developing into one of the best offensive players to ever set foot in Case Gymnasium/Agganis Arena. His Dr. J-esque dunk last night against two Maine defenders was just as good as not better than his rim-rocker that earned the number one spot on SportsCenter's Top 10 a few weeks ago.
Jake O'Brien and Jeff Pelage also threw it down last night in the 76-65 victory, as Pelage's flush capped a 10-point, 12-rebound performance that emphasized a stretch of his best play of the season. For the Terriers, Pelage's improved play and consistency couldn't come at a better time as they've got one game remaining (against the University of Hartford) before the start of the conference tournament (BU is locked into the third seed and will play the 2:30 game against the No. 6 seed on Saturday).
While the win ensured the Terriers' first winning season since 2004-05, it also marked the return of a team fans became familiar with during BU's eight-game winning streak. Holland and Pelage both recorded double-doubles (though Holland's could have easily gone to O'Brien as the two came down with a rebound, and Holland ripped the ball from O'Brien to get credit for his 10th board) and Lowe had one of his best facilitator games of the season (seven assists, one turnover) and found his shooting stroke in the second half.
The most important thing is that the Terriers are feeling more confident in their abilities than they were a week ago and even though O'Brien and Lowe are playing on tender ankles, the training staff feels they are healthy enough to play and the week off before the start of the tournament should be very beneficial.
In the press conference, Gatorade was set out for the players (an uncommon occurrence), to which Holland exclaimed when he walked in, "We have Gatorade tonight!" Wolff promptly responded, with a straight faced, dry-humor tone, "Let me have John's Gatorade since he didn't pass the ball to Matt." There's no better scenario for a team than to be loose and playing well entering the tournament and if the Terriers win on Sunday (senior day) against Hartford, they'll be just that.
A note: Be sure to log onto the blog at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday for a special live blog of the women's basketball team's game against the University of Maine, run by Scott McLaughlin, Jake Seiner and Dan Ventresca. They will blog the final two games in BU's quest for a 16-0 conference season as well as the America East Tournament in Hartford.
Pros:
-- Jeff Pelage's aggressiveness/double-double: The imposing rookie has strung together a week of increasingly impressive performances between games and practice and it shows. If he can continue playing at such a high level entering the tournament, the Terriers have as good a "secret weapon" as any team in the bracket.
-- Corey Lowe's second-half shooting: Lowe found his stroke after a rough first half from beyond the arc. Coming out of the locker room, he his his first shot in warmups and gave a look like, "why couldn't I do that the whole first half?" He certainly did in the second, and if he can continue to stay locked in (both passing- and shooting-wise) it will greatly benefit the Terriers.
-- Jake O'Brien's tolerance: O'Brien suffered a sprained ankle Tuesday and it was significantly swollen, yet toughed it out and delivered an 18-point, 9-rebound performance on Thursday.
Cons:
-- Maine's first-half offense: Maine was finding too many open cuts to the basket and scoring with ease. Other teams will learn to exploit BU's zone in a similar manner if things don't tighten up.
Links:
Terriers simply grand
M. BBall tops Maine in postseason tuneup
In addition, John Holland became the second player under BU coach Dennis Wolff to score 500+ points in a season and he's clearly developing into one of the best offensive players to ever set foot in Case Gymnasium/Agganis Arena. His Dr. J-esque dunk last night against two Maine defenders was just as good as not better than his rim-rocker that earned the number one spot on SportsCenter's Top 10 a few weeks ago.
Jake O'Brien and Jeff Pelage also threw it down last night in the 76-65 victory, as Pelage's flush capped a 10-point, 12-rebound performance that emphasized a stretch of his best play of the season. For the Terriers, Pelage's improved play and consistency couldn't come at a better time as they've got one game remaining (against the University of Hartford) before the start of the conference tournament (BU is locked into the third seed and will play the 2:30 game against the No. 6 seed on Saturday).
While the win ensured the Terriers' first winning season since 2004-05, it also marked the return of a team fans became familiar with during BU's eight-game winning streak. Holland and Pelage both recorded double-doubles (though Holland's could have easily gone to O'Brien as the two came down with a rebound, and Holland ripped the ball from O'Brien to get credit for his 10th board) and Lowe had one of his best facilitator games of the season (seven assists, one turnover) and found his shooting stroke in the second half.
