Man-Beast No Match for Team of Mortals

I believe I can safely say we kicked Hartford's ass on Sunday. Kenny Adeleke, who may or may not be balling with the pros in a year or two, got his usual 21 points and 18 rebounds, which moved him into first in the nation for rebounding. But our best offensive performance of the year was able to put the game away early.

I could only listen to the first 5 minutes of the game, but that was really all I needed. With 15 minutes left in the first half, we were leading 22-5 on the strength of 5-5 3-point shooting! The 84-point explosion accounted for our highest scoring output of the season, although it's hard to tell if that was a product of increased offensive efficiency on our part or horrible defense on Hartford's part. Either way, new career highs for Hassan and Geffen (including 4-4 from deep) are certainly encouraging and help take the load off of KG underneath.

A promising sign: after Tony Gaffney's surprise dunk in overtime against Vermont, he seems to be out of the doghouse at least somewhat. He contributed to the win with 14 minutes off the bench.

Finally, current BU medical redshirt Tyler Morris did the color commentary on the radio broadcast from West Hartford. No disrespect is meant to Billy Collins (who has certainly improved over the season) when I say I thought Tyler did a really solid job. Anybody know if he's planning a career in broadcasting? He knew exactly when to jump in with relevant tidbits, and it seems like a good way to keep him involved in the team while his leg heals. Morris has not seen a minute of action this year, but word around the AE boards is that he's a solid guard and will help take away the sting of losing Shaun Wynn next year.

BU vs. Hartford - Game Day Thread

It's Senior Day in West Hartford, with Hartford thankfully graduating their monster center Kenny Adeleke (glad we only had to face him for one year!)

This is the game for 3rd place - finish the regular season strong!

UVM Not So Good Without Coppenrath

Real gutsy performance from the Terriers up in Vermont last week! I'd say it was our grittiest win since the last time we played Vermont.

UVM's Patrick Gym is a really tough place to play - I remember having taken several road trips up there to see BU play, and coming home disappointed more than once.

While the internet video broadcast was intermittent at best, I was able to pick up a few observations:

Like the High Roller mentioned, free throws were a huge story. This is one area that we have improved dramatically over the year, and that's a great thing heading to the tournament.

I think Geffen improves the team a lot when he's in the game. He's the only one of BU's four guards who will consistently push the ball up the floor after a rebound or turnover. He doesn't always hit his shots, but he can score and he can certainly "dish" the "rock." Also, he's "money" from the "charity" "stripe."

I wonder if Tony Gaffney earned himself a few minutes of playing time with his contribution against Vermont. I'm with Wolff when it comes to keeping discipline on the team, but it would be nice for the kid to be able to play in what may turn out to be his final few games at BU.

I like it like that

What a thrill it was indeed! I'm of course talking about watching BU topple Vermont in overtime at T's pub last night. Crazy, crazy game. I don't know where to start, so I'm gonna keep this short. Here's what I liked:

-The fact that we had a fairly comfortable lead for most of the game. Not counting the ending, of course.
-The fact that we didn't crumble in the final minutes, like we usually do.
-The fact that we beat them, in overtime, with four of our top players fouled out!
-The fact that our offense outplayed their defense, and that our defense outplayed their offense.
-The ball movement in last 10 minutes of play. They moved the damn thing. And fast, too.
-Our free throws. We made ours and they missed theirs.
-The fact that Tony Gaffney got into the game and made a clutch basket on an inbound pass. Sweet dunk too.

What I didn't like:
-The fact that Wolff waited until all of our forwards had fouled out before putting in Gaff. THAT is rediculous.

BU vs. Vermont - Game Night Thread

This is a big one. Haven't won here in 2 or 3 years. I hope BU wins in more convincing fashion than last time we played them!

Don't forget, this is on TV (Fox Sports New England) and live on the internet!

Finish Strong

Two more: at Vermont, at Hartford. Two decent teams. Two teams we beat at home. And two teams ahead of us in the standings.

