#117 R.P.I. Virginia Tech @ #272 R.P.I. Boston College:

Virginia Tech men’s basketball got-well-soon(er) and now enjoys a whopping 2-game winning streak. All for having struck down and tamed the direwolves of Nc.State out on the typical cur
-esque inter-league Wednesday nite roadie.

The Hokies now sojourn 7o2-miles Nor-by-Nor-East to play old-school Big East foe Boston College. The Flying Eagles enter the fray at: 2-games south of .5oo or, 7 up and 9 down overall. Boston College is 2-4 or .333 in Atlantic Coast Clashing; modest for 10th place in the A.c.c. at the moment. Or, in a Bo Derek savvy tie with none other than NC2A springtime forecast (seemingly) mightily Virginia Tech. As BeeCee is prolly pretty much where everyone expected them to be; and yet VeeTee is not quite so bubbly. As champagne is just Ginger Ale that knows somebody. –Coach ‘hawkeye’ Pierce. Nonetheless, what you wanna know is… who is gonna win and by how much, rights? So read on… to finds, out!

Boston College Head Coach: Earl Grant: Age=, 134–97 (.58o) overall, and 7–8 (.467) @. Has a rep’ for
$1,500,000.oo (with: $437,500 per annum, and a $225,000 buyout)

Pianist, who rose to some ebony & ivory acclaim back in the late 1950’s up through the late 1960’s… The Ed Sullivan Show reg’… and… wait a minute?

Baller Grant was/is a native of North Charleston, South Carolina, where Grant attended R.B. Stall High School.

A former student-athlete, Jock’ Grant played two years at the NCAA Division II level at Georgia College in Milledgeville, Ga. He led the school to two appearances in the NCAA Tournament and to consecutive Peach Belt Conference Championships (1999 and 2ooo). In 2ooo, the Bobcats advanced all the way to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II national tournament. He was named an All-Peach Belt First Team selection in 2ooo.
Shows he rides clutch, don’t it?

Big Whistle Grant began his coaching career as an assistant at The Citadel under Pat Dennis from 2oo2 to 2oo4. Gregg Marshall hired Grant as an assistant at Winthrop University in 2oo4, and when Marshall left to take the head coaching gig at Wichita State in 2oo7, he brought Grant along with him. Grant was hired as an assistant at Clemson in 2o1o, serving under Brad Brownell. Grant recruited future NBA players K.J. McDaniels and Jaron Blossomgame to Clemson.

On September 2, 2o14, Grant was hired as the head coach of the College of Charleston, replacing Doug Wojcik. Where Coach-G spotted two so-so-seasons, three near stellar seasons and then three mo’ so-so-seasons. Hard guy to super-peg for it, like the old high school gymnasium climbing-board over on the side, way way back when. Tho’ he did make the post-season twice for Charleston too.

Championships: C.A.A. regular season (2o18) and the C.A.A. Tournament (2o18)
Awards: C.A.A. Coach of the Year (2o17)

Pretty much the neverwasbeen celtic’s attempted Prybar of their very own.
Hard to say here either way… could be a good hire?
Could be a: Bridge Too… Far?

Grant.edu earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgia College in 2ooo. He and his wife, Jacci, a 2oo1 College of Charleston graduate receiving a degree in elementary education,
they have three sons: Trey (13), Eyzaiah (12), and Elonzo (9). God (thrice) Bless!

Boston College at a glance:

• 63rd fewest Turnovers/game.
• 96th in Rebounding Margin. (Better on the O-glass than D).
• (THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT_____blank).
• 288th in FG-percentage D allowed.
• 3o8th fewest 3-point-makes/game!
• 12 national rankings in the 200’s and then 5 national rankings ≥3o3rd, worst! (i.e., you never see this from an NC2A-P5, or from an A.c.c. club).
• NO injuries listed (“thx” @Coach God!)

