Sports

FADEM: BU basketball is streaking

There’s this amazing game that has only just recently taken over my life. I’m so in love with it because I actually play it ‘-‘- I’m not just a spectator like I am for every other sport. This game I speak of is addicting, cruel and unforgiving. And fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, in the last month and then some, it’s taken over my life and taken my attention away from school or other work.

The game I speak of is called ‘Streak for the Cash,’ on ESPN.com. There’s only one aim of the game ‘-‘- predict the outcome of 27 consecutive games ‘-‘- one more than the consecutive number of wins for the men’s basketball, women’s basketball’ and men’s hockey teams combined ‘-‘-‘ that are listed on the website. It’s a lot harder than it seems since the matchups ESPN puts up are literally toss-ups, while the games that seem easy are usually trap games.

For instance, one day, I chose that the University of Iowa would make more 3-pointers than Michigan State University ‘-‘- a toss-up. Another day, I chose Wake Forest University to beat the University of Miami ‘-‘- that was a streak-busting trap game.

The thing is, the game is free, and the grand prize is one million dollars. I get to see how good or bad I am at picking athletic events I traditionally have little interest in. Then, once I select a pick, I become invested in a game to the point where I will watch Missouri Valley basketball, or stay up to see if the University of Hawaii can beat Fresno State University in hoops.

Anyway, I was hoping that the Beanpot championship game would be listed as a Streak pick. But to no avail, No. 1 Boston University vs. No. 3 Northeastern University was not listed. I know I would’ve been able to start at least one streak with that pick.

Now, my longest streak is eight games. Not bad, but I know I can do better. There’s one group of people who have tied my longest streak just recently. And they do it in real life ‘-‘- they actually control their wins and losses.

Of course this group is the red-hot men’s basketball team. Sure, the women’s team has crushed every opponent that they’ve come in contact with, but it’s the men’s basketball team that is crushing expectations moreso than the women’s team.

Let me explain ‘-‘- BU men’s basketball was picked to win the conference. But then, Tyler Morris and Carlos Strong go down with injuries, and even I said that would be the end of the season ‘-‘- we were bound to finish in the middle of the America East conference.

Somehow, someway, the Terriers have gained control of first place in the conference this late into the season for the first time in since 2004. BU is playing inspired basketball, and it controls its own destiny.

All this comes as the biggest games of the year approach ‘-‘- at the University of Vermont and home against Binghamton University. Last year on Valentine’s Day, BU literally stole a win from the Catamounts up north. They try to even the series with UVM on regional TV. Streak pick maybe?

Then there’s Binghamton ‘-‘- a team riddled with discipline problems that has only won once at BU since it joined the conference in 2001. This one probably won’t be a streak selection.

Then, two of the remaining three conference games are against the last two teams in the conference.

The bottom line is, if BU gets through Vermont and Binghamton with wins, the conference is all but locked up. And that means at least an NIT bid.

This blows my mind. I can remember right as January began, after suffering five losses in a row, I thought the season was done for, and Dennis Wolff would probably have to go.

Then, all of a sudden, this team did a complete 180 ‘-‘- Dennis Wolff is looking like the coach of the year, and there are smiles all around.

I think what it is is that everyone on the team knows their role. Corey Lowe leads BU in every aspect: he brings the ball up, he’s the clutch scorer and recently he’s been outrebounding his much taller teammates. I think you and I both know that Matt Wolff isn’t in there to score buckets, but to play shutdown D and get his teammates open shots.

John Holland and Jake O’Brien score, and score in bundles, and Scott Brittain is that inside presence that the team so desperately needed in non-conference play. He’s carrying my America East fantasy team.

Everything is clicking right now, which is why I don’t like it ‘-‘- I hate being optimistic because I’m setting myself up for disappointment. Like in Streak for the Cash ‘-‘- when I had my eight streak going, I was putting hours upon hours into researching my picks, but knew it would end badly. It did.

I don’t want the same fate to happen to BU. BU can get an 18 streak going ‘-‘- that would be enough for an NCAA Tournament bid. They’ve crushed just about every expectation I’ve had for them this season. I don’t expect 18 straight wins this season, but does anyone really expect to pick 27 Streak for the Cash games right, or for BU to actually win the conference. The answer has to be no.

But with BU basketball, there’s one thing you can expect: the unexpected.

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