By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — Even with a successful regular season completed and his first America East Player of the Year Award firmly in hand, there seemed to be more speculation, uncertainty and concern for senior forward John Holland and the Boston University men’s basketball team as they entered their quarterfinal game against University of New Hampshire in the conference tournament on Saturday.
Questions lingered and festered surrounding the status of Holland’s left ankle, which he injured in the first half in the Terriers’ 53-51 win over Binghamton University on Feb. 24. It was an ailment that forced him out of BU’s final regular season game, a 66-64 win over the University of Vermont last Sunday. It kept him on crutches for several days following the Binghamton game, keeping him in a limited capacity in the team’s practices leading up to the AE Tournament.
Is this how the decorated senior’s career was destined to end, reduced to sitting out or limping around the court as his team chased the conference’s ultimate prize, a championship and a coveted berth in the NCAA Tournament – two things which Holland has yet to accomplish in his time on Commonwealth Ave?
After an almost nine-day period of so much doubt and skepticism, maybe it’s fitting that the Bronx, N.Y. native was able to work through it all with relative ease, giving an indication of how much credence he gave the questions surrounding his ankle.
Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Grading the Terriers: 3/5 vs. UNH -- AE Tournament Quarterfinal
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
Offense: B+
Entering their quarterfinal matchup against the Wildcats, the Terriers were averaging 65.8 points per game, good for third in the conference behind Vermont and Maine. This evening, the Terriers poured in 69 points, connecting on an impressive 23-of-50 shots from the field (46 percent). Down 12-3 in only the contest’s first few minutes, BU went on a 30-18 spurt to close the half, aided by a combined 17 first-half points from senior forward John Holland and junior guard Matt Griffin. A B+ may seem too generous of a grade for the Terriers considering their struggles out of the gate, but when the game mattered the most, the Terriers were able to get their shots to fall.
Offense: B+
Entering their quarterfinal matchup against the Wildcats, the Terriers were averaging 65.8 points per game, good for third in the conference behind Vermont and Maine. This evening, the Terriers poured in 69 points, connecting on an impressive 23-of-50 shots from the field (46 percent). Down 12-3 in only the contest’s first few minutes, BU went on a 30-18 spurt to close the half, aided by a combined 17 first-half points from senior forward John Holland and junior guard Matt Griffin. A B+ may seem too generous of a grade for the Terriers considering their struggles out of the gate, but when the game mattered the most, the Terriers were able to get their shots to fall.
Live Blog: 2011 America East Tournament -- Quarterfinals
Stony Brook-Albany Quarterfinal Score: Stony Brook 67, Albany 61
Vermont-Binghamton Quarterfinal Score: Vermont 57, Binghamton 46
Starting lineups:
University of New Hampshire Wildcats
F Chandler Rhoads
F Brian Benson
C Dane DiLiegro
G Jordon Bronner
G Tyrone Conley
Boston University Terriers
F John Holland
F Dom Morris
C Patrick Hazel
G Darryl Partin
G D.J. Irving
Final score: BU 69, UNH 60
Team leaders:
Points
UNH: Tyrone Conley, 16
BU: John Holland, 17
Rebounds
UNH: Brian Benson, 11
BU: Patrick Hazel, 10
Assists
UNH: Chandler Rhoads, 4
BU: Matt Griffin, 2
Hartford-Maine Quarterfinal Score: Hartford 66, Maine 63
Friday, March 4, 2011
Holland's AE POY highlights slew of BU awards recipients
By Craig Meyer and René Reyes/DFP Staff
After a long and storied career in the America East Conference, Boston University men's basketball senior forward John Holland was recognized with the conference's highest honor Friday afternoon, being awarded the 2011 America East Player of the Year in Hartford, Conn.
Holland was one of several Terriers to receive postseason accolades, as junior guard Darryl Partin joined Holland as a first team all-conference honoree, junior forward Patrick Hazel was honored as an AE first team all-defensive performer, and freshmen Dom Morris and D.J. Irving were named to the all-rookie team.
