The 91st Season...
The Boston University men's basketball team begins its 91st season of varsity competition in 1999-2000... Since 1901-02, the Terriers have totaled an 842-850 record (.498)... In the last 20 years, B.U. has registered a 330-254 mark (.565)... In that span, there have been 14 winning campaigns, six 20-win seasons, and four NCAA Tournament appearances (1983, 1988, 1990, and 1997).
Head Coach Dennis Wolff...
Head coach Dennis Wolff enters his sixth season at Boston University and sports an 86-61 record (.589 pct.)... During his tenure at B.U., Wolff's teams have captured two America East regular-season championships, and earned one NCAA Tournament berth (1997)... Wolff was hired on April 5, 1994 after serving 12 years as a Division I assistant at Virginia (1990-94), Southern Methodist (1989-90), Wake Forest (1985-1989), and St. Bonaventure (1982-84)... Wolff also served as the head coach of Division III Connecticut College, recording a 30-18 record in two seasons.
Reviewing 1998-99...
Boston University completed the 1998-99 season with a disappointing 9-18 record... The Terriers, who finished 5-13 in the league-play, lost to Towson, 71-58, in the first round of the America East Championships... It was the first non-winning season since 1994-95, and just the second campaign in the 1990s that the squad did not reach double figures in victories.
Quoting Wolff on 1998-99...
"It was definitely a disappointing year for us. We were disjointed and never established a sense of character. However, our young players were able to gain some experience and learn from it."
Who's Not Returning....
The Terriers lose three starters - their top three scorers - and five letterwinners from a year ago, including America East Third Team All-Conference selection LeVar Folk (12.7 ppg, 5.2 apg)... Folk graduated as the program's all-time leader in steals (200), and finished third in assists (465) and three-pointers as well as 10th in scoring with 1,172 points... Also gone is the team's leading rebounder, Walter Brown (11.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg)... Billy Beal (9.5 ppg) also graduated as the program's second-ranked career three-point shooter (163).
A Very Young Team...
B.U. will have just two seniors - Mike Costello and Jean Avebe - and no juniors on its 1999-2000 roster... In all, there will be five freshman and five sophomores... One sophomore, Billy Collins, will sit out 1999-2000 as a result of his transferring from Rutgers... In all, the Terriers return 42.2 percent (732-of-1736) of their scoring production and 51.3 percent (493-of-962) of their rebounding totals from 1998-99.
Quoting Wolff on 1999-2000...
"We will be young and raw, but I feel we will improve as the season progresses. The freshman class is talented, but will have to grow up quickly."
Dereck Franklin Earns All-Rookie Recognition...
Dereck Franklin earned America East All-Rookie Team accolades in 1998-99... A four-time Rookie of the Week honoree, Franklin was one of just seven players in the 20-year history of the America East Conference, including former B.U. star Tunji Awojobi 97, to capture the award four or more times in a season.
No Rookie Jitters for Franklin...
Dereck Franklin appeared in all 27 games for the Terriers in 1998-99, starting 22... In his first collegiate start on November 27, he scored a team-high 15 points in a loss against nationally-ranked Miami (Ohio) University... For the season, Franklin finished sixth on the team in scoring (7.4 ppg), while finishing second in assists (69) and steals (27)... Franklin was the team's top free-throw shooter, finishing with a healthy .788 (63-of-80) rate.
Costello is Fourth on B.U. Career Three-Point List...
With 137 three-pointers, senior Mike Costello ranks fourth on the B.U. career three-point list.... Mark Daly 92 is the career leader with 202... In 1998-99, Costello (7.8 ppg) connected on a team-high 48 three-pointers, including eight games with three or more... Costello finished ninth in America East with a .365 success rate from three-point land.
Jean Avebe Steps Up...
Forward Jean Avebe posted career high averages in both points (7.5 ppg) and rebounds (4.9 rpg) as a junior in 1998-99... Avebe's rebounding average ranked 20th among all America East players... Avebe appeared in all 27 games, starting 14, and shot a team-high .538 (85-of-158) from the field... He had eight double-figure scoring outings, including a career-high 19-point effort vs. Northeastern on February 10.
Promising Futures...
Two sophomores - Nacho Rodriguez and Jerome Graham - are poised to lead the Terrier frontcourt in 1999-2000... Both players showed a glimpse of their futures in a win at Vermont on January 22, 1999... Graham had season highs in points (10) and rebounds (8), while Rodriguez added a season-high 12 points and seven rebounds.
