Very few players in Patriot League history have accomplished what Bucknell's Kevin Bettencourt has. His freshman season, Bettencourt was an all-rookie pick, also earning the named Rookie of the Year award. The 6-2 guard from Peabody, Mass. went on to earn all-league players as a sophomore, junior and, announced yesterday, as a senior. A quick glance at the league record books shows Holy Cross' Rob Feaster and Colgate's Pat Campolieta also were Rookie of the Year and three-time all-league selections. Lafayette's Brian Ehlers was not Rookie of the Year, but he was on the All-Rookie team his fresshman season and all-leage the next three.

Wednesday night, Bettencourt sat down at his computer and answered questions from a chat room full of Patriot League basketball fans in the first-ever Hoop Time chat. For those who were busy watching Law and Order: Campus Security Detail or CSI Peoria, here is what Bettencourt had to say:

Hoop Time: For Bucknell fans, that handle KB12 is not too anonymous

Hoop Time: We are joined by Bucknell senior guard Kevin Bettencourt, who this morning was named to the All-Patriot League team for the third time in his career. His freshman season Kevin was the league’s Rookie of the Year.

Hoop Time: Kevin, welcome and thanks for being our guest in the first-ever Hoop Time chat.

KB12: Thanks for having me here

Hoop Time: Your team went through the Patriot League part of your schedule unbeaten, how special was it to become the first team in league history to do that?

KB12: It was definitely something special to our team but not something that we ever really focused on. I have personally been following the Patriot League since I was younger but I do not think many of the guys even realized that we were the first team to ever accomplish this. It is something we are very proud of though.

Hoop Time: For a team with a lot of accomplishments, where does that one rank?

KB12: Well when we entered this season we had three goals: the first was to win 20 games the second was to win the Regular Season title and the third was to win the conference tournament.Going undefeated was just an added bonus to our second goal and it will rank pretty high on our list of accomplishments in my mind but I feel if we do not achieve the third goal then it will diminish the undefeated season.

Hoop Time: Describe how it felt to play the games that you did in the Hart Center, your brother's school, with the crowd getting on you a bit.

KB12: I enjoy when the crowd gets on me a little bit. It adds to the atmosphere and I look at it as a sign of respect and not just for me but for our team as a whole. Personally, the Hart Center is really special for me because I developed my love for basketball by watching my brother play in that very gym. I have very vivid memories of games there and I cannot help but think of those things when I enter there.

Hoop Time:Your thoughts on making the 2nd team All Patriot League team for the third time and also your thoughts on Abe Badmus not making it.

KB12: I was really surprised Abe did not make it. He definitely deserved to be honored for the way he played this year and he is definitely what makes our team go. I was honored to make the All Patriot League team again and it something I appreciate. I was probably more excited to see Charles get player of the year though because he has really been play great lately and been our main man.

Hoop Time:Describe what it was like playing in Sojka this year, especially the Villanova game. When you came as a freshman, did you ever think you'd see crowds like that?

KB12: I can still remember games in Davis that maybe had 200 people there and more than half being family members. I remember walking into Sojka with my parents for the first time and turning to them saying there was no way we could fill this place but it has happened and become very special. The Villanova game was amazing and I think it gave the students a chance to see how much fun they can have at our games and the crowd has continued to show up throughout the year giving us an edge.

Hoop Time: Have you looked at the whole all-league list, and if so, is there anybody you were surprised to see not on it besides Abe?

KB12: I looked at it very quickly but can not remember everybody that was on it and that was not but I'm sure there are a few people that deserve to be recognized that were not but that is the nature of these types of rewards. There simply is not enough room for everybody, which is unfortunate.

Hoop Time: Compare Duke and Villanova. Who would be the favorite on a neutral court? And on the same line, what do you think about FSU just upsetting Duke?

KB12: I honestly think Villanova would beat Duke simply because I think what Duke does it take people out of their offense with their defensive pressure. With the guards Villanova has and the way they handle the ball I do not think Duke could do that to them. It would definitely be a fun game to watch knowing we played both teams. For the FSU/Duke game, it just seems like it has been a crazy year in terms of upsets and nothing really surprises me anymore.

Hoop Time: The Patriot League's companion league, the Ivy League, has had a number of teams go 14-0. Why do you think it took so long for the first Patriot team to do so?

KB12: That is a good question but it always seems like the Patriot League is much more balanced than the Ivy. As far as I know and my knowledge is limited it seems like Penn or Princeton always win the Ivy League which makes ya wonder whether or not they are recruiting at a different level than the rest of that league. I think the Patriot League is on a much more level playing field.

Hoop Time: How is playing for Coach Flannery? He seems like he doesn't sit still the entire game and is very emotional. You are the opposite of that. Just comment on this a little

KB12: I love playing for Coach Flannery. He is difficult to play for at times because he is so intense but we all understand that he wants to win and is always striving for us to be the best we can be. In terms of us being very different in regards to emotion, I think I am very emotional but just do it more privately maybe.

