Eagles Open 2019-20 Season on Wednesday vs. Wake Forest

Wednesday, November 6

Chestnut Hill, Mass.

6 p.m.

Boston College

Wake Forest

Photo by: John Quackenbos

Eagles Open 2019-20 Season on Wednesday vs. Wake Forest

November 05, 2019 | Men's Basketball

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ACC Opener for both teams will air live on ESPNU at 6 p.m. ET

By: Athletic Communications

Student Giveaway

The first 750 students to enter Conte Forum for the Wake Forest game will receive a free Under Armour winter beanie

Halftime Entertainment

The Skybound Canine Frisbee & Trick Dogs will perform at halftime of the Wake Forest game

Clear Bag Policy

Similar to football season, a clear bag policy will be in effect for all men's basketball games at Conte Forum.
Approved bags for entrance to Conte Forum include a clear plastic bag that does not exceed 12"x12"x6", a one-gallon sized clear plastic bag, or a small clutch wristlet or handheld wallet.

Concessions:

New kids fare - including Uncrustables, Goldfish snack crackers, and bottled drinks - will be available in Conte Forum and all items will be $1.50.
Additionally, all concessions (with the exception of alcohol) will be discounted by 50% pre-game, prior to tip-off.

Merchandise:

All fans arriving early are eligible to purchase one item from the Conte Forum merchandise shop for 25% up until tip-off.

Preferred Mutual Family Section:

The Preferred Mutual Family Section will ensure a positive gameday experience for fans of all ages in an area that promotes sportsmanship and good behavior.
Special youth pricing will be available in the family section. For more information, call the BC Athletics box office at (617) 552-GoBC.

BOSTON COLLEGE VS. WAKE FOREST - ALL-TIME SERIES

Today's game marks the 25th meeting between the two schools.
BC is 14-10 all-time vs. Wake Forest, dating back to 1980-81.
In ACC play, Boston College is 11-10 against Wake Forest.
BC has captured the last two meetings, including a 65-61 win in Winston-Salem last season on Jan. 26, 2019.
The Eagles are 7-3 all-time at home vs. the Demon Deacons.

BOSTON COLLEGE IN SEASON OPENERS

In its 86 previous season openers, Boston College has posted an outstanding 67-19 (.779) winning percentage.
Last year, the Eagles began the 2018-19 campaign with a 73-53 win over Milwaukee on Nov. 6.
BC has played its season opener at the Conte Forum in each of the last five seasons and in 31 of the last 33 years.
The Eagles opened 2013-14 at Providence and played in the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands to start 2003-04.
Today's Nov. 6 calendar date ties last season for the earliest that BC has ever played its season lid-lifter.

BOSTON COLLEGE IN ACC PLAY

Boston College is 82-156 in 13 seasons in the ACC.
The Eagles finished with a 5-13 record in ACC play in 2018-19.
BC's 11th-place finish a year ago was its best finish since 2012-13, when the Eagles finished eighth.
The Eagles were 7-11 in ACC play in 2017-18.
BC's best ACC mark came in its inaugural season, going 11-5 in conference play in 2005-06 en route to a third place finish.
BC also tied for third in 2006-07 (10-6) and finished fourth in 2010-11 (9-7).

NIK POPOVIC: THE ACC'S MOST UNDERAPPRECIATED PLAYER

Nik Popovic enters the 2019-20 season as the most underappreciated player in the ACC.
Last season, he was one of only six players in the ACC to rank in the top 20 in scoring and rebounding and top 10 in FG%.
The others: RJ Barrett/Zion Williamson (Duke), Kerry Blackshear Jr. (VT), Torin Dorn (NCST), and John Mooney (ND).
He averaged 14.5 points (17th), 7.2 rebounds (15th), while connecting on 52.6% (3rd) of his FG attempts - all career-highs.
In his first two seasons at BC, the 6-10 forward registered two double-doubles in points and rebounds.
In 2018-19, Popovic had seven double-doubles - tying for 10th-best in the ACC.
Popovic has improved his season averages in scoring, rebounding and FG% in each of his three seasons at the Heights.

