Blue Devil Blues

Losing to Duke 75-61 is never a pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon, but last night's game shed a lot of light onto Boston College's season at hand:

Al Skinner must manage his timeouts more effectively. I understand that Al likes to let players recover on their own, but BC's bench is no deeper than the kiddie pool. Fatigue must be an issue- BC allows oppponents to close out the first half on a run almost every contest. At halftime against Duke, it should never have been more than a two possession game. Instead, the buzzer sounded with the Eagles down eight, a margin that proved to be insurmountable in the second half.

I was pleasantly surprised by Tyrelle Blair tonight. He played on both ends of the court, and he contributed with blocks, rebounds, and some tough points. If Blair can continue to play like he did against the Blue Devils, I will rescind all of my negative comments and praise him for his efforts. The most noticable difference in his game was his confidence- though I am surprised that he found it at the always intimidating Cameron Indoor. I cannot fault a guy that is trying.

John Oates, however, is another story. After the way Blair played in the first half, what was Skinner thinking keeping him on the pine for the first twelve minutes of the second half. John played another game of awful defense and inefficient offense. His indifference on the court seems to drain energy from surrounding players. Oates has the raw skills to contribute, but he does not work nearly as hard as his fellow Eagles. Oates needs to step up.

If BC is going to beat deserving opponants, the team needs to finish their shots. BC's positioning underneath the basket afforded numerous putback opportunities, many of which were squandered by poor shooting. As a team, the Eagles only shot 35% from the field (compared to Duke's 50%).

Sean Marshall and Tyrese Rice have both shown flashes of brilliance this year. Unfortunately, they will need to bring their A games more consistantly if BC hopes to compete with the ACC elite. Marshall shot only 2-11 tonight. Sean is a very streaky shooter, therefore he needs to drive and create easy buckets before he starts lining it up from the outside.

Despite the loss, I am excited to get the Blue Devils at home in a few weeks. I think the team proved that the season is far from over. The Eagles shot poorly and had a number of mental mistakes, yet the team stayed competitive in one of college basketball's most hostile environments.

We should be able to gather some momentum on Wednesday against Hartford before Virginia Tech comes to town. I would like to see Al implement some new looks both offensively and defensively in the game. The Eagles need to refine their full court pressure. Also, the game may be an opportunity to get Roche and Kaba some valuable minutes. If Oates is not willing to answer the call of duty, perhaps one of these freshman will...

King Of The Court

Laughing hysterically at the artwork radiating from Sean Marshall's bicep has long been a favorite past time of mine. However, the "King of the Court" tattoo seemed to have predictive ability, revealing a destiny that was realized tonight. Sean Marshall is finally becoming the player that BC fans all hoped he would be when he joined the team in 2003. After being sidelined with four fouls and forced to watch his teammates struggle, Sean returned to the floor to provide much needed leadership and a last second bucket that may change the course of the Eagles' season.

There has been a lot of uncertainty surrounding the team after Sean Williams and Akida McClain were given the Skinner Salute. The debacle at Clemson spurred criticism from fans and media alike. Despite sitting atop the ACC, the Eagles' season was considered over by many.

Tonight, Boston College got the result it needed. The victory was nice (to be honest, a loss would have been tragic), but the manner in which the team won cannot be overlooked. By overcoming a late deficit and winning on a last second heave by the team's senior captain, the victory inspired supporters everywhere and may have brought the spark that will carry the team over the rough road ahead.

To be successful, the Eagles need confidence. There was a lot of sulking around the floor against Clemson. Players appeared helpless, and the loss could have been recorded before the opening tip. Different story tonight; the big three (Dudley, Marshall, and Rice) each rose to the occasion with over 20 points, Spears contributed inside, and Blair exhibited a newly found confidence (however warranted).

There were a lot of things that I did not like about tonight. BC did not take care of the ball, they discovered the importance of foul management with a short bench (the hard way), and the Eagles allowed far too many points off turnovers. But who cares?!

All that matters is that the Eagles have proven able to compete without Sean Williams! This is a lesson that must be drilled into the players' heads. Confidence is key, and confidence is what will enable this year's team to overachieve in a talent-heavy ACC conference.

Marshall was the hero tonight, and he deserves it. ESPN just flashed the night's Top Ten Plays, a list that Sean has been campaigning for since doing cartwheels in his cradle. The King was rewarded with the number one spot. Now that his life's mission has been fulfilled, I hope that he wakes up tomorrow... we will need him against Duke.

