Monday's game:
Connecticut 91, Stony Brook 57
Perhaps the most impressive thing to come from this game (from an America East perspective) was they play of SBU's freshman forward Danny Carter, who scored 20 points in 24 minutes to lead the Seawolves against the No. 2 team in the country. Brian Dougher, another rookie, was the only other player on SBU's roster to score in double figures as he had 10, albiet on 3-of-12 shooting. All five UConn starters reached double digits as the Huskies set the tone on the first play of the game with a one-handed jam by Hasheem Thabeet (18 points, nine rebounds). The Seawolves got out-rebounded, 43-21, but only turned the ball over seven times compared to UConn's 16.
Tuesday's games:
None. In fact, no games scheduled until Friday (Dec. 19) so sadly, you'll be without your Around the League fix until teams are done taking finals.
Monday, December 15, 2008
State of America East
College basketball mirrors the college academic schedule in many respects. Early success renders neither a team nor a student immune to future pressures. Early failures, though concerning, can be corrected via progressive improvement. In both schoolwork and basketball, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. We're nowhere near the end of the road for this college basketball season, but with academic finals knocking on the door, it's time for some regularly scheduled evaluations.
America East Power Rankings (records against D-I opponents only):
1. Vermont Catamounts
(5-3, RPI 118, SOS 136)
Last week: W 89-68 vs. North Carolina-Wilmington
This week: 12/21 at Quinnipiac
The Catamounts continue to take care of business, winning every game they should win and frequently doing so in style. As the season progresses, Vermont continues to demonstrate its versatility. Sunday's 21-point win despite just eight points and six rebounds from Marqus Blakely is an example. The Catamounts may not be a truly dominant force against the top half of the AE -- four of Vermont's five wins have come against relatively unimpressive foes, compared to a 1-3 mark against George Mason, Maryland, Delaware, and Pittsburgh -- but taking care of business against the bottom half goes a long way toward capturing the top seed in the conference.
2. Boston University Terriers
(5-4, RPI 153, SOS 215)
Last week: W 55-43 vs. Yale, L 74-67 at Notre Dame
This week: 12/21 vs. Delaware
For schools competing at the lower levels of Division-I, there is a such thing as a good loss. Losing by seven to Notre Dame on the road qualifies. BU's perimeter play has been the best in the conference, Vermont included. Where the Catamounts edge the Terriers is down low. BU has no match for Marqus Blakely. What the Terriers do have, though, is a recipe for success when Vermont shows up on the schedule, one honed against a McAlarney-Harangody duo that trumps Trimboli and Blakely. BU can't out-Blakely Blakely, but the Terriers won't need to if they can replicate their performance from last Saturday.
3. Albany Great Danes
(6-4, RPI 132, SOS 249)
Last week: L 65-64 at Lehigh, W 74-46 vs. Canisius
This week: 12/19 at Sacred Heart
Albany finally looked like a young team last Monday, blowing a 15-point lead in their 65-64 loss to Lehigh. Learning how to step on an opponent's throat is a difficult task for a young team. If Tim Ambrose hadn't rescued the Great Danes against Central Connecticut State earlier this season, perhaps coach Will Brown's team would have learned its lesson earlier. In any case, the Danes rebounded nicely in ther 74-46 win over Canisius. The Danes have youth with upside and more than one or two players capable of carrying the load, evidence suggesting the Danes' relatively strong performance to date is sustainable.
4. Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers
(4-4, RPI 130, SOS 134)
Last week: W 67-56 vs. Central Connecticut State, L 91-56 at Pittsburgh
This week: 12/20 vs. American
The Retrievers were the latest victim of the Pittsburgh steamroller, which is nothing to be ashamed of. Still, the Retrievers continue to demonstrate some concerning tendencies, none of which have improved significantly in the past few weeks. The Retrievers are one of the worst teams in the country at ending opponents' possessions, sporting both a horrendous defensive rebounding percentage and a subpar opponent turnover percentage. Throw in below-average field goal percentage defense and you have a recipe for a bad defensive team.
5. Binghamton Bearcats
(3-3, RPI 100, SOS 149)
Last week: L 63-60 at Bucknell
This week: 12/20 vs. Manhattan
Binghamton looked to be flying high after a three-game winning streak, but a familiar Bearcat nemesis reappeared against Bucknell. The Bearcats' roster is virtually devoid of perimeter shooting, which will pose a problem against most of the rest of the AE. Binghamton's athleticism suggests an offensive style designed to embrace dribble-drive penetration, but if the Bearcats can't hit open jumpers, opponents will be free to focus on protecting the area around the rim and dare the Bearcats to shoot. Binghamton has been surprisingly good at protecting the ball recently and forces plenty of turnovers, none of which will matter unless shots start to fall.
