Wednesday night, Troy will be celebrating victory. Troy will be able to claim his team is the best in the Big East. Troy will take another step in triumphantly wiping away the disappointing memories of last season. Troy will say the Big East Rookie of the Year award pales in comparison to the team success he now enjoys.
The only question that remains is, which Troy?
Wednesday night’s game between Boston College and Notre Dame at the Joyce Center will feature two of the best players in the Big East. Eagles’ point guard Troy Bell, a sophomore averaging 21 points, five assists and three steals, is the reigning Big East Rookie of the Year.
He took that mantle from Irish forward Troy Murphy, a junior averaging 23 points and nine rebounds, who last season traded the Rookie of the Year designation for that of Player of the Year.
What is unexpected is that the game also features the two best teams in the Big East.
The No. 10 Eagles (19-3, 10-2 Big East) stand atop the East Division.
The No. 18 Irish (17-6, 9-3) are best in the West, two games ahead of second-place Syracuse in the loss column.
Notre Dame’s improvement was anticipated. The Irish began the season ranked No. 15 in the Associated Press writers’ poll. The Eagles did not receive a single vote. And the Big East coaches, polled before the start of the season, picked the Eagles to finish fifth out of seven teams in the East.
With all but one member of the same cast back from last season, when Boston College managed only three Big East victories en route to an 11-19 season, conference coaches could be forgiven for their lack of faith.
Coach Al Skinner, however, didn’t waste his time worrying about low expectations.
“I really don’t come in with expectations. I just kind of ask guys to come in there and work hard every day, and get better,” Skinner said.
Skinner took over the Eagles’ program in April 1997 after the rancorous departure of coach Jim O’Brien for Ohio State. O’Brien had clashed with the Boston College administration over the admissions of several players, including Villanova star Michael Bradley.
The transition was difficult–the Eagles went 15-16, 6-21 and 11-19 in Skinner’s first three seasons. Last year, the Eagles finished 13th out of 14 Big East teams with a 3-13 conference record.
“The guys knew they had to improve,” Skinner said. “Everyone was willing to listen and try to help be on a winning team and be in a winning environment, because they’ve been losing.
“Our guys are not even close to being the most talented guys. There are a lot of teams in this league that are better than us talent-wise, so there’s something to be said for chemistry and attitude and approach to this game.”
There is also something to be said for continuity. The Eagles have started the same five players in each of their 22 games this season.
And Bell, the conference’s third-leading scorer behind Murphy and Bradley, has led them.
Four years into his tenure, Skinner finally is enjoying the luxury of coaching his players, rather than those O’Brien recruited. Skinner, though, said that is overrated.
“It’s not so much that they’re your own players. It is that they understand what you’re trying to do. You just want guys who are receptive to your teaching,” Skinner said. “If I can take Troy Murphy I’ll take him.”
In this case, two Troys would be better than one.
