Study break: catching up on the ACC

There’s only one game in the ACC until Saturday (FIU at Maryland, Wednesday 7:30) with most schools smack dab in the middle of final exam week. Quite frankly, so am I. Consider this a study break.

We’re already full month into the season, as hard is that is to believe. So what have we learned so far about the ACC?

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1. North Carolina is vulnerable

Beyond any personnel issues we tried to extract from the Tar Heels in the preseason (i.e. point guard depth, three-point shooting), the chief concern for any team as heavily praised as Carolina was is always maintaining a competitive edge. Last season the Heels had something to prove. Kendall Marshall took over as the starting point guard immediately following a 20-point drubbing at the hands of Georgia Tech, which is right when most of the nation lost faith in the Heels to challenge for the ACC crown. All they did was rattle of 12 of their last 13 regular season games and finish the season in the Elite 8. That team had no shortage of motivation.

That’s what we thought would happen again this season. Tyler Zeller, Harrison Barnes and John Henson all spurned the NBA for the chance to win a national championship. There was a clear goal for this group, but spending eight months hearing about how unbeatable of you will get in anyone’s head. UNLV spanked the unsuspecting Heels in Las Vegas, then Kentucky held off Carolina by one point in Lexington the following week.

There’s no doubt that Carolina has what it takes to win the national championship. It’s going to take a much more concerted effort than what they’ve shown so far to make it happen, though. The Heels have been out-rebounded in five of their 10 games so far. That’s beyond unacceptable for a team boasting four future first-round draft picks in its front court. They’ll figure it out come tournament time, if not before, but Carolina fans are going to be subjected to some frustrating nights between now and then.

2. Virginia is the third best team in the ACC…at least

We all knew this was coming, we just weren’t sure it would be this soon. The Tony Bennett project is ahead of schedule in Charlottesville, thanks to a healthy Mike Scott and an incredible display of team defense thus far. The Cavaliers rank second nationally behind only Wisconsin (which, ironically enough, used to be coached by Bennett’s father Dick) in points allowed per game at 47.9.

The Wahoos made a statement in the ACC/Big 10 challenge by disposing of Michigan 70-58 at home. Tim Hardaway Jr., a future lottery pick for the Wolverines, was held to just five points on 2-of-9 shooting in that contest.

It’s not all about defense for Bennett’s club, though. The Cavs are third in the ACC in effective field goal percentage at 53.4 percent (just a hair behind UNC — 53.6). They are also tied for the second fewest turnovers per game in the league at 12.3. They aren’t shooting quite as well from three-point range this season (down to 34.8 percent from 38.8 last season), but they’re getting the ball to the rim this season and making their free throws. The Cavaliers lead the ACC by making 74.2 percent of their foul shots.

Bottom line is, Virginia is extremely balanced and very well-coached. The ‘Hoos are determined to contend for the conference title. It’s not out of the question to think Virginia could challenge Duke for the No. 2 spot in the league.

Scott made it very clear before the season started that he did not want to end his career without an NCAA Tournament appearance. It seems like he’s well on his way to making good on that goal.

3. Austin Rivers is too good for his own good

Now is an awful time to criticize Rivers, considering he was just named ACC Rookie of the Week for the second time this season. There’s no questioning the freshman’s supreme skill set – the dribble pull-up jumper, the lateral quickness, the explosiveness off the dribble – but it’s taken him some time to adjust to not only the college game, but how it operates when you’re wearing a Duke uniform.

Too often does Rivers clearly show an extreme overconfidence in his abilities. He has a nasty tendency to take the ball and turn the possession into an isolation against his defender. That’s not Duke’s style. He’s very good at beating his man off the dribble and creating a shot opportunity, but rarely is it the best possible shot that could come of the possession.

Rivers nearly cost the Blue Devils the game in their season opening one-point win against Belmont with several questionable decisions on offense in the final minutes. He has struggled to be a very efficient ball-handler thus far. Here’s a chart comparing his assists and turnovers game-by-game:

Opponent	Assists	Turnovers
Belmont	1	5
Presbyterian	6	0
Michigan State	1	2
Davidson	2	4
Tennessee	2	2
Michigan	3	2
Kansas	0	1
Ohio State	3	2
Colorado State	2	2
Washington	3	3

Take away the Presbyterian game, and Rivers has produced more assists than turnovers just once in nine games. Now, that’s not to say that Rivers hasn’t been an effective offensive player. He’s sixth in the ACC in points per 40 minutes (20.7) and leads Duke in scoring with 15.8 points per game. Andre Dawkins (Belmont) and Tyler Thornton (Kansas) have both nailed critical shots in late-game situations to help seal Devil victories, but Rivers is still the best option Duke has at creating his own shot.

As Rivers matures and learns to distribute the basketball more effectively, it will make himself and his team that much better. Duke has managed a brutal schedule with a 9-1 record, but the Blue Devils have a chance to be even better later in the year. Much of that hinges on the maturation of Rivers.

4. Boston College might be the worst ACC team ever

Just when it seemed the 2010-11 Wake Forest team had hit rock bottom, Boston College came around this season and one-upped them (or one-downed them?). The Eagles are off to a blistering 3-7 start that has included losses to Holy Cross (by 22 points), UMass (38 points) and Boston University (14 points). The Eagles did manage to win a thrilling battle against UC-Riverside 66-62 to snap a three-game losing streak.

I called this eight months ago. The Eagles lost nearly everything from last year, including Reggie Jackson, Joe Trapani, Corey Raji, Biko Paris and Josh Southern. Eight freshmen joined the team last season and the two top returners averaged 6.6 points per game last season.

Steve Donahue is in the midst of a complete overhaul of the program. It’s going to get very ugly before it gets any better. Fortunately, the bottom tier of the league is abysmal. If the Eagles can rally the troops, they may have a prayer against Maryland or Georgia Tech — maybe even Wake Forest! Even that is a stretch, however. I would be anything but surprised if Boston College loses every ACC game it plays this season.

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POWER RANKINGS (As of Tuesday, Dec. 12)

1. North Carolina (8-2)

2. Duke (9-1)

3. Virginia (8-1)

4. NC State (6-3)

5. Florida State (7-3)

6. Virginia Tech (6-3)

7. Wake Forest (6-4)

8. Miami (5-4)

9. Maryland (5-3)

10. Georgia Tech (6-4)

11. Clemson (4-4)

12. Boston College (3-7)

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ALL-ACC TEAM

Kendall Marshall, UNC (5 PPG, 10.2 APG*, 2.6 RPG)

Terrell Stoglin, Maryland (22.5 PPG*, 1.8 APG, 3.3 RPG)

Travis McKie, Wake Forest (18.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.1 SPG)

John Henson, UNC (15 PPG, 10.6 RPG*, 3.3 BPG*)

Mike Scott, Virginia (15.3 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.8 APG)

*Leads ACC

–

MVP: John Henson

Rookie of the Year: Austin Rivers, Duke (15.8 PPG, 2.3 APG, 42.1 3-pt %)

Defensive MVP: John Henson

Coach of the Month: Tony Bennett, Virginia

State of the Program: Boston College

It’s officially college football preview time. After some much-needed nudging by Tomahawk Nation, my first series of blog posts concerning the upcoming season will be to go over each program in the ACC with a fine-toothed comb.

