Story lines
• Northeastern will open its 94th season of men's basketball on Sunday, Nov. 10, when it faces city rival Boston University at TD Garden at 12:30 p.m. on NESN. The game is part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Triple-Header. The event will feature a triple-header of games – Northeastern vs. Boston University, Boston College vs. Massachusetts, and Harvard vs. Holy Cross — with proceeds benefitting the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer initiative.
• In what has become an exciting tradition in Boston basketball, NU and BU will open the season in a head-to-head match up. The game marks the fourth consecutive season that the local foes will meet in the season opener. NU has won the previous three.
• The Huskies have won three straight in the rivalry, including an overtime victory in 2011 and a memorable, buzzer-beating thriller at Matthews Arena a season ago.
• Northeastern has faced BU more than any other team in program history, with this year's game being the 141st all-time meeting. BU holds a slim 71-69 lead in the series, but NU has won seven of the last nine.
• Northeastern is coming off an impressive 2012-13 campaign. The Huskies captured their first CAA regular-season title—11th conference regular-season title in program history—after storming to a 14-4 CAA record. The Huskies earned a berth in the NIT for the second time in four years.
About the Huskies
Coming off a 20-win season, a CAA regular-season championship, and an NIT appearance, Northeastern will look to maintain momentum in 2013-14. Juniors
Quincy Ford and
Reggie Spencer finished last season with 12.2 and 9.8 points per contest, respectively, with each tacking on nearly six rebounds per game. Ford earned All-CAA honors. Fellow junior
Demetrius Pollard developed into an important contributor, earning nearly 16 minutes of action per game while coming up with clutch performances against a number of CAA foes. Sophomore
David Walker, who emerged as a starter early in the season, chipped in 6.2 points and 2.4 assists per game and added 42 steals during the season, to earn CAA All-Rookie honors. Coen welcomes five newcomers to the program this season, including transfer
Scott Eatherton and freshmen
C.J. Hill,
Jimmy Marshall, and
T.J. Williams.
Scouting the Terriers
The Terriers return all of their starters from last year's team that finished 17-13 overall and 11-5 in the America East. Senior D.J. Irving led BU in scoring with 14.2 points per game. He was also the team leader in free-throws made (101), free-throw percentage (.783), and minutes per game (34.7), while placing second in 3-pointers (55) and field-goals made (134). For his efforts, Irving was named to the 2013 America East All-Conference First Team and earned a spot on the 2013 College Sports Madness Mid-Major All-American Second Team. Senior Dom Morris was BU's leading rebounder (6.4) and second-leading scorer (11.6).
Successful Starts
Northeastern has won four of its last five season openers under head coach
Bill Coen. The Huskies are 4-3 in season openers under Coen, including 4-0 in season openers played within the city of Boston.
Season openers under Coen
Nov. 15, 2006 at Syracuse 58-81, L
Nov. 11, 2007 at Illinois 55-63, L
Nov. 11, 2008 IUPUI 73-60, W
Nov. 17, 2009 at Siena 53-59, L
Nov. 12, 2010 Boston Univ. 66-64, W
Nov. 11, 2011 at Boston Univ. 82-74 (OT), W
Nov. 9, 2012 Boston Univ. 65-64, W
Playing for a cause
Sunday's game will be part of the first-ever Coaches vs. Cancer Triple-Header. The event will feature Northeastern vs. Boston University, Boston College vs. Massachusetts, and Harvard vs. Holy Cross, with proceeds benefitting the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer initiative.
A look back at NU's banner year
Northeastern, which had established itself as an upper-echelon team in the competitive Colonial Athletic Association, broke through for its first CAA regular-season title in eight seasons as a conference member. The league title—the first for the Red and Black in 20 years—was the 11th all-time for the tradition-rich program. The Huskies collected 20 wins, equaling the best win total in eight years, and returned to the postseason for the third time in five years. The season also featured the greatest comeback in Northeastern basketball history—an improbable 24-point rally to defeat George Mason in the CAA tournament semifinals—and the program's first appearance in the CAA tournament championship game. Individual achievements, including All-CAA and national accolades, coach of the year awards, and school-record performances, also highlighted a memorable year on Huntington Avenue.
