Let's give credit where credit is due: to Spags and the players. Although they played flat, especially in the first half, I'd say it was as difficult for the players to get up for this game as it was for the fans. And the fans, especially this one, were not up for the game. But they won despite being pushed all over the field for 59 minutes or so, and that's all that matters.
I have a few takes on the game.
BC's disinterest was evident by one aspect of their game early and often: poor tackling. Tackling is all about fire and effort, and when you see guys arm tackling and lettting people bounce off for extra yardage (yes, Mark Herzlich, you), then you're just not up for the game.
Ryan Glasper, a great player, had perhaps the worst game of his season, perhaps his career. Glasper was out of position all day, blew deep coverage on the first Navy touchdown, and, along with his secondary mates, could not figure out how to defend or help on the option pitch. 350 yards on the ground? That's all on the DBs, Navy had little of that up the middle. I could not believe how successful the Middies were. BC knew it was coming and must have defended against in it practice for a month.
The playcalling on the final drive was ridiculous. I know they were trying to center the ball and not screw up (i.e., holding call, interception, sack), but c'mon. You can throw a couple of safe outs or go for a corner endzone toss. Ryan is too smart to screw up in that situation. BC dodged a bullet by placing all its eggs in one basket with a shaky walk-on kicker who had never made even a 40 yard field goal, and who had missed an extra point that day. Maybe it was Dana Bible all along.
I'm glad this is over, and I'm talking about the TOB era. It felt like BC when they were still in the Big East but had committed to the ACC. Let's get on with it and start kicking ass next year.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Painful Loss
BC went down to Duquesne tonight in overtime 98-93, believe it or not. I am stunned. The Eagles blew a 10 point lead with 4 minutes left, and a 3 point lead with 2 seconds left in regulation. It was a weird one. With Jared Dudley, John Oates and Akida McLean all in street clothes, most of the other rotation guys stepped it up, in particular Ty Rice (29 pts, 8 assists), Sean Marshall (30 points), Marquez Haynes (12 points) and Sean Williams (19 points, 13 blocks). But shrinking violet Shamari Spears looked like a scared freshman for the second straight game. He was horrible on defense and invisible on offense (0 points). Tyrelle Blair, the big beneficiary of the Dudley minutes, was likewise underwhelming (0-2 fg, 3 pts, 4 boards, 21 minutes). He continues to show me that he is nothing more than a backup center who should only see the floor when Williams or Oates is in foul trouble. Tyler Roche (4 minutes) was the only other player to see any time, and Skinner had a quick hook with him.
For a while there, I thought we were going to see Sean Williams break the NCAA block record (14), as he had double figures in the first half. But Al Skinner inexplicably played one-dimensional Blair with Williams most of the second frame, and they seemed to be tripping over each other. The combo was good for blocks (Blair had 4), but the overall team defense was atrocious as a result ( a lot of "ole" trying to set up the blocks), and the Dukes put up big numbers in the second half and in overtime on layups and free throws.
If there is one, the silver lining here is that Haynes had a solid game, and Rice and Marshall found their stroke from downtown (20-37 combined). But Marshall missed the big shot again. With a chance to tie late in overtime, he tossed up an airball on a wide open three. He is just NOT a bigtime player.
Lastly, it should be noted that the referees played an unusually significant role late in the game. In overtime, Sean Williams was whistled for an intentional foul for dropping an f-bomb at the ref after a call on Blair (very stupid - he deserved it), and then again for grabbing a Duke's shirt on a breakway (ticky-tack). Those calls pretty much iced the game for Duquesne, the best free-throw shooting team in the A-10.
This loss is a serious, serious blow to BC's tourney hopes. Losing to Vermont early is one thing, but it's almost January, and Duquesne is a bad team. Even if BC does well in conference play, it will be a struggle to reach 20 wins, usually the benchmark for an at-large bid. The committee may look at this game as one in which the Eagles were missing 3 of their top 7 rotation guys due to injury, but they also might say a team like BC should be able to beat Duquesne handily with their backups. I would agree with the latter. Losing at home to Vermont and Duquesne in the same season spells N-I-T, ask anybody from the 02-03 NIT team (19-12 overall, 10-6 Big East but lost to Holy Cross and Northeastern at home).
For a while there, I thought we were going to see Sean Williams break the NCAA block record (14), as he had double figures in the first half. But Al Skinner inexplicably played one-dimensional Blair with Williams most of the second frame, and they seemed to be tripping over each other. The combo was good for blocks (Blair had 4), but the overall team defense was atrocious as a result ( a lot of "ole" trying to set up the blocks), and the Dukes put up big numbers in the second half and in overtime on layups and free throws.
If there is one, the silver lining here is that Haynes had a solid game, and Rice and Marshall found their stroke from downtown (20-37 combined). But Marshall missed the big shot again. With a chance to tie late in overtime, he tossed up an airball on a wide open three. He is just NOT a bigtime player.
Lastly, it should be noted that the referees played an unusually significant role late in the game. In overtime, Sean Williams was whistled for an intentional foul for dropping an f-bomb at the ref after a call on Blair (very stupid - he deserved it), and then again for grabbing a Duke's shirt on a breakway (ticky-tack). Those calls pretty much iced the game for Duquesne, the best free-throw shooting team in the A-10.
This loss is a serious, serious blow to BC's tourney hopes. Losing to Vermont early is one thing, but it's almost January, and Duquesne is a bad team. Even if BC does well in conference play, it will be a struggle to reach 20 wins, usually the benchmark for an at-large bid. The committee may look at this game as one in which the Eagles were missing 3 of their top 7 rotation guys due to injury, but they also might say a team like BC should be able to beat Duquesne handily with their backups. I would agree with the latter. Losing at home to Vermont and Duquesne in the same season spells N-I-T, ask anybody from the 02-03 NIT team (19-12 overall, 10-6 Big East but lost to Holy Cross and Northeastern at home).
How Big is the Bowl Streak?
From the BC perspective, a lot of the interest in this weekend's Navy-BC third tier bowl centers around whether BC can extend its longest-in-the-nation bowl winning streak (which Utah tied for the time being with their win over Tulsa last Saturday). I for one have never been that impressed with it. The streak has a lot more to do with the expansion of the bowl slate and, how shall I say it, BC's "unique situation", than it does with BC's talent or game preparation. BC is a northern school with minimal appeal outside the northeast and a bad reputation for "traveling well." As we have painfully learned the last couple of years with the move to the ACC, BC is a lot less bowl attractive than any of their southern brethren. As a result, they always go to a lesser bowl than they deserve, and in turn square off against a lesser opponent whom they should beat. The pessimist in me also observes that TOB's annoying penchant for yearly WTF losses always knocked the Eagles down a slot or two in the bowl pecking order as well.
There is an interesting dichotomy between BC's bowl streak and that of Notre Dame (Notre Dame has lost 8 straight). ND, in contrast to BC, because of their misnomer nickname (the school was founded by a French order of priests) is wildly popular with all the yahoos across the country with Irish backgrounds. They fill seats and get good ratings, and have parlayed that appeal into an exclusive television contract with NBC and a special arrangement with the BCS (if memory serves, they get into the BCS if they have 8 wins and are ranked in the Top 10). So ND always goes to a better bowl than they deserve because of knee-jerk AP voters, which is why the Irish have lost 8 straight bigger bowls, some in embarrassing fashion; they constantly play teams that have gotten to the game on the merits.
BC has not exactly been world beaters during the streak. Look at the teams they've beaten: Arizona State, Georgia, Toledo, Colorado State, UNC, and Boise State. BC was heavily favored in every one of those games except Georgia. And the year they beat Georgia, the Bulldogs missed out on a January 1 bowl the last weekend of the season, were pretty unhappy to be in the Music City Bowl, and played like it.
So that's the real story with this glorious streak the BC Sports Information Department gets so excited about.
There is an interesting dichotomy between BC's bowl streak and that of Notre Dame (Notre Dame has lost 8 straight). ND, in contrast to BC, because of their misnomer nickname (the school was founded by a French order of priests) is wildly popular with all the yahoos across the country with Irish backgrounds. They fill seats and get good ratings, and have parlayed that appeal into an exclusive television contract with NBC and a special arrangement with the BCS (if memory serves, they get into the BCS if they have 8 wins and are ranked in the Top 10). So ND always goes to a better bowl than they deserve because of knee-jerk AP voters, which is why the Irish have lost 8 straight bigger bowls, some in embarrassing fashion; they constantly play teams that have gotten to the game on the merits.
BC has not exactly been world beaters during the streak. Look at the teams they've beaten: Arizona State, Georgia, Toledo, Colorado State, UNC, and Boise State. BC was heavily favored in every one of those games except Georgia. And the year they beat Georgia, the Bulldogs missed out on a January 1 bowl the last weekend of the season, were pretty unhappy to be in the Music City Bowl, and played like it.
So that's the real story with this glorious streak the BC Sports Information Department gets so excited about.
Duquesne And Other Thoughts
BC is hosting 3-7 Duquesne tonight and I will be in attendance. The Dukes are an interesting squad. Coach Ron Everhart took over the troubled program and brought in a slew of new faces (only 2 holdovers from the previous year). Some are sitting out the year as transfers, but Duquesne has at least one hotshot freshman, Richard Mitchell (18.1 ppg, 5th in the nation for rookies), and a solid point guard in Aaron Jackson (1st in the A-10 in assist-to-turnover ratio). Duquesne has also grappled with the well-publicized on-campus shooting of 5 of its players following a party in September.