6. Stony Brook Seawolves
(4-4, RPI 260, SOS 295)
Last week: L 61-56 vs. Hofstra
This week: 12/15 at Connecticut
The Seawolves' early-season performance -- close losses against teams of questionable quality -- failed to inspire confidence. Stony Brook's play the past couple of weeks, however, merits a closer look. Neither Maine nor New Hampshire nor Hartford has a win as impressive as the Seawolves' 71-50 dismantling of 6-3 Lehigh. The Seawolves' most positive indicator may be last Wednesday's close loss to CAA contender Hofstra. Stony Brook has made a habit of being a bottom-feeder since joining America East for the 2001-02 season, but none of the Seawolves' talented freshmen contributed to those years of mediocrity. Stony Brook's resume is deserving of a middle-of-the-pack AE team, not a doormat.
7. Maine Black Bears
(4-5, RPI 148, SOS 161)
Last week: W 67-56 vs. Colgate, L 78-52 at Oklahoma
This week: 12/21 vs. Harvard
Nobody expected the Black Bears to beat Oklahoma. Truth be told, even a horrendous result against the Sooners is preferable to more games against the likes of Maine-Presque Isle. Maine did manage to avoid the spectre of an extended losing streak by taking care of business against Colgate. The Black Bears' statistical profile reveals a team whose perimeter shooting and perimeter defense masks an inability to do anything else well. In a conference flooded with perimeter shooting (Binghamton excepted), Maine is in danger of being overmatched.
8. New Hampshire Wildcats
(2-5, RPI 255, SOS 235)
Last week: L 88-56 at Rhode Island, L 76-72 at Long Island
This week: No games scheduled
Should the Wildcats have beaten Rhode Island? Certainly not. That doesn't make the 32-point margin excusable. Nor is Long Island isn't a particularly strong opponent. When New Hampshire beats a team, the win comes despite repeated Wildcat attempts to waste the effort; when the Wildcats lose, reasons for optimism are few and far between. For all the talk about the talent Bill Herrion has assembled, there's been little to no return on investment.
9. Hartford Hawks
(4-7, RPI 197, SOS 146)
Last week: L 72-62 at Brown, W 59-55 at Sacred Heart
This week: No games scheduled
Believe it or not, the Hawks are making progress. Hartford held Sacred Heart below 40 percent shooting from the field. Excluding the 50-37 snoozefest versus NJIT, that qualifies as the Hawks' best defensive performance to date. With games against Baylor and Stanford lined up, Hartford appears headed for a disappointing 4-9 record at the beginning of conference play, but the Sacred Heart win gives the Hawks some reasons for optimism. Combine better field goal percentage defense with improvement -- any improvement -- in the rebounding department and the Hawks might be able to win some games in the AE after all.
Conference performance
OOC record: 37-39 (last 7 days: 6-9)
Conference RPI: 14 out of 31 (last week: 13)
Conference SOS: 21 out of 31 (last week: 24)
A relatively rough week for the conference has pushed the OOC record below .500, but an improved strength of schedule -- courtesy of games against Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, and Notre Dame -- goes a long way toward maintaining the AE's surprising conference RPI. No AE school can be found in the 300s, balancing out the lack of any top-99 RPI teams (Surprisingly, it's Binghamton that checks in at 100).
Tempo-free statistics
Stony Brook's weak strength-of-schedule continues to inflate the Seawolves' raw efficiency margin, but with each passing week the Seawolves' position atop the table becomes more difficult to ignore. Compared to the rest of the conference, Stony Brook's defensive efficiency is extremely impressive. Desmond Adedeji gives Steve Pikiell an interior weapon few America East teams can match. Expect the Seawolves to be competitive at the very least.
On the other hand, the Retrievers' abysmal defensive numbers are becoming increasingly apparent. While it's true that UMBC's thrashing at the hands of Pittsburgh took a toll on the Retrievers' defensive efficiency numbers, Maryland-Baltimore County's poor defense has been evident all season. The adjusted efficiency numbers tell the story: at 110.2, the Retrievers' adjusted defensive efficiency is even worse than their raw efficiency. UMBC's three departed transfers were highly regarded for their abilities on the offensive end, but given the Retrievers' offensive prowess, it appears Randy Monroe may miss their defensive talents even more.
