Your 2007 AE Award Winners

Congrats to the new America East Rookie of the Year...


...Tyler Morris. And it couldn't go to a more deserving player. On a team full of great freshman, Tyler was a leader. His stats were impressive no doubt, but the way he handled himself like a senior on the court and the intensity he brought to every game is what made Tyler the best newcomer to the league this year. I'm glad the other coaches recognized this - and they even made Tyler a Second-Team All-Conference as well. And to think - when he broke his ankle and sat out last season, I had no idea the guy could do this and didn't know what we were missing! Big ups and respek to Tyler.

I was not privy to the voting totals, but I would bet that Corey Lowe was a close 2nd or 3rd for Rookie of the Year. Corey had a great season as well and was rewarded with a spot on the All-Rookie team. As Coach Wolff has pointed out, BU has 4 guys who, in any other year, would have been no-brainer All-Rookie selections. Carlos, Scott, Corey and Tyler all had fantastic first years, and all were deserving.

Finally, HUUUUGE props to the Big O - Omari Peterkin. He worked so hard over the last 3 years on being a more aggressive inside presence and improving his game. It's amazing he had time to work as a dependable BU Housing Warehouse worker. Omari had a great senior season, and the coaches awarded him a spot on the Third Team All-Conference. Couldn't be prouder of him.

An open letter to Mike Popoko,

It pains me to come to the realization that our love-hate relationship has finally come to a close. You're a good player. I'll admit that you've made your presence known on the court, but where do we go from know? Ever since the 2005 tournament, one of my biggest goals has been to throw you off your game. I feel I've done it the requisite number of times, but what will you do now? Who the hell knows?

To be honest, I have no fricken clue what it is college basketball players do when they get out of college. I see a small few of them turn into assistant coaches, and some turn into commentators. But Popoko, sweet Popoko, what will you do?

I'll miss screaming your name out at games, esp. like in the lead-in game of this years tournament where your team blew a 20 point lead and ended up losing to the Hawks. That was an instant classic.

But to think that I'll never again yell out the name Popoko is something that I am not ready for, at least not yet. There are new people to pick on, and this tournament hasn't really yet begun, but please, come back next year, because if teams like yours don't try again after failing, there would be no tournament.

So Popoko, and Stony Brook, I commend you even if you don't deserve it. I know you have the never-say-die attitude. Hell, you guys upset us pretty bad in 2004. I know you'll be back next fall with enough fire and grit to show the America East something new. Show the rest of us something too, if you plan on shaking things up.

PS. Popoko, over the past three years of conference basketball, you've earned my respect as a basketball fan. Congrats, because that doesn't happen too often.

A few AE tournament resources

If you're not coming to the tournament... shame on you. I know, I know - not everybody is willing to rent a car, drive up the East coast for 7 hours (complete with window paintings - pictures to follow), and sleep on a floor for 3 days just to watch a the tournament when there are theoretically 20 "better" conference tournaments in the country. The America East fan is indeed a special breed...

Anyway, if you're stuck in your corner of the world, the Mid-Majority is a great resource - not just for the AE tourney, but for all the mid-major tourneys around the country. Please check them out.

Not only that, but the America East conference has a Fan Central with some good info, and it has also been announced that the website will be streaming all of the tourney games for free. But remember, if you're watching online, it's much harder to hurl insults at our opponents.