It’s coming. The beginning of the basketball season is coming soon. While much was made about the struggles of the Boston College Eagles basketball team last year, here are three reasons why the team will be better than last year.

No. 1: New Guards Combined with the Old Guard

The Eagles saw an influx of new guards come into the program during the offseason. Much has been made about incoming freshman Ty Graves, a McDonalds All-America nominee. The three star recruit was ranked the 44th best at his position by 24/7 Sports. He is sure to make an impact.

Another incoming freshman guard worth noting is Kyran Bowman. Bowman, named all-state in North Carolina during his senior year, is a strong option at the point. With BYU transfer Jordan Chatman coming in as well, the Eagles have some strong additions coming in to help out at the guard positions.

Oh yeah, Jerome Robinson is back as well.

Viable Option At the 4

One of BC’s most gaping holes last season was at the 4, and lack of a viable option at the position. With incoming transfer Connar Tava coming to the Heights, BC will be able to match up better with opposing defenses with a bonafide power forward. The Eagles will be able to have a strong inside presence, something that was somewhat lacking last year.

Another Year Wiser

Unlike other programs at BC, the basketball program had a legitimate stake to the claim that last year’s team was young. With six freshmen garnering a significant amount of playing time last year, the team was prone to making mistakes. With many of the young players on last year’s team prone to making mistakes of youth, having their first year under their belts could lead to a degree of maturation that they needed.