Holland, a preseason all-conference selection, is averaging 19.2 points per game and 5.7 rebounds a game for the Terriers, helping pace the team to a 18-13 regular season mark, including a 12-4 record in conference play, BU's best AE record since 2004.
It is the Bronx, N.Y., native's first AE Player of the Year award after being a finalist each of the past two seasons.
Partin collected first team all-conference honors playing in his first year in the league after transferring to BU from La Salle University in 2009. In AE play, Partin emerged as a viable second scoring option for the Terriers in wake of a season-ending foot injury to junior forward Jake O'Brien, averaging 14.9 PPG and 3.4 RPG, including 16.9 PPG in 16 conference games.
Like Partin, Hazel was also able to capture a postseason honor in just his first year in the AE. After transferring from Marquette University, Hazel quickly became a formidable low-post presence for the Terriers. While he only averaged 4.5 PPG for the season, the tri-captain was second in the conference in blocks per game with 1.8 while averaging 5.8 RPG, ranking him 11th in the AE.
Both highly-touted members of BU coach Patrick Chambers' first major recruiting class to BU, Morris and Irving were able to provide significant contributions for a battered and retooled BU team in just their freshman year. Irving, a speedy Chester, Pa., product, averaged 7.9 PPG to go along with a team-high 3.8 assists per game, ranking him third among all AE players. Morris posted averages of 5.5 PPG and 4.6 RPG while being able to provide BU with interior toughness and an uncanny ability to shoot 3-pointers for a player his size.
Coincidentally enough, the five BU honorees were the starting unit in every one of the Terriers' games on their current season-high eight-game win streak.
The Terriers will now try to translate the postseason accolades to success on the court as they begin a possible run to the NCAA Tournament against the University of New Hampshire at 6:05 p.m. in the AE Tournament quarterfinals at Chase Family Arena in Hartford.
Below are the full awards for the America East 2010-11 season:
Major Awards:
Kevin Roberson Player of the Year
John Holland, Boston University
Coach of the Year
Mike Lonergan, Vermont
Rookie of the Year
Brian Voelkel, Vermont
Defensive Player of the Year
Brendan Bald, Vermont
All-Conference Awards:
First-Team
Troy Barnies Sr. F Maine
Tim Ambrose Sr. G Albany
John Holland Sr. G/F Boston University
Darryl Partin Jr. G Boston University
Evan Fjeld Sr. F Vermont
Second-Team
Joe Zeglinski Sr. G Hartford
Gerald McLemore Jr. G Maine
Chris De La Rosa Jr. G UMBC
Tyrone Conley Sr. G New Hampshire
Bryan Dougher Jr. G Stony Brook
Third-Team
Logan Aronhalt So. G Albany
Mike Black So. G Albany
Mahamoud Jabbi Sr. F Binghamton
Morgan Sabia Sr. F Hartford
Brendan Bald So. G Vermont
All-Rookie Team
Luke Devlin Fr. F Albany
D.J. Irving Fr. G Boston University
Dom Morris Fr. F Boston University
Jordon Bronner Fr. G New Hampshire
Brian Voelkel Fr. F Vermont
All-Defensive Team
Mahamoud Jabbi Sr. F Binghamton
Patrick Hazel Jr. F Boston University
Milton Burton Sr. G/F Hartford
Chandler Rhoads So. G New Hampshire
Brendan Bald So. G Vermont
After a long and storied career in the America East Conference, Boston University men's basketball senior forward John Holland was recognized with the conference's highest honor Friday afternoon, being awarded the 2011 America East Player of the Year in Hartford, Conn.
Holland was one of several Terriers to receive postseason accolades, as junior guard Darryl Partin joined Holland as a first team all-conference honoree, junior forward Patrick Hazel was honored as an AE first team all-defensive performer, and freshmen Dom Morris and D.J. Irving were named to the all-rookie team.
