Jared Dudley All American

After a tremendous career at Boston College, Jared Dudley was voted a Second Team All-American. Congratulations, Jared, you truly earned it.

On to the NCAA's

That was a tough loss yesterday. BC closed the gap to 9 and if Terry had missed a 3 deep from the right corner, they could have made it even tighter. Terry hit the shot and UNC controlled things from there. The game was played at UNC's pace and UNC dominated because of their superior talent and execution. BC missed too many layups in the first half and gave up too many offensive rebounds.

I am looking forward to BC in the tournament. The sweet 16 is real possibility. I think BC slots as a 7 seed, so the first round will be a challenge and the 2nd round should involve a talented 2 seed such as Texas A&M, Pittsburgh, Georgetown, UCLA, Wisconsin, Memphis or maybe even Florida. A team such as Georgetown or Wisconsin plays at our pace. I can't wait to see it works out. Until the brackets.....

BC vs. UNC

Huge game today, BC could improve its seeding in a major way by beating UNC today. UNC plays at a fast pace, is seriously athletic and deep, and is exceptionally efficient on both offense and defense. Still, BC played UNC almost completely even in February at Conte and truly could have won that game. Here are the keys that BC must take care of to win:

1. Jared Dudley: Jared has to play like the player of the year today, scoring and rebounding and playing strong defense on, most likely Brandan Wright. This could be one of the defining moments of Jared's career at BC.

2. John Oates and Tyrelle Blair: Oates and Blair need to be very effective while on the floor in stopping Hansborough, clogging the lane to stymie Lawson's penetration and preventing second-chance offensive rebounds for UNC. If they can merely stop Hansborough from dominating, that would be excellent.

3. Tyrese Rice: Tyrese has been improving his play throughout this season and is both a steady hand at point guard and a potent scorer. BC needs him to step up again today and a repeat of yesterday would be huge. Check out this Bob Ryan article for a great perspective on this: link

4. Sean Marshall: Just play better than yesterday, your legacy could be defined here today just as Jared's can.

5. End of the First Half: BC must not give away the last two minutes of the first half, as they have too many times this season. BC needs to at least keep pace during that time period and, if possible, grab momentum by outscoring UNC.

BC can definitely win today if they can keep possessions closer to their preferred tempo in the high 60s than UNC's mid-70s. BC needs to play better defense than they have recently, control the defensive boards and execute with the offensive efficiency they are capable of. This is such an important game for BC's seeding. Let's go Eagles.

BC wins

That was a huge, gutsy win by BC. At the under 4 minute timeout, I thought there was no way BC could pull that one out. In the closing minutes and overtime, there were huge plays by Rice, Oates and Dudley and keeping Miami to one shot for almost all of that time was a major part of why BC won. I really love that Dudley gets a chance to redeem himself after the two lost chances against UNC earlier this year. Winning tomorrow would be spectacular and I really think it is possible. I'm looking forward to it.

Also, congratulations to Holy Cross for a tough, duly earned entry into the Tournament. Good for them.

BC's Quarterfinal Matchup

Today, BC opens its 2nd ACC tournament against Miami, a team they beat twice this season. Neither victory was decisive. And yesterday, Miami beat Maryland at least in part with dominant offensive rebounding.

To beat Miami for the third time this season, BC has to collect defensive rebounds better than they have all season. BC also needs to run their offense with the type of efficiency that they produced for most of the season. BC is a better, more talented and more seasoned team than Miami and should beat them. Let's go eagles.

Hey Eagle Nation,
It has been a while since my most recent post and for that I apologize. I spent a wild weekend in Savannah, GA for St. Patrick's Day and my Bachelor Party, which precluded any chance to hop on and offer an update on the manifold BC happenings and excitements last weekend.

First, BC's battle versus Pacific:
This game was played during the nascent hours of my trip so to me, the outcome felt sure to unleash my full, unbridled joy or my plodding, hidden disappoitnment for some part of the trip. However, just as Sean Williams soared from just inside the foul line to the rim for a thunderous two-handed stuff, my heart truly soared with happiness that Craig and Louis would be playing at least one more time. In the first overtime, my mantra was just win this possession, and timely threes and the two most clutch free throws of Craig Smith's life clearly manifested that sometimes that picayune mantra can work. The game was a blur from the point where BC was leading by 13 to down by 7 to up by 12. I'm so glad BC won. That sums up that whole game for me.

