Our Season By the Numbers:
Lost in RSEQ Final: 77-74 @ McGill.
2nd place finish in league standings: 10 wins & 6 losses.
Overall Record: 21 wins & 10 losses, 18 wins & 9 losses vs. CIS Competition
Record vs. teams in 'CIS Final 8' : 5 wins & 4 losses
Highest Ranking in CIS Coach's Poll: #9 (1st ranking since 1999)
Final Ranking in CIShoops.ca Ratings Percentage Index Poll: #8
Awards:
Mike Andrews: 2nd Team All Canadian, RSEQ MVP, Defensive Player of Year & 1st Team Allstar
Jeremy Leonard-Smith: 1st Team RSEQ Allstar
Jona Bermillo: RSEQ All Rookie Team
BU Coaching Staff: RSEQ Coach of the Year
The season started out with some uncertainty and a very difficult schedule. In our first 4 games we faced 3 teams who would end up in the CIS Final 8 with 3 of those games on the road & one at a neutral site. We could have easily played very well and started the season 0-4. However, our team's hard work in September and their strong chemistry propelled us to a 3-1 start with wins over Ottawa (Bronze Medalists @ CIS Final 8), @ Victoria (6th place @ CIS Final 8) and vs. a talented Trinity Western team on our BC trip. Our only loss was @ UBC in a game that was definitely tighter than the final 12 point spread would indicate. UBC made it to the CIS Final 8 and was a top 4 team all season.
From there we continued to play well winning the UOttawa tournament & beating the GeeGees again, but on their own floor in a very tight game this time. We were down big at the half and ended up taking our 1st lead with 30 seconds to go. The crowd was fantastic...very heavy BU contingent & it literally felt like we were in our home gym in the 2nd half of that game!
From there we played well finishing the 1st semester with a 5 point win at McGill handing the then CIS #3 ranked Redmen their first loss of the year. The win left us with 2 wins & a loss in league play heading into the break. Over Christmas we won 3 out of 3 games at the UQAM Tournament before starting into league play again. We managed to win our first 3 games and broke into the national rankings for the first time in 14 years coming in at #9. That was short lived as our stumble occurred just after that with consecutive losses to McGill and at Concordia. Regardless, we managed to be on the radar all year & were consistently ranked in the top 12.
After finishing the season 10-6 in league we finished in 2nd place and hosted Concordia in a RSEQ semifinal. Despite foul trouble and injuries we hung on for a hard fought 7 point victory in front of a loud & large home crowd. Very much appreciated the support we received from our fans this season. The community was fantastic throughout as usual.
From there we headed to McGill for the league final where we played some very good basketball before having a 14 point halftime lead slowly slip away culminating in the final minute on a contested straight-on banked 3 pt shot at the end of the shot clock! Proud of how our guys played and once again an incredible crowd of BU fans there to support us.
A disappointing ending to the season that still stings. Regardless, our team and program made great strides this year and it was nice to bring the pride back to Gaiter Basketball. Next season looks promising as the only core player not returning is 5th year captain, Tim Hunter aka Bones. Bones will be hard to replace, but the opportunity will be there for other guys to show what they can do. The season was fantastic from a coach's perspective not because of the wins, but because of the group of guys we coached...a fun, unselfish & hard working group. If they continue to work hard & never forget that we had success because WE were ALL IN then we will be very tough again next season!
We expect to play another very competitive non-conference schedule and hope to finish next year's season about 375 km east of our campus in mid-March!
I will keep you posted...GO GAITERS!!
Friday, 15 March 2013
Monday, 4 March 2013
Heartbreaking Loss in League Final
Saturday @ McGill - RSEQ Championship FINAL
BU 23 19 19 13 - 74
MU 14 14 27 22 - 77
First of all, I would like to thank everyone for all their support over the course of this season. We had great fan support at home games and on the road as well. Saturday at McGill in a packed house the BU fans rivaled the McGill fans in numbers and crushed them from a spirit perspective...somethings never change! It feels good to know that Gaiter Basketball is relevant again.
To say this loss is heartbreaking is an understatement. Our guys have put so much into this season and I feel they deserved a better fate. Regardless, they have nothing to hang their heads about and they represented all of us terrifically well!
We came to play on Saturday and really jumped on McGill in the first half. 5th yr senior Tim Hunter dropped five 3 pointers in the first half playing the way you need a senior to play. We did a fantastic job defensively, we rebounded the ball and we did not foul. Our ball pressure was excellent & we played like a championship team.
However, the wheels fell off a bit in the 2nd half. McGill came out in attack mode as they were down 14. We withstood that early and had our lead up to 15 points. Unfortunately our lack of depth(both Scott & PK played through injuries & were less effective than usual) combined with the fact the temperature in the gym was literally 90 degrees contributed to us wearing down and fouling way too much. After shooting 2 free throws in 1st half, McGill shot 28 in the 2nd half.We committed those fouls, but after watching the video I feel we could have shot another 8-10 free throws ourselves.
