2010-2011 ACC Basketball Preview


1. DUKE

Key Returners: Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith, Miles Plumlee, Mason Plumlee, Andre Dawkins, Ryan Kelly

Key Losses: Jon Scheyer, Brian Zoubek, Lance Thomas

Newcomers: Kyrie Irving, Seth Curry (Transfer), Joshua Hairston, Tyler Thornton

Projected Starters: Kyrie Irving (PG), Nolan Smith (SG), Kyle Singler (SF), Mason Plumlee (F), Miles Plumlee (F)

Key Reserves: Seth Curry, Andre Dawkins, Joshua Hairston, Ryan Kelly

The defending ACC and national champs lose three starters, including their leaders in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. However, Duke should be even better than last year with the addition of ultra-athletic point guard Kyrie Irving, adding a Jason Williams type player to their roster for the first time since….Jason Williams. While Scheyer could be described as a methodical, efficient point guard, Irving should pick up the pace for a team that ranked 249th in the nation in adjusted tempo/pace according to kenpom ratings. The addition of Irving, Curry, and expected improvement of Dawkins should more than make up for the loss of Scheyer as both a PG and outside shooter, as Curry and Dawkins can really stroke it from outside. In the post, the loss of Zoubek will hurt most on the glass, as he averaged an impressive 7.7 rebounds in less than 19 minutes per game and his offensive rebounding percentage was among the nation’s best. However, what they lose in rebounding, they will make up for in athleticism, as the Plumlee brothers will run the floor much better and offer a better scoring punch than either Thomas or Zoubek. Unless Mason develops faster than expected, Duke will still lack an elite post player, but should have a solid rotation in the post with Hairston and Kelly coming off the bench. And I haven’t even mentioned Singler and Smith. While I expect Smith’s numbers to decline with the added depth and talent on the perimeter, he still remains an all-ACC caliber player. Singler’s inside/outside game and versatility make him not only an ACC POY candidate for the second year in a row, but a national POY candidate as well. Although most expect Coach K to go big again with Singler and the Plumlee brothers starting in the frontcourt, I would not be surprised to see Coach K go back to a 3-guard line up and start Curry alongside Irving and Smith, with Singler at the 4 and Mason Plumlee at the 5, as this would put Duke’s best 5 players on the floor. It will be interesting to see how Coach K changes his style and pace with the new personnel, but regardless, overall, Duke should have the best backcourt in the nation, an above average post rotation, and a deep bench that should combine to make it the preseason number one.




2. NORTH CAROLINA

Key Returners: Tyler Zeller, John Henson, Larry Drew II, Dexter Strickland, Leslie McDonald

Key Losses: Ed Davis, Deon Thompson, Marcus Ginyard, Will Graves, David Wear (Transfer), Travis Wear (Transfer)

Newcomers: Harrison Barnes, Reggie Bullock, Kendall Marshall, Justin Knox (Transfer)

Projected Starters: Larry Drew II (PG), Reggie Bullock (SG), Harrison Barnes (SF), John Henson (F), Tyler Zeller (C)