Holland, a preseason all-conference selection, is averaging 19.2 points per game and 5.7 rebounds a game for the Terriers, helping pace the team to a 18-13 regular season mark, including a 12-4 record in conference play, BU's best AE record since 2004.
It is the Bronx, N.Y., native's first AE Player of the Year award after being a finalist each of the past two seasons.
Partin collected first team all-conference honors playing in his first year in the league after transferring to BU from La Salle University in 2009. In AE play, Partin emerged as a viable second scoring option for the Terriers in wake of a season-ending foot injury to junior forward Jake O'Brien, averaging 14.9 PPG and 3.4 RPG, including 16.9 PPG in 16 conference games.
Like Partin, Hazel was also able to capture a postseason honor in just his first year in the AE. After transferring from Marquette University, Hazel quickly became a formidable low-post presence for the Terriers. While he only averaged 4.5 PPG for the season, the tri-captain was second in the conference in blocks per game with 1.8 while averaging 5.8 RPG, ranking him 11th in the AE.
Both highly-touted members of BU coach Patrick Chambers' first major recruiting class to BU, Morris and Irving were able to provide significant contributions for a battered and retooled BU team in just their freshman year. Irving, a speedy Chester, Pa., product, averaged 7.9 PPG to go along with a team-high 3.8 assists per game, ranking him third among all AE players. Morris posted averages of 5.5 PPG and 4.6 RPG while being able to provide BU with interior toughness and an uncanny ability to shoot 3-pointers for a player his size.
Coincidentally enough, the five BU honorees were the starting unit in every one of the Terriers' games on their current season-high eight-game win streak.
The Terriers will now try to translate the postseason accolades to success on the court as they begin a possible run to the NCAA Tournament against the University of New Hampshire at 6:05 p.m. in the AE Tournament quarterfinals at Chase Family Arena in Hartford.
Below are the full awards for the America East 2010-11 season:
Major Awards:
Kevin Roberson Player of the Year
John Holland, Boston University
Coach of the Year
Mike Lonergan, Vermont
Rookie of the Year
Brian Voelkel, Vermont
Defensive Player of the Year
Brendan Bald, Vermont
All-Conference Awards:
First-Team
Troy Barnies Sr. F Maine
Tim Ambrose Sr. G Albany
John Holland Sr. G/F Boston University
Darryl Partin Jr. G Boston University
Evan Fjeld Sr. F Vermont
Second-Team
Joe Zeglinski Sr. G Hartford
Gerald McLemore Jr. G Maine
Chris De La Rosa Jr. G UMBC
Tyrone Conley Sr. G New Hampshire
Bryan Dougher Jr. G Stony Brook
Third-Team
Logan Aronhalt So. G Albany
Mike Black So. G Albany
Mahamoud Jabbi Sr. F Binghamton
Morgan Sabia Sr. F Hartford
Brendan Bald So. G Vermont
All-Rookie Team
Luke Devlin Fr. F Albany
D.J. Irving Fr. G Boston University
Dom Morris Fr. F Boston University
Jordon Bronner Fr. G New Hampshire
Brian Voelkel Fr. F Vermont
All-Defensive Team
Mahamoud Jabbi Sr. F Binghamton
Patrick Hazel Jr. F Boston University
Milton Burton Sr. G/F Hartford
Chandler Rhoads So. G New Hampshire
Brendan Bald So. G Vermont
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Pre-AE Tournament Interviews: Patrick Chambers, Matt Griffin, Pat Hazel
On Thursday afternoon at Case Gymnasium, we had the chance to catch up with Boston University men's basketball coach Patrick Chambers, junior guard Matt Griffin and junior forward Pat Hazel and ask them their thoughts regarding the America East Tournament and the team's quarterfinal matchup Saturday at 6 p.m. against the University of New Hampshire. Their comments are posted below.
