Atlantic Coast Conference 2005-06 Recap
When ACC aficionados recall the 2005-06 season, they will largely consider it to be a down year for the conference. The conference placed only four teams in the NCAA Tournament, and none of them advanced past the Sweet 16.
But the season will also go down as the J.J. Redick celebration tour. Duke’s sharpshooter became the most prolific three-point shooter in NCAA history, passing Virginia’s Curtis Staples. He also became the ACC’s all-time leading scorer by passing Wake Forest’s Dickie Hemric. But even Redick’s 26.8 points per game couldn’t carry the Blue Devils past the Sweet 16, meaning that Redick’s illustrious career at Duke ends without a national championship and only one Final Four appearance despite three No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament.
If Duke’s 32-4 season – including the ACC regular-season and conference tournament titles – qualifies as a disappointment, Wake Forest’s 17-17 season is abominable. With seniors Justin Gray and Eric Williams leading the team, most prognosticators placed the Demon Deacons among the ACC’s elite. Hoopville only projected Wake Forest to finish seventh in its ACC preview, but even that proved too high. The Demon Deacons never resolved their point guard issues once Gray proved incapable of shouldering the backcourt’s scoring load and leading the offensive attack. The result was a 3-13 conference record and last-place finish.
College Park was the site of another tale of frustration. Coming off a disastrous end to the 2004-05 campaign, Terrapin fans were hopeful that the removal of problem child point guard John Gilchrist would fix the team’s woes. But not so. Gilchrist classmate Travis Garrison encountered legal trouble early in the season after a woman accused him of assault at a bar. Garrison’s presence at a bar violated team rules, and he received a short suspension. Then Chris McCray’s season ended when he became academically ineligible for the second semester. The only member of the vaunted 2003 recruiting class to make an impact at the end of his senior season was forward Nik Caner-Medley. The team’s leading scorer often carried the team, but he also often disappeared and failed to contribute as much as necessary. The result was another mediocre Maryland year and a second consecutive NIT – not NCAA Tournament – appearance.
Despite the struggles of several major programs, a couple of teams provided feel-good stories for the ACC. North Carolina’s youngsters quickly served notice that they were adequate replacements for the seven players who left the 2005 Tar Heel championship team. National freshman of the year Tyler Hansbrough dominated the ACC in the paint, much to the surprise of everyone. In addition to the Tar Heels, Boston College created plenty of buzz in its first season in the conference. The last Big East defector to join the ACC, Boston College lost its first three ACC games before winning 11 of its final 13 conference games to surge into the top three. The Eagles played Duke tough and handled North Carolina in Chapel Hill. With senior forward Craig Smith leading the team, Boston College fulfilled its promising season by reaching the Sweet 16 and losing a thrilling overtime game to No. 1 Villanova.
ACC awards
First-team All-ACC:
J.J. Redick, Duke
Shelden Williams, Duke
Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
Craig Smith, Boston College
Sean Singletary, Virginia
Second-team All-ACC:
Al Thornton, Florida State
Robert Hite, Miami
Justin Gray, Wake Forest
Eric Williams, Wake Forest
Jared Dudley, Boston College
Third-team All-ACC:
Guillermo Diaz, Miami
Alexander Johnson, Florida State
David Noel, North Carolina
Anthony Morrow, Georgia Tech
Nik Caner-Medley, Maryland
ACC Player of the Year: J.J. Redick, Duke
Who else did you expect? Redick’s memorable career ends without a championship but includes the title of all-time ACC scoring leader and all-time NCAA three-point leader. Not too shabby.
ACC Rookie of the Year: Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
Another easy choice. North Carolina’s man-child dominated opponents a season earlier than expected. His surprisingly developed game produced averages of 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Hansbrough’s tenacity around the basket led him to make 52 more free-throw shots than any other Tar Heel even attempted.