America East Power Rankings (records against D-I opponents only):
1. Vermont Catamounts(5-3, RPI 118, SOS 136)
Last week: W 89-68 vs. North Carolina-Wilmington
This week: 12/21 at Quinnipiac
The Catamounts continue to take care of business, winning every game they should win and frequently doing so in style. As the season progresses, Vermont continues to demonstrate its versatility. Sunday's 21-point win despite just eight points and six rebounds from Marqus Blakely is an example. The Catamounts may not be a truly dominant force against the top half of the AE -- four of Vermont's five wins have come against relatively unimpressive foes, compared to a 1-3 mark against George Mason, Maryland, Delaware, and Pittsburgh -- but taking care of business against the bottom half goes a long way toward capturing the top seed in the conference.
2. Boston University Terriers(5-4, RPI 153, SOS 215)
Last week: W 55-43 vs. Yale, L 74-67 at Notre Dame
This week: 12/21 vs. Delaware
For schools competing at the lower levels of Division-I, there is a such thing as a good loss. Losing by seven to Notre Dame on the road qualifies. BU's perimeter play has been the best in the conference, Vermont included. Where the Catamounts edge the Terriers is down low. BU has no match for Marqus Blakely. What the Terriers do have, though, is a recipe for success when Vermont shows up on the schedule, one honed against a McAlarney-Harangody duo that trumps Trimboli and Blakely. BU can't out-Blakely Blakely, but the Terriers won't need to if they can replicate their performance from last Saturday.
3. Albany Great Danes(6-4, RPI 132, SOS 249)
Last week: L 65-64 at Lehigh, W 74-46 vs. Canisius
This week: 12/19 at Sacred Heart
Albany finally looked like a young team last Monday, blowing a 15-point lead in their 65-64 loss to Lehigh. Learning how to step on an opponent's throat is a difficult task for a young team. If Tim Ambrose hadn't rescued the Great Danes against Central Connecticut State earlier this season, perhaps coach Will Brown's team would have learned its lesson earlier. In any case, the Danes rebounded nicely in ther 74-46 win over Canisius. The Danes have youth with upside and more than one or two players capable of carrying the load, evidence suggesting the Danes' relatively strong performance to date is sustainable.
4. Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers(4-4, RPI 130, SOS 134)
Last week: W 67-56 vs. Central Connecticut State, L 91-56 at Pittsburgh
This week: 12/20 vs. American
The Retrievers were the latest victim of the Pittsburgh steamroller, which is nothing to be ashamed of. Still, the Retrievers continue to demonstrate some concerning tendencies, none of which have improved significantly in the past few weeks. The Retrievers are one of the worst teams in the country at ending opponents' possessions, sporting both a horrendous defensive rebounding percentage and a subpar opponent turnover percentage. Throw in below-average field goal percentage defense and you have a recipe for a bad defensive team.
5. Binghamton Bearcats(3-3, RPI 100, SOS 149)
Last week: L 63-60 at Bucknell
This week: 12/20 vs. Manhattan
Binghamton looked to be flying high after a three-game winning streak, but a familiar Bearcat nemesis reappeared against Bucknell. The Bearcats' roster is virtually devoid of perimeter shooting, which will pose a problem against most of the rest of the AE. Binghamton's athleticism suggests an offensive style designed to embrace dribble-drive penetration, but if the Bearcats can't hit open jumpers, opponents will be free to focus on protecting the area around the rim and dare the Bearcats to shoot. Binghamton has been surprisingly good at protecting the ball recently and forces plenty of turnovers, none of which will matter unless shots start to fall.
6. Stony Brook Seawolves(4-4, RPI 260, SOS 295)
Last week: L 61-56 vs. Hofstra
This week: 12/15 at Connecticut
The Seawolves' early-season performance -- close losses against teams of questionable quality -- failed to inspire confidence. Stony Brook's play the past couple of weeks, however, merits a closer look. Neither Maine nor New Hampshire nor Hartford has a win as impressive as the Seawolves' 71-50 dismantling of 6-3 Lehigh. The Seawolves' most positive indicator may be last Wednesday's close loss to CAA contender Hofstra. Stony Brook has made a habit of being a bottom-feeder since joining America East for the 2001-02 season, but none of the Seawolves' talented freshmen contributed to those years of mediocrity. Stony Brook's resume is deserving of a middle-of-the-pack AE team, not a doormat.
