BC – Sacred Heart Preview

By Ben Neuwirth 

BC will host the Pioneers Tuesday, November 14th, at 7:00 pm in the 3rd game of a 5 game homestand to open the season. The Eagles beat Sacred Heart 82-75 in Conte Forum last december.

KEYS:

Key on Hoehn and Lopez

Fortunately for the Eagles, Quincy McKnight and his 36 points from last year’s contest have graduated but Sean Hoehn and Joseph Lopez had double digit shot attempts themselves and are off to a strong start, scoring 18 and 15 points respectively in their opening game. The junior Hoehn is a 6-2 guard who lives on the three point shot but also has shown some ability to facilitate while the senior Lopez is a 6-6 200 lb bruiser who bullies his way to offensive rebounds and paint points, he grabbed 4 offensive boards in the prior matchup. Lopez is the type of player past maroon-and-gold teams have struggled with so it’ll be telling how they contain Lopez.

Play Small

Steffon Mitchell broke out Sunday, scoring 21 points, and was a major factor on the defensive end of the floor, grabbing 7 ard rebounds and flying all over the floor, collecting 3 steals. Deontae Hawkins has been indispensable on offense and is the team’s best rebounder. If Christian trusts the 6-8 graduate transfer to handle the center spot and slides Mitchell down to the power forward slot around the normal starters, the Eagles would have a lineup in which all 5 players are threats from downtown, can pass and handle the ball, at least to a degree, and can switch across positions. It’s sort of a poor man’s version of the Golden State Warrior’s “Death Lineup” of Stephen Curry – Klay Thompson – Andre Iguodala – Kevin Durant – Draymond Green. That lineup has led to great success for the Dubs and I have a hunch it’s ugly step brother could lead a similar result in Chestnut Hill.

Is Wilson for Real?

Avery Wilson, a freshman from Forest Park, Georgia, played well in a handful of garbage minutes late in the South Carolina State win, draining a couple three pointers and looking stout on defense. BC desperately needs a third guard to take some of the load off Bowman and Robinson. If Wilson’s shooting and physicality are for real and his feel for the game stabilizes, BC might be able to get away with both Ky and Jerome on the bench for a couple minutes a game in order to maximize the time they play together. This would be absolutely game changing for the team and I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that Wilson’s development could be the key to this team reaching its potential.

Prediction:

Last year’s matchup featured pre-breakout Ky Bowman and although Jerome was able to will them to a win, the team’s uneven performance foreshadowed the rest of the season. This year’s team looks better. Michell is a swiss army knife sixth man, able to to play anywhere from 2-4 and continuously helping his team beyond the box score, while the stars have improved and Jordan Chapman looks like Jesus Shuttlesworth himself, flying off flare screens in every which direction and shooting fire from his finger tips. If BC wants to continue momentum to Texas Tech on Saturday they need to come away looking sharp and feeling confident. BC 86 SH 71