Robinson will be in the Green Room

The best sign of Jerome Robinson's future might be that he was invited in the the NBA Draft Green Room. Multiple news outlets have confirmed he accepted the invite and will be in attendance. The list is basically sure things. The NBA is not looking to embarrass anyone. If they have him backstage, he will get drafted in the first round. The only question going into the Draft now is where and how high.

More Robinson videos

Here is another Draft-related video from the ACC Network.

Good buzz on Robinson

According to Adam Himmelsback, Jerome Robinson is a hot name heading into the NBA Draft. Once considered a second rounder, some teams supposedly want him as early as the teens. That's obviously good for Jerome as the higher he is taken the more guaranteed money he will get. The key for long-term success though is getting on the right team. Robinson's offensive game is pretty versatile. As long as his D is solid, he should get plenty of playing time next year.

Hockey lands huge recruit and other links

According to multiple insiders, elite prospect Oliver Wahlstrom will play for BC this year. He's verbaled to various programs already, but this seems firm. Wahlstrom provides an immediate scoring boost. He's also expected to be a top draft pick.

Multiple reports confirmed that Jerome Robinson performed well at the NBA Combine. Most sites still have him as a first round talent.

BCI had a good question and answer with a Maryland blog in preparation for the Lax Final Four.

Robinson gone officially

A dozen reports -- including one from ESPN's Jeff Goodman -- confirm that Jerome Robinson is staying in the NBA Draft and will not return to BC. This makes sense for Jerome. He's likely a first round pick and doesn't stand to gain much with one more year of college. His versatility and offensive game is ideal for the current NBA. Even if he is not ready to be an elite NBA player, enough teams will see potential in his game to give him a chance to develop. Best of luck to Jerome and thank you for giving BC some exciting moments this year.

This leaves an enormous hole for Jim Christian. We know he is actively working the transfer market, but there is no one out there close to Robinson's talent. We know there is some promising freshmen coming in, but they will have some growing pains. Then there is Ky Bowman. As it stands now, Bowman can still come back to BC. And with Robinson gone, this team will be his and he will have a chance to lead the ACC in scoring. However, maybe he will follow Robinson out the door. If Bowman leaves too, then Christian is nearly back to square one and has to prove that he has built something worth keeping.

I'm not freaking out about Bowman and Robinson

I've been travelling so I wasn't able to jump on the news that both Robinson and Bowman are testing the waters for the NBA Draft. (For those not up to speed on this, it means that they are not signing with an agent, are looking for feedback and can still return to college during the appropriate window.) Robinson's decision has been rumored for weeks. Bowman's was a bit of a surprise. But in the end, I think both need to do what's right for their respective careers. My big concern in all of this remains Jim Christian.

I know Christian has dealt with some difficult circumstances and has BC seemingly headed in the right direction. However, in my opinion he has yet to show that he is anything special and can take us to the next level. For every Duke win, there are some frustratingly bad losses. For every great play out of a timeout, there are huge defensive lapses. Is he a bad coach? No. Is he a great coach? I don't think so. So like any above average coach, he is going to need to recruit and develop talent. Bowman and Robinson are two guys he and his staff deserve credit for recruiting and developing. But if that is the end of the talent pipeline or its apex, then we have the wrong coach. I am not expecting BC to grab lottery pick after lottery pick, but borderline first rounders shouldn't be rare. If BC is ever going to sustain success under Christian, he needs at least one player maturing to an NBA first rounder every year.

If Robinson and Bowman return, Christian should have a Top 25 team. If just Bowman returns, he should have a team that can go .500 in ACC play. If neither returns, then he needs to avoid another flame out.

I wish nothing but the best for Bowman and Robinson. They are fun players and I hope they are not done. But either way, if Christian can't find others like them, then that is BC's real problem.

Highlight video or Draft clue?

If I read too much into a Globe interview on Hawkins, then I am going to do it again with regards to a highlight video. The ACC Network put out individual videos on most of their best players, like Jerome Robinson. However, most of the players selected by the ACC Network also seem like the ones being mentioned as NBA Draft picks.

My only hope is that this is all speculation on the ACC Network's part. I hope they have to make a highlight real for his senior season a year from now.

Robinson honored and other links

The AP named Jerome Robinson to their honorable mention All America team. He is only the fifth BC basketball player to make an AP team.

Ohio DLine prospect Nate Leskovec had lots of good things to say after his unofficial visit to BC. He currently holds offers from a few mid-majors and some other ACC schools.

Baseball lost to UConn.

Nothing goes right at NC State

It was supposed to be a home coming for BC's North Carolina stars. Instead it turned into a familiar disappointment. Yet again a role player on the other team got ridiculously hot from 3 and put BC in a big hole. It was that much tougher to get out of the hole once Jerome Robinson hurt his arm in an awkward fall. Robinson did get back in the game but was never the same.

