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BC Basketball Coach Pat Duquette talks recruiting

2009-11-10T22:30:00.003-05:00

Assistant men's basketball coach pat Duquette will be writing all season long as part of a National Coach's Diary Series. His first post, which can be found at College Chalk Talk,

addresses the early signing period of recruiting. While he acknowledges the relief of signing recruits and receiving their official letters of intent, he also makes some interesting points regarding official visits.

One interesting quirk to the NCAA rules about official visits is that a recruit can only begin to visit officially once he begins classes his senior year. However, different areas of the country start much earlier than other parts which can make for scheduling issues. He also suggests that the NCAA allow the school to pay for travel arrangements for one parent/guardian of the recruit in order to allow the family to see the atmosphere as well, which would only make sense.

BC Football recruiting

2009-11-10T15:41:00.004-05:00

The recruiting environment has changed dramatically over the last decade. The emergence of technology plays a crucial role and each school is always trying to get a leg up on potential recruits.

I have noticed that other schools have websites dedicated solely to recruiting. See Georgia Tech's recruiting website run by their recruiting coordinator. This seems like a simple and effective way to market the program to potential suitors. USC head coach Pete Carroll has his own site and the program also has a blog that gives an inside look on the team and program.

As far as I know Boston College does not utilize any of these resources which is a shame because even if having a website does not help with recruiting it will appease fans by giving them another resource to read about their beloved team. Setting up a simple website with videos, tours, information, alumni in the pros, anything that may entice high school recruits could be a helpful tool in the recruiting game. Besides, it already appears many of BC's competitors are already using these tactics.

I know that BC's strategy is to recruit player's who want to come to BC and I agree this has been very effective over the year's, but why not reach out and try to entice more kids. Having a cool website could actually increase interest in the program. This idea could also be easily translated to BC's other sports as well. There are enough bright coaches, grad assistants, and students involved with BC that could help make this idea successful and I'd like to see BC embrace these unique recruiting avenues in the near future.

BC Football adds two verbal commitments

2009-11-10T01:20:00.004-05:00

The Boston College 2010 football recruiting class has added tight end Jarrett Darmstatter and wide receiver Bobby Swigert over the past couple of days. Swigert is a two-sport athlete that plans to play baseball for BC as well. This brings the total class up to 14 scholarship athletes, leaving BC with about 8 or 9 scholarships remaining for this class give or take a few.

BC Basketball recap

2009-11-08T22:13:00.003-05:00

BC cruised through a 99-58 victory over St. Michael's in an exhibition contest.

Corey Raji had 19 points and 14 rebounds (8 offensive) and Reggie Jackson had a game high 23 points and 5 assists. Bik Paris had 9 assists and Jackson, Trapani, Roche, and Elmore each had double-digit points.

We didn't see much from Southern, Dunn, or Ravenel which is a concern. Going into the regular season these will be the key players to focus on. BC will suffer in ACC play if they cannot get more consistent performances from the front court. BC will open up its regular season play home against Dartmouth this Friday November 13 at 7pm.

BC Basketball Exhibition

2009-11-07T08:44:00.005-05:00

BC will host St. Michael's in an exhibition game on Sunday at 2pm in Conte Forum. The game will be open to the public. I highly encourage all to attend this free event. This will be the first public glimpse of the 2009-2010 Boston College Men's Basketball team.

One thing to keep a close eye on is the emergence of sophomore Evan Ravenel. By all accounts, Ravenel is the most improved player this year and could become a solid contributor, especially since the Eagles are somewhat slim in the front court. If Ravenel has improved as much as his teammates have indicated, this would take a significant amount of pressure off of Josh Southern and would alleviate many of the problems that faced BC last season.

BC Breakdown

2009-11-05T23:32:00.001-05:00

Papa Samba Ndao commits to Boston College

2009-11-05T15:36:00.006-05:00

The eagles landed their third basketball commitment for the 2010 class, as Papa Samba Ndao committed to BC today. The Senegalian forward attends the prestigious Montverde Academy in Florida and chose the eagles over SMU and TCU.

