Boston University Once Again Tabbed America East Men's Basketball Favorite
October 27, 2008 | Men's Basketball
Oct. 27, 2008
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - For the second consecutive year, Boston University, winner of a conference-best five America East Championships, is the preseason choice of the coaches to win the America East men's basketball title in 2008-09. The Terriers received five of a possible eight first-place votes (coaches were not allowed to vote for their team) and 59 points to outdistance Vermont, which received four first-place votes and 55 points.
Hartford was third with 51 points, followed by UMBC (45), Binghamton (37), Albany (30), New Hampshire (24), Maine (13) and Stony Brook (10).
"It's always flattering to be thought of this way by the other coaches in the league," said head coach Dennis Wolff. "I think with all of the roster changes that have gone on with some of the other teams that the accuracy of a poll like this could be debated. That being said, I think we have a good team that is capable of winning the league, but we will have to play more consistently from start to finish than we did last season."
Boston University (14-17 overall, 9-7 America East in 2007-08), which won nine of its final 12 games last season, will return its top seven scorers from that squad, including unanimous preseason all-conference team honoree Corey Lowe, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard.
The second-team All-America East performer in 2007-08 was second among league leaders averaging 18.1 points per contest and ranked seventh with 2.9 assists per game. Lowe, a co-captain this year, ranked among NCAA leaders with 3.54 made three-pointers a game last season and canned 92 on the season, tied for third-best in America East history. Also included on the all-conference preseason team are Hartford's Joe Zeglinski, UMBC's Jay Greene, Vermont's Marqus Blakely and Vermont's Mike Trimboli.
"It's a well deserved honor for Corey," said Wolff. "He played like a first-team all-league member last year, and his approach over the summer and into the start of the season would lead me to believe that he is going to have his best year yet at BU."
Joining Lowe on the court will be 2008 America East Rookie of the Year John Holland, who also garnered third-team all-conference, all-rookie and all-defensive recognition by contributing 15.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in conference action. The Terriers were last season's preseason pick in a large part to Tyler Morris, the 2007 America East Rookie of the Year. Morris averaged 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game last year after missing 11 games due to injury.
Juniors Scott Brittain (10.0 ppg, 6.3 ppg) and Carlos Strong (11.2 ppg) along with senior Matt Wolff (5.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg) will also play big roles for head coach Dennis Wolff, who begins his 15th season in Boston and has racked up 230 wins and a pair of America East titles during his tenure.
The Terriers open their 100th season in Agganis Arena with visiting George Washington on Friday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. To mark the special occasion and the 50th anniversary of the 1958-59 team's trip to the Elite Eight, BU will be retiring the No. 10 jersey of Jack Leaman while also recognizing all of the basketball alumni in attendance.
To purchase season tickets for men's basketball, please visit AgganisArena.com, call 617-353-GOBU (4628), or visit the Agganis Arena Ticket Office, located in Boston at 925 Commonwealth Avenue and open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