Key Reserves: Dexter Strickland, Kendall Marshall, Justin Knox, Leslie McDonald

This is one of the most difficult teams to gauge; with seven former McDonald’s All-Americans , UNC has more than any other team in the ACC, and possibly the nation, and in terms of raw talent, may be the most talented team in the conference. However, their struggles last season cannot be overlooked. Inconsistent, and many times poor, point guard play, inexperience, injuries, lack of wing scorers and outside shooters, and lack of defensive effort were a few of the many problems that plagued this team for most of last season. But it is hard to imagine a Roy Williams team with this much talent to suffer two sub-par seasons in a row. Much of the problems on the wings will be solved by incoming freshmen Harrison Barnes and Reggie Bullock. Barnes, widely considered the top recruit in the nation, will immediately start and offer a lethal outside-inside scoring punch as well as solid leadership, despite being only a freshman. Bullock, who should challenge (and probably beat out) Dexter Strickland for the starting shooting guard position, is known as one of the best outside shooters in his class. He’s also a big body that can rebound extremely well for his position. The biggest question mark in the backcourt remains at PG. Drew II has the talent and ability to be a solid to very good point guard in this league, and he showed more than just flashes of his potential during the Heels NIT run. But he needs to cut down on turnovers and perform at such a level on a consistent basis for the Heels to have any chance of living up to their talent, let alone challenge Duke. Marshall is known as a crafty, pass-first point guard and has been labeled “college-ready” for a couple years now. He will push Drew for minutes, but ultimately I think Drew will hold down the starting spot. After a year of experience, I expect McDonald and Strickland to provide more consistent depth in the backcourt, with the potential to even explode for a few big games. The loss of Graves hurts in that they lost an experienced outside shooter and solid rebounder off the bench; he could have been the Heels top sixth man and another fresh body to allow Roy to continue playing at his signature break-neck pace. However, his dismissal should not affect the Heels too much in the win-loss column and having Barnes on the court for a few more minutes a game isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The loss of the Wear twins was a huge blow to the depth down low, as Henson and Zeller became the only two bigs left on the roster. However, the addition of Alabama transfer Justin Knox was a huge addition to the team in terms of depth. His experience, size, and one year of eligibility provided the perfect solution to the Heels’ depth problems in the post. Although I don’t see him pushing Henson or Zeller for the starting position, he should provide a solid 15-20 minutes a game off the bench, and he has the bulk that Zeller and Henson are both still lacking. As long as Henson and Zeller stay healthy (a big if), the Heels should be fine in the post. With those two, UNC will be long, athletic, and able to run better than any of Roy’s past bigs at UNC. While the two won’t have much bulk, the combination of Zeller’s offensive game and Henson’s rebounding, athleticism, and shot-blocking could make this the best post-duo in the conference (especially if Henson develops an offensive game beyond dunking). Also, don’t be surprised to see Barnes grab a few spot minutes at the 4 due his ability to score off post-ups, as Roy typically likes to have at least 4 guys in his post rotation. The biggest positive about this team is that almost all of their problems are fixable. If this team stays healthy and learns to put in the necessary defensive effort and overcome their inexperience (and these are giant “ifs”), they have the potential push Duke at the top.



3. VIRGINIA TECH

Key Returners: Malcolm Delaney, Dorenzo Hudson, Jeff Allen, Terrell Bell, Victor Davila, Erick Green, Cadarian Raines, Manny Atkins, Ben Boggs.

Key Losses: J.T. Thompson (Injury)

Newcomers: Allan Chaney (Trasnfer), Jarell Eddie, Tyrone Garland

Projected Starters: Malcolm Delaney (PG), Dorenzo Hudson (SG), Terrell Bell (SF), Jeff Allen (F) , Victor Davila (F)

Key Reserves: Allan Chaney, Erick Green, Jarell Eddie, Cadarian Raines, Manny Atkins, Ben Boggs.

When Malcolm Delaney decided to withdraw from the draft, Virginia Tech went from just another middle of the pack ACC team to a pre-season top 25 team and one that could finish as high as second in the conference. Tech returns their top 10 scorers to a team that won 25 games, including 10 conference wins. VT’s rotation will be bolstered by the eligibility of Florida transfer Allan Chaney, providing much needed depth in the frontcourt after losing Thompson to injury for the season. The talented Cadarian Raines will also be a year older, and with Thompson’s injury, I expect to see his minutes increase significantly. The backcourt duo of Malcolm Delaney and Dorenzo Hudson is probably the best behind only Duke. The biggest question mark is probably depth in the backcourt, as Hudson and Delaney both averaged over 35 mpg last year. However, after a year of experience, I expect Erick Green to step up and offer more significant minutes off the bench and possibly some combination of Ben Boggs and Manny Atkins to provide more consistent depth as well. Jarell Eddie has the talent, size, and the offensive game to get minutes behind Bell on the wing, the only question is whether he can offer enough defense to get consistent minutes. The biggest question mark with this team has to do with their soft schedule last year. 25 wins and 10 conference wins look great, but they came against weak competition due to poor non-conference scheduling and an unbalanced ACC schedule (only 3 of their 10 conference wins were against teams that made the NCAA tournament, which is considerably low considering 6 ACC teams actually made the tournament). Regardless, this will be an older, more experienced, and deeper version of last year’s team, and with that comes improvement, and I would be highly surprised to see them sweat-out another selection Sunday.



4. FLORIDA STATE

Key Returners: Chris Singleton, Michael Snaer, Derwin Kitchen, Deividas Dulkys, Xavier Gibson, Luke Loucks, Terrence Shannon

Key Losses: Solomon Alabi, Ryan Reid, Jordan DeMercy

Newcomers: Ian Miller, Okaro White, Jon Kreft, Bernard James

Projected Starters: Derwin Kitchen (PG), Michael Snaer (G), Deividas Dulkys (G), Chris Singleton (F), Xavier Gibson (C)

