New Season, New Look at The Heights
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The Eagles have a new look in their second season in the ACC, and it’s not just in their desire to run more, although that was plainly evident in their 111-65 win over St. Francis Xavier in an exhibition game.
Indeed, the new look at The Heights that was much-talked about is all over Conte Forum. The media room hardly resembles its old self, while the team got new lockers and work has been done on the basketball office as well. All told, the facility has a new look and feel about itself.
Al Skinner’s staff has a new look as well, as his top two assistants from last season have taken head coaching jobs. Bill Coen moved across town to Northeastern, while Ed Cooley took the job at Fairfield; both were instrumental to the team’s recent success. In their place among the assistants are Bonzie Colson, who had been the director of basketball operations, and Mo Cassara, the former coach at Worcester Academy who has also been an assistant at Dayton. Preston Murphy, who played two seasons for Skinner at Rhode Island, is the new director of basketball operations.
This year’s version of the Eagles is built to run more, and they ran often in Sunday’s exhibition. They also have the look of a team that will shoot more from long range, often with drives and dishes to shooters like senior Sean Marshall, junior big man John Oates, sophomores Tyrese Rice and Marquez Haynes (who showed an improved stroke on Sunday as he went 3-4 from long range) and freshman Tyler Roche. Haynes, who has the tools to be a very good defender, could see a little time at the point backing up Rice, who played a solid game on Sunday.
Marshall and classmate Jared Dudley, who have been starters ever since they arrived on Commonwealth Ave, will be counted on to lead the team. They are battle-tested and have done nothing but win, and that bodes well as they help lead the younger players. Both are capable of doing several things to help the Eagles at both ends of the floor. Dudley could get a lot of help in the frontcourt from juniors Sean Williams and Akida McLain, both of whom bring different things to the table. Williams is a very athletic shot-blocker who has taken over games at times, but he hasn’t had to do much on offense. That won’t be the case now, as the Eagles will need him to be a factor on the offensive end, even if he doesn’t score 15 points a night. McLain can shoot from mid-range and had some moments last season where he looked like he could blossom into one of the ACC’s better forwards. While the talent is there, so too are the questions for McLain, who has had some off-court issues.
Also helping in the frontcourt is freshman Shamari Spears, who had 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists in 31 minutes on Sunday. Spears has drawn some comparisons to departed BC forward Craig Smith, but that’s not a very good one. Spears isn’t as quick or explosive as Smith, although he showed some good low-post scoring ability. He will certainly get a chance to contribute early.
It all adds up to a team that should be near the top of the ACC this season. The Eagles had a rocky start last season in the ACC, but turned things around and made it to the championship game in the ACC Tournament. It will be exceedingly difficult to top North Carolina this season, but the Eagles could be right in the mix. There isn’t a clear favorite after the Tar Heels, and with their experience and personnel, the Eagles are about as good a pick as anyone if they stay healthy.
There is an air of change at Boston College, but signs point to that change being for the better.
Frontcourt Players Suspended – Again
Before Sunday’s exhibition game, Williams and McLain were suspended for multiple games due to a violation of team rules. More troubling than the sheer numbers – Williams is suspended for the first two regular season games, while McLain for the first nine – is the fact that this is the second consecutive season the two have begun on suspension. For Williams, it is his fourth separate suspension, and one has to think that both players are on thin ice now.
“It’s something that, unfortunately we had to do,” Skinner said after Sunday’s exhibition game. “We’ll treat it like an injury.”
Although the reason isn’t known, academics are suspected with McLain’s suspension. He is eligible to return – meaning it isn’t a guarantee – on December 23, which is the first game after the semester ends. No source has confirmed this, but Skinner could be taking suspending him so as to get his grades in order so he will be eligible for the second semester. A source was aware that McLain was going to be suspended, so apparently this was already in the works. FOX Sports noted that McLain was sent home during the summer at one point.
Both players are practicing with the team and will continue to do so.
