Random thoughts and observations from the Husky sports scene:
— Jose Juan Barea recently announced he will forego his senior season at Northeastern University and enter the 2005 NBA Draft. It’s easy to question the logic behind the decision; if he returned next year, a strong supporting cast featuring Aaron Davis, Shawn James and Bennet Davis would be in place to make some serious noise in the conference, and possibly turn a few heads in the postseason. It would also offer the dynamo another year to develop under Husky head man Ron Everhart.
Barea obviously has his eyes on bigger goals, and who could blame him? He hung up the competition like posters during international competition, few can match his intensity on the court and he has convinced this writer that he is the best player in the conference because of his ability to raise his game against stiffer competition, as evidenced by his play against BU on Sunday.
— I’ll be the first to tell you I am far from a hockey purist; my News colleague Jack Weiland makes a note of pointing this out to me whenever the subject arises. However, one could not help but feel demoralized after Boston University fell upon the Beanpot championship last week at the FleetCenter. There was an eerie Curse of the Bambino-era Red Sox-Yankees feel to the whole ordeal. I mean, you have perennial ‘Pot powerhouse BU vying for their 27th championship in the tournament, versus the Huskies, who entered the game with some serious momentum (4-1-1 entering the fray). The good guys fell behind big early, only to mount a 2003 ALCS-esque type comeback that brought the game into overtime. Sadly, Chris (son of Ray) Bourque did his best Aaron (grandson of Ray) Boone impersonation, slipping a goal past Keni Gibson after the goalie, who has been lights out for much of the season, stopped two pervious attempts. Who knows, maybe NU will recruit one of Schilling’s kids to play on the frontline come next season.
— The track and field programs are going out with guns blazing before entering the Colonial Athletic Association. The men won their first America East indoor track and field championship since 2002, while the women’s team took their third consecutive crown. Idris Payne earned Most Outstanding Track Performer after setting NU and America East records in the 200 and winning the 400, while Luis Moreira earned the America East Coaches Award for totaling the most points in the meet.
On the women’s side, Ahndraea Allen was named Most Outstanding Track Performer and won the America East Coaches Award, while rookie sensation Tramaine Shaw earned Most Outstanding Field Performer honors. Not surprisingly, Sherman Hart’s coaching staff earned top honors as well. It will be interesting to see how the group fares next year, when the stakes are higher with stiffer competition.
— Sometimes you can’t fully appreciate something until its gone. The swimming and diving team, which has won five consecutive America East Championships, but fell short of their sixth consecutive crown this weekend. Regardless of the outcome, it has to be one of the more outstanding championship runs in recent city history.
Doggie Bites: I think the folks on TNT were right on target with their assessment of Saturday night’s slam dunk contest.
