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The team shares so well that 68.3 percent of its baskets are assisted. Illinois, with guards Luther Head, Dee Brown and Deron Williams all averaging at least 3.7 assists, is at 65.4 percent. BC mostly ignores the 3-point line. Sean Marshall, the Eagles' top 3-point shooter, has made only 29 for the season. They might be the best team to shoot 3s so sparingly since UCLA won the 1995 title with only four made 3-pointers during the Final Four.

"The one question I have, and it hasn't seemed to bother them, is their ability to score from the perimeter," says Yale coach James Jones. His team held BC to three 3-pointers but lost in two overtimes. "Where they're strong is accomplishing what they want to accomplish on offense. No matter who they play, they get what they want."

Whereas Illinois was creating a Midwest media maelstrom with its unbeaten start, the hometown reaction to BC's perfection was muted. Boston hadn't gotten over celebrating the Red Sox and their World Series win--as if the town ever will--and the Patriots were rushing toward a third Super Bowl victory in four seasons.

Until the Notre Dame game, the Eagles weren't on national television. Some of their games available through ESPN Regional were not even picked up in their own market.

The Eagles do not deny this part of their existence. When asked, Hinnant admits, "Even up to this point, guys on this team feel that we haven't been given the proper respect that we deserve." But they do not wield this as some sort of weapon. This is who they are. They are used to it.

"I don't think we do it for the media attention," Skinner says. "l really don't give that a whole lot of thought. In this league, you get enough attention. And the more success you have, the more you get.

"We're happy for the Patriots, happy for the Red Sox. I just hope we get part of that karma."

VALUE MENU

Boston College's players were not McDonald's All-Americans,
but in some cases they are producing more
impressive results than their highly touted counterparts.
A look at how some of the Eagles' career numbers compare
to those of former McDonald's players from their respective
senior classes:

        PLAYER, COLLEGE                     PPG    RPG

VALUE   Craig Smith, Boston College         18.2   8.3
 #1     Anthony Richardson, Florida State    8.4   4.0
        James White, Florida/Cincinnati      8.1   3.9

VALUE   Jared Dudley, Boston College        13.8   7.1
 #2     Ivan Harris, Ohio State              5.7   2.5
        Mike Jones, Maryland                 5.4   2.1

VALUE   Sean Williams, Boston College        3.8   3.4
 #3     Joe Crawford, Kentucky               3.2   1.8
        Mike Williams, Texas                 3.4   3.9

COPYRIGHT 2005 Sporting News Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning