Boston College Athletics
Men's Hoops Faces Rutgers
June 21, 1999 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 12, 1999
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Boston College had its three-game winning streak snapped at Connecticut on Feb. 10. The Eagles had defeated Notre Dame (Jan. 27), Seton Hall (Feb. 2) and West Virginia (Feb. 6). The three-game winning streak marked the Eagles' longest winning streak since early in the 1997-98 season.
WHO'S HOT?: Freshman Brian Ross has led the Eagles in scoring in each of the last two games -- against West Virginia (Feb. 6) and at Connecticut (Feb. 10). He has scored 20 points in each of the last two games. In these games, he has shot 14-for-26 (.538) from the floor, including 6-for-13 (.462) from three-point range. He has also averaged 9.0 rebounds per game in these games ... At Connecticut, he recorded his first collegiate double-double, finishing with a career-high 10 rebounds ... In the home win over West Virginia, he shot 6-for-10 from the field, 2-for-4 on treys, and 6-for-9 from the foul line ... Ross has now scored in double figures six times this season.
HIGH-SCORING FROSH: Three BC freshmen -- Brian Ross, Clinton Sims and Kenny Walls -- have enjoyed 20-point games this season. The last time three BC freshmen enjoyed 20-point games in the same season was the 1990-91 campaign (Gerrod Abram, Bill Curley and Howard Eisley) ... Ross and Sims have scored at least 20 points in two games, while Walls reached the 20-point mark once (Abram, Curley and Eisley enjoyed a combined eight 20-point games in their freshman seasons).
Scoring Mark: When Kenny Walls netted 24 points against Seton Hall it marked the highest scoring performance by a Boston College freshman since James "Scoonie" Penn netted 27 points -- also against Seton Hall -- on Jan. 14, 1996.
OFFICIALS: Jim Burr, Mike Foote, John Hughes
KENNY HARLEY: The sophomore guard will miss tonight's game after being ejected from the Connecticut game (Feb. 10) for fighting. Harley had registered four points, one rebound and one steal before leaving the game with 7:48 remaining in the first half ... Harley is the team's third-leading scorer (9.8 ppg) and the conference's top three-point shooter (.468 in league games).
FREE THROWS: One game after attempting a season-high 27 free throws (against West Virginia), Boston College attempted a season-low six free throws at Connecticut (Feb. 10). The Eagles had attempted an average of 17.5 free throws per game entering the game against UConn ... BC made 34-of-40 free-throw attempts (.850) in its wins over Notre Dame and Seton Hall ... In its win over Seton Hall, BC hit 18-of-21 attempts, its second-best effort of the year ... The Eagles shot 14-for-27 (.519) from the line against West Virginia (Feb. 6), one of their lowest shooting efforts of the season.
REBOUNDING VICTORIES: Boston College outrebounded West Virginia, 38-29, on Feb. 6, 1999. The positive rebounding margin marked the fifth time this year the Eagles have won the "battle of the boards". BC has a 3-2 mark in those contests ... BC has outrebounded its foe in two of the last five games (also outrebounding Miami on Jan. 24).
HIGHS AND LOWS: Boston College committed fewer turnovers than Connecticut (by a slim 17-16 margin) in its last game, marking the 12th time this season BC has committed fewer turnovers than its opponent. BC has a 4-8 record in these games ... BC committed just 21 turnovers in its two games against Notre Dame (11) and Seton Hall (10) ... In its win over West Virginia, however, BC turned the ball over 21 times. The WVU game marked the first time this season BC has won a game in which it committed more turnovers than its opponent ... The Eagles committed a season-low nine turnovers at Villanova (Jan. 13). The nine turnovers at Villanova marked the fewest turnovers by a BC team since the Eagles made just eight turnovers against Northwestern on Dec. 23, 1997.
