Al Skinner, BC Eagles Coach

The ACC tournament opens up this Thursday in Atlanta Georgia it'll be the Boston College Eagles taking on the University of Virginia. Joining us on the eighteenth tee hotline AT&T your world delivered as the basketball coach Boston College Al Skinner Alex -- Michael how -- This article on the moment. Doing great. Ben lot of long time no talk mr. Skinner.

You know -- I don't particularly. Like. And all -- It's but it -- be automatically.

Hey you know -- when I was growing up there was nobody that I wanted to beat more than my brother in anything if we're on the driveway shooting hoops -- doubt the baseball field. You sort of feel let what went went when you get ready to play Virginia and Dave -- the guy sitting over there on that other bench.

I don't know how does -- and another -- to vote one way and well. That's my objective I don't I don't know or pleasure in. And beauty salon I know I've been so much I don't know -- one.

You know I would ask you through that I sit here -- look at what you've done a BC. I think you've been at the school. And and pretty quietly you'd have the team in contention pretty much every year a a couple of down years but not many always. In contention for a tournament berth when you when you left Rhode Island did you ever imagine you would be a Boston College this long.

Yes I -- as a right yes I've met be abused before long. -- almost ordered it put it on the fact that have some success. Or I'd I had planned on on in here arm. Important news of the local competition as well wanted to be -- Support from the administration. And I thought the community eventually would get on board. And you know abuses of great school on a lot of different levels. And so -- I thought that. You know to be a good players millions and I've enjoyed it in our family enjoyed being here. And Austin so it's it's it's open to. Fighting because going to be a long arm out of that would take them -- I enjoyed him you Rhode Island and hard. And then -- while warming so there was no reason immediately. But not such photos movie going to be a better situation Obama talked about financial. Talk about other circumstances. And -- and supported administration's support community. And in my belief that I don't compete.

Now -- while I'm not asking you to campaign on behalf of your team but not say it this way -- with -- wins over Duke. And North Carolina at North Carolina this year. Do you feel -- that it is. It's a given that you will be selected in the NCAA tournament I mean would you be deeply surprised if if they don't call these these -- And one of those spots.

I don't RB I'd be very much products are meant for us all we got boat went will -- and and the best conference in the country. We've got not once in that conference. So along with went some you know decent went back a conference. There's there's no reason for them not to call these. Because we're -- proven will want clearly one of the pops -- schools in the country. Off and to get my arm went in the conference. Is it -- we play Georgia Tech last might on another night and in other states they've they've -- farce and who's in the top ten I would between two incredible program in -- and -- Norman conference is tremendous mental he has -- apartment block. And that's what options -- is that not one conference in the country. So we couldn't have won that conference -- on a total -- 121 games a I think it took. -- right now we want to success. That's that's their decision but as far as being in I don't think there's any question.

Everybody likes to play this game this time of year. How do you compare the strength of the ACC overall given the teams that you just mentioned the depth the quality of teams at the top of of the conference. How do you how do you compare the ACC with the other conferences in the country this year.

Well -- differences. But I think I'd like I think conference from top to bottom -- it was just meant that does not on the top of the conference shoot it as we all -- your average. Sure we have one think that the arms -- does that change and you know the Georgia Tech. You know the university of the gender. The bottom it was better to the success of the added some things probably. -- How good this league is an and that's and that's the bottom line even last year so all less placed game out of first round draft. Are a mess -- it is that team. Good is that thing. And and an appointment that it is this not the partly it's arm's not strong -- only that the arms struggle. And and so that and that's the most important things are from all our. As the best conference in the country it'll all forms but abysmal offers -- And and and the teams don't want that one -- quality opponents.

Since you've been at BC for a long time I'm wondering if you if you've changed you're recruiting strategy at all because -- your. I think if we had to have a of vintage Al Skinner player or like a classic -- going to play it would be somebody who was overlooked and high school. And became a star in college whether it's Troy -- Troy bell Jared Dudley Craig Smith. You still look for the diamond in the rough guy or that you've been here for a long time can you say I look for a guy who was also considering. Duke Georgetown North Carolina.

Over it will always look at them and try to get elements of that for whatever reason we haven't persuaded them. I don't you know to be able to -- the Boston College so. So you know write Obama -- gotta work twice as hard. -- job done because. But and I have a storm remain competitive what do we get those individuals will probably get. -- individuals ultimate goal Americans. Given great can't and that's fine if guys that we get must make sure that we have a good assessment of what would welcome all of what we. So we're not gonna say that we we've made an attempt to get those individuals unfortunately have not been able to. To pull a ball but -- was still on it but we still want to bring in the bedroom to program that's almost remain competitive. And in -- in this type of environment so. You know sort them -- just the bottom line is that I think -- get a but I can't I'd vote vote vote when we first got on -- I -- one one. And about one got the same way and so you -- hit the -- don't get those aren't something else in the apartment as well.

Falling along the line of of the list of players that Michael just name is Tyrese Rice senior guard's second team all ACC selection yesterday. And and and the guard play and especially senior guard play is so crucial. How do you podium look at Tyrese Rice in comparison with those names that Michael just mention.

