Men's Basketball Headlines Terrier Tip-Off

by Tim Larew

The doors opened. Fans flooded the stairs and stampeded into The Roof (a.k.a. Case Gymnasium). The music blared and cameras flashed. Every seat in the house was occupied in a matter of minutes. The atmosphere was electric. If Friday night’s Terrier Tip-Off was any kind of hint as to what’s in store for BU basketball this season, there’s nothing but success and excitement in the near future.

Boston’s Best Dance Crew, Status Quo, opened the night with a performance that jolted the fans to their feet and left the arena rocking. The Drumline and the BU cheerleaders followed up with crowd-engaging performances, all leading to the introduction of Head Coach Patrick Chambers.

Chambers took the court by storm, grabbing the microphone and making a beeline to the scorer’s table on which he leapt atop and urged the crowd onto their feet. He was met with thunderous applause as he continued his enthusiastic rampage around the Case Gym floor. He ended by calling out a plea to the fans, “We need ALL of you! We can’t do it without you!”

The players participated in three-point and dunk competitions, and even showed off some dance moves alongside BU’s Dance Team to the music of the late great Michael Jackson. Even Dean Elmore got in the action and gave a pump-up speech of his own.
It wasn’t just the fans who left the gym pumped for the upcoming season. Senior guard Corey Lowe (’10) was thrilled. “It was a great crowd, a whole lot of fun, and a very well organized event,” Lowe said, adding, “it’s clear with Coach Chambers that we’re entering a new, exciting era in which we’ll attract more fans.”

Teammate and freshman guard B.J. Bailey (’13) agreed. “There was so much energy in the gym tonight, and this is the kind of event that should help us bring in more fans this year.”

Whether it was the music, the dancing, or Chambers’ inspiring antics, it was a fun and unforgettable night for Terriers fans. “It’s Coach Chambers’ high energy that makes us want to be the best team we can be,” Bailey said. For the BU basketball fans that filled Case Gym Friday night, the expectation would be nothing less.