Aberration, or is this who we are?
Not a great start to the conference season for the Terriers. First, credit is due to Stony Brook: Tommy Brenton was the negative polarity to the positive charge of the basketball on the boards, and Bryan Dougher just could not miss from 3-point land. I watched at a local bar and the bartender thought this guy was Larry Bird or something - we just knew it was going in every time he went up for a shot.
But BU was bad in this game. Thirty-seven 3-pointer attempts, a school record, highlights a team that is unable or unwilling to take the ball to the hoop by dribble or by pass. We need to get tough and bring the ball to the hoop! Corey Lowe couldn't hit a thing, and that's the risk when all we do is take threes. A few games ago, there was a real effort to get the ball to Jeff Pelage against Marist - yes he had 5 turnovers on traveling violations, but he also had 8 points and 10 rebounds. That's production we need; his footwork will improve. JOB was our best player against Stony Brook with 27 points, but even Coach Chambers said, "Jake played great from 3-point land, but I’d like to see him get in there and mix it up a little bit more."
We can all agree that the Chambers Era is not off to the rosy start we all envisioned. There has been a very interesting discussion on the subject in the comments section of the last post. I think an adjustment period is expected and understandable. The players will eventually get used to the system and playbook if they haven't already. But much of our trouble this year stems from our complete lack of a bench, and I put some of the blame for this on Chambers' shoulders. BJ Bailey's departure isn't his fault, and neither is Scott Brittain's injury. But Chambers gambled by taking 3 transfers (who need to sit out a year) instead of a JuCo or 2 (who could play right away). Our problems right now prove that he lost that gamble.
My own take is that we lost a tough game to a decent opponent due somewhat to an inordinately bad performance by one of our better players. I think we'll be better by next game and in first or second place by the end of the year. But hey, I'm an optimist by nature!
Labels: BJ Bailey, Bryan Dougher, Corey Lowe, Jake O'Brien, Jeff Pelage, Marist, Pat Chambers, Scott Brittain, Stony Brook, Tommy Brenton
posted by Tall-boy @ 11:26 AM
11 Comments:
Agree 100% on the transfers thing. Maybe it's something that will prove it's worth next year when the guys can suit up. Partin seems like he'll be a constant 3-pt threat and I've heard Hazel's a beast.
It's probably more of a short term vs. long term thing, because I think these guys, with the incoming freshmen will be great in Chambers' system. For now, though, the short term, you're absolutely right- this is a gamble gone wrong and it's gotta be put on Chambers' shoulders
Is this the third, or fourth, consecutive year that BU was picked -- by the AE coaches -- to finish first?
It was only one game, against an inconsistent opponent playing at their best, so was it an aberration, or a sign of more disappointment?
There is no true inside player without Brittain. Pelange is an athlete, he is not yet a basketball player. Sirutis is a reserve at this level.
There is no true point guard.
But a team with Holland, Lowe, O'Brien, Morris and Brittain is a match for any starting five in the league.
Where do we go from here?
Over to you, Coach Chambers.
You've got several serviceable parts, but you need to make them work.
Oh, and you have to look inside sometime. Even if only to keep the opponents off-balance.
Forgot to include Carlos Strong in that mix.
He can play ... but it'd be nice he did every game.
At this point, the seniors aren't truly buying into the new system.
Next year's squad is going to be a force. Partin is a very, very talented scorer (he was committed to go to Miami before they got Jack McClinton). Griffin is a solid kid who leads by example, something this current squad desperately needs. Hazel will give us an inside presence on offense and especially on defense. Put these guys with Holland and O'Brien, and you have a very dangerous team.
Still much too early to give up on this team. Particularly in a league where no one looks too strong.
T Morris broken hand..
is he the JD Drew of BU basketball or what?! too bad his scholarship didn't have a "buy-out" clause like Drew's due to injuries!
Just GRADUATE SENIORS!!!
America East preseason favorite Boston University took a hit today with the announcement senior guard Tyler Morris will miss a month with an injury to his shooting hand suffered in Tuesday’s practice.
Morris is fourth on the Terriers in scoring at 11.2 points per game. He’s also first in the America East in free throw percentage (.909), eighth in assists (3.1 pg) and tied for ninth in steals (1.3 pg).
This means Morris will miss UAlbany’s game at Boston U. on Jan. 19 and possibly even the rematch in Albany on Feb. 6.
Morris has had no luck with injuries. He tore his ACL last season and missed the entire America East portion of the schedule.
Morris, a former America East Rookie of the Year, missed the first 11 games of his sophomore year with an injury and redshirted the 2005-06 season due to an ankle injury.
Boston U. (5-8, 0-1) is also missing senior center Scott Brittain, who hasn’t played a game yet this season because of effects from an offseason concussion.
The Terriers have 10 active players, including three walk-ons, as they head to New Hampshire on Thursday. Boston U. will be on the road for seven of its next nine games.
FML.
This team is finished now unfortunately simply because of the lack of depth. It's a shame...can't wait for next year! I don't buy that Chambers took that big of a gamble. How do you know he could have even scored an impact player? The injuries aren't his fault and neither is the transfer.
Even if Scott and Tyler were healthy and BJ didn't leave (aka the BEST case scenario), that would give Chambers a total of 8 serviceable players (9 if you count V). That's not enough for an entire season! That's giving the team a bench problem before the season even starts, esp given the injury histories of certain players on the team.
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