Fan Frustrations

Attention Boston College Fans around the globe:

There is serious epidemic that needs to be addressed. After yesterday's performance, countless alleged "fans" have begun to bash the current squad and discount the team's chances of making the tournament and making a run in the ACC.

In my opinion, this a bullshit! Chestnut Hill should not be a residential area for fair weather fans. In recent years, the Patriots, Red Sox, BC Football, BC Hockey, and BC Basketball teams have all enjoyed great success. Therefore, it is easy for students and alumni to pick and choose when to cheer. This is not fair to the team.

Yesterday was a bad game. We looked awful... fine. That doesn't mean that we should pack it in and start waving the white flag. After our rough start, skeptics abounded. Once we won a few in a row, ticketholders suddenly showed interest. Win or lose, fans need to support the team and make Conte Forum a tough place for opponents to care.

Cameron Indoor is packed regardless of the Blue Devils record. Boston College players need to know that fans appreciate their efforts, and will not abandon them when the going gets tough.

Stop showing up to games late. Stop leaving games early. Stop focusing on the bad, and start promoting the good. If we want the players to do their job each and every game, we need to do ours.

Clemson Debacle

Williams and McClain absent, the Eagles appeared lost today in Littlejohn Collesium. The players' facial expressions told to entire story: Boston College lacked the confidence and the desire to win this game.

Clemson is a solid team that applied unsettling defensive pressure and had success stroking it from the outside. Regardless, there is no excuse for today's result. It was a disheartening end to a week filled with negativity.

Boston College fans around the country eagerly awaited this game, hoping the momentum would continue despite Williams' departure. Fans dreamt that Oates and Blair would step up to fill the void. The Clemson game was a rude awakening that exposed the duo's inability to compete on the division one basketball court.

The Big Babies

John Oates looked like he was going to cry today. He pranced around the floor, with his elbows tucked in and his hands propped like a fairy. After the slightest physical contact, John appealed to the officials like a six year old begging for an ice cream sundae. On the offensive side of the floor, John tiptoed through the flex as if he was avoiding cracks on the floor for his mother's sake.

Defensively, Oates appeared to have gotten drilled by Manolete, the famous matador, allowing opponents to penetrate at will. John must have hemmeroids, because once a shot was hoisted, he refused to put his backside into the Tigers' big men. Wow, that's a lot of similes, but I'm just trying to paint the picture...

Tyrelle Blair was given the chance play significant minutes this game. Each time he returned to the bench, however, he should have been greeted with a pacifer rather than a towel and water. His presence was a bad joke: like Oates, the "shot-blocking" transfer contributed nothing on defense. Blair got physically dominated, and any attempt to establish defensive positioning was thwarted by a whistle for a hand check. I would offer that BC could have done more with his roster spot, but I guess we need ten guys to practice.

More frustrating to me than Blair's defense was his passivity on offense. I understand the Tyrelle will not be a scoring threat for us, but Boston College appeared to be trying to hide him. We cannot afford to handicap ourselves with four players handling the ball- especially against a team like Clemson, which effectively applies full-court pressure.

Coaching Difficulties

I don't know if it was the coaching scheme or the players' failure to execute, but the gameplan today was a dissaster. Hammonds dropped his first four three pointers before BC got a clue. Players were not supporting one another when their teammates were beat off the dribble, and it was clear that man-to-man defense would not work against the Tigers.

The flex offense was ineffective when BC has only two players that are viable inside scoring threats. Instead, the combination of our slow-moving offense and Clemson's defensive pressure inspired poor shot selection as the shot clock wound down.

The most frustrating coaching note was that Jared Dudley appeared the most proactive. At every stoppage, Jared was the guy trying to teach Oates and Blair how to play the game. At this critical juncture, I would like to see more energy from Al. He needs to get these guys ready to play!

Stepping It Up

Shamari stepped it up big time against Clemson. In my opinion, he is the only player that deserves accolades. Marshall and Rice were victims of trying to do too much- they have to play within themselves. Jared couln't focus on his own game because he was constantly coaching Blair and Oates. That is not his job. He needs to get inside position and take over the game when the Eagles are struggling on offense. The next few games will test whether he is really the ACC's best player.

What's Next

It is hard to say what this game means for the rest of the season. My opinion is that the recent distractions decided this game before it started. The Eagles are still well positioned in the conference, and they need to finish strong. Guys that have been doing it all year (Dudley, Marshall, Rice) need to play consistantly, and the guys who have been either sporatic or lacking (Spears, Haynes, Oates, and Blair) need to rise to the occassion and get us over the hump. BC must believe that they can compete, and I expect that confidence to translate into performance.