Returning Starters=1

Boston College Strengths:

• Leading scorer, leading assistor, and leading stealer alike would be one double #1, Makai Ashton-Langford. Makai is a 6′2″, 2oo lb., One, who is really prolly mo’ parts Lead-G that pure roundball Qb1. He is also BeeCee’s only returning starter this campaign as well. 12.9 ppg with 3.9 apg on 3.4 rpg and 1.4 spg is pretty useful all-’round stuff. (Pardon the hoopy pun). The BeeCee Roster says he has cut 15 lbs. down to 185 now since transferring over from Providence College. Someone unplugged his deep… Friar, indeed. 18 ppg along the High School way… where Ashton Attended Brewster Academy in 2o16-17, helping to guide the team to a 33-o mark and the National Prep School Championship. That counts. So did Langford’s Attended Cushing Academy run in 2o15-16, averaging 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists per game as he helped his team win the AA New England Prep School Championship. As M.A-L was merely a consensus Top-5o rated recruit as a prep— peaking at 33rd per Scout. I’d say that count as well, as well as I’d say mo’ was counted on here (by both schools). Does have a history of trick knee(s), (St.Nikon bless) which have expensed him a handful of games or so per season(s) thus far. Has run hot-n-cold the whole time for it; although, a mite warmer of late. Is willing, does get to the rack, tho’ his range is a tad limited at 30% deep. And 30% is a career-high by far, more of a mid-20’s 3-point percentage caliber gunner. Does keeps a long-azz burnt orange twist-top, so there is that as well. Pretty good baller, very fringe overseas backup kinda potential.
• 6′5″, 21o lb., super-Soph’, DeMarr Langford Jr. A 2nd-best 10.6 ppg with 5.0 rpg and 2.3 apg are what you Off-G gets here. 247Sports 94th hommie outta high-school.  McDonald’s All-American, and the younger bro’ of the above/aforementioned Langford. Likes to flex his not really bulky muscles; a lot. Knifey penetrator, takes contact well, stronger than he looks, and looks older than he is. Clearly, shooting does not run in the family, at 28% on dialing long-distance, 63% from the charity stripe, and at just north of 40% overall. Also made the Brewster National Bling a family affair. So, that is a checkmark in the family dinner icebox. Lindy’s says this Wing is good off-the-dribble and a solid lockdown defender. I’d not be inclined to dispute that… needs to add depth to his O-face or offensive game, however. Kinda a good Wing, kinda not a great Wing, (boneless or not).
• Double-Fresh’ or redux year Jaeden Zackery is a Pt.Gurad. Who checks in at: 6′2″, 21o lb., and finds you 9.9 ppg with 2.8 rpg and 2.6 apg as your third option on O here.  None of which is all dat and a ‘snap’, less his range itself. As this kid can flat out shoot the damn rock. His range is the gym. If he’s in it? He’s open. Nearly 20% better than ANYONE else is on the 3-ball at a twine-tickling 52% from behind the arc does not suck. Neither does being a 2o2o-21 Third Team NJCAA All-American out of Chipola College. Wherever/whatever that means… that is supposed to mean he’s a decent small-school pick-me-up hand-me-down, get. Supposed to be a 3-n-D One; in a very crowded One-through-One-through-Wing 3-Guard BeeCee backcourt. Tho’ the on-trend: 1.83:1 assist/turnover ratio and a 1.20 steal/turnover ratio say this is a pretty handy guy as handles go as well. Does have a near lowercase fullback build from football, pretty strong northward guy when he wants it for all his leg-work. Did southern hemisphere impress here.
• Brevin Galloway G (see: below).
• Third-year T.J. Bickerstaff: P/F, at: 6′9″, 22o lbs. No (coaching the verb) nepotistic relation that Eye could find? Until I went a generation deeper… ‘aye’, his old man’s old-man is coach Bernie of Supersonics fame! How can we be that old, now?!? This grand-sonny Bickerstaff started all 20 games for Drexel during the 2020-21 season. Where TeeJay averaged 10.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game for the Dragons in his debut or rookie voting season last year. This year he is getting you 8.3 ppg and leading the way at 7.5 rpg. With a steal and a block and yet the 41% that close to the rack is not a sophistican’t look.  Did seem to play bigger in bigger games on bigger stages last year— which could be a sign of being a gamer. The ≅82% from the FT-Line careerist maker says there has to be some Talent here on the O side, somewhere. High energy guy, attacks the rim, does not seem sweat-adverse… so maybe ask back in 2o24? As the only place winning comes before working is Webster’s. And T.J.B. is willing to do work.