The last two will tell us a lot about the conference tournament. First, they will establish our seeding in Binghamton. We sit at 5th right now, but by my calculations we can end up anywhere from 3rd to 8th. If my math is right, if we win out the rest of the year, we can finish no lower than 3rd. Big-time implications for who we play, when we play, and where we play (the championship game).

Second, we have a chance to set the tone for the end of our season. Finishing up the way we did last year, a drubbing at Binghamton (much like this year's), would not give anyone much confidence heading to the tourney.

The key is to play hard and finish strong. The rest comes naturally.

BU vs. Stony Brook - Game Day Thread

As the High Roller mentioned, it's Senior Day. This is not the way KG and Wynn would have liked to end their terrific BU careers, but this year in the America East anything can happen. And it all starts today against Stony Brook. If BU can get some momentum heading toward the tournament, maybe they can shock some people.

Gotta take care of business here first.

Senior Night

The end of a pretty sweet era of basketball will occur today at the roof. That's right, it's senior night (actually afternoon) for two of the hardest working players on the team: Keving Gardner and Shaun Wynn.

These kids have seen so much in their four years here at BU. The heartbreak of losing in the Championship game to Vermont in the final seconds three years ago. The heartbreak of losing to Stony Brook in the first round in the final seconds two years ago. The heartbreak of losting to Maine in the first round in the final seconds last year.

You get the picture.

Let's hope this season ends on a high note for these guys who have worked so hard the last 4 years.

Notice I'm Writing This Before the Game Ended

The wheels fell off tonight. Nothing really went right for BU tonight, in what promises to end as a 20+ point loss for the Terriers. It's obvious Binghamton is not a team anybody will want to play in the tournament, which is held in their arena. Since they seem headed for the #2 seed, we might want to try aiming for that #4 or #5!

The positive to take away from this one is the persistence of a few guys in not giving up even when the game was clearly out of reach, namely Marques Johnson, Geffen, Hassan, and obviously Gardner.

Can only go up from here...

BU vs. Binghamton - Game Night Thread

BU tries to avenge one of the more frustrating defeats of this year, a 1-point loss at home to Binghamton. We shot 10-19 from the charity stripe in that one, which pretty much tells the story.

Things to watch:

Good Binghamton D versus Hassan

Wynn trying to continue his hot shooting

Playing time for Geffen and Gaffney

More analysis after the game (We promise! No more 6-day laziness lay-offs for us!)

BU vs. UMBC - Game Night Thread

Gotta agree with the High Roller: we need this game badly. Not only are we on a 3-game losing streak, but we are in danger of falling to the play-in game (#8 vs. #9) of the AE tournament!!

We'll see tonight how accurate is ginzo's prediction of not seeing much more of Gaffney or Geffen this year. Wolff was asked about it in the pre-game interview, and he said that those two would see more time this year, but in different situations (not sure what that means). He seemed to indicate the extra minutes for Marques Johnson and the 7-man rotation against Albany were designed to increase defensive intensity, so maybe Wolff didn't think the G's were gettin it done on D.

Tonight's game against UMBC is about 12 minutes in, and so far it looks to be the opposite of the Albany game: we're starting out ahead 19-6, whereas last game we were losing 17-4. Any thoughts on the game against the Retrievers?

Do or Die

Tonight's game is not only a should-win, it's a must-win. If we can't beat UMBC at home, then this season is really in the crapper.

UMBC already beat us once, but it was basically dumb luck that our two players collided, leaving their forward all alone underneath the hoop for the easy lay-up to win the game.

This time we need to take control from the beginning, and enter half-time with a decent lead. If we end the first half up by 7, then I'll guarantee you a win. And that's a ballsy statement, considering our season thus far.

I'll be at the roof tonight, along with an estimation of roughly 200 fans. You can't expect any more than that for a basketball team (plaing UMBC) that's been mediocre all season. Hell, 4 days after our amazing defeat of Vermont last year at a sold out Greek, we only filled 159 seats at the roof.

At least it'll feel like we're back at home when we return to the roof. Let's win this one and start a streak that'll finish the year strong.