Courage is his third different than them that all well. Alms and and the beautifully it is if you look at those individuals where we have been able to approach. -- The problem Jared Dudley different from Troy bell. And and autism debate of muscle on the -- and so you know we've we've we've caught a lot of different kind of individuals. That being says it. Savage -- fits into that category. Not quite sure that Troy -- but about a Emeka. We essence and sacrificed a lot this year as our scoring was concerned. To help this club on wall to make -- I could've easily allowed -- to come out. 2526. -- night but was that the best thing. Attain boat wasn't the best thing anymore so maybe you can shoot a little less try to create some assists try to improve shooting percentage. And also that. You know -- losses spot on on that is all bases -- first game last year. Well went about a situation this year opinion because obviously got a chance go to and it's autumn weather question remote chance golf. So complimented him or making that adjustment. But that benefit the team has benefited greatly from.

I'm pat on the back for different reasons and I you know what. I don't even believe this okay I'm look at it your Wikipedia page you've got -- confirm this for me this is unbelievable. This is well quoted to you scanner at fourteen years old won the Boston fourth of July banana split eat off downing seven.

thought now nobody. -- on that day I cannot be true.

Not as much closer like a lot of those other -- and in any Clement heating -- competition.

That haven't talked -- strategy. Audio -- that's. Now the man can't help you with any -- as you go into the tournament this weekend in Atlanta. -- Little ranking of the of the opponents here for -- I mean your biggest concern as Virginia Thursday. Other than yourself whose team to beat this weekend.

that the obvious choice to smoke a lot of plant or evolve albums like they've got there are noted that emotional back there there really play well. You know Duke is improve their play over the less over the last couple weeks. Wake Forest and all the top teams are starting to play well and you know Wake Forest on a good job. -- Because especially probably best defensive team in the -- And anytime you play good because I didn't either out or twenty so chance so. I mean but the the most important I think what's happening now mature abetted seeing. Are definitely. Starting to play well and it struck.

what happened with this it was very confusing just looking at -- in the paper going back and worked in The Herald and globe. What was the confusion or the issue over Shawne Williams. Apparently -- invited -- campus then he came on campus and ran the red zone problems were aware of the communication breakdown that happened there.

all the trust I think trust testing. Was issued in May almost set. -- been over here. It'll all. But one affluent -- about. So we we cannot know that that existed. And there was this so it was quality it's vital that are asked permission to come back on campus that's -- that's the porosity of at all. Because we did not know. Let it would have I think they have great and of course we -- that might I invited both Hammond Jaret act. Campus cricket back campus early. EK. Again you have been on campus. Yeah it was comment on campus at that time. -- All right not knowing that this existent it's just so happened as Washington and the building. You know this is the police officer on the other sort of that interest like -- went over the -- hopeful to say like basically small part in -- Although I don't know if you knew what the circumstances was that we are not at all educated with the circumstances work that that's probably well over -- And and that's SI and the rest proceeded. And so my point is is that there's a possibility that it -- straight into the building and nothing would have happened. Well because we cannot. We did not know what the situation was. It got arrested of course going to be a semi seriously -- afford to combat so great and I want that we would expect him back. Knowing that -- it was just want to be a great environment. You know you dispute just very disappointed so of course you know -- I think also must be confused -- question. What was going on and those sort of not knowing that made me distrust present and was still intact was most trust -- last year. Well DC in a private institution make an establishment was long -- all right. Basically that was that. And them and obviously it was as there's university sorely -- dropped the whole thing dismal -- from minute. -- a misunderstanding. Because. It was -- Williams played out it is on a little biggest stage then you know have been in need to be able ultimate act. And I was very unfortunate. One of law and I'd like to think. Campbell a little bit better than what it.

Do you think that in in your relationship with Sean Williams it is a classic example of tough love on one hand. You know you he he had to be removed from a team that that I thought could've gone to the final four if he had been on it but you you decided that. It was going to work out that way but on the other hand. I even though he was removed from the team you still consider him part of the BC family.

Well no question about it remain united that didn't stop there. From you know because. Very much all that you already indicated that some of the successes that we've. Arm. You know unfortunately we get a chance to. -- From from his talents but he still far from what we do and smoked pot but this is. And an artist -- BC Islamabad told Mueller met -- it was intention. Even after it was removed from the east coast that don't campus they don't campus finished up requests weren't good everything that was asked of them. Until the end of Tunisia. And we still stands such -- still ought to. Over what we do and I don't sport that what -- is individual's future. What I did -- that followed what was best -- I was I'd I will overtake. An individual's personal successes. Or or an oral for a lot of success with our model look at it. And important over the -- I had thought it was. I would want to take advantage of those talents just would've been -- might. I guess what -- tried to say I put out the best in the back to do -- that on that he needed to understand. It is consequences to his behavior and and then there's this is one of the consequences. But still coming. We still talk to communicate still want the best form. I'd arm I'm still encouraging him -- down. -- or are in the hall of whatever it is and I am not just humbled we're almost got from that's -- pledged toward belt. And even a -- that. That I'm not planet that local can be Hollywood on campus off for the last game against Georgia Tech was great to see him -- got a great job would rise and and in Tom does not happen womanizer and so and I want I want as -- commitment to our past. Well president plopped on it and that's a play that's our program must inaudible pro. And I think it's extremely important.

Boston College takes on the University of Virginia 9 o'clock Thursday night in Atlanta Georgia. The opening game for BC in the ACC tournament coach Al Skinner best of luck to you not only Thursday but the rest of the way as well on on into the NCAA tournament.

Appreciate -- You know that's going to Freeman and Atlanta. I know a now just let my they're -- like that little look at your radio you know like. They -- take care.

But by that is that Al Skinner and head basketball coach at Boston College joining us on the eighteenth -- hotline -- TNT. Your world deliver.