I originally had this team a bit lower, but the more I look at their roster, the more I love it. Hamilton has done an incredible job with this program, and continues to bring in at least one blue-chipper every year over the past few, and this year is no different. Last season, this teams calling card was their defense, as they had the top defensive efficiency in the nation according to the Pomeroy ratings as well as the top scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense in the league, and that shouldn’t be changing anytime soon, despite the loss of Alabi. Singleton returns as the star of this team, and I fully expect him to finally put up some impressive offensive numbers to go along with his stellar defense. Although the Seminoles did lose two starters in their frontcourt, they shouldn’t miss Reid and Alabi too much as Gibson will ease into the center position and former 4-star prospect Jordan DeMercy will see an increased role as well. However, much of their new low-post firepower will come from newcomers Okaro White and Jon Kreft. Kreft is a bit of an unknown to most college basketball fans. The talented 7-footer originally committed to the Seminoles a few years back before running into some legal trouble and never made it on campus until this fall. He is a huge sleeper and the X-factor on this team. Don’t be surprised to see him make a major impact and garner some huge minutes and significant production. All in all, the Noles have some serious size, length, talent, and depth in the post. The only question is if they can live up to their talent and how Hamilton can get it all to fit together. In the backcourt, the Noles bring back starters Derwin Kitchen and Michael Snaer as well as top sixth-man Dulkys. Although Hamilton traditionally likes to go big, I’m going to go out on a limb here and predict he will go with a three-guard lineup to start the season. He has too much experience in the backcourt and not enough the in the post, and until he figures out his post rotation, I like these three veteran guards to get the starting nod. Many unfairly expected Snaer to immediately help fill the scoring void left by Toney Douglas last season, which he was never really able to do, averaging just less than nine points per game. But the talent is there, and after a year under his belt, I expect him to significantly increase his point production and possibly be this teams leading scorer. On the bench, Ian Miller will make a huge impact at both the one and the two, as he is a natural scorer at either position. He may push Kitchen for his starting position, but I expect Hamilton to ease him into the line-up. Loucks should round out the rotation to be a solid five-deep. Overall, this will be another defensive-oriented and balanced Florida State team that could go as many as ten-deep. Their biggest question marks remain their suspect outside shooting and inability to take care of the ball, as evidenced by their 0.83 assist/turnover ratio. However, don’t sleep on their offense; if they can cut down on the turnovers, this team definitely has some talented weapons that can put the ball into the basket. They are another one of the handful of teams that could finish as high as second this year in the jumbled ACC.



5. NORTH CAROLINA STATE

Key Returners : Tracy Smith, Javier Gonzalez, Scott Wood, Richard Howell, C.J. Williams, DeShawn Painter, Jordan Vanderberg

Key Losses: Dennis Horner, Farnold Degand, Josh Davis (Transfer), Julius Mays (Transfer)

Newcomers: C.J. Leslsie, Ryan Harrow, Lorenzon Brown

Projected Starters: Javier Gonzalez (PG), Lorenzo Brown (SG), Scott Wood (SF), Richard Howell (F), Tracy Smith (F)

Key Reserves: C.J. Leslie, Ryan Harrow, C.J. Williams, DeShawn Painter, Jordan Vanderberg

This is another team that is hard to gauge, but they will be loaded with talent, depth, and seem to have no gaping holes at any position. Lowe returns 3 starters and 5 of his top 7 scorers on a team that finished last season fairly strong, going 6-3 in their final nine, including wins over three NCAA tourney teams. However, what will truly make or break this season is the impact of Lowe’s best recruiting class yet. All three players should make an immediate impact, and all three have a chance to start immediately (though I don’t think that will be the case). Gonzalez will start the season at PG due to his experience, but Harrow will push him hard for minutes, and don’t be surprised to see him take over as starter at some point during the season. Brown, who is a year older than his classmates and has the added experience of prep school, will start immediately at the two, as the only other option is the underwhelming C.J. Williams. Julius Mays transfer will hurt a bit in terms of depth, but it shouldn’t have any significant impact, as State will still be two-deep at the position. The same can be said about the transfer of Josh Davis as well. Overall, the backcourt will be above average and well balanced with the playmaking ability of Gonzalez and Harrow, the scoring punch of Brown, and the outside shooting of Wood. As a unit, the frontcourt could be the best in the ACC, with the return of All-ACC forward Tracy Smith to anchor the post. I am a big fan of Richard Howell’s rebounding, as he averaged an impressive 4.6 boards in just 13 minutes a game, and that is why I expect him to at least begin the season at starter next to Smith. Although I project Leslie to come off the bench to start the season, I would not be surprised to see him start, and I fully expect to see him in the starting line up by conference play, replacing either Howell at PF, or Wood at SF if Lowe decides to go big. With an added year of experience, the 7-footer Jordan Vanderberg and talented former 4-star forward Deshawn Painter will look to make a greater contribution this season, but I just don’t see them doing so with Smith, Leslie, and Howell all expected to get 20+ minutes a game. These two are still a year away from really making a splash on this team, but will provide important depth throughout the season. Overall, this may end up being the best frontcourt unit in the ACC due to the fact they have three players capable of starting in this league and go 5-deep overall. The biggest question mark has to be team chemistry (remember the J.J. Hickson experiment and the failed expectations?) and how Lowe will incorporate the freshman into the lineup and how they will mesh, along with the fact that no one on this team has experienced winning big. Lowe’s job is on the line this season, but with this much talent and returning experience, the Wolfpack have an excellent chance of taking Lowe to his first NCAA tournament and have the potential to finish as high as second in the league.