Everhart will miss the game due to medical issues, and a triumvirate of assistants, including 24 year old Richard Pitino (son of Rick), will take the reigns.
In the football world, I note with pleasure that Florida State blew out UCLA last night in the Emerald Bowl. This was the one ACC team I was most worried about because of the matchup. The Bruins were pretty good, they should have beaten Notre Dame at South Bend, and did beat USC in the regular season final. The Seminoles victory augers well for the ACC postseason, and a good showing by ACC schools could atone for some of the PR knocks the league has taken this year. Also, I love the transitive nature of the win: BC beat FSU, FSU beat UCLA, UCLA beat USC, USC crushed ND, ergo BC crushed hated Notre Dame. God, I hate the Irish and their insufferable fans.
More Muffler Bowl artcles here (Herald), here (Herald), here (Globe) and here (Baltimore Sun).
Everhart will miss the game due to medical issues, and a triumvirate of assistants, including 24 year old Richard Pitino (son of Rick), will take the reigns.
In the football world, I note with pleasure that Florida State blew out UCLA last night in the Emerald Bowl. This was the one ACC team I was most worried about because of the matchup. The Bruins were pretty good, they should have beaten Notre Dame at South Bend, and did beat USC in the regular season final. The Seminoles victory augers well for the ACC postseason, and a good showing by ACC schools could atone for some of the PR knocks the league has taken this year. Also, I love the transitive nature of the win: BC beat FSU, FSU beat UCLA, UCLA beat USC, USC crushed ND, ergo BC crushed hated Notre Dame. God, I hate the Irish and their insufferable fans.
More Muffler Bowl artcles here (Herald), here (Herald), here (Globe) and here (Baltimore Sun).
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Yawner in Charlotte
Anybody else out there completely disinterested in this weekend's Muffler Bowl (Saturday, 1 PM, ESPN)? Call me a bad fan, but I just can't seem to get too excited about a third tier bowl game against a service academy we've played many times over the years. I'll watch the game, but I won't have my typical BC Boner.
This is the classic can't win scenario: win and you get "big deal it's a service academy;" lose and you get "can't believe you lost to a service academy." Compound that with the twists and turns of the coaching change over the past few weeks, and you've got an interest quotient close to reruns of "A Very Brady Christmas."
Anyway, for those of you interested, here's a Mike Vega article from today's Globe about BC's bad travel reputation. The subject is old, but the article is well-written. Here's the Herald's take on the "weird situation" of having an interim coach and how the players are dealing with it, and the Baltimore Sun's version of the same issue.
Navy will have a distinct home field advantage (sound Boise-like familiar?). Not only is Charlotte just a few hours drive away, but the Navy faithful are pretty fired up over a 9-3 season and a bowl appearance. This local article says they're expecting 20,000 fans. I'd be surprised if BC has 3,000.
Lastly, here's the Herald's salute to outgoing AP 1st team All-America Josh Beekman
This is the classic can't win scenario: win and you get "big deal it's a service academy;" lose and you get "can't believe you lost to a service academy." Compound that with the twists and turns of the coaching change over the past few weeks, and you've got an interest quotient close to reruns of "A Very Brady Christmas."
Anyway, for those of you interested, here's a Mike Vega article from today's Globe about BC's bad travel reputation. The subject is old, but the article is well-written. Here's the Herald's take on the "weird situation" of having an interim coach and how the players are dealing with it, and the Baltimore Sun's version of the same issue.
Navy will have a distinct home field advantage (sound Boise-like familiar?). Not only is Charlotte just a few hours drive away, but the Navy faithful are pretty fired up over a 9-3 season and a bowl appearance. This local article says they're expecting 20,000 fans. I'd be surprised if BC has 3,000.
Lastly, here's the Herald's salute to outgoing AP 1st team All-America Josh Beekman
Monday, December 25, 2006
Injuries Injuries Injuries
The Globe and Herald are reporting today that Jared Dudley will be out a couple of weeks to nurse a nagging foot injury. This comes on top of injuries to John Oates (not that serious foot injury) and Akida McLain (pretty bad ankle sprain). I think this will be a blessing in disguise. The competition is not that tough (Northeastern and Duquesne), and as I mentioned in my last posting, I think Tyler Roche needs to get on the floor so we can see what he can do. Roche was a big time recruit (scholarship offers from Georgetown, NC State and Providence), and from all I've read he is quite a shooter - check out this scout article. The Eagles desperately need an outside threat. Ty Rice, when he can get them off, is just not hitting his shots this year (16-59 from 3 point range), and Sean Marshall is waaay too streaky, and the bad streaks are a helluva lot longer and more frequent than the good ones. At 6'7", Roche will have no problem getting his shot off. And if he can step in and earn a spot in the rotation by exhibiting some long range prowess, BC will be much better off down the road, and won't be so susceptible to the zone defense.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Lost in Lawrence
U-G-L-Y. BC took quite a pounding yesterday at the hands of the 12th-ranked University of Kansas, as thorough a beating as they have suffered since Pitt thumped them at home in the waning days of the 04--05 campaign. As I said in my preview, all the Kansas papers have been describing the Jayhawks as an inconsistent team, but one that can absolutely blow your doors off when they put it all together. Well KU certainly brought their "A" game, and put the wood to the Eagles. The game was essentially over late in the 1st half when Kansas switched to a zone defense, and promptly broke a 16-16 tie with a 31-7 run (not a misprint).
This was bad news on a number of fronts:
1. It represented a collosal missed opportunity. The Jayhawks haven't played anybody decent in almost a month, and came out of the gate pretty slowly with a number of sloppy turnovers. But BC was just as careless, especially Ty Rice (more on that later). Had BC pounced on Kansas and went up by 8-10 points early, it might have been a different game, or at least a different half. In the grander scheme of things, this was also a blown chance to have a nice, loud out-of-conference win. Kansas is young but extremely talented (6 McDonald's All-Americans). They will continue to improve, and by the end of the year might be a Top 5 team. Had BC managed to upset the Jayhawks, it would have been a big statement win. With the loss, BC has no more opportunities for such outside the ACC, so the Eagles are left to pull for UMass and Michigan State to have big years, so the wins over them look good come Selection Sunday.
2. Sean Williams had a huuuuge game (19 points, 15 rebounds, 7 blocks). Why is this bad news? Because BC-KU was a nationally televised affair on a dead Saturday during a holiday weekend. Everyone in the country was watching this game, including the NBA scouts. According to this article, there were 16 credentialed NBA scouts in attendance. Now everyone knows what we all know, that this guy is a f'ing freak. So make no mistake about it, Williams just vaulted from 2nd round flier to 1st round certainty in the 07 NBA Draft. Whether Williams returns to BC for his senior year is now extremely tenuous. I don't know Williams or anyone who does, so I don't know what he's thinking, but if he is drafted in the 20s (where I have him now), he could probably ink a $3.5M deal for three years. Would you turn that down? Let's face it, he's not going to be a scientist or a lawyer, he's going to be an NBA forward, might as well get started making the big bucks now. "He’s the best I’ve ever seen,” KU guard Russell Robinson said of Williams. “He comes out of nowhere.”
3. As stated above, the game was there for all to see, so the entire country got a good glimpse of BC and all it's warts. Compounding the glare was the fact that BC was the undercard for the much-hyped Ohio State-Florida tilt, so everyone who tuned in for that game at 4:00 PM EST, got 10 minutes of the end of the BC drubbing. Not good.
4. John Oates and Akida McLain went down with injuries. I'm not a big fan of Oates, but he does have a role, he's a big guy who can grab a few boards, get some put-backs, and drill the occasional three. So it will hurt if he's out for a long time (the Globe indicated he had an "injured left arch," whatever that means; the Herald says he is day-to-day). McLain is a bigger concern. He could really help BC down low, and if he's out for a while that will be a problem. He reportedly has a "severely sprained ankle." I had a few of those back in my playing days, and they can really hobble you for long stretches of time, perhaps the entire season. So that sucks for the Eagles.
The Heroes:
The only hero in the game for BC was Williams. He continues to show that his improved offense is no accident. He's looking to score and taking it to the hoop. Also, his shot-blocking is absolutely breathtaking (no news bulletin there). Getting 6-7 blocks against the likes of Sacred Heart and Fairfield is one thing, but doing it against the thoroughbreds of Kansas is another. His prowess on the boards was a little misleading though. With Oates and McLean out, someone had to clean up the glass.
The Villains:
1. Sean Marshall (2-5, 5 pts, 3 turnovers) pulled another disappearing act against a quality opponent. This guy gets all his numbers against the mid-majors, but comes up small against the big boys (7.0 ppg v. Mich. State, Maryland and Kansas this year; 17.2 ppg v. everyone else). He needs to stop pouting when his shot isn't falling and concentrate on defense and rebounding. I counted at least two occasions when he missed a shot, and then watched his man race up court for a long pass and a dunk. That can't happen. He also has to improve his rotations (see below)
2. Ty Rice needs to knock off the careless passes, it's getting ridiculous. His assist-to-turnover ratio is close to 1:1. That's horrible. I have generally been a Ty guy, thinking he brings more to the table than he takes away. But the turnovers are becoming a big concern, and his shooting, particularly from trifecta range, has been god-awful lately (and this season in general). Nevertheless, I was alarmed to see him pass up his jumpshot. He is a great shooter, and I want him jacking that three when it's open, even if it's not falling. That's his shot. I don't want him driving to the hoop, especially against a tall athletic team like Kansas. When that happens and Marshall fails to rotate over, it leaves BC open to fastbreak opportunites, which we saw time and again yesterday.
