Final Score and Analysis: Boston College Men’s Basketball vs. NC State

Final Score: NC State 82, Boston College 66

It’s hard to win games when you’re two best players combine to shoot 13 of 41 from the field and combine for only 29 points. Credit the Wolfpack and head coach Kevin Keatts for doing something no other ACC team has been able to do: stop Jerome Robinson. However, as great as the Wolfpack defense was, the Eagles’ top three perimeter threats, Robinson, Ky Bowman, and Jordan Chatman missed quite a few open three point looks en route to 4-18 combined three point shooting. Combine that with 12 turnovers, many of which were unforced and careless, red hot (11-21) three point shooting by State, and some missed layups, and it’s almost impossible to win. Quite frankly it shouldn’t have even been this close.

Once again, the lack of depth for the Eagles showed, as Vin Baker had to play about eight straight first half minutes as Jerome Robinson took his talents to the locker room to have his elbow looked at. If BC had a more reliable third guard, they could have at least stayed close, but it was already a fifteen point lead by the time Robinson came back. They were just about even from there, as the final score only had them trail by 16.

It’s hard not to be optimistic about the program as Nik Popovic and Steffon Mitchell each showed major promise, especially in the second half. They each make mistakes, as is expected in young players, but if they can continue to grow towards next season, their experience, with the additions of Wynston Tabbs and Jairus Hamilton should make the Eagles a top 5 ACC team next year. By the way, I still think BC is the team that no one wants to see in any postseason play. A backcourt that good can make up for a lot of shortcomings on a roster, and that could pose some problems against better teams, just ask Duke and UVA.