ACC Coach of the Year: Roy Williams, North Carolina
Williams edges Virginia’s Dave Leitao, who made basketball relevant again in Charlottesville in only his first season on the job. But Williams kept the Tar Heels among the ACC’s elite despite losing 97 percent of the team’s scoring from the championship squad. That feat is remarkable. It’s easy to win when you have an experienced team loaded with talent. It’s far tougher when you have a freshman-laden roster filled with question marks in every major area.
ACC Defensive Player of the Year: Shelden Williams, Duke
Williams earned the nickname “Landlord” for a reason. He owns the paint and all others are unwelcome guests. He blocked 3.8 shots per game, in addition to collecting nearly two steals per contest.
ACC Most Improved Player: Reyshawn Terry, North Carolina
Terry was the primary beneficiary of the mass exodus from North Carolina’s 2005 squad. He lifted his statistics from a bench-warming 2.3 points and 0.7 rebounds per game to a game-changing 14.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Terry promises to be the team’s leader next season in what could be the Tar Heels’ second run to a national title in three seasons.
Conference tournament
Surprise, surprise. Duke won the ACC tournament. The Blue Devils’ seventh conference championship in eight seasons seems to be a rite of spring these days. But Duke’s 78-76 win against Boston College was a battle royale. J.J. Redick carried Duke when Boston College seemed prepared to pull off the upset. He responded with five second-half three-pointers en route to 26 points.
Boston College advanced to the conference championship game by beating North Carolina, which had been on a tear entering the post-season. No. 12-seed Wake Forest provided the most drama in the tournament by upsetting No. 5 Florida State and No. 4 North Carolina State in consecutive days and battling Duke for much of the first 30 minutes before slipping away. The Demon Deacons’ upset of Florida State likely killed the Seminoles’ NCAA aspirations.
Post-season results
The ACC put four teams into the NCAA Tournament and another six in the NIT. Here’s a rundown of their performances.
Duke: The No. 1 Blue Devils entered the NCAA Tournament as one of the two favorites to win the championship. But Duke failed to advance past the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season, losing to No. 4 LSU 62-54 after beating No. 16 Southern and No. 9 George Washington.
North Carolina: The No. 3 Tar Heels were not supposed to rise this quickly after losing so much from the national champion squad. But a second-round 65-60 loss to No. 11 George Mason still felt disappointing, at least until the Patriots stormed the Final Four. The Tar Heels survived upset-minded No. 14 Murray State in the first round.
Boston College: The No. 4 Eagles had arguably the best showing in the NCAA Tournament of all ACC squads. Boston College nearly brought down No. 1 Villanova before losing 60-59 in overtime. The extra session marked the second overtime the Eagles played in the tournament. Boston College worked overtime to beat No. 13 Pacific 88-76 in the first round, then manhandled No. 12 Montana 69-56 in the second round.
North Carolina State: The Wolfpack were the only ACC team to exceed seed expectations in the NCAA Tournament. Entering the tournament as a No. 10 seed, North Carolina State upset No. 7 California 58-52 thanks to Cameron Bennerman, who drained a critical three-pointer to break a tie in the final minute. The Wolfpack never had a chance against No. 2 Texas, losing 75-54 in the second round.
Maryland: The Terrapins earned a No. 1 seed in the NIT based on name recognition, then ended a disappointing season with a home loss to No. 10 Manhattan in the first round.
Florida State: The Seminoles parlayed an NCAA Tournament snub into a No. 2 seed in the NIT. Florida State beat No. 8 Butler 67-63 in the first round but lost to eventual NIT champ No. 3 South Carolina 69-68 in overtime in the second round.
Miami: When trivia experts form their master list of inconsequential sports novelty, the Hurricanes could easily be an answer to the question: Which ACC team came closest to a post-season Final Four in 2005? The Hurricanes earned a No. 3 seed in the NIT and beat No. 6 Oklahoma State 62-59, won at No. 2 Creighton 53-52, then lost at Michigan, 71-65, for the second time in the season. But that quarterfinal loss is a better result than any of the Hurricanes’ conference brethren can claim in post-season tournaments.
