Atlantic Coast Conference 2007-08 Preview
No discussion of the 2007-08 ACC season should start without first honoring Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser, who died July 26 of a heart attack. His death highlights the physical toll that the demands of coaching cause. Coaches regularly analyze video until late at night, make frequent cross-country trips to recruit the top talent, follow every nitty-gritty detail of the NCAA’s rules and regulations, and assist the personal and professional development of gifted athletes.
Prosser was a consummate gentleman in a profession in which the most flamboyant and controversial coaches are lightning rods for media attention. As Wake Forest’s coach for the past six years, Prosser has made the Demon Deacons one of the most entertaining teams in the conference because of his preference for a fast tempo. Point guard Chris Paul, who is now an emerging star in the NBA, was Prosser’s star recruit. After wooing Paul throughout his high school years – competing with top programs like North Carolina – Prosser convinced him to sign with the Demon Deacons. The day after Paul placed his name on the letter of intent, several men robbed Paul’s grandfather, beat him and killed him. Prosser helped Paul through the emotional struggles, and Paul flourished for two years in Winston-Salem.
Prosser arrived at Wake Forest after working as head coach at Xavier for seven seasons and Loyola (Md.) for one season. He had Wake Forest poised to regularly draw great recruiting classes that would deliver special seasons. Associate coach Dino Gaudio has become the team’s head coach and will try to focus a young team on making strides toward returning to the top of the standings. Opposing teams should be ready to match the Demon Deacons’ intensity this season as they play in memory of Prosser.
Despite the emotional lift, Wake Forest figures to place near the bottom third of the conference again this season. At the top, rival North Carolina schools will dominate the conference. Duke, North Carolina and North Carolina State will likely take the top three spots. Wake Forest, Boston College, Miami and Virginia Tech will probably finish near the bottom. Every other team has a shot to finish in the middle of the pack, and two or three of them will join the Blue Devils, Tar Heels and Wolfpack in the NCAA Tournament.
Player of the Year
Sean Singletary, Virginia
1st Team All-ACC
Sean Singletary, Virginia
Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
DeMarcus Nelson, Duke
Brandon Costner, North Carolina State
Tywon Lawson, North Carolina
2nd Team All-ACC
Tyrese Rice, Boston College
Greg Paulus, Duke
Anthony Morrow, Georgia Tech
James Gist, Maryland
Jack McClinton, Miami
3rd Team All-ACC
Ben McCauley, North Carolina State
Anthony King, Miami
Cliff Hammonds, Clemson
Lewis Clinch, Georgia Tech
Ishmael Smith, Wake Forest
Rookie of the Year
Kyle Singler, Duke
Defensive Player of the Year
Anthony King, Miami
Most Improved Player of the Year
Anthony Morrow, Georgia Tech
North Carolina Tar Heels
(2006-07: 31-7, 11-5, 1st)
Projected starters:
Sophomore guard Tywon Lawson
Sophomore guard Wayne Ellington
Junior guard Marcus Ginyard
Sophomore forward Deon Thompson
Junior forward Tyler Hansbrough
Schedule highlights:
Non-conference: at Ohio State, at Kentucky, Las Vegas Invitational
Critical stretch: Las Vegas Invitational, Nov. 24; at Ohio State, Nov. 28; at Kentucky, Dec. 1
In addition to being the conference favorite, North Carolina is a national championship contender this season. Like last season, the Tar Heels have enough talent to generate two starting lineups that would rank in the Top 25. Coach Roy Williams’ biggest challenge is giving everyone enough time to get in a groove. Although some teams may worry about clashing egos, this team appears mature enough to recognize that the talent level – and shared playing time – benefits everyone.
The 2007-08 Tar Heels bear several resemblances to the 2004-05 championship team. The trio of Tywon Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Tyler Hansbrough hope to be this year’s version of Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants and Sean May. Lawson, a sophomore point guard, and Hansbrough, a junior forward, are possibly the most talented players at their positions in the country. Last season, Lawson averaged 10.2 points and 5.6 assists per game, and he figures to improve this year. Hansbrough led the team with 18.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Nicknamed “Psycho T”, Hansbrough has a fierce determination to collect every loose ball and fight for every rebound.
Despite the star power in the starting lineup, North Carolina’s depth is the critical piece of the puzzle. The Tar Heels need forwards Deon Thompson, Alex Stepheson, Mike Copeland and Will Graves to contribute productive minutes along side Hansbrough. Although he averaged only 4.7 points per game, Thompson flashed plenty of potential last season and will likely begin the season in the starting lineup. In the backcourt, junior defensive stopper Marcus Ginyard will probably join Ellington and Lawson. However, junior Bobby Frasor, junior Danny Green and senior Quentin Thomas will often rotate into the lineup.
