ACC B-Ball Preview, Pt. 1…looking at ACC Media picks
Posted by Brandon Rink on October 21, 2010 under ACC Basketball | 
2 Comments to Read
Gonzalez could be the key to a strong NC State run.
Basketball sure sneaks up on ya, doesn’t it? Here we are in week 8 of football, and it’s already time to preview some basketball. The media did their picks yesterday and we’re starting our breakdown today…
ACC Media Picks…
2010-11 ACC Basketball Predicted Order of Finish 1 Duke (61) 743 2 Virginia Tech 632 3 North Carolina (1) 622 4 NC State 526 5 Florida State 496 6 Maryland 432 7 Clemson 335 8 Miami 305 9 Georgia Tech 274 10 Boston College 173 11 Virginia 164 12 Wake Forest 134 2010-11 ACC Preseason All-Conference Team
Kyle Singler, Duke, 62 (unanimous)
Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech, 61
Nolan Smith, Duke, 55
Tracy Smith, NC State, 45
Chris Singleton, Florida State, 292010-11 ACC Preseason Player of the Year
Kyle Singler, Duke (38 of 62 votes)2010-11 ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year
Harison Barnes, North Carolina (46 of 62 ballots)
Thoughts…
- The only big surprise was the lack of a unanimous no. 1 for Duke, which was apparently a mistake.
- Not a lot of faith in Georgia Tech or Miami, eh? It appears Clemson has built up enough street cred among the media to stay in the NCAA Tourney zone even with a coaching change.
- Can’t go wrong with that All-ACC team either.
- But my ACC picks differ…a lot. Check out my first 3 previews below…
ACC Blogger ACC B-Ball Preview, Part One
We like to mix it up here and not go with the traditional 1-12 breakdown. I’ll have a 7-9 breakdown up next and the final part will have the 1-3 and 9-12. On to the picks…
- 4) NC State Wolfpack
Potential: Elite 8
Actual: Second round
Strengths: Post-play, good talent/experience mix, potentially good guards.
Weaknesses: Little coaching track record, relying heavily on youth.
Make or Break Player: G Javier Gonzalez
Grades…
Starting Backcourt – B+
Javier Gonzalez – 6’0, 9.5 PPG/3.7 APG
Lorenzo Brown – 6’4, Freshman
Starting Frontcourt – A
Tracy Smith – 6’8,16.5 PPG/7.3 RPG
C.J. Leslie – 6’7, Freshman
Rich Howell – 6’8, 4.9 PPG/4.6 RPG
Bench – B+
Circle It: Duke, January 19 – are the Wolfpack that good? We’ll see.
Final Analysis: NC State has the look. They have an experienced point guard, star in the post, and solid depth. All eyes turn to Lowe who has had his ups and downs so far at NC State – I’m staying cautious with a secure NCAA bid, but not quite in the upper echelon.
Why They Could Be Higher: Lowe puts it all together with his most talented team yet and stays consistently good through the ACC schedule.
Why They Could Be Lower: Sidney Lowe.
Loading ...- 5) Florida State Seminoles
Potential: Elite 8
Actual: Second round
Strengths: Defense, depth, versatility.
Weaknesses: Scoring points, curious coaching.
Make or Break Player: G Michael Snaer
Grades…
Starting Backcourt – B+
Michael Snaer – 6’5, 8.8 PPG/1.3 APG
Derwin Kitchen – 6’4, 8.1 PPG/3.9 APG
Deividas Dulkys – 6’5, 8.7 PPG/.397 3P%
Starting Frontcourt – B+
Chris Singleton – 6’9,10.2 PPG/7 RPG
Xavier Gibson – 6’11, 5.5 PPG/2.8 RPG
Bench – B
Circle It: at Miami, January 19, an early opportunity to beat a rival and fellow ACC competitor on the road.
Final Analysis: We should just call this section of the preview the “I really want to put them higher, but look at who’s coaching” row. With the FSU, it’s the scoring – 130th in the nation according to KenPom in 2009. FSU will be a great defensive team, and score enough to get back to the NCAA Tourney.
Why They Could Be Higher: If they can find the scoring to go with the D – this is a team that can challenge in the ACC.
Why They Could Be Lower: FSU doesn’t get the improvement needed at guard, and the absence of Alabi proves to be more impactful than expected.
Loading ...- 6) Miami Hurricanes
Potential: Sweet 16
Actual: First round
Strengths: Guard play, momentum from ACC Tourney run.
Weaknesses: Quality size, experience, one-man show.
Make or Break Player: G Durand Scott
Grades…
Starting Backcourt – B+
Durand Scott – 6’3, 10.3 PPG/3.4 APG
Malcolm Grant – 6’1, 9.6 PPG/3.5 APG
Starting Frontcourt – C+
Reggie Johnson – 6’10, 6.4 PPG/4.6 RPG
DeQuan Jones – 6’7, 5.7 PPG/2.1 RPG
Julian Gamble – 6’9, 3.5 PPG/2.9 RPG
Bench – C+
Circle It: at Memphis, November 15 – Wacky midnight start game that’s apart of the 24-hour marathon and would be an early statement win for the ‘Canes.
Final Analysis: Here’s the first team I differ from the ACC media picks on – two spots higher here. The ‘Canes look like an 8-8 ACC team, which means they need every big OOC win they can get, and they have Memphis and West Virginia on the schedule. Scott has to be ACC Tourney Scott that I watched drive all day on Virginia Tech, drill Wake Forest, and go to the wire with the defending champs in the ACC and nationally in Duke. Miami steps up and makes to the NCAAs in 2010.
Why They Could Be Higher: Scott becomes dominant ACC player and his big men get after it on D and rebounding.
Why They Could Be Lower: A lot of turnover on the roster makes it slow-going for ACC contention.
Loading ...Past-Duke it’s wide-open – agree/disagree on where I have these teams?
ACCBballFan said,
No issue with Duke and VA Tech in top 3, But MD is a stretch.
I have a harder time believing MD at #3 than I do UNC @ #7.
I do agree spots 2-8 are pretty wide open, with VA Tech and GA tech gettign a break in unbalanced schedule.
1 Duke
2-3-4- UNC, VA Tech and FSU is some order
5-6-7-8 GA Tech, NC State, MD and Miami in some order
9-10-11-12 Clemson, BC, Wake and UVA in some order.
UNC, VA Tech and GA Tech all have issues with post depth, but even then I cannot see MD surpassing FSU and NC St to get to third in ACC.
Brandon Rink said,
@ACCBBallFan
Thanks for the comment!
Maryland and UNC are definitely my gamble teams where I’m higher than most on one and way lower than most on the other.
I’ll have more on Maryland in the conclusion to the previews, but I think they have some pieces than can develop into solid players around Jordan Williams and Sean Mosley.
My thoughts on UNC are already on the site – I just think it’s going to take quite a turnaround in a tough league to go from 5-11 to as high as 2nd. We shall see on them.