Basketball
Rider: Give me one reason to stay here
As Boston College basketball has slogged through through their less-than-stellar non-conference schedule with less-than-stellar results, I think about Tracy Chapman’s hit single, “Give Me One Reason” quite often.
It’s been an uphill battle for fans to stick around and get next to nothing in return. BC hockey has long been the lone point of pride. A dominant two year stretch resulted in one conference tournament trophy, and a maddening National Championship loss. A storied program that suddenly is resting on their laurels of past championship glory – it doesn’t help in today’s state of BC Athletics.
Football for 15-plus years now has been the embodiment of consistency. This consistency has been a step below what fans became accustomed to in terms of success in the mid 90’s through the 2000’s. 7-and-6 on repeat, ad nauseam. A tease of being just close enough to get to that level, but the disappointment to constantly not get over the hump.
The hiring of Bill O’Brien rang loud from the towers of Gasson Hall, and permeated throughout the country. Even the legendary Nick Saban mentioned BC on College Gameday prior to their tilt with Michigan State, “BC having a former Alabama quarterback in Dylan Lonergan…thats going to be an interesting game for me because Bill O’Brien is slowly improving that program at BC.”
There was buzz, (again) and it felt real. The wheels of this past season completely fell off to the tune of a 2-10 record, and a mass exodus in the transfer portal. Things have gotten dark, quickly.
Give me one reason to stay here, and I’ll turn right back around.
Now, we have basketball who has wrapped up an extremely soft non-conference slate with a 7-6 (feel familiar?) record. Losses to NEC’s CCSU, UMass, a sweep in the Charleston Classic have shown there no reason to believe in this team as a whole. Let’s also not forget their other 3 matchups with the lowely NEC: down ten to New Haven, down eight to Farleigh Dickenson, and a one point edge over LeMoyne, all at halftime.
BC fans have been begging for a reason to stick around. All the benefit of the doubt is gone, all the memories of past glory faded into oblivion.
Somehow, the messaging from the head coaches remains maddening at best. Bill O’Brien decided to remark with “Nobody is down, the sun is still shining, and we’re up.” Before uttering his now-famous “What’s up Trevor?” I ask coach now, do you understand now why fans have been so upset? With a lack of a reason to stick around and be excited, the fan base has remained loyal. Is the sun still up? Doesn’t seem it.
Earl Grant had his own moment. After a disapointing 4-point win at home over newly D-1 New Haven, Grant decided to tickle the keyboard and go after the BC Burnerverse.

I ask you, coach Grant, keep coming to what exactly? The follow up to this fiery outburst was an embarassing loss to UMass, and two wins over the aformentioned Farliegh Dickenson and LeMoyne.
Give me one reason to stay here, and I’ll turn right back around.
What are the highlight victories for Boston College in recent memory? Pickings are quite slim. The Fenway Bowl over SMU in 2023, 2024 ACCT over Clemson. That’s not a alot of BC Nation to “Keep coming” and believe “The sun is shining” yet fans continue to support the athletic department.
Eagles fans have been begging for more. Year after year that request simply has not been granted.
It’s now February. Since Earl’s late-night Twitter tirade, the Eagles have gone 4-8, 9-13 overall. Not exactly the inspiration or spark you would have expected. It hasn’t been easy sledding for Grant during his time at BC. He is looking at his fourth losing season on The Heights. Pace of play, not utilizing roster personell strengths, and in-game meltdowns have highlighted this Eagles season.
BC has played directly into its flaws this year. 250th nationally in possessions per game. For a team that is already struggling to score, the slow tempo and limiting possessions is killing them. Especially when you consider that their defense isn’t keeping their opponents scoring low enough to manage.
With these limited possessions, BC is also shooting far too many 3-pointers. As constructed this is not a great long range shooting team, converting at a 29% rate on the year. They are ranked 350th in the nation in three percentage, and 348th in field goal percentage.
The philosophy is not resulting in on-court success. There’s no wonder students are flocking to the gates to be part of this. With the new sense of urgency from the athletic department that has resulted in a concerted effort to upgrade the football roster, basketball changes need to follow.
If you want fans to care, you have to give them a (one) reason. They’ll turn right back around.
Basketball
Boston College lands one of nation’s top rebounders in Brandon Benjamin, along with former Charleston forward Colby Duggan
Boston College received two more transfer commitments this weekend in Brandon Benjamin and Colby Duggan. Benjamin and Duggan join Money Williams, Ernest Shelton and JB Frankel as the fourth and fifth transfers to commit to Luke Murray and BC this offseason. The Eagles now have seven players on their roster, including international signing Zak Smrekar and Jack Bailey, the only BC player from last year not to enter the portal.
Benjamin, a 6-foot-8 forward from Newark, N.J., played his only collegiate season last year at Fairfield University. The rising sophomore was named to the 2025-26 MAAC All-Rookie Team and All-MAAC Second Team after averaging 14.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks while shooting 56.5% from the field. Benjamin ranked first in the MAAC and eighth in the country in rebounds per game and second in the country in offensive rebounds per game (4.25).
