$Boston College Basketball\'s 5 Biggest Non-Conference Games of 2014-15$

Boston College Basketball's 5 Biggest Non-Conference Games of 2014-15

By Ed Morgans

BC's Top Non-ACC Tests

Boston College didn't have that good a season a year ago, finishing a meager 8-24 overall and 4-14 in the ACC, which just edged out Virginia Tech at the bottom of the league. But the Eagles did get a nice road win at Syracuse to build on late in the season, and they get their top scorer back in junior guard Olivier Hanlan. Here are BC's top five non-ACC games to watch.

5. Home vs. Southern Cal, Dec. 21

USC

5. Home vs. Southern Cal, Dec. 21

USC — The USC game isn't included here because it's some kind of non-conference battle of basketball giants. But it is an intriguing matchup for the Eagles in that the Trojans are somewhat of the Pac-12 version of BC. USC went just 2-16 in the Pac-12 a season ago and 11-21 overall. Like BC, USC is somewhat building from scratch in a tough conference and this game will be a decent tune-up win for either team.

4. Home to Providence, Dec. 5

Prov

4. Home to Providence, Dec. 5

Prov — Two old-time Big East rivals meet at BC early in December, and while this is still a decent northeastern rivalry when the teams get together, it's also a chance for the Eagles to get what could be a quality win. The Friars won 23 games in 2013-14 and went 10-8 in the revamped Big East. Providence also plays preseason No. 1 Kentucky just before this contest, so the Eagles may catch the Friars at a good time.

3. Massachusetts in the Coaches vs. Cancer Tripleheader, Nov. 16

UMass

3. Massachusetts in the Coaches vs. Cancer Tripleheader, Nov. 16

UMass — It's always special when the Eagles and the Minutemen get together, and this year there will be a bit more of a big-game feel to it, as BC and UMass battle at the TD Garden in Boston, not the Eagles' home court, as part of a Coaches vs. Cancer tripleheader. The last two meetings have seen UMass win in blowouts. The event also features Boston University vs. Northeastern, and Harvard vs. Holy Cross.

2. New Mexico in the San Juan Tip Off, Nov. 20

UNM

2. New Mexico in the San Juan Tip Off, Nov. 20

UNM — Boston College will play three games in the eight-team San Juan Tip Off, with the opener coming against the New Mexico Lobos. UNM was a solid 27-7 a season ago and 13-3 in the Mountain West. But top New Mexico scorer Cameron Bairstow is gone and the Lobos are in a bit of a rebuilding mode. The tourney field is solid, as well, including Connecticut, Dayton, Charleston, George Mason, Texas A&M and West Virginia.

1. Home to Harvard, Jan. 14

Harvard

1. Home to Harvard, Jan. 14

Harvard — In the past, Boston College's matchup with Harvard was a chance for BC to reassert itself as the dominant team in the city. But those days are gone. The Crimson went 27-5 last year, have made the NCAA tournament three seasons in a row and return three starters from a team that rolled through the Ivy League (13-1). BC will have three ACC games under its belt before this game, but make no mistake, this one is important for the Eagles, too.

Teams in this video »

Boston College Eagles

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