ACC Basketball: Analyzing each team's overall offense for 2020-21 season

ACC Basketball: Analyzing each team’s overall offense for 2020-21 season

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 10: Teammates Jordan Goldwire #14, Wendell Moore Jr. #0 and Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils react after a play against the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 10, 2020 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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CHAPEL HILL, NC – FEBRUARY 1: Jay Heath #5 of Boston College (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /

Boston College Eagles

2019-20: 64 ppg in ACC play

When you finish tenth in the ACC with the thirteenth-highest scoring offense in conference play, it becomes beneficial to have three players transfer, four graduate, and return only one full-time starter. While Boston College Basketball will score more points than they did last season, it will not be enough of an improvement to move them any higher in the ACC’s offensive ranking.

The Eagles have a fair amount of scoring departing, beginning with starting point guard Derryck Thorton (10.7 ppg). The 6’3 senior excelled at using his quickness and his left-to-right crossover in order to get to the basket over the ‘bigs’. It was even more difficult when using the screen from 6’11 Nik Popovic. Coach Jim Christian will attempt to duplicate Thorton’s output with Quinnipiac Grad Transfer Rich Kelly.

While not as quick, the 6’1 point guard shoots thirteen percent better from beyond the arc and will utilize the same high screen in the offensive set, except it will be to take one of the almost seven three-pointers he attempted last season. Kelly can still take the ball to the hoop, except it is coming off a weak side screen and after the defender bites on his pump fake.

The screen will not be as big, as Popovic (10.5 ppg) will graduate, forcing Steffon Mitchell (7.8 ppg) to play center full time as he did for the 11 games Popovic missed. While that may leave the Eagles small in the frontcourt, offensively it allows Coach Christian to continue to have a center that can dribble and pass.

Popovic’s interior passing was more effective as he would face-up his defender and look to score or explore for a pass, at the perimeter however, Mitchell will maintain the status quo. Southern Utah Grad Transfer 6’9 Andre Adams is a more traditional back to the basket center that will get a lot of minutes and average double digits.

Frederick Scott (12.6) the Rider transfer will attempt to fill the role of ultra-athletic Jarius Hamilton (9.5 ppg) who scored most of his points off of fast-break dunks and lay-ups in the key. The only returning full-time starter is shooting guard Jay Heath who will continue to connect on deep threes and take defenders off the dribble from the wing and help contribute tot he Eagles’ improved offense.