Among criteria in reviewe:

• Financial situation
• Recruiting
  • Location
  • Facilities
  • Tradition
  • Rational postseason expectations
  • Coaching staff stability
  • Fan base

Those are not by-the-book rules, but will serve as basic guidelines as I try to set the record straight for all 12 schools. Hopefully this will give everyone a better idea of what a realistic expectation is for everyone going forward.

We’ll go in alphabetical order, starting with our friends up north…

Boston College

Somehow, the Eagles have been able to produce a consistently competitive football team despite severe recruiting restrictions and academic requirements. Boston College is a private school, making it much more difficult to recruit athletes with poor grades. Public institutions do not have nearly as much trouble doing so. Look at other private schools in BCS conferences. Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Baylor, Duke, and Stanford have all struggled to consistently sustain success – some more than others. It also severely limits the volume of alumni that can donate to the program. Being a private school immediately puts you behind the 8-ball.

Boston College’s location is another factor that should keep them from being competitive. First of all, Chesnut Hill, Mass. is 430 miles from the next closest school in the ACC. A major factor in recruiting (when you are not elite) is being able to play as many games within close proximity to home as possible, so friends and family have a chance to watch them play.

The Eagles rose as high as No. 2 in the polls during Matt Ryan's senior season in 2007

The other detractor about the Eagles’ location is having to compete in a pro sports market. Boston has won more professional sports championships this decade than any other city. It’s not hard to pack Gillette Stadium or TD Garden, but Alumni Stadium is another story. The game day environment at Alumni Stadium just can’t stack up with those at Clemson, Virginia Tech, and much of the ACC. They have Miami beat, but the Eagles and Hurricanes aren’t exactly going toe-to-toe for prospects.

So how did the Eagles win eight straight bowl games from 2000-2007 and play in two ACC Championship Games in 2007-08? First off, Tom O’Brien did  marvelous job of saving the program from the depths of obscurity after a gambling scandal ravaged the program in 1996. Also, the coaching staff is full of spectacular recruiters. From 2006-2011, the Eagles reeled in 14 four-star recruits, according to Rivals.com. Jeff Jagodzinski, who infamously left the program after interviewing for the New York Jets’ head coaching job, was a spectacular recruiter and Frank Spaziani has kept up the pace.

Hiring Spaziani to replace Jagodzinski was a brilliant one by Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo. Spaziani had been the defensive coordinator from 1999-2008 before his promotion. Coaching staff stability is the most underrated factor in maintaining a successful football program, just ask Virginia Tech. When Jagodzinski left, the Eagles’ looked to be taking on water, but Spaziani has kept them afloat.

Should Eagles’ fans expect more ACC Championship Game appearances in the near future? Probably not. The biggest obstacle in their path is Florida State, who appears on the verge of taking a stranglehold on the mediocre conference for years to come. It’s hard to imagine the Eagles keeping up with the Seminoles in the Atlantic Division, but that’s anything but an indictment on Spaziani and company.

Boston College has proven it can make noise on the national stage from time to time. All it takes is another Matt Ryan for the Eagles to make a good run. I say all it takes like all-pro quarterbacks grow on trees…it’s not that simple, obviously. That said, the Eagles should always have a solid foundation to build upon, and if the right kind of star makes his way through the program it can take them to the next level for a year or two.

For now, the Eagles should be content with perennial 8-4 seasons, with a 10-win season sprinkled in every now and then.

Cancer survivor Mark Herzlich eager to return to football

It’s been a long time since December 31, 2008.

That was the last time Mark Herzlich made a tackle, in a 16-14 Boston College loss to Vanderbilt in the Music City Bowl.

Now, with less than six weeks left until the 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year’s return to the football field, Herzlich is both grateful for the chance to play again, but also anxious for that day to come.

After overcoming Ewing’s Sarcoma, which affected his left leg and eventually led to a steel rod placed down his shin, Herzlich was not allowed to participate in any contact drills this spring. When practice begins on Aug. 9, he fully expects to crunch those pads once again.

“I’m anticipating it and very excited for it,” Herzlich said.

The biggest question concerning Herzlich’s health centers around his leg.

“Most of the risks come with the stability of my bone,” he said, “Right now we feel that it is very strong.”

If the leg does in fact break at some point – which doctors say is no more likely than any other regular leg break – the healing process would be much more arduous and could end his career for good.

“It will have a very hard time healing because of all the radiation damage and the chemo damage, but I can’t play overcautiously” Herzlich said.

Playing without fear is a trademark of the Herzlich of old, and no matter what he says now, will be a difficult mindset to maintain when he first returns.

During his time away from the field, Herzlich underwent several life-changing experiences.

At the ACC Media Kickoff, he was sporting three rubber-band bracelets, each with an inspiring message.

One read “P.U.S.H.”, which stands for Pray Until Something Happens.

“I don’t know where I got it, I got it in the mail from somebody,” Herzlich said, “I was never a very religious person before this experience…every night I prayed that I’d beat cancer and that I’d be able to come back and play football again”

Another of the bands read “Team Mark Herzlich,” which was made for him by former teammate Cody Beck, whose father also battled cancer.

The last bracelet was a bright blue band promoting a website for Uplifting Athletes, a foundation found at many schools across the country dedicated to raising money to fight several kinds of diseases. After the program reached Boston College and focused on Herzlich’s battle, $220,000 were raised during the 2009 season to fight Ewing’s Sarcoma.

With a story so inspiring, Herzlich has been bombarded with questions and attention rarely pertaining to football for the past year and a half. Throughout the process, he’s been as down-to-earth with the attention as anyone could be.

He’s befriended fellow ACC standout linebacker Alex Wujciack from Maryland. They mostly communicate through facebook, but have had a chance to spend time together this weekend in Greensboro.

“What happens to him, it just makes you appreciate stuff more. But he’s a real cool dude,” Wujciak said.

Real cool dude, huh? Yeah, I’d say going from the most feared linebacker in America to hearing doctors tell you that you may never run again to beating all the odds to play football once more gives you some definite Cool Guy Points.

Some of the athletes Herzlich has looked to who have overcome medical hardship to return to sports and thrive are Tedy Bruschi and Lance Armstrong. Bruschi, a former New England Patriots’  linebacker who returned from a stroke to play in a Super Bowl made a direct connection with Herzlich.

“I look at those guys and I say, ‘those guys did it, why not me?” he said.

In a world when most people with his same situation would simply ask “why me?” that’s what makes Herzlich a one-in-a-million character.

Consistently polite throughout the barrage of questions from the media, he only cut off a reporter once, when he began to ask how likely it was Herzlich would play against Weber State in the season opener on September 4.

“I’ll be there.”

When is make-or-break time for ACC’s contenders?

There comes a time for every college football team that defines their season. It can be a brutal non-conference slate in September or a string of games against divisional rivals that will dictate where that team will finish in the standings.

The ACC has ramped up its non-conference schedule for 2010. Combining that with the fact that as many as eight teams have a legitimate shot at making it to Charlotte for the conference title game, nobody has an easy road to glory this year.

I’ve taken a look at each of those eight teams’ schedules and circled a three or four-game stretch for each as the key to their season. Some teams have more than one monstrous stretch, while a couple lucky teams managed to find their toughest games spread throughout the year.

Boston College

Sept. 25 – Virginia Tech

Oct. 2 – Notre Dame

Oct. 9 – at NC State

Oct. 16 – at FSU

After a couple yawn-inducing tune-ups against Weber State and Kent State, the Eagles hit the meat of their schedule quickly. Head coach Frank Spaziani better have his quarterback situation straightened out by then, because the Hokies’ defense will show no mercy on whoever’s in the pocket.