In their second round game against Montana, the first half was again a frustrating stretch of opportunities to pull ahead and moments when BC's execution was poor. However, with the way BC played in the second half, it is clear that BC was the better team and wanted to get the job done. Good job, Eagles.

For tonight's game against Villanova, BC needs to call upon the intensity, performance and poise they displayed during so much of the ACC tournament. BC needs to carry over the efficient three point shooting that was so evident in the second half of the Montana game. BC needs to rebound well, especially by earning extra chances to score on offensive boards. BC needs to play a step quicker on defense to stymie Allan Ray, Kyle Lowry and Randy Foye and control their penetration. BC needs to shadow Mike Nardi closely, as he is capable of hurting BC from three like Redick did twice this season.

Sean Williams and Craig Smith must clog the lane to make penetration very difficult for Villanova's guards, while BC's perimeter defense must stay at home so that kick outs don't become wide open looks. This sort of defense can help keep this game closer to BC's tempo. Both teams are very efficient offensively, and BC must maintain that production. BC's defense is the key, and it must match the strong, turnover producing defensive efficiency shown all year by Villanova. And so, we are left with a new mantra for the Eagles, win tonight, play like the Final Four is not even a speck in the imagination, play to the high level you are capable of, be impressive and assertive and effective. WIN. Let's Go Eagles.

Many hours, in fact days after my most recently promised entry, I am ready with some thoughts on BC, the brackets, how I don't usually believe the Billy Packer hate but found him and Nantz insufferable during the selection show interview with Craig Littlepage, and how March is just plain a great time of year.

I was disappointed doubly to see BC passed over as a 3 seed and sent to Salt Lake City, Utah for their first round game. In 2004, they were sent out to a high elevation western site as well, but performed well enough to nearly defeat national runner up Georgia Tech. This team is clearly battle-tested and intent on making noise in this tournament. The disappointment this team felt at losing such a hard fought game to Duke on Sunday was so clearly etched on all of their faces and made me feel even more pumped and eager to see them back on the floor. I was a bit alarmed when I first saw Pacific as their opponent, but the stats show that this Pacific team is not nearly as dangerous as the previous one. In terms of tempo, this game will be played at about a 61 possession pace, which is closer to where BC plays than Pacific. BC's defensive numbers do not appear stellar after the games against Duke and UNC but those are excellent offensive teams, formidable and dangerous, very higly ranked teams. BC will be able to dictate tempo and get good shots almost every time down. Smith and Dudley should have standout games. I also believe BC should fare well against Nevada if things proceed as I expect. That will leave BC to most likely face Villanova in the Sweet 16, a matchup I would love to see, even if it would present a major challenge.

So my final four is Duke, Gonzaga, UConn and Boston College, with Duke beating UConn for the National Title, thereby giving everyone's most hated coach (Coach K) a fourth ring while deflating the bluster of my most hated coach (yes, I dislike Jim Calhoun's antics quite a bit). My major upset picks are Winthrop over Tennessee, George Mason over Michigan State, Georgetown over Ohio St, San Diego St over Indiana, Cal over Texas and Texas A&M over Syracuse (if that is even an upset). I cannot wait for the games to start and for me to be reveling in Savannah, washing the games down with beer and good times in 75 degree beautiful Southern weather. (my biggest complaint about the brackets are BC's failure to get a 3 seed having beat UNC twice and Syracuse soaring to a 5 seed, although these things tend to level off anyways).

