Season Prediction Part II: best case scenario

BC has a difference maker at a key position. In the right year, with the right scheme Dillon could carry this team far. He will make plays, he will draw attention so that others can make plays and in theory he could set a tone on offense that protects the D. I don't think that will be so smooth, but this is how it could play out if everything goes BC's way.

(My official predictions are coming Wednesday.)

Virginia Tech. Win. Tech is vulnerable and we run all over them.

Richmond. Win. Not even interesting.

Kansas. Win. Another easy W. BC is now ranked.

at Rutgers. Win. BC avoids a trap game. Lots of excitement.

Wake Forest. Win. Another close game, so now we realize we might be overrated, but the win still gives BC a great start.

at Louisville. Win. BC overpowers a rebuilding Louisville D. The team moves into the Top 10.

NC State. Loss. Even in our best seasons, I don't see us going undefeated, so a setback here is natural.

at Clemson. Loss. We can't survive a shoot out with them.

at Syracuse. Win. A close win, much needed win.

Florida State. Win. BC starts moving up the rankings again.

at Notre Dame. Win. Because of the time of year, opponent and ranking, this is probably Addazio's biggest win.

at Pitt. Win. BC takes care of business to complete a great regular season.

Two ACC losses means no ACC Championship. Instead BC ends up in El Paso vs UCLA. We win that to give Addazio a 11-2 regular season and a Top 10 finish. No more seven win talk. It is really a season for the ages.

Season Prediction Part I: worst case scenario

Here we go again. This is not what I think will happen...just what could happen. We have enough issues and concerns, that this season could go sideways. Do you trust Addazio to pull this team out of a nosedive if one should happen?

(My official predictions are coming Wednesday.)

Virginia Tech. Loss. It is a tough way to start the season. BC looks sloppy.

Richmond. Win. I don't see any way we lose to Richmond.

Kansas. Win. While Kansas is going to be better than they've been, it won't be this early in Miles' time there.

at Rutgers. Loss. Huge letdown. The D is not what is was or should be.

Wake Forest. Win. The Wake-BC series is filled with close, weird games. I think this is more of the same, only it goes BC's way.

at Louisville. Loss. Dillon's last trip to Louisville was a career maker. I don't think they let him run all over them again.

NC State. Loss. This is where the season feels out of control. Lots of hot seat talk.

at Clemson. Loss. Clemson is not losing focus at home against us this year.

at Syracuse. Loss. Another ugly Cuse loss.

Florida State. Win. I think FSU is going to be a mess again. We rally for the Crowther game.

at Notre Dame. Loss. BC keeps it close, but can't knock off the Irish. Bowl hopes gone.

at Pitt. Loss. Nothing to play for and it shows.

I would usually predict that a 4-8 season would get Addazio fired, but we know how basketball played out.

Big questions: How tough is the schedule? [UPDATE]

[BC wanted to make is clear that Addazio did not schedule this season's games. So we are clear, Notre Dame is part of an ACC agreement. Richmond is an interchangeable FCS. Kansas and Rutgers are the big P5 variables. They were scheduled towards the end of Bates' tenure. I argued to BC that Addazio had a voice in those games getting scheduled. BC says no.]

A series of questions as we approach another year of Addazio.

Be prepared to hear a lot about BC's schedule this year. It is rare to be playing 11 Power 5 teams. For years, BC has put one or two mid-majors on the schedule to pad the win total. From afar, it looks like that wiggle room is gone this year. But a closer look at the schedule also has me wondering if it really is any harder than it has been in the past.

Non-Conference
Richmond, Kansas, Rutgers, Notre Dame
Richmond might be one of the more consistent FCS teams on the east coast, but come on, they are still undersized and coming to Alumni. If Addazio can't win that game, he has problems. Notre Dame has been on our schedule at various times through the years. This year's game is on the road and late in the season, so it could be dangerous. However, Notre Dame has been coming off two strong years and most sites have them expected to take a step back.

When Addazio scheduled Kansas and Rutgers, they were two of the worst teams in college football. At the time, I found it cynical and short-sighted. When you schedule a team years in advance, you can't truly predict how good they will be once you take the field. Look at Purdue last year. I doubt Kansas or Rutgers will be as good as Purdue, but both will probably give us more of a game than we want or expect. But still as a whole, this non-conference schedule is favorable. BC should be favored in three of the games, and come away with at least two wins.

ACC games
There is nothing unique about the ACC schedule we play this year. Pitt is our rotational cross division game, but everything else is the same. Do you usually feel like BC has a tough conference schedule? Yes, we play the defending National Champion, but we also get Florida State during a rebuild. Yes, we kick the season off with VT, but they have many issues and question marks. I am a big believer that the ACC games will always be cyclical. For every team on an unexpected upswing, there will also be a team in a down cycle. This year is no exception.

I hope BC and Addazio don't use this schedule as a crutch. Aside from the perception, it is probably not all that different from a typical BC season. Manage it well and win the games we should and BC will probably be where it always is under Addazio.

Big questions: Can BC find magic in the transfers again?

A series of questions as we approach another year of Addazio.

Last year's senior class was arguably Addazio's most talented. Their departures left multiple holes. While there is youth in the pipeline, he wisely picked up a few transfers to help bridge any talent gaps. Grad transfers have been critical to a few of Addazio's seasons. The question heading into this year, will any of this year's transfers be difference makers for this season.

Danny Dalton might be the most prominent transfer given his New England roots and history with BC (he decommitted to go to Penn State). Now that he is finally an Eagle, he offers the potential to fill in some of the productivity at Tight End. However, Tight End was probably one of our deeper positions. In this case, Dalton is a nothing to lose fill in. If he plays well -- great. If he doesn't -- BC has others who will gladly take those snaps.

If we don't need Dalton to be great, we sort of do need Richard Yeargin to be great. DLine is our biggest question mark. We need someone to step up and provide pressure. Can it be Yeargin? He will get the chance. He's had all the tools, but dealth with injuries and setbacks while at Clemson. He was also among the best dline prospects in the country, so you could see how he might have been overlooked down south. At BC, he will finally get his chance.

Hayden Mahoney is another ACC transfer. Can BC get more out of him than Miami? He is supposedly set to start...and Addazio handles the Oline well, so that's a good sign. Some of Addazio's best transfers have been P5 Olinemen. Let's hope Mahoney continues that tradition.

If any transfer might make or break the season it could be Aaron Boumerhi. The former Temple kicker will be asked to do something seemingly simple, just kick FGs and convert extra points. Kickers have been one of Addazio's Achilles Heels. Maybe one grad transfer can break that cycle of frustration.

Big questions: What's Addazio's backup qb plan this year?

A series of questions as we approach another year of Addazio.

Last year Addazio pushed the narrative of BC being in the game against Clemson until Brown went down. It probably oversimplifies things and gives Addazio an excuse for last season's collapse, but the bigger issue is how to avoid such a drop off if Brown goes down again.

Until the summer, Addazio kept talking up his QB depth and talent. That's been a downgraded talking point since three of those backups have transferred elsewhere in search of playing time. I don't view any of the guys who left (Perry, McDonald or Langan) as program changing losses. And that is part of the problem. Addazio has brought in plenty of QBs and the best of the bunch so far has been Brown. The RS Jr Brown represents the most stability Addazio has had at the team's most critical position. Yet, he has missed games both years and has been inconsistent over the course of two seasons.

Based on what has been posted and discussed, it appears Matt Valecce is the primary backup. Sam Johnson is the most highly touted but as a freshman, unless he is blowing people away, it would be a real surprise for him to see the field. Dennis Grosel and Daelen Menard are projects on the depth chart. If either of them see the field we are witnessing a miracle or a disaster.

Valecce was well regarded as a recruit and has played well in spring exposure. Like Brown, he has to adjust to a new OC. But he's basically a blank slate.

If any team is forced to play their backup QB, something is wrong. My ongoing frustration under Addazio is that we've never had a backup who could step in and really press the starter. The best backup was Wade and even he was someone who you really had to work around and manage.

I hope AB has a breakout season and proves to be an elite player. I hope he stays healthy. But given everything that has happened, I am really hoping Addazio has his backup ready and it is someone who won't require Addazio to go conservative in a critical game.

