The Miami basketball team has had almost a week to get used to Bill Courtney as interim head coach ahead of their game at Boston College on Thursday. Courtney was previously the head coach at Cornell from 2010-16 where he led the Big Red to a 60-113 record.
Courtney was a longtime assistant under former Miami head coach Jim Larranaga in two different stints. Courtney has currently been on the Miami staff since 2019. Miami did not make the NCAA Tournament in the first two years Courtney was on the Miami staff followed by runs to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight and Final Four.
Courtney faces the difficult task of turning around a 4-8 Miami season. The two most recent Miami losses were to Charleston Southern and Mount St. Mary's who are both lower Division I programs. Miami is currently 160th in the NCAA Net Ratings. It is cliche to say, but Miami needs to focus on getting better every game.
Boston College is 8-5, but 212th in the NCAA Net Ratings. Six of Boston College's eight wins this season are against quadrant four teams in the Net Ratings. Boston College is 0-2 in the ACC and Miami enters 0-1. Boston College is a very winnable game for Miami.
Miami at Boston College Fan Duel odds
Miami is a 2.5-point favorite at Boston College per the FanDuel odds. Miami is minus 142 on the money line and Boston College is plus 118. The over/under is 142.5.
Boston College versus Miami series
Miami leads the all-time series with Boston College 30-29, but is 11-15 in Chestnut Hill. Boston College ended Miami's 2023-24 season with an 81-65 victory giving the Hurricanes their 10th straight loss in their most recent meeting.
Miami at Boston College TV information
Jon Meterparel will be on play-by-play and former Boston College guard Malcolm Huckaby who once led the Eagles to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight played in Miami will be the analyst.
Predictions
This is a nearly impossible game to predict. How will Miami respond under Courtney? Miami averages 78.7 points per game and allows 74.0. Boston College averaged 71.3 PPG and allows 71.7. The best bet seems like the over. The spread and money lines are too tough to trust.
Miami will play at Virginia Tech on Saturday before returning home to host Florida State on January 8 for the first home game under Courtney. It's a tough stretch for Courtney to begin as interim head coach, but against three teams that have also somewhat struggled this season.