Ford earns preseason All-CAA honors
Northeastern junior forward
Quincy Ford was named to the preseason All-CAA men's basketball second team by a vote of the conference's coaches, media relations directors and media members. This marks the second consecutive season Ford has garnered preseason honors. The preseason nod comes on the heels of a standout sophomore season. The 6'8 junior forward was named to the All-CAA third team a year ago. He played in all 33 games and earned 32 starts for the Huskies. He ranked third on the team in scoring (12.2 ppg), second in rebounding (5.8 rpg), second in blocks and third in steals. The versatile swingman shot 41 percent from the floor, 35 percent from 3-point range, and 79 percent from the free-throw line. As a freshman in 2011-12, Ford turned heads, and was named to the CAA All-Rookie team and earned a spot on the 2012 CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Freshman All-America team.
NU picked sixth in CAA preseason poll
Northeastern, which stormed to a 14-4 conference record and regular-season championship a year ago, was picked sixth in the CAA preseason poll.
Bill Coen's Huskies return eight players, including three starters, from that championship team. NU was tabbed fifth in last year's preseason poll before sprinting to its first CAA title since joining the conference in 2005. Towson, which tied for second place a year ago, earned the top spot in the poll, followed by Drexel, College of Charleston, Delaware, and William & Mary. James Madison, last year's tournament champion, was picked seventh, followed by UNCW and Hofstra.
Huskies to make nine TV appearances
Northeastern will make at least nine television appearances during the 2013-14 regular season, the CAA announced on Oct. 22 at its media day event in Baltimore, Md. The Huskies' TV package includes no fewer than four nationally-televised match ups. In addition, Northeastern Athletics will again offer a free, HD stream of every home game on GoNU.com/xstream.
The nation takes notice
On the heels of a 20-win campaign and a CAA regular-season title, Northeastern has earned the attention of the voters of the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll. The Huskies, who advanced to postseason play for the third time in five seasons a year ago, are receiving votes in the latest poll.
NU earns 100-percent in latest GSR
The NCAA announced the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and Federal Graduation Rate data for the 2003-06 cohort for all Division I institutions. The report, part of the annual NCAA Division I Academic Performance Program, supported a continuing trend of academic success achieved by Northeastern student-athletes. Collectively, Northeastern student-athletes earned a GSR two percentage points higher than the national average for Division I institutions without football, and four percentage points higher than the overall Division I average. Most impressive were the performances of the men's and women's basketball programs, which both achieved a 100-percent success rate. The men's average is a remarkable 27 percent higher than the national average for Division I non-football schools, and 30 percent higher than the overall Division I rate.
Making an impact in the community
Head coach
Bill Coen, on Oct. 12, signed 14-year-old Max Plansky to a national letter of intent. Plansky, from nearby Danvers, Mass., committed to the Huskies in front of a room full of friends, family, and future teammates at Cabot Center on the Northeastern campus. Plansky joined the Northeastern basketball family through Team IMPACT, a program dedicated to improving the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses. "Max has such a positive attitude and he knows what it means to be a good teammate," Coen remarked. "He faces adversity everyday with a smile, possesses a never-give-up attitude, and is committed to improving everyday. He is someone who will make each one of us better people."
Two more Huskies ink pro contracts; nine former Coen players go pro
Jonathan Lee and
Dinko Marshavelski each signed professional contracts following NU's CAA championship season in 2012-13. Marshavelski, who signed a contract with Cocinas.com Logrono (Spain - LEB Gold) in October, became the ninth of
Bill Coen's former Huskies to earn a professional contract. Lee, who left Huntington Avenue as one of the most proficient 3-point shooter in program history, signed a deal with the Gmunden Swans in Austria.
Coen ranks among best in career CAA wins
Bill Coen continues to establish himself as one of the most highly regarded coaches in the CAA. Coen is currently eighth on the CAA's list of all-time winningest coaches. He is one of just three current CAA coaches to have cracked the top 10.
Winningest coaches in CAA play (CAA regular season and tournament games only)
1. Jim Larranaga (George Mason, 1998-2011) 183
2. Blaine Taylor (ODU, 2002-13) 148
3. Bruiser Flint (Drexel, 2002-present) 137 *
4. Dick Tarrant (Richmond, 1982-93) 106
5. Tom Pecora (Hofstra, 2002-10) 98
5. Charles "Lefty" Driesell (JMU, 1988-97) 98
7. Jerry Wainwright (UNCW, 1995-2002) 97
8.
