Boston College loses forward Hawkins for rest of the season

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Boston College men?s basketball loses forward Deontae Hawkins for rest of the season


With the addition of Deontae Hawkins, Boston College entered the season with frontcourt talent to complement what some believed to be the best backcourt in the ACC.

Three weeks into the season, his presence was certainly being felt. But that?s all it lasted.

Hawkins has been ruled out for the year, BC announced today, after suffering a right knee injury in last Wednesday?s loss at Nebraska.

?(Hawkins) means so much to everyone in our program and he made a big impact in his time here,? BC coach Jim Christian said. ?He brought maximum effort to every practice and game and was a positive influence on both our veterans and our younger players. His leadership on and off the court will be missed.?

A fifth-year graduate transfer from Illinois State, the 6-foot-8 forward was averaging 12.7 points and 10.0 rebounds through the first seven games. He was third in the ACC in rebounding and among the conference and national leaders in double-doubles with four.

 

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Starting 2017-18 with a 6-3 record, the Boston College Eagles have only been blown out once so far to start the season at the hands of the Providence Friars.

Their other two losses came at the hands of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Texas Tech Red Raiders, showing that, while the Eagles are, as usual, not very good, they are not that bad either. Three non-conference losses to solid Power 5 (or Power 6) opponents on the road or on a neutral court is nothing to laugh at, as most non-elite college basketball teams would struggle with the same.

Unfortunately for Boston College, their next opponents are the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils, a team that, even at home in Massachusetts, look next to impossible to beat.

Somehow undefeated to start the season despite multiple close games, this Blue Devils team looks unstoppable and destined for greatness. After a stretch of close games to Texas, Florida, and Indiana, Duke dominated their next two opponents by 18 and then 57 (yes, 57!) points.

This Boston College team is actually a bit better than most give them credit for being, but it is going to take something special to upset Duke ? and it won?t be the Eagles.