ACC B-Ball Preview, Pt. 2 – Yes, I’m Crazy Edition

Posted by Brandon Rink on October 26, 2010 under ACC Basketball | Comments are off for this article

We covered 4-6 last week – today, we hit 7-9 – which has a couple surprises…

• 7) North Carolina Tar Heels

Potential: Elite 8

Actual: Bubble – In, second round

Strengths: Talent everywhere, Roy Williams’ experience.

Weaknesses: Depth, big men, experience, guard play (for now).

Make or Break Player: F John Henson

Grades…

Starting Backcourt – B

Larry Drew II  – 6’2, 8.5 PPG/6 APG

Reggie Bullock – 6’6, Freshman

Starting Frontcourt – A

Harrison Barnes – 6’6, Freshman

John Henson – 6’10, 5.7 PPG/4.4 RPG

Tyler Zeller – 7’0, 9.3 PPG/4.6 RPG

Bench – B

Circle It: at Miami, January 26 – Games like this will be the difference between a contender Tar Heels squad and just another middle of the road team.

Final Analysis: UNC could very well be my “Duke” this season. I had a lot of question marks about the Blue Devils going into ’09 and they more than proved me wrong. Well, it’s your turn, UNC. Teams don’t go from 5-11 to 11-5 overnight – Barnes or not. Staying healthy seems to be an issue with the Tar Heels, and only ten players on the roster due to transfers and Graves’ dismissal will keep UNC on its “Heels.” Another thing that troubled me about ’09 was Roy Williams. He just did not seem to have a handle on which players to play and which to bench – will he get any better with this group of players? Jury is out.

Why They Could Be Higher: Last season turns out to be just an aberration, and Williams steers the ship chock full of Mickey D All-Americans back to the top.

Why They Could Be Lower: Injuries, depth really hurt them and the Heels fall back to the NIT.

• 8) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Potential: Second Round

Actual: Bubble – NIT

Strengths: Defense, guard-play.

Weaknesses: Quality size, scoring, often coaching.

Make or Break Player: F Glenn Rice Jr.

Grades…

Starting Backcourt – B

Iman Shumpert  – 6’5, 10 PPG/4.0 APG

Moe Miller – 6’2, 3.9 PPG/2.3 APG

Brian Oliver – 6’6, 7.1 PPG/0.9 APG

Starting Frontcourt – C

Glenn Rice Jr. – 6’5,10.2 PPG/7 RPG

Kammeon Holsey – 6’8, Redshirt freshman

Bench – B-

Circle It: at Northwestern – We get an early look at the new scheme of the Jackets on the road in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Final Analysis: Georgia Tech’s makeup promises to be very similar to their mascot. Small, but in a furious swarm – the Jackets all talked up a more aggressive, up-tempo game with no guy over 6’8 in the projected starting lineup. However annoying they may be to opposing D’s – I wonder if they can put up enough points to hang with more complete teams in the upper echelon of the ACC…so, I have them just on the outside looking in.

Why They Could Be Higher: Defense dominates and a couple of the guards really step up into the scorer’s role to take the pressure off their lack of size.

Why They Could Be Lower: Teams dominate the paint all year and points are hard to come by.

• 9) Clemson Tigers

Potential: Sweet 16

Actual: Bubble – NIT

Strengths: Depth, experienced PG.

Weaknesses: New systems on offense/defense with new coach, lack of pure shooters, perimeter shooting, inexperience in paint beyond Grant.

Make or Break Player: F Milton Jennings

Grades…

Starting Backcourt – B

Demontez Stitt – 6’2, 11.4 PPG/3.1 APG

Tanner Smith – 6’5, 8.7 PPG/2.2 APG

Starting Frontcourt – B

Milton Jennings – 6’9, 3.2 PPG/2.7 RPG

Devin Booker – 6’8, 4.5 PPG/2.9 RPG

Jerai Grant – 6’8, 7.2 PPG/4.7 RPG

Bench – B-

Circle It: at Georgia Tech, February 5 – Clemson will need every big road win they can get and this is a winnable one for them.

Final Analysis: Clemson has talent, but does it fit Brownell’s system? In the Purnell years, Tiger fans often wondered if there was an offensive system at all – now, Brownell comes in with a motion offense that could be difficult to put in action in ACC play in season one. This is a young team outside of Demontez Stitt and their best days are ahead – they will be a feisty team, but just not consistent enough to make back to the NCAA Tourney.

Why They Could Be Higher: One of the young guards like Andre Young, Noel Johnson, and/or Tanner Smith steps up from the perimeter to stretch defenses and open up the post for Grant, Booker, and Jennings.

Why They Could Be Lower: New system just overwhelms the young Tigers and they struggle in ACC play.

How far off am I on UNC? Will Clemson and Georgia Tech make a move up too?