Boston University Team Report

GETTING INSIDE

There’s a new sheriff in town, with Villanova assistant Patrick Chambers taking over for long-time coach Dennis Wolff. Chambers is stepping into the role of favorite to win the America East title.

Binghamton, the defending champ, has been wiped out by scandal, leaving the “other” BU the clear-cut favorite for the top spot.

Then again, the Terriers were picked to win in each of the past two years and didn’t, which is probably why Wolff is gone.

But Chambers, hoping to bring the success he had with Jay Wright in Philadelphia, takes over a team that has the last three America East Rookies of the year on a roster that boasts nine seniors from a team that won 17 games last year.

Forward John Holland and guard Corey Lowe are two of the best players in the conference, while forward Jake O’Brien was last year’s top rookie in the league. Chambers also hopes guard Tyler Morris, one of the better players in the conference before injuries, regains his once-potent game.

“I look at BU basketball like the Gonzaga and the Xavier of the Northeast,” Chambers said after getting the job. “We want to play a style that the community and the university is going to be proud of. We are going to play hard, we are going to play tough and physical for 40 minutes—BU basketball for 40 minutes. And the fans in the stands will say, ‘Wow, did they give it up for each other.’”

NOTES, QUOTES

• New Boston University coach Patrick Chambers spent six years as Jay Wright’s assistant at Villanova. “I hear Jay’s voice in my head every single day, especially when it comes to getting things done for our program,” Chambers told ESPN.com. “Our administration is totally behind us, but it’s still a lot of work. As an assistant, I didn’t appreciate all the little things that Jay would talk about. Now I get it, all of the things it takes to build a program not just for one year, but for the long haul.”

• BU was 11-5 in conference play and finished third in the standings before losing No. 6 UMBC in the first round of the America East Tournament in Albany.

• G Corey Lowe and F John Holland were All-America East selections last year. Both were also league rookies of the year in previous season.

• This is the 101st season of BU basketball.

Last Year:   17-13 overall, 11-5 in America East, third place

Head Coach:   Patrick Chambers (first year as a head coach)

Quote To Note:   “Pat has incredible charisma and his energy level is amazing. He reminds me of (former 76ers president) Pat Croce. He’s real positive like that, always positive and upbeat. I can see him going to BU and taking that place by storm.”—Villanova coach Jay Wright on assistant Patrick Chambers, after Chambers got the BU head coaching job.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   If you don’t count the coach, Patrick Chambers, the only newcomer on a veteran roster is guard B.J. Bailey. The Terriers also have three transfers, all sitting out this season but they will be there to replace the nine seniors leaving after the 2009-10 campaign.

Key Early-season Games:   The Terriers open the season at Iona in the BracketBuster game and then hit the road for the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, where they’ll play Kansas State and either Mississippi or Indiana in the second round. Villanova, where new coach Patrick Chambers used to work, is on the other side of the bracket. BU will also travel to UConn and Dayton and opens the home season against George Washington.

Program Direction:   Dennis Wolff ran a clean and successful program for 15 years at BU, but some underachievement in the past few years led to his exit and to the hiring of the young and energetic Patrick Chambers, one of those go-get-em types that tend to do well on this level. Here’s guessing the direction is up.

Probable Starting Lineup:   PG Tyler Morris, SG Corey Lowe, SF John Holland, F Jake O’Brien, F Scott Brittain.

Roster Report:  

• F John Holland averaged 18.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game last year and is probably the most exciting player in America East.

• G Corey Lowe, now a senior, had his ups and downs with previous coach Dennis Wolff and there always seemed to be talk of his leaving. Lowe averaged 17.2 points and 4.1 assists per game last year.

• F Jake O’Brien entertained transfer offers after the coaching change but decided to stay.

• Seniors Corey Lowe, Scott Brittain and Tyler Morris, and junior John Holland, were named team captains.

• Transfers Matt Griffin (Rider), Patrick Hazel (Marquette) and Darryl Partin (LaSalle) are all sitting out this season.