Go Eagles!!

Formula For Success

Akida and Sean are gone. There is no reason to dwell on the past. While Sean brought excitement and frustration to Conte Forum, Akida brought nothing more than inappropriate court side garb and the nagging question of "what if"? In his three years, Akida spent more time in the dentist office than he did on the basketball court- and his teeth do not demand special attention. The only thing more fake than his potential as a Boston College basketball player were the twenty dollar bills that earned him a warm seat on the bench.

The Eagles, for better or for worse, now have a roster full of guys that came to The Heights to play basketball. Off the court distractions are a thing of the past, and the team must focus on the future. But, without the dynamic Sean Williams in the front court, can the Eagles compete?

This has been the topic of conversation amongst my friends since the news was broken yesterday. While skeptics abound, some of the more knowledgeable basketball minds in the group see an opportunity. What if BC went small?

Boston College is renown for their rough-and-tough interior play on the hardwood and their physical offensive line on the gridiron. The move to the ACC has drawn a different type of athlete to Chestnut Hill, and our rosters are being filled with more and more speed.

Villanova proved last year that a team can compete by utilizing guard play, even in a conference loaded with superior front court talent- the Big East. When you scan the BC roster, it is clear that we are now deeper in the back court.

Based on talent and performance, our starting five should be as follows:

PG- Tyrese Rice
SG- Marquez Haynes
SF- Sean Marshall
PF- Jared Dudley
C- Shamari Spears

John Oates might be a better choice to start the game to give us a chance on the jump, but he should split time with Shamari. Spears has proven that he can rebound against bigger bodies, and he can establish inside position on the offensive end. Oates simply cannot.

Furthermore, Tyrell Blair is a liability on the floor, and attempting to have him take over for Sean Williams would be a disaster.

What I like about the small lineup:

1. All of these "starters" work their asses off. With the exception of Rice, none of these guys take plays off, and they appear to be the most cohesive group on the floor.

2. Team defense has looked very good recently when BC has applied full court pressure. This group should be quick enough to shift into and out of various defensive schemes, disrupting opponents.

3. This will take the entire load off of Jared's shoulders. While he is obviously the best player on the court for BC, a new look will force opponents to prepare for each floor match-up. The current system relies on our ability to out-execute teams with the Flex. There are no surprises.

4. Tyrese is a very good dribbler. Despite a small line-up, he should be able to slow the ball down and control the tempo of the game if BC chooses to. Skinner will need to be more aggressive from the bench, however, to make sure this is a focus.

What concerns me:

1. I don't know if Al Skinner can successfully implement this strategy. He was an inside player throughout his career, and he has typically coached the Flex on offense. He will need to be a lot more creative if we go small, and managing timeouts is critical in order to stymie cold streaks and opponent runs from happening.

2. The Eagles have no depth, therefore the starters must avoid injury. Tyler Roche has been given a few shots this year, and he has proven to be undeserving thus far. I hope this kid surprises me if he is called upon in the future. What happened to him being a good shooter? I haven't seen enough of Daye Kaba to determine if he is a viable option off the bench, but he has appeared timid in limited time. Neville has been around, but looks nervous on the floor and will likely buckle against the high-intensity defenses ACC opponents will throw at us.

3. If we go small, players need to do a better job following their shots. We all know that Haynes, Spears, Dudley, and Marshall are capable of rebounding, but they must assert themselves on the offensive end.

4. Our speed does not compare to many other college bball teams that opt to "go small." Also, we do not shoot the ball from the perimeter or from the line as well as successful teams have in the past (though we have shown improvement). To be competitive, we must still control the tempo of the game and get back on defense. Getting back has brought real issues this season, particularly against the Hurricanes

Saturday Will Be Interesting

I can't wait to see how the Eagles respond Saturday against Clemson. The Tigers will be hungry after being embarrassed by the Tar Heels last night. Boston College has dealt with adversity in the past, and the remaining guys on the roster have often brought their A game when the situation has demanded it. It will be a long road to the big dance, but BC is poised to do as The Average Joe's did in Dodgeball. This will be a true underdog story.

What a joke

Akida and Sean are out. I am dissapointed in both of them. They not only pissed away tremendous opportunities for themselves, but they alienated a team that is on the verge of putting the pieces together.

