Boston College, The Citadel debut new starting lineups

Boston College, The Citadel debut new starting lineups

Boston College basketball fans might not recognize many faces when their team opens its season at home Monday against The Citadel in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The Eagles lost all five starters from last season's team, which finished 20-16 overall and 8-12 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Center Quinten Post graduated and the other four left via the transfer portal.

The returnees include guard Chas Kelley III (3.7 points per game), guard Donald Hand Jr. (5.0 points, 1.9 rebounds per game) and forward Elijah Strong (2.7 points).

Roster turnover is just part of today's game, Boston College coach Earl Grant said.

"I think it is an ever-changing environment," Grant said. "I can't really control that. ... This is where we are, 2024, right? But in terms of culture, you just try to get players that have good character, that fit what you believe is important to winning on and off the court."

The offseason additions include transfers Dion Brown (UMBC), Chad Venning (St. Bonaventure) and Josh Beadle (Clemson). Venning, a 6-foot-9 post player, averaged 13.4 points and 4.6 rebounds in 33 games last season.

"(Venning is) a physical presence on both sides of the ball and could be elite with his shot-blocking abilities," Grant said.

The Citadel finished 11-21 overall and 3-15 in the Southern Conference last season. Keynan Davis, a 6-foot-5 guard, is the lone returning starter. A.J. Smith, the team's leading scorer in 2023-24 with 16.2 points per game, transferred to the College of Charleston, but freshman Eze Wali is someone who could make an immediate impact.

"Eze is a quick-twitch point guard with the ability to score and also create for others," The Citadel coach Ed Conroy said. "Our team, with so many new faces, will certainly be challenged from the start, but these are the types of opportunities that will prepare us for our Southern Conference schedule."

--Field Level Media