3. Al Skinner. There is no bigger Skinner fan than me, but you've got to call some timeouts when you're getting blown out of the gym on the road like they were in the first half. Al has always had a "let em play" attitude, but that was a little extreme. Also, it's looking more and more like the Marqez Haynes-Ty Rice combo should be on the floor more. My biggest criticism of Al is his loyalty. We saw this in spades during the Nate Doornekamp era, and we're seeing it here with Marshall. Haynes should be eating into Marshall's minutes, especially when Marshall's only asset - three point shooting - has abandoned him.
4. Shamari Spears. I hesitiate in calling Spears a villain, but the game he submitted revived my concern that he will have a tough time getting his shot off against bigger and more athletic competition when ACC play starts. He has looked good against the mid-majors, but 1-2 from the floor with 3 boards in 23 minutes doesn't cut it in the big-time.
Yesterday's abysmal outside shooting (4-19 from three) made it painfully evident that BC lacks a perimeter game. KU went with the zone early and dared BC to shoot. That paid big dividends for the Jayhawks, and we can expect to see more and more of it in the future when teams check out the tape of this one. I for one am really disappointed we haven't seen more of Tyler Roche. I am not there at practice, so I say this with no authority, but everything I read about Roche during the recruiting process was that he is a dead-eye shooter from long range, and he's 6-7. BC could really use someone like that to keep the defenses honest and avoid long scoring droughts like we saw against Kansas. But it looks like Roche is out of Al's rotation, which means he probably won't see the floor all year. Al is the anti-Tom Izzo, he likes to have 7 or 8 guys in a rotation and no more, even if a guy on the bench has game (e.g., transfer Gordon Watt, who is now starting for Purdue).
Lastly, did anyone else find it annoying that Jared Dudley was named BC's Player of the Game by CBS? I love Dudley, but that was probably his quietest game of the year, and he was pretty much a non-factor. Williams was clearly BC's MVP, but CBS no doubt hyped Dudley coming in and forced the script down the viewers throats. That's why I hate these dumbed-down national telecasts, especially come tourney time.
Next up is a home game Thursday 12/28 against Duquesne. The Eagles should lick their wounds with the 3-7 Dukes, but there are no guarantees with this team, as we found out against Vermont.
This was bad news on a number of fronts:
1. It represented a collosal missed opportunity. The Jayhawks haven't played anybody decent in almost a month, and came out of the gate pretty slowly with a number of sloppy turnovers. But BC was just as careless, especially Ty Rice (more on that later). Had BC pounced on Kansas and went up by 8-10 points early, it might have been a different game, or at least a different half. In the grander scheme of things, this was also a blown chance to have a nice, loud out-of-conference win. Kansas is young but extremely talented (6 McDonald's All-Americans). They will continue to improve, and by the end of the year might be a Top 5 team. Had BC managed to upset the Jayhawks, it would have been a big statement win. With the loss, BC has no more opportunities for such outside the ACC, so the Eagles are left to pull for UMass and Michigan State to have big years, so the wins over them look good come Selection Sunday.
2. Sean Williams had a huuuuge game (19 points, 15 rebounds, 7 blocks). Why is this bad news? Because BC-KU was a nationally televised affair on a dead Saturday during a holiday weekend. Everyone in the country was watching this game, including the NBA scouts. According to this article, there were 16 credentialed NBA scouts in attendance. Now everyone knows what we all know, that this guy is a f'ing freak. So make no mistake about it, Williams just vaulted from 2nd round flier to 1st round certainty in the 07 NBA Draft. Whether Williams returns to BC for his senior year is now extremely tenuous. I don't know Williams or anyone who does, so I don't know what he's thinking, but if he is drafted in the 20s (where I have him now), he could probably ink a $3.5M deal for three years. Would you turn that down? Let's face it, he's not going to be a scientist or a lawyer, he's going to be an NBA forward, might as well get started making the big bucks now. "He’s the best I’ve ever seen,” KU guard Russell Robinson said of Williams. “He comes out of nowhere.”
3. As stated above, the game was there for all to see, so the entire country got a good glimpse of BC and all it's warts. Compounding the glare was the fact that BC was the undercard for the much-hyped Ohio State-Florida tilt, so everyone who tuned in for that game at 4:00 PM EST, got 10 minutes of the end of the BC drubbing. Not good.
4. John Oates and Akida McLain went down with injuries. I'm not a big fan of Oates, but he does have a role, he's a big guy who can grab a few boards, get some put-backs, and drill the occasional three. So it will hurt if he's out for a long time (the Globe indicated he had an "injured left arch," whatever that means; the Herald says he is day-to-day). McLain is a bigger concern. He could really help BC down low, and if he's out for a while that will be a problem. He reportedly has a "severely sprained ankle." I had a few of those back in my playing days, and they can really hobble you for long stretches of time, perhaps the entire season. So that sucks for the Eagles.
The Heroes:
The only hero in the game for BC was Williams. He continues to show that his improved offense is no accident. He's looking to score and taking it to the hoop. Also, his shot-blocking is absolutely breathtaking (no news bulletin there). Getting 6-7 blocks against the likes of Sacred Heart and Fairfield is one thing, but doing it against the thoroughbreds of Kansas is another. His prowess on the boards was a little misleading though. With Oates and McLean out, someone had to clean up the glass.
The Villains:
1. Sean Marshall (2-5, 5 pts, 3 turnovers) pulled another disappearing act against a quality opponent. This guy gets all his numbers against the mid-majors, but comes up small against the big boys (7.0 ppg v. Mich. State, Maryland and Kansas this year; 17.2 ppg v. everyone else). He needs to stop pouting when his shot isn't falling and concentrate on defense and rebounding. I counted at least two occasions when he missed a shot, and then watched his man race up court for a long pass and a dunk. That can't happen. He also has to improve his rotations (see below)
2. Ty Rice needs to knock off the careless passes, it's getting ridiculous. His assist-to-turnover ratio is close to 1:1. That's horrible. I have generally been a Ty guy, thinking he brings more to the table than he takes away. But the turnovers are becoming a big concern, and his shooting, particularly from trifecta range, has been god-awful lately (and this season in general). Nevertheless, I was alarmed to see him pass up his jumpshot. He is a great shooter, and I want him jacking that three when it's open, even if it's not falling. That's his shot. I don't want him driving to the hoop, especially against a tall athletic team like Kansas. When that happens and Marshall fails to rotate over, it leaves BC open to fastbreak opportunites, which we saw time and again yesterday.
3. Al Skinner. There is no bigger Skinner fan than me, but you've got to call some timeouts when you're getting blown out of the gym on the road like they were in the first half. Al has always had a "let em play" attitude, but that was a little extreme. Also, it's looking more and more like the Marqez Haynes-Ty Rice combo should be on the floor more. My biggest criticism of Al is his loyalty. We saw this in spades during the Nate Doornekamp era, and we're seeing it here with Marshall. Haynes should be eating into Marshall's minutes, especially when Marshall's only asset - three point shooting - has abandoned him.
4. Shamari Spears. I hesitiate in calling Spears a villain, but the game he submitted revived my concern that he will have a tough time getting his shot off against bigger and more athletic competition when ACC play starts. He has looked good against the mid-majors, but 1-2 from the floor with 3 boards in 23 minutes doesn't cut it in the big-time.
Yesterday's abysmal outside shooting (4-19 from three) made it painfully evident that BC lacks a perimeter game. KU went with the zone early and dared BC to shoot. That paid big dividends for the Jayhawks, and we can expect to see more and more of it in the future when teams check out the tape of this one. I for one am really disappointed we haven't seen more of Tyler Roche. I am not there at practice, so I say this with no authority, but everything I read about Roche during the recruiting process was that he is a dead-eye shooter from long range, and he's 6-7. BC could really use someone like that to keep the defenses honest and avoid long scoring droughts like we saw against Kansas. But it looks like Roche is out of Al's rotation, which means he probably won't see the floor all year. Al is the anti-Tom Izzo, he likes to have 7 or 8 guys in a rotation and no more, even if a guy on the bench has game (e.g., transfer Gordon Watt, who is now starting for Purdue).
Lastly, did anyone else find it annoying that Jared Dudley was named BC's Player of the Game by CBS? I love Dudley, but that was probably his quietest game of the year, and he was pretty much a non-factor. Williams was clearly BC's MVP, but CBS no doubt hyped Dudley coming in and forced the script down the viewers throats. That's why I hate these dumbed-down national telecasts, especially come tourney time.
Next up is a home game Thursday 12/28 against Duquesne. The Eagles should lick their wounds with the 3-7 Dukes, but there are no guarantees with this team, as we found out against Vermont.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
BC-Kansas Preview
OK, today's the big day, BC-Kansas. 16,300 fans will be on hand, and a National audience (CBS, 2:00 PM) will be watching from close and far. This will be the undercard for an even bigger marquee matchup on CBS (Ohio State-Florida, i.e., Greg Oden v. Noah, Horford, et al, 4:00 PM). By the way, this is the first of a 2-game home and home series with the Jayhawks; KU will travel to Chestnut Hill next season.
