Mihalik & Keyes awarded ACC accolades and other links

Brian Mihalik was named Defensive Lineman of the Week and Josh Keyes received the Co-Linebacker of the Week award from the ACC.  Both had big games on Saturday.  Keyes notched double-digit tackles for the first time in his career.  We will need that continued effort on Saturday to stop Clemson.


Keyes and Hayley Dowd were named Eagles of the Week by BC.


Eric Hoffses has been providing some information about the basketball team's practices including a glimpse of how Dennis Clifford looks on the court.  All reports are that practices are intense and that Christian is working the team hard.  This Q&A with Patrick Heckmann touches a little on that and on his efforts to improve his defensive game this year.


Coach York has received a pledge from a class of 2018 recruit, TJ Walsh.  A lot can happen between now and 2018, but it's good to see that a strong recruiting pipeline is being built into the future.

BC wastes good effort from Hanlan, Heckmann in loss to Pitt

BC's reliance on 3s and converting at the free throw line isn't always going to work. It didn't in tonight's loss against Pitt, but that wasn't the real problem. Only having three guys show up for the game was the big issue...and terrible defense again. 

I am glad Patrick Heckmann is coming into his own as the season comes to a close. But his success and the terrible game from Rahon and Jackson highlight a less discussed Donahue issue -- our rotations. Because we lack a traditional lineup or a balanced roster, we have too many players competing for minutes and all bringing similar skills to the table. So players cannot get into a consistent groove or once one guy gets hot, another player becomes a non factor. The roster doesn't compliment each other. Hanlan had a great game. That should be enough, but if we don't have four more guys playing halfway decent, we cannot win. 

Wake is up next. Anyone want to take a guess on who will get hot next at the expense of Heckmann's minutes?

Close one finally goes BC's way

Aside from the win, the most encouraging thing about tonight was the team's reaction. As Austin Tedesco tweeted, they didn't act like this was special or they got some monkey off their back. This was a close game that went our way, but also a reminder that we should be better than our record. And even in victory, we didn't play to our potential. If not for some bad decisions on Wake's part in the final minute, who knows how this would have played out. I am not really relieved nor excited. I guess I am a bit hopeful. Maybe, just maybe, this will be the start of a strong finish to the season. Other thoughts:

Likes

-- Heckmann's offensive game. It wasn't a perfect night for him (his turnovers were typical Heckmann) but there was a confidence that has been missing. Heckmann has enough skills to create mismatches offensively. It was nice to see him finally use them. 

-- Making free throws. The foul line has been our undoing in close games. Tonight it was a strength (18-21).

-- Aggressive Defense. There were plenty of boneheaded defensive moments but at least the guys are getting more aggressive. 

Dislikes

-- Anderson settling for the midrange shots. He wasn't converting and it takes our best offensive rebounder away from the basket.

-- Careless passes. I am glad to see the team do more backdoor cuts, but the execution needs to be improved. 

-- The final shot. I know he got fouled and made his shots, but that is the best we could do? Rahon throwing himself towards the basket with two guys on him? After so many questionable late possessions, I would hope for something better.

Coming up short against Maryland

Maryland played poorly and didn't fully capitalize on their size advantage and still won by five. This is getting old fast. Normally I would point to the closeness of the game as an indicator that BC is about to breakthrough, but I am starting to have doubts. What's most frustrating is that we were terrible down the stretch again.

Likes
-- Anderson avoiding foul trouble. It is a sign of a smart basketball player when he can guard bigger men all night and still score in the post without picking up too many fouls.
-- Lonnie Jackson sparking the run. In an ideal world this is how we would use him. When he hit those 3s in the first half the team had new life.
-- Hanlan making his FTs. It was nice that there wasn't a hangover from his last game.

Dislikes
-- The offensive decision making in the final two minutes. Our pace was slow. We waited too long. We couldn't find good shots.
-- Second half turnovers. It wasn't Maryland playing better. It was our carelessness.
-- Shooting. Do we need to go over this again?

