Grading Earl Grant And His First Year As Boston College Head Coach

Following a recent defeat in overtime against Georgia Tech, the Boston College Eagles have successfully completed their inaugural season under the guidance of newly appointed head coach, Earl Grant.

Unfortunately, sports betting is currently prohibited in Massachusetts, leaving Eagles fans in the state with no choice but to seek other options. This poses a disappointment for BC’s loyal fanbase, especially considering the unexpectedly impressive performance of the team this past season.

BC Eagles’ performance year over year

Similar to their previous performance under Jim Christian, it was expected that Boston College would once again end the conference at the bottom, without any ACC wins.

However, in Coach Grant’s inaugural season, the Eagles finished with a conference play record of 6-14 and an overall record of 13-20. In the previous year, Boston College had a conference record of 2-11 and an overall record of 4-16.

Boston College also demonstrated a notable improvement in their allowed points per game this season. Last season, the team allowed an average of 79.5 points per game, but this season witnessed a decrease to just 68.7 points per game.

Despite the disappointing end with a loss to Georgia Tech, the season was marked by notable victories as well as regrettable losses.

Notable BC victories this season show growth in the right direction

Boston College experienced expected victories against teams such as Pittsburg, NC State, and FSU, as well as surprising triumphs that caught everyone off guard.

In addition to defeating ACC champion Virginia Tech, the eagles emerged victorious against two NCAA tournament teams.

The victory they achieved against Clemson in January was truly remarkable. During the initial half of the game, they found themselves trailing behind the Tigers by a substantial margin of 34-11. According to ESPN, their chances of winning were a mere 0.05%.

Despite being behind by 23 points, BC gradually closed the gap in the second half and ultimately secured a 70-68 win.

Some losses incurred for the Eagles

Throughout the 2021-2022 season, Boston College experienced notable defeats, with their final loss against Georgia Tech being particularly impactful.

The Eagles went head-to-head against the Rhode Island Rams on two occasions this season, marking the first instance in a decade where they faced the same non-conference opponent twice within the same season.

Rhode Island hosted the initial game against the Rams on their home court, resulting in a 57-49 victory for Rhode Island against Boston College.

The second game of BC against the Rams took place at Sunshine Slam in Daytona Beach. Despite being a defeat, it was a narrower margin with a score of 71-65.

Coach Grant described the second loss as a two-possession game, explaining that they were defeated by six points.

The game’s narrative can be summed up in just two sentences: “The first half witnessed ten turnovers. That was the defining aspect of the game.”

In addition to that, the season was marked by defeats against Pittsburgh, Albany, and Saint Louis.

Grant explains that in this challenging league, it is crucial to recognize that storms are imminent.

You must discover a means to navigate through them and reach the opposite side.

Grant is maintaining a positive outlook despite the losses this season, eagerly anticipating victories in the upcoming season. “I’m hopeful that we’ll experience more uplifting moments.”

Key players show promise and growth

Under Grant’s leadership, the team’s overall improvement this season can be attributed to the significant growth of individual players. Specifically, three players demonstrated remarkable development.

Demarr Langford Jr. exhibited remarkable progress and achieved significant outcomes in the current season. He maintained an average of 11.1 points per game (PPG), nearly doubling his previous season’s 6.7 PPG.

Langford Jr. had an impressive run in the ACC, scoring in double digits for six consecutive games. Additionally, he played a crucial role in BC’s closely contested overtime match against Notre Dame, contributing a remarkable 23 points to the team’s efforts.

Jaeden Zackery’s performance in conference play had a rocky start, but he steadily improved as the season progressed. Throughout the season, he consistently started in all 30 BC games and eventually became an essential component of the team’s rotation.

Unsurprisingly, Makai Ashton-Langford emerged as the leading scorer for the Eagles, boasting an average of 12.1 points per game. Additionally, he maintained an average of 3.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game.

Coach Grant is optimistic, even though Ashton-Langford will most likely not be staying with Boston College next season.

Grant believes that while they haven’t achieved their desired state yet, progress is being made.

I am optimistic that as we continue to develop, we will achieve success and witness the tangible results of our hard work.

Steady improvement is the goal

Grant’s objective for the Eagles is to shift their focus from solely winning games to embodying the winning mentality in their behavior. He aims to foster a team that is closely connected, exchanging positive communication and displaying optimistic body language towards one another.

He firmly believes that by prioritizing good behavior and positive habits, the team will naturally achieve victories. Building this strong foundation in the previous season could serve as a significant milestone towards success for Boston College in the upcoming season.