Both players have brought off-the-court distractions to the program since Day 1, and it will be interesting to see how the Eagles respond to the short bench. I would get more into it, but I would be echoing Eagle in Atlanta, who has been doing a hell of a job recently.

The Sean Marshall Show

Boston College recorded a much-needed conference victory at home last night in Al Skinner's 300th game as head coach of the Eagles. The W moved BC to 5-0 in conference and kept the squad positioned atop the ACC.

Sean Marshall led the charge, scoring the teams first nine points and entering the spotlight whenever the Eagles needed a spark. Long past are the days of reckless play and unfounded celebrations. Sean has matured into a dynamic player and an on-the-court leader (though I still cannot help but laugh at some of his antics). His maturity is exhibited by his refusal to turn the ball over and his relentless off-the-ball defense. Sean is typically the guy responsible for limiting talk of oppossing superstars to a murmer.

Tyrese Rice also bounced back from a tough game to score sixteen points and deliver a career-high 12 assists in 37 minutes. When this kid wants to play, he can change the dynamic of the game.

Dudley is my chief concern. Despite playing all forty minutes, delivering 18 points, and pimping his body out to draw numerous charges, all is not well for the California native. He is visibly struggling to run up and down the floor, which suggests that his foot injury will nag him for the remainder of the season.

I am very thankful for the win, but BC has a lot to improve on:

1. Transition defense was piss-poor. Miami ran all over us in the second half, particularly when the speedy Clemente was in the game. Granted, Jared is having a tough time running, and guys like Tyrell Blair are still trying to understand how legs function, but this was a joke. The inability of Tyrese Rice and John Oates (who generally hangs out way behind the arc to be ready for his momentum-draining three pointer) to get back is inexcusable. I attribute the struggles to pure laziness, and it allowed Miami to stay within striking distance.

2. Defensive rebounding was non-existant. I don't want to dwell on Oates, but he and others need to get more involved. Sean Williams was so preoccupied with trying to block shots or get out on the break yesterday that he constantly was out of position. When shots went up, nobody bumped bodies with the Hurricanes. As a result, a freshman (Collins) tallied 11 offensive rebounds! BC cannot afford to give up those second chance points. We work too hard to force bad shots.

3. We, the fans, (particularly the non-students) need to be more active. At certain points of the game, Conte resembled a morgue. The team has been playing well. When BC is up by 20, feel free to yell, clap, or at least breath audibly. The team is working hard for the school. Embrace them like family, and let's bring Conte up to par with the other ACC arenas. There is a lot to criticize on the floor, but this one is on us.

Down to Clemson on Saturday. The Tigers are out to a quick start, but BC is poised to turn some heads in South Carolina.

UVA game

It wasn't pretty, but Boston College overcame a slow start and a slow finish to improve their ACC record to 4-0 on Saturday.

The Captains

It is clear that Jared is not yet 100%, and it is likely that his foot will be a burden for the rest of the season. Even still, Jared found ways to contribute, knocking down free throws and tearing down rebounds at critical times in the game.

Mr. Marshall also contributed, and his recent play has been impressive. Sean seems to be embracing the role of captain, and he is progressively making better decisions on the court. While he is still not the King, he is getting some traction inside the royal family- perhaps he is dating the Princess of the Court.

Supporting Cast

Sean Williams had another solid performance. It amazes me that a player hopeless on the offensive end last year can dedicate a summer to basketball and then shoot 75% from the line the following season. What a talent...

Also on the inside, Shamari brought a lift in the second half. A few big buckets and some great boxing out in the paint had me cheering for the kid from Blair Academy.

John Oates continues to be a liability on the floor, and the combination of "The Leech's" 1. poor interior defense, 2. ill-advised perimeter shooting, and 3. overall lack of energy seem to suck the life out of the Eagles when he checks in. There is no reason why this kid should be starting (I don't care if he is the incumbent). Please let me know if I am blind to something (anything) that he brings to the team. I have been down on him recently and I would love to cheer for the kid...

Tyrese played one of the worst games I have seen out of him in a long time. His shooting was off, his decision making was suspect, and his energy was absent. However, he has looked good in recent weeks, and he hit some clutch free throws down the stretch. I won't fault him- I was just hoping for a little more from a kid playing his hometown Cavaliers. Oh yeah- and what was he doing out there competing in the halftime entertainment (for those of you at the game, I hope you know what I'm talking about)?

I was very happy to see Al put a little full court pressure on the Hurricanes in the first half. The move seemed to liven the Eagles and inspire the comeback. Although Marquez proved against Wake Forest that he still has a lot of work to do breaking the press, his on-the-ball defense is spectacular. I love watching him get down in the fundamental stance and maneuver with even the ACC's quickest guards.

