There is finally reason for optimism for the Boston College basketball program as prized UConn assistant Luke Murray takes over.
The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Boston College basketball.
It has been a rough go for the Eagles faithful for quite a while. Amidst the program’s 17-year NCAA Tournament drought, they have had just three winning seasons and have finished inside the KenPom top 100 just four times. However, with a new head coach in Luke Murray, who is known as an offensive mastermind and already has momentum on the recruiting trail, Boston College gets the benefit of the doubt as a top 100 team this preseason.
First things first, the Eagles do not return a single minute from last season, so their entire sense of identity from the Earl Grant era is out the window. To build his first roster, Murray primarily looked to proven contributors from the mid-major ranks — amassing talent from the Metro (previously the MAAC), MAC, Big Sky, and CAA.
Positional size is another theme on this team. No rostered player is listed below 6-foot-4, and six are listed as 6-foot-7 or taller.
Do not count on Boston College making an immediate jump into the tournament picture, but competence (i.e., winning all your buy games) would be a major step in the right direction.
Head coach: Luke Murray (1st season overall)
2025-26 record: 11-20 (4-14)
Notable departures:
- Fred Payne (15.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.1 SPG)
- Donald Hand Jr (12.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.3 APG)
- Boden Kapke (10.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 0.7 APG)
Notable non-conference games:
- ESPN Events Invitational (Nov. 26-27) – Orlando, FL
- at Georgia (Dec. 1)
Projected Rotation
PG: Money Williams (6-4, 200, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 20.6 PPG, 4.7 APG, 4.3 RPG, 85.5 FT% (Montana)
SG: Ernest Shelton (6-5, 180, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 15.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 87.2 FT% (Merrimack)
SF: Zak Smrekar (6-7, 195, Fr.)
International prospect from Slovenia
PF: Colby Duggan (6-7, 210, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 9.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2.3 APG, 86.4 FT% (Charleston)
C: Brandon Benjamin (6-8, 210, So.)
2025-26 stats: 14.2 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 1.2 APG, 56.5 FG% (Fairfield)
6: Andrija Bukumirovic (6-7, 200, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 13.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 51.6 FG%, 36.4 3P% (UT Martin)
7: Armoni Zeigler (6-4, 185, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 12.5 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.4 SPG (Ball State)
8: Luke Hunger (6-10, 255, Gr.-Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 8.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 0.9 APG (George Washington)
9: Jacob Furphy (6-6, 205, So.)
2025-26 stats: 14 GP, 2.5 MPG (UConn)
247Sports Composite No. 100 ranked recruit (2025)
Boston College basketball team MVP: Money Williams
If there is one thing you can be confident about with this Boston College team, it’s that they will be able to score. Murray added quite a few buckets from the mid-major ranks, and Money Williams stands out in particular.
After finishing the 2025-26 season as one of just 30 Division 1 players to average 20+ points per game, Williams delivered scoring totals of 40, 32, and 19 en route to Big Sky Tournament MVP, despite his Montana Grizzlies ultimately losing to Idaho in the finals. Now, he bumps up to the ACC to presumably play a similar type of ball-dominant role as the starting point guard for the Eagles.
While essentially all “up” transfers are expected to have their production dip to some degree, Williams profiles as a legitimate force at the high-major level. He is an elite shot creator and extremely physical going downhill, earning over 200 free throws last season. His biggest room for growth is as a passer and on the defensive end. With that said, Williams has upside as an all-ACC caliber player and potential NBA Draft pick.
Boston College basketball make-or-break player: Zak Smrekar
Here is the 2025 FIBA U19 All-Star Five: AJ Dybantsa, Christian Anderson, Mikel Brown, Hannes Steinbach…and Zak Smrekar. Just a mere four 2026 NBA lottery picks, plus Boston College’s starting wing for the upcoming season. Obviously, Smrekar is not at that NBA-caliber level right now, but the talent is through the roof.
Smrekar comes to the States from Slovenia as a quite accomplished 19-year-old. A 6-foot-7 guard/forward who can do a bit of everything, he has the exact NBA prototype that has been getting European prospects paid in recent years. In contrast to Williams, Smrekar’s biggest strength is passing, and he should function very smoothly within a confined system.
To what degree does this incredible intrigue translate to actual production for Boston College? That is the million dollar question. Europeans have had varying success at US schools, but the theme is that they need time to fully adjust to a different style of ball. It will be interesting to monitor how that process goes for Smrekar.
Key statistic: Free throw percentage
It is rare for me to use this stat because the notion is so simple — knock down your free throws and you will be way more likely to win close games. In Boston College’s case, it is especially relevant, though.
Last season, the Eagles suffered an 8-point loss to Florida State where they shot 3-of-13 from the charity stripe, an overtime loss to Florida Atlantic where they shot 12-of-24, and a 7-point loss to a top 15 Virginia team where they went 15-of-26. Overall, Boston College ranked 358th nationally with a 65.3% free throw percentage.
Any coaching tenure with any program comes with unique frustrations, but at least Eagles fans can cross this one off their list. Whether it was a priority or a mere coincidence, Murray’s roster is filled with quality free throw shooters. Williams, Ernest Shelton, and Colby Duggan all shot over 85% last season, and Armoni Ziegler sat closely behind at 77.9%. Even Brandon Benjamin, a more traditional center, shot close to 70% from the line in his freshman year. This simple, yet extremely significant statistic should go from a heavy weakness to a strength for Boston College.
Boston College basketball 2026-27 projections
Projected conference finish: 14th in the ACC
Projected postseason ceiling: NIT appearance