Thursday, February 18, 2016

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. 

12 comments:

Unknown said...

I am really not sure how you see an ACC win happening for basketball, but I hope you are right.

Hoib said...

It would be nice for the kids, but I really don't think it changes the narrative much. If the football team was 1-7 this past season I don't think the current feeling would be any different. I think it would be the same for a 1-17 hoop team. If a year from now we are looking at similar results it will be time to sweep the decks clean of Bates and co. I don't think it'll come to that, but that's how I feel at this point.

BCMike said...

Buddy of mine is a Wake fan. He is proposing we treat our game like the superbowl.

mod34b said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
CT said...

The narrative changes after one win? I'm not sure I get that. We are the Marianas Trench of major athletic programs and that, my friends, starts at the very top. Until the paper-pushers and paper clip pirates make the commitment to these moribund messes then no

CT said...

Nothing will change. I blame the adults. The salaried ones. Even with collars on.

dixieagle said...

CT; especially the one(s) with collars on, I fear.

Napolean Bonaparte said...

Just imagine what your life would be like if your results at work were analogous to these results - especially if you were pulling down the compensation these guys are getting. Patience goes down as the compensation goes up. To whom much is given - much is expected.

Unknown said...

The title of this post is just so sad.

Anonymous said...

The most depressing post i've seen in a long time

chuckiedukes said...

Is this a joke? C'mon.

jampino said...

What he said ^^

It's painful to say it but BC may have the worst athletic department in the entire Power 5. I don't know the facts about it but it certainly feels that way. I'm sure one of you smart guys will correct me if I'm incorrect.

The commitment to winning doesn't seem to be present. They (football and basketball) suck...there I said it. BC has never gotten respect, locally or nationally but 10 years ago, you better show up to play otherwise you'd get beat. It can be turned around. Don't think they care