ALLOW ME TO RE-INTRODUCE MYSELF

Graduate transfer Derryck Thornton has returned to the ACC to play his final season of eligibility.
Thornton began his career at Duke in 2015-16, averaging 7.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 36 games (20 starts).
The Los Angeles native transferred to USC, where he played two seasons for the Trojans from 2017-19.
Thornton averaged 6.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 57 games at USC, posting a 1.73:1 assist/turnover ratio.
Last season, the 6-3, 195 lb. point guard averaged 7.7 points, 2.8 boards, 4.3 assists, and a 2.2:1 assist/turnover ratio.
His assist/turnover mark ranked third in the Pac 12, while his assists average ranked sixth-best in the conference in 2018-19.

STEFFON MITCHELL DOES IT ALL

Junior forward Steffon Mitchell has led Boston College in at least one statistical category (scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, blocked shots) in 55 of his 61 career games.
Over his first two seasons of play, Mitchell has been one of the top rebounders in the ACC.
Last year, he ranked fifth overall in the league (7.9 rpg). As a freshman, he ranked seventh in the conference (8.3 rpg).
As a freshman, the Shakopee, Minn. native became the first true freshman in BC history to average better than 8.0 rpg.
A skilled passer from the post, he is averaging 2.2 assists per game as well as a 2.33:1 assist/turnover ratio in his career.
Last season, his FG attempts per game dropped from 5.1 FGA/g to 2.7, however, the 6-8 forward spent the summer getting up close to 1,000 jumpers per day inside Power Gym.

AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?

Boston College is one of 15 Division I men's basketball programs to have a pair of brothers on its roster.
The Hamiltons - Jared and Jairus - are entering their second season on the same squad.
Last year, the Charlotte natives appeared in the starting lineup on two occasions - at Louisville and at Clemson.
Jared and Jairus combined to average close to 12.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game a season ago.

BASKETBALL LINEAGE

Chris Herren Jr. and Kamari Williams are continuing the traditions of basketball excellence in their respective families.
Herren Jr. is the son of Chris Herren Sr., who was a two-time All-WAC honoree at Fresno State and played two seasons in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics.
He is now one of the nation's foremost public speakers on health, wellness and substance abuse.
Williams is the son of Walt Williams, an All-American forward at Maryland who played 11 seasons in the NBA after being drfted seventh overall by the Sacramento Kings in 1992.
Williams played with six different franchises - Sacramento, Houston, Toronto, Portland, Dallas, and Miami.

THE DEPARTED

Three of BC's top four scorers are gone from a season ago. Including Ky Bowman, Jordan Chatman, and Wynston Tabbs.
Bowman is with the Golden State Warriors, while Chatman is playing professionally in Romania.
Bowman - who was first nationally in minutes percentage (KenPom.com) at 96.8% - ranked fourth in the ACC in scoring (19.0), 11th in rebounding (7.5), and eighth in assists (4.0). His 37.4% 3FG% ranked eighth in the league.
Chatman's 13.2 points per game average ranked 25th in the ACC, while hsi 82% clip from the FT was third-best in the league.
Tabbs will miss this season with a knee injury.
The trio combined to make 154 of BC's 218 3-pointers from a season ago.
The Eagles return 44% of its scoring, 65% of its rebounding, and 40% of its assists from a season ago.
Nik Popovic is the team's top returning scorer (14.5 ppg) while Steffon Mitchell (7.9 rpg) is BC's top returning rebounder and assists man (2.3 apg).

POINT OUT THE BOUNCE

During summer vertical leap testing, Jared Hamilton reached the highest height on the Heights.
The senior reached 35.5 inches on the Vertec machine on his standing test.
Hamilton touched 44" on his running approach - besting his leap from last summer by two inches.
Jay Heath and Chris Herren Jr. each touched 29" on their standing vertical attempts.
Kamari Williams and Jairus Hamilton both measured 34.5" on their approach vertical leaps.
Vertical jump is calculated by the standing/approach leap number, minus standing reach.