Bill Coen (Northeastern, 2006-present) 78 *
9. Jeff Capel, Jr. (ODU, 1995-2001) 77
10. Tony Shaver (William & Mary, 2003-present) 67 *
* Active
Coen climbs NU wins ladder
Bill Coen continues to lead a basketball renaissance in Boston. On Jan. 12, with a 70-59 win at Towson, Coen became just the fourth coach in the history of NU basketball to win 100 career games. Now in his eighth season, Coen ranks fourth all-time at NU in career wins.
NU's 100-game winners
Jim Calhoun - 250-137 (.646) - 1972-86, 14 years
Dick Dukeshire - 204-100 (.671) - 1958-71, 13 years
Karl Fogel - 131-103 (.560) - 1986-94, 8 years
Bill Coen - 111-112 (.498) - 2006-present, 8 years
Welcome, David McLaughlin
Former Stonehill College head coach
David McLaughlin joined the NU coaching staff in the offseason. McLaughlin, Stonehill's all-time wins leader, was named associate head coach. "I am thrilled to welcome
David McLaughlin to our staff," Coen said at the time of his hire. "David possesses the character, knowledge, skill, and work ethic that we look for in members of our staff. He is an energetic recruiter and a talented coach whose Stonehill student-athletes achieved great success on the court and in the classroom. His record speaks for itself. He has an outstanding reputation and is universally respected throughout the basketball profession." McLaughlin guided Stonehill to six 20 win seasons, including a program-record 27 victories during the team's 2005-06 NCAA Division II national semifinal run; five NCAA tournament bids, including a school-record four-straight bids from 2008 to 2012; two east regional championships; the program's first NE-10 tournament championship since 1989; and the NE-10 regular season title in 2009-10.
Road warriors: One of nation's four best
Northeastern finished the 2012-13 regular season with the nation's fourth best road winning percentage (.833). The Huskies went 10-2 in true road games, including an 8-1 mark in conference road games.
Win total best since 2009-10
Northeastern's 20 overall wins and 14 CAA wins in 2012-13 were the most since 2009-10, when the Huskies went 20-13, 14-4 CAA, and earned an NIT appearance.
Winning the close ones
In 2012-13, Coach
Bill Coen's squad owned an impressive 13-4 record in games decided by five points or less. The Huskies tied school records for most overtime games played and won at 4-1.
Historic Matthews Arena
Northeastern's home court is historic Matthews Arena, the world's oldest multi-purpose athletic facility. The arena, the original home of the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins, is in its 104th year of operation. The Huskies have enjoyed great success on their home floor. They appeared at the arena as far back as 1936, but made the arena their permanent home from 1981 to 1996 and again from 2005 to present. From 1985 to 1987, the Huskies put together a school-record 38-game winning streak at the arena. The century-old gem underwent a major renovation three years ago, which added state-of-the-art amenities while preserving its rich character.
The nation's oldest active men's basketball arenas
1. Matthews Arena – Northeastern (April 16, 1910)
2. Rose Hill Gym – Fordham (Jan. 16, 1925)
3. Lavietes Pavilion – Harvard (1926)
4. The Palestra –Penn (Jan. 1, 1927)
5. Hec Edmundson Pavilion – Washington (Dec. 27, 1927)
6. Williams Arena – Minnesota (Feb. 4, 1928)
7. Hinkle Fieldhouse – Butler (March 7, 1928)
8. Payne Whitney Gym – Yale (Dec. 10, 1932)
9. Fogelman Arena – Tulane (Dec. 15, 1933)
10. Haas Pavilion – California (1933)
11. Municipal Auditorium – UMKC (1935)
12. Gallagher-Iba Arena – Oklahoma State (Dec. 9, 1938)
13. Lundholm Gym – New Hampshire (1938)
14. McAlister Field House – The Citadel (1939)
15. Cameron Indoor Stadium – Duke (Jan. 6, 1940)
List compiled by Tulane athletic communications
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Up next
Northeastern will travel to Long Island to face Stony Brook on Wednesday, Nov. 13. The Huskies are 6-4 all-time against the Seawolves. Stony Brook won the most recent meeting, 76-69, on Feb. 18, 2012, at Matthews Arena.
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