7. Maine Black Bears(4-5, RPI 148, SOS 161)
Last week: W 67-56 vs. Colgate, L 78-52 at Oklahoma
This week: 12/21 vs. Harvard
Nobody expected the Black Bears to beat Oklahoma. Truth be told, even a horrendous result against the Sooners is preferable to more games against the likes of Maine-Presque Isle. Maine did manage to avoid the spectre of an extended losing streak by taking care of business against Colgate. The Black Bears' statistical profile reveals a team whose perimeter shooting and perimeter defense masks an inability to do anything else well. In a conference flooded with perimeter shooting (Binghamton excepted), Maine is in danger of being overmatched.
8. New Hampshire Wildcats(2-5, RPI 255, SOS 235)
Last week: L 88-56 at Rhode Island, L 76-72 at Long Island
This week: No games scheduled
Should the Wildcats have beaten Rhode Island? Certainly not. That doesn't make the 32-point margin excusable. Nor is Long Island isn't a particularly strong opponent. When New Hampshire beats a team, the win comes despite repeated Wildcat attempts to waste the effort; when the Wildcats lose, reasons for optimism are few and far between. For all the talk about the talent Bill Herrion has assembled, there's been little to no return on investment.
9. Hartford Hawks(4-7, RPI 197, SOS 146)
Last week: L 72-62 at Brown, W 59-55 at Sacred Heart
This week: No games scheduled
Believe it or not, the Hawks are making progress. Hartford held Sacred Heart below 40 percent shooting from the field. Excluding the 50-37 snoozefest versus NJIT, that qualifies as the Hawks' best defensive performance to date. With games against Baylor and Stanford lined up, Hartford appears headed for a disappointing 4-9 record at the beginning of conference play, but the Sacred Heart win gives the Hawks some reasons for optimism. Combine better field goal percentage defense with improvement -- any improvement -- in the rebounding department and the Hawks might be able to win some games in the AE after all.
Conference performance
OOC record: 37-39 (last 7 days: 6-9)
Conference RPI: 14 out of 31 (last week: 13)
Conference SOS: 21 out of 31 (last week: 24)
A relatively rough week for the conference has pushed the OOC record below .500, but an improved strength of schedule -- courtesy of games against Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, and Notre Dame -- goes a long way toward maintaining the AE's surprising conference RPI. No AE school can be found in the 300s, balancing out the lack of any top-99 RPI teams (Surprisingly, it's Binghamton that checks in at 100).
Tempo-free statistics
Stony Brook's weak strength-of-schedule continues to inflate the Seawolves' raw efficiency margin, but with each passing week the Seawolves' position atop the table becomes more difficult to ignore. Compared to the rest of the conference, Stony Brook's defensive efficiency is extremely impressive. Desmond Adedeji gives Steve Pikiell an interior weapon few America East teams can match. Expect the Seawolves to be competitive at the very least.
On the other hand, the Retrievers' abysmal defensive numbers are becoming increasingly apparent. While it's true that UMBC's thrashing at the hands of Pittsburgh took a toll on the Retrievers' defensive efficiency numbers, Maryland-Baltimore County's poor defense has been evident all season. The adjusted efficiency numbers tell the story: at 110.2, the Retrievers' adjusted defensive efficiency is even worse than their raw efficiency. UMBC's three departed transfers were highly regarded for their abilities on the offensive end, but given the Retrievers' offensive prowess, it appears Randy Monroe may miss their defensive talents even more.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Around the League: 12.14.08
Sunday's games:
Vermont 89, North Carolina-Wilmington 68
Marqus Blakely struggled with foul trouble and was held to eight points and six rebounds in 21 minutes, but the Catamounts (5-3) had more than enough firepower left over. Nick Vier and Colin McIntosh each totaled 20 points on better than 50 percent shooting as Vermont pulled away in the second half. Mike Trimboli added 19 points, seven boards and seven assists. The visiting UNC-Wilmington Seahawks (3-7) outrebounded their opponent and were even in turnovers but shot just 37 percent from the field, including a woeful 0-of-8 performance from Josh Sheets.
Hartford 59, Sacred Heart 55
Andres Torres took advantage of an opportunity to start in place of the injured Joe Zeglinski (ankle), compiling career highs of 15 points and five rebounds as Hartford (4-7) picked up its first road win of the year. Sacred Heart (3-4), like many Hawks opponents this year, had a significant rebounding edge, but Hartford's plus-3 turnover differential and superior shooting performance proved decisive. The Hawks weren't the only team dealing with ankle issues in this game: former Terrier and Hartford nemesis Corey Hassan was sidelined with a sprained ankle of his own and logged just three minutes.
