Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Sound Advice

Senior Spring Break will be taking me south of the border next week. Though I will not be able to post in this critical end to the regular season, I will be avidly cheering for BC on Sunday, and next week when they begin the ACC Tournament. My flight back into the States is that Saturday, and I will be sure to voice my thoughts then.

In the meantime, I will leave the BC Basketball Community with an inspired message from my mother, who has adopted the team as her own. In a heated college basketball debate between my mother and my father (not really- just late one night sitting on the couch), my mother shared a vision that help the boys achieve new heights. My mother's advice to help the Eagles soar:

"Relax. Regroup, Reunite. Then you will be awesome"

I love you ma.

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Senior Send-off

In 2003, Jared Dudley and Sean Marshall stepped onto Boston College campus for the first time, and they had an instant impact. In the tandem's first game against Appalachian State, the Eagles rode Sean's nine points and Jared's seven rebounds to a 92-67 victory. Since that day, the Eagles have called upon the two seniors to contribute every game (exception: Kansas). It hasn't always been pretty, but the duo have helped the Eagles achieve three consecutive NCAA births, and have successfully weathered the transition into the competitive Atlantic Coast Conference.

Jared ended the season chipping in 11.6 points per game, was a unanimous Big East All-Rookie Team selection, and was honored as Rookie of the Year by the New England Basketball Coaches Association. Last night, in his final game in Conte Forum, Jared broke out of his recent slump to remind BC fans just how valuable his presence on the court is.

The Eagles' 59-54 victory over the Clemson Tigers brought the team one step closer to the round of 64. BC's big three (Dudley, Marshall, and Rice) adopted a Machiavellian approach to the game, proving the ends justify the means, scoring all but four scrappy points for the Eagles.

ATL Eagle and Bitter Eagle discuss the individual performances in greater depth, but I want to spend time discussing the position the Eagles are now in. The season has been an emotional roller coaster, and BC's performance has been as volatile as any team in America (sometimes looking like ACC contenders, and sometimes looking hopeless against inferior opponents).

The Eagles have always preferred to flying under the radar, winning games that they shouldn't, and dropping the ones with odds in their favor (BC sports, in general). The past few games- Duke, UNC, and Virginia Tech- have been tough to watch as a fan, but must be weighed in the greater scheme of the season. Having lost Sean Williams, a man that hunted down Webster to redefine 'athleticism', it was difficult to imagine that the Eagles would get to ten conference wins...

The Eagles were visbly tired on the floor yesterday, and the week off before traveling to Georgia Tech will give the team the rare opportunity to recover. After losing McClain and Williams earlier in the season, BC has played with a short bench, relying on players to ignore any nagging injuries.

The relentless ACC schedule proved to be physically taxing on the players, recently translating into dropped passes, careless fouls, and dispicable free-throw shooting.

With only one game in a span of almost two weeks, the Eagles should be able to take a deep breath and prepare for the conference tournament, and hopefully the NCAA tournament.

Dudley has been hounded of late, with teams doubling down on the POY candidate and taking him out of his rhythm. After a rough first half last night (6 points), in which the Tigers were manhandling him inside (unabated by the refs), the Eagles latched onto Jared's cornrows and the senior captain brought home the W.

Winning was critical for BC's confidence down the stretch, and should be enough to quiet the media's recent 'BC Hate Campaign.' These Eagles will be a tournament team, and they have the leadership to do some real damage...

One side note- I'm sorry that the Eagles had so much trouble inbounding the ball of late, because I would have loved to see Tyler Neville get in the game. I don't want to put the blame on Al, who's thoughts appeared to be elsewhere, but this kid should have been on the floor of Conte when BC was up five with 4 seconds remaining. Thanks Tyler!

Thursday, February 22, 2007

A Bump In The Road

Now is not the time for Boston College to get complacent. Just over a week ago, the Eagles were sitting alone atop the ACC, with an NCAA birth all but locked up. Senior Captain, Jared Dudley, was making a strong case for ACC Player of the Year and a spot on the All-American roster.

Visits from Duke and North Carolina to Chestnut Hill, and a trek down to Blacksburg have weighed heavily on the Eagles, dragging them down from their ACC perch. Last night's 79-62 debacle poured salt on the wounds from last week, and the Eagles are no longer a "lock" for the tournament. The Eagles must get to ten conference wins, which they will have the chance to do on Saturday at home against Clemson.

The Eagles' recent struggles have exposed my biggest pet peeve with Boston College bandwagon fans. They are on board when times are good, yet they jump ship when things start to go south. I know that John Kerry is from Massachussetts, but Eagle fans cannot flip-flop their opinions based on the course of one play, one series, or even one game.

