Miami 69, Boston College 42: Eagles Crash Back Down To Earth In Listless Road Loss

I didn't have the chance to watch yesterday's game live. This was probably for the best. Full well knowing the game's outcome, I decided to watch the game back on ESPN3 reply. I know, I know. Glutton for punishment, right?

Boston College, fresh off an upset over #1 and previously unbeaten Syracuse, crashed back down to Earth in a listless 69-42 loss to Miami. The loss drops BC to 7 and 20 on the year.

Everything that went right vs. Syracuse went wrong against Miami. BC forced just one first half 'Canes turnover and three in all while committing 10 of their own. The three ball wasn't falling (4-of-20 from beyond the arc, 20%), nor was anything else, really (14-of-43, 32.6%). One of the best free throw shooting teams in the ACC -- #ACCNarratives -- went 10-of-15 from the line and the Eagles were predictably out-rebounded 39-27.

About the only bright spot was the play of Patrick Heckmann, who parlayed his strong performance against Syracuse into just his fourth start of the season. The junior scored 10 of the Eagles first 15 points and 13 of 22, though he scored just two points in the second half after getting into foul trouble. He finished with 15 points, four rebounds, an assist and a block in 34 minutes of work. He should probably play more the rest of the way.

Heckmann was the only Eagle to make the trip to south Florida. Hanlan shot just 2-of-7 from the floor, including some point-blank misses, finishing with 11 points in the game. Half of those points came from the charity stripe. Anderson was also pretty quiet, shooting 3-of-8 for 8 points. Lonnie Jackson and Joe Rahon combined to shoot 2-of-12. BC got all of two points from its bench (Eddie Odio).

That's basically this game in a nutshell. When your team of "shooters" connects on just 32.6 percent of shots (and just 20 percent from three), commits double digit turnovers and gives up the three ball at a 50 percent clip (7-of-14), you aren't going to win many games in this league. When more than one starter has an off game, you'll win exactly zero games.

Don't let the fact that Miami started five seniors fool you. This is a team that completely turned over its roster, having replaced all five starters from last year's ACC championship squad. In turn, expectations were understandably low for this year's Miami team. The Canes were picked to finish 12th in the preseason poll, four spots below the Eagles.

That BC's squad of mostly three-year starters was run off the court by Miami tells you all you need to know about whether Donahue will survive this disastrous season.

As will BC's recent record of performance in the Boston College-Miami series. The loss was BC's eighth straight loss to the Hurricanes; all under Steve Donahue (0-8). In a series historically dominated by BC, Miami has rattled off eight straight victories to pull within 24-19. You have to go back to January 2010 for the last time BC knocked off the Hurricanes. In basketball.

Donahue is now 53-72 (.424) as head coach of the Eagles. At this point, it's safe to say this is what you are going to get with this team. It's looking increasingly likely that the Syracuse win was an aberration in an otherwise abysmal season and forgettable four year stretch of Boston College basketball. You may now go back to questioning whether this team will win another game this season because, not at all awkward.

Next up for the Eagles is a Wednesday night home game as the program renews hostilities with former Big East foe Pittsburgh. The Panthers are 20-6, 8-5 ACC on the year, but have lost two straight and four of its last six. Pitt is in action tonight vs. Florida State.