Clemson: The Tigers picked up one win as a No. 4 seed in the NIT, beating No. 5 Louisiana Tech 69-53 before losing at No. 1 Louisville 74-68.
Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons rode their ACC Tournament run into the NIT, earning a No. 5 seed. They promptly lost badly at No. 4 Minnesota, 73-58.
Virginia: The Cavaliers’ phenomenal season only earned Virginia a No. 8 seed in the NIT and an opening round 65-49 loss at Stanford.
Boston College Eagles (28-8, 11-5)
The 2004-05 season marked Boston College’s inaugural tour through the ACC. And by all accounts, the Eagles made themselves at home. After dropping the team’s first three conference games, Boston College rallied to rise to the top of the standings with an 11-5 record in the ACC. The 2005 season also was Craig Smith’s last season on Chestnut Hill.
Key players leaving:
Graduating senior forward Craig Smith (17.6 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.0 apg)
Graduating senior guard Louis Hinnant (7.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.6 apg, 43 percent three-pointer shooter)
Projected starting lineup:
Senior forward Jared Dudley (16.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.2 apg)
Junior forward Sean Williams (3.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.0 bpg)
Junior forward John Oates (3.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
Senior guard Sean Marshall (11.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.3 apg)
Sophomore guard Tyrese Rice (9.3 ppg, 2.5 apg, 39.1 percent three-point shooter)
Recruits:
PG Daye Kaba (not ranked in top 150)
SG Tyler Roche (not ranked in top 150)
SF Shamari Spears (not ranked in top 150)
Recruiting class rank: 12
Despite the loss of Smith and Hinnant, Boston College returns a strong lineup led by rising senior forward Jared Dudley. He is a quiet yet passionate floor leader who should aptly fill Smith’s shoes as team leader. Williams has the potential to become an all-conference performer, especially on defense. By the end of next season, folks will proclaim Sean Williams to be the best shot blocker since… Shelden Williams. Beware the S.W!
2006-07 prediction: Third
Clemson Tigers (19-13, 7-9)
Coach Oliver Purnell has the Tiger faithful believing again. Clemson played competitively throughout the season and feel close to breaking into the top half of the ACC standings. Clemson became heavily reliant on the three-pointer after sophomore forward James Mays became academically ineligible for the second semester. His absence limited the Tigers in the paint, and their offense suffered. Clemson attempted 740 three-pointers this past season, second only to North Carolina State, which ran the Princeton-style offense predicated on cuts to the basket and long bombs.
Key players leaving:
Graduating senior guard Shawan Robinson (12.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.7 apg)
Graduating senior forward Akin Akingbala (12.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg)
Graduating senior forward Steve Allen (3.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
Projected starting lineup:
Junior forward James Mays (9.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg)
Junior forward Sam Perry (6.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
Sophomore guard K.C. Rivers (7.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Senior guard Vernon Hamilton (12.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.0 apg)
Junior guard Cliff Hammonds (10.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.3 apg)
Recruits:
SG David Potter (top 150)
PF Trevor Booker (top 150)
C Karolis Petrukonis (not ranked in top 150)
PF A.J. Tyler (not ranked in top 150)
Recruiting class rank: 8
The Tigers retain about two-thirds of their scoring, including Hamilton, next year’s senior leader. With Mays back in the lineup, the Tigers should have more offensive balance. Clemson’s starting five should be able to go toe-to-toe with every ACC foe, except maybe against the cream of the crop. Purnell has a solid but not spectacular recruiting class coming to Clemson, and it includes help in the frontcourt.
