BOSTON—Northeastern will open its 95th season of men's basketball on Sunday, Nov. 16, when it faces city rival Boston University at TD Garden at 12:30 p.m. on NESN as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Triple Header. The game marks the fifth consecutive season that the local foes will meet in the season opener.
Northeastern has faced BU more than any other team in program history, with this year's game being the 142nd all-time meeting. BU holds a slim 72-69 lead in the series, but NU has won three of the last four head-to-head meetings, and seven of the last 10. The rivalry has produced many memorable moments—especially in recent years. Each of the last five meetings have been decided by one possession or in overtime.
Fans across New England can watch the game live on NESN. GoNUxstream will offer an audio broadcast of the game (
GoNU.com/xstream), and fans can also tune into WRBB to hear the live action (104.9 FM,
WRBBsports.com).
About the HuskiesBill Coen's Huskies, who stormed to the CAA regular season title in 2012-13, are primed for another title run and numerous college basketball analysts from across the nation have the Huskies slotted for an NCAA tournament appearance in 2014-15. The squad, which was picked to win the CAA in the league's preseason poll, will return four starters and will welcome back all-conference selection
Quincy Ford, who sat out last season due to injury.
Scott Eatherton, the reigning CAA Defensive Player of the Year, is the team's top returning scorer and rebounder, after averaging 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season. Eatherton earned All-CAA Second Team and CAA All-Defensive Team honors a season ago and was named to the preseason All-CAA First Team this year. Junior
David Walker also averaged in double-figures at 11.5 points per game and joined Eatherton on the CAA All-Defensive Team a year ago. Walker earned a preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention nod this year.
Reggie Spencer patrolled the paint with Eatherton and was second in rebounds with 6.6 per game, and third in scoring at 9.2 per game.
T.J. Williams enjoyed a solid CAA All-Rookie campaign, averaging 6.9 points and 2.0 assists per contest.
Zach Stahl surged down the stretch for the Huskies, averaging 11.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game over the final five contests.
Northeastern picked to win CAANortheastern was picked to win the CAA men's basketball championship in 2014-15, according to a vote of the league's coaches, media relations directors, and media members. The Huskies return six of their top seven scorers from a season ago. Northeastern was followed in the voting by William & Mary, Hofstra, and Drexel. James Madison was selected fifth, followed by College of Charleston, Towson, Delaware, UNCW, and Elon. A conference title in 2014-15 would be the Huskies' second in three seasons. Ninth-year head coach
Bill Coen, already one of the CAA's all-time winningest coaches, guided NU to the CAA regular-season championship in 2012-13, behind a 20-win campaign and a 14-4 CAA record.
Successful startsNortheastern has won four of its last six season openers under head coach
Bill Coen. The Huskies are 4-4 in season openers under Coen, including 4-1 in season openers played within the city of Boston.
At home in the HUBUnder
Bill Coen, Northeastern is an impressive 7-1 in the first game of the season played in Boston, including 4-1 in season openers played in the Hub.
Playing for a causeSunday's game will be part of the second-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.
Eatherton, Ford, Walker earn CAA honorsRedshirt senior
Scott Eatherton earned preseason All-CAA First Team honors, while redshirt junior
Quincy Ford was named to the preseason All-CAA Second Team, and junior
David Walker earned preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention. Eatherton was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Year a season ago, to go along with CAA All-Defensive Team and All-CAA Second Team honors. Walker joined Eatherton on the All-Defensive Team last season, and also earned All-Rookie honors in 2013. Ford earned All-Rookie status in 2012 and All-CAA Third Team laurels in 2013.
Huskies to make 10 TV appearancesThe Northeastern men's basketball team will make at least 10 television appearances in 2014-15. The Huskies are scheduled to make four nationally-televised appearances — three on NBC Sports Network and one on ESPN3.
Bill Coen's squad will open the season with consecutive television games — Nov. 16 against Boston University on NESN, and Nov. 18 at Florida State on ESPN3. NU will play a third non-conference game on TV on Dec. 3 against Harvard on NESN. In addition, Northeastern will again offer a free, HD stream of every home game on GoNU.com/xstream.
The nation takes noticeNortheastern has earned the attention of the voters of the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll. The Huskies, who captured the CAA regular-season title and advanced to postseason play for the third time in five seasons two years ago, are receiving votes in the latest poll. NU is the highest vote-getter among CAA programs.
NU earns 100-percent in latest GSRNortheastern men's basketball earned a perfect 100 percent Graduation Success Rate (GSR) in the latest report release by the NCAA in October. The Huskies' GSR is a remarkable 28 percentage points higher than the national average for all men's basketball programs. 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 of 91 percent, compared to a national average of 82 percent for all Division I institutions. The 91-percent figure is an all-time high for the university and places Northeastern among the top 20 percent of all Division I schools.
On-court development under CoenAlready one of the CAA's all-time winningest coaches,
Bill Coen is widely regarded for his ability to evaluate and develop talented players. In his eight seasons at Northeastern, NU players have earned 24 All-CAA honors, including five First Team and six All-Rookie selections. Eleven of Coen's former players have earned professional contracts and nine Huskies remain active in professional basketball.
Fundamental first halfNortheaster's ability to battle back from double-digit deficits in recent years has been well documented. The game's first half, though, has been the key to the Huskies' success under Coen. NU was 6-0 last season when leading by five or more points at the break, and the Huskies have lost only five times in the last six seasons when enjoying a five point or more advantage at the half. Under Coen, NU has won 87 percent of its games (61-9) when enjoying a halftime lead of five or more points.
Getting defensiveNU is 13-3 since the start of the 2012-13 season, and 22-5 since 2011-12, when holding an opponent to 59 or fewer points. Under Coen, the Huskies are 64-20 (.762) when keeping opponents under 60 points.
Up nextNortheastern will travel to Tallahassee to face Florida State on Tuesday, Nov. 18. The Huskies led Florida State for nearly 35 minutes a year ago in Puerto Rico, but a last-second fade-away jumper by Devon Bookert delivered the Seminoles a 62-60 victory and handed heartbreak to the Huskies. The meeting will be just the second ever between the programs. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m., and ESPN3 will carry the action live.
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