Boston College

I have written repeatedly about BC's weakness in big games.  They almost never win any games that they shouldn't, and never steal any close games from the jaws of defeat.  Typically, there's either a single stupid crunch-time decision to point to, or a lack of outside shooting.

Yesterday's ACC championship game, however, had neither.  Louis Hinnant was hitting threes all day, and their crunch-time play went through their best player, Craig Smith, in the low post.  He missed a game-tying 10-footer on an open-enough look.  Can't blame that on anybody, really.  It's refreshing to see them play so well against the best team in America.  Since I'm in a congratulating mood today, bravo to BC for looking good against the rest of the ACC.

The most encouraging development was Hinnant's monster game.  He showed me enough yesterday to make me think they have a chance.  Craig Smith and Jared Dudley aren't enough... they're too reliant on paint points, and too much of a risk for foul trouble as a result.  If Hinnant consistently gives them relief from outside, however, BC has a chance to do some meaningful damage in the tournament for the first time since the Billy Curley era.