2006-07 prediction: Eighth
Duke Blue Devils (32-4, 14-2)
J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams may go down in Duke history as two of the most beloved and successful Blue Devils to never win a championship. Redick collected all sorts of records, while Williams lived up to his nickname, “the Landlord.” But two men couldn’t carry the team to post-season success as Duke’s Sweet 16 flameout can only be characterized as a disappointment.
Key players leaving:
Graduating senior guard J.J. Redick (26.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.6 apg, 42.1 percent three-point shooter)
Graduating senior forward Shelden Williams (18.8 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 3.8 bpg)
Graduating senior guard Sean Dockery (7.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.6 apg, 39.5 percent three-point shooter)
Graduating senior forward Lee Melchionni (5.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
Transferring freshman center Eric Boateng (0.7 ppg, 0.6 rpg)
Projected starting lineup:
Freshman center Brian Zoubek
Sophomore forward Josh McRoberts (8.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 60.5 percent field goal shooter)
Junior guard DeMarcus Nelson (7.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
Freshman guard Gerald Henderson
Sophomore guard Greg Paulus (6.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 5.2 apg)
Recruits:
SG Gerald Henderson (top 50)
C Brian Zoubek (top 50)
SG Jon Scheyer (top 100)
Recruiting class rank: 3
The Blue Devils will lose a ton of production because they lose Dockery and Melchionni in addition to Redick and Williams to graduation. Boateng was an inconsequential contributor this past season, but he figured to play a more prominent role in the frontcourt next season. Without him, coach Mike Krzyzewski will have a tougher assignment leading this team back to the top of the ACC. McRoberts and Paulus must mature quickly to lead a Blue Devil team that will be forced to play freshmen. And Duke’s recruiting class is not particularly large or special at this point. Henderson is the most celebrated recruit, but Zoubek’s ability to fill Williams’ shoes in the paint may be the most critical. Watch out for Nelson, who has the potential to develop into Duke’s best player and a highlight waiting to happen.
2006-07 prediction: Sixth
Florida State Seminoles (20-10, 9-7)
Coach Leonard Hamilton finally got his team to perform at its talent level. The Seminoles had high hopes for an NCAA Tournament bid after they beat Duke 79-74 to start March. But Florida State played an astonishingly weak non-conference slate, dooming the Seminoles to the NIT. Forwards Alexander Johnson and Al Thornton formed the ACC’s third-most productive frontcourt duo, and the Seminoles’ deep backcourt started to show maturity by the end of the season.
Key players leaving:
NBA-bound junior forward Alexander Johnson (13.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg)
Graduating senior guard Todd Galloway (7.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.1 apg, 38.5 percent three-pointer shooter)
Graduating senior forward Andrew Wilson (6.3 ppg)
Graduating senior forward Diego Romero (3.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
Projected starting lineup:
Senior forward Al Thornton (16.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg)
Sophomore forward Uche Echefu (2.3 ppg)
Junior guard Ralph Mims (3.8 ppg)
Junior guard Jason Rich (10.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
Junior guard Isaiah Swann (8.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.9 apg)
Recruits:
PG Josue Soto (top 100)
SG Aaron Holmes (top 150)
Recruiting class rank: 4
The future looks bright for Florida State, but the Seminoles didn’t catch a break with Johnson, who entered the NBA Draft and signed with an agent. Thornton weighed a decision before opting to stay in Tallahassee. If Johnson opted to return to Tallahassee, Florida State would have the deepest frontcourt next season and probably would contend for a top three finish. With big man Jonathan Kreft not coming to campus now, the Seminoles may drop in the standings. If Florida State does not reach the NCAA Tournament next season, however, Hamilton could be answering tough questions about his job status.
2006-07 prediction: Seventh
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11-17, 4-12)
While everyone doted on the baby Tar Heels and admired their ability to remain competitive despite substantial losses from the previous season, the Yellow Jackets offered the other side of the youthful coin by losing 12 of 16 ACC games. Georgia Tech lost all of its starting lineup from 2004, and it showed. After winning the team’s first two conference games, Georgia Tech lost eight consecutive ACC games. The team often struggled to find any offensive consistency as turnovers were a constant problem – averaging nearly 18 turnovers per game.