Barring injuries or other unexpected circumstances, North Carolina should easily win the ACC. The Tar Heels’ most critical stretch will be early in the season when they play Louisville (unless there’s an upset in the Las Vegas Invitational) at Ohio State and at Kentucky in a week. North Carolina needs to use those early-season clashes to send a statement that the Tar Heels are the team to beat.
Prediction: 1st
Duke Blue Devils
(2006-07: 22-11, 8-8, 6th – Tied)
Projected starters:
Junior guard Greg Paulus
Senior guard DeMarcus Nelson
Sophomore guard Jon Scheyer
Junior forward David McClure
Freshman forward Kyle Singler
Schedule highlights:
Non-conference: Maui Invitational, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh
Critical stretch: at North Carolina State, March 1; at Virginia, March 5; North Carolina, March 8
Watch out for Duke. The Blue Devils are motivated to get back to the top of the conference after finishing tied for sixth last season and losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Duke does not lack talent, despite the defection of Josh McRoberts to the NBA. Duke will miss McRoberts’ 13.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. But his departure clears the way for freshman Kyle Singler to step into the starting lineup alongside senior DeMarcus Nelson, junior David McClure, junior Greg Paulus and sophomore Jon Scheyer. Singler will likely finish as the ACC Rookie of the Year, and his presence could vault Duke to the top of the standings, or at least right behind North Carolina.
Duke’s offensive inconsistency last season may seem like a continued problem this year because of the team’s lack of depth and experience in the frontcourt. The Blue Devils still do not have a beefy post presence in the mold of Elton Brand, Carlos Boozer or Shelden Williams to dominate opponents. But Duke has a bunch of smaller players who have long wing spans and can play in the post against bigger opponents. Nelson is a perfect example – at 6-4, he finished second on the team last season with 5.4 rebounds per game. Sophomore Lance Thomas and McClure also figure to spend plenty of time near the basket. Sophomore center Brian Zoubek is the one true big man on this team. The 7-1 Zoubek played 7.1 minutes per game last season and will likely more than double that number this season.
Duke has one of the better point guards in the ACC in Paulus – when he’s healthy. Last season, ankle problems limited Paulus for much of the season, and fans let him know that they did not appreciate his 3.1 turnovers per game. Paulus played well last season, but he could become the Most Improved Player by cutting down the turnovers, boosting the assists, and returning Duke to one of the most prolific scoring teams in the country.
Duke’s most critical stretch will be the end of the season. Last year, the Blue Devils crumbled en route to their first-round loss to Virginia Commonwealth. This year, Duke will have tough road games at North Carolina State and Virginia before hosting North Carolina to end the regular season.
Prediction: 2nd
North Carolina State Wolfpack
(2006-07: 20-16, 5-11, 10th – Tied)
Projected starters:
Sophomore guard Farnold Degand
Junior guard Courtney Fells
Senior forward Gavin Grant
Junior forward Ben McCauley
Sophomore forward Brandon Costner
Schedule highlights:
Non-conference: Old Spice Classic, at Michigan State, Davidson
Critical stretch: at Boston College, Feb. 14; Clemson, Feb. 16; North Carolina, Feb. 20
North Carolina State didn’t wait until this season to send the message that the revamped Wolfpack are ready to compete. Most experts predicted the Wolfpack to struggle with such a thin lineup last season. All five North Carolina State starters averaged more than 33 minutes per game. But despite the lack of depth, the Wolfpack finished the season strong with a run to the ACC Tournament championship game, where they lost to North Carolina.
North Carolina State loses only point guard Engin Atsur from that surprisingly successful team. Atsur was great at running the Wolfpack offense, but coach Sidney Lowe is confident one of the three replacements will be fully capable of stepping into the role. Iowa State sophomore transfer Farnold Degand is the likely starter, with Tennessee freshman transfer Marques Johnson and freshman recruit Javier Gonzalez ready to step in if Degand falters.
Assuming the point guard position does not become a problem, North Carolina State should thrive with four returning starters: sophomore forward Brandon Costner, junior forward Ben McCauley, junior guard Courtney Fells and senior forward Gavin Grant. Those four accounted for nearly 80 percent of the Wolfpack’s scoring last season, led by Costner’s 16.8 points per game. The frontcourt can cause problems for most other teams, especially now that Lowe has two highly-touted freshman to give Grant, McCauley and Costner more rest. J.J. Hickson and Tracy Smith will likely earn more playing time throughout the season as they develop. In addition, sophomore Dennis Horner provides a shot of energy whenever he’s on the court.
