O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tipoff Preview: BU vs. Kansas St.

by Seth Orensky

The Terriers find themselves in San Juan, Puerto Rico with a 0-2 start with much stiffer competition in their way in their next three games. BU, who fell in their home opener Tuesday night to George Washington 69-59, will face the Kansas State Wildcats Thursday night at 7:30 in the nightcap of Day 1. Kansas State opened the season with two home blowouts for Coach Frank Martin against Loyola Chicago and Western Illinois.

The tournament, in its third year, brings eight teams from eight different conferences to Puerto Rico for a four day, 12 game event. Villanova (Big East) is the host of the tournament and the highest ranked team at number six in the country, but four of the other seven teams are ranked or received votes in the polls. This is by far the best field the tournament has drawn as four of the teams in this year’s tournament made the postseason last year and several of the teams are projected to finish first in their conference. Other participants this weekend are Georgia Tech (ACC), Indiana (Big Ten), Mississippi (SEC), Dayton (Atlantic Ten), George Mason (Colonial). Xavier of the Atlantic Ten took home the tournament crown last year with a 63-58 victory over Memphis. This will be the first year an American East team has been entered into the tournament.

Boston University - Starters

Sr., G, Tyler Morris, 12.5 points, 2.5 steals, 2 assists per game

Sr., G, Corey Lowe, 17.5 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists per game

Sr., G, Carlos Strong, 8.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5 offensive rebounds per game

Sr., F, Valdas Sirutis, 3.5 rebounds per game.

So. F, Jake O’Brien, 6 points per game, 5 rebounds per game, 3.5 blocks per game

Probable Substitutes

Jr., G, John Holland 20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 37 minutes per game

So., F, Jeff Pelage 3 rebounds per game, 7 minutes per game

Sr., G, Sherrod Smith 3 minutes per game

In the Terriers toughest test of the young season, BU takes on a Kansas State squad that represents the Big 12 conference in the Puerto Rico Tipoff. The Terriers, in Tuesday night’s loss to George Washington, continued to struggle from the field and handle the ball, shooting just 30.6% from the field and committing 18 turnovers. BU, in each of its first two contests, has trailed early and attempted a comeback only to fall short in the game’s final minutes due to foul trouble and shooting woes. Senior guard Carlos Strong (’10) has been one of several bright spots for Head Coach Patrick Chambers’ squad, averaging 10.5 rebounds per game from a guard spot, including five offensive rebounds in each contest. Another key player for the Terriers so far has been junior guard John Holland (’11). Holland, who did not start in the last contest because Chambers wanted a spark off the bench, led the team in scoring Tuesday night with 24 points and is second on the team in rebounding. This will be the first regular season tournament the Terriers have competed in since 2006, when BU went 0-2 against St. Joseph’s and St. John’s losing by a combined seven points in the Aeropostale Holiday Festival.

Projected Kansas State Lineup

Sr., G, Denis Clemente, 11.5 points, 4 assists per game

Jr., G, Jacob Pullen, 12.5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists per game

Jr., F, Curtis Kelly, 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 turnovers per game

Fr., F, Jordan Henriquez-Roberts, 5.5 points, 7 rebounds, 4.5 blocks per game

Jr., F, Dominique Sutton, 2 points, 3.5 rebounds per game.

Possible Substitutions

So. F, Jamar Samuels, 15 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2 steals per game

Fr. G, Rodney McGruder, 11 points, 2.5 three pointers made per game.

Fr. F, Wally Judge, 8 points, 3.5 rebounds per game.

Kansas State Notes:
-Kansas State is 2-0 in each game they have shot above 50% and held opponents to below 30% from the field
- 5 players are averaging double digit points per game.
- Junior transfer Curtis Kelly leads all Wildcat scorers with 15.5 points and 7.5 rebounds a game.
- Denis Clemente is Kansas State’s best player. Last year he was named the Best Newcomer for the Big 12 after transferring from Miami. Clemente led all Kansas State scorers averaging 15 points and 3.5 assists per game
-Clemente was nominated this preseason for the Bob Cousy Award, the award given to the best point guard in the country.
-The Wildcats also return their 2nd leading scorer from last year, Jacob Pullen a junior guard who averaged 13.9 points per game.
- 5 of Kansas State’s top 7 scorers this year stand at 6-7 or taller.
-Freshmen forward Jordan Henriquez-Roberts has been a huge inside presence for coach Martin. Henriquez-Roberts who stands at 7-0, 245 pounds is averaging 7 rebounds and 4.5 blocks to begin his college career.
- Frank Martin has a deep bench playing 10 of his players for at least 13 minutes a game. And 12 men so far this season.
- In their last game, they held Western Illinois to 0 zero fast break points.
- Seniors Denis Clemente and forward Luis Colon return home to play basketball in Puerto Rico for the first time
- Kansas State has won 27 of its last 33 contests in the month of November.