Boston, MA
Mavericks assistant coach Jared Dudley says ‘it’s all love’ for Boston even with Celtics up
Mavericks assistant coach Jared Dudley still finds pride in calling Boston his “second home” even as the Celtics have pushed Dallas to the brink of elimination.
After all, Boston is where Dudley developed into a “young man,” turning in a legendary career at Boston College in the 2000s before being taken by Charlotte in the 2007 draft.
Nearly 17 years after leaving Chestnut Hill, Dudley, 38, finds himself up against the toughest challenge he’s faced in the NBA, as a player or coach, one he is embracing.
“Everyone knows Boston fans are one of the best fans in the NBA,” Dudley told the Herald in an exclusive, after the Mavericks’ shoot-around Monday at TD Garden. “I’ve always felt ingrained (here). It’s an honor to play the Celtics.”
“If you want to win a championship you want to go against an organization like this to cement your legacy,” he added. “It’s been fun but it’s been difficult because they’re so good.”
Dallas blew Boston out in Game 4 on Friday, handing the Celtics their worst loss of the season and the third most lopsided defeat in Finals history, but still trail 3-1 in the series. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit.
Dudley said he felt “optimistic” about his team’s prospects in Monday night’s Game 5, while understanding the likelihood that Boston would come out flat, once more, was slim. The Celtics scored just 35 points in Friday’s first half, their lowest point total in any half this season.
“It’s a good nervous,” Dudley said of his team’s overall attitude after a relaxed but playful shoot-around. “You have to be on your heels to play the best, you have to be desperate which we are. We know their crowd is going to feed off them. We have to do the little stuff.”
It didn’t take long for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to make an impression on Dudley, who praised the duo in 2017 during an interview with the Herald when he was in his second stint with the Phoenix Suns.
“This team is setting itself up for the next 10 years,” Dudley said then.
He was right.
The Celtics are excelling, Dudley said, as Tatum and Brown have become “more willing passers.” The duo combined for 32 assists in Games 2 and 3, as Boston took the commanding 3-0 lead.
The additions of Derrick White and Jrue Holiday have solidified the team’s identity, Dudley said.
“The key with them is you can’t give Tatum any easy dunks off of turnovers, and you can’t give any open threes,” Dudley said. “I’d rather have White have the open three than Tatum, to get him going, because these guys are young guys, they want to play well, it’s the NBA Finals.”
“Their job is to score, our job is to make it difficult,” he added. “Even if you make it difficult, they can still make shots.”
After entering free agency in 2019, Dudley was rumored to have been interested in coming back to Boston in what would have been sort of a homecoming for the former BC Eagle. He wanted to provide his veteran presence to a championship-contending team, but the Celtics never made an offer, he said.
Instead, the San Diego native returned to southern California, joining the Lakers prior to the 2019-20 season. Dudley and the likes of LeBron James and Anthony Davis went on to win the 2020 Finals in the bubble.
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd served as an assistant coach on that Lakers squad before he became head coach of Dallas in the 2021-22 season, Dudley’s first year as an assistant.
“Eventually I want to become a head coach,” Dudley told the Herald, “so (I’m) getting the experience with how J-Kidd goes and his game plans, his adjustments, me running the defense, helping with substitutions, getting on Luka (Doncic).”
If the Mavericks want to extend the series against Boston, Dudley said it will come down to guard Kyrie Irving finding himself. The Boston crowd relentlessly slung “Kyrie sucks” chants against the former Celtic in Games 1 and 2, when Irving combined for just 28 points.
Irving woke up when the series shifted to Dallas, scoring 56 points combined in Games 3 and 4.
“The fans are getting on him in a different way than booing. It’s personal,” Dudley said. “When it’s personal you want to be able to respond, sometimes you’re not in the right mind-frame or space, and even he’d tell you he struggled. It’s his job to find ways to overcome it.”
Dudley, on the other hand, acknowledged he has a “great personal connection” with Celtics fans and the city as a whole which he attributed to his four years at BC.
The 15-year NBA veteran ranks sixth all-time in scoring in school history, and Dudley was voted the ACC Player of the Year in 2007 and was a second team All-American.
“They know the accolades I’ve had in Boston, of showing them love,” he said. “I’ve done camps here, I’ve given back here, I’ve given to BC financially. It’s all love when it comes to Boston.”
It’s game day, and the Yellow Jackets have another opportunity ahead of them when they go on the road to face Boston College. Georgia Tech will look to keep pace and stay atop the ACC conference. With a chaotic weekend last weekend that saw Virginia and Louisville fall, Georgia Tech controls its own destiny and has a greater chance to make the ACC title game. It starts with handling business on the road. A good sign is that they are fully healthy and have all of their guys back and available to go in Boston.
