BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES
Coach: Al Skinner | Record: 26-7
Overview:
Boston College's inaugural season in the ACC was
an unqualified success, with this team playing like
it had been running with this crowd for a while. It
was a bit of a bumpy start, though, with the Eagles
losing their first two ACC games by shooting an
atrocious 15-of-34 from the free throw line. But
coming down the stretch in conference play, BC won
8-of-9 to finish a solid 11-5 in ACC play.
Potential Difference Maker: Craig Smith and
Jared Dudley comprise a formidable frontline duo,
and they carry the scoring load for this team. But
keep an eye on point guard Louis Hinnant. He's
always been a dependable distributor, but the knock
on him coming into this season was that he wasn't a
very good shooter. However, when he's pulled the
trigger from three-point land this season, he's been
fairly accurate (43%).
On Offense: They run the tightest flex
offense in America. They catch the ball where they
want to and seemingly always get the exact look they
want. They can really frustrate you with their
patience and precision. They present matchup
problems with Dudley at the three and Smith at the
four-spot.
On Defense: Matchup-zone and man-to-man. They
do a great job of keeping you in front.
Strength: They are so strong and physical and
can be very imposing. They play with a quiet
confidence. Nothing will intimidate this bunch. You
can give them your best shot and they won’t blink.
Sean Williams has really given them some strength
off the bench.
Weakness: A good zone can bother them. They
also tend to play to the level of their opponent.
Key to Success: Smith, Dudley and Hinnant
continuing to get their looks. It’s almost a given
that is going to happen. It’s simply a matter of
whether or not they knock them down. Hinnant is
really their unsung hero.
How to Beat Them: Zone them and keep them off
the glass.