North Carolina State has the opportunity to play Villanova or Kansas State in the Old Spice Classic, which would be an early indicator of whether the Wolfpack are ready to compete with some of the best teams in the country. By February, the Wolfpack will likely be in the thick of the NCAA Tournament hunt, and a crucial stretch at Boston College, vs. Clemson and vs. North Carolina will likely punch the Wolfpack’s ticket and give them an opportunity to vie for a top seed.
Prediction: 3rd
Virginia Cavaliers
(2006-07: 21-11, 11-5, 2nd)
Projected starters:
Senior guard Sean Singletary
Junior guard Mamadi Diane
Sophomore guard Solomon Tat
Senior forward Adrian Joseph
Senior forward Tunji Soroye
Schedule highlights:
Non-conference: at Arizona, Syracuse, at Xavier
Critical stretch: at Xavier, Jan. 3; at Duke, Jan. 13; Virginia Tech, Jan. 16
The Cavaliers surprised many people last season by tying North Carolina with the best record in the ACC. In his second season at Virginia, coach Dave Leitao helped reinvigorate a program that had been languishing in mediocrity for most of the decade. The Cavaliers will try to build on last season’s success, even without J.R. Reynolds and Jason Cain, who graduated after last season. Reynolds was one half of possibly the most potent backcourt in the country. He averaged 18.4 points per game and shot nearly 37 percent from three-point range.
Despite the loss of Reynolds and Cain, Leitao still has the other half of last season’s dynamic duo, senior Sean Singletary. He averaged 19.0 points, 4.7 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game last season, while leading the team in steals with 38. Virginia’s defense helped the team overcome its offensive imbalance, as Singletary and Reynolds scored nearly half of the team’s points. This season, the Cavaliers will likely struggle early in the season while they try to find a productive offensive rotation. In addition, Reynolds and Cain were two of the team’s better defenders, so their absence will likely lead to a less effective defense until the team meshes.
With three seniors in the starting lineup, however, that transition may happen faster than anticipated. Forwards Adrian Joseph and Tunji Soroye are a formidable frontcourt combination. Although he played only 14 minutes per game last season, Soroye led the team in blocks with 26. If Joseph improves his defense, Virginia’s frontcourt will be ready to compete with the ACC’s best. The Cavaliers have junior Laurynas Mikalauskas, sophomore Jamil Tucker and freshman Mike Scott ready to contribute off the bench.
In addition to Singletary, Virginia will probably start junior guard Mamadi Diane and sophomore guard Solomon Tat. Diane emerged as a potentially prolific scorer last season, averaging 9.6 points per game. The Cavaliers need Diane to consistently score 12-15 points per game to take some pressure off Singletary. The arrival of freshman point guard Sammy Zeglinski provides depth at that position, which will allow Singletary to rest more than he did last season when he averaged 33.2 minutes per game. Freshman guard Jeff Jones is another scoring option that provides depth in the backcourt.
Virginia’s non-conference schedule is relatively weak, with the exception of games at Arizona and Xavier. The Cavaliers’ most important stretch will be at the beginning of 2008, when Virginia travels to Xavier, then rests for 10 days before playing at Duke Jan. 13 and vs. Virginia Tech Jan. 16. Virginia needs to win two of those three to prove it’s ready to continue last season’s success.
Prediction: 4th
Clemson Tigers
(2006-07: 25-11, 7-9, 8th – Tied)
Projected starters:
Senior guard Cliff Hammonds
Junior guard K.C. Rivers
Senior forward Sam Perry
Sophomore forward Trevor Booker
Senior forward James Mays
Schedule highlights:
Non-conference: at Alabama, vs. DePaul, at Mississippi State
Critical stretch: Florida State, Jan. 12; North Carolina State, Jan. 15; at Duke, Jan. 19
Clemson just missed the NCAA Tournament last season and lost to West Virginia in the NIT championship game. Seven of the Tigers’ 11 losses were by five points or less, so there’s reason for excitement at Clemson entering this season. Clemson’s only significant departure is point guard Vernon Hamilton, who graduated. Hamilton averaged 12.3 points, 3.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game last season. Coach Oliver Purnell took his team to the Bahamas in August, giving the Tigers an opportunity to practice for 10 days and adjust to life without last season’s starting point guard.