SHOOTING: Boston College shot better than 50 percent from the field in two consecutive games -- against Notre Dame and Seton Hall -- before falling below the mark against West Virginia (.426) ... In its most recent game -- at Connecticut -- the Eagles made 37.5 percent of their field-goal attempts, their lowest percentage since Jan. 21 (36.5 percent at Syracuse) ... BC attemped a season-low 47 field goals against the Mountaineers ... BC has made at least half its field-goal attempts in five games this season ... The Eagles enjoyed their best shooting effort of the season in their loss to Providence (Jan. 17). BC shot 56.6 percent from the field (30-for-53) against the Friars ... BC shot a season-best 62.5 percent in the second half at Seton Hall (Dec. 30).
FROM LONG RANGE: In its win over Seton Hall, Boston College tied its season high with nine (successful) three-point field goals. The Eagles also made nine treys against Miami (Jan. 24).
LEADING AT HALF: Boston College has led at halftime in each of its three BIG EAST victories ... BC has led at halftime in only six games this season, and has a 5-1 record in those contests.
FIELD GOALS: While the Eagles lost their games against Connecticut (Jan. 6), at Pittsburgh (Jan. 10) and against Miami (Jan. 24), they did not lose because of a lack of field goals. In fact, BC outscored each of these opponents from the floor. The Eagles outscored top-ranked Connecticut, 71-69, from the field (in a 91-78 loss); outscored Pittsburgh, 55-54, from the floor (in an 86-70 loss); and outscored Miami, 63-61, from the field (in a 75-67 loss).
Connecticut Part II: In its second game against Connecticut, Boston College was outscored from the field, 49-48 ... In the two games this season, however, BC outscored Connecticut from the floor, 119-118.
THE SERIES VS. RUTGERS: Boston College holds a 6-2 lead in its all-time series against the Scarlet Knights. BC has won all five meetings since Rutgers joined the BIG EAST Conference (prior to the 1995-96 season), including both games last winter. BC is one of only two schools that has not lost to Rutgers since the Scarlet Knights joined the league (Connecticut is the other school).
Streaks: Boston College has won the last five meetings. Rutgers' last win was a 102-92 victory at Rutgers Gym on Jan. 15, 1977.
Last Year's Meetings
Boston College 69, @Rutgers 62 (1/14/98): Duane Woodward registered a triple-double (16 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists) and Antonio Granger scored 21 points to lead the Eagles past the host Scarlet Knights ... BC led 29-27 at halftime, and shot 51.9 percent (14-for-27) in the second half to secure the victory ... The Eagles limited Rutgers to 38.2 percent shooting for the game ... BC committed just 10 turnovers, its lowest total in a BIG EAST game this season ... Mickey Curley (12 points) and Kostas Maglos (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Eagles.
@Boston College 74, Rutgers 72 (2/14/98): Duane Woodward scored 22 points and Kostas Maglos registered 11 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Eagles to a 74-72 win over the Scarlet Knights in Conte Forum ... BC outshot (42.9 percent vs. 33.3 percent) and outrebounded (22-18) Rutgers in the first half, but trailed 31-30 at the break ... The Eagles shot an amazing 70.8 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes to take control. BC led by 10 points -- 54-44 -- with 10 minutes remaining, and extended its lead to as many 14 points, before Rutgers rallied to close to within one point with just more than one minute remaining ... Antonio Granger (15 points) and Javier Rodriguez (11 points) also scored in double figures for the Eagles.
YOUNG GUNS: A freshman has led Boston College in scoring in 14 games this season, including each of the last three contests. In addition, junior forward Michael Cotton has led the team in scoring in four contests, sophomore swingman Kenny Harley has led the team twice, and junior guard Dwayne Pina has led the team once ... In the rebounding category, a freshman has led the team (or shared the team lead) in 13 contests, including each of the last four games.
BENCH STRENGTH: The Boston College reserves have outscored the opponents' reserves in 13 games ... BC's bench has scored 30 or more points in four games ... On the season, the BC reserves are averaging 19.9 points per game (31.3 percent of the team's points) ... BC's bench outscored Holy Cross' reserves, 38-2, on Dec. 19. The 38 points marked the BC bench's best output of the 1998-99 season ... BC's bench scored a season-low four points at Connecticut on Feb. 10.