“Ready for the injury report? All right, out. Will Benton. That’s it. There is no questionable. There is no probable. Everyone is ready to rock and roll. That’s good news. Yeah, really good news. I just want to, again, I know I’ve said it before earlier in the season, but our training staff, the job they do in the training room, Brad Kimball, and everyone in there. Outstanding job of having these guys ready to play week in and week out without compromising the health and safety of the players,” said head coach Brent Key. “A lot of that goes back to the weight room, also, what AJ and his guys have been able to do. Erin (Wesolowski) in nutrition keeps these guys not only fed, but fed the right way, hydrated. The little soft tissue things. The work that Pat Boyle and Jordan Diaz, Sean (Boyle), and all those guys do in putting together the sports science part, the scientific part of it, the data into how we practice and prepare. Can’t say enough for that group of people and the job they do. Really, everybody for allowing us to be able to make such a heavy commitment to that over the last three years.”
Let’s take a look at how to watch and listen to the game on Saturday.
TV: ACC Network
• Play-by-Play: Wes Durham
• Analyst: Steve Addazio
• Sideline Reporter: Dana Boyle
• Mobile App: ESPN
• Online: WatchESPN.com
RADIO: Georgia Tech Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Andy Demetra
• Analyst: Andrew Gardner
• Sideline Reporter: Chris Mooneyham
• In Atlanta: 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan
• Across Georgia: Visit RamblinWreck.com for station affiliate list
• Satellite: SiriusXM 81
• Mobile Apps: GT Yellow Jackets, 680 The Fan, SiriusXM, TuneIn
• Online: RamblinWreck.com,
A key theme in preparation for the matchup against Boston College has been not only containing the edge but setting the edge. Not allowing the Eagles to get to the outside and get large chunks. Georgia Tech will be tasked with slowing down Dylan Lonergan and Turbo Richard in the running game. Their defensive ends will be tasked with the job of setting the edge and not letting Boston College have a big game on the ground. Georgia Tech has struggled this season in slowing down teams in the run. They are hoping to avoid that on Saturday. Head coach Brent Key talked about how to properly set the edge and what needs to happen in those instances.
“Look, there are two ways. People talk about having contain. Who’s got contain in the defense? Well, if I’m standing here and Simmons over there, all right, I’ve contained that. I’m also containing it if I’m way over there. I’m also containing it from right there, but when you set the edge, you are eliminating space. They’re an A-Gap run team. They’re a power, counter, duo, those are A-Gap plays. But they’re A plays that can bounce. Those plays, the support gets sucked in on the edge, and you’re running duo, that play can, it hits A, they’re the mic, bounce, bounce, all of a you’re out there with nobody to bring them down,” said Key.
“Setting that edge is gonna be really important. It’s gonna be like team running out at practice every day because that’s who we are as an offense. As far as the, you know, the pull game, the gap schemes. So it’s got to be with violence. It’s got to be with great pad level. They gotta trust their preparation and trust what they see, not let the eye candy or different things, whether it be jet motion, whether it be a rock back, whatever it is, whether it be a read scheme, it doesn’t matter. They gotta trust their preparation, trust their eyes, and come out and set that thing with violence.”
If Georgia Tech can set the edge and play at a high level defensively, then they should be just fine and able to come out with a victory.
•Three Boston College Players To Watch On Saturday vs Georgia Tech
•Former Georgia Tech Star Calvin Johnson Heaps Praise On Head Coach Brent Key & The Yellow Jackets
•Everything From Head Coach Brent Key In His Final Media Availability Ahead Of Matchup Vs Boston College
•Brent Key Updates Georgia Tech’s Injury Report Heading Into Saturday’s Game vs Boston College
The Boston College Eagles (1-2) men’s basketball team is looking to get back in the win column as it travels to Philadelphia, Pa., to take on the Temple Owls (2-0) on Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles are coming off a 60-59 loss to the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils at home on Tuesday night. CCSU scored a layup with 3.2 seconds left to take the lead and BC missed a jumper as time expired to cement the loss.
Boston College also lost its season opener at Florida Atlantic 83-78 in overtime on Nov. 3 and won its home opener over The Citadel 76-47 on Nov. 6.
Temple, on the other hand, has won both games it has played so far this season, both at home. The Owls earned a 83-65 win over Delaware State on Nov. 5 and a 90-63 win over La Salle on Tuesday night.
This is the second game of a home-and-home series for the two teams. In the first game on Nov. 15, 2024, Boston College defeated Temple 72-69 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
It will also be the first time that Boston College has played at Liacouras Center since 2003.
This is the sixth all-time meeting between the two teams. Temple leads the all-time series 4-1.
Below is all the information for the upcoming matchup.
How to Watch: Boston College Men’s Basketball at Temple:
Who: Boston College Eagles and Temple Owls
When: Saturday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. ET
Where: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pa.
TV: ESPN+
Radio: WEEI 850 AM
Last Outing, Temple: The Owls earned their second win of the season over the La Salle Explorers 90-63 on Tuesday night.
Last Outing, Boston College: The Eagles suffered their season loss of the season at the hands of the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils 60-59 on Tuesday night.
Last Meeting: The last time these two teams met was during the 2024-25 regular season on Nov. 15, 2024. Boston College defeated Temple 72-69 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Boston College’s Next 5 Games: at Temple (Nov. 15), vs. Hampton (Nov. 18), vs. Davidson in Charleston Classic (Nov. 21), vs. Tulane/Utah State in Charleston Classic (Nov. 23), vs. Harvard (Nov. 26).
