2011-12 ACC Blogger Basketball Preview Countdown: 9-12

Posted by Brandon Rink on November 1, 2011 under ACC Basketball | Comments are off for this article

Looking at the back of the pack – second-year coaches trying to make their way up the ladder (Wake’s Bzdelik and BC’s Donahue) and a first-year coach in rebuild mode (GT’s Brian Gregory)…

10) Wake Forest Demon Deacons

2010-11 Record: 8-24 (1-15 ACC)

Potential: First round

Strengths: Motivated team coming off last year’s struggles, another year in Bzdelik’s system.

Weaknesses: Another year in Bzdelik’s system?, weaker at guard with J.T. Terrell’s dismissal, still very young.

Make or Break Player: F Travis McKie

Rotation/Grades… (2010 Stats)

Starting Backcourt – B

Tony Chennault – 6-2 195, 4.5 PPG/1.9 APG

C.J. Harris –  6-3 185, 10.3 PPG/3.5 APG

Starting Frontcourt – B-

Nikita Mescheriakov – 6-8 215, 4.5 PPG/1.8 RPG

Travis McKie – 6-7 205, 13 PPG/7.7 RPG

Carson Desrosiers – 7-0 235, 4.0 PPG/3.2 RPG

Bench – C

Key Bench Players: G Anthony Fields, C Ty Walker, F Melvin Tabb, F Daniel Green, G Chase Fischer.

Circle It: Virginia Tech, January 7 – It’s the home ACC opener – a chance to get off on the right foot.

Final Analysis: To say 2010-11 was rough for Jeff Bzdelik and co. would be something far under an understatement. The good thing about last year’s team being young is a more grizzled group of sophomores, juniors and seniors for 2011-12 – led by sophomore forward Travis McKie. With J. T. Terrell out of the program, the pressure is on junior C.J. Harris and sophomore Tony Chennault to pick up the scoring as Terrell had three game of 25 points or more before his dismissal from the Deacs.

Why They Could Be Higher: Travis McKie is a star and the guards are able to put some points to boot.

Why They Could Be Lower: No real improvement from season-to-season and a sophomore slump for Travis McKie.

11) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

2010 Record: 13-18 (5-11 ACC)

Potential: First round

Strengths: Fresh start, experienced backcourt.

Weaknesses: New system, complete overhaul needed on offense.

Make or Break Player: G Glen Rice Jr.

Rotation/Grades… (2010 Stats)

Starting Backcourt – B-

Mfon Udofia – 6-2 193, 6.7 PPG/2.5 APG

Glen Rice Jr. – 6-5 206, 12.8 PPG/5.6 RPG

Jason Morris – 6-5 2010, 6 PPG/2.2 RPG

Starting Frontcourt – C+

Julian Royal – 6-7 230, Freshman/Kammeon Holsey 6-8 226, 3.4 PPG/2.7 RPG

Daniel Miller – 6-11 258, 4.4 PPG/5.0 RPG

Bench – C

Key Bench Players: C Nate Hicks, G Brandon Reed.

Circle It: At Georgia, December 7 – Rivalry game and early chance to get a résumé win.

Final Analysis: New coach Brian Gregory comes from Dayton trying to turn around one of the ACC’s worst scoring teams (10th in scoring offense, 12th in FG pct., 12th in 3PT pct.). Georgia Tech will feature another guard-oriented offense even with the loss of leading-scorer Iman Shumpert and Maurice Miller. They’ll need a big season from juniors Mfon Udofia and Glen Rice Jr., along with some development from sophomore guard Jason Morris and center Daniel Miller. After a 10th-place finish and early ACC Tourney exit last season, expectations are low in Atlanta – Gregory has some time to turn things around this season.

Why They Could Be Higher: Georgia Tech backcourt figures out how to score the ball consistently.

Why They Could Be Lower: Offensive woes continue during your typical growing pains with a new coach.

12) Boston College Eagles

2010-11 Record: 21-13 (9-7 ACC)

Potential: NIT

Strengths: Solid coach, young team growing together.

Weaknesses: Inexperience everywhere, unproven frontcourt and no clear go-to scorer.

Make or Break Player: G Matt Humphrey

Rotation/Grades… (2010 Stats)

Starting Backcourt – C+

Gabe Moton – 6-1 170, 2.5 PPG/1.0 APG

Matt Humphrey  –  6-5 187, 5.4 PPG/2.5 RPG (2009-10 for Oregon)

Danny Rubin – 6-5 180, 4.1 PPG/43.4 3PT%

Starting Frontcourt – C

Ryan Anderson – 6-8 229, Freshman

Dennis Clifford – 7-0 238, Freshman

Bench – C

Key Bench Players: C Kyle Caudill, G Patrick Heckmann, G Lonnie Jackson, G Deirunas Vosockas, G Jordan Daniels.

Circle It: Harvard, December 29 – Will the Ivy strike again?

Final Analysis: Who are these guys? (No, really) There aren’t ACC b-ball prospectuses with more “newcomers” than returning contributors and starters lost combined, but that’s what second-year coach Steve Donahue faces with his BC team. The Eagles return just sophomores Danny Rubin (4.1 PPG) and Gabe Moton (2.5) with three double-digit scorers gone. It’s a team with three upperclassmen, including an Oregon transfer in guard Matt Humphrey who’s going to be counted on for some scoring this season. I’m not going to pretend to know what exactly these freshman, hailing from California to Germany, will do this season, but it’ll be fun to watch.

Why They Could Be Higher: Donahue squeezes the max out of his more veteran players and the freshman are able to come in and score right away.