2011-12 Boston College Basketball: Florida State Game Thread (7:00 PM, ESPN3)
by Brian Favat on Feb 8, 2012 5:00 PM EST
in Boston College Basketball
vs. 
#15/17 Florida St. Seminoles (16-6, 7-1 ACC) vs. Boston College Eagles (7-16, 2-7 ACC)
Time: 7:00 PM Eastern
Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Place: Chestnut Hill, Ma.
Arena: Conte Forum
Capacity: 8,606
TV: ESPN3.com
TV Announcers: Eric Frede, Ron Perry
Radio: WEEI (93.7 FM / 850 AM)
Radio Announcers: Jon Meterparel, Malcolm Huckaby
Internet Audio: BCEagles.com
Line: Boston College +12.5
Last Time Out: Georgia Tech defeated Boston College 51-47, as the Eagles fell to 7-16 overall and 2-7 in the ACC.
Series: Boston College and Florida State have met 8 times. All-time series tied at 4-4.
Last Meeting: Florida State 67, Boston College 51 (January 22, 2011)
Last Meeting at Conte Forum: Florida State 61, Boston College 57 (January 30, 2010)
Last Five Meetings:
L - Florida State 67, Boston College 51 (January 22, 2011)
L - Florida State 62, Boston College 47 (February 14, 2010)
L - Florida State 61, Boston College 57 (January 30, 2010)
W - Boston College 72, Florida State 67 (February 24, 2009)
L - Florida State 66, Boston College 63 (February 23, 2008)
Trends: Florida State has won four of the last five meetings and each of the last three. BC has lost nine of its last 11 and its last six straight meetings. BC is 3-1 against Florida State at Conte Forum.
Florida State's 2010-2011 Record: 23-11 (11-5 ACC)
Florida State's Probable Starters:
G - Michael Snaer (Jr.) - 6-5, 202 lbs., Moreno Valley, Ca. - 13.8 PPG, 1.8 APG, 3.5 RPG
G - Deividas Dulkys (Sr.) - 6-5, 196 lbs., Silute, Lithuania - 7.6 PPG, 1.2 APG, 2.2 RPG
G - Luke Loucks (Sr.) - 6-5, 201 lbs., Clearwater, Fl. - 7.2 PPG, 4.0 APG, 3.0 RPG
F - Bernard James (Sr.) - 6-10, 240 lbs., Savannah, Ga. - 10.2 PPG, 0.5 APG, 8.6 RPG
F-C - Xavier Gibson (Sr.) - 6-11, 248 lbs., Dothan, Al. - 7.8 PPG, 0.4 APG, 5.0 RPG
Boston College's Projected Starters:
G - Jordan Daniels (Fr.) - 5-8, 153 lbs., Fontana, Ca. - 5.8 PPG, 2.3 APG, 1.6 RPG
G - Matt Humphrey (Jr.) - 6-5, 192 lbs., Chicago, Il. - 10.1 PPG, 1.3 APG, 3.5 RPG
G - Lonnie Jackson (Fr.) - 6-3, 170 lbs., Valencia, Ca. - 7.7 PPG, 1.7 APG, 2.5 RPG
F - Ryan Anderson (Fr.) - 6-8, 217 lbs., Lakewood, Ca. - 9.4 PPG, 1.0 APG, 6.8 RPG
C - Dennis Clifford (Fr.) - 7-0, 241 lbs., Bridgewater, Ma. - 9.5 PPG, 1.0 APG, 5.1 RPG
Leave your pre-, in- and post-game comments below.
Go Eagles!
7 commentsNCAA's Radical Extremist Lawyer Gets Scalped But Good!
This rich, powerful, rancid collection of arbitrary little Napoleon brats needs some of it's powers curtailed severely and most of it's minions need to be waxed!
This lawyer who started this deal was a persona right out of the 1960's SDS left wing militant groups!
North Dakota 'Fighting Sioux' returnEmail Print Comments101 Associated Press
BISMARCK, N.D. -- The University of North Dakota will resume using its contentious Fighting Sioux nickname despite threats from the NCAA, the school's president said Wednesday, marking the latest twist in a protracted fight about a name that critics consider offensive.
