Not long ago, someone asked me what should have been an innocent question: What's the best Boston College men's basketball team that you remember?
Without hesitation, my mind raced the 2005-2006 squad. On paper alone the team was impressive. Take a quick look at the roster and you'll find three names now etched on the backs of NBA jerseys. Craig Smith, Jared Dudley, and Sean Williams were as talented a trio as any in BC history, even when the latter occasionally needed that "good ole' self-medicatin'." The supporting cast consisted of "Byrd" Hinnant, Tyrese Rice, and Sean Marshall. Hinnant provided the leadership, Rice the energy, and Marshall (depending on which side of the bed he woke up on) the positive attitude. The team had so much depth that even coach Al Skinner decided to throw caution to the wind and play a nine-man rotation, including the illustrious likes of John Oates, Marquez Haynes, and Akida McLain in the fun.
For all of 2006's highs on the court - beating North Carolina twice, reaching the ACC championship and Sweet 16 en route to a sterling 28-8 record - something was missing.
Maybe it was a lack of swagger. But then again, Marshall didn't seem to have that problem when he screamed in J.J. Redick's ear at Conte, and Williams and McLain certainly didn't lack confidence off the court. Nonetheless, whatever they lacked prevented the Eagles from moving beyond the Sweet 16 after they blew a 14-point lead and lost to Villanova in overtime.
My question is this: Is that as good as it's going to get? That Sweet 16 appearance was the first since 1994 for a program that has never seen a Final Four. In Al Skinner's 11 seasons as head coach, national analysts have praised BC for being consistently good. But that begs the question: Can we be great?
What makes the North Carolinas and Dukes of the world so good is their history. The kids who watched Antawn Jamison and Vince Carter at UNC wanted to emulate their heroes. A kid named Sean May wanted to be the next Jamison, while classmate Rashad McCants dreamed of making the league as the next Vince. When the indomitable Matt Doherty lured Raymond Felton from South Carolina, the pieces were set for the Tar Heels' last championship.
2008 Woodie Awards
john a. pfeiffer
posted 1/31/08 @ 6:33 PM EST
It's probably as good as it's going to get unless we're willing to violate NCAA rules, compromise our academic standards and graduation rate, and pay a coach over $2 million/year. (Continued…)