BU Basketball 2010-11?: Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good

Getting the bad news out of the way first really is the best policy, isn't it? Teddy and I have both come to the executive decision that BU basketball for this year and probably the year after it too will be the team to follow here one campus. Not saying we're abandoning the hockey team- games are still fun as hell, and I'm never one to turn my back on my team when they're down.

But as Teddy put it:

"It's time to put all your baskets in the egg...no wait, put all your eggs in the basket of BU basketball, because hockey sure as hell's going to suck next year"

Even though the Terriers finished fourth in the America East regular season and second in the conference tournament after they were picked in the preseason to win the conference for the millionth year in a row, all in all, Pat Chambers' first year should be considered a mild success.

Looking forward to next year, though, is a different matter entirely. Here's a rundown of who they're losing and who's coming on board:

Adios:

Corey Lowe
Carlos Strong
Tyler Morris
Scott Brittain (I'm guessing)
Valdas Sirutis
Michael Schulze
Brendan Sullivan
Tunde Agboola
Sherrod Smith


And Introducing...:

Travis Robinson
Dominic Morris
D.J. Irving
Anthony Mayo
Mike Terry
Malik Thomas
HJ Gaskins
Patrick Hazel
Daryl Partin
Matt Griffin


So for all those that we've lost, I'll do a rundown of them all.

Lowe, as weird as his exit from the program was, is a big loss. When he was on there was never a better guard in the league and his hot hand is the primary reason that BU a) made it as far as they did in the conference tournament and b) didn't get completely destroyed by Vermont in the 'ship.

Strong's another huge loss. Guy was a terrific defender, a very good rebounder for his size, and he was our most consistent outside shooter.

Morris rounds out the big losses, seeing as he was a terrific shooter, a great on-ball defender and most importantly, a great leader. The loss of his senior leadership may in fact be the biggest blow to this team.

For Brittain, it wasn't the end that any of us were hoping for or expected, but it unfortunately ended the way it did. Best of luck to Scott, and protect that head of yours.

Sirutis certainly improved from his junior to senior year, but I really wouldn't call him much of a loss.

Schulze and Tunde were both walk-ons, and as much as I loved both of them, walk-ons are literally a dime a dozen, only better because you don't actually have to pay for them unless you're John Calipari or something.

Brendan Sullivan's got the prestigious title of being the only BU hoopster who I've ever played against, but his skills at FitRec, needless to say, didn't really translate exactly to form on a DI basketball court.

And as awesome as it was that Sherrod got to ball with the POTUS who beat Clark Kellogg in a game of H-O-R-S-E, again, not really losing much.

Of the new guys:

Robinson's the gem of the freshman class, a do-it-all small forward with freakish athletic ability and a very good above-the-rim game. If his jumper's even halfway decent, we're looking at a guy who could run train on this conference in the coming years.

Morris is the prototypical big-bodied power forward who can clear the lane, collect rebounds and score as well. He's just behind his teammate Robinson in the recruiting rankings.

Chambers seemed to be really high on Irving, the presumed point guard of the future here at BU, describing him as lightning quick. Sounds perfect for his up-tempo offense, no wonder he was so giddy.

Mayo's allegedly a lock-down defender who's still pretty raw offensively. He comes in as the true center of this freshman class.

Terry's a combo guard with excellent speed and from what I've heard a good outside shot.

Thomas is one of the few guys in the class not from the Philadelphia area. Again, a pretty raw prospect who just by looking at his picture is rail thin. Some time in the weight room may be necessary for him to take that next step.

Gaskins rounds out the Friends' Central guys and is the lowest-rated of the recruits. He's going to be a walk-on and in all honesty, his inclusion in this seems like a package deal for Morris and Robinson.

Of the three transfers:

Hazel comes from Marquette and judging by the looks of it, he was highly pretty highly recruited coming out of high school, at least enough to get a scholarship offer from Tom Crean. Crean later bolted for Indiana and I guess Ugly John didn't fit in as well with current coach Buzz Williams. From what I can tell, this guy's got the most potential to hit it big here

Partin seems like a Corey Lowe type and by that I mean a gunner. Don't see him starting next year, but may get some nice minutes off the bench.

Griffin looks to be a good pure point guard, a guy with good passing ability and a decent shot. May vie for the starting point spot come the season opener.

We'll try to do a series this summer focusing on the transfers and learning more about them, but what we do know is that it should be a very interesting season next year as BU basketball truly undergoes a radical transformation in Pat Chambers' second year at the helm