Purple is a pretty gay color anyway

Which way should I go with this one? Should I do an in-depth analysis of today's game and the key factors, or should I just make fun of the classless state-school "students" who feel it's necessary to throw things at the opposing teams bench when they are down by 15? I mean I've been seriously tempted to throw my soda at Brennan when he watched a game at the roof (and I would have if I were drunk and with the rest of the crew), but I have some decency.

We lost, yes, but solice can be taken in the fact that we never, ever gave up. That's a sign of a group of players who play for the love of the game. The Assassin has finally come back to full form, and KG did his usual thing, of being a fuckin dominant beast. Too bad they won't share their secret with the rest of the team, that the ball has to go through the hoop more times than the other team if you want to win.

Well of course I'm joking. All of our roll players stepped up and scored some points, except for Geff 'n' Gaff. Why coach didn't play these guys for one minute is beyond me. I really think it would have helped our chances greatly, but I guess Wolff thought not.

I can also take solice in the fact that few of our remaining games mean anything, cause at this point, it all comes down to the tournament. I suggest you get your tickets now, cause this will be one of the best tournaments in years.

BU vs. Albany - Game Night Thread

Game just started, and BU is down 17-4.

I'm almost glad the internet video isn't working.

Big Purple Growl = Dumb Name

BU picked the worst possible time to roll into Albany for their "Big Purple Growl." They're coming off their first wide-margin loss of the conference season, a 9-point shellacking at the hands of UNH (boy that's weird to type). BU had no answer for Blagoj Janev, a man who claims he is from Australia but one look at that name would prove otherwise - perhaps he meant Austria. He's normally a big boy underneath, but stepped out to the three-point line against BU and proceeded to hit 6 threes against us.

Thanks to some other weird developments in the America East, we're miraculously still tied for third in the standings with a 5-5 record -- 2 games behind Binghamton and 3 games behind tonight's foe Albany. Albany has been the only fairly consistent team in the conference. We lost by 6 last time at the Roof, but it was a close game. Sitting the conference driver's seat, Albany is feeling pretty confident. BU needs a big lift after their disappointing loss.

A win tonight is huge. Let's get it done.

OK Fine I'll Talk About UNH

You know it's one of those games that feels like someone just stabbed you in a prison yard when neither the High Roller nor I post within a day and a half of the game finishing.

This was definitely one of those games. BU lost its fist real "blowout" of the season (meaning first game where the game was out of reach during the final minute). And to UNH? I realize the Wildcats are much improved from last year under new coach Bill Herrion, but this was kind of ridiculous. I'll be honest: I turned the radio off at halftime (and I believe the High Roller did as well).

The lone bright spot was, predictably, Kevin Gardner. KG knocked out a career high of 25 points, most of them during a second half run that made the score slightly respectable, and a third straight double-double. KG is the man.

Already the trash-talk has begun from perennial doormats Albany (in the form of Dr Jack in the comments) for this weekend's big game at Albany. I'm not going to say we will probably win this game, but I know for a fact that we can.

So bring it on, Dr Jack and others - let's just wait and see what happens.

BU vs. UNH - Game Night Thread

What time is it? Game time HUH! (the old Buffalo Bills pre-game cheer)

Looking for BIG games by Hassan and Omari, who have been quiet but lit up UNH last time.

Thoughts on the game?

Let's Not Lose to UNH

BU is up in the Land of Binge Drinking tonight, taking on the resurgent Wildcats of UNH. Last time against UNH, BU saw its only real blowout of the conference season (win or loss - this one was a win though). That was 2005 though. In 2006, UNH has figured out that winning 4 out of 6 conference games was probably a good thing to do. They even beat Albany in Smalbany in OT. Add in the fact that this game is a home game for UNH, and we know that this one will certainly be different from last time.

Out beloved Terriers are coming off a heart-breaking loss to Maine, and enter into the toughest stretch of the season. Of the final 7 games, 5 of them are on the road. Time for BU the Terriers to buckle down.

The Big O, who has been more silent than Charlie Chaplin lately, had a huge game against UNH last time, so perhaps he can get it going again tonight.