There’s only one way for Boston College to take itself off the NCAA tournament bubble this weekend.
Win.
The fifth-seeded Eagles got themselves off to a pretty good start in the first round of the ACC tournament Thursday, beating 12th-seeded Wake Forest, 81-67.
The victory sets up a meeting between BC and fourth-seeded Clemson on Friday.
Three Eagles — Reggie Jackson, Joe Trapani and Biko Paris — eclipsed the 20-point mark in Thursday’s romp.
Now 20-11 overall, BC can likely punch a ticket to March Madness with another victory or two in Greensboro, N.C. — or guarantee a berth by winning the league event.
But it won’t be easy.
Clemson beat the Eagles 77-69 in their last meeting a month ago.
If BC gets past the Tigers, they’ll likely have to deal with top-seeded North Carolina in the conference semifinals. The Tar Heels easily handled the Eagles on Feb. 1, then squeaked by with a two-point win Feb. 19.
UNC, Clemson, Duke and Florida State earned first-round byes and didn’t play on Thursday’s opening day.
