Late Night with the Eagles: BC, Virginia Tech Square Off on Tuesday

BOSTON COLLEGE VS. VIRGINIA TECH - ALL-TIME SERIES

Today's game marks the 38th meeting between the two schools.
Boston College is 23-14 all-time vs. Virginia Tech. In ACC play, the Eagles are 16-12 versus the Hokies.
BC has won five of the last six over VT, dating back to Jan. 25, 2020.
Last year, BC fell, 76-71, on Jan. 23, 2024 at Cassell Coliseum.
The Eagles are 14-4 against the Hokies all-time in home games.
From 2000-04, both teams were members of the Big East. Boston College was 6-1 against Virginia Tech in Big East play.

DONALD THE HOT HAND OVER THE LAST SIX

Over his last five games, Donald Hand Jr. has scored 143 points - good for an average of 23.8 points per game.
Included in that span was a career-high 31 points in a comeback win over Florida State.
Hand has 42 made field goals over the stretch, including 24 3-pointers at nearly a 45% clip.
Only four Boston College players in the last 20 years have scored that many points over a five-game span.
The last to do so was Jerome Robinson, who scored 182 points between Jan. 31-Feb. 17, 2018. Included in that span was a 46-point performance at Notre Dame on Feb. 6, 2018.
Other players with 140+ points in five games: Tyrese Rice (166) over a six-game span from Feb. 9-March 1, 2008 and Olivier Hanlan tallied 162 points over a six-game stretch from Feb. 11-28, 2015.
Hand leads BC in scoring (16.5) this season and has more than tripled his scoring average year-over-year.

HIGH-PERCENTAGE VENNING

Over his last 12 games, Chad Venning is averaging 15.3 ppg and connecting on nearly 58% of his FG attempts.
He poured in a season-high 21 points - two off his career-best - against Notre Dame on Feb. 12.
On Jan. 25, he scored 17 points (7-12 FG) in 30 minutes at UNC.
Twice he's scored 19 points - vs. #3/3 Duke and at Georgia Tech. He added 17 points at UNC and at home vs. Syracuse.
In the comeback win over Miami, Venning tallied 17 points (7-10), scoring 11 straight points for the Eagles in the first half.
He ranks second in the ACC in overall FG percentage (.549); his .549 mark in ACC play is fourth-best in the league.

TODAY'S BOSTON COLLEGE NOTE(S) YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT

Boston College is averaging nearly one fewer turnover in the second half (5.5) as compared to the first half (6.4).
Fred Payne has dished out 11 assists to zero turnovers over his last five games (127 minutes).
Additionally, Payne has averaged 5.0 rebounds per outing over the last five, including a career-high eight at N.C. State.

ON THIS DATE: FEBRUARY 18

Boston College is 12-10 all-time and 1-1 in ACC in games played on the February 18 calendar date.
February 18 marks the dual celebration of National Red Sock and National Crab Stuffed Flounder Days.
Several notable events in history occurred on February 18 - 1885 - Mark Twain publishes "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn;" 1927 - the U.S. and Canada begin diplomatic relations; 1951 - three CCNY basketball players admit to accepting bribes; 1977 - the Space Shuttle Enterprise takes it maiden flight atop a Boeing 747; 1978 - first Iron Man Triathlon held in Kona, Hawaii; 1979 - mini-series "Roots" premieres on ABC; 1986 - Alvin Robertson of the San Antonio Spurs logs the NBA's second-ever quadruple-double with 20 points/11 rebounds/10 assists/10 steals.
Notable February 18 birthdays: rapper/producer Dr. Dre; writer Toni Morrison; actor John Travolta; actress Molly Ringwald; director John Hughes; game show hostess Vanna White.

