Boston College Athletics
Photo by: Ben Solomon
2019-20 Preview Series: Popovic's Finest Hour Awaits
November 05, 2019 | Men's Basketball, #ForBoston Files
The center has been through it all, and now it's his time at BC
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Nik Popovic still remembers the moment everything started to change for Boston College basketball.
It happened in less than a second on December 12, 2016. BC trailed by a point with less than a second left against Auburn under the lights of the World's Most Famous Arena.
The Eagles entered that game at Madison Square Garden after losing to both Harvard and Hartford. And despite flashes against the Tigers - part of the branded Under Armour Reunion doubleheader at MSG, it felt like a potential lost opportunity for a breakout moment.
Then the ball, which bounced so many different directions for the Eagles that game, found the fingertips of the 6-11 freshman center from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Popovic tipped the ball into the hoop, and the sweet sound of how it tickled the vinyl net drowned into the raucous celebration coming from the maroon and gold bench.
That was over three years ago, but Popovic can smile when he thinks about how his career traveled so many different miles since that moment in New York City.
"My job is to show up when we get stuck," he said, laughing a little bit as he remembered that moment.
This season, Popovic will do more than just show up when the Eagles need a plumber. The senior is now part of the heart and soul of the Boston College roster. And he enters this year ready to take center stage as one of the ACC's most elite big men.
"It took me a year to figure out my strengths and weaknesses," Popovic said. "I realized, last year, that I lacked the right mindset, so I had to continually work on it. I had to learn what worked best, and it wasn't until this year that I truly learned what will help me help to win games for this team."
His freshman season provided a glimpse into the developmental window of BC's future premier center. He played mostly as a reserve, but earned one start over 29 games and became an offensive weapon. His early-season, 13-point performance against Stony Brook set a tone for his later performances in ACC play, including a pair of double-digit scoring games against Syracuse.
It provided an anchor for a sophomore season. Thrust into the starting lineup, he became the Eagles' answer in the middle. He averaged 9.9 points and 6.2 rebounds, posting two double-doubles and four games with ten or more rebounds. He dominated the glass against Pittsburgh, grabbing 14 boards, and blocked a career-best five shots against Florida State. In the opening game of the ACC Tournament, he scored 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting against Georgia Tech and followed that up with a 15-point, seven-rebound game in the next round versus NC State. Popovic averaged better than 13 points and eight rebounds over the final six games of the season, helping propel the Eagles into the NIT.
It all led to last season and a jump into the upper echelon in the ACC. Popovic ranked 17th in the ACC in scoring and posted double-figure scoring in 25 of his 28 games played. He went over 20 points on five different occasions and made 11 three-point field goals, including two each against Duke, NC State and Pittsburgh.
He ranked 15th in rebounding, twice recording 14 boards, and ranked third in field goal percentage, making close to 53% of his shot attempts. He finished the year as one of six ACC players in the top 20 in both scoring and rebounding with a top 10 finish in field goal percentage.
"The other programs work with their big men, and there's a lot of good role players. I know I'm not like them, " Popovic said. "Those players know their role and know exactly what they're doing. That's what makes them so good. So I know that I have to finesse them and give them something they won't expect. You need a bag of tricks, and you need to pull something out of the bag, otherwise you won't have luck."
Boston College has been a guard factory over the last two seasons, with both Jerome Robinson and Ky Bowman shining in the NBA. No matter the roster turnover, BC's center position remained constant because of Popovic. He's been a rock for the Eagles, and as he enters his final campaign, he knows exactly what awaits if he can take his game to another level.
"I have the ability to create and drive the ball," he said. "The real job is to make a play. In a program like this, that allows me show what I can do. We can create shots and create plays for ourselves and our teammates.
I want to shoot the ball like everyone else, but I know how to make the right plays and do what's best for the team. It's about stepping up to know how to make the right shot at the right time."
It happened in less than a second on December 12, 2016. BC trailed by a point with less than a second left against Auburn under the lights of the World's Most Famous Arena.
The Eagles entered that game at Madison Square Garden after losing to both Harvard and Hartford. And despite flashes against the Tigers - part of the branded Under Armour Reunion doubleheader at MSG, it felt like a potential lost opportunity for a breakout moment.
Then the ball, which bounced so many different directions for the Eagles that game, found the fingertips of the 6-11 freshman center from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Popovic tipped the ball into the hoop, and the sweet sound of how it tickled the vinyl net drowned into the raucous celebration coming from the maroon and gold bench.
That was over three years ago, but Popovic can smile when he thinks about how his career traveled so many different miles since that moment in New York City.
"My job is to show up when we get stuck," he said, laughing a little bit as he remembered that moment.
This season, Popovic will do more than just show up when the Eagles need a plumber. The senior is now part of the heart and soul of the Boston College roster. And he enters this year ready to take center stage as one of the ACC's most elite big men.
"It took me a year to figure out my strengths and weaknesses," Popovic said. "I realized, last year, that I lacked the right mindset, so I had to continually work on it. I had to learn what worked best, and it wasn't until this year that I truly learned what will help me help to win games for this team."
His freshman season provided a glimpse into the developmental window of BC's future premier center. He played mostly as a reserve, but earned one start over 29 games and became an offensive weapon. His early-season, 13-point performance against Stony Brook set a tone for his later performances in ACC play, including a pair of double-digit scoring games against Syracuse.
It provided an anchor for a sophomore season. Thrust into the starting lineup, he became the Eagles' answer in the middle. He averaged 9.9 points and 6.2 rebounds, posting two double-doubles and four games with ten or more rebounds. He dominated the glass against Pittsburgh, grabbing 14 boards, and blocked a career-best five shots against Florida State. In the opening game of the ACC Tournament, he scored 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting against Georgia Tech and followed that up with a 15-point, seven-rebound game in the next round versus NC State. Popovic averaged better than 13 points and eight rebounds over the final six games of the season, helping propel the Eagles into the NIT.
It all led to last season and a jump into the upper echelon in the ACC. Popovic ranked 17th in the ACC in scoring and posted double-figure scoring in 25 of his 28 games played. He went over 20 points on five different occasions and made 11 three-point field goals, including two each against Duke, NC State and Pittsburgh.
He ranked 15th in rebounding, twice recording 14 boards, and ranked third in field goal percentage, making close to 53% of his shot attempts. He finished the year as one of six ACC players in the top 20 in both scoring and rebounding with a top 10 finish in field goal percentage.
"The other programs work with their big men, and there's a lot of good role players. I know I'm not like them, " Popovic said. "Those players know their role and know exactly what they're doing. That's what makes them so good. So I know that I have to finesse them and give them something they won't expect. You need a bag of tricks, and you need to pull something out of the bag, otherwise you won't have luck."
Boston College has been a guard factory over the last two seasons, with both Jerome Robinson and Ky Bowman shining in the NBA. No matter the roster turnover, BC's center position remained constant because of Popovic. He's been a rock for the Eagles, and as he enters his final campaign, he knows exactly what awaits if he can take his game to another level.
"I have the ability to create and drive the ball," he said. "The real job is to make a play. In a program like this, that allows me show what I can do. We can create shots and create plays for ourselves and our teammates.
I want to shoot the ball like everyone else, but I know how to make the right plays and do what's best for the team. It's about stepping up to know how to make the right shot at the right time."
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