BC needs OT to beat UNH

Some of Al Skinner's best teams won games only making two 3-pointers. The difference though is that those teams weren't designed to take or make lots of 3s. This one is. Despite going not making one in regulation, they hit enough in OT to beat a bad UNH team. The win gets them back to .500 and hopefully builds some confidence. Here are my other thoughts:

Likes
-- Huge game from Ryan Anderson. It looks like his gimpy ankle is healed. He moved well today and put up huge numbers. He also made some good defensive plays.
-- Heckmann's athleticism. He had a few nice defensive plays late and did this.
-- Rahon handling it late. Donahue said he has the best feel for what they are trying to do. At least someone does.

Dislikes
-- Shooting. You can talk about talent issues or understanding the system, but the shooting is inexplicable. These guys used to shoot and now they can't buy a basket. We also supposedly have great shooting instructors on staff. Someone needs to figure out what is going on!
-- Defensive lapses. How is this still happening. They tightened up down the stretch but left themselves in a huge hole because no one on this team plays consistent defense.

We have a basketball team too

The basketball team beat St. Francis today and it served as a reminder that they've had a rough couple weeks. Fortunately for Steve Donahue, most BC fans have been paying attention to the football coaching change. And many of those who have been paying attention have written off this basketball season. I haven't reached that point yet, but I have serious concerns about how things are progressing. Even with the win today, some of the same issues kept popping up.

This team is still prone to long defensive lapses. They also have possessions when guys seem to be going through the motions. Heckmann is getting better but still has moments where he makes multiple mistakes. Our frontline is not ACC caliber when Anderson and Clifford miss time due to injuries.

The good news is that the St. Francis game could have been another collapse, but the guys rallied. The freshman made some big plays and Lonnie Jackson made a few "3's." They also started playing defense.

After the Harvard loss (that no one wanted to talk about) Steve Donahue said experience wasn't an excuse any more. He also put the team through a tough practice. Maybe they will start to improve. I don't want to read too much into Saturday's game. St. Francis is not very good. But the next few non-conference games should serve as a good barometer of what we can expect during ACC play.

Thoughts on BC basketball's loss to Baylor

This is as encouraging a 10-point loss as you will see at this stage in the basketball season. Last year this team had plenty of games where they looked good for a half and let the game get away from them in the second half. This game was different. Sure, Baylor pulled away, but it wasn't because of a total team collapse. Our best players didn't get weak-kneed or caught up in the moment. If not for a few mistakes and then scrambling as time ran out, BC could have won this game. Here are my likes and dislikes. As always, leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Likes

-- Ryan Anderson's post presence. Baylor is long, tall and athletic, but that didn't stop Anderson from having a great game and converting with a variety of moves close to the basket. Anderson would be good in any system but today I dreamed about him thriving in Al Skinner's tight flex. 

-- Solid minutes from Odio and Van Nest. Odio held his own and played good D inside. Van Nest provided some much needed scoring and also has good hands.

-- Hanlan and Rahon playing well against a ranked team. They weren't perfect. Hanlan forced some drives to the basket and Rahon was ice-cold but they handled the pressure and showed they can be responsible for the most of the ball handling.

-- Patrick Heckmann killing all the second half momentum. Last year during our Thanksgiving Holiday tournament, Heckmann was the star. He scored from all over the court and made pretty good decisions. I don't know where things went so wrong. He was terrible today with four TOs and two fouls in 16 minutes. But the worst thing about the turnovers is how careless they are. He is a major liability until he starts figuring things out again.

-- 3-point shooting. Jackson was cold again and so was Rahon. In our offense and with these types of players, we need to convert a higher-percentage.

-- Perimeter defense. We gave them way too many easy looks from outside and paid the price for it.