The 6'8" wing has amazing athleticism and potential (check his ESPN scouting report) Reports say that he is very quick and an excellent defender. At the moment, Ndao is more of a perimeter player. He has a good jump shot and his range extends past the 3pt. line. In order to become more effective in the paint, Ndao will need to add on a lot more muscle and also work on his low post moves. His immediate impact will probably be his superb ability to rebound, both offensively and defensively. Papa Samba Ndao certainly has some work to do before he starts to become a major contributor, but his athleticism, length, and overall potential should have eagle fans very excited.

Josh Haden addresses his transfer decision

2009-11-04T23:27:00.003-05:00

Josh Haden finally spoke about his decision to transfer from Boston College, as reported by the Boston Globe.

It sounds like his decision was motivated by the fact he was not having much fun at BC, among other factors of course. He expressed his desire to attend a larger school and said his options are wide open right now.

If I had to guess he wants to go to a place like Florida (where his brother plays) that is a big school with a reputation for being a fun environment. It is unlikely he will attend another ACC school because of a rule that forces in-conference transfers to sit out two years. Aside from his injuries while at BC, he did not seem bitter or upset with the BC football program at all.

All we can do now is wish him the best wherever he ends up.

Herzlich to receive honorary Lott Trophy

2009-11-03T11:46:00.002-05:00

Mark Herzlich will be awarded an honorary Lott Trophy. This marks only the second time an honorary award has been given, the first occasion was to Pat Tillman.

On a related note, Mark officially completed his chemotherapy yesterday. The prognosis looks encouraging for Herzlich after his tremendous and inspirational battle.

BC Basketball 2009-2010 Season Preview

2009-11-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

The 2009-2010 Boston College Men's basketball team will have a scrimmage Sunday November 13 at 2pm in Conte Forum before opening up the regular season at home versus Dartmouth on November 18.

The Eagles were picked 9th in the league in the Pre-Season ACC Media Poll, although if you watched any games last season it is obvious this team has the talent and potential to perform well beyond those expectations.

Projected Starting Lineup

C-Josh Southern

PF- Joe Trapani

SF- Corey Raji

SG- Rakim Sanders

PG- Biko Paris

BC loses leading scorer Tyrese Rice from last year but Biko Paris and Reggie Jackson are more than capable of running the point for BC. They should give BC a strong defensive presence and good ball security. Biko came on strong late in the season and Reggie also played well as a reserve freshman last year.

For two seasons now we have seen the raw ability of Rakim Sanders although to this point he has yet to string together much consistency. This year will hopefully be his breakout year. Rakim has tremendous athleticism and has added muscle which should help his interior game. Sanders will be able to over-power any guard in this conference. The key for him is to focus mentally and keep his focus throughout the length of the game. We need him to emerge as a top point producer this season.

Corey Raji has found his niche on the team; as a tough, scrappy rebounder. Raji is a force on the glass, particularly on the offensive end. He is long and a quick jumper and should continue to have success inside against much bigger opponents.

Joe Trapani is a versatile forward. His skill set and ability to knock down perimeter shots makes him a great fit for Coach Skinner's offensive system. Look him him to continue where he left off last year in terms of productions at both ends of the floor.

Josh Southern could be the difference maker for this squad. BC desperately needs his help in the paint, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. Southern has been slow to develop in his first two years but the staff has worked with him closely to improve his footwork and positioning down low. If he can give BC consistent 8-point and 8-rebound type performances this team could go very deep come tournament time.

On the bench we have Jackson, Courtney Dunn, Dallas Elmore, Tyler Roche, and Evan Ravenel. Each player will likely see time this year, particularly Dunn and Ravenel. Dunn emerged as a great hustle player off the bench and Ravenel could fill that role too. Ravenel has more upside of the two and it will be interesting to see how he performs this season with an increased role. Roche will see time behind Trapani and Elmore will play the wing.

I certainly expect this team to build off their 22-win output from last season. A finish near the top of the ACC should be expected from this group.

