Basketball loses, Soccer loses and other links

The basketball team lost the first game of their Spain tour. This is not surprising since they are playing proteams and a different style. I keep telling myself this trip is about getting better for the real season this winter. Ryan Anderson posted his second blog of the trip. I appreciate how candid he is about the art, the trip and the style of play. You sense an awareness and growing maturity. And it's not just about the trip. He's a college kid who is realizing all that he doesn't know yet. I think we all hit those checkpoints in life...just not on a public stage. He's very likable.

The men's soccer team lost to BU. (Is there ever a time when losing to BU doesn't stink?)

HD doesn't think we will make a bowl. Neither does Stewart Mandel.

Surprisingly, CBS didn't put us at the bottom of their ACC power rankings.

Spaz's good intentions are all wrong and other links

(This is going to sound like I am raining on some hard-working kids parade. That's not my intent.) As the Heights reported, Spaz awarded scholarships to Mike Javorski and Ted Davenport. That is great news for those guys and I am happy for them and their families. Getting a BC scholarship is a huge honor and provides a huge financial relief. But one of the problems with Spaz is his roster management. The reason he constantly has available scholarships every August is because he can't find enough good talent that want to  play football in the ACC and get a free education!!! Every year Spaz wastes a huge resource! He has a lottery ticket that no one wants to collect. That is mismanagement. I know Javorski and Davenport worked hard and this is no slight to them. But when their coach complains in two weeks that we have no talent at Running back or injuries have hurt us on the Line, remember that he doesn't use every scholarship. We could have brought in three or more Penn State players, but good ol' Spaz wasn't going to chase those kids! People think my complaints with Spaz are because of the losing or the interviews. That's only part of it. The guy is not capable of running a BCS program. I am glad this won't be our problem much longer. I hope Javorski and Davenport have great seasons!

Hoffses has a very good write up on the last scrimmage. It looks like we've settled into an Oline of Cleary, White, Gallik, Vardaro and Wetzel. Let's hope they play well and we roll out the same crew all season long.

BC finalized their game schedule for Spain and the ACC released the basketball schedule.

The ACC coaches voted BC 4th in their preseason poll.

DominiqueWilliams is mentoring younger players at Brockton.

Women's Ice Hockey selected their captains.

Weekend roundup

Although we won it football, the weekend was rough on a few other fronts.

First the men's soccer team lost to North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game. They weren't expected to be in the Final, so there was a little bit of playing with house money feeling around the game, but still, you want to win. Next is hopefully a good showing in the NCAA tournament. Selections are announced Monday afternoon.

The Hockey team was red-hot and facing a reeling BU team. Do you want to guess how it played out? The Terriers shutout BC for the first time since 1983. The Hockey team has to bounce back quickly as they face Notre Dame this Friday.

The bright spot of the weekend was the women's soccer team. They advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament by beating Marist.

Soccer beats Maryland in ACC Tourney

BC got up early and then held on to beat Maryland in the first-round of the ACC Tournament. On Friday they will take on Duke in the semifinals. You can watch that game online at espn3.com.

Soccer opens ACC Tourney tonight and other links

The men's soccer team opens up the ACC Tournament tonight with a game at Maryland. The Terps have owned BC in soccer since we joined the ACC.

When Nick LaSpada won the Gatorade award for Massachusetts as a sophomore, it seemed like New England was going to have a legitimate five-star, top recruit prospect. Since then he's suffered a series of injuries and setbacks. The latest issues is serious as he has blood clots in his lungs. Let's hope he has a full recovery.

HD thinks Maryland is more likely to bounce back from their terrible season. She still has BC ahead of Maryland in her power rankings.

Even though he is on their Hot Seat list, SB Nation thinks Spaz is back in 2012.

BC is in the mix for Ohio DB prospect Nana Kyeremeh.

Soccer at NC State and other links

The men's soccer team travels down to NC State for a match Friday night. The team is off a strong start and improve their ACC record.

It is always nice when a top Florida LB prospect is also the son of a former Eagle.

More Hot Seat talk on Spaz. What's interesting is that I don't think we will be looking for the same type of coaches that other hot seat schools will.

