How do you judge an ugly loss? BC basketball has produced so many over the past few years, we've had plenty from which to choose. Wednesday's loss to Notre Dame wasn't extraordinary. It was just frustrating. BC did enough things to make it close, but did all its good at the wrong times so that the game was lopsided throughout. Even late as they made a run they couldn't get out of their own way. Hanlan was on fire, having made four straight 3s, yet his teammates ignored him on two straight possessions late. How does this happen? Here are a few other thoughts:
-- Hanlan needs to take over early. I used to blame Hanlan's slow first halfs on Steve Donahue's offense. Not anymore. It is clear that Hanlan doesn't always assert himself early. Whether he is trying to be a distributor or is just lacking the killer instinct, it is hurting BC. He needs to drive from the first possession and just maybe BC won't constantly be playing catchup.
-- Missing at close range. The number of layups and putbacks this team misses is crazy. Since we cannot finish, maybe these guys should think about restarting the offense on occasion.
--Turnovers from the bigs. Magarity is our best passing big man so his absence was felt. In his place Clifford and Heckmann both made plenty of bad and stupid passes.
A week ago, I thought BC turned a corner. Its been terrible basketball since. If they are going to salvage this season, it better start soon.
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W/ all the minutes he has to play and w/ the ball in his hands so much there's no way O can deliver from beginning to end. It was nice to finally see him play his best ball in crunch time, shows he's maturing. You said after Clemson that you no longer think he is great and that he'd leveled off. I never thought he was great, but I think he's improved this year in his understanding of the game. Probably due to his current coach. He's a much better distributor than he was, and if last night starts a pattern of playing his best at the end, then he still has a chance to be great. He was great last night, he just needed more from his teammates to pull out the W.
great point about Hanlan needing to assert himself earlier in the game.
does anyone know what the deal is with Magarity?
This team is so hard to get interested in -- not only frustrating losses but a transient roster.
Hanlan, Brown, Batten, Heckman, and Odio wont even be here next year as the program tries to rebuild
Hario
Unless he plays every game from here on out like he did last night's, I think Hanlan will be back.
I'd guess Hanlan transfers somewhere else or goes pro. He has high hopes of being an NBA player (whether his hopes are realistic is another question) and I think he'll view a year to grow, finish his education, and then focus on basketball for his 5th year as his best ticket to the big time. Or he may just say screw it and go pro. What I have trouble seeing him doing is sticking around so that he can be the only experienced player on a team of freshman and not a lot else (Magarity's improvement this year aside).
Yeah Im sorta with Mr. Tambourine Man --- not sure how coming back to BC will really help him if he really wants to make it to pros not that im convinced hes going to be a big time NBA player
hes going to turn 22 in 10 days which is another reason i can see him skipping out early
The team is showing great signs of development. Christian has "lots of fire" with expertise. Last year, NBA scouting had Hanlan projected as a late second rounder which is at the bottom of the bucket. The draft came and went and then Kentucky brought in five new freshmen whizzes. The merry-go-round may have already passed him by.
Mr T & Hario
Clifford and Lonnie will be back in addition to Mcgarrity and Owens. If the 3 new guys can contribute w/ O we might be able to play 500 ball. Hanlan can still get better he should stay put.
Speaking of returnees next year, anyone know why Magarity didn't play last night? Seemed like he was coming into his own and oddly a little concerning I didn't see anything indicating it was injury related since that would at least be an explanation. Haven't been able to find anything on it.
Hoib, I appreciate your optimism but Owens, Jackson, and Clifford have yet to show me anything to make me particularly optimistic. I'm happy that they'll be around because I think having some older guys will help with spreading out roster and helping guys adjust to college. A .500 record overall will be due to the increased diet of cupcakes, a .500 record in the ACC would be an incredible achievement with the talent thus far.
Am looking forward to seeing Christian's defense with someone like Diallo.
Mr T
I meant overall. I'm of the mind that a .500 record in league will be the ceiling for us, in a league this rough till proven otherwise. I didn't mean to imply that the players coming back were anything special, but they do have experience. I do think we need to be patient w/ Christian, because he inherited a program at the extreme depths of ineptitude.
Hoib,
Agree with patience for Christian. I'm actually optimistic, the guy has really been a winner everywhere he's gone and he brought in three top flight assistants (as opposed to Donahue who brought in Ivy guys way over their head). I'm hopeful Hanlan returns, but not optimistic, if he does I think next year should certainly be a .500 outfit as long as the freshman are reasonable.
Typically, I think a coach ought to get four years with his guys before you make a decision unless there are obvious warning signs. With Donahue, the continual losses to schools like Bryant should have been a signal that all was not right. Once the wheels came completely off in year 4 (3rd year with his guys), it was obvious he had to go and I supported it. Honestly, I was so optimistic about Donahue and so wrong, that it makes me cautious regarding Christian.
Mr T
I was a Skinner guy, and therefore that colored my view on Donahue, but as soon as I saw all those skinny teanagers he put on the court in his second year I knew he was clueless as to what a bigtime conference was all about.
I agree w/ you about Christian, he must be a great motivator to get this bunch to play hard w/ so little for them to play for. Of course we'll really know the story when we see his new recruits. The closest thing we have to that is Brown and Batten, who I think were nice additions, and guys who know how to play at this level.
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