Media Day reactions

Addazio and his coordinators spoke with the media Tuesday. It was pretty standard preseason stuff without much true news. At this point we know Addazio, he knows the fans, he knows his team, his AD and the media. The college football world is not waiting on his media address in August, but I think he does use this to set expectations for the season. Now I am about to get into all sorts of speculative nonsense, but I think Addazio is a little worried about the season. He specifically avoided a win total discussion and only vaguely included competing for a division. That is understandable considering Clemson is in the division, but in prior years he was a bit bolder. He put a lot of emphasis on building a culture and not wanting to disrupt that culture and the recruiting hit you take when you do. That seems directed at his critics -- like me -- and potentially his AD. I think the timing of this is all off for him. Last year was supposed to be the year. This year seems harder, so just when he needs a breakthrough, he will have to scrape that much harder to maintain.

I do trust him on his evaluation and enthusiasm for the OLine. If this team does exceed expectations it will be because the OLine made things easier for Dillon.

Sheridan was low key. He seems to like his squad and is not worried about the transition from Jim Reid. He was much more frank about the youth and how they aren't ready. I guess he has a lot to do before VT.

Bajakian didn't offer much news either. He does seem to buy into what BC is and what Addazio is selling. I found his criticism of Brown's accuracy important. I think it is one of the issues to get AB to the next level, but I also think Brown needs to work on finding the best option and also his general awareness. Some of that will come with maturity, but most of that will have to be nurtured by Bajakian. 

RIP Cathy Inglese

Longtime BC women’s basketball coach Cathy Inglese died Wednesday. She had suffered a brain injury last week after falling.

Inglese built and maintained one of BC Women's Basketball longest periods of success during the '90s and early '00s. Like her colleagues of that time who weren't hired by Defillippo, she was out the minute the program ebbed. And like some of the other misguided changes, the program has not been the same since she left.

Inglese was only 60 and had recently been an assistant at Hofstra. Condolences to her family. Many former players still hold her in high regard and are clearly saddened by her passing.

Moore serves as a reminder

Many times I have used this blog to promote BC athletes as special. In the vast majority of cases, I don't know the player. I am just attributing virtue and uniqueness based purely on what we see in public and based on my love for the school they represent. And while many of these athletes have been special, it is foolish not to remember that they are all human and some of them do terrible things.

I don't know Kam Moore and understand that he deserves his day in court, but this arrest is bad. I don't know if there is a good resolution for this sort of thing other than everyone heal and get better, and for it to never happen again. Football really isn't important when things get to this stage.

BC players are flawed. Deep down I know that. What I do hope is that BC continues to try to create a special culture. I also hope that the BC football community (coaches and players) reach out to Kam and try to get him and his alleged victim some help.

UConn is dumb and so are the BC analogies

UConn is leaving the AAC to return to its roots in the Big East. This has been met with applause and head scratching in the college sports world. I am firmly in the head scratching camp. In my opinion, this move is risky and borderline nonsensical. I predict that UConn, in trying to reclaim past glory, will only sink all their future endeavours. I also think that anyone saying BC should do the same should also realize how silly that would be.

The Big East is dead
Whatever UConn thinks it is going to find in the Big East doesn't exist anymore. Yes there is still a tournament in Madison Square Garden and yes many of the teams they play are familiar, but the Big East is not the Big East of the '80s or even the Big East of the 2000s. TV audiences are smaller. There are fewer elite teams. The geography is spread out to the Midwest. Are the UConn fans who were disinterested in Memphis or Tulane going to turn out for Butler or Creighton?

It is coaching
While Villanova's success shows that you can win National Championships out of the Big East, UConn already won a title out of the AAC. Villanova's success was driven by Jay Wright. UConn's struggles post-Calhoun were just as easily attributed to coaching as conference. The AAC has legit basketball programs in Memphis, Cincinnati and Central Florida. UConn couldn't have beaten any of them lately. That's not because their players and fans long for the Big East. It is because their teams were bad. Maybe coaching will fix this, but changing conferences won't.

Giving up on Football will drag all sports
While their fans seems to think this move will give their programs new life, I think it will kill all their sports. Every coach who is recruiting against UConn can say, "they killed their football program. What will they kill next?" While I don't have a clear look into their books, I can't imagine this will improve athletic department revenues. We know the Big East TV deal is small. We know that football will be lucky not to lose a ton of money as an independent. Plus they have a $10 million AAC exit fee. Will ticket revenue from basketball and donations be enough to offset those decision?

Don't talk about BC and UConn
Predictably UConn's decision sparked talk from the pundits that BC should consider the same move. This is stupid beyond so many levels, namely the money, but also because the ACC is an entirely different group of schools. BC wants to be associated with Duke, Syracuse, Notre Dame, etc. Even those who don't care about sports realize that benefit to BC. Plus unlike UConn -- which declared itself a basketball school to the world -- BC is a football school. Our most public moments have been football related. Our fans and alums care more about football than any of our other sports. And football has given us an identity.

As has been proven out time and again in college sports, any team can compete from any conference. The key is always finding the right coach and giving that coach the right time and support to turn things around. Whatever failings BC or UConn have had in the last decade have not been one of conference affiliations. They've been bad hires or bad decisions. Both schools have challenges. I hope that BC is on the right path to fix ours. I am pretty sure UConn just made their problems worse.

Bowman made the right decision

Congratulations to Ky Bowman. Although the BC guard wasn't drafted, he did sign a deal with the Golden State Warriors. Given the Warriors' depleted roster and their need for cheap talent in the hopes of retaining Thompson and Durant, Bowman should get a legitimate shot at making the team. The difference between being a first round pick and a second is bigger than being a second round pick and an undrafted free agent. Second round picks are discarded by NBA teams all the time. The other blessing for Bowman is the renewed commitment to the G-League. Teams actually use it for true development now. It is not lucrative nor glamorous, but if the Warriors send him down, he will have a chance to comeback.

I don't know if Bowman will bother completing his BC degree. I would hope he does. Even in professional basketball, he would probably need it in most post-playing jobs (coaching, front office, etc). I know BC does help these guys the best they can with completing course work in the offseason or through distance opportunities. 

Despite a happy ending, I wish BC would be at the forefront of a rule change to allow players to return if they are not drafted in the NBA or NFL (call it the Hamp Cheevers rule). If BC is going to take a stand on paying players, why not make this stand too? Give players the chance to earn in the real world, but return if they change their mind or are given bad advice. If this is truly about developing them or giving them an education, changing that rule would seem like the something BC should believe in and support. 

I hope Bowman has a great career. He was fun the watch the past few years and I thank him for what he did for BC.

A look at the roster shuffle

The transfer portal has been up and filled with BC-related names, but not many answers from BC or the press. We got some answers Wednesday. Matt McDonald, who had been on the portal for a few weeks, is headed to Bowling Green. He will join fifth year Grad Transfer Davon Jones and former BC OC Scot Loeffler. While Addazio can't talk about it right now, I assume both had his blessing. When the season ended Jones seemed iffy on social media if he would even be asked back. McDonald showed promise in the Spring Game, but I think he still faced an uphill climb on the depth chart. Reuniting with Loeffler give both a chance to see the field. Addazio's son is on Loeffler's staff, so this has to be seen as friendly.

McDonald leaving also explains the recent commit of Florida QB Daelen Menard. Commits that come in late may usually have a story. Menard is small and dealt with injuries, hurting his chance to play at a high level. I am fine with taking a risk on him and Brian White and Addazio's hit rate on under the radar guys from Florida has been pretty good. Menard will hopefully continue that pattern.

Incoming transfers include former Miami OL Hayden Mahoney and former Clemson DE Richard Yeargin III. They join the long-announced Danny Dalton. Will any of these guys change the program? Probably not but like the Florida history, Addazio has a good track record of turning discarded P5 players into contributors at BC.

Baseball's bubble burst

After making an impressive run in the ACC Tournament, the Baseball team's season came to an end when they didn't make the field of 64 for the College World Series. They've been playing some of their best baseball the last month of the season, but the slow start to the year and some tough early losses hurt their resume. The ACC is well represented with seven teams. Hopefully one of them wins it all.

Lax comes oh so close again

For the third time in three years, the Women's Lacrosse team made it to the National Championship game. And for the third time they came up short, this year losing to Maryland 12-10. Despite the loss, the Senior Class leaves BC as the most accomplished in school history and can claim they put the program on the map. But where are things headed?

The history of NCAA Women's Lacrosse is relatively short. Maryland has been the premiere program, but they are in the heart of lacrosse country. The better model for BC might be Northwestern. They had a decade run when they came on the scene from a non-traditional lax school and won a series of National Championships. BC has yet to break through to win the big one, but there is no reason to think that they can not be perennial contenders.