A state law repealed last year had required the university use its longtime nickname and logo that shows the profile of an American Indian warrior. But supporters of the name filed petitions late Tuesday demanding that the issue be put to a statewide vote.
University president Robert Kelley said the school decided to resume using the name and logo to respect the state's referendum process, which requires that the pro-nickname law be in effect while the secretary of state reviews the petition signatures. He has about a month to do so.
"As soon as that petition was filed last night, the law reverts," Kelley told The Associated Press. "I don't want to violate the law."
The NCAA has told the university that continued use of the nickname and logo would expose the school to sanctions, including banning the university from hosting post-season tournaments and its athletes from wearing uniforms with the logo or nickname in postseason play.
Emails and phone messages left of the NCAA were not immediately returned Wednesday. The university and leaders in Grand Forks, where the school is located, had opposed the law.
Kelley said the men's and women's hockey teams and the women's basketball team have a chance for postseason play in the coming months, and it's unclear how the teams would be affected.
"I don't know whether this is going to put us back on the (sanctions) list or not," Kelly said. "But clearly, by being mandated by state law to be Fighting Sioux, we are right back to where we were before the repeal."
The state Board of Higher Education will likely to meet North Dakota's attorney general Monday to discuss whether to go to court to block reinstatement of the law, board president Grant Shaft said.
The dispute began in 2006, when the NCAA called on 19 schools with American Indian nicknames, logos and mascots that it considered "hostile and abusive" to Indians. The University of North Dakota is the only school left where the issue is in serious dispute.
The NCAA ordered the schools to change their nicknames or obtain permission from local tribes to keep using them. Most changed their names, although the Florida State Seminoles and the Central Michigan Chippewas were among the schools that got tribal permission to keep their nicknames.
North Dakota challenged the NCAA edict in court. In a settlement, the school agreed to begin retiring its nickname if it could not obtain consent to continue its use from North Dakota's Standing Rock and Spirit Lake Sioux tribes by Nov. 30, 2010.
Spirit Lake tribal members endorsed the name. But the Standing Rock Sioux's tribal council, which opposed the nickname, has declined to support it or to allow its tribal members to vote.
The law forcing the school to use the name and logo was approved in March, despite opposition from university officials and Grand Forks legislators. Law supporters included some prominent university alumni.
The law's chief sponsor, Republican House Majority Leader Al Carlson, said he resented the NCAA's bullying and what he regarded as the Board of Higher Education's clumsy handling of the matter. Carlson hoped the law would make the NCAA reconsider its opposition to the nickname and logo, but the NCAA was adamant.
The law was repealed during a special legislative session last November, with many former supporters switching sides and saying it had not accomplished its purpose of influencing the NCAA.
Supporters of the nickname, including some members of the Standing Rock Sioux, said they turned in petitions with more than 17,000 signatures late Tuesday in support of the law. The required minimum is 13,452 names.
Reed Soderstrom, chairman of the referendum campaign, hailed the university's decision Wednesday and discouraged education board members from going back to court.
"They would seem to be following a method of trying to disenfranchise the voters, and I don't think they have the power to do that," he said
Maryland QB Danny O'Brien Leaving, Met with Edsall Today
OL Max Garcia, who started in all 12 games last season, too. Randy Edsall Dream Job implosion!
UCONN to Impose Own Penalties
So about that UCONN as possible expansion target in the next few years...Yeah I think we are going to need to hold off on that until you figure out how to graduate your kids...
Big 12 Expansion Rumors: Florida State And Clemson To Big 12?
by Brian Favat on Feb 8, 2012 2:30 PM EST
in Conference Expansion
As the Big East announces the addition of Memphis to the conference for 2013, the other hot conference expansion rumor of the week is that the Big 12 is targeting Florida State and Clemson. Honus "The Dude" Sneed (hint 1) from the Mountaineers (hint 2) blog EERinsider has the report.
"The Big 12 conference will put its expansion plans on hiatus while Clemson and FSU decide to apply for membership or stay with the ACC.
Talks between the two schools and the Big 12 began late last fall and continued after the completion of the 2011 season. Recently both schools have formed committees to examine the advantages and disadvantages of leaving the ACC for the Big 12 and expect to reach a decision by late summer."