Monday's games:
Stony Brook vs. Connecticut, 7:00 p.m.
Vermont 89, North Carolina-Wilmington 68
Marqus Blakely struggled with foul trouble and was held to eight points and six rebounds in 21 minutes, but the Catamounts (5-3) had more than enough firepower left over. Nick Vier and Colin McIntosh each totaled 20 points on better than 50 percent shooting as Vermont pulled away in the second half. Mike Trimboli added 19 points, seven boards and seven assists. The visiting UNC-Wilmington Seahawks (3-7) outrebounded their opponent and were even in turnovers but shot just 37 percent from the field, including a woeful 0-of-8 performance from Josh Sheets.
Hartford 59, Sacred Heart 55
Andres Torres took advantage of an opportunity to start in place of the injured Joe Zeglinski (ankle), compiling career highs of 15 points and five rebounds as Hartford (4-7) picked up its first road win of the year. Sacred Heart (3-4), like many Hawks opponents this year, had a significant rebounding edge, but Hartford's plus-3 turnover differential and superior shooting performance proved decisive. The Hawks weren't the only team dealing with ankle issues in this game: former Terrier and Hartford nemesis Corey Hassan was sidelined with a sprained ankle of his own and logged just three minutes.
Monday's games:
Stony Brook vs. Connecticut, 7:00 p.m.
Stat of the Week
plus-7
Last night's Terrier loss in South Bend featured arguably the best all-around performance from the Terriers so far this season. BU was reasonably effective shooting the ball in a hostile environment, kept the turnover count under control, and did all the little things well. It takes that type of performance to stay in the game against a ranked team with more than two seasons' worth of consecutive home victories.
All of those achievements are things the average fan could reasonably expect the Terriers to do against their Big East opponent. However, Dennis Wolff's team did something else as well, something nobody could expect: they outrebounded the Fighting Irish.
Luke Harangody is a force of nature, and nobody on the Terriers' roster was going to prevent him from grabbing double-digit rebounds last night. In order to contend on the boards, BU had to grab everything Harangody couldn't get to -- which is exactly what BU did. Everyone chipped in to corral loose balls and prevent Notre Dame from getting second-chance opportunities. Although no Terrier approached Harangody's 15-rebound total, five players gathered five or more boards.
BU's interior was labeled an Achilles heel at season's open. While BU has the talent to contend with many other teams down low, results from the post have been frustratingly inconsistent. If Saturday night's performance in South Bend represents a sustainable level of effort from the Terriers instead of a temporary improvement, the rest of America East -- Vermont included -- is in for a dogfight.
Last night's Terrier loss in South Bend featured arguably the best all-around performance from the Terriers so far this season. BU was reasonably effective shooting the ball in a hostile environment, kept the turnover count under control, and did all the little things well. It takes that type of performance to stay in the game against a ranked team with more than two seasons' worth of consecutive home victories.
All of those achievements are things the average fan could reasonably expect the Terriers to do against their Big East opponent. However, Dennis Wolff's team did something else as well, something nobody could expect: they outrebounded the Fighting Irish.
Luke Harangody is a force of nature, and nobody on the Terriers' roster was going to prevent him from grabbing double-digit rebounds last night. In order to contend on the boards, BU had to grab everything Harangody couldn't get to -- which is exactly what BU did. Everyone chipped in to corral loose balls and prevent Notre Dame from getting second-chance opportunities. Although no Terrier approached Harangody's 15-rebound total, five players gathered five or more boards.