The key will be next year. Acacia Walker-Weinstein has proven to be a great program builder. But now with her most talented players leaving, can she recruit and develop others? I think she can and as I have said before, I think like Jerry York, once she breaks through things will just take off from there.

More than sports

The BC Sports community lost two of their most beloved members this weekend in Andy Jick and Marie Grip. 

If you are reading this blog, you've probably read BC message boards or BC Twitter and know Marie Grip as Dixie Eagle. Like myself, she was a BC grad married to a BC grad living in the South. She reached out to me very early on in the blog and has been a great voice of reason for me and others for years. She was a realist without being a pessimist, someone who could be empathetic but also critical, all why showing a great sense of humor and grace. That's a tough combination to pull off online. And for those who did get to know her through BC, she was very genuine. As I tweeted, I never met her in person, but feel I knew her well. Putting so much time into sports and the subcommunities around them doesn't really make sense if you step back. The time, the money, the emotion...even in at its best is fleating. Yet those moments you do get and get to share with interesting people, make it worthwile. There was more to Marie than BC sports, but I am glad I got to know her through BC sports.

Although I met Andy Jick when I was a student, I didn't know him like I knew Marie. Jick has been part of the fabric of BC sports for two decades as the PA announcer for basketball and other sports. With his passing, numerous tributes went up online about his character and kindness. He will be missed and hard to replace.

Fenway finally gets a bowl

For the longest time, I've argued that BC and the Red Sox should spearhead a bowl at Fenway. Now it is finally a real thing. The first yet to be named bowl will kick off in December 2020 and feature an ACC team and an AAC team. You might as well just call this game the BC bowl because we will be in it more than any other team...and I am okay with that.

The reason I am okay with BC playing in a freezing bowl, down the street from campus is because the whole bowl season is a farce. These are glorified exhibitions that ESPN gets on the cheap during the holidays, propped up by sponsors and corrupt bowl committees. While the playoff is an improvement, the bowl season is still a mess and further and further from a meritocracy than it was 20 or 30 years ago. While every ten years or so BC lines up a decent opponent, in a somewhat desirable destination where our fans will buy tickets (NYC, Orlando, San Fran), most of the time we are in places and games that no one cares about. Heck the most interesting moment of Addazio bowl era was our game in an empty Cotton Bowl getting cancelled.

The allure of playing at Fenway is diminished, but we have history in the park. We won't get treated as second class citizens and some BC fans will actually get to attend the game. That is all good. If you view these things as made for TV events, the weather and location matters even less.

So welcome to the party Red Sox. Now let's get back to winning bowl games.

Allen, Harris highlight unique second day for NFL Draft

The good news for BC is that two more players were drafted on the second day of the NFL Draft. The unfortunate news is that both were in the 3rd Round instead of the 2nd. But both highlight how expectations and fortunes change based on a player's history and NFL team needs.

A year ago most thought Zach Allen would be a first round draft pick. He followed with a strong enough Senior Season to keep him in the discussion. However, his draft process did not help his cause. Whether it was his measurables or concerns about being too slow for DE but too small for DT, Allen fell out of the first round. Then out of the second. Finally the Cardinals took him and may end up with a steal. Allen did grade out very high for his actual game play. But aside from the contract, none of it really matters. What matters is that Allen gets his shot and is in the NFL. He will have plenty of chances to make those that passed on him regret it.

The Lions selected Will Harris in the 3rd round too. The most interesting thing about his selection to me is that Lions DC Paul Pasqualoni finally got a BC guy on his team. I have been shocked and disappointed that Coach P didn't take any BC guys last year (especially when Landry was there) and then this year passed on Allen. He was their position coach and more than anything should know what they are capable of doing in the NFL. Taking Harris is an endorsement of BC and hopefully a sign that he was going to bat for his former players and was just being overruled.

Yet another Eagle in Atlanta

11 years ago, the Falcons changed their franchise by selecting Matt Ryan in the First Round. He will retire with every Falcon record imaginable. If he is going to be a Hall of Famer, he will probably need four or five more years of elite play. A key component to the final stretch of his career will be a fellow BC guy Chris Lindstrom, who the Falcons selected with the 14th pick.

Lindstrom's story is a good one for BC. He was a solid, local recruit, who BC identified and closed early. He got good coaching and got better every year. Lindstrom also deserves a lot of credit for his work the past 12 months. He shot up draft boards with his senior year, great week at the Senior Bowl, strong combine and good workouts.

On a personal note, I am giddy. Matt changed what it was like being a BC fan here in Georgia. Adding another critical piece from BC will make all their success in the next few years that much better. And I think Lindstrom will be a difference maker here. The Falcons line has been bad since Shannahan left. Lindstrom will give Matt more time.

Congrats to Lindstrom. Congrats to the BC staff for getting him here. Go BC. Go Falcons.

Lessons for BC from the UVA win

Like Clemson in Football, UVA's basketball win is a reminder that BC is in the right conference and championship success is possible. You could argue that UVA's basketball history is superior to BC's (I would disagree) but they were a traditionally underachieving/middle of the pack ACC team when Bennett was hired. (Bennett was only hired one year before we hired Donahue.) We are not that far off. Here are some lessons from UVA.

Invest in facilities
Before they hired Bennett, UVA built a state of the art arena for basketball. BC doesn't need to duplicate John Paul Jones Arena's capacity, but could and should duplicate all the bells and whistles and of course practice venues and locker rooms.

Find the right coach who has the right system
Bennett's critics would argue he is all system (his dad's pack line D), but it has served him well at two Power 5 stops. His teams are always among the best defenses in college basketball. When things were at their best at BC -- Davis, Williams, Skinner -- we had a clear system in one of both ends of the court.  The benefit of having something, anything that you can turn to (2-3, flex, packline, havoc) is that you can plug in players year to year and you focus on executing instead of just trying to match your opponent possession to possession. If you are at a talent disadvantage a system can be an equalizer. With the right coach, superior talent and the right system, you can blow most of your opponents away.

You need good recruits, but not the best
This is a good summation of how both Virginia and Texas Tech did this without elite recruits. With one and dones on the way out, finding the right guys and developing them is going to become all that more important.

We've seen Clemson down. We've seen UVA down. Now both are on top. That should motivate and inspire BC fans and hopefully BC leadership.

KofiMania

HE. HAS. DONE IT!@TrueKofi HAS WON THE #WWEChampionship at #WrestleMania!!! pic.twitter.com/nrn2a8kSLm

— WWE (@WWE) April 8, 2019

I know plenty of you don't know or care about professional wrestling. That doesn't matter. What you need to know is that at the biggest wrestling event of the year -- Wrestlemania -- a BC guy -- Kofi Kingston -- won the WWE Championship.

Pro wrestling is not a real sport, but becoming champion is about hard work, charisma, athleticism, and getting people to believe in you. Kofi put in many years and represents himself, Boston College and the WWE with passion, integrity and humor. Congrats to him on reaching his goal. Ever to excel.

What to make of the Spring Game

BC held its annual Jay McGillis Spring Game Saturday. I think we all know we can't read much if anything into the game. Throw in the Offense vs Defense, injury holdouts, and no tackling format and the value becomes even more questionable. So it begs the question, why doesn't BC do more to turn it into a truly unique event? Here are just a few ideas:

Instead of playing in a nearly empty Alumni, why not move it into the Field House. Fans can feel closer. Recruits will see our best facility and it will feel more intimate. 

Allow select fans to call plays or be in the huddle or on a head set. 

Create fan experiences/contests for breaks in the action (field goal attempts, races, throwing into a hole, etc).

I understand this is a nice day for the fans and kids who do attend, but at what point does BC try to make it a bigger event? That's not going to happen with the current style of football or the unique game set up. It will have to be by making the game more desirable to fans and a clearly separate experience from the typical Alumni game. 

As for Saturday's actual game, the highlights are above.

Bowman's departure confirms Christian's lame duck status

After BC's season fizzled out, some speculated that Ky Bowman might return in an effort to improve his standing among NBA scouts. Obviously he felt that leaving now made the most sense. While some disagree with me, I think Bowman's departure seals Jim Christian's fate at BC.

The only good news for Christian is that BC's little depth is on the perimeter. Some combination of Tabbs and the incoming freshmen will be able to backfill Bowman's minutes and some of his productivity. What is unknown and in my opinion unlikely, is that any will command enough attention to change what the other team does. Bowman had some off nights, but every time he had the ball, he shifted what the other team would and could do defensively. That opened things up for others and when needed, Bowman could just keep the ball and get off a decent shot.

