Boston College Daily Links: Inching Closer

We are inching ever closer to the start of the NCAA hockey tournament - and, maybe inching closer to the conclusion of the basketball coaching search, but who knows.

The breaking news overnight, as posted here at BC Interruption, is that Steve Masiello-to-USF is off, due to a "discrepancy in Masiello's background check." Odd.

Shaka Smart appears to be staying at VCU; what's next for Marquette? - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Marquette might also consider Syracuse assistant coach Mike Hopkins, the heir apparent to Jim Boeheim. Hopkins has the option of waiting for Boeheim to retire or take a look at openings at Marquette and Boston College.

Brad Stevens thinks Boston Celtics assistant Walter McCarty would do 'a great job' if hired as Boston College head coach | masslive.com

Without knowing all the details of Boston College's reported interest in Walter McCarty, Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens did not offer too much of his opinion on the matter. But if the Eagles do hire his assistant coach, Stevens thinks they would be in good hands.

B.U. or B.C.? Hockey Star Let Brother Pick - NYTimes.com

Jane Gaudreau added: "As his mom, I'd like to see him take one more year to get a little bigger, a little stronger, and to enjoy his senior year. He's never had a homecoming. He's never had a prom. He missed his high school graduation. He said he'd have a graduation picture for me.

"Have your senior year. You will never get that back."

Of the eight first-round NCAA games this season, seven feature teams that have a previous history with each other - all recent enough that there are players on each side who've faced the other team. Minnesota-Robert Morris is the only first meeting among the group. Four of the first-round games are NCAA tournament rematches from some point in time, including a St. Cloud State-Notre Dame game from last year.

Here's a history of the 256 games played between teams that are first-round opponents in this year's tournament, in order from fewest games played to most:

Boston College placed second at the Team Race Invitational this past weekend.

The Boston College field hockey team will play in six tournaments and scrimmages during the spring season in preparation for the 2014 season. The Eagles will play many of the teams they face during the regular season.