BU's interior was labeled an Achilles heel at season's open. While BU has the talent to contend with many other teams down low, results from the post have been frustratingly inconsistent. If Saturday night's performance in South Bend represents a sustainable level of effort from the Terriers instead of a temporary improvement, the rest of America East -- Vermont included -- is in for a dogfight.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Post-game Audio & Photos
All photos taken by Kristyn Ulanday
BU coach Dennis Wolff's opening statement
Notre Dame coach Mike Brey's opening statement
Wolff was surprised the Terriers out-rebounded Notre Dame
Corey Lowe talks about how Notre Dame guarded him
Tyler Morris discusses the non-impact playing in Indiana had on his game
Wolff was impressed with BU's effort and Lowe's second-half performance
Brey reflects on Luke Harangody's performance (23 points, 15 rebounds)
Brey gets admittedly nervous about ND's 41-game winning streak at Joyce
Brey talks about preparing his players for the Terriers
Around the League: 12.13.08
Saturday's games:
Albany 74, Canisius 46
The Great Danes rebounded nicely -- pun intended -- from their disappointing one-point loss to Lehigh with a dominant performance against Canisius (3-6). Albany (6-4) compiled a plus-25 rebounding advantage in a group effort. It wasn't just rebounding woes which doomed the Golden Griffins, though: Canisius shot just 31 percent from the floor and missed 18 of 21 three-point attempts. Four Albany players (Tim Ambrose, Anthony Raffa, Will Harris, and Scotty McRae) scored in double figures. The Great Danes are a perfect 4-0 in games played at SEFCU Arena this year.
Long Island 76, New Hampshire 72
Kyle Johnson led all scorers with 25 points as the Blackbirds improved to 4-0 all-time versus New Hampshire (3-5). Tyrece Gibbs scored his 1,000th point (as did Corey Lowe in BU's game) in a 13-point performance, but he also committed three of the Wildcats' 11 turnovers. Eleven turnovers doesn't sound like much, but Long Island (3-5) had just five. The Blackbirds combined their plus-6 turnover differential with fourteen additional free throw attempts to escape with a victory on their home court.
Pittsburgh 91, Maryland-Baltimore County 56
Five Panthers scored in double figures as Pittsburgh moved to 10-0 so far this season. UMBC (5-4) shot surprisingly well against their formidable opponent, but the Panthers outdid them, shooting 55 percent from the field while raining down 14 threes. In a game with very few missed shots, Pittsburgh collected all the important rebounds, limiting the Retrievers to just 17 total, including a rare two-rebound total for Darryl Proctor. Pittsburgh thrived in a relatively lenient environment -- just 19 fouls were called during the 40 minutes of play, resulting in only ten free throw attempts.
Sunday's games:
North Carolina-Wilmington vs. Vermont, 1:00 p.m.
Hartford vs. Sacred Heart, 4:00 p.m.
Albany 74, Canisius 46
The Great Danes rebounded nicely -- pun intended -- from their disappointing one-point loss to Lehigh with a dominant performance against Canisius (3-6). Albany (6-4) compiled a plus-25 rebounding advantage in a group effort. It wasn't just rebounding woes which doomed the Golden Griffins, though: Canisius shot just 31 percent from the floor and missed 18 of 21 three-point attempts. Four Albany players (Tim Ambrose, Anthony Raffa, Will Harris, and Scotty McRae) scored in double figures. The Great Danes are a perfect 4-0 in games played at SEFCU Arena this year.
Long Island 76, New Hampshire 72
Kyle Johnson led all scorers with 25 points as the Blackbirds improved to 4-0 all-time versus New Hampshire (3-5). Tyrece Gibbs scored his 1,000th point (as did Corey Lowe in BU's game) in a 13-point performance, but he also committed three of the Wildcats' 11 turnovers. Eleven turnovers doesn't sound like much, but Long Island (3-5) had just five. The Blackbirds combined their plus-6 turnover differential with fourteen additional free throw attempts to escape with a victory on their home court.
Pittsburgh 91, Maryland-Baltimore County 56
Five Panthers scored in double figures as Pittsburgh moved to 10-0 so far this season. UMBC (5-4) shot surprisingly well against their formidable opponent, but the Panthers outdid them, shooting 55 percent from the field while raining down 14 threes. In a game with very few missed shots, Pittsburgh collected all the important rebounds, limiting the Retrievers to just 17 total, including a rare two-rebound total for Darryl Proctor. Pittsburgh thrived in a relatively lenient environment -- just 19 fouls were called during the 40 minutes of play, resulting in only ten free throw attempts.
Sunday's games:
North Carolina-Wilmington vs. Vermont, 1:00 p.m.
Hartford vs. Sacred Heart, 4:00 p.m.
Live Blog: Boston University vs. University of Notre Dame
Tonight's game between the Boston University Terriers (5-3) and University of Notre Dame (6-2) is scheduled to tip-off at 7:00 p.m. from the Joyce Center in South Bend, Ind.
