Eagle Edicts
Boston College returns three starters from the 2007-08 team that finished 14-17 overall and 4-12 in the ACC. Last season was the first losing season for the Eagles since 2000. Freshmen and sophomores accounted for 52 percent of the team's starts. Head coach Al Skinner enters this season with 348 career wins in 20 years, including 210 in 11 years at BC. The Eagles are one of three teams that return a first-team All-ACC player (guard Tyrese Rice). Skinner will look to replace the inside presence of graduated seniors Tyrelle Blair and John Oates. Blair's 105 blocked shots in 31 games led all ACC players.
Tyrese Rice averaged 21 points and five assists per game last season. He also led the team in steals with 48. His 46 points against North Carolina were the most by an ACC player in over 17 years and the fourth-highest ever in a conference game. The senior enters this season having scored in double figures in 21 straight games. He scored 20 or more points 16 times last season and surpassed the 30-point mark on three occasions.
Sophomore
Rakim Sanders
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Rakim Sanders averaged 11.3 points while starting all 31 games as a freshman last season. He scored season-high 22 points in win over New Hampshire in his first college game, then reached double figures on 16 other occasions. Sanders was the team's third-leading rebounder with 4.6 per game.
Corey Raji was another member of BC's freshman brigade in 2007-08. He was fourth on the team in scoring with 8.3 ppg and shot .608 from the floor The sophomore scored a season-high 24 points in a December overtime loss to Providence.
Josh Southern came on strong at the end of his freshman year, scoring in double figures in three of his final four games. He also delivered a double-double performance with 11 points and 10 rebounds in a late-February game at Florida State.
Biko Paris saw action in all 31 of last year's games as a freshman. Paris averaged 5.7 points and 2.9 assists while playing 23.1 minutes per game. He had 19 points vs. New Hampshire and scored 12 points in BC's ACC Tournament win over Maryland.
Tyler Roche made 23 starts as a sophomore in 2007-08 and averaged 3.8 ppg in 17.2 minutes.
