Quick Facts: 2009-10 record: 16-15 (11-5 America East)
Letterwinners Returning: 10
Starters Returning: 5
Newcomers: 4
Head Coach: Kelly Greenberg (6th season)/ 193-132 career-record
Heading into the 2009-10 season, there was a level of
uncertainty surrounding the Boston University women's basketball program. While
no one questioned whether Kelly Greenberg would have her team prepared each and
every day, many fans wondered how the Terriers would replace the significant
loss of such a talented senior class.
However, in further proof that this program is at the stage
where it can reload instead of rebuild, the Terriers emerged as one of the best
teams in the America East behind the play of a trio of outstanding guards. The emergence of freshman guards Chantell
Alford and Mo Moran, who both were named to All-Conference teams, helped the
Terriers earn a 16-15 (11-5 America East) record. Even with their success as
freshmen, Greenberg believes the humble nature of both will help this team
compete for an America East championship in 2010-11.
"They had great freshman campaigns," said Greenberg. "Mo and
Chantell are very humble people and they are almost embarrassed to do well. We
have been working on that and looking for them to mature as they become true
sophomores. As freshmen they did a lot of great things, at times when we were
asking them to play so many minutes, they would get tired and we would have to
take them out. So they have really got a lot stronger and we are looking
forward to watching them play many more minutes of quality basketball."
With all the outstanding weapons that Greenberg and her
staff have at their disposal, it's actually junior guard Alex Young that might
be the best pure scorer. As she enters her junior season, Greenberg emphasized
the key for Young is to continue her improvement on the defensive end.
"Alex can really light it up," explained the sixth year head
coach. "She is as good of a scorer as anyone we have ever coached. For her, it's
just a matter of keeping her on the court. She has really been working on her
defensive footwork, because that's really what hurt her a lot last year. Because
this is her third year and because of her experience, she is great for Chantell
and Mo and the other young guards."
Boston University returns all five starters and 85 percent
of its scoring from last season. With that much talent coming back to campus,
the hope of an NCAA Tournament appearance, after two straight WNIT appearances,
exists among fans. If this young team can mature and develop an understanding
of what it takes to win, Greenberg sees no reason why this can't be a special season.
"Every coach says that you want to take it one game at a
time and one day at a time," emphasized Greenberg. "This is a great group. We
are in great shape. We are in much better shape than last year's team already.
We just need to understand who we are and not try to be anyone different then
who we are. Let's make sure we stick with our strengths, try to hide our
weaknesses a little bit, and as I mentioned with Chantell and Mo, I think a lot
of that will be about maturity. If we just stick with who we are as
individuals, and we keep figuring out who we are as a team, I think we are
going to be sitting pretty by the end of the year."
The Terriers will face a difficult non-conference schedule,
which includes the season-opener against Boston College and an early trip to
Texas. However, this is a team that is capable of competing with any team in
the country, and these early challenges will only help this group as it gets
ready for America East play. If Alford, Moran and Young all make the strides
that Greenberg is hoping for, this Boston University team is capable of making
an impact in March.