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.