Key players leaving:
Graduating senior forward Theodis Tarver (3.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
Transferring sophomore guard Zam Fredrick (10.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.9 apg)
Projected starting lineup:
Junior forward Ra’Sean Dickey (13.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 59.7 percent field goal shooter)
Junior forward Jeremis Smith (11.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg)
Freshman forward Thaddeus Young
Junior guard Anthony Morrow (16.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 42.9 percent three-point shooter)
Freshman guard Javaris Crittenton
Recruits:
SF Thaddeus Young (top 10)
PG Javaris Crittenton (top 10)
PF Zach Peacock (not ranked in top 150)
C Brad Sheehan (not ranked in top 150)
Recruiting class rank: 2
Although Georgia Tech struggled this past season, the Yellow Jackets don’t need much help to get back on top of the ACC. With incoming point guard Crittenton, Fredrick became expendable, and he knew that, so he’s heading home to South Carolina, where he almost transferred last season. Add Young, one of the most highly regarded high school recruits, to a lineup featuring scoring machine Morrow and frontcourt duo Dickey and Smith, and you have one of the ACC’s best lineups. Last season’s freshman class will add plenty of depth for coach Paul Hewitt, who should be up for coach of the year next season after Georgia Tech storms through the conference, surprising many who overlooked this sleeping giant.
2006-07 prediction: Second
Maryland Terrapins (19-13, 8-8)
Maryland’s promising season started well as the Terrapins sprinted to an 11-2 record. But then Chris McCray became academically ineligible for the rest of the season, and the wheels started to come off the Terps’ wagon for a second consecutive season. The Terrapins failed to play consistent basketball, especially away from home, which eventually cost Maryland any shot of reaching the NCAA Tournament.
Key players leaving:
Graduating senior forward Nik Caner-Medley (15.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.1 apg)
Graduating senior guard Chris McCray (15.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.6 apg, 36.9 percent three-point shooter)
Graduating senior forward Travis Garrison (8.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
Graduating senior guard Sterling Ledbetter (2.3 ppg, 1.9 apg)
Projected starting lineup:
Senior forward Ekene Ibekwe (11.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg)
Junior forward James Gist (8.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Senior guard Mike Jones (10.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 41.5 percent three-pointer shooter)
Senior guard D.J. Strawberry (10.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.0 apg)
Senior guard Parrish Brown (2.7 ppg, 1.8 apg)
Recruits:
SF Landon Milbourne (top 50)
PG Eric Hayes (top 100)
SG Greivis Vasquez (top 100)
PF Jerome Burney (not ranked in top 150)
Recruiting class rank: 5
With Caner-Medley, McCray and Garrison graduating, the vaunted 2002 recruiting class leaves with a cloud of disappointment hanging over their heads. Now seniors Ibekwe, Jones and Strawberry must help Terrapin fans remember the recent days of glory. Maryland will have a starting five that can compete with nearly every other ACC team in terms of talent and athleticism. But Maryland must find a way to translate that into wins, which the Terrapins have largely been unable to do for the past two seasons. Incoming point guard Hayes may need to contribute earlier than expected if Maryland’s offensive inconsistency continues next season.
2006-07 prediction: Ninth
Miami Hurricanes (18-16, 7-9)
Miami expected to make a run in the NCAA Tournament this season after nearly reaching the tournament in its first season in the ACC. But the 2005-06 campaign was more difficult for Miami, which often struggled to find any scoring outside of Guillermo Diaz and Robert Hite. Miami whiffed on several opportunities to pick up a signature victory that would have propelled the team into bubble consideration. In the end, the Hurricanes were fit only for the NIT.
