CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – As ACC play begins in earnest, it’s easy to wonder which Boston College team will show up. That’s not normally what one would expect of a veteran squad like this one, but the first two months lead to exactly that. And the players and coach know it.
The last two games are perhaps the best example of this. The Eagles lost 52-51 to Maine on Saturday, then came back and blitzed NJIT on Tuesday by an eye-popping score of 89-32. This is a team that has lost to rebuilding Saint Joseph’s in addition to Maine, but knocked off South Carolina relatively convincingly and also beat previously undefeated Miami. They also won at Michigan, although the Wolverines have been a disappointment thus far.
In light of that, it’s not surprising that head coach Al Skinner has consistently said this is about the Eagles and not the opponent. The results reflect a team that basically gets results based on their effort, which is normal but doesn’t always hold up when there is a talent differential between the teams. As such, simply looking at the team’s schedule and final scores would leave one scratching their head.
“Our effort against Maine was obviously very sub-par, and there’s a certain level that each individual should have of himself, and the team should expect of themselves,” Skinner said after Tuesday’s game. “On different occasions this year, we have not done that. It’s important for us to establish a certain level of play, a certain level of intensity and effort we need to make in order to have success, and hopefully we’ll continue on this path.”
The effort against NJIT wasn’t in question, and that made all the difference as the Eagles blitzed the Highlanders. But Skinner noted that if this game was played a little earlier, things might have been different, because he’s seen how his team has gone back and forth.
Not helping the Eagles is injuries, and Skinner noted it. He knows they have to go with whoever is healthy, but not having their full team together for most of the first month and a half certainly didn’t help, especially since the Eagles under Skinner have been teams that are at their best when they’re in a flow from playing together. Skinner also likes to play his players in their normal role, which is probably why he held Rakim Sanders out another game last month because he probably wasn’t ready to start like he normally would. That basically means that while every team could suffer if an injury hits, the Eagles might be in more trouble than most if that happens to them.
“It’s been disruptive only because I haven’t really been able to set a rotation, some continuity, and trying to get some guys focused on what they need to do in order to help this club get better,” Skinner said of the man-games lost to injury. “We’re still juggling, and that’s the unfortunate part. You should not be 15 games into your season still juggling your lineups, juggling guys’ focus, expectations – those things should not be happening 15 games into the season.”
The Eagles’ split personality has left them with little margin for error as far as the NCAA Tournament goes. While they have a chance thanks to playing in the ACC, which Skinner noted, chances are an 8-8 mark isn’t going to get them in, and even 9-7 likely won’t be enough unless they get multiple wins over the likes of Duke, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Clemson and Florida State along the way. Currently, those are the ACC teams in the top 50 in RPI.
“Every game is crucial,” said sophomore guard Reggie Jackson. “We know there’s no letting up. It’s a great conference, but we know we’re going to at least have to finish in the top five or six to even get into the tournament this year. We hope to do better because of the letdown we’ve had in our non-conference schedule. We’re really pushing to be a better team.”
The test starts with road games at Clemson on Saturday and Duke on Wednesday, and they also play both at home later. They play Florida State both at home and away and have Wake Forest in Winston-Salem and the Tar Heels in Chestnut Hill. All told, that’s eight chances for quality wins as of now, although another team or two could also emerge in the next few weeks. Clemson is a difficult place for a visiting team to win even when the Tigers aren’t as good as they have been the last few years under Oliver Purnell.
Boston College has established that they can beat anyone, but also that they can lose to anyone. That can change if their effort becomes more consistent, and that’s what Skinner is looking for.
“I’m hoping, and they’re planning on, this as the type of effort they’re going to give for the remainder of the year,” said Skinner. “If we do that, I can be satisfied with whatever the results are going to be.”