Here are the probable starting lineups for tonight's contest:
Boston University Terriers
02 F Matt Wolff
13 G Corey Lowe
21 F Jake O'Brien
23 F John Holland
24 G Tyler Morris
University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish
02 G Tory Jackson
23 G Kyle McAlarney
40 F Luke Zeller
42 G Ryan Ayers
44 F Luke Harangody
Final score: University of Notre Dame 74, Boston University 67
Leading scorers:
BU -- Corey Lowe, 19 (including the 1,000th point of his career)
ND -- Luke Harangody, 23
Leading rebounders:
BU -- John Holland, 9
ND -- Luke Harangody, 15
Leading assists:
BU -- Corey Lowe, 4
ND -- Two tied at 5
Check back later tonight, as well as on the Free Press website for much more coverage of tonight' game.
GAMEDAY: Boston University vs. University of Notre Dame
Dennis Wolff and the Terriers' coaching staff spent their early-week practices trying to impress upon their players the importance of making hustle plays, which paid off in BU's ugly but effective 55-43 win against Yale on Wednesday. Today, however, brings a task of an altogether different sort.Like last year's meeting with Pittsburgh, tonight's game versus the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is a test that does not require victory in order to pass. While the Terriers can win this game, to do so will require a flawless performance from the entire team. Tonight is not just a battle between two teams, it is a measuring stick for the Terriers. How will BU fare against the big boys?
Because big, you see, is exactly what the Fighting Irish are. For Mike Brey's team, everything starts with Luke Harangody. Last year's Big East Player of the Year weighs in at 255 pounds and uses all of them effectively. As a sophomore Harangody became just the second player to lead the Big East in both points and rebounds, averaging 22.3 and 11.3 in conference play, respectively. Harangody's interior presence is complemented by a pair of deadly scorers on the perimeter in seniors Kyle McAlarney and Ryan Ayers.
Dennis Wolff and Mike Brey know each other well from Brey's days with the Delaware Blue Hens, so it's difficult to imagine either coach surprising the other from a tactical standpoint. Given Notre Dame's talent level, the Terriers will have to execute extremely well in order to have a chance to win. Specifically, BU will have to find a way to keep Harangody from winning the game by himself. The Terrier frontcourt, even on its best day, is going to be overmatched against a preseason All-American, but if Harangody is held to his usual numbers instead of 30 points and 20 rebounds, consider it a victory for BU.BU's best chance to stay in this game and give the Fighting Irish a run for their money (or pot of gold, in this instance) requires a strong performance from the perimeter. The Terriers have shooters, and plenty of them. If BU can get some open looks and knock them down -- easier said than done, given the unfamiliar hostile environment and pressure of playing a power-conference opponent -- this game can be kept close, and in a close game anything can happen. It's a lot to ask of Corey Lowe & Co., but if Dennis Wolff wasn't looking to give his team a test, this game would never have been scheduled.
Projected starting lineups:
Links:
Terriers are next, Big East looms
Free throws could cost Notre Dame
Irish begin three-game homestand Saturday night against Boston University
Friday, December 12, 2008
Around the League: 12.12.08
Friday's games:
No games scheduled.
Saturday's games:
New Hampshire vs. Long Island, 4:00 p.m.
Maryland-Baltimore County vs. Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m.
Canisius vs. Albany, 7:00 p.m.
No games scheduled.
Saturday's games:
New Hampshire vs. Long Island, 4:00 p.m.
Maryland-Baltimore County vs. Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m.
Canisius vs. Albany, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The Day After: BU 55, Yale 43
If you were in attendance for BU's 55-43 victory on Wednesday night, you probably left with a sour taste in your mouth. Sure the Terriers won, but it wasn't in convincing fashion, it wasn't with an explosive offensive performance (as they had shown in road wins against Northeastern and Harvard and a home loss to Marshall) and it was against a team picked to finish third in the Ivy league playing without one of its best players (Travis Pinick).
Despite all those factors (and recognizing that the most important thing from any perspective -- fan, coaching staff, player -- is that the Terriers got the win) Wednesday's scrappy showing in front of 490 fans was an encouraging sign. Especially at this point in the season.
Midway through non-conference play (and just before final exams) can be a trying period. Teams are naturally getting excited to perform against conference opponents, but those games are too distant to produce an actual emotional impact and the beginning-of-the-season luster has all but worn off. It's a difficult time to piece together wins (even more so playing in a relatively empty gym) so the Terriers deserve a lot of credit for topping Yale -- a team that contested BU's perimeter shots very well (in the first half, at least) and had capable forwards who could score the ball.