Notre Dame is a pivotal rivalry game that will have plenty riding upon it. The Irish will be looking to springboard themselves to a resurgent season, while the Eagles will be looking to carry some momentum into a huge two-game Atlantic Division stretch.

The road game against the Wolfpack is tricky, and I believe to be the single most important game on the Eagles’ schedule. Right now the Atlantic appears to be Florida State’s to lose, with Clemson, NC State and Boston College vying to be the Noles’ top challenger. Whoever loses that Oct. 9 game can probably kiss its conference hopes goodbye.

If Boston College escapes Raleigh with a win, they’ll need to pull off the upset in Tallahassee, a location where the Eagles have yet to lose since joining the ACC. We’ll know a lot about both teams by the time of that game, and it could either be a signature game in the division race, or just your average mid-October matchup.

Clemson

Sept. 18 – at Auburn

Oct. 2 – Miami

Oct. 9 – at North Carolina

The Tigers won’t truly be tested until the third week of the season, when they head on down to Jordan-Hare stadium for what will be a frenetic environment. It’s a damn good thing they’ve got a couple warm-up test, too, because coach Dabo Swinney will likely have to prep new quarterback Tajh Boyd during that time.

Auburn will be the first time we’ll find out what Clemson is really all about this year. If it is indeed Boyd under center, and he struggles, it could foreshadow a long, depressing autumn in Clemson. If he somehow leads Clemson to a huge road win, it could spark the Tigers on a good run.

Two weeks later, Miami pays Clemson a visit in a rematch of last year’s 40-37 overtime thriller that went the way of the Tigers. The Hurricanes haven’t forgotten that loss, so they will bring the fire to Clemson all night long if they can. The speed of Miami’s defense will make Auburn’s look like an electric football outfit.

Finally, the trip to North Carolina will make or break Clemson’s season. It’s feasible to think the Tigers could be on a two-game losing streak heading into this affair, making it imperative that Clemson doesn’t fall to 2-3 and 0-2 in the ACC. This game will either be to save a season on the brink, or to propel the Tigers at an Atlantic Division chase.

Florida State

Oct. 9 – at Miami

Oct. 16 – Boston College

Oct. 28 – at NC State (Thurs.)

I flirted with picking the opening month of the season for the Seminoles, who travel to Oklahoma a week before taking on BYU at home. However, those games are sandwiched between lock wins against Samford and Wake Forest, and I’ll be shocked if BYU comes into Tallahassee with a true freshman quarterback and beats Christian Ponder and Co.

I picked these three games because quite honestly, it looks like a trap for Jimbo Fisher’s team. The road game with Miami is obviously huge, but Boston College’s success at Florida State has already been noted, and the Wolfpack have a good enough offense to challenge the Seminoles to an old fashioned shootout – not to mention the advantage of a Thursday night home game.

The ‘Noles schedule is not too destructive. Their three toughest contests are in three separate months. While it’s good not to face a string of giants in a row, it could also lull the Seminoles and their rookie coaching staff to sleep, and if they do, you can bet the Eagles and the ‘Pack will be waiting.

Georgia Tech

Oct. 23 – at Clemson

Nov. 4 – at Virginia Tech (Thurs.)

Nov. 13 – Miami

As you’ll see below, the end of October and month of November is the deciding stretch of the season in the Coastal Division race. Of the top four contenders in the division, only Georgia Tech and North Carolina will have already met before October 23.

The Jackets need to make sure they don’t slip up on the road to Clemson, because they could conceivably make it to November with a perfect record intact.

Assuming they have zero or one loss in the ACC heading into November, the Jackets will control their own destiny entering consecutive games against the Hokies and Hurricanes.

Virginia Tech has not stopped the rushing attack of Georgia Tech since Paul Johnson took over, and the Hokies’ seemingly unflappable mentality on Thursday nights has wilted in recent years. That said, it’s going to be an uphill battle for Georgia Tech to stop the only team in the league with a better platoon of running backs than itself.

The Miami game will be a tough end to that stretch, and could possibly be for Tech’s conference title lives. The ‘Canes still have a game with Virginia Tech the following week, so a lot will be on the line November 13 as we try to figure out just who’s going to win the Coastal.

Miami

Sept. 11 – at Ohio State

Sept. 23 – at Pittsburgh (Thurs.)

Oct. 2 – at Clemson

Oct. 9 – Florida State

Remember this? Miami wishes it didn't.

Just like a year ago, Miami can waste not afford an early-season funk. The Ohio State and Pittsburgh games could both be the biggest of the week across the country. The Buckeyes are a consensus top-five team, while Pittsburgh boasts one of the best running backs in the country (sophomore Dion Lewis) and is the preseason favorite to win the Big East.

The ‘Canes started very strong a year ago, going 3-1 against four straight ranked opponents to begin the season, which head coach Randy Shannon will definitely remind his players about to give them confidence again. This is the most talented team Miami has had since it joined the ACC, but it hasn’t proved to be the most focused one.

Inconsistency plagued the Hurricanes in 2009, and usually one poor outing led to another or two. It’s not crazy to think Miami could start the year 1-3, but they could just the same go 4-0. I’d expect about the same results as last season, where a 3-1 start would have people anointing the ‘Canes as a national title darkhorse.

North Carolina

Sept. 4 – LSU (in Atlanta)

Sept. 18 – Georgia Tech

Sept. 25 – at Rutgers

The season opener against the Tigers is the most highly anticipated Tar Heel football game in more than a decade. With a win, it could also serve as the most beneficial. Butch Davis has his Tar Heels on the brink of a special run as a program, starting with this season and his NFL look-alike defense. The Heels should eat erratic LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson for lunch, the only problem is they might get something similar in return.

Carolina has no idea if T.J. Yates can run the show this year or not, and despite the fan’s urging to start the future now with super freshman Bryn Renner, a season opening game against an SEC team is not the best play to trot a rookie out under center.

With all of the hype surrounding this Carolina football team, it could quickly evaporate if the Heels don’t show up to play in September. Georgia Tech would love nothing more than to start the Heels’ ACC season on the wrong foot and derail the hopes of their fans very quickly.

Rutgers is the sleeper team in the Big East, and a tough team to beat on the road. Ever heard of Tom Savage? If you answered no, you’ll know him soon enough. The sophomore quarterback for the Scarlet Knights is a star in the making, and his best target is a sophomore standout, too. Mohamed Sanu has the potential to be an All-American sooner rather than later. They’ll put that star-studded UNC defense to the test.

North Carolina State

Sept. 16 – Cincinnati

Sept. 25 – at Georgia Tech

Oct. 2 – Virginia Tech

Oct. 9 – Boston College

The Wolfpack are by no means the favorite to make it to Charlotte in December, but they could also surprise some people if their defense shows marked improvement. If they can emerge as a threat for the Atlantic title, they’d have to somehow make it through this four-game gauntlet alive.

Cincinnati comes to Raleigh for a Thursday night affair, but the ‘Pack will be coming off a game just five days prior. That’s not a lot of time to prepare for Bearcats’ quarterback Zach Collaros and his high-octane attack. This is not the same Cincinnati team as the past couple of years, but the Bearcats still have enough juice in the tank to make that game a high-scoring battle.