And yet even with someone as skilled and respected as Bowman, Christian couldn't piece together a winning season. How will he now with less experience and arguably less talent? Maybe Pop's D improves...maybe Tabbs takes a huge leap and stays healthy...maybe one of the new guys proves to be great. But here we are again hoping that everything breaks Christian's way in order for BC to have a competitive season. Hoping is not how you build an ACC program.

Ironically Bowman's saga at BC can be seen as an indictment against Jim Christian's ability to run an elite basketball program. Finding Bowman deep in the heart of ACC country is the type of skill a staff at BC needs. We need to find guys others overlook and turn them into stars. The diamonds in the rough concept was the foundation of Skinner's best days and was critical to some of BC's best teams in the '70s and early '80s. But finding those guys is only Step 1. A truly successful coach would find those types and then actual build a roster and a program around them. Christian has shown he is missing that skill.

Bowman officially gone

Last year when Ky Bowman entered the NBA Draft, he didn't hire an agent so that he could come back to BC for his junior year. This year, he left no wiggle room. He has an agent and will not play college basketball again.

I wish Bowman nothing but the best of luck. He has been one of the few bright spots in a frustrating decade of BC Basketball. It looks like the NBA remains a long shot, but maybe he will impress through his workout process. He will have professional options somewhere.

Time again to talk Bruce Pearl

Following an SEC Championship, Bruce Pearl is now leading Auburn on a deep NCAA Tournament run. Any time Pearl has success, there are plenty of BC fans who wonder "what could have been." I was one of those fans for a long time. While I still love watching Pearl, I know that BC was right to never really pursue him as a BC coach.

Regardless of what people say, the only real window to ever get Pearl was when Donahue was fired. All the other times, either BC had a successful coach in place or Pearl had a job that could pay more than BC. When Donahue's final season was falling apart a strong AD could have locked up Pearl and dealt with the internal politics of getting him hired. Clearly Brad Bates was not that AD. Maybe Gene could have pulled something like that off. Maybe Jarmond. But Bates clearly didn't have the foresight or understand the politics to get BC to sign off on Pearl. That was probably for the best.

Pearl's time at Auburn has been filled with basketball success but plenty of off the court issues. Two different assistants have been arrested for illegal bribes. Pearl didn't talk to or work with former Auburn AD Chris Myers. He also hasn't been afraid of using the media to fight for a raise or get his named mentioned for other openings.

I am for changing the system and suspicious of BC's purity, but had BC hired Pearl we would be dealing with a whole host of problems and embarrassments. I want change and success, but Pearl was never going to do things in an acceptable way for BC.

Hockey season comes to an end

Hockey is usually the high point of any BC sports year. However, this Men's season was one to forget. The team struggled early, had a few runs, but more than anything kept tripping over themselves and coming out flat against beatable opponents. Things finally seemed to come together in the Hockey East Tournament. BC made it to the finals and nearly stole an NCAA Tournament bid, but ultimately came up short losing 3-2 to Northeastern. 

This is the end of the line for this crew. There is still plenty of talent returning. Now we just have to see if this year's problems were a blip or a sign of things to come. 

Hockey East won't punish BC for racial issue

Like many of you, I am just hearing about this racial issue during the BC-Providence game this weekend. Hockey East announced they won't discipline anyone because they don't know who from BC made the remark to Providence's Vimal Sukumaran. There are no official reports on what was said and no one from BC has owned up to the remarks. The game officials did say they heard the remarks but weren't sure who said them.

I don't know what was said, so it is hard for me to react. Anything racial is unacceptable and should result in punishment. I understand why BC would want this to go away. I wish they would help determine who said what so this could be resolved in a productive way. Right now it will just serve as another distraction with recruiting and the media and an unfortunate note on an unfortunate season.

BC keeps wasting everyone's time: Jim Christian returning for 6th year

There will be no official statement. No vote of confidence. No explanation. Maybe there will be a friendly article Wednesday or Thursday, but BC is bringing back Jim Christian for another year. This is the BC way now. We just waste our players', fans' and even coaches' time. Because barring some sort of miracle, we will be having the same discussion a year from now about Jim Christian. His record at BC is 62-100 (18-72 in ACC games) and he is very likely losing Ky Bowman from a team that just went 5-13 in ACC play. Maybe the freshmen really over perform. Maybe he tightens things up schematically. Maybe there are enough shakeups with the ACC middle class to unlock a spot for BC to elevate just a bit. That's a lot of maybes. The odds are the guy who has been a Power 5 coach nine years and only finished above .500 two of those seasons will probably be below .500 again.

In their leaks, BC was sure to slip in that the school is dedicated to building up the resource for basketball. That's not news. They've been actively raising money for basketball for a while now and will make announcements on what the enhancements are once they reach a gift threshold. But I don't believe better facilities is ever going to make a difference with this staff. We've seen enough missteps and poor efforts to know that this isn't just about a basketball practice facility.

Martin Jarmond is out there talking to the people. I am sure he will hear complaints and have established talking points (injuries, taking time to build, etc.) but I think he is going to face a lot of cynical donors and fans. And a year from now we will be talking about a rebuild with someone else that could have started this spring.

Christian rumor dump

If is Friday night and Jim Christian is still the Men's Basketball coach at BC. As I've been saying, the longer this goes on without any news means Christian is staying. I don't know what will happen, but here is a sample of things I've heard. None of this is verified by anyone in the BC Athletic Department. (I try to get official answers from BC whenever I think they will provide one. I know they won't say anything during a coaching change.) Some of these items even contradict each other, but that is how it is when dealing with this sort of chatter.

-- The assistants have been fired
-- BC was preparing a buyout payout for Christian on Wednesday
-- The assistants have thought this was coming for a while and have been looking for new jobs
-- Jarmond really likes/liked Christian and was openly defending him and this season to donors as recently as Christmas time
-- Jarmond looked frustrated on Senior Day as did Father Leahy
-- The basketball alumni do not care for Christian
-- There are fundraising efforts going on for improved basketball facilities
-- If there is a change, BC will look to traditional BC and BC-type names
-- The extension makes Christian safe
-- The extension is not punitive to BC
-- Christian is well liked among some of the bigger basketball donors

I know BC doesn't have to say anything if he is staying but the recruits might need to know and the fans are going to want some sort of explanation.

And now we wait

Frustration and speculation at the end of the football season nearly reached a breaking point. In three weeks we went from Game Day back to seven wins. The media kicked the hot seat talk into overdrive and Addazio people (apologists, agents, and friendly media) talked about his lack of a contract. And no news came from BC for days. When they finally got around to the extension, people joked that it read like a hostage letter. But even with all the talk, there was still a reasonable argument for not firing Addazio (recruiting, winning seasons, etc). There are no justifiable reasons for keeping Jim Christian.

But we don't know if Jarmond will make a move. As I tweeted, the people closer to BC think Christian is safe while the people more removed -- fans, media, agents -- think he is gone. What we have learned from Addazio is that the longer there is no news, the more likely Christian is coming back.

Since Gene left, BC is pretty tight lipped about these things. Don't trust leaks or gossip. I will share what I hear, but even then be skeptical. Also remember the Donahue twist, where he was telling people he was coming back only to be fired the next day. When a head coach is not getting a straight message, than no one is.

I have made it clear that I want to start anew. I hope Jarmond agrees and has a plan to get BC basketball back on track.

What to make of Mike Rhoades?

I think we've all been through enough coaching changes to know how this game works. At times the school floats names to see if the fan base is receptive. BC did that under Gene but doesn't anymore. Other times the media speculates and sometimes agents and people close to a guy float a name. That's how I first heard of Mike Rhoades as a potential Jim Christian replacement.

Rhoades is the current VCU head coach. VCU used to be seen as a great proving ground for coaches. Yet Shaka Smart is on the hot seat in Texas and Will Wade is in the middle of an FBI sting, so the VCU stamp of approval means a bit less. However, Rhoades seems very different from both of those guys. He was a D3 head coach for many years and then turned things around at Rice. Unlike Wade, he's not known for being an ace recruiter. Instead he is considered more of a scheme guy and developer of players. And unlike Smart, it seems he adapts his games and system to his roster and is not so dependent on press, press and more press.

