Photo by: John Quackenbos
Eagles Expecting Effort and Growth to Lead Way into Duke
January 06, 2021 | Men's Basketball, #ForBoston Files
BC heads to Cameron Indoor Stadium to play the Blue Devils in a most unique setting.
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- In any other year, a basketball trip to Duke is a nightmare scenario for a team fighting for wins. The cramped confines of Cameron Indoor Stadium pair perfectly with the spectacle provided by the notorious Cameron Crazies to create a lethal combination for visitors vying to knock off a nationally-ranked Blue Devil roster loaded with future first round picks.Â
That metaphysical definition of Duke basketball is one of the things missed most in college basketball's COVID-19 era, but it doesn't diminish the challenge of a team searching for wins on Tobacco Road. It's still a tall order and one staring at Boston College as the Eagles head to Durham to play the No. 21/24 Blue Devils.
"I was unbelievably proud of the effort put forth against Louisville with really only one day to prepare," head coach Jim Christian said. "We have guys physically hurting, Wynston Tabbs in particular and Rich Kelly. We only had limited guys to practice, but the effort our guys put forth was really scrappy. We adjusted well, defensively especially, and it was one of those days where we were getting great plays but the ball was just not going in."
Contrasting effort against an inability to score is what adds depth to the conversation surrounding BC's 76-64 loss this past Saturday. The unavoidable statistics revealed a poor day on the floor and substantial issues with 3-point shooting, and the Eagles finished 8-for-33 from outside after going 2-for-14 in the first half. They shot 33 percent from the floor and didn't score over the last seven minutes of game time, and the loss dropped the team to 2-7 on the season with an 0-3 ACC record.
It came on a day when BC seemingly moved the ball with a full-throated enthusiasm on the offensive end. Three shooters reached double figures by spreading the ball around the back court, and the Eagles drew enough contact to go 22-of-28 from the free throw line. A strong defensive effort held two of Louisville's three top scorers below their scoring averages.
"It's very difficult because offense can frustrate players," Christian said. "When you think you have a play that you can make and you don't make it, it can take your focus off playing hard. We didn't do that against Louisville. In the first half, especially on the backboard, we weren't getting in there and rebounding, but we did a great job in the second half. It's easy to play hard when you're making shots, but it's not easy to do that when you're not. That's what I'm proud of, the full court effort on make or miss. That's where you grow."
Christian repeatedly noted the open look at the basket against Louisville, so identifying more shot attempts for the frontcourt is an area capable of determining the team's continued growth opportunities. The frontcourt duo of Steffon Mitchell and James Karnik combined to shoot 3-for-11.
"We went to the post probably more than we have all year," Christian said. "We're not blessed with a bunch of low post players who could score down there, but we were trying to get the ball inside more than we had all year. But, again, Louisville was collapsing because we weren't making shots. It's the game of basketball; we're a much better shooting team, and we know that. I'm just glad to see our effort is maintained."
The expectation centers around the effort with the idea that it will, eventually, break through on the scoreboard as Wednesday night looms. It's still a game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, but it's not the same as a standard season. Duke will be without the Cameron Crazies and Coach K will miss the game in quarantine after an exposure to COVID-19. A team normally ranked among the nation's five best teams is in danger of falling out of the Associated Press poll for the first time since the 2015-16 season and could potentially fall out of the Coaches Poll for the second time this year.
It's an opportunity for BC to defeat Duke on the road for the first time in program history and for the first time since the 89-84 upset of the No. 1-ranked Blue Devils at Conte Forum. It would measure a token of revenge for the 39-point loss from last season and do something few teams have done since the Eagles entered the ACC more than a decade ago.
"We knew coming into this season, with the schedule that we played in our non-conference, that we couldn't worry about records," Christian said. "We had to get better. We had our opportunities to win our last two ACC games and we have to take advantage of all that stuff. We wanted to test ourselves, and we did. We learned a lot of lessons, and we changed the way we played because of that. We just need a little more execution and a little more confidence shooting the basketball. What we've done since Syracuse, I'm happy for the effort, for that togetherness."