Bowman tried to fill the void and had 21, but also had some bad turnovers and needed a lot of shots to get his points. Pop was really sloppy. The team was terrible from the FT line. The one bright spot was Mitchell. He was scrappy and kept fight when BC was down.

The team's NCAA hopes are gone. Now I just want them to stop the bleeding, win a game in the ACC Tournament and make the most of the NIT. I also want Robinson healthy and to comeback for his final year.

A history on how BC ended up with a few North Carolina players

Jerome Robinson is looking at first team All ACC honors and Ky Bowman probably has a future on the team next year. Both are North Carolina natives and both were ignored by their home state ACC schools. How that happened and how they ended up at BC is part of a great article by Joe Giglio.

After reading the history, you realize how much of recruiting can be luck and timing. While the best players like Lebron James are easy to identify at an early age, other like Steph Curry (who also didn't have ACC offers) develop later or have skills that are harder to appreciate over size and strength. Plus -- and this is a factor in football too -- the stockpile of talent at the best schools leaves great players on the bench not playing. Those scenarios enable a player on a less talented team to develop and grow.

The other big takeaway is how critical Scott Spinelli is to Christian's success. In both cases, his network and his legwork put these players on BC's radar. I have real questions about Christian's ability to build a long-term winner at BC, but don't doubt Spinelli's ability to find and recruit talent. (Maybe the wrong guy is in charge.)

Watching Robinson and Bowman develop has been fun. I hope they keep growing as players and we find a few more just like them in ACC country.

The Jerome Robinson media push

Jerome Robinson is having a very good season. He's exploded offensively. BC is actually competing and winning ACC games and he is probably looking at First Team All ACC honors. But can he win ACC Player of the Year? It would take a really strong finish and some media attention. This week the media attention started.

Here is a feature in the Globe.

An interview with one of the ACC's leading personalities.

ACC Network highlight packages from last week.

BC wastes huge night from Robinson in loss to ND

The ACC Network crew made a big deal of Jim Christian treating February as a new month. BC had turned the page and was ready to take some steps forward. Jerome Robinson got the message. I don't know if others did. Robinson set an ACC season high with 46 points, but BC rarely threatened the Irish in a 96-85 loss. 

While Robinson was scoring at will with clutch 3s and drives, BC couldn't do much to stop Notre Dame. Once again the D was bad. ND made 16 of their 29 three-point attempts and made TJ Gibbs look like a superstar. 

Popovic was not feeling well, so Reyes got more time and was okay. Bowman and Chatman didn't come close to matching Robinson and had off nights. 

BC gets a chance to get February back on track against Miami this weekend.

Comeback against Clemson comes up short

The good news is that Robinson's hot streak wasn't a one-time thing. He played out of his mind again in the second half against Clemson, including six 3s. The bad news is that the heroic performance was wasted in another close loss.

BC was really sloppy and ineffective in the first half and put themselves in a big hole (down 19 at one point). They got no movement towards the basket and were chucking bad perimeter shots. They were also turning the ball over.

In the second half, BC turned it on...but it wasn't enough. Aside from Robinson, the other big game came from Mitchell, who made smart plays all over the court.

Chatman was too quiet for such and important game and Robinson and Bowman have to be more careful with their passes against a good defense.

BC's overall D was good in the half court. If not of Clemson's transition off of our turnovers, BC would have won the game.

Like others I am sick of the close losses. If we just play a little smarter early in the game, we will start winning.

BC Hoops loses tough road game to UVA

I don't know if this will be a "turn-the-corner" season or just more of the same from other Jim Christian years, but Saturday's loss seemed more encouraging than the typical moral victory. BC went on the road to a ranked UVA team, played UVA's style of game, got an off day from Bowman and nearly upset the Cavaliers.

Jerome Robinson was on fire. He scored 29 of BC's 58 points. It was a real hero game as he drove to the basket, made tough jumpers and a few 3s against UVA's typical disciplined D. The other thing of note as we head towards ACC play is that Christian only played six guys the whole game and Luka Kraljevic only played 14 minutes. This team has no depth but the top guys are clearly ACC-level players. Can he get away with that during the remainder of the ACC season?

If Bowman has his normal game, BC wins. If BC draws up a better inbounds at the end, they win. If UVA's Jerome doesn't nail two NBA 3s late, BC wins. There is a lot to like and the D is improved. Now just turn some of these close games into Ws.

Bahamas basketball trip starts off well

Every few years, NCAA basketball programs are allowed to take a summer trip. This year, Christian took the guys to the Bahamas. The caliber of basketball might not be as high as some of the European or Asian trips, BC and other schools have taken, but it is probably less expensive. A cheap confidence boost is just what this team needs.

