2010-11 Men's Basketball Season Preview
November 12, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Boston Globe Preview: Pleased to Meet You
The Boston University men's basketball team is coming off a 21-14 (11-5 America East) season that saw the Terriers reach the America East Championship Final for the first time since 2003 and advance to the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational postseason tournament. With the two wins in the CBI, they set an America East record for most victories in one postseason tournament. Returning for his second season at the helm, head coach Patrick Chambers was picked by his peers in the conference to capture the program's sixth league title because of last season's postseason run and the return of three starters from a team that featured a staggering nine seniors.
"We know what we have returning in John Holland, Jake O'Brien and Jeff Pelage, but with 11 new players and seven of them being freshmen who have never put on that scarlet and white jersey, it is hard to know what to expect," said head coach Patrick Chambers. "I believe if we focus on getting better each day and commit to playing BU basketball that this team has a chance to be special."
Returning with Chambers to help guide the team this year will be Brian Daly, who was promoted to associate head coach in the offseason. They will again have with them assistant coach Ross Condon and director of basketball operations Adam Fisher. Dwayne Killings joins the staff after working last year at the NBA Development League headquarters.
"Our coaching staff is doing a phenomenal job," explained Chambers. "Obviously with year two, it's going to get better because they know what I expect, and I even know better what I want. Brian is doing a great job with the young staff and providing leadership. Ross, Adam and Dwayne are doing a good job in developing relationships with the new players and making sure all of the men are working hard in the classroom and on the court."
WHO'S RETURNING?
A two-time first team all-conference and All-New England region honoree, lone senior John Holland is a prolific scorer who became the first-ever Terrier last season to lead the America East in scoring at 19.2 ppg. With 1,558 career points, the 6-foot-5 wingman is on pace to become the second in Terrier program history to reach the 2,000-point milestone. Besides being an offensive threat, Holland is also a solid defender, already ranking seventh at BU for steals while having 529 rebounds under his belt.
A 6-foot-8 forward who can score from anywhere, junior Jake O'Brien joined Holland on the 2010-11 preseason all-conference team after averaging 13.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg and 1.2 bpg last year. The former league Rookie of the Year posted seven double-doubles, the most by a Terrier since 2006, and shot 35.2 percent from beyond the arc. He was helped inside by 6-foot-8 center Jeff Pelage, who averaged 5.6 rpg as a sophomore.
The three men played key roles in helping the Terriers knock off two major conference opponents in Indiana (Big Ten) and Oregon State (Pac-10), previously accomplished by the 1986-87 squad. They also made the program's first postseason appearance since competing in the 2005 NIT and first victory since 1959. Coach Chambers will expect the three men to help guide the team during the early part of the season as they begin to gel.
"We have 11 new faces, so everything is going to fall to these three guys, who will need to pick up for the nine seniors who graduated," he said. "We will need team chemistry and the locker room will be important, so they need to step up and set the example by playing and working hard every single day."
WHO'S NEW?
Despite only returning three men from last season's squad, BU will have other experienced players on the court in three junior transfers who are eligible to play after sitting out a year. Two of them, 5-foot-10 guard Matt Griffin (Rider) and 6-foot-6 forward Patrick Hazel (Marquette), were named captains with O'Brien in the offseason. Chambers was impressed with their work ethic and did not think twice of naming two transfers as captains.
"Patrick and Matt were chosen along with Jake to lead this team because of their leadership skills and understanding of BU basketball," said Chambers. "Since my arrival, they have demonstrated the actions and attitudes necessary to be great leaders."
Griffin was a captain his sophomore year at Rider and will help guide the Terriers this season at the point guard position. Hazel is a tough rebounder who will look to be a force inside, while another transfer, 6-foot-6 guard Darryl Partin (La Salle), is a wingman who will look to provide the offensive spark from the perimeter.
"Matt Griffin is going to be a constant," explained Chambers. "Darryl is going to be an important piece because he's going to get open looks. He will need to be ready to make plays, as defenses key on both John and Jake.
"I'm looking for Pat to make some noise this year," he added. "He's going to be a double-double machine this year, and coming from Marquette, he knows how tough and physical you have to play in the non-conference schedule. Sitting out last year, he also saw first hand that the America East will be a tough grind."
Another junior who will see his first action this season is forward Chris Kurz, who walked onto the team last winter from Arizona State but did not have the opportunity to play. He will add more size and depth in the post.
The unknown for the team will be the seven-member freshman class, which was ranked first in the America East and tied for 10th at the mid-major level by Scouts, Inc. The group even has three students who captured two state titles together at Friends Central H.S. in Philadelphia. Boasting the program's first-ever seven-footer along with three McDonald's All-America nominees, the group will help provide the depth and intensity needed to play an up-tempo style against opponents.
The Class of 2014 is highlighted by D.J. Irving, a 6-foot-0 point guard who earned First Team All-AAA State and Main Line Player of the Year honors at Archbishop Carroll in Radnor, Pa. Coach Chambers is expecting him to be the biggest contributor of the group, at least early in the season as the others gain experience because of the departure of six guards from last year's team.
"We will need some of the freshmen to step up," Chambers said. "D.J. is going to be the one who will see time. We'll have to live with some of his mistakes early on, but I expect by the time we get into league play, he's going to be playing really well."
Even though half the team is made up of freshmen, Chambers knows he can't rely too much on them at the beginning of the season.
"With the freshmen, I need to be smart in deciding when to use them because we don't want to put them in a position to fail and then hurt their confidence," he explained. "They will all get their time though to contribute this season."
SCHEDULE
Highlighted by six games at Agganis Arena, an invitation to the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off and a conference game at Madison Square Garden, the 2010-11 schedule will be a memorable one no matter the outcome for the Terriers and fans. In total, BU will face off against at least eight postseason teams, including a home game against Cornell at Case Gym and a visit to Kentucky, the team that coincidentally eliminated the Big Red to advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament.
The Terriers will open the year with crosstown rival Northeastern for the first time in more than 60 years and will continue its series with Harvard. BU will also play against four Atlantic-10 opponents, including Massachusetts and George Washington. Having a difficult schedule may seem risky with so many unknowns on this team, but Chambers sees the challenge as a positive.
"What you want to do is put yourself in difficult situations because that's what the league is when you play in packed gyms against different styles," he said. "I want to prepare for that in the non-conference schedule and I believe the tough games we played in last year helped us through the postseason."
The highlight of the regular season will be hosting Albany at MSG on Feb. 10 in the program's first trip there since the 2006-07 season.
"The opportunity to play in Madison Square Garden, the most famous arena in the world, will be an amazing experience for our players, students and University," Chambers said. "I had a wonderful time meeting with our alumni in New York City this past summer, and I'm excited that they will be able to come out and support Terrier basketball."