Fast forward to the final minutes. Down 1 with 2:30 to go and Jeremy hits a 3 point shot to put us up 2, we get a stop on the defensive end and follow that with a Big Mike score inside. McGill replies with a 2 and a defensive stop of their own. Then the dagger...with the shot clock running out McGill hits a contested 3 pointer off the glass from the top of the key to go ahead by 1. We come down and Jona Bermillo has his 3 point shot hit the front of the rim, the back board, the front of the rim, the back of the rim and the front of the rim before it falls off...Big Mike's tip back rolls off the rim! We are down 1 and end up fouling, McGill makes 2 free throws and our 3 pointer to tie rims out...game over...season over!
We held McGill to 35% shooting, we shot 41%, only gave up 6 offensive rebounds, forced 18 turnovers & committed 11, but were outscored by 15 points at the foul line. That was the game! Big Mike led us with 22 points & 7 rebounds despite McGill defenders doing chin-ups on his arms all night! Apparently if you are the biggest guy on the floor the defense can take liberties on you...I digress. Tim had a fantastic playoff performance scoring 17 in this game while Jeremy & Onnex added 14 & 10 respectively. Scott Ring was held scoreless & fouled out. However, he was on crutches on Thursday & Friday with a knee injury. The fact he played was a credit to his character, toughness & determination. Freshman Jona Bermillo played as well as a 1st year kid could in that environment & gave us a chance to compete with Scott playing on 1 leg.
McGill heads into the CIS tournament this week as the 6th seed facing a very good Ottawa team we have beaten twice. We have a 5-4 record vs. teams that will be in this year's National Tournament and it stings not to be there. Can only imagine the great fan support we would have had at Scotia Bank Place! Next season!!
We will have more news to report and a season review next week. Thanks again to all who supported us through the good and bad of the last few seasons.
Rod
Go Gaiters!!
BU 23 19 19 13 - 74
MU 14 14 27 22 - 77
First of all, I would like to thank everyone for all their support over the course of this season. We had great fan support at home games and on the road as well. Saturday at McGill in a packed house the BU fans rivaled the McGill fans in numbers and crushed them from a spirit perspective...somethings never change! It feels good to know that Gaiter Basketball is relevant again.
To say this loss is heartbreaking is an understatement. Our guys have put so much into this season and I feel they deserved a better fate. Regardless, they have nothing to hang their heads about and they represented all of us terrifically well!
We came to play on Saturday and really jumped on McGill in the first half. 5th yr senior Tim Hunter dropped five 3 pointers in the first half playing the way you need a senior to play. We did a fantastic job defensively, we rebounded the ball and we did not foul. Our ball pressure was excellent & we played like a championship team.
Fast forward to the final minutes. Down 1 with 2:30 to go and Jeremy hits a 3 point shot to put us up 2, we get a stop on the defensive end and follow that with a Big Mike score inside. McGill replies with a 2 and a defensive stop of their own. Then the dagger...with the shot clock running out McGill hits a contested 3 pointer off the glass from the top of the key to go ahead by 1. We come down and Jona Bermillo has his 3 point shot hit the front of the rim, the back board, the front of the rim, the back of the rim and the front of the rim before it falls off...Big Mike's tip back rolls off the rim! We are down 1 and end up fouling, McGill makes 2 free throws and our 3 pointer to tie rims out...game over...season over!
We held McGill to 35% shooting, we shot 41%, only gave up 6 offensive rebounds, forced 18 turnovers & committed 11, but were outscored by 15 points at the foul line. That was the game! Big Mike led us with 22 points & 7 rebounds despite McGill defenders doing chin-ups on his arms all night! Apparently if you are the biggest guy on the floor the defense can take liberties on you...I digress. Tim had a fantastic playoff performance scoring 17 in this game while Jeremy & Onnex added 14 & 10 respectively. Scott Ring was held scoreless & fouled out. However, he was on crutches on Thursday & Friday with a knee injury. The fact he played was a credit to his character, toughness & determination. Freshman Jona Bermillo played as well as a 1st year kid could in that environment & gave us a chance to compete with Scott playing on 1 leg.
McGill heads into the CIS tournament this week as the 6th seed facing a very good Ottawa team we have beaten twice. We have a 5-4 record vs. teams that will be in this year's National Tournament and it stings not to be there. Can only imagine the great fan support we would have had at Scotia Bank Place! Next season!!
We will have more news to report and a season review next week. Thanks again to all who supported us through the good and bad of the last few seasons.
Rod
Go Gaiters!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)