LOCAL HOOPS READY TO TIP OFF
The college basketball season is back, and it’s coming a little earlier this year. It tips off tonight with some juicy local and national matchups. Northeastern and Harvard headline the locals as Massachutwo-year setts tries to end a drought in the NCAA Twitter: @steve_hewitt
Boston College
For two years, Jerome Robinson and Ky Bowman made up one of the best backcourts in the country, and it led to a breakthrough after BC made its first postseason appearance (NIT) since 2011 last year. But now, the Eagles must face life without Robinson, who was drafted No. 14 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers. That leaves the keys to Bowman. The junior was named to the preseason ACC first team, and a lot will be asked of him this year.
But if BC wants to do better than its predicted 12th-place finish in the
ACC, it can’t all fall on Bowman’s shoulders. Though the Eagles lost Robinson and his elite scoring ability, they still return a lot of experience (Jordan Chatman and Steffon Mitchell are back) and some talented freshmen, including Jairus Hamilton. Bowman will need to help elevate those around him for BC to compete in the ACC.
Boston University
The Terriers were once again picked to finish near the top of the Patriot League this season, but Joe Jones will have to coach this group different than he’s used to. They graduated five seniors, including go-to scorer Cedric Hankerson, from a team that advanced to the Patriot semifinals, and they begin this campaign as one of the youngest teams in Jones’ tenure. There’s just one senior and 10 underclassmen, including six freshmen.
BU does return four starters in Max Mahoney, Tyler Scanlon, Walter Whyte and Javante McCoy, and their continued develop Hemphill ment will be critical. More will be asked of Mahoney, who is the top returning scorer, to play more minutes, and Whyte can be a versatile weapon for the Terriers. The freshmen will need to grow up fast. Jack and Jordan Guest figure to be immediate contributors.
Harvard
The Crimson were a few plays away from win ning the Ivy League championship game and vancing to the NCAA tournament last year before dropping a heartbreaker to Penn, and that loss should drive them going into this year. They are the clear-cut favorite to repeat as regular season champs, but much of that hinges on the team’s health, which wasn’t where it needed to be last season.
It seems that Harvard will begin this season without its two best players. Seth Towns, the reigning Ivy League player of the year, and Bryce Aiken are both out indefinitely with injuries, according to coach Tommy Amaker. When those two return, and how they perform when they do so, will significantly shape how the Crimson’s season unfolds.
Holy Cross
Expectations are rising in Worcester, where the Crusaders were picked to finish fifth in the Patriot League a year after they advanced to the tournament semifinals. They return almost everyone of note, including senior big man Jehyve Floyd, the biggest source of optimism after a season in which he led the team in scoring and was named the league’s defensive player of the year.
Holy Cross was one of the youngest teams in the league last year, but a year older, the Crusaders will need their young core to continue their encouraging development from last season. Guard Austin Butler, who was named to the all-rookie team last year, will look to continue his success as a sophomore.
UMass
The record may have not shown it, but Matt McCall’s a first season as coach of the Minutemen last year could be seen as a success. After seven players transferred from the program, McCall picked up the pieces of a depleted roster and led a team that competed hard every night and played better than it should have.
So there’s growing optimism for UMass going into this season. It graduated just one senior last year, and the Minutemen bring in four transfers who should all contribute. Luwane Pipkins is back and should be an Atlantic 10 player of the year candidate for a Minutemen team that could surprise this season.
UMass-Lowell
Pat Duquette is now in his sixth year as the coach of the River Hawks, who are fully transitioned as a Division 1 program after competing in their first postseason last year, but he’ll face a tough task this year with a very young roster. Do-everything guard/forward Jahad Thomas graduated, and the team has brought in seven freshmen that make up half its roster.
Ryan Jones is the team’s top returning scorer, and along with fellow senior and co-captain Josh Gantz, will need to pick up the load and be leaders. But it will take time for Duquette to get his freshmen adjusted to the college level, figure out rotations and what it will take for UML to generate success.