  

Boston College Weaknesses:

• 6′2″, 2oo lb., Senior lead-G, Brevin Galloway G (early season knee-injury… whispers say meniscus, St.Culbreth bless!) And yet… then he just gutted out 17-minutes vs. L’ville on Hump Day, nite? Did not make a shot, so that trick left-knee may or may not be all, right. (St.Nikon bless too), as he blew the A.c.l. here at the College of Charleston 2-yarns back as well. This prior to blowing his other knee (A.c.l. as well) just last Boston College, December. Wow, wow, wow. Poor kid. Godspeed^3rd. As he danced the Charleston, as a: 15 ppg scorer who only netted 42% ranging from deep. So, there is talent here… even if there are only 1.something good wheels that remain. God Bless…
• LOTTSA kids just up and left after the coaching turnover last season. Nearly a true Gentrification or rebuilding Eagle-Scouting project here.
• Not a very tall or very wide/thick-set A.c.c. team either. Nearly a bit P5 smallish or lowercase. (All the more so for being backcourt heavy/centric).

F‘n Eagle Nest: (depth=was a legit 3, now mo’ like 2.5 or so…)

One #33, James (the amazing) Karnik (the magician) is a combo’ P/F-C who stands in at: 6′9″ and tips the Toledo’s at: a burlesque looking 252 lbs. Strong kid here on tape sports fans. Gotta lift a lot in the northern hemisphere to go Capricorn-One on the Tropic of Cancer here. Has a history of dings/dents, ankles (St.Philip), and soleus’ too… Coach God Bless. Almost looks a stretch-De part in another sport in another life. (See: pic). Surrey, British Columbia native, ‘eh‘. With no word yet from the mutants in the Forbidden Zone. That attempt at Great White North satire aside, Mister Karnik pushed-n-shoved his way to: 13 ppg on 8 rpg and 1 bpg at Lehigh prior to BeeCee. Pretty decent worker-bee kinda digits. Up in Beantowne James has snow-drifted downward to: 7.6 ppg on 5.1 rpg and ½ a swat. Karnik did pocket a: 2o16-17 OSBA championship ring up in N.A.F.T.A. terms, and he does field Canadian National Team experience as well. Prolly is better than his on-again-off-again twig-health shows. Kinda sorta a Baltic Ave. man’s pastier version of a muscular-looking Wes Unseld of sorts— or maybe Mitch’ Kupchak? As his nitty-gritty style nets him a lotta FTA’s; although he is (somehow) down 16% on these this campaign to a mere 6 of 10 on 15′ set-shots with 10-seconds to shoot. Easy kid to like, willing, ready, physical. Just needs to refind his A-game swagg.

7′, 24o lb., transfer P/F Quinten Post (great frontcourt surname) is supposed to be a, well; a BIG deal. By way of: Amsterdam, The Netherlands; by way of: Mississippi State. Which may or may not be code for their very own version of: Amstel, Lyte. Lindy’s says this Post-(up) to be a ‘versatile’ player who can defend the key and rebound a bit as well. 8.9 ppg and 5.1 rpg with the team-pacing 1.3 bpg off the pine is not the worst look. S.E.C. Honor Roll member with metric tons of International experience. As Mister Post is nearly tripling his Bulldog digits; and that’s a hopeful sign with 3-years eligibility remaining due to all the null-year rules.

Illation, conclusion(s) and OPT digits:

Number of Eagles who could soar @Tech=4 maybe 5.

the takeaway:
The takeaway here is…

…pretty tough to be taken with much of anything or taken anywhere with Boston College men’s hoops, which seems kinda ladylike to me upon breaking-tape at the moment.