Between the next three games, the Wolfpack have to win at least one and probably two of those to have any hope of contending in the Atlantic Division. Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech pose a tough issue for a depleted NC State defense with their dominant rushing attacks. An upset between those two games is necessary.

Boston College visits Raleigh in a game that will likely eliminate one team from the Atlantic race.

It’s been a slower than expected rebuilding process for Tom O’Brien at NC State, but it does seem like he’s beginning to turn a corner. He’s running out of time, though, and this early season slate sets up for a potential catastrophe.

Virginia Tech

Nov. 4 – Georgia Tech (Thurs.)

Nov. 13 – at North Carolina

Nov. 20 – at Miami

A lot of folks are pointing to the Hokies’ season opener against Boise State at FedEx Field as the pivotal point in the year. It’s a fair assumption, given the magnitude of such early season showdowns the Hokies have played in recent memory. However, if Virginia Tech wants to play for a national title, it will have to manage the most difficult three-game stretch in the ACC this season.

The three teams in this stretch are arguably the best in the ACC, besides the Hokies. Georgia Tech comes to Blacksburg on a Thursday night, when the Hokies usually dominate. However, the visiting team has won two of the last three Thursday night games in Blacksburg. Beating the Yellow Jackets will be a difficult task to kick off the month of death for the Hokies.

North Carolina stole the game against the Hokies last season, thanks to a Ryan Williams fumble and Casey Barth last-second field goal. This year, the Hokies won’t forget the empty feeling of that night. Oddly enough, this year’s Tar Heel bunch strongly resembles the typical Virginia Tech outfit: shaky offense, speedy and ferocious defense. I like the Hokies in this game, but who knows what I’ll think when both teams have nine games under their belt.

The Miami game has a chance to be a de facto ACC semifinal game, if the two teams control their own conference destiny. It’s the Hurricanes’ final conference game, and the Hokies have downtrodden Virginia at home the following week. Neither team has a gentle path to this date, but on the outset it has the potential for a monumental showdown like the games from the early 2000’s in this series.

Virginia battles back to beat Boston College in ACC Tournament opener

The Virginia Cavaliers are arguably the nation’s best college baseball team, but they were tested in the first game of the ACC Tournament.

Thanks to a three-run eighth inning, Virginia beat Boston College 6-4 at NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro, NC.

Through the first seven innings, the Cavaliers’ offense struggled to get going, managing only two hits off Eagles’ pitcher Pat Dean. Those weren’t just your average pair of hits. Both were home runs; a two-run shot by Dan Grovatt in the first inning, and a solo homer from Phil Gosselin in the third.

Virginia led 3-1 until the top of the seventh inning, when the Eagles began the inning with three straight hits, prompting Virginia to bring in pitcher Tyler Wilson to relieve Cody Winiarski.

Before Winiarski left the game, he gave up a two-run homer by John Spatola that tied the game at three.

The first batter Wilson faced was Mike Sudol. Sudol doubled to right field, scoring the go-ahead run.

No further damage was done, but the momentum had completely shifted to the Eagles’ side. With a one-run lead and a pitcher who hadn’t allowed a hit since the third inning, it was as close to a perfect situation as they could ask for.

Dean retired the side in the bottom of the seventh, and the Eagles went scoreless in their half of the eighth.

In the bottom of the eighth, Virginia finally proved its’ billing as a national title contender.

With their backs against the wall, the Cavaliers pushed Dean out of the game with a leadoff walk. A sacrifice bunt by Keith Werman moved the tying run into scoring position. The small-ball tactics were hardly necessary though, because the next three batters all reached safely and loaded the bases with a tie score.

The Eagles switched pitchers again, this time replacing Taylor Lasko with Matt Brazis. Brazis struck out Steven Proscia, but Jarrett Parker came up next and drove in two runners with a line drive single up the middle.

The late-inning rally was enough to keep Virginia on top, despite an inspired last-gasp effort from Boston College.

The Eagles had runners on second and third base when Matt Watson struck out to end the game.

With the win, Virginia is right where they should be at 1-0 in Pool A. Boston College would need a miracle to make the championship game.

Miami and Florida State are set to get under way at 4 p.m.

ACC Baseball Tournament Preview

The ACC Baseball Tournament gets under way Wednesday at noon with Virginia vs. Boston College

It’s finally here!

The ACC Baseball Tournament is ready to go Wednesday, where as many as six teams have a legitimate shot at winning the title.

Last season, Virginia came from the sixth seed to win the conference, and turned that into a College World Series berth.

The league is as strong as it’s ever been. Clemson, which is the top seed in Division B, is the lowest ranked of the six ACC teams in Baseball America’s Top 25.

It’s going to be hard to confidently project the results of the week, but I’m sure as hell gonna try.

Division A

#1 Virginia

The Cavaliers virtually went wire-to-wire during the ACC season as the best team in the conference. They are ranked first in the country by Baseball America and are a lock to be one of eight top seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

They open the tournament Wednesday at noon against eighth seed Boston College. The Cavaliers swept the Eagles during the regular season.

UVA coach –and ACC Coach of the Year – Brian O’Connor said he would start Cody Winiarski on the mound in this game. Winiarski went 5-0 with a 4.23 ERA this season.

The Cavaliers will then face Florida State at 4 p.m. Thursday. The two teams met in the first conference series of the season in early March, with Virginia taking two of three from the Seminoles.

Phil Gosselin is the star of Virginia’s offense. He was named first team All-ACC, the only position player on the Cavs’ roster to earn such honors. Gosselin was very impressive, especially towards the end of the regular season. He batted .379 with seven home runs, 21 doubles and 49 RBI. He also stole 15 bases.

Danny Hultzen will rest the first two games, and unless Virginia is in a must-win situation against Miami on Saturday, he will pitch in the championship game. The ACC Pitcher of the Year finished with a 2.08 ERA – nearly a full point better than the next best pitcher in the league.

#4 Miami

The Hurricanes are a team carried by a small group of players. The most important player for Miami is catcher Yasmani Grandal. He earned ACC Player of the Year honors by leading the league with a .428 batting average, 13 home runs and 54 RBI. Grandal is far and away the most complete hitter in the conference.

Miami has a lot to play for this weekend. They are slated to host an NCAA Regional, according to ESPN, but that would evade the ‘Canes grasp with a poor showing in Greensboro.

They could surely use that home-field advantage. They had an 18-game home winning streak snapped in the second game of their series with Virginia last week.

It’s going to be a tough opener for the ‘Canes. Freshman pitcher Chris Whaley will make his second career start against the Seminoles on Wednesday. In 26 appearances this year, Whaley is 4-1 with a 4.58 ERA. He has plenty of innings of worked, but putting him up against Florida State with so much on the line is risky.

Miami doesn’t have much choice, though. Eric Erickson, a usual starter, will miss the tournament with an elbow injury.

Chris Hernandez, a first team all-conference pitcher, will start against Boston College on Thursday. That should be enough for Miami to feel comfortable about that game. Which leaves the all-important game Saturday against Virginia.

Miami lost the series to Virginia last week, and the one game it won was in extra innings. For a team that doesn’t play nearly as well away from home, it will need a magical performance to emerge from the division on top.

#5 Florida State

The Seminoles have to be careful not to let a late-season slide carry over into Greensboro. A week ago, Florida State expected to be the top seed in Division B as champions of the Atlantic Division. Instead, the ‘Noles went to Clemson and got whipped by the Tigers.