On Saturday, they won their first game in the Bahamas. It was against the CTG Knights (whom I had never heard of prior to this game). The Knights made it interesting mid-way through the second half, but BC pulled away. The scoring went as expected with Robinson, Bowman, and Chapman leading the way. Newbie Stefon Mitchell chipped in too.

BC plays their next game Monday night. I hope they keep it rolling.

Another impressive basketball win

The "good" BC team came out to play Wednesday night as BC beat NC State at Conte. Maybe it is not fair to keep expecting a terrible performance like earlier in the year, because I think the team and the staff might now have a good feel for what they are. This win was still sparked by Robinson and Bowman, but it wasn't about them getting hot from the outside. BC won this game with good defense and smart ball movement.

NC State was sloppy, but that doesn't explain away all of BC's steals. Plus BC turned many of those steals into easy baskets. NC State was playing both Robinson and Bowman very tight outside, so they started using screen and finding cutters. Smart basketball is developing now that the guys have played together. One more positive -- the foul shooting was much better. BC converted many free throws down the stretch and slowed any NC State comeback.

Aside from foul trouble for Bowman and Jeffers, there weren't many concerns. BC was a little sloppy early, but got things under control. Tava made some great cuts but couldn't always convert. BC also had some bad possessions late when nursing the lead. 

Things are really looking up when you consider where the team was a month ago. Let's hope it continues against Cuse this weekend. 

How's business, Ky?

Boomin' pic.twitter.com/HH40Jifsff

— Zack Spears (@Zacklopedia) January 12, 2017

Full roster for NC State game?

Contrary to some message board rumors, Dennis Clifford is playing at NC State. Yet in some potentially good news, A.J. Turner and Jerome Robinson did travel with the team and are expected to play. Both were seen in pregame taking part in shoot-arounds against Georgia Tech. Even with some rust or conditioning issues, both would be huge additions.

Regardless of who is healthy and who plays, BC remains an underdog at NC State. But the depth gives Christian a few options and can help in a tight game. Getting a win is the priority, but things are so bad I just want a little hope. Maybe Turner and Robinson can provide it.

More bad basketball news

When it rains it pours. Per Zach Spears, BC will be without two of their more effective players this weekend. But it gets worse...Jerome Robinson will be out for at least three weeks and possibly six weeks.

Other #BCEagles injury news: Daryl Hicks did infact suffer a concussion in the elbow he took to the face vs FSU. He will not play vs #2 UNC.

— Zack Spears (@Zacklopedia) January 29, 2016

BREAKING: Jerome Robinson fractured his right wrist vs FSU - recovery time is 3-6 wks - Huge blow, BC's 2nd leading scorer. @BCEagleAction

— Zack Spears (@Zacklopedia) January 29, 2016

Robinson has played enough that BC cannot even salvage a redshirt out of the injury. 0-18 in ACC play is looking more and more likely.
What's frustrating about this losing, is that I don't know what it is building towards. I hope this doesn't slow Robinson's progress and I hope someone else steps up to fill his void.

Basketball starts off strong

Welcome to college, Jerome Robinson. Turner’s steal leads to a monster jam on the other end. pic.twitter.com/6IbylyWMHJ

— Tom DeVoto (@DeVotoHeights) November 14, 2015

The lackluster performances during exhibition season raised some concerns. Those issues weren't apparent Saturday as BC cruised to victory over St. Francis.

Even with Hanlan, there were many times the past few years where BC's talent wasn't even as good as many of our non-conference opponents. That wasn't an issue Saturday. Carter played as expected and freshman Jerome Robinson exploded. Even the bench players had moments.

The big men seem to still be a question mark as neither Clifford or Diallo looked crisp. But overall the rebounding continues to get better as we transition from Donahue to Christian.

BC takes on Central Connecticut State Thursday.

Gossip from the Basketball scrimmage

The Basketball team played George Washington Sunday in a private scrimmage. As often happens with these things, results and comments got out. Everyone says that GW won handily. They were up by 30 at one point and according to this George Washington message board, subbed in their bench late and still won by 20. This is to be somewhat expected. BC is a very young team that hasn't played together. And each coach has different goals for these sorts of scrimmages.

There was some good news. People who saw and who talked to the staff, said our team looks talented. There isn't a question if it is ACC-level talent. They clearly need to add weight and get used to each other, but these kids will grow together.

The other good news is that all agreed Jerome Robinson was the best player in the gym (GW's squad included). Robinson was a late bloomer in a competitive high school area, so it should be no surprise that he keeps getting better. Is he good enough to carry BC from Day 1? Probably not, but he's one of the guys who will hopefully be an All-ACC Freshman.

More news will leak out as the season approaches. For now, I think we just have to be patient and hope the talent blossoms early.