The Boston University men’s basketball team has seen its share of hardships this season. From injuries to missed shots at the buzzer, the Terriers have had to deal with a large amount of adversity. But the play of junior forward Billy Collins has been a bright spot during an inconsistent 2001-02 season.
Measuring 6’7″, Collins has provided BU (10-7, 4-1 America East) with strength at the forward position as well as the shooting touch of a guard. A look at the America East individual statistical leaders shows Collins in the top 14 of every major category.
Besides ranking fourth in the league in three pointers made and first in three point percentage, Collins is ninth in scoring at 13.2 points per game, and fourth in rebounds with 7.9 per game.
“I just go out and play,” Collins said. “I don’t care if I score two points a game as long as the team wins. I’m not big on personal accolades as long as we are winning games.”
A co-captain, Collins certainly leads by example. A sign of what was to come, he had a breakout performance against nationally ranked Boston College in the third game of the year, scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 boards. Since then, Collins has tallied a single-game career high for points, with 26 against the State University of New York at Stony Brook on Jan. 12, and notched double digits in rebounds five times.
“As long as coach [Dennis Wolff] leaves me in there, I’m going to do my best to help the team win,” Collins said. “I just hope to go out and contribute to the team in every way possible in every game.”
And contribute he has. Since the loss of junior guard Matt Turner for the season on Dec. 1, Collins has stepped up and let his play on the court speak loud words to his teammates. The mark of consistency, he has scored 10 points or more in all but two of BU’s games this season.
“On the court he is a vocal leader and a very hard working kid,” said Terrier assistant coach Jason Williford. “He gives us energy, and he always comes to work smiling and laughing. He is a very good basketball player, but most importantly, he is a great kid.”
The biggest difference in Collins’ play this season has been the steadiness of his jump shot.
“My shooting has certainly improved the most this season,” Collins said. “The coaches have really helped me with my jump shot and have taught me to have confidence in it.”
“He’s given us scoring which we desperately needed,” Williford said. “To be honest, I didn’t think he would be able to do what he is doing this year. He is shooting the ball extremely well. I knew he was a very good rebounder, and I knew he could score, but I didn’t know he could score by shooting the outside shot and by getting to the free throw line. He has just given us consistency which we needed on offense.”
Although BU has suffered a number of setbacks this season, the Terriers remain locked in a two team race for the America East regular season title with the University of Vermont. And even though senior forward Jerome Graham went down to injury early in the season, and Turner was leading the league in scoring when he landed the wrong way on his shoulder in a blowout win over the College of the Holy Cross, Collins believes BU can overcome adversity to accomplish the goals it set for itself at the start of the season.
“It’s been really difficult to see them go down,” Collins said of his injured teammates. “We practiced all summer, and [Turner] is a real vocal leader for this team. For Jerome, his career is basically over. It’s very hard on the team.”
The coaches’ pick to win the America East at the start of the season, BU’s 4-1 record is currently good enough for second in the conference. The Terriers chase only Vermont, which is in the midst of an 11-game win streak. The Catamounts are 13-3 on the year, and 6-0 in America East.
“Even though Vermont came to our place and beat us, I think that we are still the front runners in the America East,” Collins said. “At 4-1 in the conference, we are definitely the team to beat.”
Since the start of the season, the main goal for the Terriers as a team was to make the NCAA tournament. BU has not been to the Big Dance since Tunji Awojobi graced Case Gymnasium during the 1996-97 campaign. But injuries have put a damper on Terrier hopes this season.
“I think our goal is still to make the NCAA tournament,” Collins said. “And I think we still believe we can do it.”
With 11 regular season games to go before the America East Conference tournament, Collins, as well as the Terriers, hope a season’s worth of adversity is behind them.
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