Globe's critique of BC hits and misses

The whispered about Boston Globe takedown of BC Sports came out Saturday night. As someone who wants the pressure turned up for this terrible year, I welcome the harsh spotlight. Leahy, Bates and the Board of Trustees are all assigned levels of blame in the article. However, the lengthy post inflates some issues, doesn't provide a clear picture of how we got here, and doesn't point to real solutions.

Race and BC Sports?

I was surprised by how much attention was paid to race in the piece. While BC does currently lack a minority head coach, the school employed two different African-American basketball coaches, an Asian-American baseball coach and has had various racial minority and homosexual staffers on teams and in the administration. While the school can always do better, I don't see the correlation between the current losing and race. Is race and Boston used against BC in recruiting basketball and football? Sure. But so is the cold. So is geography. So are dorm rooms and training tables. Race was used against BC basketball recruits when we had an African-American coach. Other schools will use whatever they can when trying to dissuade a potential student. A good coaching staff can recruit over any obstacles. It just forces them to find their niche.

The role of Leahy, the Board, Gene D and Bates

I don't expect the Globe to get into all the minutia of how we got here, but you have to question their understanding when they quote so heavily from Gene DeFilippo. He screwed things up and poisoned the well with some donors and fans, but he can't be blamed for Addazio and Christian. Those hires were during the Bates era. Both had rebuilds because of Gene's hires, but both hit shocking lows this year. I don't think great coaches would have sunk so low. I expect both to recover and return BC to some relative respectability, but both were exposed this year. They look to be mediocre at best and that goes to the man who hired them.

Brad Bates knew this article was coming and got out in front of it with an email to BC fans and donors. The email didn't reference the Globe, but it did say that he and BC weren't happy with our losing. At this point there is not much Bates can do other than support his guys and hope they succeed. If they don't, Bates won't be hiring their replacements. Bates also needs to double down on fundraising and getting the facilities built. That is where he can make a difference and that is where he has fallen short of the much maligned Gene D.

Unlike many, I don't think Leahy is major issue. He's empowers his ADs and doesn't get in the way. Could he do more? I guess, but I don't want a President who is focused on the Xs and Os of sports or breathing down the AD's neck. Leahy should be raising money and giving the programs the support they need. Where I feel he has lacked is with facilities. That has been somewhat addressed with the recent announcement but it is still late and questionable as to when this whole thing will actually get done. Leahy is nearing retirement, and his replacement will be a big issue. And that issue will fall to the Board.

I don't talk to any Board members on a regular basis, but the general reputation is that they don't care about BC Sports. I hope the recent negative attention forces them to pay more attention. If they don't realize the importance sports played in BC's past and the importance it will serve in the future, they are probably not fit to be on BC's Board.

How to fix things

Winning will fix most of BC's problems. Attendance and fund raising will improve. Morale will improve. Admissions will improve. So that leads back to Bates, Addazio and Christian. As much as I think all three are mediocre, I don't want anyone fired any time soon. It is not that I think they deserve more time, it is more about BC lacking a plan or the vision to boldly replace any of them. For now the best path -- other than a stunning turnaround -- is to hope for marginal improvement to the point where BC can make a less disruptive change. Firing Addazio or Christian now -- while still under the decision making of Bates, Leahy and the current BOT -- would probably lead to more mediocre hires tasked with another disruptive rebuild.

So close...

BC lost to NC State by one on a last-second layup off an inbounds play under the basket. That one sentence doesn't capture how painful and frustrating the final second was. The only reason NC State had the ball was because BC guys scrambled for a it after the Wolfpack missed multiple shots in the final seconds. The hustle in the closing minutes was admirable but still not enough as BC missed foul shots and rebounds that could have closed out the game. 

The good news is that the team looked better with Robinson and Turner back. The offense had more life and both added to the defense. Carter was a net-negative, but even he made a few plays down the stretch. With more talent back, Christian went with a shorter bench and BC led for most of the game. There were some dumb plays down the stretch, but the team played hard.

There's one chance left to win. Tonight's effort shows it can be done. Now we just need the breaks to go our way.

In-game comments post: Georgia Tech

I am not going to be able to watch this live, but I know some of you are. We all feel your pain. Tech is playing well so this doesn't appear promising. Leave your thoughts and comments below during the game and hope things break our way today.

I will have a post-game post later today after I watch it back.

Going right past rock bottom

I had a conflict Sunday night and missed watching the basketball game live. When the night began I really thought I was going to miss my one chance to watch BC win an ACC game this year. I should have known better. BC Basketball embarrassed themselves again, losing to Wake 74-48. I don't know how the players feel, but Christian and Bates should both be worried. Either this team gave up or is very untalented. Neither excuse offers much hope for the future.

