One-third of the way there.
Almost.
When the Boston University men’s basketball team takes to the court tonight in Durham, N.H., the Terriers (10-6, 5-0 America East) will be looking to remain perfect in the conference and get one-third of the way to a perfect America East season.
The Terriers, coming off a last-second, one-point win at the University of Hartford, will be facing their second road contest in five days at the University of New Hampshire. The Terriers were able to pull out yet another close victory even with sophomore forward Rashad Bell, the BU star of late, hindered by early foul trouble that caused him to tally only 21 minutes and four points.
The Wildcats (3-13, 1-4) come in sliding and near the bottom of the America East. Whether a blessing or a curse, New Hampshire has no players averaging in double figures this season in scoring, but does have seven different players averaging at least 6.7 points per game. Junior guard Marcus Bullock leads the ‘Cats with 9.8 points per game, while adding three rebounds and slightly more than two assists.
BU coach Dennis Wolff might like the Terriers’ 5-0 conference mark, but one thing he probably doesn’t care for is the gut wrenching way his team has won most of its games. Four of five conference games have been decided by less than five, with only a 15-point win against the University of Stony Brook providing Wolff any relaxing moments on the BU bench.
The Terriers are at a distinct advantage in those down-to-the-wire finishes, ranking in the top 10 in the nation in free throw shooting. BU is tied for eighth at 76 percent. And with his increased play in the paint, Bell has not disappointed at the free throw line, ranking second in the America East, hitting 58 of 70 for 83 percent.
Along with the strong play of Bell, who has picked up his game on both ends of the floor in recent games, the Terriers will look to spread the ball around as they have done all season, and use their bench to its fullest potential. Junior guard Kevin Fitzgerald has taken to an unusual position, coming off the bench like a fish to water. His 16 assists to only three turnovers puts him in the top spot in America East in assist-to-turnover ratio at 5.33.
New Hampshire may only have one win, but that win probably qualifies as the biggest conference upset of this young season. After jumping out to a double-digit lead against the University of Maine on Jan. 8, the Wildcats allowed the Black Bears to get as close as five in the second half, before pulling away for the 10-point win.
Freshman standout Shejdie Childs poured in 17 on that night, cementing his selection as America East Co-Player of the Week for that stretch. While only averaging 9.1 points per game overall this season, Childs has picked it up in America East play, scoring nearly 15 points per game.
While New Hampshire might not be the most talented or toughest team in the America East, no game in Durham is an easy one. But if the Terriers do come home with a victory, they will come home for a tough matchup with cross-town rival Northeastern University on Saturday afternoon at ‘The Roof.’
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