Strengths: A lot of turnover from a 5-11 team, solid pieces in post and at guard back.
Weaknesses: A lot turnover from a 5-11 team, inexperience across the board.
Make or Break Player: F Mike Scott
Grades…
Starting Backcourt – B
Jontel Evans – 5’11, 8.5 PPG/6 APG
Sammy Zeglinski – 6’0, 8.9 PPG/2.6 APG
Starting Frontcourt – B-
James Johnson – 6’9, Freshman
K.T. Harrell – 6’5, Freshman
Mike Scott – 6’8, 12 PPG/7.2 RPG
Bench – C+
Circle It: UNC, January 8 – The home ACC opener could make a huge statement if they can beat the Heels.
Final Analysis: Year one in Charlottesville had its ups and downs as their top player, Sylven Landesberg, struggled with staying eligible and ultimately left the program…Virginia struggled to a 5-11 record. More transfers ensued in the offseason, but the cupboard isn’t completely bare in ‘Hooville. Zeglinski’s out for the first few games after knee surgery so it will be up to a young group of guards to get things started for Virginia. Mike Scott down-low has to be a beast if Virginia is going to make a run all the way to the Big Dance.
Why They Could Be Higher: Scott dominates in the paint and the young guards step up.
Why They Could Be Lower: With all the turnover and the injury to Zeglinski, Virginia just never puts it all together.
Circle It: Georgia Tech, January 8 – Simple formula to this…teams that I expect to be good – I pick games later in the season…teams that aren’t quite there get the early ones…BC can get off on the right foot with a win over the Yellow Jackets.
Final Analysis: BC has pieces, but also has one of the tougher schedules in the ACC. Trapani’s the star after a solid junior year to third team all-ACC. At guard, Reggie Jackson has shown some flashes of brilliance, but also inconsistency. Of the teams in transition, BC may have taken the biggest hit with a couple transfers and no impact recruits coming in. No question that new coach Steve Donahue brings an impressive resume that could very well bring results to BC basketball, but it will be a tough transition in 2010.
Why They Could Be Higher: Veteran team buys in and learns quickly to a couple big OOC wins and 8-8/7-9 ACC record to get on the bubble.
Why They Could Be Lower: Wake Forest edges them out in the race for last place.
12) Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Potential: NIT.
Actual: No postseason.
Strengths: Young talent.
Weaknesses: Inexperience (one returning starter), quality size, new scheme.
Make or Break Player: F Ari Stewart
Grades…
Starting Backcourt – B
Tony Chennault – 6’1, Freshman
C.J. Harris – 6’2, 9.9/1.2 APG
Starting Frontcourt – C
Ari Stewart – 6’7, 7.3 PPG/3.2 RPG
Carson Desrosiers – 6’11, Freshman
Ty Walker – 7’0, 2.9 PPG/0.9 RPG
Bench – C
Circle It: Gonzaga, January 2 – not sure if they can beat them, but it would be an early marquee win.
Final Analysis: Top two players last season are gone to the pros – top big man coming in gone to Louisville after troubles with the law…tough offseason all-around for new coach Jeff Bzdelik. He has young talent, but they are just that, young, and with Woods’ departure, it’s all on youth in the paint. Bzdelik has a rebuilding project on his hands and I think Wake fans will understand if they aren’t making to back-to-back-to-back NCAA Tourneys.
Why They Could Be Higher: The mantra when a team doesn’t have experience is “talent” – which I’ve mentioned twice already in this preview…they have it, but it’s only enough to get them possibly out of the cellar.
Will any of these teams make a run? Let me know your thoughts…
Will Ponder basically clinch the Atlantic with a win tonight?
Will FSU take a big step ahead of the rest of the Atlantic to 5-0 in ACC play? Can Maryland and Clemson keep pace? The headliner game is tonight and it should be a good one…
ACC Pick’Em (47-16 so far on the season)
10/28/10 – Florida State Seminoles @ NC State Wolfpack / ESPN / 7:30 p.m. ET
The Lead: It’s quite possibly the difference between a wide-open race…or just a one team tyranny – Atlantic showdown in Raliegh Thursday.
Watch 4: FSU’s improved running attack and D to edge out Pack for road win
If it’s going to unfold like the ACC season has to this point, FSU loses – Atlantic is put wide-open and we’re left crowning another ACC team until they fail…so with that in mind, I’m going the other way. Both are good teams – if Russell Wilson is sharp, NC State probably wins, but FSU’s defense is the wild card and if they can get to Wilson then the Noles take it.
The Pick: ‘Noles 24 Pack 21
10/30/10 Clemson Tigers @ Boston College Eagles / ACC Network / 12:00 p.m. ET
The Lead: In the antithesis of FSU-NC State, these teams are going in opposite directions, but it’s been a close series up to last year’s Clemson blowout in Death Valley.