Case in point: Jared Dudley missed three big free throws at the tail end of the North Carolina game. The widely acknowledged Player of The Year candidate was being badmouthed by Superfans and alumni alike. I'm sorry, but hasn't this kid stepped up at critical times throughout his career, achieving the unthinkable.

Case in point: John Oates has killed BC at certain points this season by hoisting up three-point shots early in the shot clock. While the Superfans spend the majority of the game chanting "We want Blair!," they go nuts when one of Oates' buckets falls and they parade around as if they predicted it.

Moral of the story is this: if you are going to be critical of the Eagles, I can appreciate that. If you don't like Skinner... fine; if you don't like Oates... fine. However, stop riding the Eagles' momentous upswings and downturns with your 'I told you so' bullshit.

As for the rest of the season, I am optimistic. The Eagles have proven that they can compete, but it is critical to build some momentum going into tournament season. Despite three straight losses, every Superfan should be in attendance Saturday to see Jared & Sean compete in Conte Forum for the last time. Go Eagles!!

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Jared needs your support

Log onto ESPN today and vote for Jared Dudley as the player of the year. Despite a tough week for Duds, his leadership all season long has poised the Eagles to make a run at the ACC and National Tournaments.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Carolina Blues

It was a fitting finish to a disapointing week for BC Sports. The women's hockey team victory BU to win the Beanpot was overshadowed by a heartbreaking overtime loss on the men's side and two tough losses on the hard court. The mens hockey team responded by sweeping Maine at home, and the BC hoopsters will look to do the same against Virginia Tech on the road Wednesday.

Saturday night, the Eagles fell to new ACC leader North Carolina 77-72 in arguably the most anticipated regular season BC basketball game in history. The game seemed just beyond the Eagles' reach the entire game, and when the final buzzer sounded, UNC proved to be a little too much.

There were many missed opportunities down the stretch that can be pointed to as "reasons" for the loss, but BC played its heart out and it would be unfair to point fingers. The intensity of the match-up seemed to suggest that the two teams will face each other again in tournament play (conference or national).

It took me a long time to compose myself, subdue my emotions, and really determine what lessons should be learned from the game:

1. Skinner did a nice job. After a week of being torn apart on the message boards, he managed the game much more effectively Saturday. The technical foul was bogus, but I'm glad to see him exhibiting some emotion. There was no reason for the calls against Jared earlyl on, and I was happy to see Al go down swingin'. Also, Skinner used the team's timeouts effectively and substituted players on the floor appropriately.

2. The atmosphere in Conte tonight was explosive. As a fan, it was the best experience I have had on The Heights. While the court-storming victory over Syracuse challenges this one (a loss), the move to the ACC is really starting to captivate fans all over. I was glad to see Craig back in Conte to witness it. Having GameDay on campus in the morning was an additional plus, allowing the students and fans to rally around the team's achievements.

3. It was disapointing to see Jared picked up his third foul early in the first half. Duds is BC's emotional leader on the floor, and with him on the bench, BC spent the last few minutes of the half trying to stay within striking distance, rather than build a lead. Other than his struggles from the line, Jared played a great game.

4. Tyrese Rice does not back down. His performance Saturday (20 points) allowed him to show the world how dynamic of a player he is. While the electric Ty Lawson ran up and down the court, with no apparant tar on his heels, Rice successfully got into the lane and scored some big buckets. He has come so far, and is only getting better.

In my opinion, the critical differences in the game were rebounding in the first half and free throw shooting (the ten missed three's in the second frame didn't help either). BC matched the talented Tar Heels in terms of field goals... they were just more effective from the stripe and they had more second chance opportunities.

All in all, it is hard to be upset about the result. It was a hard fought game that both teams deserved to win. Unfortunately, the Eagles came up a little bit short this time, leveling the all-time series to 3 wins apiece. BC will potentially see the Tar Heels again this year, and revenge will be sweet.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Opportunity Lost

The most frustrating thing about the Duke game is that it was completely winable.

Within 30 minutes of game end, ATL Eagle and Alex F. were tapping into the blogosphere with their thoughts. Between what they each had to say, it would be redundant for me to write a long-winded explanation of how BC allowed the game slip away. However, there are a couple of issues that are worth revisiting:

1. Self-Imposed Handicap:

Opting to put, and keep, John Oates on the floor was a disaster. My thoughts on Oates have been well-documented, but I think BravesBill provides a good recap of how last night went for the Big Baby.