EAGLES AMONG THE ACC / NCAA LEADERS

ACC Overall: Donald Hand Jr. ranks ninth in scoring (16.5), 16th in rebounding (6.5) and second in FT percentage (.870).
Hand is one of three players to rank in the top 20 in scoring and rebounding in the conference.
Maxime Raynaud (Stanford) and Cooper Flagg (Duke) are the others.
Hand also ranks sixth in the ACC in 3-pointers made, averaging 2.3 3FGM per game. (58 total).
Chad Venning sits in second in the ACC - and 47th nationally - in field goal percentage, connecting on 54.9% of his shots.
Venning is also third in the ACC in blocked shots - 91st nationally - averaging 1.5 swats per outing.
Jayden Hastings is tied for eighth in the ACC in blocks, swatting 1.2 shots per game so far this season.
As a team, BC ranks 80th nationally - and seventh in the ACC - in 3-point field goal percentage (.360).
ACC games only: Hand ranks seventh in scoring (17.7 ppg), second in 3-point field goal percentage (.430), third in 3-pointers made (2.86/game), and 11th in free throw percentage (.842).
Venning is fourth among all players in ACC play in field goal percentage (.549) and 11th in blocked shots (1.23)
Joshua Beadle is 14th in assists (3.4/g) 's 1.57:1 assist/turnover mark is 14th-best in ACC play.
Jayden Hastings is tied for sixth in blocked shots in ACC games, swatting 1.36 shots per game.

BEADLE'S BUZZER-BEATING BUCKETS

Nine of the 16 3-pointers from Joshua Beadle this season have come with 10 seconds or less on the shot or game clock.
Included in those nine was the game-winning 3FG as time expired vs. Boise State in the Cayman Islands Classic title game.
The grad transfer guard has made 16-of-30 attempts from the perimeter this season at Boston College (53.3%).
In ACC play, Beadle has connected on 58.8% (10-17) of his attempts from long distance.
Entering this season, Beadle had made 9-of-49 (.184) from beyond the arc in 65 games at Clemson.

DONALD HAND JR. - YEAR-OVER-YEAR IMPROVEMENTS

Donald Hand Jr. has shown a major statistical leap from a season ago.
Hand is averaging better than +11 in scoring average and nearly a +5.0 jump in rebounding per game this season, compared to 2023-24.
Using the metric PAR (points+assists+rebounds), he has seen nearly a +17 jump year-over-year and nearly a +10.0 increase when measured per 40 minutes.
Hand has already surpassed his 2023-24 totals in points, rebounds, assists.
After a season-ending injury in game two as a true freshman, his first significant playing time came during the 2023-24 season.
Hand was named ACC Player of the Week twice this season (Dec. 30; Feb. 3).

HASTINGS MAKING AN IMPACT

Redshirt freshman Jayden Hastings has steadily improved throughout his first season of college basketball
Hastings has 10 games with at least two blocked shots - the most by a BC freshman since Sean Williams posted 16 multi-block games during his freshman campaign in 2004-05.
The forward from Orlando ranks 15th among all freshman in blocked shots, averaging 1.24 per game.
As a starter (3G), Hastings is averaging 7.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 blocks while shooting 64.3% from the floor.
In his first collegiate start on Dec. 21 against SMU, Hastings scored a season-high nine points in 29 minutes played.
Against Louisville on Feb. 5. Hastings tied his season-best with nine boards and logged two blocked shots.
For the season overall Hastings is connecting on 55.7% from the floor and has logged 31 total blocked shots.
Among all ACC freshmen with at least 40 FGM, Hastings ranks fourth in the conference in field goal percentage.

BRINGING THE BOOM

Boston College has registered 10 or more 3-pointers on nine occasions, including a season-high 14 at North Carolina.
Through 25 games this season, the Eagles have made 172 3-pointers at a 36.2% clip.
The 36.0% 3-point proficiency mark ranks seventh in the ACC and 80th nationally.
In ACC play, Boston College has connected on 38.7% of its long-distance attempts - second-best in the league.
Donald Hand Jr. leads BC with 55 3FGM at a 39.6% clip; Joshua Beadle (53.3%) leads the team in percentage.

I'VE GOT SIX ON IT

Roger McFarlane has grabbed at least six rebounds in 32 of his last 47 games played, dating back to Dec. 16, 2023.
He has had at least six rebounds in 71 of his 116 career games - better than 60% of his games played.
McFarlane has grabbed at least six boards in nine games this season; BC is 6-3 in those games.
The 6-4 guard ranks second on the team in rebounding, averaging 5.0 boards per outing.

Late Night with the Eagles: BC, Virginia Tech Square Off on Tuesday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Joshua Beadle

Donald Hand Jr.

Jayden Hastings

Roger McFarlane

Fred Payne

Chad Venning

Late Night with the Eagles: BC, Virginia Tech Square Off on Tuesday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Joshua Beadle

Donald Hand Jr.

Jayden Hastings

Roger McFarlane

Fred Payne

Chad Venning

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