Boston College Athletics
Southern Utah-Boston College Preview
March 14, 2001 | Men's Basketball
March 14, 2001
From the Associated Press
GAME: No. 14 Southern Utah (25-5) vs. No. 3 Boston College (26-4).
REGIONAL: East, first round.
TIME: Thursday, 7:40 p.m. EST.
SITE: Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y.
Despite having one of the greatest turnarounds in college basketball this season, Boston College wasn't happy with getting just a No. 3 seed.
"All year, they didn't believe in us," guard Ryan Sidney said Sunday after learning that the Eagles will play Southern Utah in Uniondale, N.Y., on Thursday. "I don't know why the lack of respect. We know what we've been doing all year, and we believe in ourselves."
The Eagles are starting to make believers out of others after winning the Big East tournament last Saturday.
"For this team to be in the (NCAA) tournament after where it was a year ago is a tremendous accomplishment," BC coach Al Skinner said. "To be talking No. 1 and 2 seeds is a different story. If this was a movie it would be too corny. You couldn't write it."
Skinner is considered the favorite to be named the national coach of the year, having turned around a program that was in shambles when he took over in 1997. The Eagles went 33-56 in his first three seasons.
"I asked them to take a leap of faith, and they've taken that leap," Skinner said. "That's why we've been able to do what we have. And that's probably the thing that's been most fulfilling for me."
Boston College has one of the top guards in the country in sophomore Troy Bell. He was third in the conference in scoring at 20.1 points, and third in steals.
Southern Utah, winner of seven straight and 13 of 14, will be making its first appearance in the tournament.
The Thunderbirds advanced to the NCAA tournament by ending Valparaiso's seven-year stranglehold on the conference. Southern Utah beat Valpo 62-59 in the conference tournament finals.
The winner will face either Southern California or Oklahoma State in the second round on Saturday.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Southern Utah - F Frederick House (17.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg), F Dan Beus (11.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg), C John Wheeler (5.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg), G Justin Sant (10.1 ppg, 2.9 apg), G Jeff Monaco (17.2 ppg, 5.5 apg). Boston College - F Xavier Singletary (11.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg), F Kenny Walls Jr. (7.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg), C Uka Agbai (9.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg), G Kenny Harley (11.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg), G Troy Bell (20.1 ppg, 4.1 apg).
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Southern Utah - Automatic, Mid-Continent Conference champion. Boston College - Automatic, Big East Conference.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD: Southern Utah - 0-0. Boston College - 16-12.