“What made me pick BC first was the coaching staff,” Benjamin told ZAGSBLOG on Sunday. “It really felt like family. I will bring my high motor, plus rebounding, finishing around the rim and taking guys off the dribble. [I also bring] my catch-and-shooting, pick-and-pop, my winning impact and my versatility with guarding 1-5 with the ability to block shots.”
Duggan, a 6-foot-7 forward from Monson, Mass., averaged 9.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 19 games for Charleston last season after missing the first part of the year with an injury. He spent the previous two seasons at Campbell University and averaged 15.7 points and 3.3 rebounds on 34% shooting from 3-point range during the 2024-25 season.
“He competes on both ends of the court at all times,” former Charleston head coach and current USF head coach Chris Mack said. “He’s a warrior. He’s a winner. Defensively, Colby doesn’t back down. He guards well in the post and on the perimeter. Offensively, he led the conference in scoring and is just scratching the surface of what he can be as a mismatch.”
Benjamin should slot into the starting lineup as the power forward or a small-ball big thanks to his impressive rebounding ability, while Duggan comes to BC as a depth piece off the bench.
Basketball
Former Merrimack sharpshooter Ernest Shelton commits to Boston College
Guard Ernest Shelton announced his commitment to Boston College early Thursday night. The former Merrimack Warrior became the fourth transfer to commit to head coach Luke Murray and the Eagles, joining Zak Smrekar, Money Williams and JB Frankel. Shelton was named to the 2025-26 All-MAAC first team while helping lead the Warriors to a MAAC regular-season championship.
Shelton played two seasons at Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania, on the opposite side of the state from his hometown of Philadelphia, before transferring to Merrimack last offseason. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 15.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals while shooting 34.6% from behind the 3-point line.
“[Shelton]’s a shooter,” Merrimack head coach Joe Gallo said. “Every time it comes out of his hand, you think it’s going in.”
Shelton knocked down 99 3-pointers for Merrimack last season and was among the top 40 in the country in 3-pointers made per game (2.9). He set a career high last season with nine 3-pointers in a game against Boston University and made five or more 3-pointers in six games.
The sharpshooter is a breath of fresh air for a Boston College program that finished last in the ACC in 3-point percentage last season.
Basketball
Boston College lands Zak Smrekar, Money Williams, and JB Frankel, first three transfer commitments of Luke Murray era
Boston College received its first three transfer commitments of the 2026 transfer portal cycle on Thursday in Zak Smrekar, Money Williams, and JB Frankel. Smrekar, Williams, and Frankel are the first three players to commit to BC since Luke Murray was named head coach on March 26 and join Jack Bailey as the only three players currently on the Eagles’ roster.
Smrekar is a 19-year-old, 6-foot-7 guard from Slovenia and was the first to commit to Murray. He played for the club Krka Novo Mesto in the Slovenian ABA for three seasons and averaged 9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 15 games in the 2025-26 season. Smrekar also played for Slovenia in the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup and averaged 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists in seven games.
Williams is a 20-year-old, 6-foot-4 guard who played the last three seasons for Montana. The Oakland, California, native was named to the 2025-26 All-Big Sky First Team after averaging 20.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game on 49.8% shooting from the field. Williams scored a career-high 40 points against Northern Colorado in the Big Sky Tournament, along with tallying six other 30-point games last season.
“I can’t come up with enough words to praise Money Williams properly,” Montana head coach Travis DeCuire said in October 2025. “When you talk about the young man that he is off the court, the young man he is when you bring him in the office, and you have real conversations with him and look him in the eye and talk about things that are hard to talk about.”
Frankel is a 21-year-old, 6-foot-3 guard who is not moving far, as he played the last three years at Northeastern. He started 13 of 30 games for the Huskies last season and averaged 5.9 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. The New York City native scored a season-high 13 points in a road win against Harvard.
Coach Murray will have to continue to build up the Eagles roster, but with three guards being picked up, look for the Eagles to hone in on finding their starting forwards and big men.
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BC Eagle Fan
February 4, 2026 at 6:18 pm
Brett, Thank you for your passion and commitment to being a Boston College Eagle. We enjoy your podcast and your articles on BC.
We want you to know that we understand and feel your pain and frustration that you express so well as a loyal BC fan. We have had the same experiences over 60+ years. Your reason to stay as a Loyal BC football fan is because Grayson Wilson the Redshirt Freshman QB will lead the turnaround for BC football. Grayson is a program changer and a difference maker. He is the Real Deal and has out competed the QB that was mentioned as a potential BC transfer that is in Grayson’s class at the Elite 11 as well as over 400 other QB’s including current starting P4 QB’s, at multiple All American and Elite 11 combines. Earning the opportunity, he will lead BC to a level not seen since Matt Ryan. Change is coming to BC football and it’s going to start this year.