Eagles face a rebuilding year

It's hard to know what to expect from Boston College when the Eagles don't even know what to expect from themselves.

"The dynamics have changed a lot," head coach Al Skinner said. "This team has to come out and find its own identity."

Boston College must find a way to replace the leadership and production of last year's conference player of the year, Jared Dudley. And Skinner already has a viable substitute: point guard Tyrese Rice, a preseason ACC first-team selection. Rice said he recognized the fact that he needs to step up and lead the squad. Skinner also said he feels that two of the team's freshmen, forward Corey Raji and guard Rakim Sanders, will benefit from playing with Rice, because he will put them in positions where they will have chances to be successful.

In addition to changing its leader, Boston College must also change its style of play.

Both Skinner and Rice said the team will be more perimeter-oriented than in the past and will also get up and down the floor faster thanks to the increased athleticism of this year's group. Returning players like sophomore forward Shamari Spears, who lost about 20 pounds this offseason, are becoming more adept to the quicker tempo-which will only help the Rice-led offense. Luckily for the Eagles, Rice is regarded as one of the fastest players in college basketball, something the team is looking to capitalize on.

Another thing Skinner is looking for in his young team is more consistency. At this point, the players can look like different teams on different days, but he is not concerned. Once the team establishes its style of play, Skinner said, the consistency will materialize.

"The pieces are there," Skinner said. "The potential is there."

And if the Eagles can combine those two elements, they may just finish higher than eighth in the ACC's final standings.