Blog Poll | Week 9

2009-11-02T17:36:00.001-05:00

Rank	Team

1	Florida
2	Texas
3	Alabama
4	Cincinnati
5	TCU
6	Iowa
7	Georgia Tech
8	Boise State
9	Oregon
10	LSU
11	Southern Cal
12	Penn State
13	Houston
14	Utah
15	Pittsburgh
16	Ohio State
17	Arizona
18	California
19	Miami (Florida)
20	Wisconsin
21	Virginia Tech
22	Clemson
23	Oklahoma State
24	South Florida
25	Brigham Young

Rich Gunnell

2009-11-01T19:50:00.002-05:00

The past two weeks Rich Gunnell has combined for 18 catches for 313 yards and two scores. The senior captain is inching his way towards becoming the most prolific pass catcher in Boston College. He is 30 catches and 267 yards away from breaking the all time receptions and receiving yardage records.

Congratulations to BC's new all-time points leader

2009-11-01T14:51:00.002-05:00

With 267 career points Steve Aponavicus has moved into first place on Boston College Football's career scoring list. Congrats are in order to this fifth year senior and former walk-on.

Okoroha Suspended

2009-10-31T15:24:00.002-04:00

Okechukwu Okoroha has been suspended indefinitely according to a BC Media Relations Press Release for a violations of undisclosed team rules. Okoroha has played in five of BC's eight games this season at safety and on special teams.

Steve Aponavicius

2009-10-30T13:22:00.002-04:00

In case you weren't aware kicker Steve Aponavicius is just 3 points away from becoming the all-time leading scorer at Boston College. Quite an impressive feat for a kid plucked out of the stands his sophomore year.

Rolandan Finch out with mono

2009-10-29T19:59:00.002-04:00

Finch had been slated as the #2 running back but has been struck with mono and will forced to sit out at least 3-4 weeks. I can tell you first hand that this is no fun and even when he returns he will likely feel weaker and rusty. This news couldn't come at a worse time for BC after Haden announcing his intent to leave the team. Luckily for BC they do have a bye coming up next week, but this still leaves them thin for Central Michigan.

3 questions heading into Central Michigan

2009-10-29T00:01:00.002-04:00

Can the Eagles defense hold Dan LeFevour?

The dual-threat senior has four years of experience under his belt and his playing the best football of his career right now. He is a much different player than the one BC saw as a true freshman playing in his first collegiate game back in 2006 (even though he still scored 3 tds). LeFevour has thrown for 16 touchdowns and is the leading rusher with 522 yards and another 9 scores on the ground. He has completed 70% of his passes this season and has committed just 4 turnovers. He is big (6'3, 228 pounds) and tough to bring down (sacked just 9 times in 8 games this season). LeFevour is the entire offense for CMU so keeping him in check is a must.

Will BC avoid the hangover?

A tough loss to rivals Notre Dame and the sudden announcement of two transfers have made it tough for the team to focus. They must re-group quickly and get back on the winning track against a talented OOC opponent. BC is looking to get their 6th win and become bowl-eligible as well as keep their undefeated home season alive.

Who will get the extra carries at in the backfield?

With Haden now out of the picture we have to wonder who will get his carries. McCluskey got some carries last week. Finch has been playing well in his time on the field. Smith is the veteran of the group and has the best top end speed, but has yet to prove he has the vision and patience to be a consistent back. My guess is that Harris will get some extra work with McCluskey and Finch filling in when necessary.

BC Basketball

2009-10-27T15:45:00.003-04:00

The Boston College Men's Basketball team was chosen 9th in the ACC in the pre-season poll. Its hard to believe they are getting such little respect despite returning all but one of their players. I am sure this suits the team and coaching staff just fine, after all they should be used to getting overlooked in the conference.

FoxSports' Jeff Goodman wrote about the Eagle's practice sessions. It seems the team is focused and ready to go this season. They know they have to be more defensive minded and Sanders seems poised to step up. "I know that a lot rests on me, but I’m a smarter player now,” Sanders said. "I understand the game more, that I can get shots instead of forcing things.”

