Boston University (0-0)
vs.
Holy Cross (0-0)

Game 1
Monday, Jan. 4, 2 p.m.
Hart Center (Worcester, Mass.)

Game 2
Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2 p.m.
Case Gym – "The Roof" (Boston, Mass.)

Watch: ESPN+ | International Stream
Listen: GoTerriers.com/tsrn
Twitter: @BUGameDay | @TerrierMBB 
Rosters: BU | Holy Cross
Schedule: BU | Holy Cross
Game Notes: BU

Boston Herald Season Preview

BOSTON – The defending Patriot League champion Boston University men's basketball team will open its 112th season with a two-game series starting at in-state rival Holy Cross on Monday (Jan. 4) with a 2 p.m. tip. The Terriers will then welcome the Crusaders to The Roof 24 hours later on Tuesday (Jan. 5) for another 2 p.m. tip. 

Led by 10th-year head coach Joe Jones, BU is currently riding a four-game win streak dating back to last season due to the 2020 NCAA tournament being canceled and the Terriers being the last team to win a conference title. Predicted to repeat in the conference preseason poll, they won all three PL tournament games with a stingy defense that limited opponents to 61.7 ppg, 41.7 FG% and 29.7 3FG%. 

Following the graduation of Tournament MVP and Mid-Major All-American Max Mahoney ('20), the Terriers return four starters and 14 total players from last year's squad. 2020-21 Preseason All-PL honoree and junior Walter Whyte is the top returning scorer (13.0 ppg) and rebounder (7.4 rpg). He flushed a team-high 61 3-pointers and posted eight double-doubles last season. Senior and All-PL Tournament Team member Javante McCoy averaged 12.2 ppg and led BU in assists for the second consecutive season at 3.5 apg. 

Junior and 2020 All-Defensive Team honoree Jonas Harper (7.2 ppg) flushed four 3-pointers in the title game and finished second behind Mahoney last year with 33 steals. Harper, Whyte and sophomore Ethan Brittain-Watts are all former All-Rookie Team members and will be working with four freshmen who will look to make their own mark. Senior Sukhmail Mathon (4.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and junior Jack Hemphill (3.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg) will be filling the void in the post with Mahoney's departure. Other key returners include junior Alex Vilarino (6.2 ppg) and junior Fletcher Tynen (3.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg). 

The Crusaders enter their second season under former Florida All-American and Marquette assistant Brett Nelson. They return just 21 points from last year's 77-68 loss at BU following the transfer of 2020 PL Rookie of the Year Joe Pridgen. However, Holy Cross has six freshmen and two transfers ready to play this season, including 2019 Southland Conference Freshman of the Year Gerrale Gates from the University of New Orleans. Senior guard Austin Butler is the only returning player in the PL who ranked in the top 20 last year in scoring (11.8 ppg), rebounding (6.2 rpg) and assists (2.4 apg). 

BU will be opening a season with a home-and-away series for the first time since 2016 when the Terriers recorded a split against Northeastern. The Crusaders lead the all-time series, 54-23, but BU is 11-3 against Holy Cross since joining the Patriot League in the summer of 2013.