Total collapse against the 'Canes and Heckmann has Mono

This was a terrible loss. The team outplayed Miami for most of the game yet their mistakes kept the Hurricanes in it. Then at the first sign of Miami going on a run, the team melted with numerous mistakes and a lack of effort. I don't expect the guys to play great every game. But I do expect them to have more poise than this. They got run out of their own building against a mediocre team in a game they controlled. How did that happen?

Before I get into likes and dislikes, let me address the Patrick Heckmann situation. He's been diagnosed with Mononucleosis. This explains a bit of his lackluster play of late. The illness will sideline him for most of the season. Speculation is that he will be back in late February or early March. While unfortunate for him, I don't think the team will face much of a setback. Heckmann's been a non factor lately. While the team has had problems, I don't think he would have been the difference maker. Now he gets a chance to sit, decide if he wants to stay in the U.S. and the other players get to develop.

Likes
-- Matt Humphrey's effort. Smart shot selection for the most part and really strong defense. He can set a tone with his D.
-- The trapping and rotation on defense. The guys looked good for long stretches doubling their big and rotating around.
-- Daniels driving to the basket. He can convert those. If he does it will open shots for other guys.
Ryan Anderson making his foul shots. His role will be as a post player. If he converts his free throws, he'll be that much more effective.

Dislikes
-- Turnovers. Even before Miami's run the passing was very sloppy. Everyone was guilty and it was often making passes that didn't need to be made.
-- Not having an answer for their run. Donahue called a timeout, but their was no stopping Miami. He need a calming influence and some plays that can get the tempo back on our side.

Win over Stony Brook gives another glimpse into team's potential

In normal years we wouldn't think twice about a win over Stony Brook. This year is a bit different. We have no identity and wins look like they will be hard to come by. But the best thing about these wins is that you are starting to see things come together. Here are my likes and dislikes. Leave yours in the comments.

Likes
-- Jordan Daniels as the main (only) point guard. Daniels has some real issues and it will be interesting to see if ACC teams exploit his size in matchups, but for now he's just what we need. He's got good handle. He can start the offense. He can penetrate. Improvement is needed on his shots and as the clock winds down, but Daniels can play.
-- Ryan Anderson near the basket. You can see how Anderson is going to improve as he thickens out. He moves well without the ball. He also has a good eye for rebounds.
-- Heckmann and Jackson's 3s. These guys made some big shots to change momentum and kill their momentum. Heckmann had a nearly perfect shooting night. As GMan said, having him come off the bench might be a nice dynamic.

Dislikes
-- Shot selection. There is still not enough penetration or driving to the basket. They dumped it to Clifford plenty but I think we need to see more dribbling/driving towards the basket to get some easy shots and more movement.
-- Offensive rebounding. We need more second chance shots. Plus these guys seem to have a bad habit of swatting and tipping it to a teammate instead of rebounding.

Rebuilt hoops squad gets first win

BC entered the season with hundreds of questions about its roster, its style of play and its readiness for this season. While one win over UNH didn't answer everything, it certainly gave us some idea of how this team will play this year. Here are some thoughts. Leave yours in the comments...

-- I thought we were supposed to be shooters? All of these guys were brought in for their offensive skills, yet most seemed a bit rusty or off. Heckmann is tough but he wasn't exactly efficient in the first game. The FT shooting (17 for 31) was also telling.
-- Cahill getting big minutes. I am glad he decided to play again and I like that he was a calming influence down the stretch, but we will need the younger guys to come along. I don't know if Cahill should average 28 points a minute on a winning team.
-- Heckmann's physicality. The guy isn't Reggie Jackson, but he is willing to drive with abandon. I imagine he will be asked to create a lot by driving to the basket.
-- Anderson's rebounding. He has a good sense inside and can convert.

We will learn more soon. Friday, the guys head to Worcester for the always dangerous Holy Cross. Not all games will wins and they will certainly have their mistakes, but Game 1 showed that these guys should be fun to watch and fun to root for.

