Boston College Athletics
Photo by: John Quackenbos
Keeping Tabbs On Wynston's Breakout Performance
December 02, 2018 | Men's Basketball, #ForBoston Files
The freshman is adding a whole new dynamic to BC's backcourt
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- There are times on a basketball court when certain players take over a game. They get into a flow on both ends of the court, dictate the game pace, and carry an air of confidence whenever they touch the ball. The game slows to where the player can compute through a multitude of options in split seconds and always make the right decision, allowing them to lead their respective teams to victory.
It's a familiar plotline when dealing with established stars at Boston College over the last two seasons. For Wynston Tabbs, the young freshman's season is already adding new pages to the book of backcourt glory at the Heights.
"I'm getting more confident as the games go on," Tabbs said following BC's 81-73 win over Sacred Heart. "I'm just letting (the game) come to me and I'm just doing whatever I can to help my team win. I'm not going to force it. I just want everything to (keep coming) to me when running plays, which is what we do in practice."
Tabbs made an immediate impact on the BC lineup, earning a spot in the starting lineup and playing 31 minutes in the season-opening win over Milwaukee. The Suitland, Md. native was the Eagles' second-leading scorer, with 16 points. He tallied 15 points in each of the next two games, becoming the first freshman in Boston College history to have at least 15 points in each of his first three collegiate games.
"The game is a faster pace," Tabbs said. "I wasn't used to that when I came in, but I got (adjusted) over the summer. It caught on (with me), so I'm just trying to shoot up (as a player)."
Through the first five games, he was a solid contributor. But over the last two games, Tabbs showed signs of a true star in the making. He dominated against Minnesota, leading the Eagles with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting. He added five assists, four rebounds and three steals as BC defeated the Golden Gophers by 12 points in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
It set the stage for this past Thursday, where Tabbs put the Eagles on his back against a gritty Sacred Heart roster. His 28 points were the most by a freshman since Ky Bowman had 29 against Notre Dame on Feb. 14, 2017. Tabbs went a perfect 8-of-8 at the free throw line and nearly posted his first career double-double with seven rebounds. He drew seven fouls, including a charge during a five-minute span of the second half where he completely took over the game.
"I was really happy with Wynston," head coach Jim Christian said. "I never thought he came outside of what he does well. He didn't break off plays and try to do too much. He did a great job distributing the ball, as did Ky. I thought we made the right plays. It's the best we've moved the ball."
Tabbs scored 19 points in the second half alone, making 5-of-9 shot attempts. Every foul he drew came over the final 20:00 of play, leading to his crunch time performance at the stripe. It allowed him to enter that shooting zone and his fundamentals were on full display. And after taking the charge on the defensive end of the court, Tabbs drilled a a stand-up, straight-away dagger from the deep corner. He brought his teammates to their feet on the bench on a nifty reverse layup under the basket.
"It's more of an instinct (than a design)," Tabbs said. "The first few games, I started out slow, but I'm starting to catch on (to the game pace) now."
"He understands what he's doing," Christian said. "He's very savvy. He has really good change of direction. He can finish around the basket and has size. And he made 8-of-8 from the line. You try to get the ball to (a player like) Wynston Tabbs at the end of the game. He's a good player."
It's made Boston College a distinct threat at both ends of the court. Entering the season, Ky Bowman's reputation as the Nation's Most Dynamic Guard was recognized by being named to virtually every watchlist for college basketball's gamut of awards. Tabbs adds his playmaking ability, giving BC one of the country's most dynamic backcourts. It is almost as if there are two point guards on every possession. And once the Eagles start to connect on the open looks they had roll off the rim early on, the sky is the limit and the ceiling is the roof.
"I think when we start making shots, it'll help more because they (do a good job)," Christian said. "As long as they play right, I'm okay with it. I'm more concerned with (making shots) than I am with who is doing what (on the floor)."
"In high school, I was an on-ball person," Tabbs said. "Ky is on the ball right now. So I'm spacing the floor and creating some shots. We just feed off each other. I look for him, and he looks for me. He's taken me under his wing, and he's taught me a lot."
It's a familiar plotline when dealing with established stars at Boston College over the last two seasons. For Wynston Tabbs, the young freshman's season is already adding new pages to the book of backcourt glory at the Heights.
"I'm getting more confident as the games go on," Tabbs said following BC's 81-73 win over Sacred Heart. "I'm just letting (the game) come to me and I'm just doing whatever I can to help my team win. I'm not going to force it. I just want everything to (keep coming) to me when running plays, which is what we do in practice."
Tabbs made an immediate impact on the BC lineup, earning a spot in the starting lineup and playing 31 minutes in the season-opening win over Milwaukee. The Suitland, Md. native was the Eagles' second-leading scorer, with 16 points. He tallied 15 points in each of the next two games, becoming the first freshman in Boston College history to have at least 15 points in each of his first three collegiate games.
"The game is a faster pace," Tabbs said. "I wasn't used to that when I came in, but I got (adjusted) over the summer. It caught on (with me), so I'm just trying to shoot up (as a player)."
Through the first five games, he was a solid contributor. But over the last two games, Tabbs showed signs of a true star in the making. He dominated against Minnesota, leading the Eagles with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting. He added five assists, four rebounds and three steals as BC defeated the Golden Gophers by 12 points in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
It set the stage for this past Thursday, where Tabbs put the Eagles on his back against a gritty Sacred Heart roster. His 28 points were the most by a freshman since Ky Bowman had 29 against Notre Dame on Feb. 14, 2017. Tabbs went a perfect 8-of-8 at the free throw line and nearly posted his first career double-double with seven rebounds. He drew seven fouls, including a charge during a five-minute span of the second half where he completely took over the game.
"I was really happy with Wynston," head coach Jim Christian said. "I never thought he came outside of what he does well. He didn't break off plays and try to do too much. He did a great job distributing the ball, as did Ky. I thought we made the right plays. It's the best we've moved the ball."
Tabbs scored 19 points in the second half alone, making 5-of-9 shot attempts. Every foul he drew came over the final 20:00 of play, leading to his crunch time performance at the stripe. It allowed him to enter that shooting zone and his fundamentals were on full display. And after taking the charge on the defensive end of the court, Tabbs drilled a a stand-up, straight-away dagger from the deep corner. He brought his teammates to their feet on the bench on a nifty reverse layup under the basket.
"It's more of an instinct (than a design)," Tabbs said. "The first few games, I started out slow, but I'm starting to catch on (to the game pace) now."
"He understands what he's doing," Christian said. "He's very savvy. He has really good change of direction. He can finish around the basket and has size. And he made 8-of-8 from the line. You try to get the ball to (a player like) Wynston Tabbs at the end of the game. He's a good player."
It's made Boston College a distinct threat at both ends of the court. Entering the season, Ky Bowman's reputation as the Nation's Most Dynamic Guard was recognized by being named to virtually every watchlist for college basketball's gamut of awards. Tabbs adds his playmaking ability, giving BC one of the country's most dynamic backcourts. It is almost as if there are two point guards on every possession. And once the Eagles start to connect on the open looks they had roll off the rim early on, the sky is the limit and the ceiling is the roof.
"I think when we start making shots, it'll help more because they (do a good job)," Christian said. "As long as they play right, I'm okay with it. I'm more concerned with (making shots) than I am with who is doing what (on the floor)."
"In high school, I was an on-ball person," Tabbs said. "Ky is on the ball right now. So I'm spacing the floor and creating some shots. We just feed off each other. I look for him, and he looks for me. He's taken me under his wing, and he's taught me a lot."
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