6. CLEMSON

Key Returners : Demontez Stitt, Andre Young, Tanner Smith, Jerai Grant, Devin Booker, Milton Jennings, Noel Johnson, Donte Hill, Catalin Baciu

Key Losses: Trevor Booker, David Potter, Oliver Purnell (Coach)

Newcomers: Corey Stanton, Brad Brownell (Coach)

Projected Starters: Demontez Stitt (PG), Andre Young (G), Tanner Smith (G), Jerai Grant (F), Devin Booker (F)

Key Reserves: Noel Johnson, Milton Jennings, Donte Hill, Catalin Baciu

Similar to Florida State, the Tigers bring back most of their roster intact, with the exception of their star in the middle, Trevor Booker, and a solid forward in David Potter. However, unlike the Noles, who are brining in a stellar recruiting class to help ease the blow of Alabi and Reid, the Tigers bring in a lone three-star guard who should not have much impact at all on this year’s team. However, there is still enough talent and bodies on this roster for Brownell to take them to their fourth consecutive NCAA tournament. In the post, the Tigers have the experienced and big-bodied Jerai Grant to go along with the young, but talented Devin Booker and Milton Jennings. Both of these sophomore forwards will see a significant boost in their production as they collectively look to replace All-ACC forward Trevor Booker. 7 feet 2 Baciu will provide some spot minutes to round out this solid post rotation. In the backcourt, the Tigers have a plethora of solid, experienced guards, but none all are far from spectacular. In an effort to put his best five on the floor, I think Brownell will go with a smaller, three-guard line-up. Stitt, Young, and Smith are all solid defenders and decent scores and will get the nod as starters. Noel Johnson, the most talented of the bunch, will see an increased role on the wing if he can add some consistency to his game. Otherwise, Donte Hill will have an opportunity to see a big boost in his minutes. Similar to Florida State, Clemson relied mainly on their defense last year while struggling with their outside shot, free throw shooting, and taking care of the ball. As a whole, I would describe this as an experienced, solid team that knows how to win. However, brining in a new coach with a new system always brings questions marks with it, especially when this team lacks any one star player or team leader. But Brownell was a winner at UNCW and Wright State, and I don’t expect that to change this season. Clemson will be on the bubble come selection Sunday, but they should end up on the right side of it and make their fourth consecutive NCAA tournament.



7. MIAMI

Key Returners: Durand Scott, Malcolm Grant, Dequan Jones, Adrian Thomas, Reggie Johnson, Garrius Adams Julian Gamble, Donnovan Kirk

Key Losses: Dwayne Collins, James Dews, Cyrus McGowan, Antoine Allen (Transfer)

Newcomers: Rion Brown, Erik Swoope, Raphael Akpejiori

Projected Starters: Malcolm Grant (G), Durand Scott (G), Dequan Jones (SF), Julian Gamble (F), Reggie Johnson (C)

