World News – USA – 2020-21 Women’s Basketball Preview – The Heights

The storylines for last year’s landmark season for Boston College Women’s Basketball have all been carved out. Written and announced again and again, the legend of the 2019-20 season is widely known. But it is worth repeating.

The Eagles arguably had the best season they had at the helm since famous head coach Cathy Inglese in the ’90s and early 00s. With an overall record of 20 to 12 last year, an intense postseason run – or about as low as possible before the NCAA tournament was canceled – the Eagles received a long list of awards, including an accolade as ACC Most Improved Player for Taylor Soule and the ACC Coach of the Year honor for head coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee.

But that was last year. With a new, unusual season on the horizon, and despite a pessimistic perspective from the national media, the Eagles have high expectations, including the middle of the ACC Preseason Poll.

The reason BC’s preseason middle ranking is so surprising is because of the number of players returning from the Eagles’ historic run last season. The junior class, in particular, will be particularly impressive, like last season. Soule, Cameron Swartz, Makayla Dickens and Marnelle Garraud will all return after putting together stellar campaigns in their sophomore year.

Soule found her name on the Preseason All-ACC Team and on the Naismith Trophy Watch List after her breakout in the second season. After almost a double double with 14. 5 points per game and 7. 7 rebounds per game – almost twice as much as in their first season – Soule cemented himself as an offensive weapon for the Eagles.

Bernabei-McNamee said the Eagles also have a lot of talent that comes from supporting roles. Sophomore Jaelyn Batts and Junior Clara Ford are expected to be big contributors this season.

« I’m looking for these three [Soule, Dickens and Garraud] to really calm my nerves and play like veterans out there, and then players like Clara [Ford] who is a veteran herself but I haven’t. » this gaming experience to really shine on the pitch, ”said Bernabei-McNamee during a media conference on Monday.

After sophomore Akunna Konkwo missed her entire season as a newcomer due to injury, she will also be on trial this year. Before BC she graduated from Bishop Ireton as the best goalscorer of all time with 2. 345 points and as the leading rebounder with 1. 800 boards. When Konkwo is back on the field, the Eagles have more depth in the middle.

The Cavs had Kyrie, LeBron, and Kevin Love. The heat was back on Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade and LeBron. The Eagles had Emma Guy, Georgia Pineau, and Taylor Ortlepp.

Past tense is key here, because what’s special about this year’s list is the absence of the Eagles’ « Big Three, » a group of seniors where the Eagles have switched from national bottom feeders to legitimate NCAA competitors, with just four short ones Years on the heights.

Guy, the only player on the Eagles roster to have started every game last season, was named to the All-ACC First Team and All-ACC Blue Ribbon Panel Second Team in 2019-20. She ranked No.. 1 in the ACC and No.. 10 in the nation in the target percentage field with 59. 4 percent. She now plays professionally in Greece.

Pineau and Ortlepp both returned to Australia to play professionally after graduating from the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL). .

On the flip side, however, BC has taken on some key junior staff including JoJo Lacey, Sydney McQuietor, and Kaylah Ivey. Lacey, the No.. 39 are recruiting in the country from Douglassville, PA. , is a five-star addition to the Eagles roster, and Bernabei-McNamee said she expected Lacey to get some key minutes as a freshman this year. Ivey will add depth as a guard to the Eagles’ already guarded roster.

In such an unconventional year, the Eagles will also face some unconventional opponents. BC opened their season against New Hampshire on Wednesday, followed by at least two more games outside of the conference against UMass and Providence. What was originally planned as December. 6 matchup with Northeastern is on the air now as Northeastern held all of its athletics until December. 18th.

After that, the Eagles can expect a 20-game conference beginning with Georgia Tech in December. 9 and ends in Syracuse on Feb.. . 25th. Read the full schedule breakdown here.

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Boston College Eagles Women’s Basketball, Basketball, College, Villanova Wildcats Men’s Basketball, Joanna Bernabei-McNamee