Three straight losses relegated Florida State to this division, where two of the three teams will be top seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

That being said, the Seminoles went 5-4 during the regular season against the other teams in the division. They lost twice to Virginia, but took two of three from Miami and Boston College.

However, Miami led in 25 of the 27 innings against Florida State this year, and the Hurricanes are hungry to prove their worth. It’s going to be a grind-it-out kind of weekend for the Seminoles.

Florida State bats .296 as a team, virtually the same as Boston College and Miami, who bat .295 each. Virginia is light years ahead of all three at .335.

The Seminoles have a good chance to beat Miami using a young pitcher. However, the ‘Noles pitching staff posted a horrid 13.09 ERA against Clemson, killing any momentum the team could have had.

Boston College could be tricky, because the Eagles are on the NCAA bubble (I thought I wouldn’t have to use that word for 10 more months dammit!).

If the Seminoles can slide past Miami on Wednesday, they have a chance to make the finals. If they have a poor showing for the fourth straight game, count them out.

#8 Boston College

As mentioned before, the Eagles will be fighting for their NCAA Tournament lives this week. ESPN pegs them as one of the final five at-large teams that will make the field.

The Eagles went 1-8 against the other teams in the division, not a convincing statistic.

They are only in the tournament after the third tiebreaker ruled them ahead of North Carolina for the final seed in the tournament.

The Eagles’ team ERA is the second worst in the league at 6.58. Thankfully for them, they avoided the more offensively potent division which includes Georgia Tech and Clemson, but there is still little proof their pitching staff can contain the likes of Virginia, Miami and Florida State.

Not only is the defense suspect, but the Eagles’ bats are in the bottom half of the league in nearly every significant category. They scored the least amount of runs of any team in the tournament, which kind of makes you wonder how they made it this far.

Off the hate train now, but at best the Eagles will win one game this weekend, and that’s if Florida State is in the dumps.

DIVISION B

#2 Clemson

There’s no better feeling in sports than to be red-hot heading into the postseason. That’s exactly what the Tigers are, coming off an emotional sweep of Florida State at home to clinch the Atlantic Division.

On a side note, Clemson became the first school in the expansion era of the ACC to win its division in both football and baseball.

While we’re on the subject of the two sports, Kyle Parker is not only the leader on the gridiron, but on the diamond as well.

Parker tied for the conference lead with 18 home runs. He also batted at a .373 clip and drove in 56 runs, which was third on the team.

Jeff Schaus led the league with 71 RBI, and John Hinson was seventh with 60.

Needless to say, the Tigers can score runs in bunches.

They avoid facing Deck McGuire, the Georgia Tech ace, and will face Matthew Price, the third best starter for Virginia Tech.

I really like Clemson right now. They scored the third most runs in the league, and they are playing very well. This division is chock full of offensive prowess, and Clemson is well equipped for some slugfests.

If it comes down to pitching, Clemson is in a bit of trouble. The Tigers’ staff is only average, and when they faced Georgia Tech earlier this year, the Jackets scored 23 runs in three games, all won by Tech.

Expect the Tigers to be in some high-scoring affairs every day.

#3 Georgia Tech

Talent-wise, Georgia Tech has the best chance outside of Virginia to win this tournament. The Jackets are absolutely loaded offensively and have a couple knockout pitchers on their side.

The problem with Tech is inconsistency.

The Yellow Jackets dropped a series at home to Virginia Tech during the regular season and did the same at North Carolina State, but they did sweep Clemson.

You just never know which Georgia Tech ball club will show up. The Yellow Jackets have won nine of their last 11 games, though.

Tony Plagman is a monster at first base. He tied with Parker for the league lead in home rusn, and bats clean-up for a lineup that produced 111 home runs in 55 games.

That’s a two-home run per game average. They won’t have any trouble getting people across the plate.

Deck McGuire is going to take the mound in game one on Thursday night against Virginia Tech. McGuire is rated as the best pro prospect in the ACC, and has the best control of perhaps any pitcher in the country.

If Georgia Tech puts together a solid weekend of baseball, they should expect to be playing on Sunday. That’s a big if.

#6 Virginia Tech

The Hokies are the only team coming into the tournament from this division not on a hot streak. Tech dropped its last four games to end the season, including a sweep at the hands of North Carolina.

To be fair, the Heels were playing for their postseason lives, and are much more talented than just about any team sitting at home already.

Still, there are several question marks surrounding the Hokies entering Greensboro.

Jesse Hahn, the usual Sunday starting pitcher, has struggled since returning from an elbow injury. He has started in two of the last four losses for Tech, and coach Pete Hughes wants to rest him until a potential championship game appearance.

Hahn will be ready to pitch Saturday against N.C. State if it is necessary.

Tech has a strong lineup, fitting in well with the rest of the division. The pitching staff is also fairly deep, as noted by strong play in the month without Hahn.

There is probably not a more balanced team in the league in terms of good hitting and good pitching, with the exception of Virginia.

Austin Wates and Steve Domecus are the leaders on offense. They are both near the top of the conference in terms of batting average and runs batted in.

The Hokies might have the best bench of any team in the league, which could prove vital in tight ball games when situational hitting is crucial.

The Hokies were swept by Clemson early in the year, but did win the series against Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

The injury to Hahn is tough, but the Hokies’ two best pitchers left will face Georgia Tech and Clemson. While they could win both of those, a realistic scenario is a split of those two games and a chance to clinch the division against the Wolfpack on Saturday night.

#7 North Carolina State

Despite being seeded low, the Wolfpack scored more runs than anyone else in the ACC this year with 532. The number wouldn’t have been as high had they not slammed LaSalle for 65 runs in three games to open the season.

In all seriousness, though, they have a good enough offense to make a run this week.

They were the only team to beat Virginia in a series this season, winning 6-5 in 11 innings on Friday, then 7-6 on Sunday, April 4 in the rubber match.

They also took two of three from Georgia Tech late in the year, which was the beginning of a stretch where the ‘Pack won 10 of 13 games to end the regular season.

Just like Georgia Tech and Clemson, the Wolfpack are playing well at the right time.

Outfielder Drew Poulk is the offensive star for a powerful lineup. He batted .367 on the year with 13 home runs and 67 RBI.

The Wolfpack have the look of a team that could surprise some people this weekend, as they have on several occasions this season. They play their best baseball against their toughest competition, which means the rest of their division will be in for a battle.

If they can get consistent pitching for their second and third starters, there’s no reason the Wolfpack can’t sneak up and win a wide-open division.

Here are my predictions for how the weekend will unfold:

DIV. A	UVA	MIAMI	FSU	BC	Total
UVA		Virginia	Virginia	Virginia	3-0
MIAMI	Virginia		Florida St.	Miami	1-2
FSU	Virginia	Florida St.		Florida St	2-1
BC	Virginia	Miami	Florida St.		0-3
Total	3-0	1-2	2-1	0-3

DIV. B	CLEM	GT	VT	NC ST	Total
CLEM.		Clemson	Va. Tech	Clemson	2-1
GT	Clemson		Ga. Tech	NC State	1-2
VT	Va Tech	Ga Tech		Va Tech	2-1
NC ST	Clemson	NC State	Va Tech		1-2
Total	2-1	1-2	2-1	1-2

Finals: VIRGINIA over Virginia Tech

Crucial games across the board in baseball’s final weekend

It all comes down to this.