A couple of nuggets I picked up from the Kansas papers:
BC leads the all-time series, 1-0. The Eagles won, 78-62, in the first round of the 1969 postseason NIT. Sophomore guard (and former coach) Jim O’Brien led BC with 24 points while senior forward Terry Driscoll contributed 21.
Alltime BC is 5-1 versus the Big 12. BC is 3-0 versus Iowa State, 1-0 against Oklahoma State and 0-1 against Texas.
Jared Dudley played AAU ball in San Diego as a teammate of KU’s Mario Chalmers (sophomomore guard, 10.5 ppg).
BC's five starters average 63.4 points a game, while the team averages 77.4
Sean Williams has blocked 38 shots in seven games. His 12 blocks at Providence set a school single-game record and was two shy of an NCAA single-game mark set by David Robinson (Navy), Shawn Bradley (BYU), Roy Rogers (Alabama) and Loren Woods (Arizona).
Dudley played 1,340 minutes last season — the highest total by any player in America
The Jayhawks are outscoring opponents by an average of 21.1 points per game and have a plus-8.2 rebounding margin
KU's Russell Robinson ranks second in the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.6) and fourth in steals. He;s dealing with a strained right wrist, however, and shooting just 37.2 percent through 10 games.
The Eagles have outscored opponents 166-90 from the free-throw line.
The athleticism displayed by F Julian Wright is reflected by his average of 7.9 rebounds, as well as eight blocked shots over a three-game stretch and a team-high 14 dunks through 10 games.
Of the eight wins Kansas posted in its first 10 games, seven were by margins of 10 points or more. The eight victories were by an average of 17.2 points, with 16 consecutive opponents held to under 50 percent shooting.
Here's the projected lineup for Kansas:
F 30 Julian Wright 6-8 So. 11.9
F 24 Sasha Kaun 6-11 Jr. 4.6
G 25 Brandon Rush 6-6 So. 13.2
G 15 Mario Chalmers 6-2 So. 10.5
G 3 Russell Robinson 6-1 Jr. 6.6
Here's the preview from the Lawrence Journal-World. KU Coach Bill Self apparently is pulling a page from the Bill Bellichick playbook, talking up how good BC is. Check out these quotes:
“I think their whole team is pretty underrated to be honest with you,” Self said, nodding in the affirmative when asked if sophomore Tyrese Rice was one of the most underrated point guards in the country.
“Coach said they were as good as Florida, probably better,” KU freshman Darrell Arthur said. “We have to come out and attack them like we did Florida, come out with a lot of energy and have fun when playing, too. Their starting five is averaging over 10 points a game. We’ve got to buckle down on defense,” Arthur added.
“I think it’d be a big, big, big, big confidence builder to get a win over Boston College,” KU sophomore Brandon Rush said. “I think this game will be one of the more competitive we play in a while, since Florida. I think it’d be a great statement if we play our type of game and get a big ‘W.’ I think everybody on our team steps play up big when you play higher competition like Boston College,” Rush said. “Guarding Dudley is motivation to play harder.”
This from the Kansas City Star: "Victories over solid USC and Toledo squads were great, but beating a top-tier team such as Boston College would provide a true dose of momentum for a KU squad in desperate need of confidence as Big 12 play inches closer. The Jayhawks vow they’ve become a different team over the break. Today they can prove it."
Here's an article on precocious Jayhawks big man Darrell Arthur (freshman forward, 13.7 ppg).
Here's a gushing article about Dudley (expect to see that in every rivals' newpaper from here to the end of the season).
Here's the game preview from the Kansas City Star. The writer is calling the BC joust a possible "breakout game" for the Jayhawks.
Here's the game preview from the Boston Globe.
A couple of nuggets I picked up from the Kansas papers:
BC leads the all-time series, 1-0. The Eagles won, 78-62, in the first round of the 1969 postseason NIT. Sophomore guard (and former coach) Jim O’Brien led BC with 24 points while senior forward Terry Driscoll contributed 21.
Alltime BC is 5-1 versus the Big 12. BC is 3-0 versus Iowa State, 1-0 against Oklahoma State and 0-1 against Texas.
Jared Dudley played AAU ball in San Diego as a teammate of KU’s Mario Chalmers (sophomomore guard, 10.5 ppg).
BC's five starters average 63.4 points a game, while the team averages 77.4
Sean Williams has blocked 38 shots in seven games. His 12 blocks at Providence set a school single-game record and was two shy of an NCAA single-game mark set by David Robinson (Navy), Shawn Bradley (BYU), Roy Rogers (Alabama) and Loren Woods (Arizona).
Dudley played 1,340 minutes last season — the highest total by any player in America
The Jayhawks are outscoring opponents by an average of 21.1 points per game and have a plus-8.2 rebounding margin
KU's Russell Robinson ranks second in the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.6) and fourth in steals. He;s dealing with a strained right wrist, however, and shooting just 37.2 percent through 10 games.
The Eagles have outscored opponents 166-90 from the free-throw line.
The athleticism displayed by F Julian Wright is reflected by his average of 7.9 rebounds, as well as eight blocked shots over a three-game stretch and a team-high 14 dunks through 10 games.
Of the eight wins Kansas posted in its first 10 games, seven were by margins of 10 points or more. The eight victories were by an average of 17.2 points, with 16 consecutive opponents held to under 50 percent shooting.
Here's the projected lineup for Kansas:
F 30 Julian Wright 6-8 So. 11.9
F 24 Sasha Kaun 6-11 Jr. 4.6
G 25 Brandon Rush 6-6 So. 13.2
G 15 Mario Chalmers 6-2 So. 10.5
G 3 Russell Robinson 6-1 Jr. 6.6
Here's the preview from the Lawrence Journal-World. KU Coach Bill Self apparently is pulling a page from the Bill Bellichick playbook, talking up how good BC is. Check out these quotes:
“I think their whole team is pretty underrated to be honest with you,” Self said, nodding in the affirmative when asked if sophomore Tyrese Rice was one of the most underrated point guards in the country.
“Coach said they were as good as Florida, probably better,” KU freshman Darrell Arthur said. “We have to come out and attack them like we did Florida, come out with a lot of energy and have fun when playing, too. Their starting five is averaging over 10 points a game. We’ve got to buckle down on defense,” Arthur added.
“I think it’d be a big, big, big, big confidence builder to get a win over Boston College,” KU sophomore Brandon Rush said. “I think this game will be one of the more competitive we play in a while, since Florida. I think it’d be a great statement if we play our type of game and get a big ‘W.’ I think everybody on our team steps play up big when you play higher competition like Boston College,” Rush said. “Guarding Dudley is motivation to play harder.”
This from the Kansas City Star: "Victories over solid USC and Toledo squads were great, but beating a top-tier team such as Boston College would provide a true dose of momentum for a KU squad in desperate need of confidence as Big 12 play inches closer. The Jayhawks vow they’ve become a different team over the break. Today they can prove it."
Here's an article on precocious Jayhawks big man Darrell Arthur (freshman forward, 13.7 ppg).
Here's a gushing article about Dudley (expect to see that in every rivals' newpaper from here to the end of the season).
Here's the game preview from the Kansas City Star. The writer is calling the BC joust a possible "breakout game" for the Jayhawks.
Here's the game preview from the Boston Globe.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Rock Chalk Jayhawk!
Well, tomorrow is as big a game as you get in December for our surging Eagles. BC visits storied Allen Fieldhouse for a tussle with the University of Kansas (CBS, 2 PM EST) in a game the winner might proudly point to in March when NCAA bids and seeds are getting doled out. If BC manages to escape with a W, they will be well-positioned for their 4th straight NCAA appearance and 6th of 7. That would be HUGE for the program, not to mention unprecedented. In the annals of BC hoops, the Eagles have never had a run of 4 straight. And with the best BC recruiting class ever coming in next year, the table is set for BC to firmly establish this as its golden era.
The ugly Vermont loss is close to being ancient history. With wins over Michigan State, Maryland and possibly Kansas, that toe-stubbing might seem like last season come March. And to the extent the UVM debacle is mentioned around tourney time, the fact that BC was playing without Sean Williams and Akida McLean will be discussed in the same breath. No doubt.
Is Kansas beatable? Definitely. They have a lot of talent for sure, but they are very young (no seniors on the entire roster) and very inconsistent (losses to Oral Roberts at home and DePaul). Their two best players are Mr. Inside (Freshman Phenom Darrell Arthur, 13.7 ppg) and Mr. Outside (Sophomore Brandon Rush, 13.2 ppg). Here's what they've done so far:
Nov 11 Kansas 91, Northern Arizona 57
Nov 15 Oral Roberts 78, Kansas 71
Nov 19 Kansas 87, Towson 61
Nov 21 Kansas 89, Tennessee St. 54
Nov 24 Kansas 64, Ball St. 46 Neutral
Nov 25 Kansas 82, Florida 80 (OT)
Nov 28 Kansas 83, Dartmouth 32
Dec 2 DePaul 64, Kansas 57
Dec 4 Kansas 72, Southern California 62
Dec 9 Kansas 68, Toledo 58
Dec 19 Kansas 94, Winston Salem St.