2. Leadership from the Bench:

Skinner did not perform well tonight. This is a reality that is well documented on the web. There is no reason John Oates was on the floor for as long as he was, with Blair idle on the sideline (especially after the way Blair played in Cameron a few weeks ago).

There is also no excuse for not using our timeouts more effectively. I realize that Al has been saving these all year for a rainy day, but the weather sucked yesterday! In three minutes at the tail of the first period, a two point lead became an eleven point deficit. Not the way you want to close out a half. If the philosophy is to let experienced players pull the team out of a funk, Al must recognize that Duke is a team that goes on runs. Managing those runs, and preventing the Blue Devils from building insurmountable leads, is critical in tough ACC match-ups. I won't think of Al as less of a man is he chooses to use a timeout, especially when senior leader Jared Dudley is forced onto the bench with foul trouble.

Halftime adjustments seemed non-existant, and the team should have introduced the full-court pressure earlier in the game. By the time the Eagles were able to sort it out on their own, there was not enough time to climb all the way back.

Also, Dudley needed to get more touches early to establish a presence. The lack of touches took Jared out of the game, and he could never get into a groove. Granted- he did not play well when he had the ball, but JD is our glorified leader and deserves the opportunity to figure it out. He is a smart player- if his shots aren't falling, Duds will look to pass. Oates, on the other hand, hoisted five threes in the first five minutes. What a joke!

3. Uncontrollable Handicap:

I hate to even mention this, but the officiating tonight was a gross injustice. The Eagles, and its fans, allowed the referees to take the focus off the game- which proved to be a very costly mistake. But, it seemed as if the crew was intent on solidifying the Blue Devils slot in the Big Dance. It appeared like a calculated effort, in which the referees whistled BC's best for ticky-tack fouls and pretended not to see the forearm shivers that Duke would throw when chasing down a loose ball. Calls were made against BC at very critical times, and calls against Duke were reserved for when the result would be insignificant. After a series of awful calls going in Duke's favor, I remember checking the team fouls. Duke had more team fouls, and BC's case for poor officiating would have been thrown out before entering the courtroom.

There are plenty of other issues that I could, and probably should, get into. However, I do not want to dwell on all of the negatives from tonight. I hope the team will use this as a wake up call and continue to build on the momentum that they have worked hard to achieve all season long. UNC on Saturday will be a great test. While many people question the legitimacy of the Blue Devils, nobody doubts the talent that is flying in from Chapel Hill.

Again- I'm frustrated because Duke was beatable tonight. However, I'm relieved to know that Duke will be beatable on future nights, and next time we see them (come tournament time), the stakes will be higher.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Mr. Irrelevant

Thirteen year-olds, avert your eyes. There is a virus on the college basketball court that is a living, breathing human-form contradiction of every previously conceived basketball fundamental.

As youth basketball coaches, allowing your team to watch John Oates on the basketball court is as debilitating as tying 15 pound ankle weights to a child trying to pass their summer camp's swim test.

In the series of eight minutes, John Oates missed three 3-pointers early in the shot clock, blindly ran away from two incoming passes, picked up two weak fouls, and played defense as if he wanted to allow Florida State players the ability to meditate in solidarity on the inside. I nearly threw up in my mouth watching Oates build the foundation for Florida State's 22-9 lead. Finally, a substitution eight minutes into the half allowed the Eagles to start fighting back.

I recognize that Blair is not the athletic phenom that Sean Williams was, but he is not a seven foot leech sucking the lifeblood out of the Eagles. Blair has earned his time, and he is deserving of the incumbent’s starting spot. Tyrelle sure proved tonight that he is not afraid to take a big shot, chase down loose balls, and establish the inside presence that pundits have cited as a weakness.

Al- you are a great Samaritan. I would love to go golfing with you. But seriously, the concept of a handicap needn't be applied to the college basketball court. Oates does not need to be on the floor when the jump ball is thrown.

The player, cited by coaches and the media as an offensive weapon, is shooting 33% from the field and 28% from behind the arc. Additionally, the biggest man on the floor is only pulling down 3.4 rebounds a game in twenty minutes. If John was in position, at least six boards would fall into his lap each game.

My views are unfortunately being compromised by my recent frustrations. As long as John is on the floor, I will cheer for him. That being said, I hope I can focus my cheering on some of the other Eagles who have proven their worth over the course of the season.

For a few more thoughts on Oates' stellar play, Alex F. vents as well.

Hometown Hero

With seven seconds remaining, and the Eagles inbounding the ball underneath, Tyrelle Blair seemed like the least likely of threats. Blair, however, didn't hesitate to hoist the shot when he received it on the elbow- burying the jumper that got Boston College over the hump against Al Thorton and the Florida State Seminoles (68-67).

