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Boston College, in case you haven't noticed, is currently 19-0 and ranked 5th in the country. They trail #1 Illinois (the only other undefeated team in Division 1) and three teams that have lost a game or two but that sell a lot of jerseys. The ability to sell a lot of jerseys apparently has more to do with the rankings than actually winning basketball games. Here are a few of Boston College's recent accomplishments:

The 19-0 start is the best in school history. A win over Seton Hall on Saturday would make the Eagles the first team in Big East history to start the season 20-0.
The 19 consecutive wins equals the school's previous record (set in 1968-69).
The #5 national ranking is the best in school history.
Boston College is 30-3 since February 1st of last year. Only Illinois has a better record over that time.
The Eagles have won 17 consecutive games at home.
Al Skinner's Eagles are 109-39 since the beginning of the 2000-2001 season (4 1/2 seasons).
BC is current #2 is the RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) rankings. Kansas holds the top spot.

Why They Have Been Winning

Powerful Inside Game -- The combination of Craig Smith and Jared Dudley is averaging 35 points (47% of BC's scoring) and 15.5 rebounds per game. The duo has also taken 211 free throws (about 11 per game) and made 154 of them. This of course leads to easy points and a lot of foul trouble for the opposition. On the defensive side, Sean Williams has blocked 46 shots (15th in the country). Williams and Nate Doornekamp have chipped in for a combined 8.7 rebounds per game.

Ability to Win the Close Ones -- The Eagles have had an amazing knack for winning the close games. Twice they have been taken to overtime (Yale and Holy Cross) and they have eked out wins against Kent State (by 2), Villanova (by 1) and Providence (by 3). The Eagles are lucky to still be undefeated but it is no accident that they are winning these close games. The veteran leadership of Smith, Hinnant, Doornekamp and Watson has been the difference in these situations. That leads me into the next category.

Improved Free Throw Shooting -- As a team, the Eagles are shooting 71% from line this season thanks to great improvement from Jermaine Watson (84%), Craig Smith (71%) and Nate Doornekamp (69%). All three players have improved their percentage from the foul line by 10% or more since last season when the Eagles shot just 68% as a team. Among the BC regulars, only Sean Marshall (64%) and Sean Williams (41%) are shooting under 69% from the free throw line.

Passing the Rock --

Solid Defense -- Eagle opponents are shooting only 41% from the floor this season (33% from three point range) and have been outrebounded by an average of 5.2 boards per game (thanks in part to the advantage in field goal percentage). The Eagles guard the perimeter very well though they have been susceptible to the back door pass in recent games. The Eagles rarely commit dumb fouls and have been able to keep their stars out of foul trouble.

Potential Weakness

Outside Shooting -- The Eagles are shooting only 30% from the three point line this season. They average only 3.2 trifectas per game, good for 325th among 326 Division 1 programs. At times, the Eagles have a very difficult time scoring. Case in point, the first half of the last two games against Georgetown and West Virginia. Teams will undoubtedly try to pack the lane and force the Eagles to beat them from the outside. If either Smith or Dudley have a bad game in the NCAA Tournament, the Eagles could be in big trouble. Fortunately for Al Skinner, Dudley and Smith always seem to have at least one explosive half and the Eagles have been able to hit key outside shots late in close games.

The Players

Junior Power Forward Craig Smith is probably the most underhyped superstar in the nation. Smith was great as a freshman and has been solid ever since. Part of the reason for that success is that Smith, who left high school with a bit of weight problem, has become a lean, mean fighting machine (to borrow a quote from John Winger in Stripes). Smith has a knack for getting to the basket and is probably the best ball handler among the BC big men. Smith, who scored just two points in BC's loss to Georgia Tech in last year's NCAA Tournament loss, will be determined not to allow himself to be shut down in this season's version of March Madness. Smith's career numbers (18.5 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game, 56.8% field goal percentage) are spectacular. Smith has also improved his free throw shooting this season (up from 57% to 71%).

