Eagles Find Themselves After Losses
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Some soul searching was in order for Boston College recently. The Eagles had lost two straight at home and not in a good way both times out, getting blown out by Kansas a week earlier before losing two nights later to Robert Morris. It wasn’t a high point for the team at all.
“If it didn’t embarrass them, then it embarrassed me,” head coach Al Skinner of the loss to Robert Morris. “I think they were uncomfortable, and I think even more so after they looked at themselves on tape and some of the efforts that we had given as a team.”
Losing to Kansas, even in a blowout, was one thing. Losing to Robert Morris, while a fine team and one that should be in the Northeast Conference title hunt, was another. That, along with having a few days before their next game and with ACC games in front of them, meant it was time to go something.
“We had a team meeting, and some things were said to some people,” said junior Tyrese Rice, who tied a career high with 32 points and handed out eight assists. “We pretty much held ourselves accountable. Our practices have always been great, and I never understood why it didn’t transfer over to the games.”
Skinner thought something other than a change in how they conduct practice was in order. He and his players have been satisfied with the way practices have gone, but it hasn’t translated into games as the team has been very inconsistent.
“What we did was ask guys to take time to study the game a little bit and the way we wanted to play,” said Skinner. “It was more a mental exercise these last few days than it was physical.”
It seems to have worked. In Saturday’s 112-73 trouncing of Wake Forest, the Eagles played for a full 40 minutes, even literally as Biko Paris ended the game with a buzzer-beating breakaway dunk. The ball movement looked much better and the offense had a flow to it. Certainly, it didn’t hurt that the Eagles were hot shooting the ball, as they shot over 66 percent from the field for the game and were 13-19 from long range, but some of that came from the better offense they ran.
Wake Forest wasn’t a team that stood out as an opponent for a “get well” game for the Eagles. Indeed, the Demon Deacons entered the game as a team strikingly similar to the Eagles. They are an inexperienced bunch, much like the Eagles, as they have no seniors on the roster. Even with the youth, they had a respectable non-conference record and came into the game at 1-0 in the ACC. But once the game began, the similarities went away.
The Eagles scored the first 11 points of the game and never trailed, although the Demon Deacons made a game of it later in the first half. In fact, they got within two before a 12-3 BC run put them up a little more comfortably. They were never up by less than 13 in the second half.
The Demon Deacons entered the game having defended the three-point shot well, but they didn’t do it on this day. The Eagles made 6 of 10 attempts in the first half, then were only hotter in the second as they went 7-9.
“I’ve got tremendous confidence in this team as far as having the potential to score points, but there’s a way you have to do it,” said Skinner. “Shot selection is important, and tonight the ball moved and guys got good looks at the basket, and we’re fortunate they went in.”
The 112 points marked the first time the Eagles have ever topped 100 points in an ACC game. For good measure, it was their first game over 100 in a conference game since 1985, during their early days in the Big East.
How much this win boosts the Eagles will depend on what they do with it. They certainly remember the feeling after the loss to Robert Morris, and no doubt they remember the feeling after Saturday’s win. They’re going to need a good run in the ACC if the NCAA Tournament is to come calling, and if there was ever a time to establish consistency, this is it.
“I feel like we can lock up anybody in the ACC if we play like we did tonight,” said senior forward John Oates, who had 14 points on 4-5 shooting from long range. “But it’s just a matter of bringing it every night and really focusing on 40 minutes of basketball and 40 minutes of playing like we’re down one, bringing that sense of urgency for 40 minutes.”
Other Notable Games
UCLA 81, Washington State 74: The Cougars made this a ballgame in the final minutes and didn’t go down easily, but the Bruins defend their home court and hand them their first loss. Kevin Love was the man on this day, scoring 27 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.
North Carolina 93, North Carolina State 62: It’s hard to imagine that this was a tie game early at 9-9. The Tar Heels broke that tie with authority, going on a 34-2 run that was capped by 25 unanswered points, aided by the Wolfpack missing 18 straight field goals at one point.
Georgetown 72, Connecticut 69: The Huskies could have used this to get back on the national radar in a big way, but the Hoyas pulled it out after trailing late. The Hoyas scored eight of the game’s last ten points.
Kentucky 79, Vanderbilt 73 (2 OT): The Wildcats hand the Commodores their first loss of the season. Could this be a win that gets the Wildcats going?