Key players leaving:
NBA-bound junior guard Guillermo Diaz (17.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.9 apg, 36.4 percent three-point shooter)
Graduating senior guard Robert Hite (16.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 41.1 percent three-pointer shooter)
Graduating senior center Gary Hamilton (3.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
Graduating senior guard Eric Wilkins (1.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg)
Graduating senior forward Keaton Copeland (1.6 ppg)
Projected starting lineup:
Senior forward Anthony King (8.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.9 bpg)
Junior forward Raymond Hicks (4.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
Sophomore forward Jimmy Graham (1.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
Sophomore guard Denis Clemente (5.5 ppg, 2.1 apg)
Senior guard Anthony Harris (9.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.1 apg)
Recruits:
SG James Dews (top 150)
PF Dwayne Collins (top 150)
JUCO PF Fabio Nass (not ranked in top 150)
Recruiting class rank: 11
Miami faces trouble ahead with Diaz and Hite leaving and no viable replacements ready to put up 17 points per game. In addition to those two, Miami also loses frontcourt stalwart Hamilton. King, Harris and Clemente will burden the production load while coach Frank Haith develops the younger Hurricanes. A mediocre recruiting class won’t make up for the significant losses, including 60 percent of the team’s scoring.
2006-06 prediction: Eleventh
North Carolina Tar Heels (23-8, 12-4)
Guess what? North Carolina exceeded expectations this season. Have you heard that one before? So enough about that. Coach Roy Williams and freshman Tyler Hansbrough earned the national awards for their respective titles, indicating that the sky is the limit for this team. 2006 was most notable because North Carolina played like a veteran team in a tough system. The Tar Heels continued to press opponents and force a high-tempo pace despite their youth and unfamiliarity with Williams’ style. The second-round loss to George Mason may have been the perfect lesson in toughness for a young team that will have national championship expectations for at least next season.
Key players leaving:
Graduating senior forward David Noel (12.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.5 apg, 42.4 percent three-point shooter)
Graduating senior forward Byron Sanders (2.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
Projected starting lineup:
Sophomore forward Tyler Hansbrough (18.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 57.0 percent field goal shooter)
Freshman forward Brandan Wright
Senior forward Reyshawn Terry (14.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 38.1 percent three-pointer shooter)
Sophomore guard Danny Green (7.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg)
Freshman guard Tywon Lawson
Recruits:
PF Brandan Wright (top 10)
SG Wayne Ellington (top 10)
PG Tywon Lawson (top 20)
PF Alex Stepheson (top 100)
PF Deon Thompson (top 100)
SF William Graves (not ranked in top 150)
Recruiting class rank: 1
Williams has recruited an insane class that features a power forward, shooting guard and point guard ranked in the top two at their positions. That’s added to last season’s phenomenal freshman class. The 2006-07 North Carolina model could resemble this year’s Memphis squad, filled with talented freshmen and sophomores and led by an athletic, do-everything senior. Terry fills that senior role, and he must help the Tar Heels replace Noel, the senior statesman from the 2005 championship team. If the current and incoming freshman stay in Chapel Hill for at least two seasons, North Carolina could become the first team to win back-to-back championships since the school’s hated rival did so in the early 90s.
2006-07 prediction: First
North Carolina State Wolfpack (22-10, 10-6)
The 2005-06 season will go down in history as a perfectly symmetrical season. Entering the season with lower expectations following the graduation of Julius Hodge, the Wolfpack surprised many by keeping pace with Duke for a portion of the season. But halfway through the conference slate, the Wolfpack started sputtering. Ilian Evtimov had to battle through injuries, and the team never found a reliable leader in clutch time. Several bad losses dropped the Wolfpack to a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament after they appeared on course for a top six seed for much of the season. Then after a second-round blowout to Texas, coach Herb Sendek resigned to take the Arizona State gig. He said he would be glad to be free from the high expectations of Wolfpack fans, boosters and alumni. Despite leading the Wolfpack back to national relevance, Sendek couldn’t consistently beat Duke or North Carolina, which rankled the fan base.
