Eagles Look to Get First Road Win in Winston-Salem

Full disclosure: I am a man of boundless optimism when it comes to Boston College basketball. After barely escaping the dangerous Wildcats of UNH in the opener I was still holding out hopes for a repeat of the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers. As I said, boundless optimism. Some time later — maybe it was the combined 58-point beatdown handed to the Eagles by Holy Cross and Massachusetts in back-to-back games, but maybe not — I had to temper my expectations. So as the Eagles stare at a less-than-dangerous Wake Forrest team, I can’t help but get excited. After all, the ACC’s No. 10 spot is still up for grabs in Atlanta.

Boston College might need better defense to take down Wake Forest this time around (Stephan Savoia/AP)

The crazy thing about this game is that BC actually has a chance to get their first true away win of the season. Sure, Wake took no prisoners in a 15-point game in Conte Forum that really wasn’t even that close for most of the game. Sure Travis McKie made mince meat of the Eagles defense and Ty Walker lived above the rim with 11 boards and six blocks — not to mention approximately a dozen goaltending violations. They had the three best players on the court most of the time, but that was before Ryan Anderson and Jordan Daniels began to hit their stride.

All that said, BC Interruption’s A.J. Black was right on target calling this game an “ACC Pillow Fight.” While the Eagles have only won once in their last 10 games — the impressive defeat of Florida State — the Demon Deacons have hardly been better. One of their two wins in the past 10 contests was the aforementioned Eagle evisceration. The other was a nine-point win against an even more woeful Georgia Tech team. Aside from those two bottom-feeding victories, Jeff Bzdelik and crew haven’t even kept a game within single digits. A pair of 11-point loses (away to Clemson and NC State) does little to strike fear after seeing Wake hand games away at home on a silver platter. Twenty-three point defeat to FSU, 20 to Clemson and, the game which still leaves a stench in the Lawrence Joel Coliseum, a 36-point drubbing by NC State).

On the other hand, Boston College has at least kept it close much of the time lately, save for five minutes against Maryland and whatever that Duke game was. Anderson has been turning it up to another level lately and should continue to do so against Wake Forest, even if they have more beef in the frontline than most. Dennis Clifford needs to step up. KC Caudill might even have the chance to throw his weight around a bit. It’s not a great matchup for the young Eagles, but it’s one that they can win.

Overused Pre-game List Tactics: Three Keys to the Game

Steve Donahue might be sick if his Eagles can't get off the road schneid (Photo Credit: Winslow Townson/AP)

1. Ignore the crowd

This one should be easy because, as you can clearly tell, Wake Forest is pretty freaking awful. The 7,634 who showed up for the Georgia Tech game is only about half of Lawrence Joel’s capacity but still almost the capacity of Conte Forum. I don’t know what the road yips are caused by for this freshman team, but if it’s the environment than this one is about as hostile as Switzerland.

2. Rebound the basketball

Unless BC trots out Clifford and Caudill together, it’s likely that Wake will have more size. Anderson had 11 boards last game and usually rebounds above his weight — to the tune of 8th in the conference at 7.0 per game. Problem is, McKie is just in front of him in 7th. Everyone has to body up and prevent second chance points to pull out the win.

3. Establish the deep ball

Asking for a team to shoot better is an inexact science. Sometimes it just comes down to taking better shots. Other nights nothing is falling. In the first game against the Deacs the Eagles hit just 4-of-21 from behind the arc. That has to change. The offense has developed to the point that more good shots are available so if Lonnie Jackson can shake himself free a few times it could make a hug difference.

This is the best chance for a road victory the rest of the season and comes with a move up in ACC seeding — to ninth if Virginia Tech loses as well. Let the Race for Eight begin!