Is there a win left on the schedule? I doubt it.

As for how to fix this, (other than finding a miracle recruit), Christian has recruiting specialists, but now he needs to find an assistant coach who can install an offense. BC can't score for long, long stretches. That problem is not going to fix itself.

National Media mocking BC

Wow. College Game Day being vocal about Boston College Bball and Fball. #notgood pic.twitter.com/oopqok3xgM

— NORTHEAST GRIDIRON (@Gridiron_Promo) February 20, 2016

They say that there is no such thing as bad publicity. BC is testing that theory this year. College Gameday took time on their show Saturday to highlight BC's potential embarrassing path. This is why BC's game against Wake is so important. The Deacons are not good and are shorthanded. They remain favored, but BC can win this game. Even if you don't care for Christian or Bates, hope for a win just to avoid more nonsense like this.

Why one ACC win matters

It is only one game, but the difference between 0-18 in ACC play and 1-17 is huge. As of Thursday night, there are only two Power 5 teams who are winless in their respective league play: BC and Rutgers. I don't know or care if Rutgers can pull out a win in the Big Ten. But I do care if BC can. Any BC fan should care. 

There are plenty of excuses for BC's terrible season. Christian dealt with youth and injuries and gaping holes in the roster he inherited. The competitiveness of the conference is also unprecedented. Even Duke is clawing for conference wins. Yet that doesn't let Christian off the hook. Pulling out or even lucking into a win, would be a sign that this team has mental toughness, a smidgen of ACC talent and a coach who can make the right call in a close game. Christian needs to show he can persevere through this low point. 

The other person that needs a basketball win is Brad Bates. Going winless in basketball and football in one year would be a huge black-eye for the program. It would invite the critics and national media to say that BC doesn't belong in the ACC. These are Brad Bates' hand-picked coaches. Both coaches bottoming out at the same time, raises numerous questions about Bates' decisions in hiring and supporting these two coaches. 

I still think BC will pull one out. We've seen how it can happen. We just need a few things to break our way and for Christian to make a few right calls. I worry that if he cannot make the right calls in a close game when we stink, can he make the right calls when we get good again. 

Carter kills BC at Clemson

Without Eli Carter, BC wins this game. That might seem unfair or diminishing the attention he draws on offense, but I really think he cost BC. His defense, his selfish shot selection and his cold shooting are the reason BC lost to Clemson. As the broadcast team said, the score doesn't indicate how close the game was.

There were some bright spots. Clifford's good run continued. The only thing that slowed him were fouls. Barnes-Thompkins came off the bench and provided a much-needed spark. The 2-3 zone is looking better and hiding some of this team's issues. We are still not rebounding well for a 2-3 team, but the guys are getting better with their assignments. The defensive breakdowns came mostly off of slow rotations or when BC played man-to-man.

I don't know what Christian is going to do with Carter. Is a 24-year-old at his third school willing to take coaching and constructive criticism? If he sits will the other teams just collapse down on Clifford? Will it help or hurt the locker room?  BC is not playing for the postseason. At this point it is about building for the future and gaining a little bit of respectability...and winning a conference game. Christian needs to decide how Carter fits into that plan.

Hoops teases again in loss to Syracuse

Sometimes it so very simple. BC took a lead a few minutes into the second half and Syracuse answered with a 3. And then another 3. And then another. The game was basically over and BC lost again. Aside from the mix of bad luck and defensive lapses, what really frustrated is that they couldn't answer Syracuse during those stretches. They couldn't buy a basket and missed plenty of layups/putbacks. 

If you're looking for encouragement, Barnes-Thompkins and Milon played well. Eli Carter did not and he still had a few of his ridiculous shots that he chucked before anyone in a BC jersey could be close to the basket for a rebound. 

One more pain point: Conte was filled with orange. 

There has been a lot of piling on by the Boston Media this week, so I will try not to make it worse today. Hopefully this team does something right before the season ends.

Losing continues in Louisville

During the scoring drought at the start of the game, I really started to wonder if BC would score more than 10 points before the half. Things have gotten that bad. Even with a few runs to make it closer, the final score was pretty representative of how bad the loss to Louisville was. With listless play like this it is only fair to ask if this is the is going to be the worst basketball team in BC history.

What were the positives? Barnes-Thompkins showed some fight and made a few nice shots. Dennis Clifford -- who was overmatched inside -- still played hard and did all right defensively. That is about it. Like all really bad BC seasons, watching is becoming a chore.

