Jackets look for pressure release vs. BC

Translation: With a game at Clemson on Tuesday and the season finale next Saturday against Virginia Tech (18-9, 6-7 ACC), a win against Boston College would sure help. The Jackets are two games out of a third-place tie between Virginia Tech, FSU and Wake Forest (each 8-5) and one game behind Clemson (7-6).

So, after an entire week to stew since last Saturday’s gut-wrenching loss at Maryland, coach Paul Hewitt has cautioned against wondering about what might have been had the Jackets not lost at the buzzer earlier this month against the Terrapins and at Miami.

The message: Look forward, young men, not back.

“I told [players] after the game, because they were pretty upset, the shame would be if we don’t play at that level ... against Boston College,” Hewitt said. “You can’t lie to yourself at this time of year. At this time of year when you are close to something [special], you can’t look back. You have to look to Boston College and beat them.”

Not so long ago, as the Eagles (14-13, 5-8) were mired in a four-game losing streak, that might’ve appeared a reasonably easy task, especially at home where the Jackets are 13-1 this season.

Coach Al Skinner’s squad has won back-to-back games, however, crushing Virginia Tech, 80-60, Wednesday at B.C.

Derrick Favors is coming off his best game after putting up 21 points and 18 rebounds in the loss at Maryland, where his stick-back with three seconds remaining looked for a while like a game-winner. He and Gani Lawal figure to give Tech an edge in the paint.

Tech likely needs to string together more consistent guard play, particularly at the point position, the rest of the season to improve its chances of landing in the NCAA tournament. Iman Shumpert is expected to start again at point, and junior Moe Miller and freshman Mfon Udofia will again play.

“Their guards played great [against Virginia Tech],” Hewitt said. [Rakim] Sanders and [Corey] Raji are big, strong kids, but [Reggie] Jackson is the one who has really come on strong. He cracked the starting lineup a few games ago.”

Jackson, no relation to the former baseball star of the same name, had nine rebounds in a win over Georgia Tech last season, so Hewitt and his staff are familiar with him.

More important, the Jackets need to remain familiar with themselves.

This is no time to forge a new identity, but rather a time to stick with what works, such as a defense that is No. 4 in the nation while allowing a 37.2 percent field-goal conversion rate and sound rebounding. And on offense, respecting the ball every single time you have it.

That has been a problem at times for a squad who leads the ACC in minutes played by freshman (41 percent overall).

“I’m confident that if we play like we have in the last 10 to 12 days, we can play with anybody in the league,” Hewitt said. “We are playing our best basketball at the right time of the year. Now we will be disappointed if we don’t come out and play with that same level and energy and purpose. I expect us to play a great game ... because I think the guys really went back and evaluated and felt good about their effort.”