From the FreeP: Home-court advantage key for BU in tournament
By Jack Flagler/DFP Staff
The Boston University men’s basketball team has the strongest home-court advantage in the America East. BU has dropped just two games in Boston this year, and in conference play, the team was a perfect 7-0 (one “home” game was a victory over University at Albany at Madison Square Garden).
Meanwhile, the team struggled to win on the road. BU’s 4-10 overall away record is slightly misleading. The team won its last three games away from Boston including an overtime victory on Sunday over conference champs University of Vermont. But BU also dropped winnable games at University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Hartford University and University of New Hampshire this year.
If you have attended a BU basketball game recently, you may be confused as to where this home court advantage comes from. Generally we think of great home courts as places like Duke University’s Cameron Indoor Stadium, University of Kentucky’s Rupp Arena or The Spectrum at Utah State University.
Those teams play off the energy of their loud student sections that sit nearly on top of the court. Their home-court advantage comes from thousands of fans intimidating opposing teams with chants, costumes, ear-splitting noise and general insanity. Not surprisingly, none of those three squads have lost at home this season.
Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com
The Boston University men’s basketball team has the strongest home-court advantage in the America East. BU has dropped just two games in Boston this year, and in conference play, the team was a perfect 7-0 (one “home” game was a victory over University at Albany at Madison Square Garden).
Meanwhile, the team struggled to win on the road. BU’s 4-10 overall away record is slightly misleading. The team won its last three games away from Boston including an overtime victory on Sunday over conference champs University of Vermont. But BU also dropped winnable games at University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Hartford University and University of New Hampshire this year.
If you have attended a BU basketball game recently, you may be confused as to where this home court advantage comes from. Generally we think of great home courts as places like Duke University’s Cameron Indoor Stadium, University of Kentucky’s Rupp Arena or The Spectrum at Utah State University.
Those teams play off the energy of their loud student sections that sit nearly on top of the court. Their home-court advantage comes from thousands of fans intimidating opposing teams with chants, costumes, ear-splitting noise and general insanity. Not surprisingly, none of those three squads have lost at home this season.
Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com
From the FreeP: Young Terriers aim to prove themselves in postseason
By Luke Coughlan/DFP Staff
When the Boston University men’s basketball team took the Agganis Arena floor on Nov. 8 to preview the 2010-‘11 season with a scrimmage in front of its home fans, there were more questions and uncertainties surrounding it than there had been in a number of years.
Would junior center Jeff Pelage be able to return from an ankle injury and make an impact on the season? How would the Terriers perform in the post-Corey Lowe/Carlos Strong/Tyler Morris era? Would three transfer students and seven freshmen be able to rise to the challenge and contribute to the team in senior forward John Holland’s last year at BU?
And, perhaps the largest question looming in the minds of the Terrier faithful: how on earth could a patchwork, young and inexperienced team bring the Terriers to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2002 if last year’s squad, complete with nine seniors, couldn’t do it?
Flash forward nearly four months later on the cusp of the America East tournament, and it is safe to say that the Terriers (18-13, 12-4 AE) have answered most of those questions loudly and clearly.
Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com
When the Boston University men’s basketball team took the Agganis Arena floor on Nov. 8 to preview the 2010-‘11 season with a scrimmage in front of its home fans, there were more questions and uncertainties surrounding it than there had been in a number of years.
Would junior center Jeff Pelage be able to return from an ankle injury and make an impact on the season? How would the Terriers perform in the post-Corey Lowe/Carlos Strong/Tyler Morris era? Would three transfer students and seven freshmen be able to rise to the challenge and contribute to the team in senior forward John Holland’s last year at BU?
And, perhaps the largest question looming in the minds of the Terrier faithful: how on earth could a patchwork, young and inexperienced team bring the Terriers to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2002 if last year’s squad, complete with nine seniors, couldn’t do it?
