Hanlan declares for NBA Draft

Jeff Goodman confirmed rumors that Olivier Hanlan declared for the NBA Draft. Hanlan cannot change his mind and cannot transfer. Even if he goes undrafted his college career is done. I hope he worked his way high up enough draft boards to be a first round pick. Although he was part of three frustrating seasons, I do thank Hanlan for some exciting basketball.

As for BC, without Hanlan, this team will be in bottom of the conference again. Christian will get some leeway, but this puts that much more pressure to land one final elite recruit in this class and snag a competent transfer.

I will have more on Hanlan's prospects and what Jim Christian's needs in the follow up to Draft Day and Signing Day.

This is getting silly

So we are close...or we're not. This guy is getting the job, but wait, he's totally not. The sky is falling! We're going to make a huge splash!

Ohio's Jim Christian involved at BC, but no offer on table and still unclear whether he's leader in clubhouse. Story: http://t.co/tyn4PGdzeh
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 1, 2014

St. Bonaventure Coach Mark Schmidt was in Boston area today for his first in-person interview with BC, according to sources.
— Pete Thamel (@SIPeteThamel) April 1, 2014

A new name has emerged as a contender in the BC mix, Ohio Coach Jim Christian. Sources say he's a legit candidate.
— Pete Thamel (@SIPeteThamel) March 31, 2014

St. Bonaventure's Mark Schmidt and Syracuse assistant Mike Hopkins are no longer options at BC, sources told ESPN.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 1, 2014

I write this with some strong conviction: none of that news came from Brad Bates. This is from the coaches and/or their agents. And even then, I doubt the veracity of much of it.

I can be as unreliable as the rest, but let me share what I know.

1. The Board approved a significant budget for the new head coach. I don't know if that budget is tied to certain candidates. I don't know if there is a closed window on the approval. I also know that having a big budget doesn't guarantee the ability to hire whomever you like, but it leads me to believe BC and Brad Bates have bigger ambitions than the names floated.

2. There have been prolonged discussions with candidates not highlighted by the media. Once again, talking to and actually signing a big name are two different things. We had talks with Bill O'Brien and Al Golden during the football search and nothing came of it. But once again, it speaks to Bates' process.

I don't know who we will hire at this point. Once we actually make a hire, I will give my opinion on the process and the end result. Until then, I just have to be patient.

Report: Donahue fired

Boston College has fired Steve Donahue, sources told ESPN. Story coming.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) March 18, 2014

Obviously we've seen various reports over the past few days. Official word will have to come from BC. Goodman is Boston based and has a good track record, so I do believe it.

I thank Donahue for his service and wish him luck.

Hockey No. 1 and other links

Expectations are high for the defending National Champion Hockey team. They were voted No. 1 in the preseason USA Today poll.

Here is a nice feature on Steve Donahue. My gripe though with the oncoming narrative is how the cupboard is bare and we are setting expectations low. I don't think we have a Final Four team, but we shouldn't be in the bottom of the ACC this season. We will see how things play out.

For those who missed it, our game against NC State will be a noon kickoff on Raycom. With the way we are playing and with Duke, Maryland, Syracuse and Virginia ahead, we could be looking at a lot of ESPN3.com games this season.

While we look to our QB of the future, former Eagle Justin Tuggle committed to Kansas State. Best of luck to him.

Kickoff times and other links

We now know the scheduled kickoff times for our first two games. The first game against Weber St. is 1PM and will be on ESPN3 (formerly ESPN 360). Once we knew we would open against Weber State, ESPN3 seemed inevitable. What a wasted opportunity to give Herzy the showcase and tribute his comeback deserves. Surprisingly the Kent State game will be on TV. It will kickoff at 3:30 on ESPN U. That should actually be a fun game considering the midday start and good weather we usually have in September. Assuming we start 2-0, Virginia Tech has a good chance to be a prime time game. Notre Dame will also be on TV. The rest of our TV schedule will then depend on our record, ranking and opponent.

Our sailing dominance continued as the team won the Coed National Championship. We cannot be stopped on the water!

Here is Goodman's roundup of the ACC.

Eagle Action posted Part 1 of their annual Q&A with Gene. Not much news so far but he does discuss expansion's impact on the conference.

You can watch Southern Pigskin's preview of BC below.

More hoops comings and goings and Jags update

Andy Katz is adding to the Sanders news by reporting that Rakim is likely to join former BC assistant Ed Cooley's team at Fairfield.

The other news is that new assistant John Gallagher will never actually coach a game at the Heights. He's reportedly been hired as the new head coach at Hartford.

Finally Jags will return to the sidelines as Head Coach of the UFL's expansion franchise in Omaha. Not particularly glamorous but it gets him back in the game and if he wins, it gets him back on track to being a head coach in the NFL or college.

