Afternoon Quickie: Will BC’s Harvard Losing Streak Hit 4?

This question will be on the minds of Boston College basketball fans tonight as both they and the men’s hockey team resume their seasons following Christmas breaks.

Boston College has had a very bad run of things against the Harvard Crimson in the last few years. Their first of three consecutive losses to Harvard came on January 7, 2009, when Jeremy Lin single-handedly dismantled the Eagles, just days after BC had beaten #1 North Carolina in the Dean Dome. Loss #2 was also in calendar year 2009, as the Eagles fell to the Crimson on December 9, 2009. Loss #3 came in 2011 — January 5, to be exact. Now, in the 2011-12 season, not only is Harvard a more legitimate team, they’re ranked. Ironically, when BC lost to them the first time in 2009, the Eagles were ranked about where Harvard is now. Can the Eagles turn the tables?

It’s possible. BC are 11.5-point underdogs, and deservedly so, but BC has vaguely resembled a basketball team starting with the Providence game. One would have to think Harvard, being favored by so much and having a much better record, will win. With any luck, however, this group of new players won’t get the Crimson in their heads so quickly and can drive a stake through this revolting losing streak.

Gametime is 7pm and it’s on ESPN3.

It took almost three weeks, but men’s hockey is back tonight at 7:30 Eastern. BC will play Michigan in the Great Lakes Invitational in Detroit. The game is slated to be carried on FSN Detroit (DTV 663), so DirecTV Sports Pack brethren, you’re in luck.

Finally, women’s basketball also returns to action on Thursday. The ladies resume their 2011-12 season with a game at St. Joe’s.