Posted by Brandon Rink on November 2, 2010 under ACC Basketball | Comments are off for this article
Singler's back and so are the Blue Devils.
We’re covering the top teams in the ACC this week…
1) Duke Blue Devils
Potential: Championship
Actual: Final Four
Strengths: Pretty much everything.
Weaknesses: Losing a bit of edge with Zoubek, Thomas, Scheyer gone, everybody’s pick for no. 1 so target’s on their back.
Make or Break Player: F Kyle Singler
Grades…
Starting Backcourt – A
Kyrie Irving – 6’2, Freshman
Nolan Smith – 6’2, 17.4 PPG/3 APG
Seth Curry – 6’1, 20.2 PPG/2.3 APG from ’08-09 at Liberty
Starting Frontcourt – A
Mason Plumlee – 6’10, 3.7 PPG/3.1 RPG
Kyle Singler – 6’8, 17.7 PPG/7 RPG
Bench – B+
Circle It: at Florida State, January 12. Duke’s first real road test where we’ll see a little of what these Blue Devils are made of.
Final Analysis: Cliché time! They don’t rebuild – they reload, and it’s never been more true than ’10-11 with Smith and Singler back to go with the rest of talent stockpiled in recruiting and transfers. This team has the potential to win it all again, but we will see if Coach K can keep the mindset right to another championship.
Why They Could Be Lower: Chemistry isn’t quite right with new stars mixing with veterans and they finish second or third with a monster year from the Hokies.
2) Virginia Tech Hokies
Potential: Elite 8
Actual: Sweet 16
Strengths: Guard play, experience, solid in paint.
Weaknesses: Jekyll/Hyde star in Jeff Allen, depth hurt in post with Thompson injury, snakebit on making complete run.
Make or Break Player: F Jeff Allen
Grades…
Starting Backcourt – A
Malcolm Delaney – 6’3, 20.2 PPG/4.5 APG
Dorenzo Hudson – 6’5, 15.2 PPG/1.9 APG
Starting Frontcourt – B
Terrell Bell – 6’6, 6.1 PPG/6.1 RPG
Victor Davila – 6’8, 6.1 PPG/6.1 RPG
Jeff Allen – 6’7, 12 PPG/7.4 RPG
Bench – C+
Circle It: at North Carolina, January 13. The Hokies can send a message early in ACC play that they are a contender with a win over a much-hyped Heels squad.
Final Analysis: This is a leap year for the Hokies. They can’t just make the NCAA Tournament – they need to contend with the team Greenberg has assembled. And he knows that, but it will hinge getting Cadarian Raines in the post after losing J.T. Thompson and apparently Allan Chaney too for the season. Delaney and Hudson can shoulder the load and lead the Hokies to a number of wins, but guys like Bell, Allen, and Davila have to pick up the Hokies in some games too to take the next step.
Why They Could Be Higher: Everything comes together and the Blue Devils lose a step or two.
Why They Could Be Lower: The season goes down much like last year as it’s basically the same team, but actually minus a key player now.
3) Maryland Terrapins
Potential: Elite 8
Actual: Second Round
Strengths: Strong post-play, solid guard-play, Gary Williams, potential breakout players.
Weaknesses: So much scoring lost (Vasquez, Milbourne, Hayes), experienced depth on bench gone.
Make or Break Player: G Sean Mosley
Grades…
Starting Backcourt – B
Adrian Bowie – 6’2, 4.8 PPG/1.5 APG
Sean Mosley – 6’4, 10.1 PPG/2.6 APG
Cliff Tucker – 6’6, 5.7 PPG/1.7 RPG
Starting Frontcourt – B+
Dino Gregory – 6’7, 4.2 PPG/3.4 RPG
Jordan Williams – 6’10, 9.6 PPG/8.6 RPG
Bench – C
Circle It: Duke, February 2nd. Are the Terps good enough to knock off Duke again at home? We’ll see.
Final Analysis: With Williams in the paint and Mosley up top, Gary Williams has the pieces to keep the Terps in the top tier of the ACC. He will have to get more from Bowie, Tucker, and Gregory, but Maryland will be a surprise team.
Why They Could Be Higher: The Hokies and ‘Noles underachieve, which allows Maryland to move up behind the Blue Devils.
Why They Could Be Lower: Terps can’t find reliable scorers outside of Mosley and Williams has a sophomore slump in the paint.
Will Duke repeat? Are the Terps and Hokies going to challenge for the top? Comment your thoughts…
Posted by Brandon Rink on October 26, 2010 under ACC Basketball | Comments are off for this article
Tigers and Heels might find themselves fighting for an NCAA bid. (Photo per OrangeandWhite.com, by Mark Crammer)
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?
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, 29
2010-11 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)
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.
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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.
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6) Miami Hurricanes
Potential: Sweet 16
Actual: First round
Strengths: Guard play, momentum from ACC Tourney run.
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.
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Past-Duke it’s wide-open – agree/disagree on where I have these teams?
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