The other reason BU deserves credit is because they executed an intangible that was coached in practice. It's one thing to correctly double the post or switch to a 1-3-1 zone after working on it against teammates, but it's another when the coaching staff is running drills explicitly meant to toughen a team up and the team answers the call. The Terriers' second-half defensive effort was similar to their 53-29 win over New Hampshire at The Roof two years ago. And in the face of a mediocre shooting performance against Yale-- which was just that, as the Terriers have shot worse on three occasions this season, but it just seemed so bad because of how well BU had been shooting prior to the game -- it's proven the team can take direction even when other aspects of the gameplan falter.
That said, BU coach Dennis Wolff expressed concern after watching the tape at how many open shots BU missed. If the Terriers expect to keep their name close to the top of the list of contenders for a league title, they'll need to battle through games like Wednesday's (where nothing seems to be falling) as well as put on the aerial display they have multiple times already this season.
Pros:
-- Defensive intensity: Yale failed to convert a field goal for roughly 11 minutes in the second half, fueling a 16-4 run by BU that could have been much larger had the Terriers been shooting well.
-- Scott Brittain's defense: The 6-foot-9 forward has been struggling all season with his aggressiveness, but pulled down five defensive boards against a sizable frontcourt and helped shut down Yale's forwards in the second half. Granted, he still let some boards slip though his hands, but any sign of improvement at this point is a positive thing.
Cons:
-- Corey Lowe's turnovers: Wolff said it was picking up two early fouls that threw the junior guard off his game. Still, it was concerning to see such ill-advised passes when Lowe's emerged into one of the best facilitators on the team over the last three seasons.
-- Free-throw shooting: BU connected on 17-of-26 from the charity stripe, and made just 1-of-4 in the final minute and 2-of-7 in the final five minutes. Lowe, who has been shaky at the line late in the game all season, was 1-of-4 in the last five minutes and 4-of-8 overall.
Links:
Ministers of defense
Defensive struggle goes to BU
Despite all those factors (and recognizing that the most important thing from any perspective -- fan, coaching staff, player -- is that the Terriers got the win) Wednesday's scrappy showing in front of 490 fans was an encouraging sign. Especially at this point in the season.
Midway through non-conference play (and just before final exams) can be a trying period. Teams are naturally getting excited to perform against conference opponents, but those games are too distant to produce an actual emotional impact and the beginning-of-the-season luster has all but worn off. It's a difficult time to piece together wins (even more so playing in a relatively empty gym) so the Terriers deserve a lot of credit for topping Yale -- a team that contested BU's perimeter shots very well (in the first half, at least) and had capable forwards who could score the ball.
The other reason BU deserves credit is because they executed an intangible that was coached in practice. It's one thing to correctly double the post or switch to a 1-3-1 zone after working on it against teammates, but it's another when the coaching staff is running drills explicitly meant to toughen a team up and the team answers the call. The Terriers' second-half defensive effort was similar to their 53-29 win over New Hampshire at The Roof two years ago. And in the face of a mediocre shooting performance against Yale-- which was just that, as the Terriers have shot worse on three occasions this season, but it just seemed so bad because of how well BU had been shooting prior to the game -- it's proven the team can take direction even when other aspects of the gameplan falter.
That said, BU coach Dennis Wolff expressed concern after watching the tape at how many open shots BU missed. If the Terriers expect to keep their name close to the top of the list of contenders for a league title, they'll need to battle through games like Wednesday's (where nothing seems to be falling) as well as put on the aerial display they have multiple times already this season.
Pros:
-- Defensive intensity: Yale failed to convert a field goal for roughly 11 minutes in the second half, fueling a 16-4 run by BU that could have been much larger had the Terriers been shooting well.
-- Scott Brittain's defense: The 6-foot-9 forward has been struggling all season with his aggressiveness, but pulled down five defensive boards against a sizable frontcourt and helped shut down Yale's forwards in the second half. Granted, he still let some boards slip though his hands, but any sign of improvement at this point is a positive thing.
Cons:
-- Corey Lowe's turnovers: Wolff said it was picking up two early fouls that threw the junior guard off his game. Still, it was concerning to see such ill-advised passes when Lowe's emerged into one of the best facilitators on the team over the last three seasons.
-- Free-throw shooting: BU connected on 17-of-26 from the charity stripe, and made just 1-of-4 in the final minute and 2-of-7 in the final five minutes. Lowe, who has been shaky at the line late in the game all season, was 1-of-4 in the last five minutes and 4-of-8 overall.
Links:
Ministers of defense
Defensive struggle goes to BU
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)