2019-20 Boston College Basketball Player Profile: Nik Popovic
Hometown: Banja Luke, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Class: Senior
Height: 6’11’’
Weight: 253
Offense
Ranked 17th in the ACC in scoring last year (14.5 ppg), 15th in rebounding (7.2 rpg), and 3rd in Field Goal Percentage (52.6%), Popovic helped lead the team on the offensive side with former BC point guard Ky Bowman. The 6’11’’ senior had season high of 24 points and scored in double-figures in all but 3 of his games for the Eagles. With Bowman now graduated, Popovic will have to take an even bigger leadership role than he did last year. Popovic was asked last year to produce a lot offensively and it will be no different this year as the Eagles were only 9th last year in points per game as this is a part of BC’s performance that needs significant improvement.
Rebounding
Head Coach, Jim Christian, will need Popovic to continue to be a dominant figure under the rim this year as he collected seven double-doubles on the season and a career high of 14 rebounds on two different occasions. With BC ranked 7th last year in rebounds per game, Popovic will have to keep it up when crashing the boards this year to find success.
Defense
The 6’11’’ height is one of Nik Popovic’s great attributes. He averaged 0.8 blocks per game last year and blocked a season-high four shots against Fairfield and the tall forward also had 11 points and 10 rebounds that game showing he is completely capable of putting it all together for games. If Popovic continues to set career highs this year in steals (Highest: 3 a game last year) and blocks then the Eagles defense should be moving in the right direction.
With Ky Bowman gone, Nik Popovic will have to continue improving offensively by utilizing his height more against defenders and will have to do the same on defense. Being a senior this year Popovic will also need to be a leader for the underclassmen if they want to succeed and improve upon last year.
Prediction
Popovic may struggle at the start of the season adjusting to his new role as the offensive go to guy for the Eagles but will adjust as the season goes on and he finds a rhythm offensively. The senior will have to change his game as the underclassmen on the team contribute as they adjust to a different style of starting point guard this year not being Ky Bowman for the first time since Popovic has been at BC.
