2000-01 Men's Hoop Preview
November 7, 2000 | Men's Basketball
"This is an important year for our program," seventh-year head coach Dennis Wolff emphasized. "On paper we have a young team, but a lot of players have different levels of experience."
The Terriers are indeed young. The team does not have any seniors returning for the 2000-2001 season, but its youth should not belie its experience. The team's co-captains, juniors Billy Collins and Stijn Dhondt, each of whom sat out last season as transfers from Rutgers and Cuesta Community College, respectively, bring skill, determination and leadership ability to the table. Both players were heavily involved with the team off the court last season.
The Terriers return three sophomores, Jacob Kudlacz, Matt Turner and 1999-2000 America East Rookie of the Year Paul Seymour, all of whom were intricate parts of the ball club as freshmen. Couple that with three juniors and five freshmen, two of which redshirted last year, and this is a Terrier team that is young, but also has something to prove.
"This team has a hunger to be better," Wolff explained. "It is our goal to restore the work ethic and pride that have been staples of the first four years I've been here."
Five NCAA Tournament appearances (one under Wolff in 1997), two NIT appearances, an America East record 170 regular season wins and 32 tournament contests, including championships in 1983, 1988, 1990, and 1997 all speak to that work ethic and pride that has come to signify Boston University men's basketball.
Despite its' youth, the Terrier squad that will take the court on Friday, November 17 at St. Peter's, returns 52.5 percent (924-of-1758) of its' total scoring, and 65.3 percent (622-of-952) of its' total rebounding from a year ago.
The Terriers played through injuries that decimated their roster last season. They played through close, hard-fought contests that saw them go 3-6 in games decided by four points or less. They went 3-2 down the stretch, including an America East Championship First Round win over Northeastern, before bowing to Conference Champion Hofstra to close out the season. When they could have folded, the Terriers instead gave a glimpse of things to come. They are hungry.
"We should make significant progress this season," said Wolff. "Barring a similar situation with the injuries we suffered last year, we will be a much, much different team."
The Backcourt The Terrier backcourt looks to be wide open entering play in 2000-01. Junior Mark Michalek (Englewood, CO) stepped into a starting role with all the injuries last season, and has the most experience with 41 games played, 13 as a starter. He averaged 1.8 assists per game, including a career-high 12 in an 86-85 double overtime loss at Vermont on January 23. Sophomore Matt Turner (West Haven, CT) showed flashes as a freshman, averaging 8.0 points, and 2.5 assists per game, while starting eight of 13 contests before being declared academically ineligible.
"Turner is physically gifted," said Wolff. "He has to continue to work hard and make good decisions on offense and defense."
Also in the backcourt for the Terriers will be freshmen Derrick Breland and Kevin Fitzgerald (Bell Harbor, NY). Breland, who displays good quickness, played under Stu Vetter at The Montrose Christian School in Rockville, MD.
The Frontcourt In a word, depth.
The Terriers boast one of the deepest frontcourts in the conference with the likes of junior co-captains Billy Collins and Stijn Dhondt as well as America East Rookie of the Year, Paul Seymour.
"Collins has great leadership ability and a real desire to win," said Wolff. "Stijn has a tremendous knowledge of how to play this game."
Under normal circumstances, Seymour may have been brought along more slowly last year. He was thrown into the fire and responded, averaging 12.1 points per game, tied for first on the team with outgoing senior Jean Avebe. Seymour's play really stepped up as his minutes increased. Seymour was the Terriers top scorer in three of the first 14 games of the season. He grabbed a starting role by the ninth game of the season, and led the team in scoring in nine of the final 15 games, including six of the last eight.
"Seymour is an all-conference-type player," said Wolff. "We're looking for him to continue to play at that level."
With the graduation of Jean Avebe, the role in the post is up for grabs. Freshman Ryan Butt (Landisfield, PA) is one of the players who will vie for the job. Butt, a two-time Lancaster-Lebanon Player of the Year and Hempfield High School's all-time leading scorer with 1,612 points has the size to become a presence in the middle for the Terriers. Junior Ignacio "Nacho" Rodriguez, who averaged 4.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game off the bench, provides valuable leadership up front, while Jacob Kudlacz (Glen Cove, NY) saw some valuable time as a freshman last season and will look to continue to improve his game.
Freshman Jason Grochowalski, who redshirted after season-ending shoulder surgery last year, is fully recovered and only adds to the team's depth up front.
"Jason is looking to show that he can be a real good player in this league," said Wolff.
The 2000-01 Schedule The road to respectability for the Terriers will begin just that way, on the road. B.U. opens the 2000-01 campaign at St. Peter's on November 17 and Liberty on November 21 before participating in its only tournament action of the season, a November 24-25 tilt at the Red Auerbach Colonial Classic against Quinnipiac. Other potential opponents are host school George Washington, which was 15-15 last season, 8-4 at home, and Howard, which finished 1-26. The Terriers last competed at the Red Auerbach Colonial Classic in 1996-97.
December kicks off with a matchup at Harvard on the 5th before the Terriers embark on their America East Conference schedule at Northeastern and Maine on the 9th and 12th, respectively.
B.U. opens at home against Atlantic-10 opponent and NIT qualifier UMass at Walter Brown Arena on December 14. It is the first men's basketball game at Walter Brown since
A week later the Terriers will host Colonial Athletic Association foe, James Madison on "The Roof." The Dukes finished 20-9 and tied for the regular season conference championship last season.
B.U. ends the year 2000 close to home with a matchup at Big East opponent Providence on December 28.
The Terriers ring in the new year on January 2nd with an America East tilt at New Hampshire as the team goes full bore into the conference schedule through the month of February. NCAA Tournament qualifier and America East Champion Hofstra comes calling on January 5.
The final non-conference game of the season takes place on February 20 versus Holy Cross at "The Roof." The Crusaders finished 10-18 overall and 3-9 in the Patriot League last season, but returns all five starters from a year ago.
