Terriers To Compete in Red Auerbach Colonial Classic
November 22, 2000 | Men's Basketball
The Boston University men's basketball team travels to our nation's capital, Washington D.C. on Nov. 24-25 to compete in the Red Auerbach Colonial Classic. B.U. will face off against Quinnipiac University at 6 p.m. on Nov. 24.
Best Start Ever Under Wolff: The Terriers are 2-0 for the first time in head coach Dennis Wolff's career at B.U... Wolff is in his seventh season... The last time the Terriers started out the season 2-0 was the 1993-94 squad, coached by Bob Brown.
The Latest - Boston University 55, Liberty 54: LYNCHBURG, VA (Nov. 21) - Sophomore forward Paul Seymour (Liverpool, NY) sank two clutch free throws with 13 seconds left in the game to give the Boston University men's basketball team a 55-52 lead in its 55-54 win over Liberty University before 1,275 at the Vines Center on Tuesday night. Seymour had a game-high 19 points, while freshman Jason Grochowalski added 14.
The 92nd Season: The Boston University men's basketball team is in its 92nd season of varsity competition in 2000-2001 Since 1901-02, the Terriers have totaled an 849-872 record (.493) In the last 20 years, B.U. has registered a 337-276 mark (.550)... In that span, there have been 14 winning campaigns, six 20-win seasons, and four NCAA Tournament appearances (1983, 1988, 1990, and 1997).
Reversing Trends: The 2000-01 season has barely begun, but already the Terriers are reversing some trends from last season... B.U. was 0-18 in games in which it was outrebounded by an opponent in 1999-00. The Terriers are already 1-0 in that category this season after defeated Liberty 55-54 despite being outrebounded, 37-35... In night games last season, the Terriers were 2-17... B.U. is already 2-0 this season in games started after the sun goes down.
Recapping the Exhibition Schedule:
- Nov. 3 - Boston University 86, Citizens Bank All-Stars 71: Jason Grochowalski scored 28 points and Paul Seymour 22 to pace the Terriers in their season opening win over the All-Stars. Seymour hit a three-pointer with 21 seconds left in the first half to pull the Terriers even, 41-41 at the break. From that point, B.U. went on a 32-8 run until 5:15 left in the game to take a 73-49 lead and effectively put the game away. Grochowalski, who redshirted last season after a shoulder injury, scored 17 points during the run to fuel the Terrier attack.
- Nov 11 - Nantucket Nectars Naturals 93, Boston University 84: Freshman forward/center Ryan Butt scored 31 points on 12-for-19 shooting, but it wasn't enough as the Boston University men's basketball team fell to the Nantucket Nectars Naturals. Trailing much of the contest, freshman Kevin Fitzgerald was able to get the Terriers deficit down to eight, 88-80 with a layup with 38 seconds to go, but that's as close as the Terriers could get.
The Red Auerbach Colonial Classic: The Terriers are making their second appearance in the Red Auerbach Colonial Classic... B.U. also appeared in the tournament kicking off the 1996-97 season... The Terriers defeated Florida A&M, 85-54 in the opener, but fell to George Washington in the championship game, 73-68.
Taking a Look At:
Quinnipiac University: This is the first-ever meeting between the Terriers and the Braves... Quinnipiac is entering it's third season at the Division I level... The Braves finished with a 18-10 record in 1999-00, good for fourth place in the NEC... The team kicked off the 2000-01 campaign in bold fashion, facing 13th-ranked UConn in the season opener... The Huskies prevailed in a tough contest, 86-72... Quinnipiac is led by fifth-year coach Joe DeSantis... Junior forward Bill Romano 13.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg and junior guard Jared Grasso 12.1 ppg, 3.9 apg, are the top returnees for Quinnipiac... Quinnipiac is 0-1 vs. the America East, Boston University is 1-1 vs. the NEC.
George Washington University: George Washington leads the all-time series, 9-1... The last meeting between the two teams occurred at the Red Auerbach Colonial Classic in 1996-97, with the Colonials coming out on top, 73-68... George Washington finished 15-15 last season, 9-7 in the Atlantic-10... The Colonials are coached by Tom Penders... Sophomore guard SirValiant Brown is the team's top returning scorer, averaging 24.6 ppg and 3.3 rpg last season... In two games this year, Brown is averaging 21.5 ppg and 2.0 rpg... B.U. is 35-72 against the A-10.
Howard University: Should B.U. play Howard on Sunday, it would be the first-ever meeting between the two schools... Howard is coached by Frankie Allen... Senior guard Reggie Morris is the top returning player, averaging 13.3 ppg and 4.1 rpg in 1999-00.
