The Harvard game could be rationalized away. Losing at home to a previously 2-8 Hartford team cannot. This is the lowest point in Jim Christian's short tenure at BC. We all thought the new AD would have to deal with football first. I think the timing and the start of the season means Basketball team will probably be addressed this spring.
For those who didn't watch the game, it was extremely frustrating. BC opened up an early lead and seemingly checked out in the first half. Robinson was cold, so BC had no answer on offense. Against a simple 2-3 zone (with bad America East level talent) BC could not score. What was worse is that they didn't even know what to do. BC knows it will face a 2-3 every year in Syracuse. Is there no preseason preparation on how to operate against one? Finally and ultimately too late, they realized they could get their big guards clean looks from the paint with a little high low. Why did it take 20 minutes to make that adjustment?
More alarming was how bad the D was. This BC team has decent athleticism and some big guards and wings. That should create all sorts of defensive benefits for BC. Yet Hartford had multiple open 3s because of bad rotations and defenders helping the wrong guy. Who is teaching these guys?
I am probably overrating the current BC talent, but I am hoping there is something there. Because if we are hoping for Christian to save things with Xs & Os, we're doomed.
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The epitome of atrocious. Beyond pathetic. And this mental midget was f****** extended. I wish lawyers had that type of leeway. I long for the days of Uka Agbai
ACC games should be just dandy. Starters will be getting plenty of rest when they play the Eagles. Nicholls and Hartford - two WTF losses. And to think that Christian got a one year extension after 0-18 in conference play last year. BB has got to go.
Holy smoke, someone call out the "bucket brigade". Since BC can't make buckets, the entire program will burn down.
First win ever by Hartford against an ACC opponent !!! Also , it was noted that the crowd was the smallest(or one of the smallest) ??? in Conte Forum for a game since it opened in 1988. I wonder what the actual numbers were for attendance. Wow - when does it ever end ?????
I don't think it can be stressed enough how pathetic Hartford is...if they competed in the NE-10 D2 they would finish in the middle of league..rock bottom, rock bottom...I like Christian but this can't be defended
Christian's only saving grace is that he doesn't spout the same crap and excuses Daz does.
As a long time Sox fan we say Bucky bleeping Dent, I now mutter Brad bleeping Bates!
It doesn't matter - nothing is going to change. The village idiots are in charge. The BOT's are dominated by eggheads. Most of the alums are uninterested. The students have just accepted the reality that we will always suck. We will eventually turn into another LeMoyne or Loyola type Catholic college that muddles along unnoticed. At some point the shoe will have to drop with the ACC. No leadership - no balls - and withering on the vine.
How much longer before the ACC decides to boot BC and suggest they join the Colonial Conference?
If I were a current student, I'd demand part if my tuition back. BC bills itself as a D-1 athletic school in a P-5 conference but clearly isn't willing to expend the funds to perform as such. They effectively engage in false advertising. The change needs to start at the very top.
Per Benbow's article in today's Globe, the "crowd" was listed at 2,274. A Hartford player said he didn't think BC wanted to be there. Neither do the fans. Hartford was picked to finish next to last in its conference. Every time we think the program has hit rock bottom, it digs deeper.
I have relied on what others have said here about how prohibitively expensive it would be for the ACC to do that. Assuming that to be the case, there has to be some implied legal obligation for any member to take reasonable steps to field, over time, competitive teams in the major revenue sports. I'll let the lawyers here ponder that issue but my guess is that would be a very difficult road in view of the facilities being maintained and the compensation paid to the AD and coaches. And there is probably no cause of action the ACC could mount against BC for generalized boobery in the administration of these sports.