The national basketball people are saying Christian needs time. I agree. But this season is not giving me much hope. Great coaches have down years. I don't think great coaches have years this bad...especially when the roster is filled with their players.

More bad basketball news

When it rains it pours. Per Zach Spears, BC will be without two of their more effective players this weekend. But it gets worse...Jerome Robinson will be out for at least three weeks and possibly six weeks.

Other #BCEagles injury news: Daryl Hicks did infact suffer a concussion in the elbow he took to the face vs FSU. He will not play vs #2 UNC.

— Zack Spears (@Zacklopedia) January 29, 2016

BREAKING: Jerome Robinson fractured his right wrist vs FSU - recovery time is 3-6 wks - Huge blow, BC's 2nd leading scorer. @BCEagleAction

— Zack Spears (@Zacklopedia) January 29, 2016

Robinson has played enough that BC cannot even salvage a redshirt out of the injury. 0-18 in ACC play is looking more and more likely.
What's frustrating about this losing, is that I don't know what it is building towards. I hope this doesn't slow Robinson's progress and I hope someone else steps up to fill his void.

Anderson leaving

Ryan Anderson confirmed his long-rumored transfer Monday night via Twitter.

I have decided to transfer from BC. Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the last 3 yrs. Proud I was able to be an Eagle #RIPDK
— Ryan Anderson (@_AndersonBC12) April 7, 2014

I usually don't worry about transfers, but this is unfortunate for many reasons. I hoped that everyone would come back, Christian might pick up a late flyer, produce a super soft schedule and get us into the NIT. That seems less likely now. I assume Hanlan will declare for the Draft too, leaving an eight-win team without its two best players.

Rahon was also part of the rumors. However, one rumor I heard was that he was waiting to see what Hanlan does first. If Hanlan leaves, Rahon would supposedly stay, knowing that he would be the team's true point guard. I don't know. The last month has left me very distrusting of rumors.

I also think this is a bad move for Anderson. What's the upside? One year with a better team closer to home? Maybe. But he has to wait a year and the mix at whatever team he picks now could be very different by the time he hits the court in 2015. Anderson was the face of the program during a downturn in BC basketball. It would have been nice for him to stick around for any potential rebirth.

Putting the potential departures aside, long-term this shouldn't hurt Christian. Hopefully it just speeds up his roster churn. While this is not an ideal time to pick up recruits for next year, it has been done (Jared Dudley for one). Transfers are pretty commonplace in college basketball and very expected during coaching changes. Good luck to Ryan. I hope he has a happy ending to his career. Now let's hope Jim Christian is working the phones for someone to replace him.

Hoops loss, Pro Day and other links

BC lost their ACC Tournament opener to Georgia Tech. A late push by BC made it interesting, but the season came to an end with another close loss where Donahue seemed to over manage the final possessions. Now we wait for coaching news.

The good news is that Patrick Heckmann played well again. That's important since he might be the only one left next year. I tweeted this out earlier today, but I am not too worried about Vega's article. Hanlan should explore his NBA options. There could be truth to Rahon leaving, but I don't think it will make or break the program. Anderson was the surprise. It wouldn't make sense for him to leave for one year. Ultimately it will come down to the new coach and how he rerecruits the players here.

BC posted pictures of the Pro Day. 29 teams showed up. That's encouraging for the players who weren't invited to the Combine. Of the non-invitees I still think Rettig, Freese and Ian White have real shots at making it as undrafted Free Agents.

BC continues to make offers to 2016 recruits. The latest is Connecticut Tight End Scooter Harrington.

Being honest about Steve Donahue

It is hard to hate Steve Donahue. It is hard to even dislike him. Polite and engaging to the casual fan and media. A proponent of a hyper-efficient offense to please the sports analytics crowd. A tireless worker who has his hand in all aspects of the program, that keeps his bosses and other Administration folks impressed. Armed with a deep and experienced roster and a elite guard entering his fourth season at the Heights, it was all supposed to come together now. But it didn’t. That’s why there is no joy in calling for his job. I decided to post this prior to the ACC Tournament, because this isn't totally about Donahue. It is also about what I want in a coach. College fans might have been the first to launch “firecoach.com”, but what does a blogger do when your ideal coach doesn’t work out? You move on and admit that all the things you wanted in a coach are unimportant.