Defense Always A Key: Defense has been a cornerstone in the Dennis Wolff era In two games this season, opponents are shooting just 35 percent (39-for-111)... In Wolff's six-plus seasons, B.U. has a 76-31 mark when holding opponents under 70 points... Last season versus Northeastern, the Terriers held the Huskies to an opponent season-low 45 points and 29.5 percent shooting (18-for-61)... On December 11th against New Hampshire, the Terriers held the Wildcats to 51 points and 39.6 percent shooting. Four days earlier, B.U. held Harvard to 57 points and 32.3 percent shooting.
Three-Point Field Goal Streak at 124: Entering the 2000-2001 season, B.U. has a 124-game three-point field goal streak... The last time the Terriers were held scoreless from beyond the three-point arc was Feb. 10, 1996, when they were 0-for-10 in a loss at Vermont... B.U. has hit three-pointers in 176-of-178 games in the Dennis Wolff-era.
Head Coach Dennis Wolff: Head coach Dennis Wolff enters his seventh season at Boston University and sports a 95-83 record (.534 pct.)... During his tenure at B.U., Wolff's teams have captured two America East regular-season championships, and earned one NCAA Tournament berth (1997)... Wolff was hired on April 5, 1994 after serving 12 years as a Division I assistant at Virginia (1990-94), Southern Methodist (1989-90), Wake Forest (1985-1989), and St. Bonaventure (1982-84)... Wolff also served as the head coach of Division III Connecticut College, recording a 30-18 record in two seasons.
Quoting Wolff on 2000-2001: "This is an important year for our program. On paper we have a young team, but a lot of players havedifferent levels of experience. Barring a similar situation with all the injuries we suffered last season, we should make significant progress."
Wearing the 'C': The 2000-2001 B.U. Terriers are captained by sophomore Billy Collins and junior Stijn Dhondt, both of whom red-shirted as transfers last season. Said head coach Dennis Wolff, "Billy and Stijn bring an older perspective and talent to this team. Both players showed extraordinary leadership and worked extremely hard through their red-shirt year." Collins is a 6-7, 200-lb. guard who last played a season for Rutgers University. At Rutgers, he appeared in 24 games, averaging 1.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg, and 6.2 minutes per game. He averaged 30 ppg and 9.0 rpg as a senior leading Bishop Brady to a 20-2 record and a berth in the New Hampshire State Class I final. He was named New Hampshire Player of the Year by USA Today Dhondt, a 6-6, 215-lb. forward averaged 13.0 ppg and 7.9 rpg for Cuesta College prior to arriving at B.U. He was named the team's Most Valuable Player and set a school single-season record with 275 rebounds.
America East Success: Boston University is one of the charter members of the America East Conference, which was founded in 1979 In those 21 seasons, the Terriers have won a league-record 170 conference and 31 tournament contests, including championships in 1983, 1988, 1990, and 1997.
New Staff In Place: Head Coach Dennis Wolff has added some new faces to the Terrier staff for the 2000-01 season. Jason Williford, a former four-year player at the University of Virginia, was hired as the Terriers third assistant coach on May 31. In addition, Paul Brazeau was named Director of Men's Basketball Operations on November 1. Brazeau spent the past eight years as head coach of the University of Hartford. Dan Turner was named the team's administrative assistant on November 1 as well. Turner served as an assistant coach at Lesley University and a part-time assistant at Bunker Hill Community College in 1999-2000.
Promising Futures: Paul Seymour had a memorable freshman season for the Terriers, and actually saved some of his best basketball for the end of the season. He scored in double figures in the final 12 games of the season, averaging 18.2 ppg... Jacob Kudlacz also showed glimpses of his future when he scored a career-high 19 points and added 11 rebounds in a 75-64 win over Hartford on Feb. 19... Matt Turner also showed he is capable of running the offense for the Terriers, scoring 20 points with six assists in his first-ever collegiate game, a 78-65 loss to Northern Illinois. He followed that performance two games later with 15 points and six assists in a 91-79 loss to James Madison.
Paul Seymour - America East Rookie of the Year: Paul Seymour became the third Terrier in the 90's to be named the America East Conference Rookie of the Year, joining Raja Bell in 1995 and Tunji Awojobi in 1994. Seymour, a three-time Rookie of the Week selection in 1999-2000, led the team in scoring with Jean Avebe, averaging 12.1 ppg. He led the team in scoring in 12-of-29 games, including six of the final eight.
It's Raining Three's: Paul Seymour hit 70-of-192 three-pointers in 1999-2000, nine shy of the Terrier single-season record of 79 set by Mark Daly ('92) in 1991-92. Seymour's 70 three's were only two behind Delaware's John Gordon, who connected for an America East single-season best 72 long-range jumpers in 1996-97. Seymour also hit six three's in a game three times, one shy of the school mark of seven held by Daly (twice) and Billy Beal... Mike Costello finished his B.U. career second on the all-time three-point list with 196 after hitting 59-of-162 shots from long range last season, six behind Daly's career-best 202... Seymour's who shot 36.5% from three-point range, and Costello, who was at 36.4%, were 10th and 11th, respectively, in the conference in that category.
