On very odd occasions, I’d rather have a loss than a win.

Certainly, this was not the case over the weekend, as I witnessed both of our NCAA Tournament women’s teams get obliterated, 3-0, by Boston College and the University of Connecticut, respectively. My T-shirt is still stained from all the liquid tears.

But, like Mark McGwire at the steroid hearings, I’m not here to talk about the past. Well, at least not the negative kind of past-like if I hit 70 homeruns in one season with the aid of performance-enhancing drugs.

What I am here to talk about is the positive past, which involves the Boston University men’s basketball team. I don’t know how many of you only read The Daily Free Press for my column, but for my parents, I guess I should point out we only trailed George Washington University by four points with eight minutes left in the second half of last Friday’s home opener.

Take that one in for a second-at one point, we almost ran even with a team that made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year. Realistically, we almost pulled a bigger upset than Seth did when he got Summer in Season One.

That, my friends, is a reason to get excited.

For the first time since I’ve been at BU, we’re not supposed to win the America East. However, it’s not because practically anyone could win the old America East-just filled with mediocre, defense-oriented, boring teams.

Instead, it’s because this year, the America East could be quite dope. Look at what’s happened so far. We only lost to GW by 13. The University of Vermont beat the living daylights No.14 Boston College, scoring a victory over last year’s tourney participant, 77-63.

The University at Albany roasted Bucknell University, 55-49. Guess what Bucknell had in common with GW and BC? Ranked and in the NCAA Tournament last year.

So sure, we lost to GW. Big deal. We almost beat them and the other two big dogs in our conference handled their two marquee opponents. Look out world-the America East might be getting a little bit of street cred.

And I’ve only written about the conference so far. Our team is looking like it could be a little bit filthy this year. Hell, the GW coach even said he didn’t want to play BU in a couple of years.

What?

I’m seriously thinking this team could have a 2003 Florida Marlins effect on the world. We might be young and inexperienced, but we could storm though the competition and leave UVM at the end of the season crying like Adam Morrison.

You’ve got top-notch recruit Corey Lowe, who’s going to bring freshman fire for the squad every game (he had 14 points in the Terriers’ first victory of the season Tuesday night, 78-74 over Harvard University).

Ibrahim Konate and Omari Peterkin are scoring points and banging boards down low. Forward Sherrod Smith is going to explode soon-he has to be better than the 2-for-13 effort he posted two nights ago.

But the bandwagon just came by to pick me up and the car I chose to ride in is called freshman guard Carlos Strong. Are you kidding me? This kid can shoot 3-pointers like they’re free throws.

In back-to-back games, he’s provided the long-distance spark off the bench for the Terriers, scoring a team-leading 16.0 points per game. In addition to that statistic, he’s 8-of-13 from international waters.

I’ve always been a big proponent of the exciting bench player and Strong provides me with that trait this season. Like I wrote last week, a player is pretty much going to have to get an Anthony Award for the team to be worth watching.

Carlos is looking like a Strong candidate at this point.

Obviously, as a student that attends an America East school, you’re looking for anything to keep your interest in the major sports (other than hockey, of course). Years ago, the Oakland A’s used a slogan to generate interest in their team: “They’re young, but they can play.”

I think the same principles hold true for this year’s team. On any given night, we could surprise a larger power. After all, you can’t hold the America East down anymore.

At the big dance, Vermont beat Syracuse two years ago and UConn barely held off Albany last year. Don’t even make BU be the next naked woman to pop out of a birthday cake.

Right now, I’m feeling a little like playing predictions, so I’ve got one for all y’all. We haven’t had our big coming out party yet and I think Nov. 27-the Monday after Thanksgiving for those curious-will be the night we shine.

The Terriers travel to St. Joseph’s University that evening. From year to year, St. Joe’s always manages to bring a fairly talented squad and has numerous players in the NBA. I think the Terriers will smash through that competition on the road.

And, on that occasion, a win will be better than a loss.

Anthony Flum, a senior in the College of Communication, is a weekly columnist for The Daily Free Press. He can be reached at [email protected].