That wasn't fun

I had high hopes for the NIT. I thought BC even had a chance to win it. But after a solid first quarter, things fell apart and Western Kentucky never looked back. Losing stinks, but the way in which BC lost was also frustrating. They turned the ball over too often. They allowed way too many easy WKU baskets with bad D. Robinson and Bowman got points, but in an inefficient manner and couldn't score during BC's long droughts.

I know BC only had two days to prepare for the team and the new rules, but they didn't seem ready. And having a former WKU staffer as an assistant should have made the usual scouting challenges easier. BC couldn't find good shots and did not move the ball well or get much in transition.

If Robinson returns and Hawkins gets a 6th year, BC will be good next year. I just don't have much hope they will be special until the talent really improves. The NIT was just another example of this team not being ready to compete anytime anywhere against anyone.

BC returns to postseason via the NIT

In the grand scheme of things, an NIT appearance should be a disappointment. Even in the context of this BC season -- which had moments of brilliance -- an NIT bid should be a big "whatever." But that's not how I feel. I am legitimately excited about BC taking on Western Kentucky Tuesday night in the NIT.

The NIT should never be the goal and our last two NIT appearances were legit letdowns and both teams could and probably should have been at large in the NCAA Tournament. This year seems a little different. After a long drought filled with apathy, mediocrity and plain bad basketball, this feels like a small step back to respectability. 

Like any tournament, winning the NIT takes a little luck. It is also about wanting to be there and peaking at the right time. In our past two appearances, the players' lack of enthusiasm was palpable. I hope this year is different. BC can win the NIT and if they do, I think many people will feel that much better about our future.

Thank you, BC Hockey

Well two out of three ain't bad. I'll have a lot more about basketball's pathetic conclusion to their season and the women's NIT win later. For now, we celebrate yet another Hockey East Tournament title. BC locked up their 10th title with a 5-3 win over Merrimack.

The game was a back and forth affair for the first two periods. BC pulled away late. The conference named Cam Atkinson's the Hockey East Championship's Bill Flynn Most Valuable Player award for his two goals.

BC has probably locked up a top seed in the NCAA Tournament. The official seed and where they will play will be announced Sunday morning on the Selection Show.

In-game comments post: NIT, WNIT and Hockey East Championship

Big day on the Heights and at the Garden. It marks another step for the men and women in their respective NITs and a chance for the Hockey team win another Hockey East title. Let's make it 3-0.

You can leave your thoughts on our different teams here.

You can also follow my thoughts on Twitter.

Making the most of McNeese State scrimmage

BC beat McNeese State in the opener of the NIT, yet it was wholly unsatisfying. We played really well in the first half. But it only made me wonder where this efficiency and effort was against Clemson. The second half was another sloppy half-hearted effort that left me empty. I never feared that the game was in doubt yet I never got excited. That 20 minutes of basketball felt like a chore to watch. I couldn't wait for the game to end. Yet indirectly the awful second half got me more invested in the NIT. Now, because I've already watched some lame basketball, I feel the team owes us (and me) an NIT Championship. They can win it. All they need to do is play well in 40 minute blocks. The team that played in the first half can beat anyone in the country. Here are my thoughts on our trip to Lake Charles. Leave yours below.

Likes
-- Reggie Jackson's 3s. As I said, the game was never in doubt, but that was in part because Reggie killed any of their momentum with some killer 3s. He was especially good with the shotclock running down.
-- Raji and Southern on the low block. Raji got most of his points on putbacks and cuts, while Southern did his work with his back to the basket. It gave the offense some nice diversity. It also should be a blueprint anytime we go against a team that doesn't have strong interior defenders.
-- Road Warriors. This team could have mailed it in. But on short notice they traveled to a relatively remote area and strange gym and took care of business. The mental toughness is a little late for the games that matter but maybe it is a sign of what Donahue will establish next year.

Dislikes
-- Turnovers. Reggie got sloppy at times. So did Biko. Way too much dribbling into traffic and some careless passes that did not need to be made.
-- Trapani's touch. He missed some close ones and bricked a dunk. Nitpicky but needed to be said.

BC will play the winner of Northwestern and UW-Milwaukee this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed that the game will be played at Conte.

Ho-hum Hockey and other links

I spent most of my weekend thinking about basketball and once again ignored BC hockey. Both the men and women had impressive weekends and are skating towards championships. I guess we are all so spoiled by hockey's success, we and I take it for granted.

The women had the big news. They beat Minnesota 4-1 to advance to the Frozen Four. They take on Wisconsin on Friday in Erie, PA. If you are in eastern Ohio or western PA, you might want to head over to the game.

Jerry York's crew swept UMass as expected and earned the right to face Northeastern in the Hockey East semis. Friday's game is a double-header at the Garden.

One of the silver linings of the NIT is it is a chance for Biko Paris to play in his home state.

Former BC assistant and current Fairfield coach Ed Cooley is a leading candidate for the Providence opening. It would be a great fit and I wish Cooley luck.

Kenpom gives us a 75% chance at victory on Tuesday.

69th

Despite the mounting evidence that BC would be left out, I held out hope that we would sneak into the NCAA Tournament. It was not to be. The ACC as a whole was snubbed with Virginia Tech also getting left out and Clemsom being forced into the play-in game. Where did things go wrong? Yale and URI hurt. Losing to Miami twice hurt. BC was also impacted by some things out of our control: like Cal, UMass, South Carolina and Indiana having down years. Those games could have been nice "resume" wins, but none really impressed.

While we whined, the team had the right perspective -- the team "got what they deserved." It looks like Donahue will use this as motivation for this postseason and for the years ahead.

The consolation, BC did earn the No. 1 seed in the NIT. If we advance will face the winner of Northwestern and UM-Milwaukee. Of course because this is BC and it is never that simple, BC will be on the road at McNeese State for the opener of the NIT. I am still waiting on official word as to why BC is traveling, but I imagine the excuse will be related to conflicts at Conte.

I never want to take anyone lightly, but McNeese State hasn't accomplished much. They lost to Washington and Miami in their only real tests. Their strength of schedule is terrible. They are not a good defensive team and they don't have much size. If we come to play, this shouldn't be close.

Our game will be on ESPNU Tuesday night. While it is not where I want to be, a BC game on TV is better than no BC game on TV.

The NIT is such an afterthought these days, but I hope we take this seriously. If BC wants to make a statement, if Donahue wants to show that he can put multiple good games together and if the seniors want to go out with their heads high, then they will go win the NIT. Ever to excel and get to the Garden!