Connor Tava End of Year Player Review

Connor Tava End of Year Player Review

By Ben Neuwirth

First posted on bostoncollege.247sports.com

247 Sports will be doing a recap of the 2016-17 Boston College Men’s Basketball Season, going over where each player improved throughout the year, their best performance of the season and what we hope to see them add, heading into the 2017-18 campaign.

Connor Tava transferred from Western Michigan University to play his senior season on the Heights. At six-foot-six-inches Tava was an undersized PF but he immediately filled a crucial role for a BC team void of upperclassmen, playing smart basketball and mentoring the younger players. He played within his limitations, doing the dirty work of setting picks and grabbing boards, while providing another playmaking option beyond Jerome Robinson and Ky Bowman.

He might not have looked like the prototypical ACC 4-man but his Basketball IQ was off the charts and every time he was on the floor, he made his teammates better.

2015-16 Stats:

12.3 PPG

6.2 RPG

3.3 APG

52.1 FG%

10 3P%

67.8 FT%

20.2 PER

56.5 TS%

107 ORtg

104.5 DRtg

2016-17 Stats:

5.9 PPG

5.4 RPG

2.1 APG

47.8 FG%

19.4 3P%

66.3 FT%

10.6 PER

54.3 TS%

96.5 ORtg

108.6 DRtg

 

Best Game:

1/1/17 vs Syracuse 96-81

9 Pts, 7 assists, 10 rebounds, 3 TOs

2-3 FG, 5-7 FT

Tava was at his best dissecting the ‘Cuse 2-3 zone and was a major factor in the Eagles running away with this one. He set up shop just below the foul line and distributed, squeezing passes down low to Nik Popovic and Mo Jeffers, while slicing the top of the zone to find open teammates beyond the arc. The best decision maker on the squad, Tava was masterful this game, finishing only 1 point and 3 dimes short of a triple double while also locking down a long athletic Orange team on the other end. He was able to make quick, creative decisions in an offense that often found itself in a rut. On his best days Tava was BC’s own Draymond Green, an undersized big with oversized passing ability and a toughness and grit that couldn’t be matched.

Looking forward:

This was Tava’s last year of eligibility, so the Eagles will have to look elsewhere to replace the precision passing, unselfishness and fortitude he brought to the table. It won’t be easy.