The talk around BC has been almost all football -- with a little women's soccer mixed in -- but Boston College hoops is in the news today with the release of their 2011-12 schedule.
The season starts off with three New England games (New Hampshire, UMass and Holy Cross) before heading off to the 76 Classic to play fellow Jesuits the Saint Louis Billikens. After that it's off to the Big Ten Challenge as the Eagles host former Boston U. coach Patrick Chambers and the "always good for 45 points" Penn St. Nittany Lions.
The rest of the non conference schedule is jam packed with can't miss games against powerhouse New England schools:
"The Eagles will begin the campaign with 14 non-league games and finish with 16 consecutive conference contests. Nine of the 14 non-league games will be played against New England foes. BC opens its season against New Hampshire in Conte Forum on Monday, Nov. 14. It will host Massachusetts (Nov. 21), Boston University (Dec. 3), Bryant (Dec. 18), Sacred Heart (Dec. 21), Harvard (Dec. 29) and Rhode Island (Jan. 2), while traveling to Jesuit rival Holy Cross (Nov. 18) and former Big East foe Providence (Dec. 8)."
Want to see how difficult BC's OOC schedule appears on paper? Here is the complete OOC schedule with 2011 Pomeroy Rating:
New Hampshire Wildcats (291)
Holy Cross Crusaders (232)
UMass Minutemen (195)
Saint Louis Billikens (122)
Penn St. Nittany Lions (37)
Boston U. Terriers (171)
Providence Friars (96)
Stony Brook Seawolves (216)
Bryant Bulldogs (306)
Sacred Heart Pioneers (264)
Harvard Crimson (83)
Rhode Island Rams (120)
We already knew about most of these games, especially the matchups against Rhode Island and Harvard. Will this finally be the year BC beats the Crimson at home? Boston U. might be an interesting matchup, and it would be nice to quiet all of those BU fans who taunted us last season for failing to make the dance. For a young team these are all very winnable games, hopefully give them some confidence going into the ACC schedule:
Boston College opens ACC play at North Carolina on Saturday, Jan. 7. The game against the Tar Heels marks the first of seven league contests for the Eagles in January, including four at home (Clemson on Jan. 12, Virginia Tech on Jan. 14, Wake Forest on Jan. 21, and Miami on Jan. 29).
The Eagles also host four league games in February - against North Carolina State (Feb. 1), Florida State (Feb. 8), Duke (Feb. 19) and Georgia Tech (Feb. 29). BC concludes its regular-season slate with a game at Miami (March 3).
Opening at North Carolina? Yikes, that is going to be a tough start for such a young inexperienced team. I'm having nightmares about what Harrison Barnes is going to do to those poor freshmen. On the other hand BC is lucky, no trip to Cameron this year, and we also get to avoid playing FSU on the road as well.
I imagine with expectations low for this team, tickets will be easy to get, so go down there and support this Eagles team. They may not win alot, but they are young and handpicked by Steve Donahue for his exciting style of offense.
Who knows maybe the Eagles have an upset or two in them this year?