Defense Will Be The Key...
Defense has been a cornerstone in the Dennis Wolff era... In Wolff's five seasons, B.U. has a 74-22 mark when holding opponents under 70 points... In 1998-99, B.U. was 9-5 when holding opponents under 70 points, and were 8-1 when allowing under 60... The Terriers also held opponents under .400 shooting from the field 10 times in 1998-99... B.U. was 8-2 in those games.
Three-Point Field Goal Streak at 93...
Entering the 1999-2000 season, B.U. has a 93-game three-point field goal streak... The last time the Terriers were held scoreless from beyond the three-point arc was Feb. 10, 1996, when they were 0-for-10 in a loss at Vermont... B.U. has hit three-pointers in 145-of-147 games in the Dennis Wolff-era.
America East Success...
Boston University is one of the charter members of the America East Conference, which was founded in 1979... In those 20 seasons, the Terriers have won a league-record 165 conference and 30 tournament contests, including championships in 1983, 1988, 1990, and 1997.
Home Court Advantage...
In 1998-99, the Terriers slumped to a 4-8 record on "The Roof" in Case Gymnasium... It was B.U.'s first non-winning home record since 1992-93... Under head coach Dennis Wolff, B.U. has totaled an impressive 43-15 home record, including a 33-11 mark against America East opponents.
Terriers Ink Five Recruits...
Five student-athletes signed national letters-of-intent for the 1999-2000 season.... Guard John Sadusky (Fairfax, VA) forward Paul Seymour (Liverpool, NY) each signed national letters of intent in November 1998... In the spring signing period, three players - forward Jason Grochowalski (Shrewsbury, MA), shooting guard Matt Turner (West Haven, CT), and forward Jacob Kudlacz (Glen Cove, NY) signed with the Terriers.
Playing the Best...
Boston University annually plays a challenging non-conference schedule... Last season, the Terriers played three teams that reached the 1999 NCAA Tournament (UNC Charlotte, Miami (Ohio), and Delaware) as well as two that played in the postseason N.I.T. (Alabama and Colorado)... In 1999-2000, B.U. will compete in two in-season tournaments - in November at Florida International and in late December in 1999 N.I.T. champion California's holiday tournament... In addition, the Terriers will renew their long-time rivalries against New England neighbors Massachusetts and Providence.
1999-2000 Capsule...
Starters Returning (2):
Jean Avebe, Sr, F, 6-7, 210 (7.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, .538 FG Pct.)
Dereck Franklin, So., G, 6-0, 180 (1999 America East All-Rookie Team, 7.4 ppg, 69 assists)
Starters Lost (3)
LeVar Folk, G, (1999 America East Third Team All-Conference, 12.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.1 apg)
Billy Beal, G (9.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 47 3-pt FG)
Walter Brown, F (11.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg)
Lettermen Returning (6)
Jean Avebe, Sr, F, 6-7, 210 (7.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, .538 FG Pct.)
Mike Costello, Sr., G, 6-4, 200 (7.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, team-high 48 3-pt FG)
Dereck Franklin, So., G, 6-0, 180 (1999 America East All-Rookie Team, 7.4 ppg, 69 assists)
Ignacio Nacho Rodriquez, So., F, 6-8, 215 (4.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
Jerome Graham, So., F, 6-7, 220 (1.3 ppg, 1.2 rpg)
Marshall Crane, So., G, 6-4, 200 (0.8 ppg, 0.3 rpg)
Lettermen Lost (5)
LeVar Folk, G, (1999 America East Third Team All-Conference, 12.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.1 apg)
Billy Beal, G (9.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 47 3-pt FG)
Walter Brown, F (11.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg)
Matt Curley, F (4.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
Ken Michin, F (2.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
Newcomers (6)
John Sadusky, Fr., G, 6-0, 180 (Faifax, VA/DeMatha)
Matt Turner, Fr., G, 5-9, 160 (West Haven, CT/St. Thomas More)
Paul Seymour, Fr., F, 6-6, 195 (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool)
Jason Grochowalski, Fr., F, 6-6, 190 (Shrewsbury, MA/orcester Academy)
Jacob Kudlacz, F, Fr., 6-8, 225 (Glen Cove, NY/Long sland Lutheran)
Billy Collins, So., G/F, 6-7, 200 (Concord, NH/Rutgers)*
* transfer - will sit out 1999-2000