Can you imagine any other ACC coach helping freshmen move into their dorms? And not their own bluechip recruits, but regular skinny, scared freshman. But there Steve Donahue was last fall, helping new BC students hang posters, grabbing the other end of that box with dad and telling mom the right spot for the family picture. And this wasn’t some move of a desperate coach trying to win over a few fans. Donahue was accessible and welcoming from Day 1. This is what we are all supposed to want, right? That’s why colleges are so quick to hire one of their own. They want someone who loves the school and community as much as they do. Yet as nice a gesture as it was, no one really cares beyond the few people that got the unexpected VIP service from Donahue. The empty student section is proof that your typical BC freshmen doesn’t have some blind loyalty to Donahue.

Analytics are everywhere in sports, but not many coaches still rattle them off during a casual interview. Donahue championed a 3-point shot dependent, highly efficient motion offense at Cornell. At BC -- with ACC caliber players -- it would take things to a new level. And it did in his first year…with Al Skinner’s players and future pro Reggie Jackson. As his own players came into the system the offense has remained one of the better ones in college basketball, however, the defense has been terrible. Using Kenpom’s Adjusted Defensive metrics, BC has the 300th defense in college basketball. You don’t need to been a Sloan Conference panelist to know that is bad.

Over analyzing things also painted Donahue into a corner with this season’s schedule. The numbers looked perfect. BC would play a RPI friendly and challenging schedule and earn points with the selection committee. No bubble for his veteran team. In hindsight, It looks like Wile E. Coyote must have crunched the schedule data. Instead of earning respect with the ADs and their selection metrics, BC got thumped early and often. They lost on the road. They lost at home. They lost to traditional powers and rising MAC teams. Whether the losing shattered their confidence or tuned them out on their coach (or they just weren’t that good to begin with), the players never recovered from the out of conference slate. The only carryover to ACC play was continued losing and bad defense. Upsetting Syracuse generated some positive attention but also reminded many how screwed up this season has been. Why hadn’t the group that beat the Orange been able to beat or even compete with so many lesser teams?

All of Donahue’s positives might earn him another year if things were just a little better. If there was hope that he could shape a defense to compliment his excellent offense. If just one elite recruit committed for next year, giving BC that missing piece to overcome the ACC’s best teams. If the team had just played better in the final month of the season, showing improvement or even just some resilience. But the Eagles sit at 8-23 and barring the miracle to end all miracles, the ACC Tournament will be over quickly. Improving his staff or finding an incredible last minute recruit won't do it either. Four years shows that this won't work at BC.

We say we want a smart, charming, humble, hardworking coach, but that’s a lie. Fans want a winner. That’s it. All the aspects of a coach’s personality are secondary. It’s only after he starts winning that his approach and personality become things we care about. And fans will embrace (or rationalize) anything as long as the wins come. Donahue is a great guy who tries real hard. Yet no one is rationalizing his losing...or at least rationalizing him staying,

There are lots of ways Brad Bates can go with Donahue’s replacement. He probably won’t find someone as perfect on paper. Hopefully he finds someone who will win on the court.

Basketball and Women's Hockey lose

Since we were traveling, I didn't see a minute of the loss to NC State. So my analysis doesn't mean much for the actual game itself. But the game should put to rest any notion that the out of conference schedule or Dennis Clifford are the reason for BC's terrible record. With the loss, BC finished 4-14 in the ACC. That's good for a 14 seed in this week's ACC Tournament. There's no spinning that. If the team's spirit was crushed by the early losses, than their inability to regroup is also Donahue's fault. We knew what the ACC schedule entailed and we finished 14 out of 15 teams. That's inexcusable. 

Hanlon and Anderson remained the most consistent bright spots. I still believe that they are enough to build a winning season around next year. I hope the new coach agrees.

Despite our defensive ineptitude and lack of size, I don't want to diminish T.J. Warren's day. 42 points is impressive regardless of the opponent.

Basketball wasn't the only team with a forgettable Sunday. The Women's Hockey team lost the Hockey East Final to BU. Fortunately they are still heading for the NCAA postseason. 

Close doesn't count...BC loses to Florida State

As BC fouled late in Tuesday's loss to Florida State, ESPN U ran a graphic showing all of BC's close losses this year. I guess it is the newest attempt to explain away BC's hard luck. However, it is also really dishonest as to why we lose and why we lost to Florida State. BC had plenty of possessions to tie the game or even take the lead. But over and over, BC was beaten on the boards. And while we made plenty of 3s, we couldn't buy one late.

Hanlan played well and Heckmann continued his good play. Unfortunately it was Ryan Anderson's turn to go cold. Anderson just wasn't a factor in the offense for the first half. How does that happen? It is once again another example of being too complex for your own good. We were hitting 3s in the first half, so we didn't necessarily need points from Anderson, but there are benefits to getting him the ball. He draws fouls. He converts at a high percentage. Like so much else, it doesn't really matter. We lost any way.

