Boston College Proves Capable of Playing with Top Teams

Boston College's loss to Duke in the ACC tournament quarterfinals was significant, but the Eagles' performance left a lasting impression. Despite struggling to find its identity and struggling with a depleted roster, BC proved it could compete with a top-ranked team in March. The Eagles' development around star point guard Tyrese Rice has been a key factor in their transformation from a 14-17 team to a 22-11 team.

Key Takeaways:

• BC has developed significantly around Tyrese Rice, transforming from a 14-17 team to a 22-11 team.
• Rakim Sanders and Joe Trapani have emerged as key contributors to the team's success, with Sanders averaging 14.7 points per game in ACC games and Trapani providing an inside-outside combination for the flex offense.
• The Eagles' performance against Duke showed that they can compete with top teams, despite struggling to find their identity and dealing with a depleted roster.
• Boston College's season-ending loss to Clemson last season was vastly different from the result against Duke, with Biko Paris scoring 15 points against Duke on 5-of-5 shooting after committing 8 turnovers in the previous season's ACC tournament matchup.
• The team's maturity and poise have improved significantly, with BC showing the ability to hang with top teams in the NCAA tournament.

Statistics:

• Boston College transformed from a 14-17 team to a 22-11 team this season.
• Rakim Sanders averaged 14.7 points per game in ACC games.
• Biko Paris scored 15 points against Duke on 5-of-5 shooting, a significant improvement from his 8 turnovers in the previous season's ACC tournament matchup.
• The Eagles have improved significantly in their ability to compete with top teams in the NCAA tournament.

Sources:

• (The Heights/ZWire via COMTEX), Mar 16, 2009. "BC Proves Capable of Playing with Top Teams"
• Copyright (C) 2009 The Heights via UWire