BC Basketball

11.21.2008 4:04PM

BC LOOKS TO SOAR IN 2008-2009

Last year the Boston College Eagles men’s basketball team got off to a red-hot, 3-0 start against conference foes, Maryland, Wake Forest and Miami but then the tides started to turn. After a crushing 84-66 against the Cavaliers, the Eagles went down a slippery slope. Between January 19 and February 9 of this year, Boston College lost six consecutive games and finished the season at 4-12 in conference play – their worst record since joining the ACC.

Their lack of a post-player under the basket was a major factor in why the Eagles played so poorly last year. Against the weaker schools like Mercer, Florida Atlantic and New Hampshire this flaw was masked by the high powered offense produced by junior point guard Tyrese Rice. But there was no make up to cover up the fatal flaw of the Eagles against the more bruising, powerhouses in the ACC. The Eagles had no option to stop North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough and the tall, lanky forward was able to cruise right through the Eagle defense in Chapel Hill last year.

But do not think for a second Boston College had an entirely bad year last year. There were some great moments from last year’s squad that should not be forgotten. In their second to last home game of the year, the Eagles were up 20-points at the half of the, then, number one team in the nation, North Carolina, behind Rice’s first half 34 points. The Tar Heels clamped down on defending Rice in the second half and held the point guard to 12 points, where he finished the game with a new career high.

Coming into this season, the Eagles needed a big man and might have found one with forward Joe Trapani, who sat out all of last year under the NCAA’s transfer rules. In three games, the Boston College sophomore is second on the team in blocked shots with five. Sophomore Rakim Sanders leads the team with seven blocks. Trapani also provides some spark to the line up as he leads the Eagles with 52 point – eight ahead of Rice – through three games.

Sophomore Biko Paris appears to be the heir apparent to the point guard position when Rice graduates in May. If there is one thing, head coach Al Skinner knows, it is how to properly groom young players. Five years ago, the young Louis Hinnant was waiting and learning in the shadow of all-time points scorer Troy Bell. Then two years later, it was Hinnant’s turn to play mentor to the young Rice. Now Rice is mentoring Paris. It is the circle of life in professional and collegiate sports.

This year’s team no longer will worry about controlling the offense when Rice comes to the bench because Paris looks as if he has control of the Boston College offense. Rice will not have play every minute of every game, the Eagles can rest the senior during the early portion of the season in hopes of getting more out of him when they face the big dogs of the ACC – Duke, UNC, Virginia.

There are a few questions that remain when it comes to the 2008-2009 edition of the Boston College men’s basketball team. And I will try to answer a few of them as best I can.

Troy Bell had Craig Smith. Craig Smith had Jared Dudley. Jared Dudley had Tyrese Rice and Sean Marshall. Who will step up when ACC teams start double and triple teaming Rice like UNC did last year?

There are a couple of players who can take the heat off Rice. Biko Paris, Joe Trapani, Rakim Sanders and Corey Raji. From the first three games of the season, Raji is starting to look more and more like that guy. The sophomore forward reminds me a little of Sean Marshall, an outside shooter, who just keeps shooting and always wants the ball. The Eagles need some of this action to keep defenses honest and protect against the long range jumper. Fellow classmates, Sanders, Paris and Trapani will provide additional support when they are on the court. Look for Paris to act as the shooting guard when the Eagles go small and both he and Rice are on the floor together. Rice will dish the ball to Paris more than any player at the time. Sanders will get his fair share of the jump-shots while Trapani will clean up below the rim.

Who will emerge as the big man or possibly the next Sean Williams?

Josh Southern is my pick for the next Boston College big man. A shot blocker like Sean Williams comes around once in blue moon. Southern still has a lot to learn on the defensive side but has improved immensely from the last year. He still is tied for third on the team in personal fouls but he looks to be favorite to emerge as the big man in the post. Joe Trapani is also a candidate but against stronger competition I think his weaknesses will be exploited.

Lady Eagles

The 2008-2009 season for the Lady Eagles is in full swing. First year Boston College head coach, Sylvia Crawley, takes the helm of an Eagles team that finished 21-12 overall and 7-7 in the ACC last season and they are only expected to get better.

Although Boston College lost two key players in Kaydia Kentish and Rebecca Miles, the Eagles are returning 11 letter-winners including five starters from last year’s squad. Their top two post players, Carolyn Swords and Stefanie Murphy, return for their sophomore season at The Heights. Both players had incredible freshman years as Murphy led Boston College in overall points (464) and rebounds (246) while Swords led the team in points (451) and rebounds (100) against ACC opponents.

The Eagles came out flying against St. Francis University in their season opener at Conte Forum on November 14. Boston College had for players in double digits as the Eagles defeated the Red Flash 99-68. Swords led the team with 18 points while Murphy, senior captain Corey Rusin and junior Mickel Picco recorded 14, 13 and 11 points, respectively. Murphy was just one rebound shy of her 10^th double-double of her collegiate career.

Four days later the Lady Eagles traveled to Worcester in search of their 22^nd win against their Jesuit rivals the Holy Cross Crusaders. Swords’s sixth career double-double led the Eagles to their ninth win at the Hart Center while Picco followed with 19 points and Murphy with 10 of their own. Boston College now moves to 22-7 against Holy Cross all-time.

Boston College returned home this week to face the Hofstra Pride where they collected their third win of the season. The Eagles dominated much of the first half of the game but the Pride tried to make a valiant come-back in the second half that was stopped short by Picco and fellow junior Ayla Brown. Picco and Brown, both, recorded 16 of Boston College’s 71 points as they cruised to the 71-60 victory Thursday night at The Heights.

They women will return to the court Sunday November 23 when they face another long-time Jesuit rival the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame at 2pm.

-- BOSTON SPORTS SID