Following a statement win in Conte Forum against Florida State, Boston College men’s basketball hits the road for a huge ACC test against Louisville. The Eagles (13-6, 3-3 Atlantic Coast) will look to extend their winning streak to three games against the Cardinals (14-4, 4-1), who currently sit in second place in the ACC and are hot off a thrilling double-overtime victory against Notre Dame.
Who is BC Playing?
Louisville
When is BC playing?
Sunday, Jan. 21, 12 p.m.
Where is BC playing?
KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Kentucky
How to Watch:
The game will be broadcast on the ACC Network and available online on WatchESPN
By the Numbers:
BC:
1) The Eagles are 1-4 in true road games this season, compared to 11-1 in Conte Forum.
2) Jerome Robinson is averaging 20.8 points per game on 53 percent shooting in the month of January, including a scorching 51.5 percent from 3-point land.
3) Steffon Mitchell fell just one rebound short of his third-consecutive game with double-digit rebounds against Florida State, but still ranks ninth in the ACC in rebounding, logging 7.9 boards per game.
Louisville:
1) The Cardinals have four players over 6-foot-10 on their roster, three of whom play over 10 minutes per game.
2) Louisville is holding opponents to just 38.8 percent shooting from the field, good for the 14th-best opponent field goal percentage in the country, not to mention 30.5 percent from deep, ranking 23rd in perimeter defense.
3) Like BC, the Cardinals’ home record is also stellar, as they have posted a 12-1 record at the KFC Yum! Center.
Last Meeting:
BC and Louisville last met during the 2016-17 season in Conte Forum under much different circumstances. The Eagles were in the midst of a 15-game losing streak to close out the season, and Louisville was No. 6 in the country. After running with the Cardinals for most of the first half, BC fell apart in the latter portion of play, dropping the game, 90-67.
BC wins if…
It stays afloat on the glass. The last time the Eagles played a frontcourt as deep as Louisville’s, they got out-rebounded, 58-23, by North Carolina and lost by 30. While snaring more rebounds than the Cardinals is probably an unrealistic expectation, if the Eagles can keep the margin, as well as Louisville’s second-chance opportunities, to a minimum, they could have a shot to pull off the upset.
BC loses if…
Its guards cannot generate quality shot opportunities. For much of the season, BC’s success has been directly tied to the performance of its backcourt—namely Ky Bowman, Jerome Robinson, and Jordan Chatman. When they are shooting well, the Eagles can play with any team in the country. Against a Louisville team that excels in limiting open looks, BC has to find a way to get the trio looks, or else the Eagles could be looking at a very long trip back home.
Featured Image by Celine Lim / Heights Staff
