Friday, November 9, 2012

Northeastern completes comeback, sinks BU 65-64 in season opener

By Christopher Dela Rosa/DFP Staff

The Boston University men’s basketball team lost its season opener in dramatic fashion at Northeastern University Friday, falling 65–64 thanks to a last-second 3-pointer by Huskies’ guard Demetrius Pollard.

Terrier fans saw some new faces on the court to begin the game. Second-year coach Joe Jones started the freshmen Maurice Watson Jr. and Nathan Dieudonne at point guard and power forward, respectively.

Friday night’s game started off as any other contest between the Terriers and Huskies. with each team scoring after one another.

“[It was a] typical BU vs. Northeastern game … scrappy,” said BU coach Jones.

With about 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the Terriers began to break away.

Junior guard D.J. Irving got the team going with scoring by making a fade-away jump shot from the baseline.


BU vs. Northeastern Live Blog

From the FreeP: Men’s basketball to rely on Irving, Morris in 2012-13 campaign

By Tyler Lay/DFP Staff

For the second consecutive year, the Boston University men’s basketball team will be forced to begin anew after having graduated the America East Player of the Year.

This may be the year that having the Player of the Year on the roster is crucial for the Terriers. Because of BU’s decision to switch to the Patriot League for the 2013–14 season, most of the university’s athletic teams has been banned from the America East postseason tournament. This means the Terriers will have to be regular season conference champions if they wish to have a chance to participate in March Madness.

“A goal of ours is definitely to work toward winning a regular season championship,” said BU coach Joe Jones. “It was last year [as well]. We were out by two games last year and we’re going to try to improve on that this year.”

With former Terrier guards Darryl Partin and John Holland both getting looks from NBA programs (Holland played on the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat Summer league teams, whereas Partin has been signed by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA D-League), Jones will be forced to seek new weapons to put up big points for his team.

This year’s co-captains are junior guard D.J. Irving, junior forward Dom Morris and junior forward Travis Robinson. Each of them started in at least 27 of BU’s 32 games last year.

For more, visit dailyfreepress.com.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

BU releases 2012-13 schedule

By René Reyes/DFP Staff

On Tuesday, Boston University men’s basketball coach Joe Jones announced his squad’s entire 2012-13 schedule and it sure is a daunting one.

The upcoming campaign features 12 home games for the Terriers – with the other 19 matchups being on the road – and nine against schools that saw postseason action last year.

For the third time in as many years, BU will open up its season against crosstown rival Northeastern University on Nov. 9 at Matthews Arena. The Terriers’ home opener will be six days later when it hosts George Washington University on Nov. 17 at Case Gymnasium.

Since BU was banned from the America East Tournament this year due to its decision to switch to the Patriot League, a verdict agreed upon by the other conference schools, Jones’ club will enter its only two-day tournament called the UCF Holiday Classic near the end of December.

Here is a link to the rest of BU’s schedule:

http://www.goterriers.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/bost-m-baskbl-sched.html

Monday, July 9, 2012

Live Blog: John Holland's NBA Summer League Debut




Former exceptional Boston University men's basketball player John Holland will make his debut with the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday afternoon against the Boston Celtics in the NBA's Orlando Summer League. Though Holland does not have a spot on the Thunder's formal roster, the Orlando and Las Vegas leagues (OKC will not participate in the latter, however) are a chance for undrafted players to show their stuff to scouts and team officials, in a kind of extended tryout format.

We'll be watching on NBA TV and live bloging for you right here. You can find live stats over at NBA.com if you desire and be sure to read BU Athletics' official press release and One-Bid Wonders' extensive story on Holland. Thanks for reading.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

BU athletics banned from America East championships in 2012-13

By Tyler Lay/DFP Staff

Following Boston University’s decision to transfer its athletics from America East to the Patriot League, the America East has made a decision of its own.

According to Jenifer Barsell, BU’s associate athletic director for marketing communications, the America East schools who shall remain in the athletic conference voted to exclude BU from competing in conference championships during the 2012-13 seasons.

“Unfortunately it is [true]. America East made the decision not to allow [BU] to participate [in America East Championships],” Barsell said.

America East Director of Communications Sean Tainsh said that while BU will be ineligible for America East Championships, BU student-athletes will be eligible to receive all awards.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Boston University To Join Patriot League In 2013-2014

By Shep Hayes/DFP Staff

The conference realignment bug has been sweeping the nation lately, with schools abandoning historical and local sparring partners in favor of conferences where there might be a little more money on the table. On Friday morning, Boston University became another program to make a change, with the Patriot League announcing in a statement that the school will leave the America East conference after next season and join the League for the 2013-2014 academic year. The news was first made widely known by Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports.

