No Easy Task: Can Boston College Replace Tyrese Rice?

Over a span of four seasons, there were not many teams that could slow down point guard Tyrese Rice. Yes, he would have some off-games just like any other player, but when Rice was in the zone, the Boston College Eagles were dangerous.

The lightning-quick lefty, with his trademark headband, could shoot the lights out and in many instances was the sole reason why Boston College had success. Last year, in his senior season, he led the Eagles to the NCAA Tournament, his third trip to the Big Dance in his four year career.

As the 2009-2010 season looms closer, head coach Al Skinner looks at a familiar group of faces, but Tyrese Rice is no longer among them. 

With their floor general and big-play threat gone, the problems emerge for the Eagles. Recently predicted to finish ninth in the conference during ACC Media Day, it is clear that the expectations in Chestnut Hill are not like they have been in the past few years.

Be that as it may, Rice was the lone departing player this past off-season from a team that earned a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Putting that along with the predicted ninth place finish in the ACC only proves just what Tyrese Rice meant to this Eagles squad.

So the question is asked, can Boston College replace the productivity and floor leadership that Tyrese Rice offered?

Although the answer to that question will be no in the short term, the Eagles do return plenty of talent from that NCAA Tournament team a year ago.

In their quest to move forward without Tyrese Rice, the Eagles will put their offensive focus squarely on Joe Trapani and Rakim Sanders.

Trapani, a transfer from Vermont, enters his junior season at Boston College as the potential focus for Al Skinner. He led the team in rebounds last year with 6.6 per game and will look to increase in that regard. Trapani was second on the team in scoring last year averaging over 13 points per game, including five games with at least 20 points.

The most athletic player on the Eagles' roster has to be Rakim Sanders. With the ability to get the crowd going with a monster dunk, Sanders also has the ability to put up 20-plus points on any given night. His 22-point performance against North Carolina last season as only a sophomore was a part of the offensive success Boston College had in its upset win on the road against the top-ranked Tarheels.

After a strong freshman season, Reggie Jackson needs to produce even more for the Eagles this year. A flashy 6’3” guard, Jackson has the ability to score, as well as do many of the little things Boston College will need.

Trapani, Sanders, and Jackson will be the leaders for the Eagles this season under Al Skinner, but for Boston College to be able to contend in the ACC, it will need production and stability from junior Biko Paris.

The New Orleans native will have one of the tougher jobs in replacing Tyrese Rice, and his play will dictate the success of the Eagles. Paris will take over for Rice at point guard this season and will have a similar situation to Larry Drew down in North Carolina.

Drew will get more attention in replacing Ty Lawson, as North Carolina should be in contention for a National Championship, however Paris' situation in Chestnut Hill shows many similarities.

The 6’1” guard reached double figures only four times in 2008-2009 and averaged only 12.4 minutes per game. However, flashes of Paris' potential have been evident, including a 15 point performance against Duke in last year’s ACC Tournament, a game in which Duke edged Boston College 66-65.

Paris will get most of the pressure in replacing Rice; however, the biggest problem for the Eagles this season may be down low. Their lack of production in the paint hurt the Eagles in 2008-2009 and the same may be the case in 2009-2010.

Corey Raji and Tyler Roche can play both the three and four positions for the Eagles and at times can show spurts that will ultimately help BC. The question will remain, though, if big men Courtney Dunn and Josh Southern can improve and make an impact in the post for the Eagles.

The predicted ninth place finish in the ACC could ultimately be the place where Boston College ends the season, but the Eagles do have enough returning talent to shock a few teams.

They do not have a very tough non-conference schedule, but should be tested early with a road game against Michigan on December 2, as well as a potential matchup with Purdue as part of the Paradise Jam down in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Games against Providence, Massachusetts, and South Carolina will also help in determining where they stand.

The Eagles have the opportunity to start off the season strong, but may get eaten alive come conference play. However, if Al Skinner can get his returning players to improve their production, Boston College may be better than expected.

Boston College has seen the likes of Troy Bell, Craig Smith, and Jared Dudley, among others, come through and Al Skinner has continuously found a way to keep the Eagles competitive in the ACC. Rice is a big loss from last season, and at times this squad will struggle. As it can be said for any other team looking to move forward, others need to step up, and for Boston College it is no different.

Only time will tell if the Eagles have what it takes to compete among some of the nation’s best teams, but one thing is true: The Eagles will surely miss Tyrese Rice.