WE'RE YOUNG: The 1998-99 Boston College roster features four juniors (including one transfer who is sitting out the 1998-99 season), four sophomores and five freshmen ... Through the first 21 games, five freshmen have combined to play 48.2 percent of the team's minutes. Four sophomores have played 22.9 percent of the minutes, while three juniors have played 28.9 percent of the minutes.
THE PLAYERS
#3 MICHAEL COTTON: The junior guard from Detroit, Mich. is averaging 10.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in a team-high 29.7 minutes per game. In BIG EAST contests, he leads the team with a 12.3 ppg average ... Cotton has scored in double figures in eight of the last 10 games, including four games with 20 or more points ... In the most recent game, he had 10 points and six rebounds at Connecticut (Feb. 10) ... He netted 20 points and grabbed five rebounds in a home win over Notre Dame (Jan. 27) ... He netted a team-high 20 points (8-for-10 FG) against Providence (Jan. 17). He scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half ... Against Connecticut (Jan. 6), he finished with 23 points and a career-high 12 rebounds ... Cotton set his career high with 24 points at Pittsburgh (Jan. 10) ... Cotton made his first (non-exhibition) collegiate appearance since the 1997 Big 12 Tournament in the Eagles' season opener against Marquette. Cotton played the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons at the University of Oklahoma, before transferring to Boston College and sitting out the 1997-98 season. In his two seasons as a Sooner, Cotton played in 38 games.
Hot Hand: After averaging 6.9 points per game through the Eagles' first 11 games, Cotton has averaged 14.4 points per game in the last 10 contests.
#4 JONATHAN BEERBOHM: The sophomore forward has been a solid contributor for the Eagles in recent contests. He registered 11 points in each of the team's first two BIG EAST wins -- over Notre Dame (Jan. 27) and Seton Hall (Feb. 2). He shot 5-for-8 from the field in the win over Notre Dame (Jan. 27) and 5-for-9 in the win over Seton Hall (Feb. 2). He has now recorded four double-figure scoring efforts this season ... Beerbohm set his career high with five blocked shots against Notre Dame ... He tied for team-high rebounding honors -- with five -- against Seton Hall ... Most recently, he recorded four points and four rebounds in a season-high 32 minutes of action at Connecticut (Feb. 10) ... He played a key role in BC's win over Holy Cross (Dec. 19). He finished with 11 points, including nine straight points in the Eagles' game-breaking, 13-0 run midway through the second half ... He scored a career-high 12 points against Harvard (Nov. 18) ... The Fairbury, Neb. native equaled his career high with 11 rebounds against Monmouth (Nov. 21) ... He started the first seven games of the 1998-99 season ... 1997-98: He played in all 31 games, making five starts. He averaged 3.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
Blocked Shots: Beerbohm is averaging 2.8 blocked shots per game in the Eagles' last four games. He set his career high with five blocked shots against Notre Dame (Jan. 27). Since then, he's blocked one shot against Seton Hall; three against West Virginia; and two at Connecticut.
#12 CLINTON SIMS: The freshman guard from Paris, Ky. ranks fourth on the team in scoring with a 9.1 ppg average. In 11 BIG EAST games, he is averaging 7.8 points per game ... After not seeing any action in two consecutive games, Sims returned to the court at Connecticut (Feb. 10), recording two rebounds in 11 minutes ... He has led the Eagles in scoring in six games ... He matched his career high with 21 points (7-for-13 FG, 3-for-4 treys) at Seton Hall (Dec. 30) ... He also scored 21 points to lead the Eagles in a 69-56 win over Fordham at Pepsi Arena in Albany (Nov. 24). Sims shot 8-of-11 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line ... He registered 19 points (6-for-10 FG, 4-for-6 treys), five rebounds, four assists and four steals in 31 minutes of action at Miami (Dec. 8) ... He recorded nine points and six rebounds in his BIG EAST debut -- against St. John's (Dec. 5) ... He has started 17 games ... Sims is the younger brother of former Louisville star Alvin Sims.