I don't know anything substantial about Rhoades. I do prefer his profile to Christian's, in that he doesn't come to BC with a failed stop on his resume. He's had natural progression and is very experienced and still relatively young. If we are going to take a risk on someone, he seems to have a decent upside.

As to why his name is being floated? Maybe his season has been such a success and surprise, he is trying to leverage it now. Maybe Wade left a mess at VCU too and he is expecting issues. Who knows? But if anything, Rhoades is a reminder that there are plenty of guys out there that BC can and should talk to if we make a change.

The debate on Jim Christian seems to be losing steam

Two weeks ago there were plenty of vocal defenders of Jim Christian. After Saturday's loss to NC State, there are fewer BC folks advocating for him to return. Perhaps it is the current losing streak. Or maybe people are frustrated with the lack of energy and hustle on a Senior Day. Twitter isn't always the best focus group, but the casual fan has shown their lack of interest in Christian's product by not going to games. Yet none of it really matters. There are only two BC folks with any real power on this process. They are Martin Jarmond and Father Leahy.

After the NC State game, i was on twitter saying this is now Jarmond's call. From all I have heard, he has the autonomy to make the final decision. Plenty of others say he doesn't and it is Father Leahy's decision. I guess we will soon find out what they think of Christian and if they also have a plan to return BC Basketball to respectability.

Former BC assistant Preston Murphy caught in ties to bribery scheme and why it matters

Creighton put Preston Murphy -- who worked as an assistant under Skinner and Jim Christian -- on administrative leave while they investigate his ties to the College Basketball-FBI saga. There are no known reports of Murphy breaking any laws or NCAA rules while he worked at BC. But this is still important to BC and BC Basketball.

One thing this FBI investigation has proven is that paying players is rampant in college basketball. I don't know if BC is doing it or has done it, but plenty of P5 schools have been caught red-handed. If BC is not cheating, than we are playing with one hand tied behind our back while the big boys buy the best players. If we are cheating, then this is all that more pathetic, because we are not getting good ROI on any pay for play. But this system is clearly corrupt and clearly broken and the Murphy news should be a reminder to BC that our only move is to lead for NCAA change. While I am for paying players, I believe BC's leadership is not. Either way, BC should take a stand and lead to real reform...whether it be legal payments or true amateurism that is strictly enforced and violators are punished. Until then guys like Murphy will keep getting caught in the middle.

Don't be afraid of mid-major coaches

The last two basketball hires have not been successful. (Depending on your perspective, you could say even worse about them.) Because we're a bit snake bitten, you see some fans wanting to avoid the same mistakes that got us here. Many are hoping BC avoids an up and coming name from a smaller program (mid major) and instead hires a more established, proven coach. While I don't mind spending on a more established name, I don't think BC should avoid mid-major coaches. Outside of Cousy and Chuck Daly, nearly all our successful coaches came from what would now be considered a mid-major program. Take a look:

Al Skinner -- Rhode Island

Jim O'Brien -- St. Bonaventure

Gary Williams -- American

Tom Davis -- Lafeyette

 

The primary challenge Donahue and Christian had in making the jump from mid-major to BC was recruiting and talent. Donahue looked for certain specific traits and guys who were under the radar. In the end, that plan didn't work for him. Christian went after more traditional p5 talent. His problem was not finding enough of it to compete. If we go the mid-major path again, the coach just needs to have a plan for finding talent and maximizing it against some of the best players in the country.

Ironically, what I like about hiring a mid-major guy is that in theory, he has coached enough games to know how to manage and scheme at an elite level. Yet I would say the Xs and Os have been disappointing for both our past coaches (Donahue could never develop a D and Christian screwed up many late game situations). 

In the end, if we don't follow the mid-major path, we limit our pool to big names and assistant. At this point I don't want to rule anyone out.

Would the Big Ten consider Martin Jarmond for Commissioner?

Jim Delany, the Big Ten's Commissioner for the last 30 years, announced he will step down in 2020. In the meantime, a search will start for a new commissioner. While the college football world speculates what Delany's retirement will mean for playoffs or a P5 breakaway, the impact to BC might be more immediate, as I think Martin Jarmond will be considered a candidate to succeed Delany.

While the role of commissioner has changed under Delany, in the end these positions are highly political. A candidate is going to need the support of all the Big Ten members, but Ohio State will have strong influence. With his background with two Big Ten schools and relationships in the league, I could see some pushing for him. Beyond being a candidate that multiple schools could get behind, I think Jarmond would also serve well as the face of the league. If Delany was seen as dictatorial, cold and stubborn, Jarmond would come off as engaging, young and open to new ideas.

His age and the potential for perceived bias towards Ohio State might make Jarmond a non-starter, but I could see how his rising profile coincides with the perfect opening.

Some good recruiting news

Since I have a feeling we will be discussing basketball a lot of the next three weeks, I wanted to ignore the Georgia Tech loss (for now) and focus on the good news -- Addazio's recruiting. He just picked up a verbal from New Jersey LB Korey Smith. Rivals ranks Smith as a 4 star. 247 has him as a 3 star. He has offers from UNC, Pitt, Purdue, Rutgers, Syracuse and Vanderbilt. He was injured for much of his last football season, which had some of the bigger schools holding off. If he is healthy this fall, I expect even more big names will swoop in.

As for now Smith seems like another very solid piece. He said on the right things about academics and keeps up our presence in New Jersey. Welcome aboard and congrats to the staff for pulling in another recruit with plenty of good options.

Ryan Anderson weighs in basketball debate

The twitter debate about BC basketball marches on but new perspective joined the dialogue. Former BC star Ryan Anderson started tweeting to the thread with his opinions. The former player, who also played at Arizona, thinks it all starts with financial commitment. He mentioned facilities, travel and budget. BC has addressed some of these issues since Anderson left, but still has more to accomplish. I agree with him and think we should make an investment in basketball that shows our commitment. But I don't think spending money is the only answer. I still think you need the right coach too. Here are Anderson's tweets.

Coaching isn’t and never has been the problem

— Ryan Anderson (@M12terAnderson) March 2, 2019

Keep JC. Hire Dudley in some assistant role. His knowledge of the game is elite and would be huge for the program. Increase facilities to ACC levels. Recruits care about facilities and game atmosphere more than anything...

— Ryan Anderson (@M12terAnderson) March 2, 2019

Can’t compare those guys to this generation. Different era of sports. Recruit from northeast area walks into the BC locker room, attends a game, tours the facilities, and y’all really expect him to commit over Cuse, Nova, etc? Unfortunately kids signing bc of those reasons mainly

— Ryan Anderson (@M12terAnderson) March 2, 2019

Commit to the program. Fund the program. Change the culture from top to bottom. BC is a beautiful school filled with great ppl (reason I came) but realized when coming to AZ how much can be better at BC but it takes money, effort, and fan support BEFORE the team is good

— Ryan Anderson (@M12terAnderson) March 2, 2019

There’s tons of examples I could point to but bottom line is simple yet hard. Make the players choose BC. When the facilities, game atmosphere, traveling, and everything that goes into being a student athlete matches the other acc schools and we don’t win then it’s the coach...

— Ryan Anderson (@M12terAnderson) March 2, 2019

Until then you’re giving the coaches knives to a gun fight in these recruiting battles for players and it ain’t fair.

— Ryan Anderson (@M12terAnderson) March 2, 2019

Just sharing some revenue and endowment numbers

As the debate rages on about BC's commitment to men's basketball (and sports in general), I wanted to refresh people's knowledge of where we stand on two key figures: endowment and sports revenue.

(I am focusing on Catholic colleges, since it is one of our unique selling points and many Catholic schools have proven they can sustain winning, national basketball programs.)

Endowments

• Notre Dame -- $9.45 billion
• Boston College -- $2.31 billion
• Georgetown -- $1.66 billion
• Saint Louis -- $1.14 billion
• Holy Cross -- $1.01 billion
• Fordham -- $779 million
• Loyola-Chicago -- $750 million
• Villanova -- $711 million
• Marquette -- $668 million
• Depaul -- $595 million
• Loyola-Marymount -- $450 million
• Gonzaga -- $275 million
• Seton Hall -- $242 million
• Providence -- $213 million

Conference Revenue annual payouts

• ACC -- $26.9 million
• Big East -- $2.86 million
• West Coast Conference -- $1.8 million

How ditching one and done helps BC Basketball

The NBA seems ready to rescind its one and done rule. That is good news for BC.

