2023-24 Patriot League Previews: Boston Terriers

2022-23 Regular Season Result: 15-17 (8-10) 5^th in Patriot League

2023 Patriot League Tournament Result: Lost in Quarterfinals at Army

Coach: Joe Jones (13^th season)

Key Departures: Walter Whyte (Guard/Forward), Jonas Harper (Guard), Fletcher Tynen (Guard/Forward), Nevin Zink (Forward), Ethan Brittain-Watts (Guard)

Key additions: Kyrone Alexander (Guard), Matai Baptiste (Forward)

Boston lost eight of their first eleven Patriot League games last season but got momentum on the back end of the season winning five of their final seven conference games before falling in overtime at West Point in the conference tournament. Last year’s squad was extremely experienced, but the 2023-24 Terriers do not have a lot of players who have been battle-tested. Essentially the entire starting five of Whyte, Harper, Tynen, Zink, and Brittain-Watts who were all either seniors or graduate students are not on the roster this season.

Miles Brewster has arguably the most experience on the roster. The 6’3 guard from Brooklyn is the only returning player to start double-digit games last season (10). He along with upperclassmen Anthony Morales and Malcome Chimezie will provide veteran leadership for the Terriers. Morales had his highest minutes per game average in his three seasons at BU playing nearly 16 minutes per contest. In that time, he averaged 5 points per game, almost three rebounds per game, and 1.3 assists per game. Morales will see a bigger role this year along with forward Otto Landrum. Landrum did well in the 10 mpg he played last season pulling down three rebounds per game and contributing almost three and a half points per game. Both players played their roles well, but it remains to be seen how they will fair when asked to contribute more as possible starters.

The lack of players who have seen the floor for significant stretches is a theme. When you look across the board at Boston almost nobody comes back with more than 15 minutes per game in playing time from last season’s roster. Brewster played about 18 minutes per game, but the other players who I expect to be key contributors such as Chimezie, Morales, and Landrum just did not see the court often enough for me to have confidence in picking them against the squads that teams like Lehigh, American, or Loyola are rolling out on a nightly basis.

Joe Jones told me they have always been an up-tempo team but are looking to get back to that even more this year. He said they will be running a lot of ball screens and handoffs. I expect the Terriers to play around a lot with lineups and see how different combinations work based on certain matchups night to night.

Ben Roy will be back this season for Boston after dealing with an injury. I could see him slotting into the point guard role. Both coach Jones and Terrier basketball broadcaster Brian Maurer were excited about Roy returning to form. Boston was inconsistent last year. The earlier the team is able to get its identity particularly defensively I think the better off they will be. Boston is typically one of the more physical teams in the league along with the service academies. Now that a lot of the graduate students and seniors have departed will they still be able to retain that strength? Time will tell. Jones told me that this is one of the stronger recruiting classes that he has had. Kyrone Alexander, Matai Baptiste, Spencer Joyner, and Michael McNair joined the fold for the Terriers.

Joe Jones coached teams are gritty and usually in contention, but it is just tough for me to not look at Boston and see this as a rebuilding year. Losing your entire starting five from a team that was middle of the back does not bode well for predictions. As with any early season projections, it is important to note that just looking at production brought back or lost is not a full-picture indicator of how a team will perform. Role players or freshman guys could very well step up and produce big-time for Boston or any other team that is not picked as favorably. BU is capable of pulling off an upset here or there, but for the most part, I think they look destined for a first-round game in the Patriot League Tournament.

I expect Boston to finish 9^th

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All Team Previews

1. Colgate
2. Lehigh
3. American
4. Loyola
5. Lafayette
6. Holy Cross
7. Navy
8. Bucknell
9. Boston
10. Army