The ACC baseball regular season concludes on Saturday, and nobody really knows much about how things are going to end up.

No team has locked up a certain position for next week’s conference tournament, and nine teams are still eligible for the final eight spots.

The top two teams in the standings are going to battle, and two of the three teams that have already been eliminated from postseason play are meeting up, meaning that eight of the nine teams still with a chance to make the tournament are playing each other.

That should make for an interesting weekend.

Virginia (43-9, 21-6) at Miami (38-13, 19-8)

Thursday’s probable starters – UVA: Danny Hultzen (7-1, 1.98 ERA); Miami: Jason Santana (5-3, 5.86 ERA)

Friday’s probable starters – UVA: Robert Morey (8-2, 3.30 ERA); Miami: Chris Hernandez (8-2, 3.04 ERA)

Saturday’s probable staters – UVA: Cody Winiarski (5-0, 4.30 ERA); Miami: Eric Erickson (4-1, 2.52 ERA)

The Cavaliers enter Miami needing only one victory to clinch the regular season conference championship. This series pits the teams with the two best earned run averages in the league. Hultzen is the most dominant pitcher the conference has to offer, and Morey is coming off a complete game three-h

itter against North Carolina last weekend. The Cavaliers, who are ranked No. 1 in the country according to Baseball America, have a great offense top-to-bottom, led by second baseman Phil Gosselin. Gosselin is second in the league with a. 386 batting average; he has also stolen 15 bases.

There’s a very good chance Virginia will take at least one game in this series, despite playing in a tough environment on the road. The Miami fans are notoriously ruthless, but that won’t bother the Cavs, who are one of the favorites to win the national championship.

Virginia Tech (36-16, 16-11) at North Carolina (33-20, 11-16)

Thursday’s probables – VT: Justin Wright (7-3, 3.14 ERA); UNC: Matt Harvey (6-3, 2.72 ERA)

Friday’s probables – VT: Matthew Price (7-3, 4.74 ERA); UNC: Chris Munnelly (2-2, 5.06 ERA)

Saturday’s probables – VT: Jesse Hahn (5-3, 3.06 ERA); UNC: Patrick Johnson (5-3, 3.53 ERA)

This series has the most impact of any taking place this weekend in the conference. North Carolina is one game behind NC State for the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament, while Virginia Tech has a chance to move up to as high as third place in the league by Saturday.

The Tar Heels’ biggest concern is the fact that the Wolfpack are playing Duke, one of the three teams with no shot at the conference tournament. The ‘Pack likely won’t lose that series, so the Heels need a sweep of the Hokies realistically to have a chance at the postseason.

Virginia Tech on the other hand, trails Miami and Georgia Tech by three games in the standings. The Hurricanes could possibly be swept by Virginia (though not likely if Virginia clinches the conference by winning the first or second game). Georgia Tech is on the road against Boston College, a team the Hokies swept at the end of April. Right on the Hokies’ heels is Clemson, which is one game back from fifth place. If Tech falters in Chapel Hill, the Tigers could jump up to fifth place – they earn the tiebreaker between the Hokies.

North Carolina is coming off an emotional series at Virginia. The Cavaliers swept the Heels in three low-scoring affairs. Two of those games ended in walk-off hits. Harvey pitches with great command and is very good at getting batters out. He can get himself out of trouble and make it look easy.

Tech catcher Steve Domecus was named co-player of the week in the ACC this past weekend for his play against Duke. Domecus had at least three hits in every game against the Blue Devils, including four RBI in an 18-8 win on Saturday.

This series is crucial to both teams entering Thursday, and depending on how other games around the league turn out, it could change the landscape of this matchup as the weekend unfolds.

Other notable games

Georgia Tech (42-10, 19-8) at Boston College (28-24, 13-14)

There’s one statistic that speaks volumes about how explosive the Georgia Tech offense is. The Yellow Jackets have hit more home runs this season than Duke, North Carolina and Maryland combined. Tech is one of the more up-and-down teams in the league, and that inconsistency will surely plague them if it carries over into the postseason. However, Boston College’s pitching is less than stellar, and it’s hard to imagine them containing the powerful Tech lineup.

Player to watch: Deck McGuire, SP Georgia Tech

McGuire is the Yellow Jackets’ ace, with a 7-3 record and a 2.91 ERA. He is a projected first-round pick in next month’s MLB draft. When he’s on the mound, it’s hard to beat Georgia Tech. He was on the hill last weekend when Tech thumped Miami 14-3.

If Miami can sweep Virginia and Tech takes all three from Boston College, the Jackets would earn the top seed in the conference tournament. A strong start to the series would be ideal, and McGuire usually does a good job of that.

Florida State (39-13, 18-9) at Clemson (34-19, 15-12)

The top two teams in the Atlantic Division (which literally means nothing) meet up with Clemson needing a sweep to take the top seed in Division B for next week’s tournament.

Both teams are right in the middle of the league in terms of offense, and Florida State has better pitching. The Seminoles are a much better team at home than on the road, and Clemson is not an easy place to get road wins.

Keep an eye on the Tigers’ Kyle Parker, who is tied for the league lead with 18 home runs. He is the heart of the Clemson lineup, and the most powerful hitter in the ACC. How he finishes the season this week and in the postseason will go a long way in determining his pro baseball draft status, which will ultimately determine whether he returns to the football field next fall.

It’s going to be a great weekend to follow ACC baseball, and it’s very possible the standings will look nothing on Saturday night like they do Thursday morning. Hopefully a weekend of exciting baseball will be a precursor to next week in Greensboro.

Post-spring football wrap-up disguised as power rankings

1. Virginia Tech

The Hokies’ biggest issue coming out of spring is an injury-plagued offensive line. Two projected starters missed a majority of the spring with injury, and several others missed practices.

With an offense loaded with experience and talent at the skill positions, all Tech needs is an adequate offensive line and it should score points in bunches.

Most of the starting positions on a revamped defense have been solidified, with a few lingering question marks at free safety and defensive end. It was a productive spring for a defense replacing seven starters.

2.Miami

Quarterback Jacory Harris sat out spring practice while recovering from a thumb injury, which hurts Miami because of the lackluster fashion in which he finished last season. He will be completely healthy by the fall, but he could have used three weeks of practice to work out the kinks from the end of 2009.

The offensive line struggled in the first couple scrimmages before having its strongest performance of the spring in the spring game. Much of the talk surround the Hurricanes is their speed on the outside. Some people say this is the fastest Miami team in nearly a decade.

Miami fans might worry about their team’s defense after the final score of the spring games was 58-53. That’s a bunch of points for a shortened game. However, most people around the program aren’t putting much stock into that number, and the defense should be one of the best in the conference.

3. Georgia Tech

I refuse to put Georgia Tech any lower than this; no matter how much NFL talent it lost. Paul Johnson proved the past few years that his teams can beat anyone.

Roddy Jones and Anthony Allen will be a force in the backfield despite the loss of Jonathan Dwyer.

Josh Nesbitt will be back for his third year in Johnson’s offense, which just means he will operate it even better than before. There’s much to learn about this offense that there is always room for improvement, and having a third-year starting quarterback running the show will make Tech very tough.

4. North Carolina

The story of the spring in Chapel Hill was the uncertainty at quarterback. Incumbent starter T.J. Yates has seemingly regressed since a promising freshman season, and this might be the year he loses his job.