ACCSports.com posted a brief Q&A with junior forward Joe Trapani.

The basketball team will also host Northeastern in a closed scrimmage on Saturday.

Josh Haden and Justin Tuggle both set to transfer

2009-10-27T13:41:00.003-04:00

Back-up running back Josh Haden and third string quarterback Justin Tuggle have both decided to transfer according to a press release from the BC Media Relations.

I'm a little shocked by the mid-season announcement although neither player comes as a complete shock. Both players were recruited by Jagodzinski an Logan and promised to different style of offense than the one currently being run. Haden was recruited to be a four year starter at running back but injuries and the emergence of Montel Harris have relegated him to fewer carries. When healthy Haden has shown flashes of the quickness that made him a four-star recruit out of high school. I've heard plenty of rumblings from fans saying he wasn't used properly in this offense, but the problem was he was constantly banged up and the staff had to try to keep him healthy. Also, he does not possess great hands. His absence will be missed this season as freshman Rolandan Finch will now be thrust into the #2 role. I'd be surprised if he transfers to Florida to join his brother considering their stockpile of speed and running back talent. Haden will have 2 years of eligibility left after sitting out and red-shirting (assuming he goes to another D-1 school)

Justin Tuggle's announcement is less of a surprise. After competing for the starting spot earlier in the season he was then beaten out by two fellow freshman. Tuggle was clearly the most athletic of the bunch but was not destined to start at QB for BC in the foreseeable future. It was likely that he would have been forced to switch positions and this is something he clearly is not interested in. He becomes the second BC quarterback to transfer within the last year. Tuggle will have 2 years of eligibility (assuming he goes to another D-1 school).

David Shinskie Progression | Pros and Cons

2009-10-26T18:37:00.004-04:00

With a little more than half of Uncle Dave's freshman campaign in the books, it's time to examine the pros, and cons of his game.

Pros:

Pocket Presence- Pocket presence is such an underrated quality for a QB. To be able to stay in the pocket and avoid happy feet is a major plus to Shinskie's game.
Ability to go through reads- With a lot of freshman QBs, they will only look at one receiver for the whole play and will really just lock on. With Shinskie, he doesn't look for just one guy, and will actually progress through his reads.

Cons:

Arm Strength- It could be that maybe the years of pitching has worn Shinskie's arm down a bit, as he has not displayed the same sort of zip on the ball as some of our other QBs. Yet, I do think that arm strength is overrated in a QB and can be worked around with the right routes and play calling. Shinskie may however, have trouble fitting balls into tight windows or throwing the deep out route as his career progresses.
Decision making- Never was this more painfully displayed then on Shinskie's final play vs Notre Dame. Shinskie must still learn when to throw the ball away, take sacks, and take chances downfield. Fortunately, this will all hopefully come with game experience, as we must remember not to judge Shinskie as a 25 year old, but instead as a true freshman.

I think Shinskie could turn into a productive quarterback at BC. After a seven year layoff I didn't expect this much production from him this year. If it was an 18 year old true freshman producing as much as Shinskie is right now, then he would be getting much attention from the fans and the media. Expect Shinskie to only get better with each passing week, as he shakes off more and more rust and develops better decision making skills.

Notes from the Notre Dame game

2009-10-25T13:44:00.002-04:00

Turnovers

Its always tough to win when your team commits five turnovers. BC's last six possessions of the game went like this: fumble, interception, punt, punt, interception, interception. Harris' fumble on the goal line was an inexcusable and costly miscue. The botched handoff lies with Shinskie, generally speaking it is always the quarterback's fault for not putting the ball in the right spot for the running back. Shinskie made some poor decisions late in the game by forcing some bad throws when he should have thrown the ball away. Dave Shinskie played pretty well throughout the game. He actually threw for more yards than Clausen (279 compared to 246) in this game. But his play was overshadowed my his three big interceptions. You can understand he was trying to press and make a play but the offense had been able to move the ball. They key is to remember that Shinskie is just like any other true freshman and these mistakes are part of the learning curve.