BCeagles.com held two different Q&As this week. One with soccer star Alaina Beyar and one with hoops soph Gabe Moton.

Antonio Garay is getting plenty of attention for his new ride.

Here is a nice article on Mark Spinney's little brother.

Saint's alive and other links

I've said it before but let me say again, that if this blog had been around when Brian St. Pierre played, I probably would have vilified him for his senior season. I also never would have predicted that his NFL career would last this long. Now look, he is making his first career start this weekend for the Panthers. I wish him the best of luck except for when he plays the Falcons.

The men's soccer team lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Brown.

In HD's factoid column she notes that BC has more graduates on our roster than any other school (just ignore how this undermines the whole "young" narrative that people have been using for our losing).

The BC women's soccer team hosts West Virginia tonight in their NCAA tourney.

Soccer loses and other weekend links

The men's soccer team season ended with a 6-4 loss to Drake in the NCAA tournament. The high scoring affair put an end to the uneven season. The nice point is that they ended the season well and now regularly expect to make the playoffs. For those who missed it, the women's team got bounced from the NCAAs by Stanford on Friday night.

Everyone has us going to San Francisco to most likely play Stanford in the Emerald Nut Bowl.

HD gave Steve Aponavicius a helmet sticker despite his one miss.

Dana Bible has cancer and other links

Sad news from Raleigh as former BC assistant Dana Bible has been diagnosed with leukemia. Keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

November 23 marks the 25th anniversary of Doug Flutie's famous Hail Mary. You often hear how Flutie changed BC, but Forbes notes that it changed the college TV landscape. Here is a refresh for those who were born after the famous day.

Luke Kuechly was named ACC Freshman of the week.

Both soccer teams continue to advance in their respective NCAA Tournaments. The men face Drake next Sunday. The women play Stanford on Friday.

Incoming QB Chase Rettig's season is over after losing in the California playoffs.

Busy Friday night

Basketball won despite the suspension. It was a career night for Tyler Roche.

The women's soccer team advanced in the NCAA Tournament by beating Harvard.

The men's soccer team lost to NC State. Despite the loss they should still make the NCAAs as an at large.

Paris's path to Boston and other links

The Globe published a great feature on Biko Paris. When outsiders predict 9th place finishes, I think they are underestimating Paris' ability to fill Rice's shoes.

BC beat Duke in the ACC Tournament and advanced to semis. The Eagles take on NC State on Friday.

The Herald published Mike Morrissey's story of going from walkon to starter.

Although I don't think it will be a big theme this weekend, this game does mark Spaz's return to Virginia. He didn't leave there on the best of terms and was one of the scapegoats of their collapse after being No. 1.

Playing New England is special for Jamie Silva.

Given what we've been discussing on the blog, it is interesting to note that on average only 37% of the Rivals 100 make it to the NFL. Also that Rivals thinks BC is one of the better programs at finding players for our system.

The offensive line feels they are getting better every week.

Former Eagle Shamari Spears is starting his UNC-C career off on the right foot.

The women's basketball team and hockey team picked up some early commitments.

Get on the BC Soccer bandwagon

Lost in all the success of our major sports is the budding soccer power growing at the Heights.

The BC women won their first two NCAA tournament games. They play Florida State in the third round this Saturday.

The men's team host Colgate in the first round of their tournament Friday afternoon.

Soccer stuff and other links

The men's soccer team takes on Clemson in the ACC tournament Wednesday afternoon.

The women's soccer team will host Central Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Musburger and Herbstreit will call Saturday night's game against Florida State. The coverage map should be out later today. I think those of you in Big XII markets will have to watch Colorado-OK State.

Florida State is doing the Black Out thing again. How did that work last time?

Fred McGriff's son has interest in BC.

Soccer's season over

Soccer's run at the national championship ended before it started. We dropped our first tourney game 2-1 to UMass.

Hats off to the guys for bringing home the ACC Championship. I hope it is a sign of things to come.

Soccer reminder

The ACC Champion men's soccer team begins their march to the NCAA title with a game at home against UMass tonight. You can see the boys in person on the Newton campus or listen online at WZBC.com.