If I'm John Swofford and I'm feeling heat from the members about BC, I first meet with Bates and Leahy and tell them that there is a move afoot to ask BC to leave the conference in the best interests of BC, its athletes, and the rest of the conference and its getting louder by the week. I then make a number of suggestions to BC. And if those suggestions are rejected - then the other members through their Presidents tell Leahy they will publicly ask BC to leave the conference (all in the best interests of it athletes) and want to negotiate a reasonable mutually satisfactory settlement. Leahy knows that such public rejection would be terrible for the school and he cuts a deal. We then join the Patriot League under the guise that big time college sports are no longer aligned with the mission and values of BC. All the eggheads at BC are thrilled, these blogs go under for lack of interest and life goes on.
I hope the band and students drop all the Sweet Carolines, For Bostons, etc. and replace them with Paul Simon's "Slip Slidin' Away". Maybe that will get noticed.
bceagle91,
The announcer of the Kansas St game that was on around Thanksgiving said the coach was having trouble motivating the team prior to the game. Game was in Madison Square G.
Shouldn't the first criteria in recruiting a player be that they want to play the games?
For the last 6-7 years we have had players that enjoy the thought of playing in the ACC but not actually competing in the ACC. Let alone competing against Hartford, the equivalent of UMASS Boston.
Knucklehead, I agree that motivation is absolutely crucial. Wouldn't you think players would want to play? I can understand players not being fully up for Hartford right before finals week, but that's where the head coach has to step in and wake them up. Clearly, that didn't happen. And if you're a basketball player and you can't get up for a game at MSG, you have no pulse.
We're investing 7 figures to pay Christian. We pay his assistants. The NCAA lets us award 13 scholarships for men. Maybe Christian keeps an extra one just in case, but 13 times about $65k is nearly $850k. For this?
As I've said before the ACC will never get rid of BC. Each conference needs its perennial patsies.
But Bravesbill - what about the incremental money brought in by a highly competitive program compared to patsies nobody wants to see in person or on television? I guess I'm making a distinction between a patsy and a program that has become pitiful and pathetic. Not sure if we are at the patsy level.
Every conference needs them for fodder. Every conference has them and they're usually the same programs year after year.
So what you're saying is that our value to the ACC is that we suck? Can't imagine that was the original plan but maybe it's a reason they don't kick us out!
Sorta like Rutgers role inB10 football (their hoops RU is 8-1)
Next stop:
The Patriot League, which was founded on the principles of admitting athletes who are academically representative of their class, is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.
I posted something similar on another site. Is it time to move on at the end of the year, thank Christian for balancing the scholarships and move on? The lack of motivation seems true because that is a natural cause of bad d and turnovers. If the coach cannot motivate it means the kids are accepting defeat and it's over for as long as this coach is involved. If the new rumor is true that we were going to hire mike Hopkins but brad Bates vetoed it to go with a Fogler guy- remember he did the Same with Addazio, he needs to go now then all three need to let go. now!
Full League members include American, Army West Point, Boston University, Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh, Loyola Maryland and Navy. Associate members include Fordham in football, Georgetown in both football and women's rowing, Massachusetts Institute of Technology in women's rowing and Richmond in women's golf.
Please stop with the Patriot League talk. We are not leaving the ACC. Way too much money in it for the school even if we are perennial doormats. While we all hate the losing, moving down a notch in competition will not help fund all of the campus development we have planned.
Instead of talking about retreating to competition levels befitting our coaches and AD, perhaps we all need to remind ourselves of the school's motto and demand excellence from those in the positions. Say what you want about GDF, but when he left were competing for ACC championships in both sports. We can do it again with the right leadership.
TC for AD & HC in 2017
100% chance that we promote spinelli at the end of year rather than get a new head coach to shake things up.
Why doesn't the BC newspaper - "The Heights" (or the Boston Globe - maybe Shaughnessy or Ryan ) - request an interview with Father Leahy and ask questions relating to the role of athletics in an academic setting - and does a D-1 program represent a negative in the educational mission of a school such as Boston College. It would be a great opportunity for an aspiring journalism major to tackle a provocative question to an "Academic Recluse" such as Father Leahy. What are we waiting for ??? If he is the leader of a great institution , then it should be his role to step out and respond to a very interesting topic. Of course , Shaughnessy would be the man !!!! Does anyone on this blog have a way of contacting Dan Shaughnessy ??? Being a Holy Cross guy and since "The Cross" is a terrific academic institution (Patriot League), Dan would be a natural to handle this assignment !!! Any comments appreciated .