Continued losing doesn't doesn't change much. I'm sorry Senior Night didn't have a better ending. Let's hope the final game does.

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?

Back to normal

I didn't get to watch the game today. (Real life comes before blogging.) I did get to listen to most of it on satellite radio. It happened to be the Miami feed, which proved interesting. The announcers obviously focused on the 'Canes, but were very respectful of BC and yet sort of matter of fact in our ineptitude. This was our eighth straight loss to Miami and our 42nd double-digit loss under Donahue.

Steve Donahue is a great ambassador for the school. He's not a great basketball coach for the school. As much as I enjoyed the Syracuse win and hope he lines up other elite recruits to join Miller, he's not the guy. I may try to watch the game Sunday, but I don't know if it is even worth it. Syracuse was an anomaly. This is who were are and who this team is. I expect more of the same as the season plays out.

Overthinking to another loss

BC lost another heartbreaker to Georgia Tech Thursday. There were a dozen turning points that led to the loss, but the overriding issue (for me) is Steve Donahue's micromanaging of the game. We were up five with three minutes left. Statistically the game is in BC's favor at that point. Get a few more points, play conservative D and you win. But that's not what happened. Instead we worked the clock to our own detriment. We forced shots over and over again as time was running out. Why is this happening with a veteran team? Why is this happening when we have a player like Hanlan who can score on nearly anyone in the ACC? How did we go up with seconds left? We put the ball in the hands of our best player and let him do his thing. Sometimes it is that simple. ...And if you are going to call a timeout with seconds left, be sure to put in a solid defensive plan.

This is all over anyway. Donahue is just making it easier for Bates to fire him. There will be little backlash. How can there be? We have a terrible record and the worst defense in the conference. I feel for Donahue. With Spaz, I felt he never believed in the team or did what it took to win. Donahue works his ass off every game. That's why it is so frustrating. He is surprised every time his moves don't work. Fool me once...

Friday I will start the profiles of our potential new coaches.

If you can't say anything nice...

When things are falling apart, there is not much a coach can say to the media and fans to make it better. The less said the better. The biggest problem with explaining what's going wrong is that the most loyal fans either already know or have already heard it. With Duke in town, I am sure the post game media mix had some new faces and some national guys. It led Donahue to say this:

"We have the No. 1 hardest schedule in the country and I don’t think it’s even close, and it may have been a little bit too much to bite off for this group,’’ Donahue said. ‘‘That being said, the next three weeks is critical. We've got to play and play well. We've got to have fight and can’t have those moments we had tonight. The next three weeks we've got to play and got to have some success, and I feel confident this group will."

It is nice that Donahue owns up that the team had moments they shouldn't have against Duke. I hope the next three weeks are great. But stop talking about the schedule. Like the Clifford issue, it is over. The team didn't respond, but that doesn't excuse the ACC play.

This quotes reminds me of other BC situations that have gone bad. I don't think many BC fans think ill of Donahue now. And I don't think sentiment will dramatically turn if we end the season with a whimper. However, I do think he will lose some good will if he keeps talking about what went wrong. It may not be intentional but is sounds like excuse making. Instead I hope he focuses on fighting hard and trying to win over the next three weeks.

(HT to the EO boards for pointing out the quote first.)

Duke dominates second half

The only thing more predictable than the loss was BC fans' mood during the game. On the message boards and social media, there was a sense of detachment over the first half. BC played well and hung with the Dukies, but everyone was just waiting for things to fall apart. And they did. Duke made a run to start the second half and never looked back. 

Since I've moved into "next year" mode, I do think there were some positives from this game. Hanlan showed that he can score on any team. Duke is much more talented and he was able to get space and drive throughout the game. When we think of selling points to a new coach, taking over a team led by Olivier Hanlan is a clear plus. Conte was also full and into the game for long stretches (more so than those of us watching on TV). BC's Basketball account tweeted out that this was only the second sellout of the season. In my opinion, I think this just shows how starved BC fans are for any game with some juice. This was Duke on a Saturday night. If we had a competitive team, attendance would be much better for all games. 

When we talk about what's wrong this year and why we lost Saturday, ultimately we don't have the same level of talent or coaching as Duke. We should be better than we are, but we weren't going to be upper echelon this year. However, we can catch a good team off guard this year. The clock is ticking. I don't think it will save Donahue, but it would help the players and fans going into next year.