Jared Dudley exhibited his normal brilliance, and Tyrese Rice continued to show why he is developing into a premier point guard in college basketball. The duo combined for 46 of Boston College's 68 points.

While I could go on for hours about these two, I would be preaching to the choir. If you are reading this blog, you obviously have been watching these guys in awe all season long.

However, I want to bring light to a particular play that made me proud to attend the same university as this class act. No, I am not referring to the four point play that you can watch later on ESPN's Top Ten. I am referring to the play when the opposing high-flier, Al Thorton, leapt into the Florida State rafters seeking a rebound, and came crashing hard down on his head.

There was no foul on the play, as Al simply lost his balance, and the Eagles were out quickly on a fast break. One player, however, did not make the trip down court. Instead, Jared opted to stay with Thorton to make sure that he was alright. That kind of respect for the game, and the cognisance of what is really important struck a nerve with me. Jared is often misunderstood because of his on-the-floor emotion and uncanny style. But at a time when the game is plagued with some real knuckleheads, Jared grounds himself with class.

A very welcome home for Tyrelle Blair, who played outside of himself, scoring the game winning jumper from the elbow with 3.3 seconds left. Blair also chalked up half a dozen blocks and 6 rebounds tonight, as forty members of his friends and family looked on from sideline.

The Eagles led for less then a minute tonight, but they were able to dig themselves out of the thirteen point hole that John Oates primarily dug in the first twelve minutes. Speaking of which, did anyone else watch the ogre storm the court with 3 seconds left? He showcased his motor skills there, and his stupidity could have resulted in a technical foul.

A huge victory for the Eagles, who took sole possession of the ACC lead. What a great way to start what has been advertised as “Heights Week” around campus. Men’s and Woman’s Beanpot, two hockey games against Maine, and the hoopsters play host to the ACC’s most prolific programs, Duke and UNC. There is a lot to be excited about, but the Eagles need to focus and take advantage of this opportunity. If you have tickets for the weeks events, show up early, cheer hard, and support the troops. Go Eagles!!

Monday, February 05, 2007

The SuperFan's Call To Duty

The second letter to the editor in today's edition of The Heights (A BC bi-weekly campus newspaper) expresses many of the same viewpoints I have been voicing throughout the season.

Readers please take note.

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Tech Blitz

Conte Forum was rockin' on Sunday when the Eagles christened the new gold jerseys. The critical ACC match-up inspired BC ticket holders to show up as ACC fans, and the players fed off the energy in the 80-59 rout of #18 Virginia Tech.

Following the Hartford game, I spent a lot of time recently discussing the individual performances, and today told a similar story. Dudley and Rice played out of their minds. Watching each of these guys play is a real treat. Marshall, Haynes, Spears, Roche, and Blair all had solid games. The reserves have really stepped it up to give the roster-starved Eagles some consistant depth. And unfortunately, Oates could not shake his funk, and was a liability on both ends of the floor...

There are a couple of key take-aways from the game:

1. The Eagles effectively managed the clock in the second half. After building a commanding lead, the Eagles conscioiusly utilized the full 35 seconds on each possession. The Hokies, who adopted a full court press, were relentless in trying to speed up the tempo of the game. The Eagles could have easily buckled when the athletic Virginia Tech team began getting out on the break and flushing high-flying dunks. Rice and Co., unphased, set up the offense and squandered any momentum that started to build. This is a stark contrast from the beginning of the season.

2. The Eagles played well when Dudley was forced onto the bench. With three fouls in the first fourteen minutes, Jared headed to the bench and the question was posed: How would the Eagles respond? Over the next 7:16, Tyrese Rice oversaw the floor and guided the Eagles to a 47-26 halftime lead. Four or five games ago, I think this would have been a disaster. Now, the Eagles are equipped with the confidence to compete, even in adverse conditions.

3. Tyler Roche got some big game experience. From here on out, the ACC schedule is unforgiving, and every game is on the big stage. Coming from a background of New Hampshire high school gyms, Tyler navigated the uncharted waters with confidence. When the kid is not scoring, he is getting back on defense, putting his hands in the passing lanes, and rebounding the basketball. Roche has proven he belongs.

4. BC fans came out strong today, but they still have a few lessons to learn. At one point, students began a "Blair" chant, as John Oates struggled. I am not an Oates fan, but fans cannot cheer against their own players. Before and after the game, fans can debate who should be out there. Come game time, it is Skinner's decision who plays, and the hometown team deserves a hometown crowd. Secondly, I was deeply perturbed by the "Eagle Fans" that began filling the aisles to leave with three minutes left. Stay for the whole game...

