There are only three regular season games remaining for the Eagles men's basketball team. It's been a disappointing season, but one that has included its fair share of highlights (including defeating a ranked opponent for the first time in three years). But for the most part, this team has exceeded the expectations of most by winning three conference games.
Having exceeded expectations already in some respects, particularly in ACC play, it's time to get greedy. Just how far can the Eagles go in the ACC Tournament?
Here are Boston College's remaining three games:
2/25 at Wake Forest (3-10)
2/29 Georgia Tech (2-11)
3/3 at Miami (7-6)
That's three very winnable games. Sure, the Eagles are 1-9 in their last 10 games, but let's say for sake of argument that BC wins out to finish 6-10. That would put the Eagles in a good position to earn the upcoming ACC Tournament's No. 8 seed.
BC can't climb higher than 8th -- even if Maryland loses all of its remaining games and BC wins out, Maryland would still earn the higher seed by virtue of the head-to-head* -- but can make a serious run at a single-digit ACC Tournament seed over the final three games of the season.
Here's what needs to happen for BC to climb as high as the 8 seed in the ACC Tournament:
-- Boston College (6-10) wins out, defeating Wake Forest, Georgia Tech and Miami
-- Clemson (6-10) loses out to N.C. State, Virginia Tech and Florida State, and BC earns the higher seed by virtue of the head-to-head
-- Virginia Tech (5-11) beats Clemson but loses to Duke and N.C. State
-- Wake Forest loses to BC and can finish max 5-11 (also has games vs. Duke and at Georgia Tech)
-- Georgia Tech loses to BC and can finish max 4-12 (Maryland and Wake Forest)
As the number 8 seed, BC knocks off Clemson in the 8-9 game in the ACC Tournament's opening round, then topples top-seeded Florida State to reach the ACC semifinals. After victories over Duke and North Carolina in the semis and title game, the Eagles become the first team to win the ACC Tournament after playing four games in four days. With an overall record of 16-19, the Eagles also become the first NCAA Tournament team ... ever? ... to finish the year sub .500.
Hey, a guy can dream, can't he? The race for the 8th starts this weekend in Winston-Salem.
Go Eagles!
* There are also a bunch of scenarios where BC finishes in a three-way tie with other programs at 6-10, but I can't seem to get to a scenario where BC jumps Maryland for 7th. If you can figure it out, leave said scenario in the comments below.