Has Skinner Lost This Team? and the Big Finish
by Brian Favat on Mar 12, 2010 9:00 AM EST
in Big Finish
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PrintBrian: Alright Jeff. We’ve had a day to think about and sift through the flaming wreckage that was BC’s 68-62 first round exit in the ACC Tournament. The Eagles defense gave up easy buckets all day and they left Sammy Zeglinski virtually unguarded. Zeglinski made the Eagles pay, connecting on 5 of 10 3-point attempts and finishing with 21 points. Joe Trapani (2 points) and Tyler Roche (2 points) had terrible shooting nights, going a combined 1-for-13 from the floor. Reggie Jackson seemed to press the action for much of the game, and killed a couple of BC possessions by deciding to shoot the ball early in the possession instead of setting up BC's Flex offense.
The only bright spot of the game was that Rakim Sanders returned to form, scoring a team-high 22 points in the loss.
The game will largely be remembered for Skinner’s decision to bench Trapani for the game’s final 13 minutes. Sure, he was having an awful game shooting from the floor, but the move seemed a little extreme, no? Do you agree with Skinner’s decision to bench Trapani for the rest of the game, give the Eagles were still within striking distance and needed 3-point shooters on the floor?
Jeff: No reason to play your guy who played more and scored more than anyone else all season only 22 minutes in what turned out to be the final game of the season for the Eagles. Trapani needed to be in for the Eagles all season so I don't know why today was any different even though he did get off to an incredibly rough start. Unfortunately the season ends with just another head-scratcher in a season that has been full of them.
Brian: Allow me to state the obvious for a second here. There will be no postseason for BC. For the second time in three seasons, the Eagles finish the year below .500. The Eagles haven’t won an NCAA Tournament game now in 3 full seasons.
The Eagles return all five starters and only lose Tyler Roche. Any reason to think next year won’t be more of the same? More importantly, is it time for the school to part ways with Skinner?
Jeff: It is not time at all to part ways with Al Skinner. The program has gone into a rough patch since losing Jared Dudley but they are not so far from competing for an ACC Title that it is time to start over. Not to mention the old argument that Skinner is the winningest all-time basketball coach at BC and has brought unprecedented success to the Heights where only making the dance in one of two seasons is suddenly reason to talk about firing him.
As far as next year, it can't be worse for BC. BC isn't going to the postseason this year so the only way to go is up and all our starters return. With only losing Tyler Roche it is hard to imagine that BC won't get a little better while some other ACC schools will be losing a lot more talent to the NBA and graduation.
Big Finish
Jeff: SI’s Andy Staples names 6 ACC football programs that have a chance to win the 2010 conference title. BC, of course, is not among those teams. Your thoughts?
Brian: If you agree that the Coastal Division will be stronger next year, this isn't exactly going out on a limb. He named 2/3 of the Coastal Division.
Brian: Gobbler Country determined that it cost BC $3,881,613 per win in football and $632,101 per win in men’s basketball in 2009-2010. Your thoughts?
Jeff: The $3,881,613 was money well spent. Those wins in front of 3,000 fans at Conte are a little expensive.
Jeff: The Globe reports that Al Skinner was the highest paid BC employee in 2007-2008, bringing in a salary of $2.2 million. Your thoughts?
Brian: Probably not the most opportune time to report this news.
Brian: Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has an idea to liven up spring practices - he wants the Tigers to play the Georgia Bulldogs in a preseason exhibition game. Is this a good idea?
Jeff: No. Great for fans but not for schools and players.
Jeff: The 5-6 BC baseball team opens ACC play this weekend with a three-game series with No. 13 Miami. Any chance the Eagles can steal the series from the Canes?
Brian: Pat Dean (2-0, 3.86) could take game 1, but after that, or other two weekend starters have ERAs north of 9. Not very likely.
Brian: Fenway Sports Group extended its partnership with the BC ISP Sports Network through 2019. Good news?
Jeff: At least there's always a way to follow BC action online.
Jeff: Last one, Hockey East quarterfinals begin tonight with BC taking on UMass at Conte Forum. Who ya got? What’s the final score?
Brian: I've got the Eagles winning tonight 3-1.
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Al
Not too long ago there was another “all-time winningest coach at BC” that got pushed out the door.
The reason why I think Al needs to go is that we’ve gone as far as we’re going to go with him.
In 13 years while he has brought consistency to the program he’s been to 1 Sweet 16 (basketball powerhouses like Butler, UAB, & Southern Ill have been to more over that period) and 0 Elite 8s (powerhouses like Kent St, George Mason & Iowa St. have been to more). Considering he’s never beat a single digit seed in the tourney I don’t see either happening very soon either.
