Catamounts – beware.
The Boston University men’s basketball team is steamrolling toward its Feb. 15 rematch with the University of Vermont, and there’s nothing the rest of the America East can do to slow it down.
On Saturday, the undermanned University of Hartford was the latest victim to cross paths with BU, which dominated the Hawks in a 78-45 blowout at Case Gymnasium. The Terriers (17-4, 11-1 America East) won their sixth straight since falling to Vermont on Jan. 17 – BU’s only loss in its last 18 games. Hartford (9-11, 4-7), which had only seven scholarship players in uniform, lost its third in a row.
“We’re playing at a good level right now,” BU coach Dennis Wolff said after the blowout. “If we can move the ball and get ourselves into position to shoot as many open shots as we did, then we’re going to play well the rest of the year.”
Chaz Carr benefited the most from crisp Terrier ball movement, hitting eight of his 10 attempts and finishing with a season-high 23 points. The junior held a jump-shooting clinic in the first half, draining all four of his three-point tries. Carr would add another from long range in the second half, giving him five threes in the game – a career high.
“We did everything we were supposed to do – we hustled on defense, we got good shots,” Carr said. “Everyone did their part. We’ve been trying to do that all year and today it really came together for us.”
BU has played so well on both ends of the floor as of late that it’s almost been unfair. In the first half Saturday, when they used a 27-7 run to race to a 19-point intermission lead, the Terriers shot 60 percent, including 8-11 from three. Of the 13 BU baskets, 10 were assisted.
Contrast those numbers with Hartford’s first half. The Hawks shot only 36 percent and turned the ball over 10 times. Hartford coach Larry Harrison said his team has had its problems on offense this season, but on Saturday he gave BU’s defense most of the credit.
“I thought [BU] did a really good job of contesting shots and putting pressure on the basketball,” Harrison said. “They looked like the best team in the conference today.”
The Terriers held Aaron Cook and Ryan Stys – Hartford’s starting backcourt and two of the top 10 scorers in the league – to 22 points combined on 8-24 shooting.
“I think, when I look at the tape, I’m going to be very hard-pressed to see an open shot for [Cook or Stys] the entire game,” Wolff said.
While Cook and Stys struggled to get open looks, BU had little trouble finding the open man. The Terriers continued to push the action in the second half, playing as if they were the ones losing by 19.
After Hartford went on a 12-4 run of its own after intermission, Carr knocked down his fifth three-pointer before serving up the game’s most exciting assist, a fast break alley-oop to Rashad Bell that not only rocked “The Roof,” but ended any thoughts of a Hawk comeback.
Carr’s three and lob to Bell started an 18-1 run that increased BU’s lead to 31.
“We’re starting to see that end of the road,” Carr said, “when you have to play every game hard and like it’s your last.”
With only one game left (Thursday against the University of Maryland, Baltimore County) before they travel to Burlington, Vt. for another shot at Vermont, the Terriers have everything clicking at the right time.
“We’re looking forward to going up there and getting a chance to redeem ourselves,” Carr said before staying politically correct. “But we’re not overlooking anybody.”
It was clear BU didn’t overlook Hartford, stomping the Hawks in impressive fashion.
“It doesn’t matter who it is,” Carr said. “We’re trying to pressure their shot and just do the right thing. Once you do the right thing, every time, you just get used to it. Then when it comes to those tough games down the road, you’re used to it.”
If the Terriers get accustomed to playing like they did on Saturday, Vermont won’t have any answers, either.