Key Reserves: Adrian Thomas, Garrius Adams, Donnovan Kirk, Rion Brown

Miami got off to a surprisingly fast start last year, starting the season off with an impressive 15-1 record. However it quickly became evident that the gaudy record was due mostly to an extremely weak schedule, as the ‘Canes went on to lose eleven of their next fourteen games before making a strong run in the ACC tourney, but ultimately missing any form of postseason play as they finished in the cellar of the conference standings. On the surface, it doesn’t seem to make much sense to rank the last place team in the ACC to finish seventh after losing their top two scorers, but I like the talent on this team and how they closed the season with out their best player. Playing without Dwayne Collins, the Hurricanes beat the likes of Wake Forest and Virginia Tech and pushed Duke to the brink before finally falling to them in the ACC tourney. Freshman Durand Scott emerged as a lethal scoring threat off the wing and Dequan Jones finally converted his incredible athleticism and talent into some impactful production. In the backcourt, expect Scott to emerge as one of the leagues top scorers and garner All-ACC attention. Grant will join him as the lead guard and one of the team’s top 3-point threats behind Thomas. On the wing, I expect former five-star guard-forward Jones to take over the starting job over fifth-year senior and top three-point threat Adrian Thomas (who was granted an extra year of eligibility) though both will continue to get major minutes. Garrius Adams and freshman Rion Brown should round out the rotation to make it one of the leagues best, one that shouldn’t miss now-departed James Dews 11.5 ppg. The frontcourt is where this team will face most of its problems. Reggie Johnson played extremely well during Collins absence, and should be the teams top rebounder and a double figure scorer. But beyond that, it is unclear who will step up to control the power forward position. Right now I like Julian Gamble due to his size and solid rebounding toward the latter half of the season, but he must improve his consistency. Donovan Kirk will provide much needed depth and Adrian Thomas should play a bit of power forward as well. The undersized Erik Swoope and Raphael Akpejiori will have a chance to make an impact, but I don’t see these freshmen getting any more than spot minutes. Overall, this team is oozing with talent and athleticism and has a whole lot of upside. Jones is bit of an X-factor on this team, and is a microcosm of the position the ‘Canes are in. His talent and athleticism is among the leagues best, but his production must match his talent for Miami to reach its potential. Miami will make a strong push for the NCAA tourney, but ultimately this team is still a year away and will be this year’s Virginia Tech and find itself as one of the first teams left out of the field.



8. MARYLAND

Key Returners: Jordan Williams, Sean Mosley, Cliff Tucker, Adrian Bowie, Dino Gregory, James Padgett

Key Losses: Greivis Vasquez, Landon Milbourne, Eric Hayes

Newcomers: Mychal Parker, Terrell Stoglin, Pe’Shon Howard, Ashton Pankey, Haukur Palsson, Berend Weijs

Projected Starters: Adrian Bowie (G), Sean Mosley (G), Cliff Tucker (SF), Dino Gregory (F), Jordan Williams (C)

Key Reserves: James Padgett, Mychal Parker, Pe’Shon Howard/Terell Stoglin, Ashton Pankey/Beren Weijs

The Terps surprised many by coming out of nowhere last season to finish tied for first in the ACC regular season standings. But they now face the unenviable task of replacing their top three scorers, including the ACC POY, team leader, and do-everything guard Grevis Vasquez. Vasquez was the heart and soul of this team for the last three plus years, and it will take more than just replacing his 19.6 points and 6.3 assists to ease the blow of one of the school’s all-time bests. In the backcourt, Sean Mosley will be counted on to pick up some of the slack, as he is team’s only returning double figure scorer. Mosley is a bit of a do-everything guard, as he rebounds extremely well for his position, is a solid passer, and connected on an impressive 50.9% of his FG attempts. He will be joined in the backcourt by lead-guard Adrian Bowie and on the wing by the 6-6 Cliff Tucker. Both should be solid, but unspectacular, veteran starters who will rely on their experience more than their talent. They will be helped in the backcourt by one of William’s best recruiting hauls in years. There is no elite blue-chipper in the bunch, but a number of solid, ranked players that have quite a bit of upside. Mychal Parker leads the bunch as the only four-star prospect, and should provide immediate help on the wing, with the potential to be a big time player in the years to come. Both Stoglin and Howard are combo guards that can play either position, and I expect some combination of them to provide immediate help in the backcourt. In the frontcourt, reigning ACC Rookie of the Year Jordan Williams will lead the Terps. He has a chance to be the team’s leading scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker, and should be an All-ACC selection at season’s end. Dino Gregory and the tough and talented James Padgett will join him in the post. Both were a bit underwhelming at times last season, but Gregory does have the experience of playing major minutes and Padgett certainly has the talent to be an impact ACC player and possibly a solid starter. Some combination of freshman Ashton Pankey and JUCO transfer of Norwegian descent Berend Weijs should round out the rotation. Weijs is an interesting story and a bit of a mystery. He was offered a scholarship after playing a few pick games with the team last season and holding his own against the beast Williams. Not many have seen him play, but he is said to have a long, wiry frame, and his length and talent are supposedly evident and I consider him a bit of a sleeper prospect for this team. Overall, this team has a decent mix of veteran experience and young talent. They have star power in Jordan Williams and very good guard in Sean Mosley. Although Williams recruiting class is strong in numbers and potential, this isn’t the type of class that should have a huge immediate impact; it seems to be more of a class that will serve as the core of the team over the next few years as the players develop. Williams continues to struggle in recruiting elite level prospects, and this year is no different. While I love him as an X’s and O’s coach, and believe that nobody coaches up his team better than Williams, I see this as more of a rebuilding year and don’t think he will have enough talent to crack the tournament and will find himself on the wrong side of the bubble; this team is about a year away (assuming Jordan Williams sticks around long enough).