Boston College and Duke will tip off at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6 from Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. The game can be seen on ACC Network with radio broadcast available on WEEI 850 AM.
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That metaphysical definition of Duke basketball is one of the things missed most in college basketball's COVID-19 era, but it doesn't diminish the challenge of a team searching for wins on Tobacco Road. It's still a tall order and one staring at Boston College as the Eagles head to Durham to play the No. 21/24 Blue Devils.
"I was unbelievably proud of the effort put forth against Louisville with really only one day to prepare," head coach Jim Christian said. "We have guys physically hurting, Wynston Tabbs in particular and Rich Kelly. We only had limited guys to practice, but the effort our guys put forth was really scrappy. We adjusted well, defensively especially, and it was one of those days where we were getting great plays but the ball was just not going in."
Contrasting effort against an inability to score is what adds depth to the conversation surrounding BC's 76-64 loss this past Saturday. The unavoidable statistics revealed a poor day on the floor and substantial issues with 3-point shooting, and the Eagles finished 8-for-33 from outside after going 2-for-14 in the first half. They shot 33 percent from the floor and didn't score over the last seven minutes of game time, and the loss dropped the team to 2-7 on the season with an 0-3 ACC record.
It came on a day when BC seemingly moved the ball with a full-throated enthusiasm on the offensive end. Three shooters reached double figures by spreading the ball around the back court, and the Eagles drew enough contact to go 22-of-28 from the free throw line. A strong defensive effort held two of Louisville's three top scorers below their scoring averages.
"It's very difficult because offense can frustrate players," Christian said. "When you think you have a play that you can make and you don't make it, it can take your focus off playing hard. We didn't do that against Louisville. In the first half, especially on the backboard, we weren't getting in there and rebounding, but we did a great job in the second half. It's easy to play hard when you're making shots, but it's not easy to do that when you're not. That's what I'm proud of, the full court effort on make or miss. That's where you grow."
Christian repeatedly noted the open look at the basket against Louisville, so identifying more shot attempts for the frontcourt is an area capable of determining the team's continued growth opportunities. The frontcourt duo of Steffon Mitchell and James Karnik combined to shoot 3-for-11.
"We went to the post probably more than we have all year," Christian said. "We're not blessed with a bunch of low post players who could score down there, but we were trying to get the ball inside more than we had all year. But, again, Louisville was collapsing because we weren't making shots. It's the game of basketball; we're a much better shooting team, and we know that. I'm just glad to see our effort is maintained."
The expectation centers around the effort with the idea that it will, eventually, break through on the scoreboard as Wednesday night looms. It's still a game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, but it's not the same as a standard season. Duke will be without the Cameron Crazies and Coach K will miss the game in quarantine after an exposure to COVID-19. A team normally ranked among the nation's five best teams is in danger of falling out of the Associated Press poll for the first time since the 2015-16 season and could potentially fall out of the Coaches Poll for the second time this year.
It's an opportunity for BC to defeat Duke on the road for the first time in program history and for the first time since the 89-84 upset of the No. 1-ranked Blue Devils at Conte Forum. It would measure a token of revenge for the 39-point loss from last season and do something few teams have done since the Eagles entered the ACC more than a decade ago.
"We knew coming into this season, with the schedule that we played in our non-conference, that we couldn't worry about records," Christian said. "We had to get better. We had our opportunities to win our last two ACC games and we have to take advantage of all that stuff. We wanted to test ourselves, and we did. We learned a lot of lessons, and we changed the way we played because of that. We just need a little more execution and a little more confidence shooting the basketball. What we've done since Syracuse, I'm happy for the effort, for that togetherness."
Boston College and Duke will tip off at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6 from Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. The game can be seen on ACC Network with radio broadcast available on WEEI 850 AM.
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Players Mentioned
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