The Kansas papers are moaning about the Jayhawks being trick or treat, but when they come to play, you gotta look out. KU beat a great Florida team, a decent USC squad, and slew of mid-majors by wide margins. So how does BC measure up tomorrow? They'll have to bring it, and they need a big defensive game out of Sean Williams. His shot-blocking ability could be the neutralizer BC needs against the athletic frontline of Kansas. Coach Bill Self is saying all the right things. This from the Kansas City Star:
"The Eagles, 7-2, have two potential NBA players in Jared Dudley and Sean Williams. 'They’re good — and I mean the Florida category of good,' Self said. 'You always wish you were more prepared, but hopefully we’ll have some good practices these next few days and be ready.'"
We'll see.
The ugly Vermont loss is close to being ancient history. With wins over Michigan State, Maryland and possibly Kansas, that toe-stubbing might seem like last season come March. And to the extent the UVM debacle is mentioned around tourney time, the fact that BC was playing without Sean Williams and Akida McLean will be discussed in the same breath. No doubt.
Is Kansas beatable? Definitely. They have a lot of talent for sure, but they are very young (no seniors on the entire roster) and very inconsistent (losses to Oral Roberts at home and DePaul). Their two best players are Mr. Inside (Freshman Phenom Darrell Arthur, 13.7 ppg) and Mr. Outside (Sophomore Brandon Rush, 13.2 ppg). Here's what they've done so far:
Nov 11 Kansas 91, Northern Arizona 57
Nov 15 Oral Roberts 78, Kansas 71
Nov 19 Kansas 87, Towson 61
Nov 21 Kansas 89, Tennessee St. 54
Nov 24 Kansas 64, Ball St. 46 Neutral
Nov 25 Kansas 82, Florida 80 (OT)
Nov 28 Kansas 83, Dartmouth 32
Dec 2 DePaul 64, Kansas 57
Dec 4 Kansas 72, Southern California 62
Dec 9 Kansas 68, Toledo 58
Dec 19 Kansas 94, Winston Salem St.
The Kansas papers are moaning about the Jayhawks being trick or treat, but when they come to play, you gotta look out. KU beat a great Florida team, a decent USC squad, and slew of mid-majors by wide margins. So how does BC measure up tomorrow? They'll have to bring it, and they need a big defensive game out of Sean Williams. His shot-blocking ability could be the neutralizer BC needs against the athletic frontline of Kansas. Coach Bill Self is saying all the right things. This from the Kansas City Star:
"The Eagles, 7-2, have two potential NBA players in Jared Dudley and Sean Williams. 'They’re good — and I mean the Florida category of good,' Self said. 'You always wish you were more prepared, but hopefully we’ll have some good practices these next few days and be ready.'"
We'll see.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Positive Thoughts
Well, you all know how I feel about Whipple being passed over. It's time to move on and focus on the good stuff. First and foremost is the fact that TOB is gone. This IS good stuff. He did a great job at the Heights, but he had advanced the Eagles as far as he could, and the seasons were starting to take on a "Groundhog Day" feel (7-9 wins, beat up the patsies, lose to the big boys, Bed Bath and Beyond Bowl). I am among the many who think BC can reach a little higher. I certainly don't expect or demand them to be in a BCS bowl every year, but they can compete at the highest level.
BC is not insitutionally limited by size, academics, geography or fan interest, as many O'Brien apologists have said. For one, BC has roughly the same enrollment as Notre Dame and Stanford (not to mention the University of Miami), and twice the enrollment of Wake Forest. All of these schools have reached BCS bowls while balancing tough academic standards. I don't hear them complaining. And you can say all you want about BC's geography being a negative, but the fact of the matter is that BC has a virtual recruiting monopoly in the northeast corridor. Check out their roster. I'll bet 80% of the players come from New York, New England, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The only real competition BC has for recruits is Syracuse, meaning there has been no competition for the past 5 years. The Cuse sucks, though they somehow managed to beat our dear departed marine time and again. BC should continue to clean up in recruiting as long as Cuse is down, and provided UConn and Rutgers don't make any headway (I do worry a little about Rutgers).
Another reason why I think BC can do better than the Muffler and Tire Bowls is that the football landscape has changed dramatically over the past 10 years. The reduction in scolarships in 1994 to 85 has spread the wealth. That's why we've had 10 different champions over the past 10 years. That's why these 1-AA teams keep upsetting the 1A guys, the talent has trickled down. Why can't BC step it up like Wake and Rutgers did this year? BC has much more going for it than those schools. BC has historically been a solid program, the recruiting is there, we have a Heisman Trophy winner and an Outland Trophy winner, we have one of the most famous plays in all of sports in our archives, we have the brand-new Yawkey Athlectics Center. It's laughable to think we can't step it up.
Is Jags the guy to do it? I hope so. Just because they missed a great hire, doesn't necessarily mean they made a bad one. In many ways, I feel the same way as I did when Jim O'Brien left BC in 1997. Things had grown stale with JOB as well, he couldn't win any big games. He lost to UConn something like 18 times in a row, just like TOB kept losing to Miami. BC used the same technique to constructively fire TOB as they did with JOB: they refused to support him. With JOB, it was the admissions department (they wouldn't let a couple of Prop 48 qualifiers in). With TOB it was his salary. When both left, I felt relief. I knew those guys would never move on volitionallly, but I was also convinced BC would never shitcan them because of the PR hit they would sustain.
The parable in this story is that BC hired underwhelming Al Skinner (or so I thought) to replace JOB. We all know how that worked out, NCAA tourney appearances every year and Top 25 (sometimes Top 10) finishes. I am now a certified, card-carrying Skinner-o-phile, the guy was the perfect hire for BC. Maybe Jags will be as well, the jury is obviously out. But at least he is a change from boring ol' TOB, and from what I hear he is a passionate guy who will get the team and the fans fired up. I hope so. BC desperately needed that.
BC is not insitutionally limited by size, academics, geography or fan interest, as many O'Brien apologists have said. For one, BC has roughly the same enrollment as Notre Dame and Stanford (not to mention the University of Miami), and twice the enrollment of Wake Forest. All of these schools have reached BCS bowls while balancing tough academic standards. I don't hear them complaining. And you can say all you want about BC's geography being a negative, but the fact of the matter is that BC has a virtual recruiting monopoly in the northeast corridor. Check out their roster. I'll bet 80% of the players come from New York, New England, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The only real competition BC has for recruits is Syracuse, meaning there has been no competition for the past 5 years. The Cuse sucks, though they somehow managed to beat our dear departed marine time and again. BC should continue to clean up in recruiting as long as Cuse is down, and provided UConn and Rutgers don't make any headway (I do worry a little about Rutgers).
Another reason why I think BC can do better than the Muffler and Tire Bowls is that the football landscape has changed dramatically over the past 10 years. The reduction in scolarships in 1994 to 85 has spread the wealth. That's why we've had 10 different champions over the past 10 years. That's why these 1-AA teams keep upsetting the 1A guys, the talent has trickled down. Why can't BC step it up like Wake and Rutgers did this year? BC has much more going for it than those schools. BC has historically been a solid program, the recruiting is there, we have a Heisman Trophy winner and an Outland Trophy winner, we have one of the most famous plays in all of sports in our archives, we have the brand-new Yawkey Athlectics Center. It's laughable to think we can't step it up.
Is Jags the guy to do it? I hope so. Just because they missed a great hire, doesn't necessarily mean they made a bad one. In many ways, I feel the same way as I did when Jim O'Brien left BC in 1997. Things had grown stale with JOB as well, he couldn't win any big games. He lost to UConn something like 18 times in a row, just like TOB kept losing to Miami. BC used the same technique to constructively fire TOB as they did with JOB: they refused to support him. With JOB, it was the admissions department (they wouldn't let a couple of Prop 48 qualifiers in). With TOB it was his salary. When both left, I felt relief. I knew those guys would never move on volitionallly, but I was also convinced BC would never shitcan them because of the PR hit they would sustain.
The parable in this story is that BC hired underwhelming Al Skinner (or so I thought) to replace JOB. We all know how that worked out, NCAA tourney appearances every year and Top 25 (sometimes Top 10) finishes. I am now a certified, card-carrying Skinner-o-phile, the guy was the perfect hire for BC. Maybe Jags will be as well, the jury is obviously out. But at least he is a change from boring ol' TOB, and from what I hear he is a passionate guy who will get the team and the fans fired up. I hope so. BC desperately needed that.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
WTF was GDF Thinking?
I'm still having trouble letting go of my Whipple Boner. He was THE PERFECT COACH for BC and GDF unconscionably let him slip away. Eagle in Atlanta has been a good source for BC info and has worked hard over the years, but lately he just sounds like a sycophantic BC rumpswab, applauding this regrettable hire like he's Mike Vega's buttboy. One recent posting of his gushed that interest in the job has confirmed BC is now a very desirable place to be. Whaaat? I'd agree if BC stole the coach from Texas A&M or Purdue, but everyone GDF interviewed was either an assistant or an HC at a 1-AA school looking to take a step up, any step. And who wouldn't be interested in a promotion and 200% raise? Give me a break. GDF hires this nobody who's been, ahem, kicking around and treading water for 21 years, riding the slowest of the slow ride elevators. If you read between the lines in today's Mark Blaudschun article, you know he feels the same way as I do, and Blaudschun is only the most respected college sports journalist in the area. We lost a great one in Whipple, no two ways about it, and I am not afraid to call GDF out on the carpet for it, unlike Eagle in Atlanta.