Watch 4: Tigers’ D to dominate, offense to put up enough
Ellington will find BC’s D a little tougher to find those holes, he will get his yards and TDs with the ample opportunities that the opposing offense will give him.
The Pick: Tigers 24 Eagles 13
Miami Hurricanes @ Virginia Cavaliers / ESPN / 12:00 p.m. ET
The Lead: The ‘Canes go for 4-1 in ACC play as they try to keep pace with the Hokies – ‘Hoos try to build on the Eastern Michigan win.
Watch 4: Miami’s overwhelming talent advantage to take this one
Miami may very well overlook Virginia, but it’s going to take a major letdown to actually lose.
The Pick: ‘Canes 31 ‘Hoos 10
Duke Blue Devils @ Navy Midshipmen / CBS College Sports / 3:30 p.m. ET
The Lead: Blue Devils stay on the road and up to Navy where they probably won’t lose by 37 points (but don’t bet on it).
Watch 4: But they will lose…
Coming into the season, Duke looked pretty similar to their ‘09 squad that got to 5 wins – right now, they are a discombobulated mess that turns it over at an alarming rate (119th in the nation).
The Pick: Midshipmen 34 Devils 17
William & Mary Tribe @ North Carolina Tar Heels / ESPN3 / 3:30 p.m. ET
The Lead: UNC takes a break from ACC play to finish out the OOC schedule with the FCS Tribe.
Watch 4: William & Mary to be no James Madison
The Tribe are kinda average statistically among the FCS ranks despite the 6-1 record…UNC cruises.
The Pick: Heels 49 Tribe 14
Wake Forest Demon Deacons @ Maryland Terrapins / ESPNU / 3:30 p.m. ET
The Lead: The Terps have a really good chance to keep their strong run going and clinch a bowl berth against the well-rested Deacs.
Watch 4: Deacs’ rushing attack to be decent, Terps’ O to be too much
Coming off the bye and a top 25 running O, the Deacs will move the ball, but Maryland seems to be getting in gear offensively and a much better team than Wake Forest.
The Pick: Terps 27 Deacs 21
ATS Section (26-24-1 to date)
NC State and under 3.5 vs. Florida State
Take to Bank %: 15%
The ACC’s only home Thursday nighter vs. a BCS team so far was NC State, and they covered – you usually take the home team on a Thursday and that’s what I’m doing here.
Miami and over 15 vs. Virginia
Take to Bank %: 45%
This is a tough one if Miami’s heart isn’t in it, but this game cries 17-point or more margin.
Clemson and over 7 vs. BC
Take to Bank %: 60%
I don’t know what it is, but Dabo has figured out whatever mystery it was to his predecessor of beating the Eagles – he brings a far better team in and they still have a lot to play for.
Maryland and over 5.5 vs. Wake Forest
Take to Bank %: 65%
For a team that went 2-10, can there really ever be a letdown game this season? We’ll see Saturday against the Deacs.
Posted by Brandon Rink on October 27, 2010 under ACC Football | Comments are off for this article
NC State's Wilson hoping to get back on track in a crucial Thursday night game with FSU.
Welcome to your weekly ACC Football Midweek Hype Machine that hopefully bridges your week to the weekend with good reads…
10/28/10 – Florida State Seminoles @ NC State Wolfpack / ESPN / 7:30 p.m. ET
Must-See Matchup: FSU rush attack vs. NC State D
Yes, Ponder is throwing it better in practice, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to believe the ‘Noles will try to get the game going on the ground – make Ponder throw more than FSU would like and that could be your game.
Watch This Over…: Glee, I know it will take all your might, but tune it to the most important Atlantic divisional game to this point.
10/30/10 Clemson Tigers @ Boston College Eagles / ACC Network / 12:00 p.m. ET
Must-See Matchup: Andre Ellington vs. BC Run D
Despite the offensive woes, BC is still keeping opponents under 85 rushing yards a game – Ellington is averaging 91.7 on the ground per game by himself and leads the ACC in scoring.
Watch This Over…: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, apparently this new version sucked according to the review I read so watch Clemson-BC to see if the Tigers avoid the letdown.
Miami Hurricanes @ Virginia Cavaliers / ESPN / 12:00 p.m. ET
Must-See Matchup: Miami’s turnover-hungry D vs. Virginia’s next-to-last turnover margin
If the ‘Hoos are going to pull off the improbable upset, they will need to hold on to the ball against the opportunistic ‘Canes.
Watch This Over…: Syracuse at Cincinnati, you know, this season I’ve been picking on the Big Ten – when the Big East is where it’s at…watch this Coastal clash over the conference without a team in the top 25.
Duke Blue Devils @ Navy Midshipmen / CBS College Sports / 3:30 p.m. ET
Must-See Matchup: Improved Navy rushing attack vs. deficient Duke D
It’s almost not fair. The Midshipmen are getting it in gear just in time for Duke after dropping 367 rushing yards on Notre Dame last week.
Comments are off for this article 