Key players leaving:
Graduating senior guard Cameron Bennerman (14.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
NBA-bound sophomore forward Cedric Simmons (11.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.5 bpg, 58.7 percent field goal shooter)
Graduating senior forward Ilian Evtimov (10.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.5 apg, 40.8 percent three-point shooter)
Graduating senior guard Tony Bethel (9.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.6 apg, 43.9 percent three-point shooter)
Projected starting lineup:
Junior forward Andrew Brackman (7.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg)
Junior forward Gavin Grant (8.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.3 apg)
Sophomore forward Brandon Costner (2.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
Sophomore guard Courtney Fells (2.0 ppg)
Senior guard Engin Atsur (10.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 40.1 percent three-pointer shooter)
Recruits:
SF Dennis Horner (top 100)
Recruiting class rank: 10
A long search for a coach included publicly missing on Texas’ Rick Barnes and Memphis’ John Calipari before they wound up hiring former point guard Sidney Lowe. The inability to quickly close a deal hurts the Wolfpack’s situation, especially on the recruiting trail. Exacerbating the situation is a significant loss in production – 61.2 percent of the team’s scoring to be exact, and two recruits opted to re-open their recruitment and sign elsewhere. Simmons remained in the NBA Draft, though they caught a break when Brackman said he would play basketball next season. This team is poised to nosedive towards the ACC’s cellar.
2006-07 prediction: Tenth
Virginia Cavaliers (15-15, 7-9)
In one season, coach Dave Leitao made major strides in erasing the painful memories of underachievement that defined the Pete Gillen years. As the Cavaliers shut down University Hall and move into a bigger, state-of-the-art facility, Virginia must become a perennial ACC contender to justify the expenditure. With Sean Singletary leading the team, the Cavaliers appear on schedule to meet that goal. Singletary will vie for – and win – the title of best ACC point guard with Duke’s Greg Paulus next season. The tough Philly kid can do everything. If he reduces his turnover total, he could become the best point guard in the country, which means Virginia better win next year before the NBA takes notice.
Key players leaving:
Graduating senior guard Billy Campbell (1.3 ppg)
Projected starting lineup:
Junior forward Adrian Joseph (9.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
Senior forward Jason Cain (7.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg)
Sophomore forward Tunji Soroye (1.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg)
Junior guard Sean Singletary (17.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.2 apg)
Senior guard J.R. Reynolds (17.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.1 apg)
Recruits:
SF Jamil Tucker (top 100)
SF Will Harris (not ranked in top 150)
PF Johnnie Lett (not ranked in top 150)
Recruiting class rank: 9
Singletary isn’t alone in Charlottesville. Reynolds is a great running mate in the backcourt, and Leitao has convinced Cain to play with a mean streak. He could lead the conference in rebounding next season – outside of North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough, of course. Virginia’s recruiting class is not noteworthy, but Leitao did add a talented swingman in Tucker who fills a need on the team.
2006-07 prediction: Fourth
Virginia Tech Hokies (14-16, 4-12)
The Hokies deserve a mulligan for the 2005-06 season because of injuries and off-court issues that handicapped the likes of Coleman Collins, Wynton Witherspoon, Robert Krabbendam and Allen Calloway. The Hokies lost a handful of games by only a few points. They often appeared tired at the end of games, which is understandable considering four of the five starters played at least 31 minutes per game.
Key players leaving:
Graduating senior guard Shawn Harris (2.4 ppg)
Projected starting lineup:
Senior forward Coleman Collins (14.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
Junior forward Deron Washington (10.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
Sophomore forward A.D. Vassallo (6.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
Senior guard Zabian Dowdell (15.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.3 spg)
Senior guard Jamon Gordon (11.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.4 apg, 2.1 spg)
Recruits:
PF Lewis Witcher (top 100)
PG Tyrone Appleton (not ranked in top 150)
PG Nigel Munson (not ranked in top 150)
Recruiting class rank: 6
Coach Seth Greenberg maximizes the talent of his players, and he has a balanced roster. The Hokies will be one of the more experienced teams in the conference next season and have undeniable toughness. With more bench contributions and three incoming recruits (one of four who originally signed failed to qualify and will go to prep school), the Hokies should be fresher late in games, which means they should hold on to leads or finish off comebacks that they typically lost this past season.