Guido - You think the media will find him? Hell as a student I never saw the figure. Except convocation and graduation. Guy was weak and apathetic to the student body let alone student athletes. BTW - Whats Bates' email?
Any and all contact information for all staff is on the www.BC.edu website. I've tried them all. BOT, Father Leahy and staff. Brad Bates used to respond to me, but no longer does after I voiced concern after the Georgia Tech Football game. I am a Flynn Fund donor and made the department reallocate my last donation for the Practice Facility directly to the Hockey Program. They offered to discuss it (Danielle Gaynor) but I declined as there is nothing to talk about. The staff is probably concerned that when a new AD is hired that they get fired, so they won't publicly go against their boss. That needs to come from the Top (BOT and Leahy) and wont happen until contracts run out or come close to it. We need to get used to being a laughingstock. Guido- great idea- I emailed Dan Shaughnessy already for help
Shaughnessy, aka the Biggest Fraud in the Boston media, used to kill BC at every chance with pathetic articles about past gambling scandals, etc. and a constant call for BC to "drop down".
That all ended when BC got smart and "recruited" his kid for the baseball team. He stunk and never played, but it shut up the fraud and he's never written a negative word about BC since then.
Bob Ryan is the only option.
Of course Ryan was the mouth piece for the anti-Skinner movement that worked out so well.
Leahy was at the game last night. Sitting mid court through the whole debacle.
Guido - my guess is that some local sport's writers have asked to interview Leahy in the past re his vision for the proper role of athletics at BC. And my further guess is that Leahy has turned down all such requests. He has a distaste for the press and/or doesn't want to be trapped into saying anything he knows is untrue (meaning his true feelings would ignite a bit of a firestorm that he wants to avoid). He also may be embarrassed and highly defensive about his judgment as he has signed off on a lot of bad hiring decisions and contract extensions. Further, he probably does not want to have to respond to questions about the performance of various personnel currently on the payroll. Just a lot of bad stuff that will not make him look good. I am guessing this is the case because his constant and complete silence throughout this long slide into oblivion is really deafening for someone in his position. Look at it this way - if he was truly supportive of taking all reasonable steps to maintain a competitive ACC program, etc. - he could easily issue a statement saying so, vow to take a closer personal interest in the level of progress and to take appropriate measures if reasonable improvements aren't achieved in the near term. He has not done so and so my take is that he has an agenda that does not comport with ours.
At other schools this type of performance in football and basketball would get the school president replaced. Maybe it's time. If he won't act then maybe a new president will. For BC (and many other schools) less relevant incollege sports = the less applications = lower overall quality of students. There is a time lag factor but it happens eventually.
I was at game last night, it's really unbelievable. I never thought in all my years of going to BC hoop games that I would witness lethargic and heartless basketball. BC really doesn't look like they want to be there. Hartford was not a good team at all. BC problem all year is that they don't crush these team early. They go in stretches were they can't score against a basically D II school. The 3 point shot is the great equalizer. The last 2 shots Hartford hit were wide open 3's. Why does Christian allow his team to play this way. It's so frustrating. The talent is just not there. I had high hopes this season with the addition of Graves and Bowmen. Central scouting touted these guys as great gets for BC. I don't what these scouts were watching. It's so frustrating when I go to games at Conti and I'm not sure if we can win. I can't even imagine what ACC play is going to look like.
I'm a big fan of BC and have been since I graduated in 98'. I am speakless to what I'm witnessing. We have become a team that can barely compete at the mid major level. Donahue's 1st recruiting class was bad, but in his 2nd season at least he won 4 games in the ACC. I'm not the type of fan that likes to complain, I always have hope that it can't get worse, but I really don't know. Nichols state I chalked up to 10 new players playing together, but Hartford. Florida state beat Nichols state by 50 the other night btw.