Iowa 43, Michigan State 36: The big stunner of the day, as the high-scoring Spartans shot less than 31 percent, held the Hawkeyes below 27 percent, and still lost.
Marquette 92, Notre Dame 66: The game may have been in Milwaukee, but few probably imagined the score would be this lopsided.
Florida 72, Auburn 56: The Gators move to 2-0 on the young SEC season.
Arizona 85, Houston 71: Think the Wildcats missed Jerryd Bayless while he was out? He scored 33 points in his return to action and they picked up a good win.
Texas A&M 86, Colorado 69: The Aggies have now won eight straight games by 15 or more points. They are quietly 15-1 and haven’t received much pub since winning the NIT Season Tip-Off.
Missouri 97, Texas 84: The Tigers’ first win over Texas in nearly nine years gives them a signature win to go with a couple of decent wins in their non-conference run.
Kansas State 84, Oklahoma 82: Michael Beasley’s 32 points and 11 rebounds lead the Wildcats to a nice road win. The Sooner quietly put together a nice non-conference run, while the Wildcats were up and down, so this is a good way for the Wildcats to start Big 12 play.
Miami 78, Georgia Tech 68: The Hurricanes open ACC play with another win, improving to 14-1.
Purdue 75, Ohio State 68: A good win for the Boilermakers, as the Buckeyes had been playing well leading up to this game.
Baylor 74, Iowa State 67: Another progression for the Bears, as they win their Big 12 opener and are 13-2 overall.
Providence 86, South Florida 70: Returning home was just what the Friars needed, as they won two straight. Geoff McDermott led the charge in this one with 24 points and seven boards.
DePaul 60, St. John’s 54: The Blue Demons looked like a team in serious rebuilding mode in non-conference play, but after this win they are 3-1 in the Big East.
USC 66, Washington 51: The Trojans avoid an 0-4 start in Pac-10 play with this win.
UCF 97, Tulsa 91 (3 OT): On a day full of overtime and double overtime games, this one takes the cake as they needed three extra sessions to decide the winner.
George Mason 80, Northeastern 52: The Patriots bounce back from Wednesday night’s tough road loss to go back over .500 in CAA play.
Delaware 81, Old Dominion 74 (2 OT): The biggest surprise in the CAA continues to be the Blue Hens, who win their second straight overtime game and are now 5-0 in CAA play.
Drake 65, Missouri State 54: The Bulldogs just keep winning, improving to 5-0 in Missouri Valley play to stay in a tie for first.
Illinois State 74, Evansville 66: With this win, the Redbirds stay stride-for-stride with Drake as they also move to 5-0 in Missouri Valley play.
Indiana State 64, Southern Illinois 62 (2 OT): The Sycamores continue to be a big part of the new-look Missouri Valley, as they improve to 4-1 in conference games after pulling this one out.
Oral Roberts 66, Oakland 60: The two-time defending Summit League champs are still on top, as this big road win moves them to 5-0 in league play.
IUPUI 72, South Dakota State 44: The Jaguars improve to 5-0 in Summit League play as well with this romp, setting up Thursday’s early showdown in Tulsa with the Golden Eagles.
High Point 62, Winthrop 61: Could the Big South opener for both teams be a harbinger of a changing of the guard? The Panthers were tabbed as preseason favorites by some.
Lafayette 60, Holy Cross 52: Here’s one example of how much tighter the Patriot League race should be this year. It doesn’t help that point guard Pat Doherty missed the game for the Crusaders.
Jacksonville 72, Mercer 70: A good road win puts the Dolphins at 4-0 in the Atlantic Sun thus far, the only undefeated team left in the conference.
Maine 77, UMBC 74: The mid-major surprise of the day, the young Black Bears pulled this one out on the road against the America East favorites.
South Alabama 97, New Orleans 88: The Jaguars are now 5-0 in Sun Belt play with this road win. After an excellent non-conference run, the Privateers are 2-3 in Sun Belt play.
Austin Peay 85, Southeast Missouri State 82: An early first place showdown goes to the host Governors, as both teams entered the game with identical 6-1 Ohio Valley marks.
Chattanooga 85, Western Carolina 55: Quietly the Mocs are 7-0 in the Southern Conference.