9. BOSTON COLLEGE

Key Returners: Reggie Jackson, Joe Trapani, Corey Raji, Bliko Paris, Josh Southern, Dallas Elmore, Cortney Dunn

Key Losses: Rakim Sanders (Transfer), Tyler Roche, Al Skinner (Coach)

Newcomers: Danny Rubin, Gabriel Moton, Steve Donahue (Coach)

Projected Starters: Bliko Paris (PG), Reggie Jackson (SG), Corey Raji (SF), Joe Trapani (PF), Josh Southern (C)

Key Reserves: Dallas Elmore, Courtney Dunn, Danny Rubin

It was quite a surprise when Boston College decided to fire Al Skinner after he helped turn around the program and led them to seven NCAA tournament appearances. However, there were times last year when the team seemed to play uninspired ball and seemed to quit on the season, something that should fall on the coach. Although I did not like the decision to let Skinner go, I do like his replacement and think this is a hire that will work out in the long run. Donahue took a Cornell program to heights it never imagined, and did it with underwhelming talent, to say the least. Although the current roster at BC doesn’t exactly fit Donahue’s 3-point oriented offense, there is some talent on this roster, namely Jackson and Trapani, and a decent amount of depth and experience. The backcourt will be led by well-rounded guard Jackson. Jackson can score, dish, and rebounds incredibly well for a 6-3 guard, and I expect him to put up some impressive numbers this season. Bliko Paris should join him as the lead guard, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see Donahue move Jackson at the point to allow for a better shooter to play the two. Dallas Elmore will provide some depth at the two, and don’t be surprised to see freshman Danny Rubin get some major minutes as well. Rubin was not highly recruited, but the kid can really shoot it, something that is direly needed in this offense, and Donahue will not be afraid to give the kid a shot if he can provide some scoring to strech defenses. In the frontcourt, the athletic Raji will start at small forward and provide solid scoring and good rebounding on the wing with his energy and athleticism. Joe Trapani will lead the unit at the power forward position. He’s a good outside shooter for his position (37.1% career 3pt %), which will serve as a huge asset for Donahue’s style of play. I expect Trapani to put up career numbers in Donahue’s offense and expect the senior forward to benefit the most out of any player on this roster. Southern will hold down the center position, but needs to improve and hopefully get back to his sophomore year form, though this team doesn’t really have any other options in the middle. Courtney Dunn will get some opportunities to provide depth in the post, as he is a big body that can grab some rebounds, but his production must increase for him to get consistent minutes. I think this team has enough pieces at each position to be have a solid starting five, but they lack depth. Donahue was not able to bring in much of a recruiting class, and the loss of Sanders certainly hurts. Additionally, this team must play more inspired ball to have any hope of reaching the tourney, which I do think this team has an outside shot of doing. I like Donahue as a coach, even if he doesn’t have the right personnel, I think his blue-collar approach and fresh perspective could work for this team. It will be interesting to see how his new style meshes with the personnel and how much he adjusts the offense to fit the roster. I think this team could produce a surprise win or two in a game they have no business winning, but I don’t see them doing any better than an NIT appearance.



10. VIRGINIA

Key Returners: Mike Scott, Sammy Zeglinski, Mustapha Farrakhan, Jontel Evans, Will Sherrill, Assane Sene

Key Losses: Sylven Landesberg, Jeff Jones (Transfer), Jerome Meyinsse, Calvin Baker, Tristan Spurlock (Transfer)

Newcomers: K.T. Harrell, James Johnson, Akil Mitchell, Joes Harris, Will Regan

Projected Starters: Jontel Evans (PG), Sammy Zeglinski (G), K.T. Harrell (G), Mike Scott (F), James Johnson (F)

Key Reserves: Mustapha Farrakhan, Will Sherrill, Assane Sene, Joe Harris/Billy Baron

