Boston College Has Fallen In The ACC

Since joining the ACC in 2005, the Boston College Eagles have not exactly been a prominent program in the league. Conte Forum, the home of the Eagles, has seen a general decline in winning seasons since the team jumped ship from the Big East, a league it had been partnered with since the 1979-80 season.

It looked as if the Eagles and the ACC were going to get along fine when the team went 28-8 in its first season led by then-head coach Al Skinner. The former head man led the Eagles to a seventh ranking in the Final AP poll thanks to contributions from Jared Dudley and Craig Smith.  The pair led the club all the way to the regional semifinal before falling to the Villanova Wildcats in overtime.

Moving forward, the Eagles would only obtain three 20-win seasons, not eclipsing more than 22 in the 2008-09 season. Both Skinner and his successor, Steve Donahue, combined for five losing seasons since the run to the regional semifinal. Furthermore, the Eagles would suffer its worst season since the 1998-99 season when the team went 6-24 and Donahue was ultimately fired.

The ironic part of the downfall is the Eagles have had some talented players since the Dudley and Smith Era. Reggie Jackson, who is now apart of the Oklahoma City Thunder and averages more than 15 points per game, was a first team All-ACC member for the 2010-11 season. A few seasons prior, Tyrese Rice shared the honor when he was named to the team following the 2007-08 season.

More recently, Olivier Hanlan was named ACC Freshman of the year and is currently leading the Eagles, averaging 16.2 points per game.

While the Eagles have struggled in conference, they have also struggled in there own state. The Harvard Crimson defeated the Eagles last year and were a frequent nuisance during the Jeremy Lin era. When you add UConn as a powerful neighbor, who won the 2011 and 2014 National Championships, the Eagles have been regionally put to the side.

The Eagles’ pedestrian run through the ACC and lack of atmosphere in Conte Forum has taken a toll on recruiting, with less marquee games on television and exposure to the program. Questions have also been raised about the school’s athletic facilities, which are never a good pitch when you’re trying to entice a big time recruit. Perhaps the most important matter to the school itself is that empty seats means lost revenue, which could have a seismic effect on the athletic program in a variety of ways.

Whatever the reason may be, the era for the Eagles in the ACC has generally been a major disappointment. First year head coach Jim Christian is following the same trend this season, posting a 7-6 record. The Eagles are currently 10th in the ACC, apart to scoring just 66.7 points per game, the 212th best mark in the country. Three of the Eagles five scorers are seniors, so the growing pains might have to continue before things get better for Christian.

Until the Eagles find a consistent identity, Chestnut Hill might be quiet on the hardwood in the winter. The hopes of fans looking for excitement might have to stick to the hockey program until further notice.

Michael Costeines is the ACC basketball Blogger for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @MCosteines, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.