The most important thing is that the Terriers are feeling more confident in their abilities than they were a week ago and even though O'Brien and Lowe are playing on tender ankles, the training staff feels they are healthy enough to play and the week off before the start of the tournament should be very beneficial.
In the press conference, Gatorade was set out for the players (an uncommon occurrence), to which Holland exclaimed when he walked in, "We have Gatorade tonight!" Wolff promptly responded, with a straight faced, dry-humor tone, "Let me have John's Gatorade since he didn't pass the ball to Matt." There's no better scenario for a team than to be loose and playing well entering the tournament and if the Terriers win on Sunday (senior day) against Hartford, they'll be just that.
A note: Be sure to log onto the blog at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday for a special live blog of the women's basketball team's game against the University of Maine, run by Scott McLaughlin, Jake Seiner and Dan Ventresca. They will blog the final two games in BU's quest for a 16-0 conference season as well as the America East Tournament in Hartford.
Pros:
-- Jeff Pelage's aggressiveness/double-double: The imposing rookie has strung together a week of increasingly impressive performances between games and practice and it shows. If he can continue playing at such a high level entering the tournament, the Terriers have as good a "secret weapon" as any team in the bracket.
-- Corey Lowe's second-half shooting: Lowe found his stroke after a rough first half from beyond the arc. Coming out of the locker room, he his his first shot in warmups and gave a look like, "why couldn't I do that the whole first half?" He certainly did in the second, and if he can continue to stay locked in (both passing- and shooting-wise) it will greatly benefit the Terriers.
-- Jake O'Brien's tolerance: O'Brien suffered a sprained ankle Tuesday and it was significantly swollen, yet toughed it out and delivered an 18-point, 9-rebound performance on Thursday.
Cons:
-- Maine's first-half offense: Maine was finding too many open cuts to the basket and scoring with ease. Other teams will learn to exploit BU's zone in a similar manner if things don't tighten up.
Links:
Terriers simply grand
M. BBall tops Maine in postseason tuneup
Post-game Audio: (BU 76, Maine 65)
Audio from BU's 76-65 victory over the University of Maine.
BU coach Dennis Wolff's opening statement
Maine coach Ted Woodward's opening statement
Jake O'Brien talks about playing through his sprained ankle
John Holland on BU's second-half intensity
Jeff Pelage explains the difference between now and a few weeks ago
Wolff discusses Corey Lowe's emergence from his shooting slump
Wolff reflects on what it means to coach BU's 1,000th victory
Woodward talk about the progress of his underclassmen
BU coach Dennis Wolff's opening statement
Maine coach Ted Woodward's opening statement
Jake O'Brien talks about playing through his sprained ankle
John Holland on BU's second-half intensity
Jeff Pelage explains the difference between now and a few weeks ago
Wolff discusses Corey Lowe's emergence from his shooting slump
Wolff reflects on what it means to coach BU's 1,000th victory
Woodward talk about the progress of his underclassmen
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Live Blog: University of Maine vs. Boston University
Today's game between the University of Maine (9-18, 4-10) and Boston University (15-12, 9-5) is set to tip off at 7:00 p.m. from Case Gymnasium. The contest is the second-to-last of the year for both teams.
Here are the starting lineups for tonight's game:
University of Maine Blackbears
3 F Troy Barnies
12 G Junior Bernal
21 C Sean McNally
22 G Mark Socoby
32 G Gerald McLemore
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: Boston University Terriers 76, University of Maine Black Bears 65
Leading Scorers:
UM -- Gerald McLemore, 16
BU -- John Holland, 20
Leading Rebounders:
UM -- Troy Barnies, 10
BU -- Jeff Pelage, 12
Leading Assists:
UM -- Junior Bernal, 4
BU -- Corey Lowe, 7
GAMEDAY: University of Maine vs. Boston University
With two games remaining on the regular season schedule (both against the bottom two teams in America East), the Terriers are presented with the unique opportunity of being able to focus solely on playing better basketball knowing that they've got the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament locked up.While the Terriers got down by 18 in the first half when they made the trip to Alfond Arena earlier in the season, they managed to win by 11 in what was a defining contest of their eight-game winning streak.