2006-07 prediction: Fifth
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (17-17, 3-13)
Entering the season, everyone tried to pretend that Chris Paul’s absence would be OK because Justin Gray and Eric Williams were big-time scorers. But scorers can’t do anything in an inefficient offense that turns the ball over more than 16 times per game. Gray struggled at the point, and freshmen duo Harvey Hale and Shamaine Dukes didn’t fare much better. The result was a disaster in conference play as the Demon Deacons won only three games. Gray and Williams deserve accolades for sensational seasons, but their efforts cannot erase a last-place finish.
Key players leaving:
Graduating senior guard Justin Gray (18.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.3 apg, 36.1 percent three-pointer shooter)
Graduating senior center Eric Williams (16.3 ppg, 8.9 rpg)
Graduating senior forward Trent Strickland (11.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 44.4 percent three-point shooter)
Graduating senior forward Chris Ellis (5.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Projected starting lineup:
Senior center Kyle Visser (5.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Sophomore forward Cameron Stanley (2.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
Senior forward Michael Drum (5.5 ppg)
Sophomore guard Shamaine Dukes (1.3 ppg)
Sophomore guard Harvey Hale (5.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.0 apg)
Recruits:
SG Anthony Gurley (top 100)
SF Jamie Skeen (top 150)
SG L.D. Williams (top 150)
C Chas McFarland (not ranked in top 150)
PG Ishmael Smith (not ranked in top 150)
Coach Skip Prosser has his hands full next season. This team loses Gray, Williams and senior starters Trent Strickland and Chris Ellis. Wake Forest has every right to struggle even more next season and finish in last place. If the Demon Deacons win more than six conference games and 15 overall, Prosser deserves ACC coach of the year consideration. Hale is the team’s leading returning scorer at a pedestrian 5.6 points per game. The incoming recruiting class includes five players that have not earned much distinction. This team is a disaster waiting to happen.
2006-07 prediction: Twelfth
ACC final thoughts
As the 2005-06 season concluded, many ACC fans who looked back probably felt a tinge of sadness, wondering what went wrong with no conference teams in the Elite Eight and only four in the NCAA Tournament. But those who looked forward probably were giddy with excitement.
The ACC has the potential to be as strong and deep as the Big East was this season. And that’s with four fewer teams. Nine teams could be in the discussion for NCAA Tournament bids in early March 2007. In order, those teams are North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Duke, Florida State, Clemson and Maryland. North Carolina and Georgia Tech could be No. 1 seeds in the tournament by the time all is said and done. And the Yellow Jackets would be the biggest shock nationwide to those who don’t notice that Paul Hewitt has something special cooking in Atlanta.
Meanwhile, Duke will be the most interesting question mark. The Blue Devils never finish outside the top three these days. But with major losses to graduation, coach Mike Krzyzewski will need a spectacular effort to get this team back near the top. Can Duke pull off a similar feat that North Carolina did this past season when a bunch of freshmen led the way?
When the selection committee unveils the field of 65 next March, look for seven ACC teams to be part of it, with Clemson and Maryland cruising into the NIT again. North Carolina, Georgia Tech and Boston College all have the firepower to shoot for a Final Four bid. Virginia and Duke could be darkhorses for a deep tournament run depending on their teams’ growth between now and next spring.
At the bottom, take pity on North Carolina State, Miami and Wake Forest. Those three will likely become the sacrificial lambs to the rest of the stacked conference.