Defense holds ground

The defense gave up some yardage but they key number is that they held Notre Dame's vaunted offense to just 20 points, their lowest scoring output of the season. Although they were unable to force any turnovers they kept Notre Dame from executing any deep passes and put the Eagles in a great position to win the game which is all you can ask from them.

Rich Gunnell

The senior captain had been quiet for the last few weeks but he broke out in a big way Saturday. Gunnell led the way with 10 catches for a career high 179 yards and a touchdown. He consistently found the soft spots in Notre Dame's secondary and had some crucial grabs throughout the game.

Mike Morrissey

The former walk-on got the start and played well on a big stage. He was very active all game recording eight tackles. He also excelled in pass coverage with a pass breakup and limited tight end Kyle Rudolph to just one catch. Morrissey has developed into a consistent performer and has the quickness and agility to cover the more athletic tight ends.

Harris held in check

Montel gained just 28 yards on 22 carries (1.1 average) on Saturday. He has averaged just 2.1 yards per rush in three road games this season compared to 6.2 yards per carry at home this year. Without looking to much into this discrepancy I would chalk up his lack of success to simply heavy game planning and preparation by ND. Harris was coming off a monster performance and the Irish did not want to let him run wild again. Harris did find the end zone once but was quiet for most of the day and his longest rush was only 14 yards.

BC-Notre Dame | Keys to the Game

2009-10-23T16:06:00.003-04:00

Prevent Deep Pass

Notre Dame has been very successful making big plays through the air this season. Clausen has a big arm and he has a talented core of receivers and an athletic tight end in Kyle Rudolph. His favorite deep threat is Golden Tate and he will throw the ball down field to Tate at least four or five times on Saturday. BC's safeties Wes Davis and Marcellus Bowman are not exactly speedsters so look for them to be tested alot Saturday. In this case BC's defensive scheme of playing soft coverages may help, but if Notre Dame begins to pick BC apart underneath we may be in trouble.

Pressure Clausen

Last year the Eagles pressured Clausen into four interceptions. He is a pocket passer in every sense of the word so forcing him to move and making him uncomfortable throwing the ball is essential to stopping their passing attack.

Get Larmond Involved

ND will be keying on Montel Harris especially after last week's performance. Our next best threat is Colin Larmond. The Irish secondary is porous and Larmond's speed and size will likely be too much for them to handle. Hopefully Shinskie and the offensive line can overcome their road woes and find a way to get Larmond the ball.

Boston College-Notre Dame Depth Chart

2009-10-22T02:30:00.005-04:00

The depth chart is out for this week. Here are a couple of notes:

Haden is out

After injuring his ankle last week he is not listed on the two-deep for this week. This will hurt the Eagles but if Harris plays half as well as he did last week they should manage. Plus, freshman RolaGndan Finch has proven capable in his few carries this season.

Marscovetra is the backup

Hopefully this won't matter in the game but it appears that Michael Marscovetra has over-taken Justin Tuggle for the #2 spot.

Will Thompson is back

Thompson has yet to play a down all season after sustaining a nerve injury in his neck. He appears back and ready to go this week backing up McLaughlin in the middle.

Legrande returning kicks

We saw this once after Fox and Haden each went down with injuries last week. We may be the only team in the country that has a linebacker back deep. Although I'm sure he is athletic enough to do a decent job his main role will likely be to block for Jeff Smith.

Richman out

Although he is listed as a starter on the depth chart, the Boston Herald is reporting today that he will be out for Saturday's game.

BC Notre Dame Pep Rally

2009-10-21T12:42:00.001-04:00

BC Basketball Media Guide

2009-10-20T15:57:00.004-04:00

The 2009-2010 Boston College Basketball Media Guide is now available online.

Coach Skinner talks about the team's outlook and it sounds like he has high expectation for this unit. I think we will see Dallas Elmore and Evan Ravenel step up and contribute more this season.

I will have much more on the Basketball team as the season grows closer.