2001-02 Terrier Men's Basketball Outlook
November 8, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Healthier and deeper than they have been in years, the Terriers return everyone from a team that is set to reclaim its status as top dogs in the America East Conference
Optimism is the catch word in the preseason outlooks of many college basketball teams in the weeks leading up to the season. Despite being one of sport's biggest cliches, it is a word that nonetheless suits the Boston University men's basketball team to a tee. With everyone returning, the Terriers have players with the talent to make the team a highly-competitive unit this season. Head coach Dennis Wolff and his staff welcome three impact freshmen - 5-foot-10 guard Chaz Carr, 6-foot-6 forward Rashad Bell and 6-foot-9 center Matt Czaplinski. Wolff believes the trio can combine with the veterans to put the Terriers in an excellent position to take advantage of their experience and depth and make a run at the America East championship.
"We have every player returning, we have a very good recruiting class on paper, and we have a motivated group in terms of how they've approached the spring and summer," said Wolff. "I go into this season with a lot of optimism."
In order for the team to be successful, though, it needs to stay healthy. The past two seasons have seen the Terriers felled all too often by the injury bug. The healthy return of junior tri-captain Billy Collins, sophomore forward Ryan Butt and red-shirt sophomore Jacob Kudlacz - each of whom suffered season-ending foot injuries - would provide the team with a great measure of stability.
This season, B. U. has the ability to fill any potential losses from injury with its depth and the flexibility it provides.
"We seemingly have a lot of the 6-foot-5 to 6-foot-6 type of player," Wolff explained. "But those guys bring a lot of versatility to the table. They can play the shooting guard, small forward or power forward positions, depending on who we're playing and the matchups they present. In the past two years, we've been as hard hit by injuries as any team I know of, so I don't think you can have enough depth."
Paramount among Wolff's keys to a successful season is an improved low-post game. He will look to a healthy Kudlacz and Butt, as well as seniors Jerome Graham and Nacho Rodriguez and the freshman Czaplinski, to be candidates to establish a consistent back-to-the-basket presence.
The addition of Carr, and with Collins back in the mix, improves the backcourt situation greatly. Sophomore Kevin Fitzgerald surprised everyone with his consistent play last season, plus the emergence of junior Matt Turner and the steady play of junior Paul Seymour give the Terriers the option of moving players around - an option they didn't have last season.
One of the main components to B. U.'s reemergence last year was its defense, which will remain a priority this season. Wolff anticipates that the defense, combined with a strong low-post game, will produce better shots for the offense.
"When we started to win at the end of last year, we were defending well," Wolff said. "If we defend better and then play intelligently, building from the inside out, then that's how this team will win games."
Winning games, after all, is what it's all about. Two seasons ago, the Terriers won seven games. Last year, they broke even at 14-14. This year, the team believes it can match, if not exceed, that seven-game improvement.
Wolff is excited about the 2001-02 basketball season. Depth, experience and commitment run through his team, making the head coach and his staff anxious to take the court.
"Last year, we got back up off the mat, now it's time to compete for the championship."
BACKCOURT
Fitzgerald was a key component in last season's turnaround and is expected to see plenty of minutes at the point guard position. Last year, he led the team in assists with 91 and steals with 48.
"Kevin was as big a surprise to the people in the conference as any player that came in last year," Wolff said. "I do think we need to play him less minutes to enable him to be more productive."
Last season, Fitzgerald was second to Seymour in minutes played at 29.0 minutes per game. The addition of Carr at the point will allow Wolff to play Fitzgerald between 20 and 25 minutes per contest.
Turner's talent was on display in the America East tournament in early March, as he single-handedly extended the Terriers' season. With his team down by 10 points with two minutes left in regulation, Turner hit four three-pointers in the final 1:17 to send the game into overtime. He finished the game with 35 points, one point shy of a career-high 36-point effort he had earlier in the season.
"Matt has the ability to be an unstoppable player," Wolff said. "If he improves his decision-making and he has the mindset that he is going to be a factor on defense on every play, then he's going to be one of the best players in the league."
Seymour averaged 12.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest last season, numbers which were similar to those he put up in his freshman year, when he was the America East Rookie of the Year. Seymour is one of the players who will benefit from the depth in the backcourt, and he may see some time at the small forward position because of it.