Since the NBA creatied the one and done, BC hasn't enrolled a single one and done recruit. We've never even been in serious consideration for any one and done recruits. Whether it is admission's expectations, coach's philosophies or recruits' perspectives on BC, it hasn't happened and seems unlikely to happen in the near future. Unfortunately many of our conference rivals have had success with one and dones (Duke primarily). That puts us at a disadvantage in those critical conference games.

The very best players are relatively easy to identify (bigger, stronger, faster, etc.). With those four or five best guys not coming to college, the talent disparity between that next level of recruit (call them Tier 2) and Tier 3 (the guys BC usually gets) is not as wide. This empowers programs who can develop and scheme to success.

But we don't need to just project what might happen. We have evidence. From the 1995 Draft Class with Kevin Garnett to the 2006 Draft Class (the first with one and dones), BC had some of its most successful years. Just look:

BC between (95-96 season and 05-06 season)
-- Seven NCAA Tournament appearances
--  Two Conference Tournament Championships
-- Two Conference Regular Season Championships
-- Eight winning seasons
-- 99 conference wins, 85 conferences losses

Watching the best players skip college for high school doesn't mean BC will instantly start winning again. But it does shift things enough, that a coach who has good schemes and good development can thrive. Is Jim Christian that guy? That argument is for a different post.

Tabbs narrative featured prominently in win over Louisville

BC won a solid home game against Louisville Wednesday night. There was a lot to like (improved play in 2nd half, good Pop post moves, etc) yet the most interesting part of the broadcast might have been the extended discussion of Wynston Tabbs. I mention it because these talking points come from the announce team's interaction with BC coaches and Sports Information. It feels like BC has an excuse ready for this disappointing season and will clearly be emphasizing that if the team finishes strong.

Would this team have been better had Tabbs been healthy? Clearly. He is an ACC level player, would have taken some of the pressure off of Bowman and improved our D. Heck he still might give us a boost. No one is promising if or when he will return, but if he is back by the ACC Tourney, BC might pull off some upsets.

However, I don't know if Tabbs' injury excuses the play this season. Tabbs played in the loss to IUPUI. He played in the loss to Hartford.

I don't know where Jarmond is on Christian. When you read hot seat talk from plugged in guys, I do give it some weight. I wish our challenges were as simple as one player's health. But we all know the issues -- effort, late game management and overall depth. It will take a lot more than one win over Louisville to convince me that this program is one player away. 

What other ACC schools might make basketball changes this year?

This is the third part of a series to look at the future of BC Basketball.

Timing is probably the most under appreciated aspect of making a coaching change. There are years when everyone fires their coach and only a few A listers flip, leaving the bridesmaids to go to their C - List. Other times no one fires their coach leaving the few schools that do selecting a better coach than they ever could have expected. It doesn't seem like a bunch of top basketball jobs will open this offseason. But closer to home the ACC could see some change. And if schools make a change, how will that affect BC's potential search?

Miami -- Jim Larranaga era of Miami basketball has been one of their better stretches. He has one conference title and four NCAA Tournament appearances. However, he's about to turn 70, the 'Canes are having a rough season and Miami is tied to the most recent NCAA pay for play scandal. I could see Larranage stepping down this year. If Miami does make a change, I could see them looking at the same type of candidates BC would approach. They have some of the same issue (budget, fan support). The unknown in their change is if looming NCAA problems scares coaching candidates away.

Clemson -- Can you believe Brad Brownell has been at Clemson nine seasons? I know he has beaten BC plenty of times (including this weekend), but overall this decade of Clemson basketball has been almost as forgettable as BC's -- two NCAA appearances and a losing conference record. The success of the Clemson football team makes this job much more enticing than when Brownell took it a decade ago. The school has more money and more name recognition. If Clemson decided to go all out, they could probably land an elite coaching. 

Wake Forest -- Danny Manning has been bad at Wake (yet even he got Wake to the tournament once). He's angered donors, fans, AAU coaches and transfers. Wake would love to fire him. The only thing stopping them is his buyout. But if Wake doesn't end the season strong, I think Wake will make a change. If they make a change, I think they would be looking at some of the same names as BC and Miami. I think their job is a little more desirable than BC or Miami's due to fan support and proximity to the other North Carolina schools. 

Syracuse -- Even before his tragic car accident this weekend, you have to view every Jim Boeheim season as potentially his last. The man is 74 years old. He decided to extend his career to coach his son, but things like the accident might lead him to reevaluate. If he does retire, I just assume Mike Hopkins would take over. In a way that is a loss, since BC could have and probably should have hired Hopkins five years ago. 

Thoughts on Spring Football press conference

Steve Addazio held a press conference Wednesday to kick off Spring Football. There were a few news worthy tidbits from him and his two coordinators, plus a few things you could read into what they each said. Here are a few of my thoughts...

Addazio is pretty confident
Considering how many players departed and a change in coordinators, Addazio seems pretty confident. The guy wears his emotions on his sleeve so I don't think he is bluffing or puffing up the outlook for recruiting purposes. Maybe he thinks with a healthy Brown, Dillon and the Tight Ends, we will be that much better on offense.

Bajakian and Addazio had no prior relationship
Bajakian's candor was refreshing. Not only did he not know Addazio, he didn't know any of the current offensive staffers. In the past, Addazio has clearly put a priority on guys who he knew and worked with at prior jobs. And even when he didn't seem to have a prior working relationship (Reid), there were clearly multiple connections and a clear shared history. That's not the case with Bajakian. I think that's a good thing. This is a critical position and an important year. Had Addazio limited his search to just guys he knew and coaches who are in his direct network, it would have been limiting (see our season with Fitch as OC). The risk is that Addazio and Bajakian don't work well together and never get on the same page. I am willing to take that risk.

The Bill Sheridan promotion seems safe but uninspiring
Addazio clarified how his defensive staff will work. It had been rumored that Reid would retire and Campanile would take over as the sole DC. Clearly that didn't happen as Camp went to Michigan, Reid stayed but in a lessor role and Addazio promoted Sheridan to DC. This will provide a certain amount of continuity. I will break down Sheridan's history as a coordinator later this spring. However, for a guy whose reputation is for X and Os and not necessarily connecting with players, the press interaction didn't change that perception. With Reid still around as the old guy the players like, perhaps Sheridan can just focus on schemes. Sheridan also explained it would still be very collaborative.

BC falls apart in OT vs NC State

I hate holding up one game as an example of a whole season or whole era, but BC's loss to NC State Wednesday night was a pretty good example of BC's basketball this year and under Christian. Down 14 in the second half and with Chapman out, the team rallied to take the lead. Then some back and forth with a mix of hustle plays and bonehead mistakes. BC had a chance to win in regulation but a curious iso shot by Bowman (no drive?) missed and we went to OT...and OT was awful.

BC couldn't rebound in OT and nothing fell. The final score doesn't even capture how far apart the teams were in those five minutes. NC State had new life and BC was lifeless. The lesson is don't let a good team hang around at home. BC had a chance to put them away in regulation and didn't. 

Now the rollercoaster moves onto Clemson. 

BC wins on night to honor Curley

The best part of BC Basketball's Sunday wasn't a much needed win. Instead it was seeing the school honor Bill Curley. The 90s star saw a banner hung to the Conte rafters and many of his old teammates to be part of the celebration. On the court BC handled Miami for the most part, although it was a sloppy and ugly game.

Miami was very physical, yet the refs weren't blowing whistles constantly. Instead it lead to uneven and chaotic play. Bowman was recovering from the flu and missed lots of shots. Pop, Mitchell and Chapman filled the void.

RIP Jefferson Crowther

There are many people who aren't BC athletes or coaches, but who are adjacent to BC in some way who become part of the fabric of Boston College. Jefferson Crowther was one of those people. The father of Welles Crowther, Jefferson had become a fixture of the annual Red Bandanna game and a key voice in telling Welles' story. He passed away Wednesday.

Like his son, Jefferson's impact will be felt at BC for years to come.

Winning basketball games is good

Because I came out earlier this year as a Fire Jim Christian guy doesn't mean I want to see BC lose. The win over Pitt was nice, especially given the short bench and fluky injuries again. Hell, if BC goes on some sort of run I might even admit I was wrong. However, I don't think they will win enough games to justify another year of Christian. But for now congrats to all on beating Pitt.

Is it finally time to hire Ed Cooley?

This is the second part of a series to look at the future of BC Basketball.