#5 DWAYNE PINA: The junior has established himself as a team leader and a very solid BIG EAST point guard. In fact, Pina ranks among BIG EAST leaders in assist-turnover ratio (with a 2.10:1 ratio in league contests) ... In the team's last four games, Pina has registered nearly a 3:1 assist-turnover ratio (23 assists, eight turnovers) ... Over the last eight games, he has averaged 7.4 points, 4.9 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game. He has shot 7-for-9 from three-point range in these contests ... The junior scored a career-high 17 points (5-for-8 FG, 3-for-3 treys) against Miami (Jan. 24) ... Pina recorded eight points, six assists (only one turnover) and three rebounds in a home win over West Virginia (Feb. 6) ... Through 21 games, the point guard is averaging 4.7 points, 4.3 assists and 1.9 steals in 28.1 minutes per game. He has started all 21 games (and 29 consecutive games dating back to last season) ... He registered six points, a team-high eight rebounds, and four assists against Providence (Jan. 17) ... In the Eagles' game at Seton Hall (Dec. 30), Pina handed out a career-high nine assists, while grabbing five rebounds ... In a win over Holy Cross (Dec. 19), Pina contributed four points, four assists, three rebounds and a career-high six steals in 35 minutes ... 1997-98: Pina is in his second season on the Eagles' roster after earning a spot on the roster as a walk-on prior to the 1997-98 season. With his impressive play early last season, he earned a scholarship for the second semester (and this year as well).
Assist-Turnover Ratio: Dwayne Pina has handed out 91 assists, while committing just 49 turnovers (1.86:1) ... Among league leaders, he ranks fourth in the assist-turnover ratio category in all games, second in conference games only (2.10:1).
#13 KENNY HARLEY: The sophomore currently ranks third on the team in scoring, averaging 9.8 points per game. He also ranks third on the team in scoring in BIG EAST contests, averaging 10.4 ppg ... He has scored in double figures in nine games this season, including four of the last six games ... Most recently, he netted four points in 12 minutes of action at Connecticut (Feb. 10). Harley was ejected (for fighting) with 7:48 remaining in the first half ... He equaled his BIG EAST career high with 17 points (6-for-9 FG, 3-for-4 treys) in the Eagles' home win over Seton Hall (Feb. 2) ... He registered 10 points and six rebounds in a home win over Notre Dame (Jan. 27) ... He had 16 points and six rebounds against Miami (Jan. 24) ... Harley scored a team-high 14 points at Syracuse (Jan. 21) ... He netted 13 points (3-for-4 treys) in the Eagles' game against Connecticut (Jan. 6) ... Harley registered 17 points (5-for-9 FG, 3-for-4 treys) at Seton Hall (Dec. 30) ... He also netted 17 points (6-for-13 FG, 3-for-6 treys) in the Eagles' win over Fordham (Nov. 24) ... He registered a game-high and career-high 19 points in the season opener against Marquette (Nov. 14) ... 1997-98: The first player to sign with Boston College after Al Skinner assumed the head coaching duties, Harley played in all 31 games last winter, making 21 starts.
#35 WILLIE DEANE: The freshman guard is averaging 5.6 points in 16.0 minutes per game ... He has scored in double figures four times this season ... He netted five points -- all on free throws -- in the Eagles' win over Seton Hall (Feb. 2) ... Deane tallied 14 points in 22 minutes of action off the bench at Villanova (Jan. 13). He also contributed three assists and a career-high four steals ... He netted a career-high 17 points -- all in a 7:16 span in the second half -- at Pittsburgh (Jan. 10) ... In the Eagles' game against Connecticut (Jan. 6), he netted 13 points, while setting career highs with seven assists and five rebounds. He played a season-high 31 minutes ... He scored 13 points (4-for-8 FG, 4-for-5 FT) in 27 minutes against Holy Cross (Dec. 19) ... He scored nine points at Miami (Dec. 8). Deane was 4-for-8 from the field, including 1-for-2 from three-point range.
