Thoughts on BC basketball's loss to Baylor

This is as encouraging a 10-point loss as you will see at this stage in the basketball season. Last year this team had plenty of games where they looked good for a half and let the game get away from them in the second half. This game was different. Sure, Baylor pulled away, but it wasn't because of a total team collapse. Our best players didn't get weak-kneed or caught up in the moment. If not for a few mistakes and then scrambling as time ran out, BC could have won this game. Here are my likes and dislikes. As always, leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Likes

-- Ryan Anderson's post presence. Baylor is long, tall and athletic, but that didn't stop Anderson from having a great game and converting with a variety of moves close to the basket. Anderson would be good in any system but today I dreamed about him thriving in Al Skinner's tight flex. 

-- Solid minutes from Odio and Van Nest. Odio held his own and played good D inside. Van Nest provided some much needed scoring and also has good hands.

-- Hanlan and Rahon playing well against a ranked team. They weren't perfect. Hanlan forced some drives to the basket and Rahon was ice-cold but they handled the pressure and showed they can be responsible for the most of the ball handling.

-- Patrick Heckmann killing all the second half momentum. Last year during our Thanksgiving Holiday tournament, Heckmann was the star. He scored from all over the court and made pretty good decisions. I don't know where things went so wrong. He was terrible today with four TOs and two fouls in 16 minutes. But the worst thing about the turnovers is how careless they are. He is a major liability until he starts figuring things out again.

-- 3-point shooting. Jackson was cold again and so was Rahon. In our offense and with these types of players, we need to convert a higher-percentage.

-- Perimeter defense. We gave them way too many easy looks from outside and paid the price for it.

Getting the Brady Heslip stuff out of the way

BC plays Baylor on Thursday in the first day of the Charleston Classic. While the storyline should be BC's potential improvement and the chance to test themselves against a ranked team, I suspect many will focus instead on Baylor Guard Brady Heslip's awkward departure from BC before he even played a game.

Heslip gained national attention for his hitting nine 3-pointers in the NCAA tournament last year. He also started all year for the Bears and was one of the nation's best shooters. That wasn't a surprise to BC hoops fans. During his redshirt season at BC, Heslip was rumored to be the best shooter on the team. He supposedly could make a shot from anywhere in the gym during practice. But we never got to see him actually play for BC. Heslip was officially a rare midyear early entree in basketball. Skinner and staff decided to redshirt him and preserve four years of eligibility. Al was fired that Spring and Heslip transferred after the season ended.

While some Heslip's family members took to the internet to complain about Donahue's treatment of Brady, I don't think our -- at the time new -- coach did anything purposely wrong. He gave assessments to each player and told him what they each needed to improve on and what his initial plan was. Most guys bought in. Others did not. This happens with any coaching change at any college sport. Some new leaders will sugar coat things to keep people around. Other coaches are more frank and forward as to motivate or set expectations. I don't know firsthand what Donahue said and in hindsight, maybe he should have taken a different approach with Heslip, but Brady Heslip departure doesn't really change much about where were are today.

Heslip is a great shooter and has improved his quickness and physique since leaving the Heights. He might have made the difference in getting Donahue's first team into the tournament, but I don't think he would have carried last year's team. This season is still a big question mark. I am glad he's had success and I hope he plays well on Thursday but I don't look back at what could have been. It is not fair to Donahue. Heslip, like Rakim Sanders, Matt Humphrey or Jordan Daniels won't be the reason we rise or fall. All were good players, but none are program changers. The key for Donahue is progression and the continued search for a guy who can change things for BC.

New soccer Eagles and other links

BCeagles.com released the bios of the six new freshmen and two transfers for the men's soccer team. Four of the newbies hail from New York.

It feels like every ACC team returns a starting QB. While the depth gives the conference advantages that other conferences don't have, I think some of the talent is overrated. In fact, I can't believe that Rettig is considered the 10th best. I would rank him 5th and think he could be even better by the end of the year.

Despite shoulder surgery, Alex Albright is healthy heading into his second NFL season. He's also ready to move to inside linebacker.

In case you missed it, BC will play Baylor in the Charleston Classic this Fall. That gives all the Boston media, the college basketball writers and the BC bloggers a chance to rehash the Donahue-Heslip situation again.

Donahue adds another to the 2010 class

One of my fears has been eased as Steve Donahue added another commitment to this current class in Florida guard Gabriel Moton. Donahue recruited Moton at Cornell but saw him commit to the Air Force Academy. When Donahue switched jobs into the ACC, his pitch to Moton became more appealing. Can you blame Moton? Would you rather spend your summer in basic training or playing hoops at the Plex and taking one class at BC?

Moton should play right away and see most of the minutes that had been penciled in for Heslip. Now for balance and impact sake, let's hope Donahue gets another under the radar guy this summer.

(Thanks to the commentors for posting the links during the day.)

Larmond ready to step up and other links

HD gave BC some more pub...this time with a feature on Colin Larmond Jr. HD is right in that Larmond will be a focal point of the offense next year. I think his upside is huge, but he will need a lot of help. First from Shinskie who will have to start looking off of him on occasion (in order to free him up -- if that makes sense). He will also need his fellow WRs to step up. If he is the only option other teams will key on him all day.

Brady Heslip has made his decision and will transfer to Baylor. Good luck to him, but this whole thing still seems like such a waste.

People keep talking about our easy schedule yet no one is considering the fact that Duke and UVA might be better than the experts think.

Pat Dean was excited about being drafted and now must decided if he signs or comes back to BC.

Radio and TV deals and other links

How desperate is the ACC to sign a big TV deal? Desperate enough to reach out to the NFL Network. Spin it however you want but the ACC expansion was all about money. Now that the current TV deal is nearing an end, all eyes are watching the new negotiations. After big pay days for the Big Ten and SEC, is there still money on the table for our new conference? That is where the NFL Network comes in. They have money and time slots on Saturday. And if there is a NFL work stoppage they will also need new content. But does the NFL want to spend enough money to get the ACC? I doubt it. Also would the ACC want to leave ESPN? We all dread ESPN's power, but not being on the worldwide leader hurts perception among recruits and fans.

If you don't have the NFL Network, rest assured that you'll still be able to listen to BC sports! Fenway Sports Group, ISP, and BC agreed to an extension of their current deal.

Joe Trapani was the only basketball player to make an All ACC team (3rd).

Skinner expects Corey Raji to play Thursday, despite his bad shoulder.

This is a few days old, but here is a good article on Brady Heslip.

Brockton football star Carlito Weaver is hoping to get more attention from the BC staff.

Florida State's "sod game plaque" for the BC game, now has an asterisk.

Basketball commit and other links

Skinner and company picked up another recruit for their 2010 class in PG Brady Heslip. Heslip is a Canadian with so so offers, but he brings another guard to a team that will be short on them soon.

Sporting News put together a "best of" list for the ACC. Not a bad roundup. In their prediction though the say that BC will go 0-8. SI is almost as dour as they predict a 2-6 conference record with 4-8 overall mark.

Josh Beekman is fighting to hold onto his starting spot in Chicago. His former teammate Gos Cherilus hopes to put all his tools together this season in Detroit.

Two reasons for optimism on the defensive side: the talented DBs and the young LBs.