They have a couple of G’s and two solid frontcourters who are prolly putting in overwhelmed and outmanned work as Eye type. Granted, fair enuff.

Tho’ they are seasons plural away from whatever it is Earl wants to reshape and resculpt them into being.

---

The only calculus for you is… just how far are Mike Young & Co. away from being whatever he wants them to shipshape or ship-out, spring-cleaning 2o2o be?

…’cause in all let Nc.State back into it 2nd-half candor?
…I’ma not so sure on my end?

I am sure they had to be glad that was not a 15-round or 45-minute, fight!

 ***

Our handy-dandy friend the so-called Forum Guide of Graham Houston fame is calling for a rescheduling ask back here… as we coulda had a Pittstop and a t.Heel roundball round-robin numbers to crunch right up until we did, not. St.Nikephoros bless!

The annualized year-to-date vitals say that… VeeTee is up a solid enuff +8% in shooting percentage margin (virtually precisely split O/D wise); with VeeTee up a whopping +17% in 3-point percentage margin (more so on D, tho’ pretty decently on O), and with nobody up more than a couple of tenths of Windex Wipes in rebounding margin on the year-to-date.

The most recent 5-game metrics say that… the Hokies are up +13% in shooting percentage margin (teetering on 2:1 in favor of the O, tho’ D was superior too); likewise, the Gobblers find themselves up +13% in 3-point percentage margin (near equally split between betterment on O & D alike), and the Techmen are up a noticeable +6 in rebounding margin in the last fortnight of backboarding. (This was mostly due to the –6 BeeCee rebounding margin deficit, however)

Armchair Pt.Guard’s:

SWEET-16:
Makai Ashton-Langford, DeMarr Langford, and Jaeden Zackery have started all 16 games and account for nearly half of the Eagles’ 67 points per game scoring average.

TURNOVERS:
…a little (Hokie)birdie says… Mike & Company and getting 2nd-half worried, here. Watch to see who plays the O&M One and who takes pressure(s) better, here.

LAST 10 GAMES:
Eagles: 4-6, averaging 66.7 points, 33.1 rebounds, 12.1 assists, 7.0 steals, and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 40.8% from the field.
(mo’ on dat, below….)

BeeCee is a .667 host; whereas VeeTee is .5oo as a guest.
VeeTee is up +4% at the charity stripe for the year.
VeeTee is up +4 in R&R in the last few weeks.

The Call...

No.41 Net Ranking Virginia Tech @ no.172 Net Ranking Boston College:

The hosting Boston College Eagles enjoy one, that’s (1) whole entire dub-a-ewe in their last fiddy, that’s (5o) days of running ball!

The traveling Virginia Tech Hokies enjoy two, that’s (2) whole entire VicTories in their last two games or workweek of hoops.

Do you see what Eye, mean?

–oOo–

Then Eye found dis… Boston College (7-9, 2-4) limps home having dropped six of its last seven games. The latest setback was a 67-54 L @Louisville on Wednesday, despite TJ Bickerstaff’s 12-point, 15-rebound double-double effort.

Down by only two points at the half, the Eagles shot just 27.6 percent from the field in the second half on their way to their worst field goal shooting performance of the season at 29.2 percent (19 of 65).

Frosty the snowman be nesting on their mini-me or Jay-Vee parquet.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Then we see who VeeTee catches on-tap up, next.
And you have to wonder if there is a lookahead trap in play here?

We are the better team— who does not always play, better.
Many Faces of Eve wimminz basketball taking it to the men’s, hoop.

Still yet, I’ll side with the (seemingly) better team up on Chestnut Hill…
…tho’ I would not counsel that you be a heavy bettor, here.

…at least not on the under… as these two so-so squadrons have conspired to allow
a maddening +17 ppg as softening or user-friendly defense goes in their
last 5-games combined of late.

🦃 >>> 🏀 >>> 🦅

(59% confidence interval)
Virginia Tech=69, Boston College=63

please support the VT F.C.A.!

 

“LETS GO!”

“Hokies!”

 bourbonstreet**