Dartmouth @ Boston College preview
Conte Forum
Last Meeting ( Jan 13, 2018 ) Dartmouth 72, Boston College 86
The slate has been wiped clean for Boston College entering the 2021-22 season.
BC's leading scorer for the past two seasons, Jay Heath, plus starters CJ Felder and Steffon Mitchell, have either transferred or declared for the NBA draft.
Along with that, the coaching staff for the Eagles (4-16 last season) has seen a shakeup with the hire of new head coach Earl Grant.
He takes the helm of a program full of transfers and little experience together, as the Eagles' season tips off Tuesday night against visiting Dartmouth.
"I know what they have to do to have a chance to be successful," Grant said in early October. "Just a blueprint to find success. But my goal for this year is to move the program forward. It's pretty simple. I don't have a lot of extravagant goals."
Grant has pieces to work with on this BC team, starting with the guard duo of Makai Ashton-Langford (9.7 points per game last season) and DeMarr Langford (6.7).
Frederick Scott (7.6 points) and James Karnik (6.8) are the lone returning forwards, but the Eagles will get help from transfers Brevin Galloway (College of Charleston), TJ Bickerstaff (Drexel), Quinten Post (Mississippi State) and a recruiting class led by four-star forward Gianni Thompson.
Dartmouth has been absent from college basketball since March 7, 2020, as the Ivy League canceled all sports last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Big Green went 12-17 in their last full season, 2019-20, and coach David McLaughlin has some question marks due to the 20-plus-month pause.
"You're just not going to know until you have everyone together and see how we are clicking, what type of shape they're in," McLaughlin said. "There's so many questions. But having older players that have played significant roles and significant minutes never hurts."
Veteran Aaryn Rai (11.2 points in 2019-20) and graduate transfer Brendan Barry (6.9 with Temple last season) will be with Dartmouth this season.
Senior guards Taurus Samuels (8.4 in 2019-20) and Wes Slajchert (2.4) and senior forward Garrison Wade (2.0) will look to be bigger contributors this season.
Boston College has won its previous five meetings against Dartmouth, most recently 86-72 at home during the 2017-18 season.
--Field Level Media