Posted by Brandon Rink on April 19, 2011 under ACC Baseball | Comments are off for this article
Virginia has gone from unheralded preseason to the nation's top ranked team in April - largely because of ace lefty Danny Hultzen (Per OrangeandWhite.com)
Hello, ACC baseball friends – been awhile since I’ve talked Atlantic Coast Conference stickball.
Overall Picture
Virginia is really, really good. Baseball America and NCBWA rank them No. 1 overall at 36-3 (16-2 ACC).
This past wacky, weird and wild weekend proved to bring some separation with four ACC series to go.
UNC went from second to fourth in the Coastal after getting swept by NC State (now 4 GB of Virginia).
Georgia Tech and Miami hit the road and couldn’t pull off sweeps on the road against the drudge of the Atlantic – taking two of three from Wake Forest and Maryland respectively.
In the Atlantic, nobody is challenging for a top seed overall with FSU falling to 11-7 in conference and the next best at .500 with Clemson.
If I had to rank the ACC after this weekend, I’d go…
Virginia (36-3, 16-2)
Georgia Tech (27-10, 14-4)
North Carolina (30-8, 12-6)
Miami (24-12, 13-4)
Florida State (26-10, 11-7)
Clemson (22-13, 9-9)
NC State (21-16, 8-10)
Boston College (13-20, 6-11)
Wake Forest (14-23, 6-12)
Duke (20-19, 4-14)
Virginia Tech (19-19, 4-14)
Maryland (17-20, 4-14)
Coastal Division Contenders
Virginia Outlook…
Remaining ACC Series: NC State, @BC, Miami, @UNC
Obviously, the ‘Hoos are looking pretty good right now as the top team in the country. The next three series are crucial for maintaining that status because as we found out last year with FSU – a final series on the road can be daunting.
Projected Finish: 1st
NCAA Tourney Projection: National seed
Georgia Tech Outlook…
Remaining ACC Series: BC, @Clemson, UNC, @VT
After a 9-0 ACC start, the Jackets are 5-4 after facing Duke, Virginia and Wake Forest. Back to reality? Hard to say, righty ace Mark Pope (8-1, 1.14 ERA) recovered from a lackluster start against Virginia with a CG one-hitter versus the Deacs.
Projected Finish: 2nd
NCAA Tourney Projection: Regional host
Miami Outlook…
Remaining ACC Series: @UNC, FSU, @UVa, Duke.
Miami is an interesting case because they will have one less ACC game to play after a couple snowouts vs. Boston College earlier this season. They have the toughest road of any Coastal team as well with trips to UNC and Virginia – home date with rival FSU. Hurricanes are a solid team, but were swept in their two toughest series this season.
Projected Finish: 4th
NCAA Tourney Projection: 2 seed
UNC Outlook…
Remaining ACC Series: Miami, Maryland, @GT, UVa.
You could say that the Tar Heels are reeling a bit. Giving up almost 8 runs per game, the sweep at the hand of NC State sent them to the back of the pack in the Coastal. Three of their final four series are at home – two of the three at home with fellow contenders. After this weekend, I’m not sure they will take the division, but can play spoiler on that final weekend against Virginia possibly.
I’m pretty sure you can’t take anything from the Virginia Tech series this past weekend. Nothing. At. All. Other than FSU can scores runs – 33 of them in the final two games. With Clemson’s sweep at BC, the solid lead that FSU gained before the last two series is down to 2 games. The ‘Noles have the trump card on Clemson with the final series though.
Projected Finish: 1st
NCAA Tourney Projection: Regional host
Clemson Outlook…
Remaining ACC Series: Wake Forest, GT, @VT, @FSU
The Tigers gained a game on FSU, but still need some help to grab the Atlantic. First off, a sweep of Wake Forest is a must – next, series wins over the Techs – and finally, to be at least within a game of Florida State going into the final weekend. Daunting, but not impossible for a team that had much higher expectations coming into the season.
Projected Finish: 2nd
NCAA Tourney Projection: 2 seed
NC State Outlook…
Remaining ACC Series: @UVa, Maryland, FSU, @BC
Coming off a sweep of UNC, NC State actually has a more favorable schedule to take down Florida State than Clemson. Past the top-ranked ‘Hoos, it’s all Atlantic Division opponents, and the Terps and ‘Noles come to Raliegh before the season finale at BC. After a 1-5 start in conference play, the Wolfpack have gone 7-2 at home with series wins over Clemson, Wake Forest and UNC. The trip to Virginia won’t be easy, but the Atlantic head-to-head series could at least vault the Wolfpack into second place.
Projected Finish: 3rd
NCAA Tourney Projection: Out
Thoughts on the fight to the finish in ACC baseball? I’m really looking forward to the next couple months of college baseball…
Posted by Griffin Wong on April 14, 2011 under Other ACC Coverage | Comments are off for this article
The Terps’ disappointing season became worse after Jordan Williams announced he would test the NBA Draft waters. The Terps should be optimistic about next season, but losing Williams would end all optimism in College Park. I’m going to breakdown Jordan’s NBA profile.
Strengths:
Rebounding- Jordan was one of the premier rebounders in the country last season. Williams’ 11.8 rebounds per game was good enough for third in the country. What worries Terp Nation is that rebounding is a skill that is at a premium in the NBA. If you’re an outstanding rebounder, you can make an NBA roster.
Work Ethic- Jordan improved greatly from his freshman to sophomore year. Williams lost 25 pounds over the off-season, and really took his conditioning to the next level. His conditioning allowed him to play 32.5 minutes per game effectively. I’m very confident Jordan, regardless of where he’s playing next year, will improve his weaknesses.