Could this be even remotely possible? I suppose there's a non-zero chance of this happening, with the fact that Clemson has recently formed an Athletic Advisory Committee fueling the expansion rumor fire. But this also doesn't seem very plausible.
This rumor seems to fall in the general trap of thinking like a fan and not like a University president. While the Big 12 may ultimately be able to offer more money to both Clemson and Florida State, that's chump change compared to the overall institutional revenue that comes with the academic association with schools like Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, Wake Forest and BC.
I find it even harder to believe that Clemson -- a founding member of the ACC -- would be willing to trade in existing rivalries with the other original ACC members for increased travel costs and membership in a tougher football conference. Same goes for Florida State (minus the whole "original ACC member" thing), whose road to the BCS would prove much more difficult in a conference with Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma State, West Virginia and TCU at the top.
While the ACC's football product pales in comparison to the Big 12's, in terms of academic prestige, there is no comparison between the two conferences. The Big 12 has the lowest ranked academics of the BCS AQ conferences, while the ACC is one of the premier conferences in terms of academic prestige, name brand and market values. Both Clemson and Florida State have benefited greatly from the association.
As far as I can tell, the rumors of the ACC's demise and/or perceived position of weakness are greatly overstated. Take this quote from Barry Tramel of The Oklahoman:
"No. I haven't heard it. And I'm sure the Big 12 has talked to a lot of people. I'm sure the Big 12 called Clemson and said, "Hey, we've got a great idea. How about you, Florida State and" "No thanks." "But wait," the Big 12 responded, "you didn't let us finish. We're talking about you, and" "Not interested." The ACC is solid. Academically and financially and athletically. Let me promise you, while fans get all worked about how Orange Bowls in a row the ACC has lost, the presidents do not."
Personally, I don't think either Clemson or Florida State pose any sort of flight risk for the ACC. But even in the off chance the Tigers and Seminoles did bolt for the Big 12, I don't think the ACC would skip a beat. Sure, the value of the conference's TV contract with ESPN might decrease in value, but so long as the core of Carolina schools, Maryland and the Virginias* stick together, along with the new northern tier of BC, Syracuse and Pittsburgh, the ACC will remain one of the "haves" in the college athletics conference landscape.
* It took Virginia Tech 40+ years to finally marry their high school sweetheart (the ACC and UVa). It took way too much political wrangling and effort to get the Hokies into the conference, and I don't believe Tech is going anywhere -- read: SEC, Big 12 -- any time soon.
NCAA Hockey Bracketology: February 8, 2012
by Brian Favat on Feb 8, 2012 12:00 PM EST
in Boston College Hockey
Fresh off a 7-1 curb stomping of Northeastern in the opening round of the Beanpot, the Eagles are back up to 6th in this week's PairWise Rankings. Let's take a look at this week's bracket.
Previous brackets ... January 13 ... December 12.
Onward.
Step 1: Pick the 16 tournament teams
1. That lesser program down the Green line
2. Massachusetts-Lowell
3. Michigan
3. Ferris State
5. Minnesota-Duluth
6. Boston College
7. Minnesota
7. Merrimack
9. Maine
10. Notre Dame
10. Union
12. Ohio State
13. Michigan State
13. Northern Michigan
15. North Dakota
16. Air Force -- Atlantic Hockey Champion
Bubble teams (in order): Colorado College, Denver, Miami, Western Michigan, Lake Superior
By conference: CCHA 6, Hockey East 5, WCHA 3, ECAC 1, Atlantic Hockey 1
Step 2: Assign the seeds
No. 1 seeds: Boston University, UMass-Lowell, Michigan, Ferris State
No. 2 seeds: Minnesota-Duluth, Boston College, Minnesota, Merrimack
No. 3 seeds: Maine, Notre Dame, Union, Ohio State
No. 4 seeds: Michigan State, Northern Michigan, North Dakota, Air Force
Boston College Daily Links: Beanpot Blowout
by Brian Favat on Feb 8, 2012 10:33 AM EST
in Daily Links
Hockey
The Takeaway: BC beats Northeastern 7-1 in Beanpot semifinal (College Hockey News)
"We, as a team, haven’t been playing as well as we are capable of. We were just looking forward to getting that win, we were on track we swept UNH last weekend and we just wanted to keep things rolling. Coming out here and beating Northeastern seven to one, I think that as a team we’re playing really well and it should carry over into next weekend." - Johnny Gaudreau
Eagles pour it on in blowout (BostonHerald.com)
"I think every Beanpot final is exciting, but playing BU is a little bit of a bonus," junior right winger Steven Whitney said. "The past years have been fun. I know this year is going to be just as intense and even more fun with BU."
