-- Boston Univ. is 0-4 all-time in the NIT.
-- BU has posted four 20 win seasons from 2002 through 2005 for the first time in school history.
--The Terriers collected 12 of its 20 wins this season against teams ranked 200 or lower in the RPI, Georgetown only six of its 17.
--The two teams have only one common opponent this year: Boston College. The Hoyas lost to BC by 14, the Terriers by six.
Preview
Which team wants it more?
Two teams which fell short of NCAA aspirations meet in the first round of the 2005 NIT. A month ago, Georgetown was 16-6, BU 18-5, but neither could put it together down the stretch.
Georgetown's first non-conference opponent in two and a half months has played only one game in nearly three weeks. Boston University's dreams for an NCAA bid ended with a pair of unexpected losses: a 65-48 loss to Binghamton that was BU's first loss ever to the Bearcats, and a 47-45 setback to Maine in the first round of the America East tournament. To regroup in the NIT, the Terriers must rely on a pair of senior leaders.
6-8 forward Rashad Bell leads the team in scoring and has led the team in four of its last five games. Bell is the best shooter on the team and is tied for the team rebound mark as well. While he is not an outside threat (no three point attempts this year), he has not fouled out of a single game and will be counted upon for a complete game for the Terriers.
BU's other star is guard Chaz Carr. An all-AEC selection, Carr accounts for 59 of BU's 129 threes this year but only averages about two threes a game. He'll be joined in the backcourt by 6-2 Shaun Wynn, who leads the team in assists.
The Terriers will not go deep on the bench. Matt Wolff, son of the head coach, leads the reserves in scoring and average minutes played (16.8). BU may also look to Omari Peterkin, a 6-9 transfer from Notre Dame, for help inside.
The Terriers remain an efficient team--only four foul-outs all year, and averaging only 12 turnovers a game, good for 15th in the nation. Its best weapon is defense, ranking second in field goal defense in the nation. Georgetown must remain patient in this game and use its strengths inside.
Despite its advantages inside, Georgetown needs a total team effort in this one. The UConn game in the Big East semifinals was as complete a game a loss can be in March, and a similar effort in the NIT can only be viewed as a positive for a team with limited expectation of even getting this far a season ago. The Hoyas need to come to this game prepared not to just play, but to win, and while the talent is there for the win, the heart must follow.
Boston U. (20-8)
Coach: Dennis Wolff
(UConn '78)
11th season, 192-132
Career: 222-150
RPI 76
Expected Starters
Name Ht. Pts.
Chaz Carr 6-0 13.4
Shaun Wynn 6-2 6.3
Etienne Brower 6-7 8.6
Rashad Bell 6-8 15.7
Kevin Gardner 6-9 7.3
Team Stats:
Points/Game: 66.9
Points Allowed: 64.5
FG Shooting: 44.4
FG Defense 45.1
3FG Shooting: 35.3
FT Shooting: 64.3
Rebounds/Game 34.0
Assists/Game 13.3
Turnovers/Game 11.7
Last 5 Games (2-3)
02/16: BU 57, S. Brook 50
02/20: N'eastern 63, BU 48
02/26: BU 66, Maine 50
02/27: Binghamton 65, BU 48
03/05: Maine 47, BU 45
Georgetown (17-12)
Coach: John Thompson III
(Princeton '88)
1st season, 17-12
Career: 85-54
RPI: 96
Expected Starters
Name Ht. Pts.
Jonathan Wallace 6-1 8.1
Ashanti Cook 6-2 11.0
Darrel Owens 6-6 6.1
Brandon Bowman 6-8 15.4
Jeff Green 6-8 12.9
Team Stats:
Points/Game: 64.0
Points Allowed 61.9
FG Shooting: 45.1
FG Defense: 42.2
3FG Shooting: 35.8
FT Shooting: 70.2
Rebounds/Game 30.8
Assists/Game 14.0
Turnovers/Game 13.9
Last 5 Games (1-4)
02/27: V'nova 67, GU 56
03/02: UConn 83, GU 64
03/05: PC 68, GU 65
03/09: GU 56, S.Hall 51 03/10: UConn 66, GU 62
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http://www.washingtontimes.com/sports/20050315-113848-9146r.htm
-- BU has posted four 20 win seasons from 2002 through 2005 for the first time in school history.