Bryn Renner made a favorable impression on both the coaching staff and the fan base with an exceptional spring. Renner was the talk of the spring game, completing 15 of 21 passes with a touchdown and two interceptions. His mobility inside and outside of the pocket is a huge advantage over Yates.

If the Tar Heels can settle on one quarterback – preferably the right one – and solidify the running game, the defense will win them most of their games.

The UNC defense is loaded with first-round NFL talent. No less than five players are expected to go very, very early in next year’s draft. It’s hard to imagine any team running the football with any semblance of success. The UNC-Virginia Tech game will be quite the clash.

5. Florida State

The biggest concern in Tallahassee is rebuilding a defense that ranked among the worst in the country in 2009. Mark Stoops has been brought in to fix that, and it sounds like the group made decent strides this spring.

The best news for the Seminoles is Christian Ponder looks great after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury last year. He entered spring practice facing questions about his job security, with E.J. Manuel performing well in replacement duty in 2009. It sounds like Ponder put those questions to rest and the ‘Noles expect a huge year from the senior field general.

There is a lot of unproven talent around Ponder. Two receivers had a big impact in the spring game, Rodney Smith and Bert Reed. Both had long receptions and seem ready to break out as playmakers this fall.

The uncertainty around Ponder and the work needed on defense makes me uncomfortable rating the ‘Noles any higher than this. Although if you notice, the four teams ahead of them are all from the other division. A weak Atlantic Division this year will definitely aid the Seminoles.

6. Clemson

The will-he-or-won’t-he play college football question surround quarterback Kyle Parker intensified this spring, as Parker is in the midst of a spectacular baseball season. Coach Dabo Swinney made it clear he believes Parker’s best opportunity to make millions is in the NFL, but MLB scouts surely think otherwise.

Parker completed 7-of-15 passes for 79 yards in the spring game.

It’s no secret why Swinney has been so public about his optimistic future for Parker. Parker’s backup, Tajh Boyd, disappointed most of the spring, and finished the spring game 8-of-25 passing for 132 yards.

The defense is solid, especially up front with DaQuan Bowers, who might be the best defensive end in the country in the Mario Williams mold. The secondary also had a good spring (of course that might be overstated thanks to the lack of good quarterback play), but Clemson simply has more questions than answers at this point, none more pivotal than the pending decision by Parker.

7. Boston College

Mark Herzlich’s return to the field overshadowed a spring session that was very focused on developing a lackluster offense. Last year’s starting quarterback David Shinskie entered under extreme pressure to keep his job. He battled sophomore Michael Marscovetra and freshman Chase Rettig to retain the starting spot, and by all accounts it sounds like he did just that.

Marscovetra put up more impressive numbers (13-16, 156 yards, TD) than Shinskie (6-12, 50 yards) in the spring game, but the coaching staff insists that Shinskie has a firm grip on his job right now.

The Eagles also have no running back behind starter Montel Harris that they have any confidence in. this is a problem, because the diminutive Harris will never be a 25 carry per-game guy.

The offensive line returns four starters, including Anthony Castonzo, who many people believe is the best left tackle in America.

The defense will be stout as always, despite losing several key starters. Word around Chesnut Hill is virtually 100 percent focused on the offense.

8. NC State

Just like Clemson, the Wolfpack have a huge concern surrounding their star quarterback and the baseball diamond. Russell Wilson is in the midst of a solid baseball season, but coach Tom O’Bren has insisted Wilson will return to the football field this fall. Wilson did not practice at all with the football team in the spring.

Backup quarterback and once highly touted recruit Mike Glennon had a very good spring, however. In the spring game, he completed 21 of 38 passes for 423 yards with three touchdowns and only one interception.

Before Wilson’s emergence two years ago, Glennon was supposed to be to Tom O’Brien what Philip Rivers was to Chuck Amato. Instead, Glennon is still on the bench, but with a performance like this spring’s, O’Brien might not beg Wilson to return to the team a la Dabo Swinney.

Redshirt freshman running back Travis Leggett looked very good this spring. He finished with 129 yards and 21 carries in the spring game.

Middle linebacker Nate Irving returned from a devastating car accident this spring and seems good to go for next year.

Less than half of the team’s scholarship players participated in the spring game, however, which means they are behind the pack (no pun intended…ok pun intended) in terms of grooming their young talent.

9. Maryland

The offensive line will be the strength of a unit that has very little else to boast offensively. Jamarr Robinson is as fleet-footed as they come at the quarterback position, and he’s going to have to accumulate much of the yards himself in 2010.

D.J. Adams might have taken a lead in the race for starting running back, but none of the kids at that position are very dangerous.

Defensive coordinator Don Brown said the Terps ran mostly basic schemes this spring, and with a young defense that is still trying to learn second-year coach Brown’s system, it might take a while for it to get up to speed.

10. Duke

The Blue Devils left a winter early spring practice still in search of answers at quarterback. Sean Schroeder sucked struggled in the spring game, completing only 4 of 20 passes for 23 yards. Brandon Connette was a little better; completing 8 of 19 passes for 67 yards and carrying the ball 13 times for 91 yards.

The loss of Thaddeus Lewis hurts big time, and even with coach David Cutcliffe’s prowess at developing quarterbacks, this year will be a step back for a steadily improving program.

11. Wake Forest

Skylar Jones looks like he will replace Demon Deacons’ legend Riley Skinner at quarterback. Besides Jones, there was little else to talk about from spring practice out of Winston-Salem. This will be a serious rebuilding year for coach Jim Grobe.

12. Virginia

It’s hard to figure out where to begin about how awful the Cavaliers’ spring game was. Marc Verica completed less than half of his passes, and lost all accuracy inside the red zone. He was probably outplayed by both backups, Michael Strauss and Ross Metheny. The running backs popped a run or two of more than ten yards, but there is hardly any firepower on offense.

New coach Mike London and his offensive staff have changed the scheme from last year’s spread under Gregg Brandon, but Verica simply never looked comfortable.

The defense doesn’t look very impressive either, outside of Ras-I Dowling, who may be the nation’s best cornerback. The front seven is undersized but doesn’t’ blow anyone away with its speed either. London should be able to get the defense to play over its head this year, however.

Virginia will have a very hard time scoring points, and the defense isn’t good enough to keep them in a lot of low-scoring affairs.

Mike London has the program on the right track, but he’s going to start at rock bottom.

ACC Basketball Best of the Decade — Boston College

With a decade of basketball coming to a close, I’m going to rank the five best seasons of the past ten years for each ACC team. For Boston College, they have only played in the ACC for five seasons, so I’ll focus on those rather than its Big East days.

1. 2005-06

The Eagles’ first season in the ACC was by far their best. They finished 28-8 overall and 11-5 in the conference.

Craig Smith, Jared Dudley and Sean Marshall formed an intimidating three-headed monster. Smith led the way with 17.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. He lost out on player of the year honors to Duke’s J.J. Redick.

Tyrese Rice was a freshman on that team, and he split time at point guard with veteran Louis Hinnant.

After losing in the ACC Semifinals, the Eagles were awarded a four seed in the NCAA Tournament. They beat Pacific 88-76 in the first round, then Montana 69-56 in the second round.

When they met top-seeded Villanova in the Sweet 16, it was Will Sheridan’s lay-up with three seconds to go in overtime that gave the Wildcats a 60-59 win.