Hoop Time: Do you prefer to play man-to-man or the match-up zone? How long did it take you and the other veterans to know exactly what to do in the match-up?

KB12: I like when we are mixing up our man and match-up but neither are easier to play because you are always very accountable. It definitely took a while for our team to develop our match-up and I think our experience has definitely made that defense one of our bread and butters because we are so comfortable with one another out there.

Hoop Time: Two of the three freshmen this year have seen limited minutes. Is this a function of them still learning the defenses? How do you see them doing next year?

KB12: I think it is a function of them still learning and coming into a program that had an established rotation. I think both Justin and Josh will be an asset to the program because they do very well at practices and I would hope they would perform similarly in game situations.

Hoop Time: What have you heard about next year's 3 recruits - Zach Evans, Stephen Tyree, and Patrick Behan?

KB12: I have not heard much other than them being really excited about this class. I've met all three of them and they seem like really good guys. Tyree has arms down to his knees so I'm sure Coach Flan is excited about the type of defense he can play and Behan is a big guy who has guard skills from what I hear. I have not seen them play though unfortunately but I hear good things.

Hoop Time:During recruiting, are you asked to speak to potential recruits, what are there concerns?

KB12: I usually try and reach out to recruits because I know how hard the recruiting process can be so I like to make the recruits feel as comfortable as possible. Recruits usually ask what type of school it is? How hard are the academics? How are the girls? How Coach Flan is? Those type of questions and I usually help them out.

Hoop Time: Why did you choose to attend BU, and what other schools were you looking at?

KB12: I chose BU very early because it is the type of school that I always envisioned me being at. It gave me the opportunity to play Division 1 athletics and get a great education at the same time. I was looking at other Patriot League and Ivy League schools but BU was the only play I ever seriously considered.

Hoop Time: Looking ahead to Post Graduation What are your plans and aspirations?

KB12: I do not know exactly when it will happen but I plan on moving back home to Peabody getting involved in teaching. I would also like to coach at the high school level at some point. I plan on getting my masters in education and then continuing on from there.

Hoop Time: Were you nervous going into the Kansas game last year? What was the team's mentality going into that game?

KB12: I was extremely nervous but I think we took the approach that if we go out and give it our best shot then we have nothing to lose. Obviously, not many people gave us a realistic chance but in watching film we believed we could play with them and then once the game started we knew we could beat them. The team did truly believe we could win and we had a player's only talk before the game and left with the mentality that we can not be happy just being there, let's make our presence felt.

Hoop Time: What passed through your mind as Wayne Simien's shot was in the air in the Kansas game last March? What are your most vivid memories about the last part of that game?

KB12: Some things passed through my mind that I probably should just keep to myself but those memories really are just a big blur right now. I watched the tape and watched us all running around but I do not think any of us really knew what we were doing. It seemed like Donald was the only one that was composed at that time. It really was a great moment for us though.

Hoop Time: How do you as an individual and then as a a team get "up" for playing Army again?

KB12: Well I think me as an individual and us as a team take the same approach. We are excited about playing Army or any team because that is our next game and it is a chance to put on the uniform and play which always beats practice. Also, it is the first step in completing our third goal so we will be ready and I am sure Army will go out and play hard because they always do.

Hoop Time: What have you heard from students about how the tickets were distributed for the Patriot League Tournament?

KB12: Students have been complaining because I guess it was very difficult to get tickets for the tourney. I know I had to get a ticket for my girlfriend and they were sold out so I had to go through a student that I heard bought like thirty tickets or so. I guess they didn’t put a limit on how many an individual could buy so that caused some problems. I find it pretty cool that our ticket is such a tough thing to get so I usually get a kick out of the long lines at the box office so far in advance

Hoop Time: Kevin has to get back to the books, but before he goes, one last question, or actually, a combination of two that were asked:

Hoop Time: Before we post that thanks again for joining us in the first ever Hoop Time chat

Hoop Time: Pro athletes say they never read the press... But what about you guys? Do you guys read these message boards or other PL related web sites and/or blogs?

KB12: We do not read the message board or the blogs because we realize a lot of that stuff may not be the most flattering but I always read the newspapers and I usually visit HoopTime because it is a better source for following Patriot League Basketball than the Patriot League website but I do not think many of our players get involved in those things. If we ever do its usually on accident and it gives us a laugh.

Hoop Time: thanks for the plug!

Hoop Time: Again, a special thanks to Kevin for taking time out of his schedule at an obviously busy time

Hoop Time: Good luck to you and the Bison Friday night and in the postseason

KB12: Anytime I really appreciate you having me.

KB12: Thank you. Go Bison!