BC has hired basketball coaches twice since firing Al Skinner. Both times BC could have hired Cooley. (He interviewed during the Donahue process. He supposedly withdrew his name before any interview when BC fired Donahue.) While BC struggles to recruit and win consistently, Cooley has had the best stretch at Providence since the late '80s/early '90s. Cooley is a proven head coach, has strong BC ties and New England ties and can recruit. He would seem to be a no-brainer. Yet there are plenty of BC fans who really dislike the idea of Cooley coming back to BC.

The problem with Cooley is two-fold. One he is closely associated with Skinner. That should be a good thing, but others see it as holding onto the past and trying to recreate something that is long gone. The other is the idea is that Cooley is just a recruiter and nothing more. His Providence teams are always talented but lose games they shouldn't and rarely make postseason runs.

Cooley has also made very public statements about never wanting to leave Providence and Providence being home, but I think we could still get him to come to BC. It would be expensive, but making the jump to the ACC at a place where he is known would be hard to turn down (this assumes, BC doesn't nickle and dime him on salary, staff and expenses).

While I do see Cooley's upside as limited, I would gladly welcome him back. I don't think he would win national championships at BC, but I do think he would have us in the NCAA Tournament every year. Considering where we are now, that sort of winning would be welcome.

Addazio lands Mass star OLineman

The consensus best player in the state and one of the best lineman in the country committed to Addazio Tuesday. Kevin Pyne is huge and rated highly by everyone. Given BC and Addazio's track record, he should develop into an elite OLineman. But aside from what he can do on the field, Pyne confirms that Addazio's pitch still works and that the potential lame duck status is not hurting recruiting.

Now that Addazio's passed that test, the next hurdle will be how he recruits New Jersey. With Campanile laying the ground work, Addazio picked up lots of New Jersey talent. Let's hope he can do it without his recruiting ace teeing things up.

Don't overreact to the York extension

BC announced an extension for Jerry York Tuesday. Of course reactions varied. Some loved the idea. Some hated, but most -- like me -- didn't understand the urgency. In the end, I am not going to take Jarmond to task for extended a BC legend. The Men's program is in a slump, but York has more than earned the right to fix things and leave when he wants. Perhaps the extension will help give elite recruits a little more comfort that they will actually play for York vs his eventual replacement.

Does Thad Matta's baggage make him a better or worse fit for BC?

This is the start of a series to look at the future of BC Basketball.

BC Basketball has a long history of great coaches...Chuck Daley, Tom Davis, Gary Williams and Al Skinner. But other than Bob Cousy, none of the BC greats arrived at The Heights as an established A List name in College Basketball. Now as BC looks to fix its Men's Basketball program, there is an A List candidate floating out there who happens to have a prior working relationship with our Athletic Director. That guy is former Ohio State Coach Thad Matta. But Matta is not a typical elite coach waiting to jump back into the Rat Race. In fact, there are so many issues surrounding Matta, that some wonder if he will ever coach again. Because of Matta's unique circumstances, I don't know if he is realistic for BC, a disaster waiting to happen or just the right guy at the right time.

What you might not know
Matta's decline at Ohio State wasn't your typical guy loses touch with age, can't coach, can't recruit stuff, you often find when a long-time winner is fired. He is only 51 and won more than 20 games in 12 of his 13 years in Columbus. Matta's struggles late were primarily due to his health. About a decade ago, he had a failed back surgery that left him with a permanent limp and made sitting, standing and the grind of traveling painful. Although he was fired from Ohio State, it was painted by some in the media as a relief to him.

Last year he had the Georgia job. They made an offer and he supposedly accepted (there was even pictures of him at the Athens airport after the interview in all sorts of UGA gear). But before the contract was signed and announced, he turned Georgia down. The narrative was that he and his family had a change of heart.

This doesn't sound like a guy who wants to get back into coaching. And more recent articles all paint him as happier and healthier than he's ever been.

But the idea that he keeps interviewing for jobs, leads me to believe he hasn't closed the door on coaching forever.

The Jarmond question
Matta moved away from Columbus after he was fired. And supposedly has hard feelings how his final days played out. Clearly there is acrimony with Ohio State AD Gene Smith. But how does he feel about Martin Jarmond? Would his prior working relationship with Jarmond make him and his family feel more comfortable at BC than they would working for a different AD?

Also, would Jarmond even want to hire Matta. His mentor clearly felt Matta wasn't not capable of coaching Ohio State. Jarmond would know nearly everything Smith knows about Matta. Would he draw completely different conclusions than his old boss?

Would it even work?
Matta can coach. He's recruited elite players. He worked at a Catholic school prior to Ohio State. His list of former assistants is beyond impressive and shows he knows how to build a staff. BC could provide access to an elite conference without the immediate pressure cooker that might come from taking a different P5 job. He has never had a losing season as a head coach. As Coach K, Boehiem, and Williams near retirement, he would quickly become one of the most accomplished guys in the conference. There are so many reasons to make this move and spend more money than BC has ever spent on basketball. But...would it even work? If Matta is going to turn BC around, he would need drive, passion and energy. That is not a BC issue. That is a elite basketball issue. If Matta's heart is not in it, this will be a bad experience for both sides.

I don't expect Matta to be BC's coach next year. But Martin Jarmond owes it to BC and himself to at least reach out to Matta and see if he is ready to coach again and if coaching at BC makes more sense to him than the other jobs he's considered.

What matters: Loss to Cuse, Bowman benching or hot seat talk?

Basketball lost another ho-hum game to Syracuse. BC hung for a while, got in a big hole, cut the deficit but never really threatened. We've seen it before. We've seen it against Syracuse. The D was inconsistent and no one really exploded other than Bowman. Which is connected to...

Christian announced before the game that Bowman would not start due to undisclosed violation of team rules. I don't know what Bowman did. I don't know if the punishment worked. I do know that this sort of tactic has not been used much by Christian. So why now and why Bowman? This comes off as ineffective at best and desperate at worst. I hope it was worth it, but when the team keeps losing, we don't know.

When and how this ends is going to become the most consistent storyline of the next month. Pete Thamel grouped Christian in his coaches hot seat column. He didn't speculate on replacements or a number of wins that would save JC. It seems like the biggest issue is that BC needs to shake its basketball malaise. Thamel is pretty plugged in at BC, so I think this is probably not a great indicator of Christian's future. But the speculation is more interesting than anything happening on the court. 

Two looks at BC talent

Tuesday the final official signing day happened but it wasn't big news for BC. They added one New Jersey lineman. That left BC as the 12th ACC team in Rivals and in 247. But that system has proven meaningless as BC is always 12th or 13th or 14th in the ACC and still finish 7-6. We are not blowing doors off. But the higher ranked ACC recruiting classes aren't either (hello Miami, Florida State and Virginia Tech). Did those teams feel that much more talented than BC? Do they ever? Other than Clemson, there is rarely an ACC team we face where I feel like they have an overwhelming talent advantage.

If you are looking for validation that BC has a better feel for their talent needs and development, how about looking at the Combine invites.

Schools representing the most players invited to the 2019 NFL Combine:

(11) Alabama, Clemson
(10) Ohio State
(9) Georgia, Ole Miss, Washington
(8) Florida, Kentucky, Miss St., Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Wisconsin
(7) Boston College, Penn St., Stanford

— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) February 7, 2019

2019 NFL Combine invites per school:

Clemson 11
Alabama 11
Ohio State 10
UGA 9
Ole Miss 9
Wash 8
Florida 8
Kentucky 8 👀
Oklahoma 8
Miss State 8
ND 8
TAMU 8
Wisc 8
Boston College 7 👀
Penn State 7

— Jared Tokarz (@NFLDraftInsider) February 7, 2019

This also doesn't account for other guys who have a good chance of getting drafted even without the Combine (Jeff Smith). BC is finding and developing talent. I do believe that talent wins. I do believe in bigger stronger faster. But these recruiting systems are flawed and not a perfect predictor of anything. I don't trust Addazio with a clock, but I do trust him looking at high school kids and projecting what they can become.

Addazio is also good at managing the roster and is working 5th years right now too. BC's roster will be better than most in the ACC, not the 12th or 14th best.

However, there in lies the problem. BC has all these Combine level players, yet can't win at an elite level. That's on Addazio too. He's a great recruiter and a pretty good developer, but he's not a great coach. At seven years, I don't think that is going to change either.