Randy Foye scored 29 points for Villanova in that game, which was enough to best Craig Smith’s 14-point, 14-rebound performance

2. 2006-07

A year removed from the Sweet 16, Boston College followed up with a 20-11 season that included a trip to the NCAA second round.

The Eagles were ousted by second-seeded Georgetown in the NCAA Tournament 62-55.

Notable wins that season came at home against #22 Maryland and #18 Virginia Tech.

Without Craig Smith, Jared Dudley assumed the role of team leader. Dudley scored 19 points per game to go with 8.3 rebounds.

Tyrese Rice took a huge leap in his sophomore season, bursting onto the scene by averaging 17.6 points and 5.4 assists per game.

After a season where the offense was run through a dominant post man in Smith, the Eagles were far more guard-oriented in 06-07. Sean Marshall and Rice were a terrific pair in the backcourt. They scored 33 points per game between them, which was nearly half of the team’s scoring.

3. 2008-09

Following a sixth-place finish in the ACC during the regular season, the Eagles nearly knocked off Duke in the ACC quarterfinals, losing by one point 66-65.

They finished the season 22-12, losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to USC.

For most of the season, it was a one-man show in Chesnut Hill. Tyrese Rice took the team on his back and carried them as far as he could.

He averaged just less than 17 points per game and shot 35 percent from three-point range.

The biggest win of the season came in early January when the Eagles were the first team to beat the top-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. Rice scored 25 points with eight assists in that game, while Rakim Sanders added 22 points.

The Eagles also beat Duke at home on Feb. 15, when the Blue Devils were ranked fifth in the country.

Overall, BC beat three ranked opponents over the course of the season.

4. 2009-10

The departure of Rice hit the Eagles hard in 09-10. Head coach Al Skinner had to rely on Joe Trapani as the leading scorer.

Four players averaged double-digit points, but the Eagles didn’t seem to like traveling very much.

The Eagles finished 3-7 on the road, and 15-16 overall.

The season ended in the first round of the ACC Tournament when they lost to Virginia, who was without its best player, Sylven Landesburg.

The best win of the season came on Jan. 26, when they beat 21^st ranked Clemson 75-69 at home.

The disappointing season was enough to prompt Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo to fire Skinner

5. 2007-08

The Eagles started off with promise, only to have their wings clipped early in conference play.

After winning their first three games in the ACC, the Eagles won only once more in their last 13 games to finish 4-12 in the conference.

They shocked Maryland in the opening round of the ACC Tournament, but were obliterated by Clemson the next day, 82-48.

Tyrese Rice scored 21 points per game, including a 48-point performance in a loss to North Carolina at home.

Rakim Sanders was the only other player to average double digits with 11.3 points per game.

This team was simply a young bunch without stars like Sean Marshall and Jared Dudley to help support Rice.

Their youth was exposed once they got into the heart of ACC play. A couple losses in a row and they could not recover.

Weighing the options for Boston College’s next basketball coach

Al Skinner was fired Tuesday as head basketball coach at Boston College

Boston College announced today that it has fired head men’s basketball coach Al Skinner, although apparently it happened last week.

With Skinner heading out of beantown, the search for his replacement has begun. Despite the fact that the Eagles are in the ACC, the program will be a hard sell for anyone already coaching in a power conference.

Conte Forum is notorious for sparse crowds and gloomy environments for men’s basketball games. More fans turn out for the Eagles’ ice hockey team than the basketball team.

It’s hard playing second fiddle as a major college program in the same city as a pro sports team. It’s harder still to play fourth or fifth fiddle. Boston College athletics ranks behind the Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox and even Bruins in terms of fan support from the city.

ESPN’s Andy Katz tossed three names into the mix for the next coach: Steve Donahue from Cornell, Tommy Amaker from Harvard, and Chris Mooney from Richmond. Another good fit is Northeastern’s Billy Coen, a former Skinner assistant.

Steve Donahue:

Donahue is flashing brightly on every school’s radar after leading Cornell to the Sweet 16 this season. He is extremely familiar with the northeast. Prior to leading the Big Red, he was an assistant at Penn from 1990-2000. After seven seasons with Cornell, Donahue was an abysmal 74-117. He finally turned the corner in 2007-08, and has made the NCAA Tournament three years running.

However, it’s unlikely he’s at the top of Eagles’ Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo’s list of candidates.

First and foremost, DeFilippo told Katz he wanted a coach that employs an exciting style of play to succeed Skinner.

The painfully slow place and rugged style of Skinner’s teams wouldn’t change much if Donahue brings his Ivy League style to Boston.

Also, Donahue has no Division I experience outside of the Ivy League. Such unfamiliarity with big-time basketball would probably not make him an ideal choice to coach against the likes of Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams.

Tommy Amaker:

If the Eagles lured Amaker away from Harvard, talk about poetic irony. The Crimson have stunned Boston College each of the past two seasons for two of the easily most infamous losses in program history.

Amaker has been the coach for Harvard since 2007, when he was fired by Michigan after seven seasons. Before that, he coached Seton Hall for four years, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2000.

Besides that, Amaker has never led a team to the big dance. His teams at Michigan were remarkably underwhelming, and made only three NIT appearances.

Amaker is known for his recruiting, and has in fact revived his career with Harvard. In his first year at the helm, the Crimson struggled through an 8-22 season. In 2008-09, they improved to 14-14. This season, they finished 21-7.

That type of improvement at a program that hardly invests in its basketball program has given Amaker’s career new hope.

He’s also very familiar with the ACC. Amaker played for Duke in the mid 1980s before becoming an assistant coach there in the 90’s.

Chris Mooney:

Mooney is also a flavor-of-the-month candidate. His first three seasons as the Richmond Spiders’ coach were anywhere from pedestrian (16-15 in 2008) to downright embarrassing (8-22 in 2007).

However, Mooney did resurrect the program over the past two years, including a 26-9 mark this season that resulted in an NCAA Tournament appearance – the school’s first since 2004.

Mooney is a young coach with Princeton offense roots. He played for Princeton from 1990-94, and also coached at Air Force as an assistant from 2000-04 before becoming the head coach for one season. At Air Force, he worked under Joe Scott, a devout instructor of the ultra slow offense.

Even with a strong 2009-10 campaign, Mooney’s resume seems far too bare to be in the mix for an ACC gig.

Billy Coen:

Coen would be an intriguing, cost-effective hire. As mentioned earlier, he is very familiar with the Eagles. He spent nine seasons at Boston College as Skinner’s assistant before coming to Northeastern in 2006.

The Huskies just wrapped up a 20-13 season that ended with a 59-57 loss to Connecticut in the NIT first round.

In the past two seasons, Coen has led the Huskies to 39 wins.

For those of you who are not Colonial Athletic Association junkies, Northeastern is located in the heart of Boston. Coen wouldn’t even need a U-Haul to make it to his new office.

The Verdict:

Of these four initial names being thrown around, not a single one would be a home run.

Amaker is the most proven recruiter, but is no more of a proven winner than Skinner at the highest level.

Coen makes a lot of sense, given his familiarity with both the area and the program itself, coupled with the fact he wouldn’t cause the school to open its pocketbook too wide.

Coen was instrumental in bringing in Eagles greats like Craig Smith and Tyrese Rice, so he knows what it takes to bring in ACC-caliber talent up north.

While these coaches might be the four most natural choices for the job, but if DeFilippo wants an uptempo coach that can inject enthusiasm to the program, no one in this group fits the bill.

In other words, the race for this job is wide open.