Boston College Basketball's Ceiling Under Donahue? And The Big Finish
by Brian Favat on Jan 20, 2012 12:00 PM EST
in Big Finish
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Brian: Around the Res recently interviewed Gene DeFilippo. Discussion topics included the state of the BC basketball and football programs. When asked what DeFilippo thought the ceiling is for BC basketball in four years, here's what he had to say:
"You know, I look at it this way...George Mason made it to the Final Four, and Butler made it to the Final Four on two different occasions. If those teams can make it to the Final Four, Boston College can make it to the Final Four. And, you know, I'm not saying we're going to do it every year, but we have that ability to do that and I would not be at all surprised if down the road Steve Donahue gets one of our teams and we go to the Final Four. He's that good of a coach and he's that good of a recruiter."
Considering Boston College has never made a Final Four, isn't this setting the bar too high for the program? Or is it if Donahue ever gets BC to its first Final Four, would that be enough, or should the theoretical ceiling be winning a National Championship? In other words, if Donahue built this program into a Final Four team, would BC just be happy to be there?
What is a realistic ceiling for this program under Donahue? What are your expectations for years 3-5 under the Don?
Jeff: The expectation under Donahue should be to be competitive in the ACC annually once he has some upperclassmen on the team. The ceiling should be a final four or national championship. I am surprised that GDF did not say that the ceiling would be winning the ACC. Al Skinner almost had an ACC title in 2006 and there is no reason why an ACC title should not be a goal for a Donahue-coached team down the road.
Making a Final Four has a lot to do with matchups and many well coached teams that have been very successful have failed to make Final Fours despite winning their conference.
I don't feel that winning the ACC is a big step below making a Final Four, but it is more achievable and it is winning something. Simply making a Final Four is still not really winning anything. Yes, the guys would get to cut down the nets at their Regional, but you don't later celebrate winning the West Region of the NCAA Tournament.
Since Donahue is most famous for taking Cornell to the Sweet 16, it might be logical to say well then you need to take Boston College, an ACC school, two steps further. I'm OK with it from that perspective.
Big Finish
Brian: After dominating BC hoops on Thursday night, where would you rank N.C. State in conference this season?
Jeff: They have been trending towards a bye in the ACC Tournament.
Jeff: A total of 10 Eagles scored and played at least eight minutes last night. Is too much balance a bad thing or was that a product of being out of it from early on against N.C. State?
Brian: I think too much balance is a bad thing. Donahue wants to maximize his long-term return by giving the starters as much PT as possible.
Brian: The Boston College women's basketball team dropped to 0-5 in ACC play with a 68-59 loss to Florida State. Does coach Sylvia Crawley survive this season?
Jeff: It doesn't look like it.
Jeff: In Mel Kiper's first mock draft he has Kuechly going 15th. Does he fall on teams big boards after the NFL Combine and workouts or stay near the top?
Brian: He'll stay near the top. If he's still there after the first round, I'll be mildly surprised.
Brian: Two of the four NFL teams left standing have former Eagles on the roster. Will a BC player play in this year's Super Bowl? Who ya got this weekend?
Jeff: I like the Giants chances at this point. I think they beat Baltimore in Indianapolis.
Jeff: The men's Hockey team travels to Maine for two games this weekend with the Saturday game on NESN. Do we get to witness a victory?
Brian: Yes. Really need a four-point weekend here to keep pace with BU.
Brian: Last one. Very winnable game tomorrow as BC hosts Wake Forest. Will the Eagles get back in the W column in the ACC?
Jeff: Yes, I do believe they will get a W. Hard to imagine I'm predicting them to win their third conference game this early in the season.
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No way Baltimore beats the Pats. Especially with the way Flacco is playing.
Writer at BC Interruption SBN's Boston College Eagles blog
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But Joe Flacco is better than Matt Ryan … Things I learn listening to sports radio
Editor, BC Interruption
Actually, I think this may be the winning playoff predictions.
Don’t want to brag, but I was 4-for-4 SU last week.
Editor, BC Interruption
That’s one of the first thing out of GDF’s mouth that I actually was happy with.
He’s not saying he expects a FF appearance every year, but he thinks that with SD we will have the recruiting and coaching to get there. Once we’re there, all it takes is two solid nights and we could be champs.
If Gene said anything less than competing for a FF appearance I would have been upset. If we’re not in it to “Excel” why even bother?
I actually agree with Jeff in that winning the ACC is a bigger deal and loftier goal than simply making a Final Four. There’s a significant amount of luck in terms of matchups and draws that goes into making a Final Four. I think if this program were to win the ACC — a conference that is owned by Duke and Carolina — that would be a bigger deal than the program’s first Final Four appearance.
Besides, outside of the true Cinderella stories — VCU, Butler, George Mason — no one will even remember that you made a Final Four down the line. LSU, Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma … I would have been hard pressed to name these teams as major conference programs that have made a Final Four in the last 10 years.
Editor, BC Interruption
Disagree with you here. Final Four appearance – National significance and much more exposure. Conference Champions – conference significance and a few days of exposure.
And a Final Four appearance would be nice since we’ve never done it. (Yes I know we haven’t won the ACC tournament but we’ve been a part of it for all of 6 years).
Nope
A Final Four is slightly more significant for BC since we’ve never done it. Not more significant than a conference championship.
The national significance, exposure generated from a Final Four appearance is incredibly fleeting, and unnecessary for a program like BC since we already play in one of the best basketball conferences in the country.
Didn’t you know that conference championships are what determine whether a move to a new conference is successful or not? / Rick Pitino logic
Editor, BC Interruption
1997: North Carolina
1998: North Carolina
1999: Duke
2000: Duke
2001: Duke
2002: Duke
2003: Duke
2004: Maryland
2005: Duke
2006: Duke
2007: North Carolina
2008: North Carolina
2009: Duke
2010: Duke
2011: Duke
imo knocking off both Duke and Carolina, and Syracuse whenever they get here, would be a much greater program accomplishment than making a Final Four. Much more permanent, too. Able to point recruits to the ACC Championship banner hanging up in Conte Forum. The “NCAA Tournament West Regional Champs” banner doesn’t have nearly the same appeal.
Editor, BC Interruption
You and I both know a Final Four banner would not read “NCAA Tournament West Regional Champions.”
It would read “Final Four 20xx” Just like it reads “Sweet 16” “NCAA 2nd Round”, etc.
Agree with Hoyaeagle
BC going to the Final Four would be a much bigger accomplishment. I’m not opposed to them winning the ACC but a Final Four would get them much more exposure nationally for recruits.
BC won the 2005 Big East Regular Season Championship but while a good season, it was a failure with the 2nd round loss to Milwaukee. I would have gladly taken a 3rd place regular season finish and an Elite Eight appearance.
But first things first, I want to consistently make the tournament. That should be the goal of the program. Continued Sweet Sixteen appearances would be fine by me to start.
It took 9 years of posting Eagle1! - Hoya2!
National Titles —that is the only goal.
Finally!
Maybe you kids have finally beaten some sense into him and pray he does something about Spazoo, even if we have a 6-6 or whatever, since Spazoo is a proven loser as a recruiter too!
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