No Christian pile-on after loss to Duke

I find it interesting that our fanbase reacted differently to Tuesday's loss to Duke vs Saturday's loss to Notre Dame. I don't know if people are checked out or just expect to lose to the stacked Dukies. Here is a tweet from SI's Chris Mannix (a BC guy) after Notre Dame that was echoed around BC sites.

About done with BC basketball. This year will mark ten years since its last NCAA tournament appearance. For a team that was a staple in the tourney in the early 2000's and made some nice runs in the 90's, this has become embarrassing. https://t.co/1jKf8yMosV

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) February 2, 2019

But you would hardly find anything that negative or critical after the Duke game, even though BC got killed in the second half.

My frustration is that the improved effort of the first half wasn't carried into the second half against Duke. And while I am aware of the talent differences, beyond some good moments of zone in the first half, there was never a feeling that we had any real plan to slow the Duke wave in the second half.

There is a month of basketball left and Christian's seat is toasty. My position is clear, but I have no idea what Jarmond thinks. Maybe the angry mob is no longer angry and instead checked out. But in the big picture is that might be worse for BC sports.

BC gets much needed win in Beanpot opener

The good guys beat Harvard Monday night 2-1 to earn a trip to the Beanpot Final next Monday. With all that has happened this year, the Beanpot would be a nice boost and way to build momentum. BC hasn't been in a Beanpot Final since 2016. The guys take on UMass-Lowell before heading back to the Garden next week.

Congrats to Brian Flores

As noted by a few tweets during the game, Brian Flores put together and called one of the greatest Super Bowl schemes of all time while barely getting acknowledged during the game. It was a great end to his New England career. He is now set to become the next Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins. Even while at BC Flores was underappreciated. Miami is lucky to have him and BC should be proud of what he's accomplished, represented and what his future holds.

Could BC be back in the mix for Kamara?

No one said recruiting is easy...for anyone. Take the case of New Jersey LB Mohammad Kamara. He committed to Temple. The coach he committed to left, so he opened things up and was close to coming to BC. Temple hired Manny Diaz, so he stayed with Temple. Miami hired Diaz away from Temple and left Kamara high and dry. Now he is signed to Temple and Rob Carey...a coach he had no relationship with. Fortunately Temple is going to release him from his LOI and ask for a waiver for him with the NCAA. This should make him available to any school, including BC.

I don't know if he will come back to the Eagles though. I think BC has the space and the need, but our main New Jersey guy -- Anthony Campanile -- is now on a different coaching staff. Kamara should be officially allowed to commit elsewhere in a week. Let's hope BC and he didn't burn any bridges.

BC comes up short vs Syracuse

What can you say? To win, we need everything to go our way and it didn't against Syracuse. Bowman and Chatman got their points, but weren't particularly efficient in doing so and no one else really filled the other voids. This is all tougher with Tabbs' lingering injury too. 

The frustration really comes in on two fronts. BC played bad D for long stretches, couldn't get good rebounds late and didn't capitalize when Syracuse cooled off a bit. 

The little streak is over. Now let's hope they regroup.

Feedback on BC guys after Senior Bowl

Four of BC's highest profile players were at the Senior Bowl last weekend. Overall they seemed to make a good impression, but it wasn't universal. Here are some article and potential teams of interest.

Will Harris played and practiced well and supposedly is moving up the Colts Draft Board.

Christ Lindstrom got rave reviews from practice and the game. The Giants are supposedly interested. The Jaguars also gave him a long look.

Zach Allen entered with plenty of hype but came out a mixed bag. This article thinks the week hurt him. The Raiders are still interested but even their write up says his actual Senior Bowl game wasn't great. 

Bowman saves best for last in win over Wake

KY BOWMAN FOR THE LEAD

HOW DID HE DO THIS?@BCMBB | @ACCMBB pic.twitter.com/Fwuk13bVrh

— FOX Sports South (@FOXSportsSouth) January 26, 2019

For all the issues I've raised with Christian, sometimes coaching is as simple as have the better players. That is sort of how the Wake game played out. BC trailed for stretches of the second half, but in the closing minutes our best players made plays and their didn't. Bowman's dagger set the tone, but Pop and Mitchell were key late too.

BC is back at it this week against Syracuse. Let's hope Tabbs is healthy and all the guys come to play.

BC gets another grad transfer

Former Miami Offensive Lineman Hayden Mahoney is now an Eagle. As a grad transfer, he is eligible to play right away. Mahoney comes from Malvern Prep in Pennsylvania and was recruited by BC out of high school. He started nine games for Miami this year and has played a lot for the Hurricanes that past two years. I assume he is coming to start at BC.

Even if he doesn't prove to be a starter, like Dalton before him Hayden is a great insurance policy. We know he can play ACC-level Football and he doesn't tie up BC's long-term plans. Addazio has shown in the past that he is good at getting the most out of grad transfers -- especially at OLine.

I also think it is good to bring back kids who spurned us in the recruiting process the first time around. This can become a great selling point to parents and coaches. Addazio can claim "look at ______. He went to____ and never developed like he should have. In one season at BC, he is a star..."

The value of the Red Bandanna game

As you may have seen, BC moved the game against Kansas from Saturday to Friday, September 13. Long story short, this was always BC and ESPN's intention, but Kansas only agreed to it this week, hence it was changed just after the official ACC schedule announcement earlier this month. Friday games can be inconvenient for fans attending the game, but BC and ESPN wanted a BC Friday home game because the "Red Bandanna" game has become important to both the school and the company.

By having a locked in date and time, BC can prepare uniforms, special merchandise and work closely with the Crowther family. ESPN can use a whole week of shows -- especially close to the anniversary of September 11 -- to promote their own award winning feature and pump the ratings for an otherwise ho-hum matchup. It also helps fulfill the ACC's Friday night contractual commitment.

Every year the Red Bandanna game has been a great showcase for BC. I always worry about it feeling exploitative, but clearly the Crowther Family embraces it. Ideally it would have been better to tie things up before the ACC released schedules, but these things happen. The Kansas game was going to be an iffy ticket driver on a Saturday. Moving it to Friday alone wouldn't help, but making it a special game might.

UPDATE: BC wants to make it clear that nothing has been decided about the Red Bandanna game. ESPN and other BC folks strongly feel it will be this game.

BC adds depth to recruiting class

BC seems to be taking a different approach to recruiting this year. Last year after the Early Signing Period, they were seemingly done with the 2018 class. This year, they are still filling roster spots before the second signing deadline. Tuesday, New Jersey Lineman Christian Mahogany verballed. 

Mahogany is plenty big (6'5 and 300+ lbs) and comes form a solid program in Paraums Catholic. He holds offers from Pitt, Syracuse and Rutgers. While BC didn't get him early, he seems like a very real candidate to hit the field one day.

The other recent recruit was Penn State grad transfer Danny Dalton. The Massachusetts Tight End committed to BC originally out of high school before flipping to Penn State. He now comes back to Boston looking for a little redemption and to reach his potential. Dalton might not be a huge get, but it is a win-win for BC. He adds depth and only uses a scholarship for two years. Anything good that comes from him is a bonus.

Report: Eric Lewis set to join staff

Multiple reports have former Colorado State assistant Eric Lewis joining BC as a replacement for Campanile as a DBs coach. Lewis has no obvious prior connection to Addazio. He's worked in the NFL and in college. He is the son of longtime Packers assistant Sherman Lewis.

I will wait to see what BC says about Lewis. He seems perfectly fine as a replacement given his varied experience. What concerns me is that he doesn't come across as an ace recruiter nor have a natural recruiting territory, which is probably the biggest void left by Campanile departure.

Hoops gets much needed win over FSU

This was how it was supposed to be. Bowman lit it up for 37 and Chatman made a bunch of 3s as BC upset No. 11 Florida State. Aside from the best players stepping up, the other key to what was "supposed to be" this season was a healthy and active roster. BC got big minutes from Mitchell and Tabbs. The D was rough in the first half, but BC adjusted and really helped slow the Noles down in the second half.

I know that I've already written off the season and said fire Christian, but I don't want it to be that way. Winning is fun. Seeing great players is fun. Upsetting ranked teams is fun. I just can't get over how inconsistent this team is. Maybe I've been wrong and now healthy, they will go on a run. I hope so, but...

In the mean time, congrats to the guys on the win. BC takes on Wake Forest next week.

BC beats Providence again

Maybe BC just needed some games against Providence to get better. They beat the Friars again Saturday. This leaves their Hockey East record respectable (8-3-2) while the overall record still lags (8-11-2).