Boston College finished the 2019-20 season with a respectable (for them) 7-13 record in the ACC, but overall it was a dismal season, finishing towards the bottom of the ACC in both offensive and defensive metrics and struggling in the OOC as well to finish six games below .500 for the season. BC elected to keep the perpetually underachieving Jim Christian on as HC for another year, though (maybe due to having to replace the football HC last winter instead); is more mediocrity in store this year?
Coach: Jim Christian; 317-273 in 18 Seasons Overall; 75-119 (25-85) in 6 seasons at Boston College
2019-20 Record: 13-19 (7-13); T-10th in ACC
2019-20 KenPom Efficiency:
| National: | AdjO: | 99.6 (228th of 353) |
| AdjD: | 100.3 (128th of 353) | |
| ACC: | AdjO: | 93.1 (15th of 15) |
| AdjD: | 107.0 (14th of 15) |
Roster Roundup
Departures:
| PG Derryck Thornton (Graduated) 29 G, 31.4 mpg, 12.7 ppg, 3.4 apg, 26% 3P% |
| SG Chris Herren Jr. (Transferred to San Diego) 18 G, 8.7 mpg, 1.7 ppg, 0.3 apg, 32% 3P% |
| G/F Jared Hamilton (Graduated) 25 G, 24.9 mpg, 7.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 30% 3P% |
| F Julian Rishwain (Transferred to San Francisco) 30 G, 14.9 mpg, 4 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 33% 3P% |
| F Jairus Hamilton (Transferred to Maryland) 24 G, 25.7 mpg, 9.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 28% 3P% |
| C Nik Popovic (Graduated) 20 G, 25.6 mpg, 10.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 44% FG% |
Returners:
| G Jay Heath (SO) 31 G, 33.3 mpg, 13.1 ppg, 2.1 apg, 38% 3P% |
| G Wynston Tabbs (RS SO) [Redshirted 2019-20 with injury] 15 G, 31.2 mpg, 13.9 ppg, 2.7 apg, 32% 3P% in 2018-19 |
| F Kamari Williams (SO) 25 G, 11.2 mpg, 2.5 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 24% 3P% |
| PF CJ Felder (SO) 31 G, 20.5 mpg, 5.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 43% FG% |
| PF Steffon Mitchell (SR) 31 G, 32.5 mpg, 7.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 45% FG% |
| C Lucas Kraljevic (SR) 22 G, 6.4 mpg, 0.9 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 53% FG% |
Additions:
| PG Makai Ashton-Langford (RS JR Transfer, Providence) 32 G, 17.2 mpg, 3.7 ppg, 2.3 apg, 31% 3P% in 2018-19 |
| PG Rich Kelly (RS SR Transfer, Quinnipiac) 30 G, 34.3 mpg, 16.7 ppg, 4.5 apg, 39% 3P% |
| G/F Demarr Langford (4-star FR) |
| F/C Frederick Scott (RS SR Transfer, Rider) 30 G, 28.9 mpg, 12.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 47% FG% |
| F/C James Karnik (RS SR Transfer, Lehigh) 22 G, 28.4 mpg, 12.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 57% FG% |
| C Justin Vander Baan (3-star FR) |
*Projected starters in bold
Outlook
BC’s got intriguing potential in the backcourt with Jay Heath (13.1 ppg last year) back for his sophomore year, being joined by a now-healthy Wynston Tabbs (13.9 ppg as a rookie breakout two seasons ago, though he missed last season with injury) and three newbies in Quinnipiac transfer Rich Kelly (16.7 ppg, 4.5 apg in the Metro conference), Providence transfer Makai Ashton-Langford (redshirted last year), and his brother 4-star rookie Demarr Langford . They lose an excellent center in Popovic, both Hamilton brothers, and Derryck Thornton, but they probably field enough guard talent to bounce back in the backcourt. Kelly should be a big improvement as a 3-point shooter over the dismal-shooting Thornton. But there are questions on the wing and in the front court
Popovic leaves big shoes to fill at center and Jairus Hamilton had upside as a versatile 3/4. They went out and got two grad-transfer centers, Frederick Scott from Rider and James Karnick from Lehigh, both of whom were 12-13 ppg scorers in their lower-level conferences, who will pair with returning combo-big Steffon Mitchell (a third transfer big man, Southern Utah’s Andre Adams, will redshirt this year to rehab an injury). But the only pure wing option is the younger Langford, who was ranked 106th nationally by 247sports. If he struggles, the Eagles will be forced to play undersized at the 3.
Their ceiling may depend on how well the three grad transfers adjust to ACC play. But betting on a Jim-Christian-coached BC squad to go even .500 in ACC play is a stretch; even his best teams have topped out at NIT-quality. Suffice it to say, we’re probably looking at yet another year of sub-par results for the Eagles.
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