Wednesday, january 30, 2013
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Morris: College basketball should implement new playoff system Morris: From Page 8
the regular season because they know they are going to make the tournament. It’s pointless. This also takes away the excitement of watching teams fight to get into the tournament, because they have no chance of winning it. The postseason should be reserved for only the very best. College football understands the importance of the regular season. One bad week can be the downfall of an entire season. This importance that college football places on the regular season is what
makes the sport so great. Every game matters, and that can hardly be said for college basketball. Where did this obsession with one-and-done tournaments come from? Sure it is exciting for the fans, but it is completely unfair to the teams involved. One game does not prove which team is better. Even the Royals can occasionally beat the Yankees. The Heat sometimes lay an egg against the Cavaliers. The Patriots actually lost at home to the Cardinals this year. But no one would argue that the latter team is better than the former.
But a series does prove which team is better. The Yankees would never lose a seven-game series to the Royals. This is why all playoffs need a series format. Unfortunately, it is impossible for football to implement a series format into its playoffs due to the brutal nature of the sport. Teams simply cannot handle playing that many games. But this is not the case in basketball. That is why professional basketball has a seven-game series format throughout its playoffs. In basketball more than any other sport, officiating can com-
Etrasco rewarded for offensive game Etrasco: From Page 8
JUNHEE CHUNG/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Danielle Etrasco was named to the U.S. national team after two 50-goal seasons.
During the Champion Challenge, Etrasco scored three goals to help the U.S. National team go 3–0 against Team England and both the NCAA national champion and runner up — Northwestern University and Syracuse University, respectively. During the 2012 season, Etrasco scored 50 goals for the second straight year and had two five-goal games. The Massapequa, N.Y., native also earned a spot on the Tewaaraton Women’s Watch List and received America East First Team All-Conference honors. The U.S. National Team will compete next in an exhibition game against Team Canada during the U.S. Lacrosse Women’s National Tournament at the end of May at Lehigh University.
pletely swing any game. One badly officiated game should not be the end for a team that worked so hard all year. College basketball needs to implement at least a three-game series format into the tournament. Until then, the one-and-done style will not prove which team is the best, but rather which team received the most officiating breaks and good bounces in that one particular game. Sure, we all love watching 20 games a day and seeing our brackets crash and burn. We all love seeing crazy upset after crazy upset. But this does not mean it is
good for the sport. The competitive balance of the sport is completely thrown off. Unfortunately, the only change I see coming in March Madness’s future is more teams being added to the tournament, adding to the already meaningless nature of the regular season. While college football’s playoff format is receiving improvements, it appears college basketball will be forever doomed unless we all wake up from our ‘one-and-done tournament’ trance and realize the atrocity that is March Madness.
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3-point shooting focal point of offense Jacsurak, Brady preparing for next challenge W. Basketball: From Page 8
Terriers’ offense has had success this year is the team’s ability to punish opponents with its excellent 3-point shooting. BU leads the conference in 3-pointers with an average of eight per game. At the present rate, the 2012-13 BU team is currently on pace for 232 3-pointers this year, which would break the previous America East record of 223 set by UMBC in 200708. Terriers racking up Player of the Week awards While a BU player did not receive the
last America East Player of the Week award for the week of Jan. 21 — that honor was given to Albany’s senior forward Ebone Henry — BU players have dominated this recognition over the course of the year. A Terrier has been named America East Player of the Week seven times out of the 12 weeks in the season. Alford leads all America East players with five Player of the Week awards, while Moran and Agboola each have received the award once this season. The only other America East player with more than a single Player of the Week award is Henry, who has two.
Track and field: From Page 8
On the women’s side, freshman Sophie Jacsurak and senior Nikko Brady will look to continue their strong performances in the 60m hurdles. In this event last weekend, they placed fourth (8.73 seconds) and fifth (8.74 seconds), respectively. Brady also placed second in the long jump, recording a jump of 5.61m. Lehane said that he is confident in Jacsurak and Brady, but cautioned that the increased level of competition will require that they bring their best efforts. “They’re going to have to bring their Agame and run really well,” Lehane said. “It’ll be a very stimulating environment.” Sophomore Gemma Acheampong will
compete in the 60m dash and 200m dash after placing eighth in the 60m with a time of 7.87 last weekend. Junior Janet Mellor will also compete in the 200m. Sophomore Amber Muhammed will run the 400m dash, while senior Julia Mirochnick and freshman Jade Paul will compete in the 500m dash. In the field events, sophomore Tessa Runels will participate in the long jump and triple jump after placing ninth (5.25m) and 11th (11.21m) in each event respectively last weekend. While the competition level is increased, Lehane says he thinks the challenge will be good for the Terriers. “Sometimes it’s good to get out of your own comfort zone and your own backyard,” Lehane said.
Women’s tennis remains undefeated with decisive 6–1 victory Roundup: From Page 8
individual victory, winning the 200 freestyle in 1:53.97. Freshman Stephanie Nasson won the 1,650 freestyle with a pool record time of 17:12.25. Senior Melinda Matyas was the best diver for the Terriers, winning the one-meter board with a score of 262.70 points and placing second in the three-meter board with a score of 270.25 points. BU’s next competition will be Feb. 2, when it hosts Boston College starting at 1:30 p.m. Wrestling Sunday afternoon, the BU wrestling team traveled to Davidson, N.C., to face Virginia Military Institute and Davidson College. The Terriers won both matchups with final scores of 34–6 in each match. Seven Terriers won both of their matchups. Senior Hunter Meys (197) was a top performer, contributing 10 points after pinning VMI’s Urayoan Garcia in one minute and winning a major decision over Davidson’s Carson Stack, 10–0.
Redshirt sophomore Alex Najjar (188) also earned ten points as a result of a 14–3 major decision over Conor Black of VMI and a Davidson forfeit. Redshirt junior Nestor Taffur (157) earned his 25th win of the year after a 16–0 technical fall over Ted Gottwald of VMI and a 15–1 major decision against Christopher Talevi of Davidson. At 133, B.J. Suitor pinned VMI’s Brandon Goodwyn and turned in an 8–2 win over Anthony Elias of Davidson. Other double winners for BU were juniors Bubba McGinley and Kevin Innis, and sophomore Mitchell Wightman. BU is back in action this Friday evening as it visits Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa., for a dual meet. Women’s Tennis The Terriers improved to 3–0 on the season after earning a 6–1 victory over Binghamton University on Sunday. Sophomore Sami Lieb came away victorious in No. 2 singles, losing only one game and coasting by Binghamton’s Katherine Medianik 6–0, 6–1. She also combined with senior Jessi Linero to defeat
Binghamton’s Missy Edelblum and Alexis Tashiro 8–3 at No. 2 doubles. Linero had an easy first set at No. 3 singles, taking it 6–0, and was able to hold on and win the second set 6–4 to defeat Tashiro. Freshman Kim McCallum partnered with senior Vivien Laszloffy to win No. 3 doubles, 8–5. McCallum later won at the No. 4 singles slot 6–1, 6–4. In the top spot, freshman Lauren Davis battled back after dropping her first set to freshman Sara Kohtz, 5–7, to win her next two sets 6–2 and 3–0 as Kohtz pulled out after an injury. Davis also teamed up with fellow freshman Madison Craft at the No. 1 doubles spot and emerged victorious, 8–4. In her first appearance this spring, junior Kendal Drake was successful at No. 6 singles, winning her match 6–3, 6–0 over Jesse Rubin. Craft played at No. 5 singles in an attempt to complete the sweep for BU, but had to retire due to injury. The Terriers will take the court again Saturday when they face University of Wisconsin in Hanover, N.H.
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