I thought Jim Nantz especially and Billy Packer were unduly harsh and scoffing at the work by Craig Littlepage and his committee. I do agree with the consensus that Cincinatti should have been in, probably over Air Force, but I also believe Hofstra should have been in over Utah State. If the CAA had been given three bids, I think Nantz would have spontaneously combusted on the stop, which, well, then who is going to do all the sappy lead ins to Masters ads for the next three weeks. Let's just thank the bracket gods we did not have to brook that disaster. The last at large teams that make it are essentially marginally qualified teams being chosen over similarly marginal teams that did not do quite enough. Without the committee's reasoning in front of me, it is hard to speculate, but I'm guessing that Utah State and Air Force put up what the committee saw as excellent overall records, performed well in league play (Both Air Force in the MWC regular and Utah State in the WAC posted strong second place regular season finishes) and deserved bids. Florida State's schedule was laughable, Cincinatti finished quite poorly, and I imagine it was close to a toss up between Hofstra, Creighton and Missouri State versus the two that made it. Although relevant to the process, it was also a little justice to see Utah State get an at large bid a couple of years after being absolutely robbed of one. So I believe Mr. Littlepage's committee did an overall good job, for which Packer and Nantz could have been constructively critical or curious, but for which they both should have commended him.

So the games start for real on Thursday around 12:20 Eastern and for me the real height of excitement kicks off with BC's early tilt against Pacific. I love completing my bracket. I use the same green pen every year to enter my picks and the same blue pen to note all correct and incorrect picks (I know, I know a little neurotic but what can you do). And I relish this weekend of wall to wall basketball, with upsets and nailbiters and last second shots, even with complete blowouts, it cannot be beat for sports watching fun. Let's Go Eagles.

Hey All,
More to come on today's happenings once BC's seed and matchup are announced. My anticipation level is wicked high. I love this day. So in lieu of a post for the next few hours, here's a movie recommendation. Run, don't walk, to the movie theater to see Dave Chappelle's Block Party, the funniest movie I have seen in quite a while. Just an awesome, music-filled movie experience.
Que!

Hello readers (at this point, numbering my fiancee and myself),

Last night, BC won one of the most exciting, intense, physical games they have played in many years. BC defeated their formidable and highly rated opponent, the UNC Tarheels, by taking over the game from about the 2 minute mark of the first half through about the five minute mark of the second half and then holding on for dear life in the final 30 seconds. UNC swaggered as if they owned the building for most of the first half, with Wes Miller making 3 from exceedingly improbable distances. David Noel and Reyshawn Terry also were putting the pressure on and Tyler Hansborough was clawing to score points amid what often seemed like quadruple team coverage. BC's mental fortitude and desire were evident in how they swept away a 25-19 deficit smoothly and quickly and from there never let UNC move out of their sight. What a game. Even someone without a rooting interest in that game would have no choice but to be riveted by it. But for a BC fan and alum, hoping that my team could climb the mountain, prove their worthiness in the ACC tournament and stun what was basically the home team, this was a defining moment as a sports fan, the kind of win that I will savor and relish because of how impressive it was.

Now, BC moves on to face Duke, in what all scions of BC hoops hope will be an even more gratifying and invigorating win. BC can become ACC tournament champion in their first appearance in this revered, legendary tournament filled with stories of David Thompson, Michael Jordan and Christian Laettner and so many others. BC needs to play as confidently, efficiently and single-mindedly as they did yesterday, undeterred by the seeming road court disadvantage they clearly face. Craig Smith is playing like a first team All American in this tournament, with a near triple double on Friday and a tour de force, commanding 23 points, 15 board performance against UNC. He needs to play superb, physical basketball again today. John Oates and Sean Williams have to help him by working to stymie McRoberts and Williams as they did so well with Hansborough yesterday. This is going to be exciting. In their first meeting, BC had poise early, played erratic and sloppy in the middle of the game and fiercely came back to have a chance in the end. It was a fun yet frustrating game. Today, BC needs to continue to make the sound shot selections they have been making the last two days. The Eagles need to make the open three, find the cutters when Smith gets doubled, take advantage of offensive rebounding opportunities and shoot free throws well, which has been an elusive goal for them this year. And that is just on offense. On defense, BC needs to thwart J.J. Redick and the penetration of Paulus, they need to keep an eye on McRoberts and keep Shelden Williams out of good position. They need to dominate the defensive boards. They need to play well today, play the game they are clearly capable of. Today promises to be fun and enthralling, a day of potential, of brilliant memories and a springboard for NCAA tournament success for the Boston College Eagles. I cannot wait. Let's Go Eagles.