The Cavs are still in a transition period as they are adjusting to Tony Bennett’s slow, methodical approach in the up-tempo ACC. Bennett made a giant leap for getting closer to the type of roster he wants by brining in a huge recruiting haul this year: a six-man class that fits his style. While losing Sylven Landesberg’s 17.3 ppg is certainly going to hurt, the team played some solid ball without him at the end of last season, and this may be one of those addition by subtraction cases, and the talented guard had some off-the-court issues. Bennett’s star recruit, K.T. Harrell, should help ease the blow of Landesberg, as the athletic guard can defend with the best of them and can score in a variety of ways. Don’t be surprised to see the freshman lead the team in scoring. Zeglinski, the team’s top three-point threat, but also probably their most inconsistent scorer, will join him on the opposite wing. His injury worries me, and if he is out for any significant amount of time, I will probably have to move this team down, but right now I will give him the benefit of the doubt that he will be back in time of ACC play. If Zeglinski can improve his consistency, the Cavs could have a pretty lethal scoring duo on the wing. Either Jontel Evans or Mustapha Farrakhan could man the lead guard position to complete the three-guard lineup. Both are solid options, but neither will intimidate opponents. I like Evans to start due to his talent, upside, and ability to take care of the ball over Farrakhan’s experience and better (though inconsistent) scoring, but I expect both to get major minutes regardless of who starts. Some combination of Joe Harris and Billy Baron should round out this rotation to be a solid five or possibly six deep. The frontcourt should be lead by senior Mike Scott, the Cavs leading returning scorer and rebounder. I like freshman James Johnson’s to start alongside Scott over the raw 7-footer Sene and underwhelming Will Sherrill. Johnson is a athletic big man that has high energy and can stroke it from the perimeter. The kid will feel some growing pains in the ACC, but I like his upside, work ethic and and chance to start immediately. Sene and Sherill will provide some important depth inside. In a best case scenario, Sene will develop enough to be able to provide close to 20 minutes a game as he mans the middle with his rebounding, presence, and shot-blocking. Bennett is a hell of a coach and he will have this program turned around eventually, but I think he is still a couple of years away. The defense will be solid, but the offense will leave something to be desired. I do like the depth on this team and I love the talent Bennett is brining in this year, but the most talented parts of this team are still too young to carry the Cavs to the Big Dance. They do have good depth and number of solid role players with a potential star in Harrell. I consider Virginia to be the league’s sleeper team this year and believe they will pull of a few big upsets and make strides from last year, but an NIT or CBI invitations seems most likely when all is said and done.



11. WAKE FOREST

Key Returners: C.J. Harris, Ari Stewart, Gary Clark, Ty Walker

Key Losses: Al-Farouq Aminu, Ishmael Smith, Chas McFraland, L.D. Williams, Tony Woods (Transfer), David Weaver, Dino Gaudio (Coach)

Newcomers: Carson Desrosiers, Travis McKie, J.T. Terell, Melvin Tabb, Tony Chennault, Nikita Meschcharakou (Transfer), Jeff Bzdelik (Coach)

Projected Starters: C.J. Harris (PG), J.T. Terell (SG), Ari Stewart (SF), Carson Desrosiers (PF), Ty Walker (C)

Key Reserves: Gary Clark, Travis McKie, Tony Chenault, Melvin Tabb, Nikita Meschcharakou

There are so many question marks and new faces to this team that is hard to project how they will do, hence the eleventh place ranking. It came as quite a surprise when Wake Forest decided to fire Dino Guadio after he led them to back-to-back NCAA tournaments, though his atrocious postseason record explains why the call was made. Jeff Bzdelik was an interesting hire, and fans were not too excited to bring him in as their new head coach. But I don’t think it was a bad hire; Bzdelik vastly improved Colorado and does have some NBA coaching experience. Although the stars of last year’s team are gone, he does have some talent to work with in C.J. Harris, Ari Stewart, and Ty Walker, and he did a wonderful job of keeping the Deacs stellar recruiting class together. The unexpected transfer of Tony Woods was a serious blow to this team’s frontcourt. They do not have a single experienced player at the PF or C positions, but they certainly have some Top 100 talent and some serious length and size, and talent and size will always give you a chance. I think this is finally Ty Walker’s breakout season. He will never put up the gaudy numbers many projected he would when he was a five-star high school prospect, but he has the chance to be a solid to very good starter in this league, and this is the year he makes the leap and begins to do that. I like Carson Desrosiers to start alongside Walker at the PF position. Although he has a slight frame, he has great length and a tremendous skill set that allows him to play a face up game off the perimeter. He does have a lot of growing and filling out to do, but the kid provides a solid blend of potential and production that should translate into a solid rookie campaign. Ari Stewart will start at the SF position, and will be expected to be a major contributor to this team in terms of scoring. He has great athleticism and quickness, but he needs to translate that into more consistent scoring inside the arc, as his FG% was an atrocious 37% last year. Melvin Tabb has good size for the forward position and has a college ready body. I didn’t expect him to get a whole lot of playing time originally, but with Tony Woods now gone, he will get his opportunity to make an impact on defense and by rebounding and will share some major minutes off the bench alongside Georgetown transfer Nikita Meschcharakou. In the backcourt, last year’s rookie revelation C.J. Harris will be expected to lead the way, as Bzdelik recently announced that the sophomore guard will move to the point. It will be interesting to see how he handles being the team’s top scoring option and having the ball in his hands so much, but he will certainly get some help with stellar freshman wings J.T. Terell and Tavis McKie. Terell is a natural scorer and can really put points up in bunches, but tends to look out for his own offense a bit too much. McKie is an athletic slasher that can defend and do a number of things well. McKie will provide important depth on the wings and and another rookie, Tony Chennault, should get a chance for major minutes at the point behind Harris. Chennault is a strong, natural PG that can pass and handle the ball well, push the ball with his speed, and play solid defense, but he doesn’t posses overwhelming athleticism or a great shot. I originally penciled Chennault in to start at PG, but did point out that his inexperience and stagnant development of the last couple years worried me, and recognized the possibility that Harris could take over the point with Terell sliding in at the two if Chennault struggled; apparently it didn't take too long for that to happen. Gary Clark should round out the rotation with a few solid minutes a game. Like many of the lower ranked teams, I do like the Deacons talent, especially in this incoming recruiting class. This class will serve as Bzdelik’s core over the next few years as he looks to rebuild, but right now there is just so much youth and inexperience on this team, and replacing three starters is going to be tough to overcome. If Chennault can transition to the college game as a solid lead guard and the inexperienced bigs can grow quickly and hit their potential, this team could be dangerous by year’s end, but I expect them to finish with a losing record and miss the post-season.