Basketball Previews: Meet Patrick Heckmann

When you are building a team you plan carefully, you scout and recruit a certain type of player and you find guys who can play at the ACC level. But as with the best plans, sometimes you need a little luck. It seems like Steve Donahue lucked out by finding Patrick Heckmann after he had put his first full class together.

Then
Heckmann isn't necessarily your prototypical European player. His outside shooting is inconsistent. He also likes to drive to the basket and uses his athleticism. Heckmann has played at a lower level club in Germany (ho hum) but also played well for the German national team (great news). It was on the national team where Heckmann started gaining U.S. attention. Heckmann was one of the lone brightspots of he recent U-20 season.

Heckmann came to the U.S. to prove himself and because he likes the American style of play. BC became a fit because of our offensive style of play and the chance to play right away.

Now

Like Clifford, there has been good "buzz" on Heckmann since he's been on campus. In addition to his surprising athleticism, he's supposedly got good handle and may be able to spend some minutes at the point.

The question is how quickly he can adapt to BC and the ACC style of play. Europeans are often tagged as "soft." Heckmann has the athleticism and body to drive through contact and defend. Also, BC will need him to sharpen his 3-point shooting. If he can't convert those 3s, teams will just play off of him and not let him drive.

The future

I think Heckmann will have a short but memorable career at BC. If he really is a star in the making, I think he'll be playing professionally in Europe or the NBA within two years.

I know he bypassed pro ball in Europe to test himself and get a degree, but I think the temptation will be too much. But if Donahue can get two years out of him and he is a star, BC will have been served well by this last second signee.

Liebe for Heckmann

(Yes I plan on using German incorrectly in the headlines related to Heckmann over and over. Ich bin ein Blogger!)

Looks like I wasn't the only one excited about Patrick Heckmann. Fran Fraschilla is known for his occasional hyperbole, but my initial reason for excitement still stands. We only need a few prospects to pan out and Donahue has enough pieces that we will surprise people this season.

Irrational exuberance over German import

As Eric Hoffses reported yesterday, German G/F Patrick Heckman committed to BC. Normally a late signee doesn't make a class, but I sort of feel that Heckmann represents why I am so optimistic about next season. No one can fill the void left by Reggie Jackson, but I now feel that Donahue has enough pieces to be competitive next year. This is my rationalization...

1. We just need offense
BC was competitive to varying degrees during the Skinner era without playing great defense. Donahue's track record at Cornell was highly efficient offense and soft defense. His first year at BC only solidified that reputation. I am not approving of this approach nor do I think BC can ignore it forever, but in a limited window of preparation and with a young team, I am all for emphasis on one aspect of the game. Donahue proved he could install a system quickly.

2. Round pegs for round holes.
While this year's team will be very inexperienced, they we all recruited for their current skill set. I understand that good players can play in any system, but we had serviceable players that weren't used much last year because of their limitations (Elmore, Dunn).

3. Some of these guys will emerege.
I have no idea if Heckmann will be any good. I like that he was recruited by Michigan. What I like is that he can handle the ball and drive to the hoop. Now driving to the hoop on the European circuit is different from the ACC, but really BC only needs one effective slasher. That's why I like the signing. If Humphrey isn't the slasher we need, now we have another option in Heckmann. Clearly not all of these recruits will be ready or pan out. But you just need one effective point, one spot shooter from the perimeter, one big man who can pass, and one slasher. Given the depth of this class, I am pretty confident that Donahue will find some good minutes from many of them.

5. Incredibly low expectations.
In every article on Jackson's decision painted the situation at BC as dire and rebuilding. I have been one of the few optimists. But among the students and regular fans any signs of life will be welcome. If this team approaches eight ACC wins, everyone will be buzzing about BC's young guns.

I am probably setting myself up for disappointment with all of this. But I am excited about the unknown and the hope of things to come.