Report: Sanders leaving

Jeff Goodman is reporting that Rakim Sanders is leaving BC. Where the rising senior will transfer is unknown. Sanders would have to sit out a year and only have one year remaining.

With any coaching change you expect transfers, but I didn't expect the seniors to leave. Sanders' season was such a train wreck last year that you would hope he would stick around and let the new staff help him reach his potential.

Instead he is leaving. If anything Sanders represented what went wrong with this group of guys and the end of the Skinner era. Instead of having gym rats with physical limitations, you had a team of guys with huge upside who never got "it."

Best of luck to Rakim.

Report: Donahue to be named head coach later today

Jeff Goodman is reporting that Steven Donahue will be hired later today. I think this would be a solid hire and a good addition to the Boston College family. We will have more as things develop.

Hoops heavies now weighing in on BC

Two big Al Skinner fans with national perspectives and Boston ties, both took time to comment on BC's floundering basketball team. If play doesn't pick up, the tone of these articles are going to become more and more negative over the coming weeks.

Like many of us Bob Ryan thought things were settled after the win over South Carolina. He doesn't have any hard insight, but comes out and says what many of us are thinking "Something is going on off the court with this Boston College basketball team. There has to be." Like me, Ryan is a bit of a Skinner apologist. If Al loses his support you know things are bad.

Jeff Goodman, who covered the team before going national, hints that the staff might be the issue.

The lack of local recruiting and the departure of Bill Coen (Northeastern) and Ed Cooley (Fairfield) may have finally begun to catch up with Skinner. Just think about all the local talent that went – or is going – elsewhere.

We need a competitive game against Miami to breathe life back into this season.

Respect for BC basketball and other links

The ACC writers didn't think much of our chances in basketball. However, Fox Sports Jeff Goodman thinks we will surprise again. In the article Sanders talks about how the team will be more defensive minded. I would love to see it, but don't know how we will pull it off. This team has smarts and depth, but few defensive stoppers.

Trapani also answered some questions regarding the team and how we will be different without Rice.

The Gunnell-Clausen story is still getting press.

Virginia is the latest school to get behind Herzy's cause.

The BC Bookstore is having a BC Snuggie giveaway on facebook. Become a fan of the bookstore and you'll be entered to win.

Jeff Goodman interview

We often bemoan lack of coverage and insight on BC hoops from the national basketball writers. That's not the case with Foxsports.com's Jeff Goodman. It helps that Jeff cut his teeth covering BC basketball for the Herald. With the season fast approaching I asked him a few questions about this uncertain year for BC basketball.

The perception among BC fans is that BC sports are happily ignored in the Boston sports media circle. What was the reality when you were at the Herald?

JG: This is a pro sports town. Plain and simple. That's the reality, whether you and I like it or not. Boston College will never get the headlines that any of the pro sports in Boston receives - no matter what it does. For this area to have the No. 3 football team in the country is remarkable, yet most of the fans have no idea and could care less. That's what makes it so impressive that Al Skinner's program has been so successful lately in the Big East and now the ACC.


Tyrese Rice has been a very productive player for BC. Now he will be asked to do even more. Do you think he can be one of the elite guards in the country?


JG: I think Tyrese will "have" to be one of the elite point guards in the country. He had a lot of his plate a year ago when Sean Williams was kicked off the team and Sean Marshall was inconsistent. Now Rice will have to become a true leader - both on and off the court. It wouldn't surprise me if Tyrese leads the ACC in scoring this season, but what will be more important is whether he's able to make his young teammates better. He'll need to work on trying to score the ball, but also get his teammates open looks - which won't be easy. Anyway, to answer your question - yes, I think he can become one of the top point guards in the country - but there are so many terrific floor leaders around this year that have more around them than Tyrese.

This is a transition year for BC. Not much is expected. However, the last time Al faced a similar “rebuilding year” his team surprised and made the tournament. How do you see this season playing out? What should we expect of the freshmen?

JG: I think it's going to be a long season for BC, but you never know with Al Skinner. The guy just amazes me how he's able to do his best work when there aren't expectations. It's because he brings in a different type of kid and develops them. The kids that come to BC are usually overlooked and have something to prove. The Eagles will have Tyrese to build around and I feel as though Rakim Sanders should make an instant impact, but I'm not a huge fan of the John Oates-Tyrelle Blair duo up front. If I was Skinner, I'd throw freshman Josh Southern to the wolves and let him get some serious minutes so he's ready next season - when Joe Trapani becomes eligible, Rice is a senior and Sanders has a year under his belt. My prediction is that BC wins a half-dozen league games in this rebuidling year.