Weaknesses: Offensive Game- Most of Jordan’s 17 points per game this season were from putbacks and power-moves. Jordan lacks a reliable back-to-the-basket game and that 15 foot jumper most NBA bigs possess. If Jordan can develop a refined offensive game, he will be an all-american next year (if he comes back).
Defense- Jordan was Maryland’s go-to-guy this season, so the team couldn’t afford getting him in foul trouble. This made it hard for Jordan to become a good, aggressive defender. That said, I would like to see Jordan improve upon his helpside defense, and maybe take the occasionaly charge.
Physique- Jordan is listed at 6′10”, but I would say that’s a bit generous. In fact, I would call him closer to 6′8” than 6′10”. Jordan also lacks the athleticism to play with the big men of the NBA. This height hurts Jordan on the defensive end, because he can’t exactly get up with the tall or high flyers. He has had trouble both defending and scoring on the guys with an NBA body such as North Carolina’s John Henson and Virginia’s Assane Sene. If he can’t score on these guys, he will have trouble in the NBA. Unfortunately, this is Jordan’s only weakness that he cannot improve. You can’t teach height.
Passing- Jordan often recieves double teams because he is such a force. Unfortunately, Jordan struggles as a passer. A passing big is always a great quality of a bigman. Williams needs to watch the likes of Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger, former Georgetown Hoya Greg Monroe, or Marcus and Markieff Morris of Kansas.
Bottom Line:
Jordan may have more weaknesses than strengths, but he has the ability to mask his weaknesses and stress his stregnths, which makes Jordan a phenomenal player. Also, Jordan’s strengths are two strengths NBA teams love. However, I feel like Jordan’s game is too incomplete for the NBA. Williams dominated the ACC, but he will be going up against John Hensons every night in the NBA! On the other hand, Jordans rebounding ability in itself could earn him a spot on the NBA roster, such as former Pittsburgh Panther and current San Antonio Spur DeJuan Blair. My final verdict on Jordan is that he should not leave. That said, if he finds a GM that’s willing to take him with his team’s first round pick, then I would definitely encourage him to go pro. I just don’t feel like Jordan is ready for the NBA just yet.
Regardless of Jordan’s decision, I wish him the best of luck. It’s been a joy to watch him play these past two years, and after all it’s his own decision. I will support Jordan for his entire basketball career, no matter where he is playing.
And you thought your troubles were gone with Lowe out, right, Wolfpack fans? (Per OrangeandWhite.com)
I, too, have turned down the Wolfpack for less money at a smaller institution.
NC State’s a nice job in all, but the people here like me and I don’t have to run through as much of a gauntlet each year.
What if I go to Raliegh and fail? I mean, I’d have all this money to count and the shame of not getting it done – just to try again somewhere else.
I’d have to compete with the big bad blues of Duke and UNC – not exactly Illinois-Chicago or Towson or Bradley.
Nah, I’ll stick with less money, get the adoration of the local and national media when my team makes a run every couple years in the NCAA Tourney, and maybe, just maybe, down the road, when the money is just too much (and I get everything I want) – I’ll make the jump to bigger place.
Because that’s what college basketball is all about – big bucks and security. Who cares about building a program or a legacy?
***
Over the top? I don’t think so.
Brad Stevens, Shaka Smart and…Gregg Marshall all playing it safe at “mid-majors” is curious to me.
Have all coaches lost their competitiveness? Are challenges something to be avoided?
I get it’s a challenge to take Butler to the championship game two years in a row.
I get it’s a challenge to take VCU from the First Four to the Final Four.
I get it’s a challenge to take Wichita State to the NIT Champi…wait a second, why, again, is Marshall turning down offers after an NIT run? I digress.
With Stevens, he’s probably holding out for a dream job – makes sense.
With Smart and Marshall, they are trying to be Stevens when they really aren’t him.
Smart is a good coach, but he’s only coming off his second year of coaching anywhere. Most of the players at VCU were recruited by current Alabama coach Anthony Grant. Before Grant, Jeff Capel built the program up for four years.
He made a nice run this year, but what if VCU misses the tournament next year? The CAA is pretty tough. And the next season? Where is Smart’s stock after that?
And Marshall? Mr. double-G hasn’t made an NCAA Tourney yet with Wichita State! Who does he really think he is? (Oh, but he’s an NIT champ)
NC State fans are in full despair mode after Yow’s recent letter to the fanbase, but the Wolfpack might be better for having coaches that lack vision turning them down.
It all depends on the hire, but somebody is going to come – and they will be better than Lowe – probably smarter than Marshall and co.
Look at Clemson, nobody knew Brad Brownell in TigerTown after the Tigers had been turned down by Rick Stansbury of Mississippi State. Clemson got the better end of that deal.
If the NC State fanbase can step back from the ledge for a sec, Yow can make the hire and it might just work out.
Haith, Miami & Mizzou
Job security.
Just talked about it with the NC State potential suitors – and it’s why Haith is in Columbia, Missouri and not Coral Gables, Florida.
Haith didn’t want to get fired.
New AD to be hired – mediocre to bad run as the Hurricanes coach to this point – one more poor year and he was probably done.
His ‘Canes were only losing one senior off a team that was underwhelming this season, but almost knocked off UNC to make the ACC Tourney semis for a second straight season.
Maybe it’s the best move for both sides, but like Purnell to Depaul last year, it reeks of a coach that’s scared to fail and won’t stick with his players and current school to the next level.
Good luck to Haith in Mizzouri – and hopefully the Hurricanes can find a coach that will build the program and stick around when times get tough.
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