What might have been had GDF not dropped the ball? UMass gave Whipple this glowing salute when he left the Minutemen for the Steelers in 2004:
The last six years have been the Golden Age of UMass Football. Ever since the hiring of Mark Whipple on December 16, 1997, the program has never settled for anything less than excellence. But the man who led UMass through that era will not longer be with the program, as Whipple announced last month that he has accepted a position as quarterbacks coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League.
"This is a great opportunity for me, and I am really looking forward to it," said Whipple. "The Steelers have tremendous history, and the NFL is the best league in the world. It will be a challenge for me, and I can not wait to get started."
As much as UMass fans must hate to see Whipple leave, no one can argue with him for taking a chance at coaching in the NFL. And it is not as if he is leaving the Minuteman program hanging, with little chance of future success. Whipple has developed UMass into one of the nation's top programs, and whoever replaces him as head coach will have all the ingredients necessary for immediate success.
This is not to say that Whipple will be an easy act to follow. Here are just a few of his accomplishments over the last six seasons:
* Led UMass to its first-ever national championship during the 1998 season, when the team posted a school-record 12 victories.
* Made back-to-back postseason appearances for only the second time in school history, as both the 1998 and 1999 teams advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs.
* Led the 2003 Minutemen to a 10-2 mark during the regular season, to set a new school record for victories before the playoffs.
* Named National Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association and Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette in 1998.
* Earned Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors in 2003.
* Selected as the New England Coach of the Year by the New England Football Writers and the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston in both 1998 and 2003.
* Posted five winning seasons in only six years as head coach.
* Coached nine different players who won first team All-America honors.
* Guided his teams to a share of the Atlantic 10 Conference title in 1999 and 2003.
* Finished his career with a 49-26, to rank second behind only Vic Fusia (59-32-2 / 1961 1970) on the school list for all-time coaching victories.
Well folks, that's what we could have had at the Heights instead of Jags. They like hunting in Wisconsin; let's pray we didn't get a Davie in the Headlights.
What might have been had GDF not dropped the ball? UMass gave Whipple this glowing salute when he left the Minutemen for the Steelers in 2004:
The last six years have been the Golden Age of UMass Football. Ever since the hiring of Mark Whipple on December 16, 1997, the program has never settled for anything less than excellence. But the man who led UMass through that era will not longer be with the program, as Whipple announced last month that he has accepted a position as quarterbacks coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League.
"This is a great opportunity for me, and I am really looking forward to it," said Whipple. "The Steelers have tremendous history, and the NFL is the best league in the world. It will be a challenge for me, and I can not wait to get started."
As much as UMass fans must hate to see Whipple leave, no one can argue with him for taking a chance at coaching in the NFL. And it is not as if he is leaving the Minuteman program hanging, with little chance of future success. Whipple has developed UMass into one of the nation's top programs, and whoever replaces him as head coach will have all the ingredients necessary for immediate success.
This is not to say that Whipple will be an easy act to follow. Here are just a few of his accomplishments over the last six seasons:
* Led UMass to its first-ever national championship during the 1998 season, when the team posted a school-record 12 victories.
* Made back-to-back postseason appearances for only the second time in school history, as both the 1998 and 1999 teams advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs.
* Led the 2003 Minutemen to a 10-2 mark during the regular season, to set a new school record for victories before the playoffs.
* Named National Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association and Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette in 1998.
* Earned Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors in 2003.
* Selected as the New England Coach of the Year by the New England Football Writers and the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston in both 1998 and 2003.
* Posted five winning seasons in only six years as head coach.
* Coached nine different players who won first team All-America honors.
* Guided his teams to a share of the Atlantic 10 Conference title in 1999 and 2003.
* Finished his career with a 49-26, to rank second behind only Vic Fusia (59-32-2 / 1961 1970) on the school list for all-time coaching victories.
Well folks, that's what we could have had at the Heights instead of Jags. They like hunting in Wisconsin; let's pray we didn't get a Davie in the Headlights.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Cold Water on the Jags Hire
The more I look at this Jags hire, the more concerned I get. Did a firm handshake, a Cheesehead hat, and a holy cross pendant really win him the job over the eminently more qualified Mark Whipple? God I hope not. But Jags' resume leaves me wondering. It is not the stuff of a hot young coach on the fast track, shall we say. Aside from the fact that he has never been a head coach at any level despite being a little long in the tooth (43 yrs old), the vast majority of his coaching career (18 of 21 years) has involved serving as a positional coach. Check it out:
1985 Wisconsin-Whitewater Running Backs
1986 Northern Illinois Offensive Line
1987-88 Louisiana State University Offensive Line
1989-91 East Carolina Tight Ends/Asst. Offensive Line
1992-96 East Carolina Offensive Line
1997-98 Boston College Off. Coordinator/Offensive Line
1999-2003 Green Bay Packers Tight Ends
2004 Atlanta Falcons Tight Ends
2005 Atlanta Falcons Offensive Line
2006 Green Bay Packers Offensive Coordinator
I find a few things alarming:
One, that he has spent two very long stretches treading water. The first was when he was an offensive line coach for 10 years, from 1986 to 1996, at the collegiate level. That's a pretty long time to go without a promotion. Then he ran into another rut when he was a tight ends coach for 6 years in the NFL, from 1999 to 2004. Not exactly a rising star in the Eric Mangini mold.
Two, it looks like he had at least a couple of curious career moves, which were probably not volitional. In 1996, he left LSU, where he had been offensive line coach, to preside over East Carolina's tight ends. Could it be that he just loved the Outer Banks so much he was willing to take a demotion and spurn the powerful SEC? I don't think so. Then in 2003, after sitting in the breakdown lane as a tight ends coach with the Packers for 5 years, he took a job with the Falcons in the same capacity. Why?
Three, his two OC jobs have not been particularly successful. His first stint was at BC in 1997 and 1998. Those were a couple of baaaad BC teams for those of you with short memories, each finishing 4-7. And his current post is no resume highlight either. The Packers are 6-8 in the very weak NFC. His offensive unit has been shut out twice, moreover, including the 35-0 shellacking the Patriots gave them last month for all of New England to see.
What does GDF see in this guy over Whipple? Amazing.
I'm just rocking back and forth right now mumbling "hope I'm wrong, hope I'm wrong..."
1985 Wisconsin-Whitewater Running Backs
1986 Northern Illinois Offensive Line
1987-88 Louisiana State University Offensive Line
1989-91 East Carolina Tight Ends/Asst. Offensive Line
1992-96 East Carolina Offensive Line
1997-98 Boston College Off. Coordinator/Offensive Line
1999-2003 Green Bay Packers Tight Ends
2004 Atlanta Falcons Tight Ends
2005 Atlanta Falcons Offensive Line
2006 Green Bay Packers Offensive Coordinator
I find a few things alarming:
One, that he has spent two very long stretches treading water. The first was when he was an offensive line coach for 10 years, from 1986 to 1996, at the collegiate level. That's a pretty long time to go without a promotion. Then he ran into another rut when he was a tight ends coach for 6 years in the NFL, from 1999 to 2004. Not exactly a rising star in the Eric Mangini mold.
Two, it looks like he had at least a couple of curious career moves, which were probably not volitional. In 1996, he left LSU, where he had been offensive line coach, to preside over East Carolina's tight ends. Could it be that he just loved the Outer Banks so much he was willing to take a demotion and spurn the powerful SEC? I don't think so. Then in 2003, after sitting in the breakdown lane as a tight ends coach with the Packers for 5 years, he took a job with the Falcons in the same capacity. Why?
Three, his two OC jobs have not been particularly successful. His first stint was at BC in 1997 and 1998. Those were a couple of baaaad BC teams for those of you with short memories, each finishing 4-7. And his current post is no resume highlight either. The Packers are 6-8 in the very weak NFC. His offensive unit has been shut out twice, moreover, including the 35-0 shellacking the Patriots gave them last month for all of New England to see.
What does GDF see in this guy over Whipple? Amazing.
I'm just rocking back and forth right now mumbling "hope I'm wrong, hope I'm wrong..."
Sad Day in Chestnut Hill
As you all know, Athletic Director Leahy overruled Assistant Athletic Director DeFilippo today and hired Cheesehead Jeff Jagodzinski as BC's new head coach over a clearly superior candidate in Mark Whipple. If Leahy did indeed throw his weight around to get either a Catholic or a Midwesterner in the corner office of the YAC (as one blogger with apparent inside info asserted), what an embarassment for the school and the region.
Decisions like this ultimately can only be judged at the time they are made--without the benefit of hindsight--and this was a horrible one, make no mistake about it. When you compare the resumes, it's a no-brainer that Whip should have been the guy. He won at every level, and has been a collegiate head coach for 15 years, winning a national championship at UMass. Ohio State certainly didn't blink when they had a 1-AA candidate like that in their back yard (Jim Tressel at Youngstown State). How did that work out for the Buckeyes? A national championship in 01 and maybe another in 06, that's how. Jags has been a coordinator for all of 3 years (2 of which were at BC 10 years ago), that's the closest he has come to calling the shots. He's been a positional coach the rest of the time. From what I hear, he got the job because he was a great interview. But that is the WORST reason to hire someone, just ask Bob Kraft after the Pete Carroll fiasco was over with the Patriots. I really hope I eat crow on this one, but I think the best thing we can hope for is that Jags surprises us all for a couple of years before bolting for the NFL or the Big Ten the first chance he gets.