12. GEORGIA TECH

Key Returners: Iman Shumpert, Mfon Udofia, Glen Rice Jr. Brian Oliver, Kameron Holsey, Maurice Miller, Lance Storrs, Daniel Miller

Key Losses: Gani Lawal, Derrick Favors, Zachary Peacock, D’Andre Bell, Brad Sheehan

Newcomers: Jason Morris, Nate Hicks

Projected Starters: Mfon Udofia(PG), Iman Shumpert (SG), Glen Rice Jr. (SF), Kameron Holsey (PF), Daniel Miller(C)

Key Reserves: Brian Oliver, Maurice Miller, Lance Storrs, Jason Morris, Nate Hicks

Most will consider this ranking too low for the Yellow Jackets, especially considering how much talent is on this roster. But the last few years have taught me that, no matter how much talent Paul Hewitt has on his roster, they always seem to underachieve. On top of that, it doesn’t help that this will be one of his weakest frontcourts in years, as there are absolutely no experienced bigs (two redshirt freshmen and one true freshmen), and not much talent to make up for the lack of experience (of the three, only Holsey was atleast a four-star high school prospect). This team barley made the tournament with future NBA players Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal and solid role player Peacock, so it is a bit scary to think how they will do without them without adding any stellar freshman. Holsey is a talented forward and will have every opportunity to make an impact down low for this team, but he doesn’t have much help. Redshirt freshman Daniel Miller should start alongside him at center, but the kid is not prepared to start for an ACC program, let alone replace lottery pick Favors, and will have some serious issues adjusting. In fact, it is very possible that Hewitt may end up going with a smaller lineup and have only one post player in his starting lineup, but for now I will pencil Miller in as the starter. Freshman Nate Hicks is the only other post player in the rotation, and he will be forced into some action off the bench, but it is unclear how much he can contribute. The backcourt is in much better shape as Hewitt has plenty of talent and bodies, but not a whole lot of leadership or winning experience. Iman Shumpert will no doubt be the star of this team and has loads of potential, but he needs to improve his shot selection, decision making, and play with more passion to truly lead this team. I can see either Miller or Udofia starting at the point, but I’m going to go with Udofia’s talent and give him the nod. He had a rough end to his rookie campaign, but showed more than just flashes of his talent and potential during the early part of the year. If he can’t handle the PG duties, Miller will be breathing down his neck to take over, but both should get significant minutes. Rice Jr. should take the opposite wing position from Shumpert with Lance Storrs providing depth and outside shooting. Freshman Jason Morriss will get a chance to crack the rotation due to his incredible athleticism, but his basketball IQ and skill set must improve for him to be a significant contributor. Overall, this team does have individual talent and potential, but the talent is 1)unevenly distributed to the backcourt and 2) the potential means noting if the players can’t live up to it. With the exception of his title game appearance, Hewitt’s team’s have traditionally underachieved. They are always very athletic and talented, but for whatever reason, whether it is poor coaching, lack of roles, or poor chemistry, his team’s can never seem to live up to their talent and potential. I see this team posting a similar record to the 2008-2009 Jackets and Hewitt will end the season on the hot-seat going into the following season.