Tech was ranked in the Top 25 for the first time in a decade, but BC looked determined to make their stay short-lived. Will the Eagles be featured when the new polls come out? They stare down the ACC rankings at four Top 25 teams, and their case is becoming more convincing.

As time expired, SuperFans chanted "We want Duke! We want Duke!," a team coming to town on February 14th. There is a lot of basketball to be played before then, however. Next week, BC packs it up and heads to Florida, eager to do battle with the Miami and Florida State. With a very difficult conference schedule remaining, the Eagles hope to build a lead in the fierce ACC and bolster a resume that is beginning to look NCAA-worthy.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

Huge Win Today

A huge win at home for the Eagles. ESPN said it best... "BC Steamroles Virginia Tech". My thoughts on the game will come soon.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Do Threes Grow On Trees?

The officials in the BC basketball game against Hartford woke up this morning with an unfamiliar soreness in their shoulders. In a record setting performance, the Eagles buried their shots from the outside and forced the refs to raise both arms on fourteen separate occasions. It was raining threes in the 94-60 romp of the non-conference Hawks (9-13).

The Eagles shot an impressive 53.8% from behind the arc, and a remarkable 68.8% from the field in a game that afforded Al the opportunity to shuffle around the lineup (drawing from the deep bench of ten...). Despite the lopsided victory, this game was very revealing and was critical in establishing confidence for the less experienced guys on the floor.

The Individuals

As I hoped, Tyler Roche had the chance to play 19 meaningful minutes in the game. Tyler's confidence grew as the 'sharpshooter' hit his first 3 trifectas. I really like seeing this kid on the court. He hits the glass surprisingly hard for a guy his size, and he ferociously ripped the ball away from Hartford's big men a number of times.

Although Tyler doesn't always make his presence felt on the floor with flashy plays, he knows the game of basketball very well. He defends well, has a great court sense, and boxes out. In my opinion, this is more important for the Eagles than being a seven footer without motor skills.

Speaking of seven-footers, I thought Tyrelle Blair put in another solid performance. His six blocks provided a lift on the defensive end, along with seven rebounds and six points. Blair appears to be more comfortable then he was at the beginning of the season and he appears to be controlling his body much better.

The aforementioned players all deserve praise for their efforts, but Jared Dudley is the man that made it happen tonight. First of all, Jared was a perfect 8-8 from the field, which includes three from behind the arc. While the eight rebounds were expected, Jared's six assists tonight exhibited his brilliance as a player. Let me explain...

Dudley understands that the Eagles need former role players (Blair, Roche, etc.) to step up in order for BC to recognize the vision that he has for the season. Both of these players have appeared to lack confidence in their limited time on the court this season. Last night, Jared consciously attracted defenders and dished to his teammates to give them open looks either on the block or from the perimeter. At one point in the second half, as the shot clock was winding down, Jared had a wide open three pointer, but passed the ball 5 feet to Roche in the corner- forcing him to drain a three as the clock expired. The crowd exploded, and Roche looked like he was having fun for the first time all year. This is just one example of the things Jared does that don't appear in the stat line. Could Dudley be using the game to pad his ACC stats? Absolutely. It seems that he would rather get his 21 efficiently (8-8) and let his teammates build the confidence required for success.

Tyrese Rice also deserves praise for handing out 13 assists (only two turnovers). This number would have been significantly higher had his recipients been fouled less frequently underneath. Rice's distribution of the ball has been remarkable for the kid who is still learning how to be a point guard in this league.

John Oates shot 3-4 from three point land, but I was less than satisfied with his performance. I have been giving John a hard time recently, but it is well-deserved. Last night, the tallest Hawk on the court was 6'8". Why on earth is John Oates still tinkering along the three-point line. Granted, he made three of his four shots. Regardless, his season tally is a meager 12, and his three-point percentage was boosted to a mediocre 27.9% (12-43). Oates was one of only two Eagles not to record a single rebound last night- not a single one! Get inside and know your role- there are other guys that can shoot better from downtown and actually play defense (see Roche above). Do you think John cried when he got his tattoo?

Virginia Tech comes to town on Saturday, and I will be curious to see who is on the court when the opening tip is thrown.

In closure, I would like to congratulate Tyler Neville for his performance last night. Tyler has been with the team for five years now, and he might have scored his last points, grabbed his last board, and dished out his last assist. Thank you for all of your hard work!