BC’s TD Garden Win Offers a Glimpse of Its Basketball Ambitions

Boston College’s 71-55 win over UMass on November 6 put the Eagles on the TD Garden court, a prominent stage for a program working to regain attention in Boston. The game was part of the TNT Sports Hall of Fame Series, before a much-anticipated UConn-Michigan matchup at the arena that evening.

Money Williams powered BC’s victory. The Montana transfer scored 35 points, collected nine rebounds and handed out five assists in more than 39 minutes. His performance offered the Eagles a compelling focal point as they seek to build interest among local fans and attract strong players from the area.

Attendance for the 4 p.m. game was initially thin, then grew ahead of the later matchup, which filled the arena. The contrast underscored the challenge for BC: Boston has an audience for college basketball, but the Eagles need to give people a reason to turn out for their games.

Murray, who is in the early stages of rebuilding the program, said he would welcome more chances to play at TD Garden. He described the venue as an iconic setting that BC supporters, alumni and players could value. Williams also spoke of the appeal of playing in an NBA arena, a dream for many young basketball players.

BC has not reached the NCAA Tournament since the Al Skinner era, and its ACC schedule offers few natural local rivalries. Moving some major conference games to the Garden could help raise the program’s profile if scheduling permits. The win over UMass was a step, but the later crowd showed how much work remains before the Eagles can command that kind of attention themselves.