#21 KENNY WALLS: The freshman swingman from San Francisco, Calif. has started each of the last four games. He currently ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.3 points per game. He's scored in double figures in 11 contests, including five of the last seven games ... In BIG EAST contests, Walls is averaging 11.5 points per game ... He has led (or shared the team lead) the team in rebounding a team-best seven times ... He netted a career-high 24 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field in BC's win over Seton Hall (Feb. 2). He scored 18 of his 24 points in the game's final 20 minutes. He hit a career-high five three-point field goals ... Walls scored 16 points and grabbed four rebounds in his first collegiate start -- against Notre Dame (Jan. 27) ... He had 14 points against Miami (Jan. 24) ... He registered 14 points and six rebounds in 28 minutes against Providence (Jan. 17) ... He scored 15 points -- all in the second half -- against Connecticut (Jan. 6). He was 5-for-9 from the field, including 2-for-3 from three-point range ... He registered a team-high 16 points at Northwestern (Dec. 23) ... Walls scored 18 points (7-for-12 FG, 2-for-4 treys) in his BIG EAST debut -- a 74-55 loss to St. John's (Dec. 5). He also registered six rebounds ... Walls had 16 points and seven rebounds in a 77-64 loss at Miami (Dec. 8) ... The 1997-98 San Francisco Player of the Year, Walls is a graduate of Galileo High School ... His twin brother, Lenny, is a defensive back on the St. Mary's (Calif.) football team.
#45 BRIAN ROSS: The freshman forward, who has started each of the last 14 games after coming off the bench in his first six contests, averages 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game ... Ross has scored 20 points in each of the last two games -- against West Virginia (Feb. 6) and at Connecticut (Feb. 10) ... At Connecticut, Ross shot 8-for-16 from the field, including 4-for-9 from three-point range. He also grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds against the Huskies, giving him his first collegiate double-double ... He registered 20 points (6-for-10 FG, 2-for-4 treys, 6-for-9 FT) and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds in a 60-54 home win over West Virginia (Feb. 6) ... He tallied eight points (3-for-6 FG, 2-for-4 treys) and six rebounds in a win over Notre Dame (Jan. 27) ... He contributed 11 points and four rebounds against Providence (Jan. 17) ... He recorded 11 points (all in the second half), two rebounds and two steals in 24 minutes of action at Villanova (Jan. 13) ... In his first collegiate start -- against Massachusetts (Dec. 12) -- he led the team in both scoring (12 points) and rebounding (8 rebounds). Both figures are career highs ... In the Eagles' game at Seton Hall (Dec. 30), he equaled his career high with 12 points (5-for-6 FG, 2-for-2 FT) ... He missed the Fairfield game (Nov. 28) because of a left eye injury (laceration) ... 1997-98: As a senior at North Quincy (Mass.) High School last year, Ross led all Massachusetts scorers with a 36.7 ppg average.
Long Range: Through games of Jan. 10 (the team's 13th game of the season), Brian Ross was 0-for-11 from three-point range. Since that time, the freshman forward has shot 11-for-24 (.458) from long range.
#31 OSEI MILLAR: The freshman forward from Brooklyn, N.Y. is averaging 2.6 points and 1.5 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per game ... Millar gave the Eagles a strong eight-minute effort at Villanova (Jan. 13), finishing with three points, two rebounds and two blocked shots ... He registered six points and a team-high five rebounds against Fairfield (Nov. 28) ... He registered four points, four rebounds and two steals in 22 minutes of action against St. John's (Dec. 5) ... Against Harvard (Nov. 18), Millar finished with nine points (4-of-8 FG) and four rebounds ... He missed the Eagles' second exhibition game (Nov. 9) because of a sprained left thumb, and the Monmouth game (Nov. 21) because of a sprained left ankle.
