Play at the Plate

Now is about the time of year when most students start planning how and when they will be going home for Thanksgiving break. Well before you finalize your plans, check this out.

If any of you sports fans have plans on leaving for home Tuesday, Nov. 22, reconsider. Stick around for the 7 p.m. start of the Boston University men’s basketball team’s home opener against the University of Michigan at Agganis Arena Tuesday night, and head home on Wednesday.

If you leave campus too early, you’re bound to miss quite a game. If you don’t already know, the Michigan game, against an always-potent Big Ten opponent, has been one of BU’s biggest in the past two years – both times, BU won.

In 2003, the men entered Ann Arbor, Mich. at 5-3 to face an 8-1 Wolverine team that had won all eight of its home games. The Terriers went on to shock the Michigan faithful, charging to a thrilling 61-60 win. That win propelled the Terriers forward, pushing them toward a 17-1 record in their remaining regular-season games and a front-running position to make the NCAA Tournament, before Stony Brook University shattered dreams with a first-round upset in the America East Tournament.

The Wolverine team they beat went on to win the National Invitation Tournament that year.

Last year, a Michigan team that stood at 6-3 was hungry for revenge against the 5-2 Terriers and welcomed the BU team to Crisler Arena again.

And just like the year before, the Terriers left Michigan with the win – this time in even more convincing fashion, 63-52. Dick Vitale declared the win the Upset of the Week on his website, and the Terriers and their fans were feeling pretty good about their ability to compete with some of the bigger conference schools.

Now this year rolls around and Michigan will finally make the trip to Boston to play the Terriers in BU’s home opener. The Wolverines will be looking to prove that they can beat the Terriers, and BU will be out to prove that the last two years weren’t flukes.

But will anyone be there to watch the game?

I’m worried that the biggest basketball game to come to Agganis Arena in its short existence will be relatively under-attended because of poor scheduling.

In a bad break for the men’s team, the game is scheduled for the last day of classes before students head home for Turkey Day. A lot of fans may bust out of the Hub on Tuesday after classes, meaning there might not be many left on campus for the game.

I understand if you’ve already bought your flight or bus tickets. If you plans are irreversible, then there’s really nothing you can do.

But please considering staying on campus until the game is over. It would be great for the men’s team to play Michigan in front of a sellout crowd, as home-court advantage could be the difference.

The Wolverines seem to have the advantage on paper – considering the Terriers have lost their three top scorers from last year – but as the 2003 and 2004 match-ups have shown, when BU faces off against Michigan, anything can happen.

If you have a Sports Pass, you don’t even have to pay for a ticket, as the game is included in the ticket package you can pick up on Monday, Nov. 14, coincidentally, the same day you can tune into the Terriers’ season opener against Duke University in the preseason NIT on ESPN2.

It’s also one of the only chances you’ll get to see the men’s team play at Agganis Arena, where they play just four regular-season contests. Don’t get me wrong, The Roof is a fun place to watch a game, but it’s nothing compared to the atmosphere of Agganis.

And if you really want to go home Tuesday night, and your parents are making the drive to cart you home, try this one out: buy them a ticket. It’s a great way to do something nice, and tickets are only $9 and the game should be quite a bang for your buck. Plus, it’s a great way to show your parents an aspect of campus they’ve probably never seen before.

And after an undoubtedly tough road trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium this weekend to play the preseason No. 1 Blue Devils, the BU team will be looking for a warm homecoming.

We may not be on the level of the Cameron Crazies here yet, but by showing support for the team and attending this important Michigan game, we can take a big step.