Jared Dudley is quickly becoming one of the top forwards in the Big East. A not-so-highly touted Sophomore from San Diego, Dudley surprised everyone by averaging 11.9 points and 6.6 rebounds last season. This year, he's increased those numbers (16.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and improved his assist to turnover ratio (1.3 to 2.2). BC's "junkyard dog" plays with great intensity and this was most evident against Villanova when he dropped 36 points on the Wildcats. Al Skinner and his staff found a silver lining behind a dark cloud last season when star recruit Dan Coleman withdrew from BC just prior to the start of the 2003-04 school year. They replaced him with Dudley in August of 2003. Coleman is averaging 9.1 points and 3.7 rebounds as a freshman at Minnesota.

Sean Marshall is the third Boston College starter from Southern California (Rialto). The 6'6" Sophomore swingman is BC's best outside scorer. Marshall chipped in with 8 points per game last season and has improved his average to 11.4 ppg this year thanks to a higher field goal percentage (37% to 46%) and three point percentage (29% to 37%). At times, Marshall takes bad shots but all things considered he has been a very nice surprise.

Junior Louis Hinnant has provided the Eagles with steady play at the point guard position. He's currently fourth in the conference in assist to turnover ratio (2.6). Hinnant is another example of a player that wasn't heavily recruited out of high school, but has developed into a solid player thanks to lots of playing time during his first two years at BC. On the down side, Hinnant has not been shooting the ball well this season. After sinking 47% of his three-pointers last season, Hinnant is shooting just 31% from behind the arc this season. If the Eagles want to make a serious run at the Final Four, they will need Hinnant to start making outside shots.

Nate Doornekamp is the only Senior among the Eagles starting five. Doornekamp has improved dramatically over the past two years. The 7'0" Canadian will never be confused with Emeka Okafor but he has provided the Eagles with solid play this season. As a Senior, he has become an adequate defender who tends to be in the right place at the right time (which is a far cry from his first two years at BC). He's played good fundamental basketball this season, only taking shots when he's open and putting himself in good rebounding position on defense. Doornekamp's scoring and rebounding averages have both risen with increased minutes this season. He's also improved his free throw shooting to 69% this season after shooting under 60% in each of his first three years at BC.

Jermaine Watson, unlike the rest of the Eagles, was highly-touted coming out of high school. A disappointment early in his BC career, Watson has improved steadily in each season and his stats and minutes reflect just that (points: Fr - 3.6, So - 5.1, Jr - 6.8, Sr - 10.6 / rebounds: Fr - 1.8, So - 2.5, Jr - 2.8, Sr - 3.7). Watson is BC's best dribble penetrator and best free throw shooter (84%). One can't overestimate the value of a senior that can handle the ball and make free throws. One of the major reasons why the Eagles are still undefeated is Watson's ability to drain free throws in the final two minutes with the Eagles ahead. Watson is not a true point guard and his turnovers have risen since replacing Steve Hailey as the backup point guard.

Freshman big man Sean Williams has given the Eagles a shot blocking presence that they haven't had in about two decades. Williams is averaging 2.7 blocks per game despite playing only 19 minutes per contest. When he's not blocking shots, he's affecting them or at least making the offensive player aware that he's in the vicinity. Like most freshman, Williams is out of position on defense quite often and has been turnover prone which is why the more polished Doornekamp has seen most of the minutes. Williams' 16 point, 10 rebound effort against Providence might be a sign of things to come. By next season, Williams will be a starter and possibly an ACC superstar.

The last man in the Eagles eight man rotation is Sophomore Steve Hailey. Hailey, the Eagles backup point guard, sprained an ankle against West Virginia and has missed the past five games. Hailey is an excellent ball handler though he is prone to turnovers. Having Hailey back in the lineup will be a huge bonus for Al Skinner because it will allow him to extend the rotation back to eight, have a true point guard on the floor at all times and give Louis Hinnant more rest.

Remaining Schedule

Sat Feb 5  at Seton Hall 7:30
Tue Feb 8  at Notre Dame 7:00
Wed Feb 16 Rutgers 7:30
Sat Feb 19 (8) Syracuse 7:30
Wed Feb 23 at (24) Villanova 7:30
Sat Feb 26 Seton Hall 12:00
Mon Feb 28 (16) Pittsburgh 7:00
Sat Mar 5  at Rutgers 7:30