Flash forward nearly four months later on the cusp of the America East tournament, and it is safe to say that the Terriers (18-13, 12-4 AE) have answered most of those questions loudly and clearly.
Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Fjeld wins AE Fans' Player of the Year over Holland
By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff
University of Vermont forward Evan Fjeld was announced as the 2011 America East Fans' Choice Player of the Year today in Cambridge, beating out Boston University senior forward John Holland.
Fjeld, a preseason all-conference selection, is averaging career-bests this season in both points (14.9) and rebounds (6.3) en route to helping his Catamounts team to the AE regular season title.
The senior and Durham, N.C., native emerged as the victor from a crowded field that started at 18 nominees (two from each AE school) before fans narrowed the list down to five finalists after a first round of voting. The other finalists included Holland, University of Maine forward Troy Barnies, University of New Hampshire forward Tyrone Conley and fellow Vermont forward Brian Voelkel.
Fjeld's win now marks the third time in the past five seasons that a Vermont player has captured the Fans' Player of the Year honor.
The awards for AE Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year -- all determined by the conference's coaches -- will be announced on Friday.
University of Vermont forward Evan Fjeld was announced as the 2011 America East Fans' Choice Player of the Year today in Cambridge, beating out Boston University senior forward John Holland.
Fjeld, a preseason all-conference selection, is averaging career-bests this season in both points (14.9) and rebounds (6.3) en route to helping his Catamounts team to the AE regular season title.
The senior and Durham, N.C., native emerged as the victor from a crowded field that started at 18 nominees (two from each AE school) before fans narrowed the list down to five finalists after a first round of voting. The other finalists included Holland, University of Maine forward Troy Barnies, University of New Hampshire forward Tyrone Conley and fellow Vermont forward Brian Voelkel.
Fjeld's win now marks the third time in the past five seasons that a Vermont player has captured the Fans' Player of the Year honor.
The awards for AE Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year -- all determined by the conference's coaches -- will be announced on Friday.
From the FreeP: BU holds positional edge over UNH in quarterfinal
By René Reyes/DFP Staff
As the Boston University men’s basketball team prepares to square off against University of New Hampshire Saturday in the quarterfinal round of the America East Conference Tournament, here’s a positional breakdown of the individual matchups:
CENTER: Patrick Hazel vs. Dane DiLiegro
The Terriers will call on Hazel, the transfer from Marquette University, to answer the bell defensively opposite one of the America East’s most skilled big men, the 6-foot-9, 250-pound DiLiegro. An efficient scorer, DiLiegro converted 52.1 percent of his field goal attempts and averaged 8.8 points per game during the regular season. Whether the Wildcats exploit DiLiegro’s overwhelming advantage over Hazel on the offensive end is anyone’s guess. On the defensive side of the ball, it’s more of the same. Though he is BU’s leading rebounder with nearly six boards a game, Hazel will have a hard time boxing out DiLiegro, who finished second in the conference with 8.2 rpg.
Edge: UNH.
Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com
As the Boston University men’s basketball team prepares to square off against University of New Hampshire Saturday in the quarterfinal round of the America East Conference Tournament, here’s a positional breakdown of the individual matchups:
CENTER: Patrick Hazel vs. Dane DiLiegro
The Terriers will call on Hazel, the transfer from Marquette University, to answer the bell defensively opposite one of the America East’s most skilled big men, the 6-foot-9, 250-pound DiLiegro. An efficient scorer, DiLiegro converted 52.1 percent of his field goal attempts and averaged 8.8 points per game during the regular season. Whether the Wildcats exploit DiLiegro’s overwhelming advantage over Hazel on the offensive end is anyone’s guess. On the defensive side of the ball, it’s more of the same. Though he is BU’s leading rebounder with nearly six boards a game, Hazel will have a hard time boxing out DiLiegro, who finished second in the conference with 8.2 rpg.
Edge: UNH.
Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com
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