"He's a very smart player," Wolff said of Seymour. "He has some creativity in his ability to get free and score off the dribble, and I think, with some added strength, he will improve."
Expect to see Collins play a number of different positions this year. If he returns to the lineup healthy, he will certainly be right in the middle of everything and be a major contributor this season.
"Billy can actually play at shooting guard, small or power forward, and we're going to use him at all of those spots," Wolff said. "I don't think people have had a chance to see what he can do."
Senior tri-captain Mark Michalek has contributed whenever Wolff has called on him, and he will be looked to as a role player at the guard spot. While not seeing a great deal of playing time last season, the fact that he was selected as a tri-captain shows he is a positive influence on his teammates, whether on the court or off.
Carr is the lone addition to the backcourt. Last season, he averaged 22.0 points, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game for Manchester High School in Manchester, Conn., and was a two-time All-State selection and an All-Conference pick in his senior season. He finished his career as the Indians' all-time leading scorer with 1,273 points. Wolff believes the "mature, skilled, and tough" Carr has the ability to play right away.
FRONTCOURT
Jason Grochowalski enters the season as the Terriers' proven scoring threat. Last season, he was named to the America East All-Rookie Team after leading the team in scoring with a 12.7 points-per-game average. This winter, Wolff and his staff will look to the sophomore to maintain that level of excellence.
"Jason couldn't be any tougher," Wolff said of Grochowalski. "He's very hungry to score every time he touches the ball."
The healthy return of Kudlacz, who was red-shirted last year, is a big factor in the ability of the frontcourt to be more aggressive. After missing the final 20 games of the season with an ankle injury, the 6-foot-8 native of Crakow, Poland will be looked upon to build on a promising freshman year in 1999-2000, when he averaged 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest.
"He has worked hard in the weight room and gained a lot of weight," Wolff said of Kudlacz. "His ankles are in as good condition as they've ever been. If he's more determined inside, he'll be a big factor."
Wolff believes that Butt, a sophomore, can be as skilled an inside player as there is in the conference - if he's healthy and in basketball shape. Not only can he be an intimidating presence inside, he can also step outside and be an effective three-point shooter.
"You put Ryan in drills and he shoots as well as any of the guards," Wolff said. "He needs to be healthy and in shape for us to have the type of season that we want. The other players will be hard pressed to beat him out at center."
Last season, senior tri-captain Stijn Dhondt seemed to be the player that never got noticed because he was one of the players who relished doing the dirty work. Along with Collins and Fitzgerald, Dhondt is one of the players who defends hard, rebounds well, and plays unselfishly. The 6-foot-6 native of Bornem, Belgium was one of two players, Fitzgerald being the other, who played in every game last year, and his role will likely remain the same with this year's squad.
Graham came off back surgery after his sophomore year to earn the team's Most Improved Player award last season. The senior averaged 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, and was the only Terrier to shoot 50 percent from the field.
"Last season, Jerome clearly had the best year that he's had for us," the head coach said. "He has the potential to do even more, and if he does that, he'll contribute again this season."
Rodriguez started the last four games of the season after Butt was lost with a foot injury, and did a solid job filling in. He will see the majority of his playing time this year against teams with size up front.
Sophomore walk-on Daniel Daccarett impressed the coaching staff last year with his size and ability, but didn't show it enough to merit regular playing time. With Wolff's focus on frontcourt production, the 6-foot-9 Daccarett may see more playing time if he can show more consistency.
Rounding out the frontcourt players are the freshmen Bell and Czaplinski and both figure to see playing time. Bell comes to Boston University after averaging 27 points, 12 rebounds and 4.5 blocked shots at St. Francis Prep in New York City. He earned Most Valuable Player honors in the Diocese of Brooklyn Division of the Catholic League in his senior season. Despite the breadth of forwards, Bell is talented enough to see playing time on the wing.
At 6-foot-9 and 235 pounds, Czaplinski is a raw talent, but Wolff sees his competitiveness as a positive. He is a player with the potential to be a force in the middle. He will add depth and size to the Terriers' frontcourt, something it lacked last season.
"Bell may end up being a recruiting coup, Wolff said. "He may end up forcing his way into the lineup because of his talent level.
"Czaplinski has a very big, wide body. With the increased banging at the college level, he can be a significant contributor."
