Men’s Basketball: BU Opens Postseason at Fordham
By: Matt Doherty
After a disappointing loss to American University on their home court in the quarterfinals of the Patriot League Tournament, the BU Men’s Basketball Team will have an opportunity to get rid of the sour taste in their mouths and finish the season strong when they enter the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.
The Terriers first game of the CIT will take place Wednesday night as they travel to New York City to take on the Fordham Rams.
Fordham enters postseason play with an overall record of 17-13 but an 8-10 mark in Atlantic 10 play, a league that has three NCAA Tournament teams.
The Rams got off to a good start in non-conference play knocking off tournament team Fairleigh Dickinson as well as Colgate and St. John’s. However, Fordham struggled in the A10, especially away from Rose Hill Gym where they won just three games all year.
Fordham is a farely average team, scoring around 71 PPG and giving up 68 PPG and their near. 500 record backs up those numbers.
The Rams do boast 6 foot 3 freshman guard Joseph Chartouny who won A-10 Rookie of the Year honors with an impressive stat line of 11.3 PPG, 6.1 APG, 5.5 RPG and 2.1 STL. Chartouny combined with forward Ryan Rhoomes (14.7 PPG and 9.5 RPG) make up a solid one two punch for head coach Jeff Neubauer.
Just like BU, Fordham lost in the first round of their conference tournament to Richmond so both teams are coming in with something to prove.
The Terriers struggled defending American in the tournament loss, falling behind, before a valiant comeback effort fell short. Missed free throws (10-19) also played a big role in the loss.
In order to advance and keep the careers of John Papale and Nathan Dieudonne going, BU will need to be more efficient on the offensive end and focus on getting key defensive stops early and often.
The Terriers hope that Dieudonne along with freshman guard Kyle Foreman will be back to 100% after having nearly two weeks off.
Although the CIT is not the tournament Coach Joe Jones and the rest of the team so desired at the beginning of the season and even just two weeks ago, it is still postseason play that presents positive opportunities. Such opportunities are ending the careers of two decorated seniors on a high note and giving the team momentum heading into next season.
The last time BU was in the CIT, 2013, the Terriers used the momentum to win the Patriot League the following season and come within one game of an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Tip-off from the Bronx is scheduled for 7 PM and can be heard live on WTBU Sports Radio.