Both Robert A. Brown, President of Boston University and Daniel H. Weiss, President of Lafayette College and Chairman of the Patriot League Council of Presidents cited compatible academic and athletic standards between the two groups as the reasons behind the move in the statement.

"We are very impressed by the academic quality of the institutions in the Patriot League and by the League's commitment to student-athletes while effectively competing at the NCAA Division I level," said Brown. "We believe that the philosophy of the League is a good match for Boston University and that the schools in the League will give our athletes a rich competitive environment."

"Boston University is an outstanding addition to our membership as a private institution with a robust academic reputation and prolific athletic history," said Weiss. "This decision to add Boston University to the Patriot League mirrors the Presidents' commitment and vision to the stability and long-term positioning of the League."

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

From the FreeP: Transfer Griffin makes name for self as team leader

By René Reyes/DFP Staff

Matt Griffin mulled over the options in front of him.

He considered going to community college. He looked at several Division I and II schools. He even thought about taking a year off to hone his skills, namely his dribbling, free-throw shooting and trademark 3-point shot.

Griffin needed a change of scenery. Rider had posted a 34-24 record in his two years at the Lawrenceville, N.J., school, but his name had fallen well below where he wanted it to be on the Broncs’ depth chart.

He no longer fit into coach Tommy Dempsey’s offensive system at Rider.

“My game was more tailored toward running an offense and being a pass-first [point guard],” Griffin said. “Their system was more of scoring one-on-one. In order for me to play, I had to score more. It just wasn’t my style. I didn’t feel comfortable. So I knew in order for me to reach my potential, I’d have to try a different system in a different place."

Read more at dailyfreepress.com.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

From the FreeP: Pelage, O’Brien go through unique coaching experience

By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff

When Jeff Pelage and Jake O’Brien arrived at Boston University almost four years ago, they were no different than any other players getting ready to start their college basketball careers.

There were the same aspirations – improving their respective games, growing as players and, hopefully, experiencing a championship and the bright lights of the NCAA Tournament. Maybe more than anything, they were there to play for a coach who convinced them to come play for him rather than anyone else in the country.

But now, three and a half years, 132 games and countless hours of practice later, the pair can no longer say their careers have been average. Indeed, among thousands of Division I college basketball players, they are unique, as BU’s two-man 2008 recruiting class has had the bizarre if not downright dubious distinction of having played for three different coaches in their four-year college careers.

“It was just tough, it was just tough,” Pelage, a senior center, said.

While O’Brien and Pelage’s experience with coaching turnover has been far from typical, coaching changes aren’t all that strange. In fact, in the world of modern college basketball, they’re something of a necessary evil.

Read more at dailyfreepress.com.

Mike Terry leaves BU, desires to be close to family

By Shep Hayes/DFP Staff

Boston University men’s basketball coach Joe Jones confirmed Mike Terry Jr. has been released from the program and intends to transfer at the end of the academic year, hoping to move closer to his hometown of Philadelphia.


The move was first reported by Sam Perkins of One-Bid Wonders.

“He asked for his release,” Jones said. “We granted him the release. He’s got an ill family member at home, so he’s hoping to get back closer to home.”

Jones said he stands fully behind Terry in his decision to move from BU and that the desire to be closer to his family was the major reason for the request and approval.

“I think that’s the major reason why,” Jones said. “He was looking to get closer. Anytime you have a family member you want to be closer to that’s going through a tough time, I totally understand. I support him 100 percent.”

Terry played in 27 games this past season for the Terriers, starting two and averaging 9.3 minutes per game. The 6-foot-0 guard shot 17-for-48 from the field and 8-for-16 from the free throw line. With 44 points, he was the fourth-lowest scorer for BU. He had nine offensive and 20 defensive rebounds, 13 turnovers and 13 steals.

In his freshman year at BU, under former coach Pat Chambers, Terry played in 29 games and started five. He totaled 27 points on 27.5 percent shooting, but recorded 44 rebounds.

Jones did not have any indication on what schools Terry is considering.

Terry is the second player to leave the team this offseason, following redshirt freshman center Mat Piotrowski’s departure last week. Terry's departure means that BU will have two open scholarships for next season. Jones was indecisive on his plans to fill the spots, though he did have a general direction of thought.

“I just want to make sure we’re doing what’s right for the program,” Jones said. “We’ll make a good choice, whether it’s going to be a transfer or hold off. It all depends on how we see young men fitting into our program.”