I don't know what the answer is? I really feel that if BC athletics disappeared, would anyone really care? I know that they include season tickets sold in attendance, if they went be people who come through the gate, I would say we are averaging around 500 people a game.
I know that things need to change, but I think we are through the looking glass. The next coaches that take the reigns of this basketball program have to be BC alum. I think Howard Eisley with Danya Abrams would be a great choice. At least they would bring some pride back to this pathetic situation.
Ryan lost respect for BC basketball when we left the Big East. He isn't doing/saying anything.
The Globe tried to shame BC last season and nothing was changed.
Nobody cares and there are no financial moves that "fans" can take that will make a difference. The "lost revenue" from not going to games is nothing compared to the $$ that is locked in from TV and the ACC.
Sad thing is anyone on this board including the idiots who cannot read could make better hires in M BB and Football than the ignoramus in charge now, Brad Bates.
Christopher - the team is a reflection of the coach - lethargic - low energy - no spark. Whatever you want to say - it's because of Christian.
Will somebody PLEASE talk about ice hockey! BC plays ND tonight. ATL do your job!
Good thing we weren't willing to spend a few more bucks to get Jay Wright back when we had a chance.
CvegasEagle - Leahy was at the game last night sitting with another Jesuit at mid court on Beacon Street side - had an ice cream and stayed to the end. No clue where Bates was or has been all season (couldn't even bother to come to Matt Ryan jersey retirement), but at least Leahy was at the game.
As for the game itself, we had a foul to give at the end and seemed like nobody on the BC bench realized it (half paying attention in the stands it was obvious). Danya and Meter were harping on it on the radio after the game - sadly driving out of the Beacon Street lot last night I had this horrible feeling I was the only person listening to the post game show on 850 (does anyone under 75 listen to am radio anymore!).
Even the BC cop in the parking lot was commiserating with us after the game - has never been worse. Marathon Oil games in the mid 90s were more exciting.
Christian is just not a good coach - plain and simple. Time for an immediate change - let Spinelli take over rest of year and go from there.
Christian acknowledged the foul to give in the post game presser, he told players, they didn't execute
When it rains it pours. ND hockey just has BC's number.
Lack of motivation is on the coach. A good coach will get in the face of the players and let them know what needs to change. And not worry about making them uncomfortable. Then recognize their actions/efforts when they come around. But if they don't, keep on them. These are still kids, they need direction.
Christian seems way to comfortable for someone with his track record. Nice guy, doesn't seem to be making excuses, but the team doesn't play for him, and they have some talent, and he is not getting much out of it.
Give Spinelli the season to show what he can do; it seems he is the one leading the charge on recruiting, I can't imagine he can be any worse than Christian, and he seems more involved/animated during the games than Christian, which I think the players need to see from the HC.
If it doesn't work out, look for a new coach next year. I tend to think it won't work out, as I don't think Spinelli is an ACC level coach, but it can't hurt.
On a different note, someone mentioned Mike Hopkins on an earlier post. I thought that Hopkins was the coach in waiting at Syracuse, and it was his decision to back out, and not BC's decision to go with Christian. I'd be shocked and angry (OK, angry, but not shocked, since it's BB) if we actually had an option and picked Christian over Hopkins.
BC's commitment to hoops was not what Hopkins was hoping for.
When the coach from Richmond(played at Princeton) asked for an interview 6-7 years ago and took himself out of the process I had a feeling there was a problem over there. The hiring of Donohue and this guy Christian(I knew more about his assistants than him prior to his being hired)verified that nobody wants the BC basketball job.
I have been saying for years here that Howard Eisley should be offered the job - longtime NBA players and assistant. He seems salty but with a Spinelli type assistant he might be all right.
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