Decisions like this ultimately can only be judged at the time they are made--without the benefit of hindsight--and this was a horrible one, make no mistake about it. When you compare the resumes, it's a no-brainer that Whip should have been the guy. He won at every level, and has been a collegiate head coach for 15 years, winning a national championship at UMass. Ohio State certainly didn't blink when they had a 1-AA candidate like that in their back yard (Jim Tressel at Youngstown State). How did that work out for the Buckeyes? A national championship in 01 and maybe another in 06, that's how. Jags has been a coordinator for all of 3 years (2 of which were at BC 10 years ago), that's the closest he has come to calling the shots. He's been a positional coach the rest of the time. From what I hear, he got the job because he was a great interview. But that is the WORST reason to hire someone, just ask Bob Kraft after the Pete Carroll fiasco was over with the Patriots. I really hope I eat crow on this one, but I think the best thing we can hope for is that Jags surprises us all for a couple of years before bolting for the NFL or the Big Ten the first chance he gets.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Random Thoughts
I checked it out and confirmed that Dudley is in fact shooting exactly 70% over the current six-game win streak (43 for 61). Sean Williams is also shooting in the same stratosphere during that span (27 for 41 - 66%)...Driving back from the game, I was thinking about BC recruiting over the years. I have some friends of mine who think Skinner is a shitty recruiter who's gotten real lucky. I disagree. I think he recruits guys for his system, and when the right guys get in his system, they flourish. He's developed three certifiable studs over the years (Bell, Smith and Dudley) that no one else wanted out of high school, but by their sophomore years could have started for every single team in the country, including schools like Duke, North Carolina, UConn, and Kansas. That's not luck, that's a pattern. He's also recruited and developed some very nice role players, such as Kenny Harley (one of my all-time favorites), Kenny Walls, Uka Agbai, Ryan Sidney, Jermaine Watson, Louis Hinnant and the current ensemble...Skinner seems to always get about 2 solid rotation guys a recruiting class, which is a great way to keep things rolling with consistent NCAA tourney appearances. Check out the current rotation: he has two seniors (Dudley, Marshall), three juniors (Oates, Williams and McLean), two sophomores (Rice, Haynes) and one freshman (Spears). I'm pretty happy with the freshman class this year even though only one guy is getting meaningful minutes -- I expect Tyler Roche to break the rotation next year unless someone from the stellar incoming class leapfrogs him (which wouldn't be a bad thing), and Spears could develop into a real star if he can learn to get off his shot against taller guys...Thinking about Skinner's recuits got me wondering where some of the transfers went. I was interested to learn that Gordon Watt, who was in Williams' and McLean's class, is now a starting guard for Purdue averaging 26 minutes and 9.5 ppg. Purdue is no slouch either; they are 8-2 with an RPI of 12, and they've knocked off Oklahoma, Depaul, Virginia and Missouri, so bully for Watt...Purdue must like BC's sloppy seconds. A few years ago they took a Skinner discard named Willie Deane, who went on to become 1st team All-Big Ten for the Boilermakers, averaging 17 ppg in 01-02 and 18 ppg in 02-03, and leading the Big Ten in scoring his senior year. Deane was in the same recruiting class as Kenny Harley and Jonathan Beerbohm, and was a bit player for BC as a freshman (he sucked then, but obviously improved after leaving the Heights)...Troy Bell's old backcourt sidekick Ryan Sidney, who transferred to D2 Cheney State after being booted from the Heights (drugs), is reportedly playing pro ball in Mersin, Turkey for $55,000.00 this year...speaking of overseas hoops, you may have read recently that erstwhile Syracuse star Gerry McNamara came back from Greece with his tail between his legs because he couldn't get on the floor with his Greek team, Olympiacos, one of the top clubs in the European circuit. That's because GMac got beat out by one James "Scoonie" Penn, perhaps the most famous BC transfer of all time (he followed Jimmy O'Brien to Ohio State).
Sacred (Broken) Heart
Just got back from the BC-Sacred Fart hoops game. You'll be happy to know that BC put together one serious ass-whuppin'. I know the Pioneers (5-6, RPI 153) are pretty low on the D1 totem pole, but these are the kind of games that can get ugly when a power conference team mails it in against a vastly inferior opponent, and then finds itself in a 5 point struggle midway through the 2nd half, getting tighter by the minute. But today the Eagles absolutely put the wood to them, and led big pretty much wire to wire. They were up 60-30 at the half for crissakes, then traded baskets in the second half while playing a lot of the scrubs. Dudley continues to amaze me with the way he lets the game come to him. He dropped 20 on Sacred Heart on 8-10 shooting. His shooting percentage over the current 6 game winning streak must be close to 70% (I'm going to confirm that), pretty incredible for a wing player. Sean Williams scored 16 points, and I'm beginning to think he really has improved his offensive game, and those double digit performances early were no fluke. That's good news for BC. Sean Marshall was OK but a little uneven, typical for him. Rice drilled a few 3s and looked great shooting the ball, but also had 5 turnovers. However, most of his TOs were because he was trying for style points with the game confortably in hand, an annoying but forgiveable offense. Shamari Spears had a nice game with a double double (11 points, 12 boards), and looked downright nasty with some loud snatches of rebounds. He looks more and more like a bulkier Danya Abrams when Abrams was a freshman. His flaw is the same as Abrams' (height), but I think if he can figure out a way to get off his shot against taller opponents like Abrams did, he will be a 15-17 point scorer for BC in the years to come. Tyrelle Blair got an unexpectedly long look in the first half, and had a nice offensive output (8 points) coupled with some solid defense (4 blocks). By the way, he led the Horizon League in blocked shots his freshman year before transferring to BC. Oates was OK, he buried a three and had a couple of putbacks, but his defense still sucks. Haynes had a couple of flashes with some athletic drives to the hoop. Here's the boxscore
The next game is December 23 at Kansas. This is the last big out-of-conference game for BC, and if they can somehow pull out a win against a young but very talented Jayhawks squad, it would go a long way toward burnishing their credentials for an at-large bid come tourney time. Short of a W, a strong showing would be great, as the game is on national TV (CBS, 2:00 PM), and a lot of people will be watching over Christmas weekend. The Kansas game is also significant in that it will be Akida McLean's first game back. McLean looked good in the scrimmage I attended pre-season, but has been sitting on the sidelines serving a 9-game suspension (undisclosed violation of team rules). It will be interesting to see (1) if he gets much playing time against the Jayhawks and (2) whether his game has indeed improved since last year. If McLean has improved, BC could use him. He is a really long frontcourt player, a legitimate 6-9 guy with a nice offensive touch.
In a game related note, my sons' "I've got a Whipple Boner" t-shirts were a big hit with the coeds at Conte Forum. Man do I miss college.
The next game is December 23 at Kansas. This is the last big out-of-conference game for BC, and if they can somehow pull out a win against a young but very talented Jayhawks squad, it would go a long way toward burnishing their credentials for an at-large bid come tourney time. Short of a W, a strong showing would be great, as the game is on national TV (CBS, 2:00 PM), and a lot of people will be watching over Christmas weekend. The Kansas game is also significant in that it will be Akida McLean's first game back. McLean looked good in the scrimmage I attended pre-season, but has been sitting on the sidelines serving a 9-game suspension (undisclosed violation of team rules). It will be interesting to see (1) if he gets much playing time against the Jayhawks and (2) whether his game has indeed improved since last year. If McLean has improved, BC could use him. He is a really long frontcourt player, a legitimate 6-9 guy with a nice offensive touch.
In a game related note, my sons' "I've got a Whipple Boner" t-shirts were a big hit with the coeds at Conte Forum. Man do I miss college.
No News is Bad News?
From what we've heard, BC has interviewed everyone they're really interested in, and the two candidates that impress are Mark Whipple and Jeff Jagodzinski. A blogger on Eagle in Atlanta claims to have someone in the know who was "there" (whatever that means) asserting that Father Leahy wants Jagodzinski, one reason being that he's Catholic. If that is indeed the case, the silence might betray a little power struggle between GDF and Father Leahy ("I call the shots in the Athletics Department" v. "it's my fucking college"). I for one would be apoplectic if they pass over The Perfect Coach for BC in favor of some carpetbagging Midwesterner waiting for his phone to ring with the NFL on the line. My contacts (and they're pretty good) tell me that GDF wants Whipple, has wanted him from the get-go, and Whipple badly wants the job. If there is a dispute, GDF should stand his ground, to the point of walking out the door. This will be his signature hire. His legacy, together with the move to the ACC, will be defined by it. He should not allow himself to get trumped by some waddling priest who knows nothing about football.
Parenthetically, I really question the Catholic thing being any kind of factor, and in turn question the juice of this blogger's "contact". The notion that Whipple's religion could torpedo his candidacy would be preposterous if true, unheard of at the bigtime college sports level, and grounds for serious federal and state discrimination claims. And on top of all that, it's completely nonsensical. Would Leahy want only Catholic players? C'mon.
