CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – On paper, Boston College figures to be difficult to project. The Eagles have eight seniors and four juniors, with one junior (former Oregon guard Matt Humphrey) sitting out as a transfer. They also have a new head coach and watched their most talented scorer transfer.
Steve Donahue took over the program in April after ten years as the head coach at Cornell. His success the past three seasons, including a run to the Sweet 16 last season, is well-documented by now. The first year with a new head coach is always difficult to project, and this is no different. Donahue and his staff have been working hard on the recruiting trail, knowing they need a big class with all the seniors, but how the season that is in front of us plays out is an open question. The Eagles won’t be especially deep, but a lack of depth is unlikely to be their biggest problem.
Junior guard Reggie Jackson looks primed for a breakout year. In his first two seasons he showed more than just flashes of his potential, but here he looked more aggressive while still funding teammates. He’s the best athlete on the team and one of the more experienced holdovers, and his body is also more mature. It’s also clear that he’s grown immensely from a basketball I.Q. standpoint since arriving at The Heights a couple of years ago.
“He’s the one guy on the team that can make plays for others and still score on his own, and do a great job on the offensive and defensive end in terms of what we try to get done,” said Donahue. “He’s been terrific, has had very few bad days, and I think he’s got the ability in this league to be one of the better players.”
Senior Biko Paris returns after starting for most of last season and should figure prominently in the team’s plans. He’s a capable distributor who won’t kill you with turnovers, and he’ll need to be more aggressive this season, especially since they don’t have much depth in the backcourt.
Junior Dallas Elmore should see a big jump in his minutes as he is the only other guard who has appreciable Division I experience. He’s had his moments over the first two seasons, and now has to give this team something consistently. Freshmen Gabe Moton and Danny Rubin could work their way into the rotation, but neither is where Jackson and Elmore were as freshmen two years ago.
The frontcourt is in better shape and led by active forwards Joe Trapani and Corey Raji. Trapani does a lot for this team at both ends, and he’s progressed much like Jackson as after they spent a great deal of time working out and studying tape together during the off-season. The left-handed Raji is showing an improved jump shot, mainly because he wasn’t just making them off the catch.
Seniors Josh Southern and Cortney Dunn will also figure into the frontcourt mix, with Dunn starting Saturday’s game. Southern is currently sidelined with an injury and should resume working out soon, but his status for the season opener on Friday is an open question since his practice time has been limited. Dunn has been a defensive specialist and looks like he will remain in that role.
Projecting how a coaching change will affect a team is very difficult, but thus far the indications are positive. Donahue has no complaints about the effort, and Jackson sees some similarities in the style of play that make the adjustment easier. Perhaps the biggest effect will be how they buy in from an intangible standpoint. Jackson and Trapani both talked about the importance of being together as a team, and that could be a difference-maker.
“Nobody’s worried about coming out of the game because they take an open three and miss,” Jackson observed. “Everybody’s just comfortable.”
Added Trapani: “I think Coach Donahue’s mindset, especially with this team, is to play for each other. If we’re going to play for each other, then everything will take care of itself.”
This team is still a veteran group, although they are coming off a 15-16 season. Given last season, the coaching change and the loss of Rakim Sanders, it’s easy to underestimate this team, and no one would be surprised if they wind up buried in the second division in the ACC. But Sanders, while talented, wasn’t the most mentally tough player, so it’s not as if they lost an All-American. If the intangibles come through and the team continues to improve picking up on Donahue’s system, they might surprise some people and reach the first division.
