WKU Basketball: Talkin’ Boston College With Katie Brent of BC Interruption
Just like that, it’s game day once again for WKU, who will open NIT play at Diddle against Boston College in what, on paper, might become a…
Just like that, it’s game day once again for WKU, who will open NIT play at Diddle against Boston College in what, on paper, might become a shootout.
To learn more about the Eagles, I hit up BC Interruption, the SBNation Boston College site, and their basketball beat writer Katie Brent was kind enough to answer some questions we had! Enjoy.
The Towel Rack: What led to the turnaround for the Eagles this year after winning 9 games a season ago and just 2 conference games?
Katie Brent: I think this program is really heading in the right direction after several years of being bottom of the ACC, and the biggest factor behind it is that Jim Christina brought in some talented guys over the past two years who have started to mature.
Jerome Robinson and Ky Bowman have gone from exciting young players to very solid all-ACC players and pro prospects. The third guard, Jordan Chatman, has always been a nice spot-up shooter, but he has added some ability to finish around the rim and be serviceable on defense. Nik Popovic and JC Reyes in the frontcourt have become much more solid since last year. So the roster is still thin and the team trends young, but they’re headed in a great direction.
Last year they played hard and lost quite a few close conference games, this year they figured out to win at home and are starting to figure out how to win on the road as well.
TTR: In a word, summarize this year for the Eagles. (Then, of course, expound upon that word.)
KB: Exciting.
This team isn’t perfect (prone to turnovers, defensive lapses, not much depth) but for BC hoops fans that have been starving for some good basketball in recent years, this team is easy to get behind. They never quit, they have fun, and they really can play with any team any given night (they were a missed buzzer-beater away from upsetting Virginia on the road, and they battled back from 15 down against Clemson in their third game in three days during the ACC tourney to within two points in the last minute). They’re fun to watch, they have a few very talented guys, and a few young players to get excited about (including a few good prospects coming in next year). Life is good in Chestnut Hill!
TTR: Who is the cog that makes the Eagles machine run?
KB: Robinson and Bowman are the stars, but freshman Steffon Mitchell has been a big piece for the Eagles this year. He has great instincts, gets after loose balls, usually guards the toughest opposing player, is a great rebounder, and just all out hustle guy. Mitchell got bumped into the starting lineup when grad transfer Teddy Hawkins was injured early in the season and has stepped up big time.
TTR: On paper, BC appears to be a team that doesn’t have a knack for truly pulling away from their opponents, but rather relies on their ability to outshoot them. How true to reality is that?
KB: They can pile it on if their opponent has a cold shooting night, but they aren’t exactly a shut-em-down defensive team. If they’re playing a strong offensive team, it generally comes down to the wire. From what I’ve read about Western Kentucky, this could be a shootout.
TTR: What’s the most important part of the Eagles game that WKU needs to matchup with if they want to have a chance to win?
KB: Bomwan and Robinson are going to get their shots, but BC has had trouble on nights when they only have one or two scoring options. Teams have learned to double-down on Robinson and Chatman and make other players take shots. Recently, however, the bigs have started to come into their own and the threat down low that has been a real problem for opposition. I think WKU needs to keep Popovic from getting going early offensively and keep Mitchell off the offensive boards. If they can make BC’s offense one-dimensional it is much easier to contain.
TTR: On the flip side, what is maybe the most exploitable part of BC’s game that WKU can use to their advantage?
KB: I would have said a week ago in-bounding under pressure was a real issue for them, but they seemed to figure out how to be successful at in-bounding and press breaking during the ACC Tournament. Defense, especially perimeter defense, has been a weakness of this team that a lot of team’s exploit. They really only play eight men, with the guards playing most of the game, so the effort it takes to get out to the perimeter on defense wears them down and they have a tendency let up and give up open threes.
TTR: What rule change for the NIT are you most and least looking forward to, and how does BC’s game fit well or poorly into them?
KB: I think moving to four periods from two will help this team out since they have the starters playing so many minute they can use any extra stoppages they can get. The deep three-point line might be a disadvantage for our guards who take a lot of threes, but they also tend to give up a lot of threes so who knows. I’m looking forward to checking out the 20-second shot clock off offensive rebounds; I think that could keep the game moving at a good pace.
TTR: Give us a prediction
KB: The Eagle will get up for this game, and I see them coming away with a win. They’ll TOP the competition and head back to Chestnut HILL. 86–81 BC.
I’d like to thank Katie again for taking time to answer our questions. She asked some questions of me, and I answered them, over for BCI, so be sure you check that out as well.