Outlook

BC needs to learn how to put together 40 minutes of basketball. At certain junctures, the Eagles looked energetic and cohesive, while other periods were plagued by carelessness and indifference.

The Good Guys didn't score a single point in the first 6:30. Even more disturbing, Al did not feel compelled to call a timeout. Historically, soft-spoken Skinner has given his players the freedom to recover on their own, but a timeout is needed when bookies are taking bets on whether the Eagles will crack double digits... for the game!

BC looks to keep the momentum going on Tuesday against the Hurricanes, a team that was handed its fifth loss in six games yesterday by Duke. Miami was missing three guys due to injuries, and Anthony Harris went down in the second half with a pulled calf. If BC looks to punish the Hurricanes on the boards, the Eagles will likely be sitting at 5-0 in conference play and one step closer to a NCAA birth.

NC State Revival

Carolina was Heaven for Sean Marshall today, as a 74-58 victory over the NC State Wolfpack allowed him to opportunistically raise a finger to his lips and silence the hometown crowd.

More silencing than his patented hand gesture was his play, as Sean dropped 23 on the Wolfpack (17 in the second half). Additionally, Sean pulled 14 rebounds, and answered whenever a NC State comeback looked viable.

BC held a commanding 50-27 lead when State went on a 15-3 run. 15 looked like it would become 17 before Marshall recovered and sacrificed his body (and his robust good looks) to draw a critical offensive foul. On the ensuing possession, Sean and his silencing act drained a three pointer to pull the Eagles out of their slumber.

It was disconcerting to watch as the Wolfpack began to sneak back into the game. Despite controlling the majority of the game, I wasn't satisfied until the final buzzer sounded. I have seen too many leads evaporate due to poor judgement and lackluster defense.

It was a strong showing from Dudley, Williams and Rice, who each made valuable contributions. Dudley quietly scored his 20, while Rice and Williams each brought showtime to the floor. At one point, Tyrese had the nerve to bounce one between a NC State defender's legs to Sean Marshall for an old fashioned three-point play.

Today's win was huge for the Eagles, whose 2-0 sets them aside Virginia Tech at the top of the ACC. VT took down Duke in an overtime thriller today. Once they went to extra minutes, I was convinced the Blue Devils had a victory at Cameron Indoor sealed. I guess that's why they play the game...

BC needed this decisive victory in the new year. The guys will enjoy a few extra days in the Carolina sun before returning to Chestnut Hill. The next few weeks will determine our season, and hopefully we can carry the momentum forward.

New Years Resolutions

New Years Day provides ample time for reflection, and many Americans enter the new year with aspirations of finding true love, getting organized, or becoming more fit. For Boston College Mens' Basketball Team, a number of issues deserve attention.

First of all, the team has rarely looked cohesive on defense. At many junctures, the inside players appear to be tripping over one another. This is most visible with Mr. Blair and Mr. Oates, who share a phobia of contact. Furthermore, you guys are big- learn how to box out...

Secondly, the team needs better on-the-court leadership. Jared Dudley and Sean Williams are great players, but they don't appear to command the same presence as their predecessors (most notably Craig Smith and Uka Agbai). Dudley and Williams need to show more urgency when the team is searching for a spark, and they need to make the players around them better.

Thirdly, game management needs to be improved. Louis Hinnant was, in my opinion, directly responsible for 70% of the close games that BC won during his time at four years. While Louis wasn't necessarily the one scoring all the baskets, he knew how to manage the clock to fight back and/or protect a lead in the final minutes of the game. Tyrese Rice and others have often appeared helpless when crucial decisions need to be made. Until his basketball IQ increases, Al needs to be more vocal from the bench (that includes calling a timeout once in a while).

Most of all, this years' team needs fire. They need to come out for every game ready to play, and they need to bury teammates in the first couple of minutes. Once a lead is established, they should not allow teams to constantly fight back. This isn't Mario Cart 64. Finish them!

The first game of 2007 allowed us to make good on some of these resolutions (team defense, balanced scoring, improved leadership). By the same token, it was the Yale Bulldogs, and a loss would have been tragic. The team allowed Yale to hang around for too long, and they allowed the Bulldogs to creep back into the game.

I don't want to over-analyze the team's performance until we see how the the game against NC State goes. A win is a win, and BC will need 10 or 11 in conference to have a shot at the Big Dance.