Recap:

The past week for the Boston College Men’s Basketball team can’t be described as anything other than a success. The Eagles played three games, and came away with three wins. On Tuesday, the Eagles took on Central Connecticut State, taking them down by a score of 82-68. However, this game did not have the makings of a 14-point victory, as BC led by as much as 33 points in the second half. Bench guards Donald Hand Jr. and Mason Madsen led the team in scoring, putting in 16 points and 15 points, respectively. On Friday, the Eagles took on cross-state rivals Holy Cross. After a first half that was far closer than anyone expected, the Eagles won the contest in convincing fashion, taking down the Crusaders 95-64. Jaeden Zackery led the Eagles with 18 points, and Madsen had another big game, putting up a season-high 17 points. 

Lastly, on Sunday, the Eagles had their toughest matchup of the week against Saint John’s in what was effectively a road game. The Red Storm came into the game rated 52nd on NET, far better than any team BC had previously beaten this season. So the table was set for a tough, competitive game. After a back-and-forth first half where BC took a two-point lead into the locker room, the Eagles went down 10 points early in the second half. However Grant’s squad stormed back with a 19-4 run, and executed down the stretch en route to an 86-80 victory over the Red Storm. BC received contributions from the entire roster, as Quinten Post had an absurd 14/11/9 statline, Zackery had an efficient 14 points, and Harris added 14 key points off the bench. 

Season-Altering Win in Brooklyn:

With their win in Brooklyn, Boston College now sits at 8-3 on the season. While this has been the Eagles’ best start in years, keeping postseason hope alive relies on dominating out-of-conference. After BC gave the game to Loyola, they could not afford many more non-ACC losses, and the difference between 8-3 and 7-4 is miles wide. Outside of wins and losses, the Saint John’s win also gets fans back on board with what Grant is trying to build. The Eagles had momentum after starting 4-0, but many fans might have written this season off after bad losses to Loyola and NC State. But a gritty win against a storied Big East opponent is going to turn the heads of a lot of local fans and alumni.

Taking Care of Business at Home:

The main takeaway from the Eagles’ first two games this week is that they simply took care of business. Fans have seen far too many instances of the Eagles playing down to their out-of-conference competition. Last year alone, BC lost a pair of buy-games to Maine and New Hampshire, and only beat Stonehill by a mere 7 points. These games against lower-level competition are games where you just want to see the Eagles dominate. And, contrary to last season, the Eagles were able to do just that. 

On Tuesday, the Eagles outplayed Central Connecticut right from the jump ball, only letting up once Grant put the walk-ons in the game. Then, on Friday, the Eagles played as horrible a first half as they have played all season, allowing Holy Cross a glimmer of hope going into the locker room. But, once the second half began, BC convincingly slammed the door shut on Holy Cross, extending their lead by as much as 31 points. 

Bench Got Deeper:

One thing Coach Grant emphasized in his post-game press conferences was how the games against Central Connecticut and Holy Cross provided opportunities for the bench to get deeper. As previously mentioned, Madsen and Hand Jr. led the Eagles in scoring against Central Connecticut. This is huge for the bench duo, as they had been coming off some down games from the past few weeks. What’s most encouraging for these two is how they both followed up big games on Tuesday with great games on Friday and Sunday. Madsen put in 17 points against Holy Cross, and a pivotal 7 points against St. John’s. Hand Jr. followed up with 13 points against the Crusaders and 11 against the Red Storm. 

Lastly, Chas Keley III had a fantastic game on Sunday. The sophomore guard came into the game struggling, averaging just 2.7 points on 30.6% shooting. But with Harris Jr. facing a minor injury, Kelley IIIwas pushed into a starting role against Holy Cross and Saint John’s. And on Sunday, the young guard far exceeded expectations, scoring 13 points in his 24 minutes. With Madsen, Hand Jr. and Kelley III all rounding into form before conference play, the Eagles are starting to see some legitimate depth in the back court. If the reserve forwards can make the same leap in productivity, this has the makings of a very deep roster.

Nitpicking:

If you wanted to nitpick on the past three games, you certainly could. Some might say the Eagles needlessly messed up their NET rating against Central Connecticut, when the walk-ons allowed a 14-0 to end the game. Some might say the first half against Holy Cross was entirely too close, and far beneath the dignity of a Power-6 basketball team. Some might say, free throws and turnovers are still very real concerns after the Saint John’s game. These are all very real and valid cancers. However, at the end of the day, the Eagles won two games in dominating fashion, gritted out a physical win against a good Big East team, and are carrying momentum into a much tougher portion of the season. 

With their last out-of-conference game coming at home against Lehigh, the Eagles are in a position to finish their pre-ACC slate at 9-2, which is as good a record as any fan could have expected. This BC team is far from a perfect one, as seen in their breakdowns against Loyola and NC State. But 8-3, with ample room for improvement, is a great play to be through 11 games. 

What’s Next: 

After their busy 3-0 week, the Eagles have an 11-day break before they return to action on Thursday December 21st against Lehigh. The Thursday night slate in Conte serves as the Eagles final game before the bulk of ACC play. With the Mountain Hawks currently sitting at a 2-7 (0-5 away) record, the Eagles should be heavy favorites. Given the way BC dominated lower-level competition this week, fans should not have to be as worried about a potential “What the Heck” loss, but the possibility always looms. Following their matchup with Lehigh, the Eagles will not play again until the new year, when they will take on Wake Forest at home on Tuesday January 2nd.