--The Terriers collected 12 of its 20 wins this season against teams ranked 200 or lower in the RPI, Georgetown only six of its 17.
--The two teams have only one common opponent this year: Boston College. The Hoyas lost to BC by 14, the Terriers by six.
Preview
Which team wants it more?
Two teams which fell short of NCAA aspirations meet in the first round of the 2005 NIT. A month ago, Georgetown was 16-6, BU 18-5, but neither could put it together down the stretch.
Georgetown's first non-conference opponent in two and a half months has played only one game in nearly three weeks. Boston University's dreams for an NCAA bid ended with a pair of unexpected losses: a 65-48 loss to Binghamton that was BU's first loss ever to the Bearcats, and a 47-45 setback to Maine in the first round of the America East tournament. To regroup in the NIT, the Terriers must rely on a pair of senior leaders.
6-8 forward Rashad Bell leads the team in scoring and has led the team in four of its last five games. Bell is the best shooter on the team and is tied for the team rebound mark as well. While he is not an outside threat (no three point attempts this year), he has not fouled out of a single game and will be counted upon for a complete game for the Terriers.
BU's other star is guard Chaz Carr. An all-AEC selection, Carr accounts for 59 of BU's 129 threes this year but only averages about two threes a game. He'll be joined in the backcourt by 6-2 Shaun Wynn, who leads the team in assists.
The Terriers will not go deep on the bench. Matt Wolff, son of the head coach, leads the reserves in scoring and average minutes played (16.8). BU may also look to Omari Peterkin, a 6-9 transfer from Notre Dame, for help inside.
The Terriers remain an efficient team--only four foul-outs all year, and averaging only 12 turnovers a game, good for 15th in the nation. Its best weapon is defense, ranking second in field goal defense in the nation. Georgetown must remain patient in this game and use its strengths inside.
Despite its advantages inside, Georgetown needs a total team effort in this one. The UConn game in the Big East semifinals was as complete a game a loss can be in March, and a similar effort in the NIT can only be viewed as a positive for a team with limited expectation of even getting this far a season ago. The Hoyas need to come to this game prepared not to just play, but to win, and while the talent is there for the win, the heart must follow.
Boston U. (20-8)
Coach: Dennis Wolff
(UConn '78)
11th season, 192-132
Career: 222-150
RPI 76
Expected Starters
Name Ht. Pts.
Chaz Carr 6-0 13.4
Shaun Wynn 6-2 6.3
Etienne Brower 6-7 8.6
Rashad Bell 6-8 15.7
Kevin Gardner 6-9 7.3
Team Stats:
Points/Game: 66.9
Points Allowed: 64.5
FG Shooting: 44.4
FG Defense 45.1
3FG Shooting: 35.3
FT Shooting: 64.3
Rebounds/Game 34.0
Assists/Game 13.3
Turnovers/Game 11.7
Last 5 Games (2-3)
02/16: BU 57, S. Brook 50
02/20: N'eastern 63, BU 48
02/26: BU 66, Maine 50
02/27: Binghamton 65, BU 48
03/05: Maine 47, BU 45
Georgetown (17-12)
Coach: John Thompson III
(Princeton '88)
1st season, 17-12
Career: 85-54
RPI: 96
Expected Starters
Name Ht. Pts.
Jonathan Wallace 6-1 8.1
Ashanti Cook 6-2 11.0
Darrel Owens 6-6 6.1
Brandon Bowman 6-8 15.4
Jeff Green 6-8 12.9
Team Stats:
Points/Game: 64.0
Points Allowed 61.9
FG Shooting: 45.1
FG Defense: 42.2
3FG Shooting: 35.8
FT Shooting: 70.2
Rebounds/Game 30.8
Assists/Game 14.0
Turnovers/Game 13.9
Last 5 Games (1-4)
02/27: V'nova 67, GU 56
03/02: UConn 83, GU 64
03/05: PC 68, GU 65
03/09: GU 56, S.Hall 51 03/10: UConn 66, GU 62
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http://www.washingtontimes.com/sports/20050315-113848-9146r.htm