Temple’s Next 5 Games: vs. Boston College (Nov. 15), vs. Hofstra (Nov. 19), vs. UC San Diego in ESPN Events Invitational (Nov. 24), vs. Bradley/Princeton in ESPN Events Invitational (Nov. 25), vs. TBD In ESPN Events Invitational (Nov. 26).
The ACC has released the Initial Availability Report for Boston College and Georgia Tech two days ahead of their matchup.
At the moment, Georgia Tech has one player listed as out in long snapper Will Benton IV.
Boston College, on the other hand, will be down multiple players.
The players listed out are linebacker Daveon Crouch, wide receiver Jaedn Skeete, wide receiver Johnathan Montague Jr., linebacker Jaylen Blackwell, defensive back Syair Torrence, defensive back Marcelous Townsend, defensive back Cameron Martinez, wide receiver Will Graves III, defensive lineman Micah Amedee, wide receiver Bryce Dopson, tight end Danny Edgehille, defensive lineman Ty Clemons, defensive lineman Onye Nwosisi, defensive tackle Owen Stoudmire, and defensive lineman Chuck Nnaeto.
The Eagles also have one player placed as questionable and seven as probable.
The questionable player is defensive back Amari Jackson and the probable players include defensive back Omar Thornton, defensive back Max Tucker, defensive back TJ Green, defensive back Ashton McShane, defensive lineman E’Lla Boykin, offensive lineman Michael Crounse, and wide receiver Cedric Lott Jr.
Boston College head coach Bill O’Brien shared after practice on Thursday morning that Skeete was out for the season after suffering a shoulder injury in practice after the Notre Dame game, but is expecting to return to the program next season.
“No, he won’t be back,” said O’Brien. “He hurt his shoulder in practice the week after the Notre Dame game. But he’ll be back. I would tell you that he won’t be back this year, but I would anticipate him being back next year.”
In October, O’Brien shared that Torrence, Skeete, and Crouch were out for the season. Crouch and Skeete did end up returning for BC’s 25-10 loss to Notre Dame on Nov. 1, but have not played since.
”No Bam [Crouch], I don’t think Bam will be able to return,” said O’Brien on Oct. 21. “Skeete won’t be able to return. Amari might. Amari might, not this game. Syair no, out for the season. There’s others, but yeah. [Jude] Bowry will be back. [Eryx] Daugherty won’t play in this game. So yeah, but there’s probably others. That’s off the top of my head.”
The conference will release an updated Availability Report on Friday and a final one on Saturday prior to kickoff.
Georgia Tech Players Out:
LS #42 Will Benton IV
Boston College Players Out:
LB #1 Daveon Crouch
WR #1 Jaedn Skeete
WR #8 Johnathan Montague Jr.
LB #8 Jaylen Blackwell
DB #10 Syair Torrence
DB #19 Marcelous Townsend
DB #29 Cameron Martinez
WR #38 Will Graves III
DL #59 Micah Amedee
WR #80 Bryce Dopson
TE #86 Danny Edgehille
DL #90 Ty Clemons
DL #92 Onye Nwosisi
DT #93 Owen Stoudmire
DL #97 Chuck Nnaeto
Boston College Players Questionable:
DB #24 Amari Jackson
Boston College Players Probable:
DB #0 Omar Thornton
DB #3 Max Tucker
DB #30 TJ Green
DB #35 Ashton McShane
DL #56 E’Lla Boykin
OL #77 Michael Crounse
WR #81 Cedric Lott Jr.
Metro Detroit weather forecast Nov. 15, 2025 — 7:45 a.m. Update
San Francisco’s system of governance is a mess. There’s a fix — but it will take a village
Dallas-Fort Worth business datebook for the week of Nov. 16
How To Watch and Listen To Georgia Tech vs Boston College
How JJ Barea’s foray into coaching began spontaneously in Puerto Rico, led him to Nuggets
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Zohran Mamdani tells 1M social media followers to boycott Starbucks amid ongoing worker strike
Displaced Palestinian families suffer as heavy rains flood Gaza tent camps
Judge officially drops 3 charges in Georgia’s Trump 2020 election interference case
DNC staffers ruthlessly mocked for fuming over remote work reversal: ‘Get yourselves together’
Italy redefines sexual violence law to include explicit consent
-
Nebraska1 week agoWhere to watch Nebraska vs UCLA today: Time, TV channel for Week 11 game
-
Austin, TX1 week agoHalf-naked woman was allegedly tortured and chained in Texas backyard for months by five ‘friends’ who didn’t ‘like her anymore’
-
Hawaii6 days agoMissing Kapolei man found in Waipio, attorney says
-
Vermont3 days agoNorthern Lights to dazzle skies across these US states tonight – from Washington to Vermont to Maine | Today News
-
Southwest1 week agoTexas launches effort to install TPUSA in every high school and college
-
New Jersey6 days agoPolice investigate car collision, shooting in Orange, New Jersey
-
World1 week agoIsrael’s focus on political drama rather than Palestinian rape victim
-
West Virginia4 days ago
Search for coal miner trapped in flooded West Virginia mine continues for third day