I'm heading out to the BC-Sacred Heart hoops game in a few minutes, and my 4 yr old and 2 yr old boys are wearing "I've Got a Whipple Boner" custom made t-shirts. That's just me doing my little part to send a message to the guys calling the shots.
Parenthetically, I really question the Catholic thing being any kind of factor, and in turn question the juice of this blogger's "contact". The notion that Whipple's religion could torpedo his candidacy would be preposterous if true, unheard of at the bigtime college sports level, and grounds for serious federal and state discrimination claims. And on top of all that, it's completely nonsensical. Would Leahy want only Catholic players? C'mon.
I'm heading out to the BC-Sacred Heart hoops game in a few minutes, and my 4 yr old and 2 yr old boys are wearing "I've Got a Whipple Boner" custom made t-shirts. That's just me doing my little part to send a message to the guys calling the shots.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Brown Baby Brown!
Looks like Mark Blaudschun of the Boston Globe is thinking like me based on an article in today's paper, that Don Brown of UMass could be a strong candidate for DC when (not if) Whipple is named Head Coach. I talked about that very prospect earlier this week in my "Whipple Boner" posting. Blaudschun and I are also sympatico on TOB: a good steward of the program for sure, but a guy with a ceiling. Love this quote from Blaudschun in that article:
"As solid as O'Brien was in rebuilding the Eagles from scandal and disappointment over the last 10 years, the cocky attitude that all great teams have rarely, if ever, surfaced. The Eagles still had a tinge of doubt, often playing not to lose."
My sentiments exactly! Under TOB, BC never, ever, had a nasty team, just a few nice ones. And "often playing not to lose" is code for "often sleepwalking into WTF." God I'm glad he's gone.
"As solid as O'Brien was in rebuilding the Eagles from scandal and disappointment over the last 10 years, the cocky attitude that all great teams have rarely, if ever, surfaced. The Eagles still had a tinge of doubt, often playing not to lose."
My sentiments exactly! Under TOB, BC never, ever, had a nasty team, just a few nice ones. And "often playing not to lose" is code for "often sleepwalking into WTF." God I'm glad he's gone.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Stop Sweatin' It
Whipple is a done deal. I have inside information which I am not willing or at liberty to disclose. It's just a matter of dollars right now. My prediction is that the deal will be for about $1M, standard stuff for the ACC, and the contract will be signed tomorrow, Monday at the latest. Whipple can try to negotiate all he wants, but it's tough sledding when you're getting a 300% raise and a higher profile job. The leverage just isn't there (that's what the dog and pony show with the other candidates has been all about). Case closed!
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
UMass Helps Out
BC's win over UMass 2 weeks ago looks a little better after the Minutemen knocked off Louisville at Louisville tonight, 72-68. The Cardinals' RPI was 34 coming into the game, so the win might vault UMass (126 before the game) into the Top 100. Let's hope it does and they continue to climb. A team's record against the Top 50, Top 100, etc. is one criterion the NCAA selection committee weighs heavily when deciding both invites and seeding in March. BC currently has two wins against Top 50 squads (Michigan State and Maryland). By the way, UMass has a decent team this year; they were picked by the A-10 coaches to finish second (behind Xavier) in the pre-season conference poll.
One Last Parting Shot at TOB
Whomever is the new BC HC, I'm looking forward to a guy who makes the right personnel decisions. It seems like TOB always chose the wrong player when a key position was up for grabs. I remember he initially chose some forgettable back over Derrick Knight to succeed Mike Cloud. DKnight only went on to become BC's all-time leading rusher, and 2nd in the nation his senior year. I think he made the wrong call with LV Whitworth over Andre Callender. Whitworth is certainly serviceable, but Callender stikes me as more of a feature back, one who needs a lot of carries to get going. And TOB initially chose Quinton Porter over Paul Peterson (big mistake), and stuck with Quinton Porter over Matt Ryan (bigger mistake). In my opinion, those baaaad decisions undoubtedly cost BC some games over the years.
BC Honor Roll
Josh Beekman was named AP 1st Team All-American yesterday (Globe). That's quite an honor, and I think he had a great year. But I am a little surprised. I think BC's line was pretty suspect this season. They had a lot of trouble running the ball against any semblance of a stout defense, and frankly I think it was the weakest O-Line they've had in 10 years. But I'll take it, and I think it speaks volumes about BC's reputation as O-Line U, which can only help in recruiting the oxen of the future.
Also, Jared Dudley was named ACC Player of the week. No surprise there. That guy has been incredible lately, and has really stepped up his game. I didn't think that was possible - he's been great for three years coming in. But it amazes me how he just lets the game come to him. Have you checked out his field goal percentage lately? I was worried coming into this year that he was going to force things as he stepped into the Craig Smith vacuum, but that hasn't been the case. Dudley picks his spots and continues to do the little things (e.g., take charges, draw ticky tack fouls on the opponent's star) that help the team win. I think he is on pace for serious consideration as a 1st team All-American, which would be a first for a BC hoopster. I also think he will be a 2nd round draft choice in the NBA and be a productive rotation guy at the next level. The comparison I keep coming back to is Shane Battier, with a little less athleticism.
Also, Jared Dudley was named ACC Player of the week. No surprise there. That guy has been incredible lately, and has really stepped up his game. I didn't think that was possible - he's been great for three years coming in. But it amazes me how he just lets the game come to him. Have you checked out his field goal percentage lately? I was worried coming into this year that he was going to force things as he stepped into the Craig Smith vacuum, but that hasn't been the case. Dudley picks his spots and continues to do the little things (e.g., take charges, draw ticky tack fouls on the opponent's star) that help the team win. I think he is on pace for serious consideration as a 1st team All-American, which would be a first for a BC hoopster. I also think he will be a 2nd round draft choice in the NBA and be a productive rotation guy at the next level. The comparison I keep coming back to is Shane Battier, with a little less athleticism.
Whipple Boner
Looks like the Globe is reporting the football post is Whipple's job to lose. He won't. As I suspected (and predicted) even before TOB was constructively discharged last week (love NC State's AD's comment to the Globe about what GDF said when he asked for permission to interview TOB: "That's fine"), Whipple has been in GDF's crosshairs for a while. In fact, I'll bet he has been on GDF's very very short list since TOB initially started whining about his salary and looking around for a job two years ago with U-Dub. I was curious as to whether GDF hired TOB. I checked it out and learned that he didn't - Chet Gladchuk hired him a month or so before GDF took the reigns at BC. So TOB was never GDF's guy. I'm sure GDF thinks TOB did a good job over 10 years, was a good steward of the program, navigated BC out of the Dan Henning mess, etc., but every AD wants to make the calls with the high profile revenue sports eventually. And the time was right. Things had gotten stale for BC, TOB, GDF, the fans and the players. This is a great time for a fresh start, with a loaded returning BC team and an exciting coach like Whipple coming in. As you all know, I have been following Whipple for a long time, back to when he was at Brown (I am an Ivy League graduate as well and follow the Ivies pretty closely in addition to BC). Whipple did amazing things at Brown, and even more amazing things at UMass (inheriting a 2-9 team and taking them to the national championship the next year). This guy will come in and the offense will be explosive. No doubt. The key is whether he can get a good Defensive Coordinator to be his No. 2 guy. When UMass won the national championship in 1998, that guy was Don Brown, who took over for Whipple at UMass after a HC stint at Northeastern. I will be watching the Div. 1-AA game (UMass-Appalatian State) Friday night with keen interest. I think if UMass wins, it would be logical step for Don Brown to rejoin Whipple at BC as Def. Coordinator to burnish his credentials for his own D-1 HC job, and if that comes together, BC will have a great, great coaching tandem to start kicking ass in the ACC.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Back on the Radar
Well, the wins over Michigan State and Maryland got some people's attention. BC is back getting votes for Top 25 - #36 if you count them up.
Couple of Links
This is a helpful link I use all the time to the RPI rankings. It's pretty slick, especially when you want to look back on prior years to see some trends.
One other thing I like to do is read the local papers for BC's opponents and see what they're saying about BC. Here's the game article from the Baltimore Sun
One other thing I like to do is read the local papers for BC's opponents and see what they're saying about BC. Here's the game article from the Baltimore Sun
BC-Maryland
The BC win over Marlyand last night, coupled with the win over Michigan State, goes a long way toward atoning for the Vermont and PC sins. In fact, the PC loss isn't looking that bad - they have an RPI of 45, and are 7-2 overall (with an ugly early loss to Brown and a respectable loss to Florida). Vermont was ugly, no doubt about that, but many many NCAA tournament teams over the years have stubbed their toes in November games and rebounded nicely. And BC has a built in excuse (Sean Williams did not play). If BC can somehow squeak by Kansas and hold serve against the rest of their out-of-conference bunnies, BC should be right back where they started, probably ranked in the high teens as conference play really kicks in. I think it would be great for this BC squad to make the NCAA tourney this year. I know that sounds modest with Jared Dudley on the team, but BC is coming off a fantastic PR year and has its best recruiting class in 30 years coming in next year. So if they can have the continuity of NCAA appearances in 6 of 7 years (the one miss being the year BC was everyone's "Bubble Team That Got Jobbed"), they will continue to move up the pecking order on the national radar.
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