In that game, Corey Lowe notched 15 points in that game to go along with a season-high nine assists. Lowe is expected to play tonight (according to BU coach Dennis Wolff) after spraining his ankle against Iona on Saturday and if he still hasn't regained the consistency on his shot that's escaped him since BU's second loss to Vermont, he could once again focus on becoming a facilitator.
Lowe's play serves as somewhat of a microcosm of the play of the team, as the junior guard has been in a funk of late, and (with the exception of their most recent win over Iona) so have the Terriers. Still, if Lowe is able to return to full health (both physically and mentally) the Terriers will have to be seriously considered to make a run at a conference championship, especially given the way Jeff Pelage has played of late. The challenge, as always, with Pelage is to remain consistent in his performance.
The opportunity presented to the Terriers -- two games at home against the bottom feeders of the league -- is pretty ideal given the concerns surrounding the team's fatigue as well as their attempt to turn things around prior to the start of the tournament. There's no better way to do it that these two contests.
With a win on Thursday, the Terriers would notch their 1,000th victory in program history in this, their 100th season of basketball. ... Sophomore forward John Holland has 490 points on the season. With 10 more, he would become just the second player under Wolff to record 500 in one season. The other is Tunji Awojobi, who did so twice. ... The status of freshman forward Jake O’Brien, who turned his ankle on practice Thursday, is currently unknown.
Links:
Corey Lowe will play on Thursday
M. BBall prepares for postseason v. Maine
Projected starting lineups
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Day After: (BU 73, Maine 62)
Finally, the Terriers have a chance to breathe. And do more than that, actually, as their brutal stretch of four games in nine days (which turned even more demanding, physically at least, when the team played six overtimes periods in a span of three nights) is over. The silver lining? BU won all four games to vault them over the .500 mark for the first time since they were 5-4 in December and pull into a three-way tie with Binghamton and Vermont (both 5-2) in conference play.
What's more is the way the Terriers capped their four-game stretch -- with an 11-point victory in frigid Alfond Arena after trailing by 18 points in the first half (73-62). In all honesty, BU could have collapsed. They could have allowed fatigue to become an all-too-easy excuse for the early deficit (though it was actually a sloppy zone defense and lack of shooting) and still had a phenomenal week in conference play with a 3-1 record. But they didn't. Instead, this group -- which was has been mercilessly criticized throughout the course of the season and some of their careers for not being tough enough at the end of games to close out victories, even with a big lead -- summoned enough energy to overcome the deficit on the road and put themselves right back in the talk for conference title contenders. It's somewhere not many people would have placed the Terriers, especially after the news came that Tyler Morris and Carlos Strong were lost for the season, but BU has looked to have proven their doubters wrong.
While the result of the week that was is extremely impressive and encouraging (and the team is on a season-high four-game winning streak, averaging 83.3 points over those last four contests), BU's work doesn't get any easier, nor will it for the remainder of the season (with perhaps the exception of the BracketBusters game, which doesn't hold nearly the importance of BU's conference contests). The victory against Maine marked the beginning of a stretch where the Terriers will play three in a row on the road and five of seven.
While Corey Lowe (who set BU's all-time record for 3-pointers made in a career), John Holland and Jake O'Brien are the Terriers' main scoring threats since conference play started, the current run would not have been possible had it not been for the contributions from Scott Brittain and Matt Wolff. Brittain has almost worked back to his sophomore-year form and is playing with perhaps the most confidence he has in his career. Since the start of conference play (and consequently, his insertion into the starting lineup) he's averaging 11.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game (and 8.0 in BU's last four). Wolff, while often criticized for not putting up flashy numbers, remains a key contributor for the Terriers -- games like his seven-assist, six-rebound performance against Maine and his defensive lockdown of Darryl Proctor late in Thursday's victory against UMBC are two prime recent examples.
In a wide-open conference, the Terriers have as much momentum as any other team heading into their bye week. Rest before Saturday's game at Hartford couldn't have come at a better time for a team fighting fatigue (and that will be fighting fatigue all season).