THE WALK-ONS: Junior Jim Boland and sophomores Julian Bah and Nicolas Dunn all earned roster spots as walk-ons prior to the 1997-98 season and are now in their second seasons with the team ... A native of Guinea, West Africa, Bah played 11 minutes in the season opener against Marquette, finishing with two points, three rebounds, one blocked shot and one steal.
#23 XAVIER SINGLETARY: The junior swingman from Washington, D.C. is sitting out the 1998-99 season after transferring to the Heights from Howard University. Last winter, Singletary finished as the nation's ninth-leading scorer with a 22.3 ppg average (in 23 games). He earned 1996-97 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year honors, and 1997-98 All-MEAC first team honors.
EARLY SIGNEES: Boston College landed two highly-touted recruits - guard Troy Bell (Minneapolis, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels) and forward Andrew Dudley (Bristol, Pa./Life Center Academy) - during the early signing period that concluded in mid-November. Both signed national letters of intent. Bell averaged 27.8 points per game as a junior at the Academy of Holy Angels. A 6-foot-1-inch point guard, he entered his senior season as his schools career scoring leader with 1,652 points. This past summer, he traveled to several national tournaments with the Howard Pulley Panthers. Dudley, a 6-foot-10-inch forward, played the 1997-98 season at Philadelphia Christian Academy, where he averaged 12.5 points, 12.0 rebounds and 4.5 blocked shots per game. He played the 1996-97 season at Cornwell-Egan Catholic.
THE COACHES
THE HEAD COACH: Al Skinner assumed the head coaching duties at Boston College on April 17, 1997. Skinner, a 1974 graduate of the University of Massachusetts, had a 15-16 record in his first season at the Heights. Prior to that, he enjoyed nine successful years at the University of Rhode Island. In his tenure at URI, Skinner had a 138-126 record, leading the Rams to two NCAA Tournament (1992-93 and 1996-97) and two NIT (1991-92 and 1995-96) bids ... Including his tenure at Boston College, Skinner has a career record of 159-157.
vs. Rutgers: Al Skinner has a 7-8 career record against the Scarlet Knights. He was 5-8 in his nine years as head coach at Rhode Island. He is 2-0 as the Eagles' mentor.
THE ASSISTANT COACHES: Skinner is joined on the BC bench by associate head coach Tim O'Shea, assistant coaches Bill Coen and Ed Cooley; and administrative assistant Pat Duquette. Three of the four -- Coen, Cooley and former BC star guard O'Shea ('84) -- came with Skinner from Rhode Island, while Duquette came to BC from St. Michaels College.
MEDIA NOTES
ON RADIO: All Boston College basketball games can be heard on Boston's 50-thousand watt all-sports radio station, SportsRadio 850 WEEI (AM). Ted Sarandis returns for his fourth season as the voice of the basketball Eagles. The 1998-99 campaign marks his 22nd season describing the bouncing ball. He holds the unique distinction of having called play-by-play for all four Division I institutions in Boston -- Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern -- as well as Holy Cross. In addition, the Boston native is host of the popular "Ted Nation" talk show, heard weeknights from 7 p.m.-midnight on SportsRadio 850 WEEI. Joining Sarandis is Bill Newell. Newell is in his second season with the basketball Eagles. He previously spent four seasons calling the action for the Boston College hockey team. Newell has also served as the play-by-play voice of Harvard football.
ON THE WEB: All Boston College basketball games can also be heard on the Internet at www.weei.com.
UP NEXT: Boston College returns to action on Wednesday, February 17 against Georgetown. Game time is 7 p.m. in the MCI Center.
EAGLES AND THE NCAA TOURNAMENT: Boston College has the pleasure of serving as the host institution as the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship makes its first-ever appearance in Boston. The tournament's first and second rounds will be played at the FleetCenter on March 12 and 14, 1999.
