Thursday, March 24, 2016

TBT: Ten Years ago BC lost to 'Nova in tourney

Exactly 10 years ago today, BC lost to Villanova in the NCAA Tournament. Although a decade removed, it feels longer. That was probably the last time I thought BC could actually win the Tournament.

Even if they had made the stop in OT, hindsight also tells us that would have been the end of the road. Craig Smith was hurt and Florida proved to be a great team.

There were certainly good moments after with Skinner and even Donahue, but that team had the rare combination of talent, depth, great assistants and a coach at his peak. Plus they were likable. Maybe not to non-BC fans, but they were scrappy, funny and smart.

BC will get back to that level again. I just hope we don't have to wait ten more years.

18 comments:

chicagofire1871 said...

Despite playing in the best basketball conference in the country, BC SHOULD be good sooner rather than later. Turn around sin basketball can take 2 years with a great coach and 5 recruits. It's waaaay easier than football. 2 years in, I don't think Christian is that guy. Id give football 4-5 and basketball 2-3 to show improvement. Giving longer is just wasting time

blockparty said...

sean marshall asleep under the basket. king of the court.

CT said...

When NCSU beat us at the buzzer a couple of wks ago, I was taken back to that Prague bar I was in at 2am when I almost got deported. I literally couldn't believe it. But then I reminded myself...We Are...BC. And then a layup with a premier shot-blocker under the basket made total sense.

Yes, Fla was better. But, man. That team was good.

Hoib said...

I don't think we could have won it all, but w/ a better draw it could easily have been BCs first final 4 team. I think we are the school w/ the most NCAA wins to have never made the final 4. Has always been a dream of mine to see us play in the final 4 in person. I'm 61, I don't think my odds look to go at this point.

CT said...

Run more. You never know. Hey, think about those George Mason alums who never thought it possible.

Hoib said...

I go to the gym every day. I'm doing my part.

blist said...

Hoib,if you end up playing pick up basketball with Al, encourage him to come back. Then let an elbow loose, or he won't respect you.

Hoib said...

Blist

I actually saw him play against BC, he'd make my list of the 10 best players that I've seen play us. He was a superb college player. Boy do I miss him.

JDK said...

Still remember that inbounds play like it was yesterday!!

Tim said...

http://www.boston.com/sports/sports-news/2016/03/25/boston-college-football-rejects-playing-at-fenway-this-year

Anonymous said...

If basketball gets facilities squared away, it would be back in the mix in a quick moment.

Christian's staff is so competitive in recruiting despite how the cards are stacked against them. Recruits keep naming BC top 2 or 3 and then choosing a school with more to offer. Any mix of facilities, winning, or improved attendance could be the difference between securing these key recruits and missing them.

Winning and attendance are derivatives of recruiting, but facilities are something you can control. Stop handcuffing our coaches, put them in a position to succeed.

Hoib said...

LLS

Agree and I think another way to help them to succeed is by not require them to have to reach higher academic hurdles than our league competition . We relaxed a little in the Davis/ Williams era and had one of our best stretches of teams. Then when O'Brien came in admissions got squeamish and clamped down giving the guy fits, even his competitor John Thompson, from Georgetown BTW, spoke up in his defense as to how stupid it was. Finally after reaching some success admissions still busted his chops forcing a nasty exit. I want to play by the same rules as everyone else, but that's it, nothing more.

NEDofSavinHill said...

Shouldn't the GT game in Ireland be cancelled because of the threat of ISIS and an uncertain security situation? If so then play it at BC and play the UConn game at Fenway.2. The SEC laid an egg in March Madness. What separates that conference from others is hype and PR. The NYT said at the end of the regular season that the Big 10 was the top football conference with five teams in the top 15. The talent at OSU was vastly superior to anything in the SEC. Florida won the SEC East. Their last four games were an OT win over Fla. Atlantic at home. A three TD loss to FSU at home. A three TD loss to Bama and a five TD loss to Michigan. They weren't a top 50 team at the end of the year. 3. In the NFL draft would you rather those big, strong, slow Bama D-line men who were pushed all over the field by Clemson or a more athletic Wujiak, the best lineman on the best D in the country? Happy Easter

RascalKing said...

Yeah cancel the Ireland game. In fact cancel every game and every sporting event. Let's all just stay in our houses, live in fear and vote for whatever presidential candidate is best at spreading fear.

Your way more likely to be hit by a drunk driver than a terrorist attack, yet you still drive I presume.

JBQ said...

Gonzaga is there in the Sweet Sixteen. St. Joseph's was almost there. Both are Jesuit and have good recruiting. So, what's the problem? BCs recruiting has been mediocre. They can neither get the street ballers nor the good foreign product. You can't win if you don't have the players.

jrtmurphy said...

Terrible day. Was flying up to Minneapolis from Orlando to catch game. Spring break, crowded airport. Whole family in BC gear. Skycap pulls up my info and regrets to inform me that my airline tickets are for May (booked like three things that night). Already have my game tickets in hand. Got in car and returned home (they could get me there first class-but not the whole fam)

Goal tending call second kick to the nuts that day

Napolean Bonaparte said...

What does Villanova, Gonzaga, St. Joseph's, Xavier, Seton Hall, Dayton, Notre Dame, etc. have that we don't have? There is no good reason for us to have fallen so far in both men's and women's basketball. Just a complete breakdown and failure by the BC Athletics Department and a total lack of oversight by the university.

How many here are confidant that the school is going to do anything in response to the Globe article? Has anyone heard anything credible? I'm beginning to think they will do absolutely nothing because that would be typical head up their ass BC.

Hoib said...

Jet

Sounds like classic Murphy's law. I should know, I'm a fellow Murph