The problem is this team will probably improve a couple of games, let’s say 5 games and is 20-11. They’ll get a mid seed and probably be bounced in the first round. This heralded class will not have won a tourney game in their 4 years. And the program will restart.
Sort of agree
But on the other hand we were 1 point away from an Elite Eight and he created better teams than their succes indicates
by Jiftastic on Mar 12, 2010 10:51 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
So He Underachieves?
I just don’t get how people still support him. Money is made in the NCAA tourney and he’s proved he’s a bad tourney coach. Not a decent one, a bad tourney coach. We’ve averaged double digit losses in the ACC the past 3 years and in the past 4 years we are 8th overall in the ACC.
Oh and people think student attendance was pathetic this year? There was a small group of seniors who kept the attendance where it was this year. Next year is going to be much worse.
Ok clarification needed
was TOB pushed out the door, or did he open it himself and go?
Skinner isn’t going anywhere for now. He benefited off of Diamonds in the rough, and he better get one of these 3 recruits to deliver, otherwise he’s out come 2012.
The seniors buy him another year next year, but think of the drop off after that.
Sanders, Raji, Trapani….. 7 JRs. Only 1 who does not see significant playing time. IS skinner planning an exit?
Where would Skinner go? The only exit he’s planning has got to be retirement in my opinion. I think he’s stated several times that he wants to retire with BC.
BC Interruption, a Boston College sports blog
TOB wanted out because we made it clear
That he wasn’t going to get paid here. GDF allowed TOB to interview at something like nine different schools, all the while making him one of the lowest paid coaches in the league(s). Pretty clear that the school wasn’t interested in TOB staying around much longer and I believe TOB returned the sentiment.
Let's exclude this year
Cuz it was just wiered…
Now do u think those players would be better if Al wasn’t coaching
by Jiftastic on Mar 12, 2010 3:05 PM EST via mobile reply actions
None of these players seem well-suited to run the Flex. Jackson especially when he goes off into his own world and tries to take over the game on offense.
BC Interruption, a Boston College sports blog
Average Al
And that’s on Al. He wants to stick to his system? His way or the highway? Fine. But it better work. And it’s not working.
This Junior class has gotten the bulk of the minutes since they walked on campus. They have gone: No NCAA’s, 1st Round, No NCAA’s. That is an abysmal record.
Think about this for a second. If this team wins 5 more games than it did this year, in all likelihood it will be on the bubble and maybe make the tournament, maybe. Nothing makes me think Al can win in the tourney- History shows he can’t. That would mean that for four years Al played his kids- his class- and it got him 0 tourney wins.
It should be make or break next year with Al. Sweet 16 bare minimum or he should be out. But we all know what a great decision maker Gene is…
It hurts to see Ed Cooley come within a few points of an NCAA tournament berth at Fairfield. Meanwhile we fall below .500 with a first round exit in the ACC Tournament.
BC Interruption, a Boston College sports blog
Wasn't it obvious?
When we faced VT we stuck to the flex that whole game, first time i saw it this season; outcome? 80-60 win. These guys can play in the flex if they were more disciplined, and they better be more disciplined as seniors.
I guess it comes down to how much you think the lack of discipline is Al’s fault.
If Heslip runs the point next year, it should be better with Jackson at the 2.
BC Interruption, a Boston College sports blog
by Brian Favat on Mar 12, 2010 4:51 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Definately
In an interview he said he had a very high basketball IQ and hopes to get his degree so he can be a coach one day, sounds like a disciplined pg to me, Jackson is a very good sg/backup pg IMO so Heslip (plus Ndao and Noreen) and having 3 or 4 starting seniors, Al better do well.
by Jiftastic on Mar 12, 2010 5:10 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
a couple of questions will come up next year....
if we play heslip at the point- that leaves jackson at 2, sanders at 3, trapani at 4, Southern/ravenel at 5?
If not southern at 5, move trapani to 5, and have raji play the 4?
can we afford to go that small?
can reggie be as effective without the ball in his hands? Some players need that time (i.e., Bell, Rice)
Do we go back to a short rotation, with the other freshman being sat? (I’d expect transfers if that happens)
If we dont get 20 wins next season, does Skinner call it quits and retire? (i think he’s too competitive to go out on a down note)
Well its football countdown……
I'd say
1 Heslip, 2 Sanders, 3 Trapani, 4 Raji, 5 Southern/Ndao and having Jackson as a backup hybrid. That’s the biggest we can go. But if Southern still sucks and we want an actual shot at making some noise next year I think we’d have to go smaller.
by Jiftastic on Mar 12, 2010 5:40 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I don’t think we can go that small. Southern has become a starting lineup necessity, unfortunately.
Also I don’t think Trapani will be nearly as effective as a 5.
BC Interruption, a Boston College sports blog
by Brian Favat on Mar 12, 2010 5:48 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
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