Gaudreau displays big talent (The Boston Globe)
"I think we were one of the first college programs - a lot are like us now - to recognize that smaller players who play with grit, and they’re strong on skates, can be major, major factors in the game,’’ said BC coach Jerry York.
Familiar ingredients in the Pot (The Boston Globe)
"I think we just kind of settled in,’’ said Cross, whose team plays at Vermont Friday before turning its attention to the Beanpot championship. "The first period, I don’t think we were all going at the same time and at the same speed. I think, come the second period, we took the great effort we had in the first period and we put everyone on the same page and it definitely made a difference. I think it was just a slight adjustment.’’
Weymouth’s Paul Carey keeps Beanpot streak alive (The Patriot Ledger)
"It’s a great run," said Carey, who starred at Thayer Academy and Salisbury (Conn.) School. "We don’t pay much attention to the past ... (but) after winning it you kind of feel you have to defend it. There’s a certain amount of pride that comes with that. You want to keep the trophy at your school."
Boston College to face rival BU in Beanpot final (Boston.com)
"When I was younger I always watched the BC-BU rivalry and Beanpots," said Gaudreau, a freshman wing who originally committed to Northeastern before a coaching change after last season. "Just to be able to play in one (tonight) and do well is an awesome experience for me."
No. 6 WIH Defeats No. 8 Harvard at Beanpot (BCEagles.com)
Junior forward Ashley Motherwell scored twice and freshman forwards Kate Leary and Alex Carpenter both provided two assists to help the sixth-ranked Boston College women's ice hockey team defeat Harvard, 4-2, in the consolation game of the 34th Annual Beanpot Tournament on Tuesday evening at Walter Brown Arena.
The Big East Conference, Do-Over Edition
by Brian Favat on Feb 8, 2012 8:00 AM EST
in Conference Expansion
According to CBS Sports' Brett McMurphy, the Memphis Tigers are set to become an all-sports member of the Big East in 2013.
"Memphis has accepted an offer to join the Big East Conference in all sports in 2013, college football industry sources told CBSSports.com.
The Tigers will join the Big East with three other Conference USA members - Houston, SMU and UCF - for the 2013-14 school year. The Big East also will add Boise State and San Diego State as football-only members in 2013 and Navy in 2015."
This swells the number of former Conference USA members to join the ranks of the Big East to nine, as the Tigers are set to join Louisville, Cincinnati, South Florida, DePaul, Marquette, Houston, SMU and UCF. Basically, if you are still a Conference USA member and have not gotten a Big East invite at this point, you are doing something wrong.
For basketball, this is a solid move. For football ... meh.
When Memphis joins the Big East in 2013, the Tigers will become the 28th different school to have called the Big East home at one point in the conference's history (inclusive of Loyola Maryland, who is an associate member for women's lacrosse.
This got me thinking: if you could construct the optimal Big East Conference from scratch, using any of the 28 members of the conference that have once called the Big East home, who ya got? (The complete list of programs can be found here.)
The first thing you need to do is determine what the conference's priorities are. If you are going to be a basketball-first conference, then ditch the geographically absurd Boise State, and you can probably also live without Rutgers, DePaul (obviously), Houston, SMU and South Florida.
Or maybe you want to be a football-first conference. In that case, the basketball-only schools quickly get the boot -- Georgetown, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall and Villanova -- and you are left to choose from the original Big East football members, former C-USA programs like Louisville, Cincinnati and USF, the Mountain West and Navy.
For me, if we are doing this thing over, I only want all-sports programs who provide some value in football and basketball but are solid football programs. Having an all-sports conference where programs share revenue equally is much more tenable than the existing Big East basketball-football hybrid.
Here is my ultimate Big East Conference. Leave your own thoughts in the comments section.
Showing 1 - 8 of 4,463 Older
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