Pros:
-- 20 Assists: BU notched a season-high in assists with a season-high (for any Terrier) nine from Lowe and seven from Wolff. BU's win at Alfond last season sparked a major winning streak and a key turnaround after an offensive switch. The team has already started playing better prior to a visit to Alfond, but perhaps this win will keep them going.
-- Man-to-man defense: Though the Terriers have been playing a matchup zone for the majority of the conference schedule, BU coach Dennis Wolff decided to switch to a man and it helped fuel the 18-point comeback victory. It's a great sign that BU can now use two defenses effectively after primarily being a man-to-man team for the whole season.
Cons:
-- Slow start: For the second-straight game, BU started sluggishly. While fatigue may be an acceptable excuse, the Terriers can't get used to a winning formula of having to climb out of early holes.
-- Marques Johnson's minutes: While Johnson's performance against Albany may have been an anomaly, he should probably be playing more than three minutes a game because the Terriers may need him down the stretch, especially if fatigue does become a serious issue.
Links:
MBball wins fourth straight
Black Bears' start trumped by BU's finish
What's more is the way the Terriers capped their four-game stretch -- with an 11-point victory in frigid Alfond Arena after trailing by 18 points in the first half (73-62). In all honesty, BU could have collapsed. They could have allowed fatigue to become an all-too-easy excuse for the early deficit (though it was actually a sloppy zone defense and lack of shooting) and still had a phenomenal week in conference play with a 3-1 record. But they didn't. Instead, this group -- which was has been mercilessly criticized throughout the course of the season and some of their careers for not being tough enough at the end of games to close out victories, even with a big lead -- summoned enough energy to overcome the deficit on the road and put themselves right back in the talk for conference title contenders. It's somewhere not many people would have placed the Terriers, especially after the news came that Tyler Morris and Carlos Strong were lost for the season, but BU has looked to have proven their doubters wrong.
While the result of the week that was is extremely impressive and encouraging (and the team is on a season-high four-game winning streak, averaging 83.3 points over those last four contests), BU's work doesn't get any easier, nor will it for the remainder of the season (with perhaps the exception of the BracketBusters game, which doesn't hold nearly the importance of BU's conference contests). The victory against Maine marked the beginning of a stretch where the Terriers will play three in a row on the road and five of seven.
While Corey Lowe (who set BU's all-time record for 3-pointers made in a career), John Holland and Jake O'Brien are the Terriers' main scoring threats since conference play started, the current run would not have been possible had it not been for the contributions from Scott Brittain and Matt Wolff. Brittain has almost worked back to his sophomore-year form and is playing with perhaps the most confidence he has in his career. Since the start of conference play (and consequently, his insertion into the starting lineup) he's averaging 11.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game (and 8.0 in BU's last four). Wolff, while often criticized for not putting up flashy numbers, remains a key contributor for the Terriers -- games like his seven-assist, six-rebound performance against Maine and his defensive lockdown of Darryl Proctor late in Thursday's victory against UMBC are two prime recent examples.
In a wide-open conference, the Terriers have as much momentum as any other team heading into their bye week. Rest before Saturday's game at Hartford couldn't have come at a better time for a team fighting fatigue (and that will be fighting fatigue all season).
Pros:
-- 20 Assists: BU notched a season-high in assists with a season-high (for any Terrier) nine from Lowe and seven from Wolff. BU's win at Alfond last season sparked a major winning streak and a key turnaround after an offensive switch. The team has already started playing better prior to a visit to Alfond, but perhaps this win will keep them going.
-- Man-to-man defense: Though the Terriers have been playing a matchup zone for the majority of the conference schedule, BU coach Dennis Wolff decided to switch to a man and it helped fuel the 18-point comeback victory. It's a great sign that BU can now use two defenses effectively after primarily being a man-to-man team for the whole season.
Cons:
-- Slow start: For the second-straight game, BU started sluggishly. While fatigue may be an acceptable excuse, the Terriers can't get used to a winning formula of having to climb out of early holes.
-- Marques Johnson's minutes: While Johnson's performance against Albany may have been an anomaly, he should probably be playing more than three minutes a game because the Terriers may need him down the stretch, especially if fatigue does become a serious issue.
Links:
MBball wins fourth straight
Black Bears' start trumped by BU's finish
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