Purnell will likely use senior guard Cliff Hammonds to run the Tigers’ offense, at least until freshman point guard Demontez Stitt is ready to play more minutes. Hammonds led the team in assists last season, averaging 4.1 per game. But he’s a natural scorer, and Purnell would like to free him to hit three-pointers and attack the basket. Junior guard K.C. Rivers will join Hammonds in the backcourt as a full-time starter. Last season, Rivers led the team with 14.0 points per game but started only 10 games. Purnell has several swingmen who can step into the game to play guard or forward, including senior Sam Perry, junior Julius Powell and sophomore David Potter. Freshman guard Terrence Oglesby is a long-range specialist who fits Clemson’s three-point-happy offense well.
In the frontcourt, senior forward James Mays and sophomore forward Trevor Booker will join Perry in the starting lineup. Mays has the potential to be one of the best post players in the ACC and is one of the most athletic players on the team. He averaged 12.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game last season. Booker had a great freshman season, scoring 10.4 points per game and grabbing 6.4 rebounds per game. If he continues to improve, Booker and Mays will become one of the best frontcourt duos in the conference. Junior Raymond Sykes and sophomore Karolis Petrukonis offer size on the bench to add to the cache of swingmen who can spell Mays or Booker.
Clemson plays a solid schedule that includes games at Alabama and Mississippi State and against DePaul in Puerto Rico. The Tigers need to start the ACC schedule quickly to make a statement, so the Tigers must play well against Florida State, North Carolina State and at Duke to start 2008.
Prediction: 5th
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
(2006-07: 20-12, 8-8, 6th – Tied)
Projected starting five:
Senior guard Matt Causey
Senior guard Anthony Morrow
Junior guard Lewis Clinch
Senior forward Jeremis Smith
Sophomore forward Zach Peacock
Schedule highlights:
Non-conference: at Indiana, Kansas, at Connecticut
Critical stretch: Maryland, Feb. 2; at Wake Forest, Feb. 6; at Connecticut, Feb. 9
Georgia Tech fans are accustomed to losing players of the caliber of Stephon Marbury and Chris Bosh to the NBA Draft. But last season’s departure of freshman point guard Javaris Crittenton and freshman forward Thaddeus Young particularly smarts because Georgia Tech would have been one of the top teams in the country. Crittenton averaged 14.4 points, 5.8 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game while Young averaged 14.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
Crittenton will be the most critical loss because the Yellow Jackets lack a dominant point guard who can step into his place. Senior guard Matt Causey, a transfer from North Georgia who played his freshman season at Georgetown, will probably start, and freshman Maurice Miller will be his backup.
Coach Paul Hewitt will not ask Causey or Miller to take over games like Crittenton was apt to do because Georgia Tech has several juniors and seniors who can become clutch playmakers. In the backcourt, senior guard Anthony Morrow and junior guard Lewis Clinch will be the primary weapons. Morrow is capable of leading this team in scoring after posting 16.0 points per game in 2005-06. His scoring dipped to 9.9 points per game last season as Morrow’s minutes diminished to accommodate a deep backcourt. Clinch will join Morrow on the wing, and he led the team in scoring last season before he was ruled academically ineligible. On the bench, the Yellow Jackets can turn to junior D’Andre Bell and freshman Lance Storrs.
In the frontcourt, Georgia Tech will start the season with senior forward Jeremis Smith and sophomore Zach Peacock anchoring the post. Smith needs to improve on his 8.3 points per game. Peacock is a defensive-minded player who averaged 5.5 points per game last season as a backup. Senior forward Ra’Sean Dickey will be eligible after the first semester if he improves his grades, which would immediately boost the team’s frontcourt rotation. Georgia Tech also has junior Alade Aminu, sophomore Mouhammad Faye and freshman Gani Lawal on the bench.
Georgia Tech plays a tough schedule that includes six true road games during the non-conference portion, with games at Indiana, at Connecticut and a home game vs. Kansas. The Yellow Jackets’ critical stretch will be in early February when Georgia Tech plays Maryland, Wake Forest and Connecticut in a week. They could create some separation from the middle of the ACC pack and pick up an elite non-conference win.
Prediction: 6th
Florida State Seminoles
(2006-07: 22-13, 7-9, 8th – Tied)
Projected starters:
Junior guard Toney Douglas
Senior guard Jason Rich
Senior guard Isaiah Swann
Junior forward Uche Echefu
Sophomore forward Ryan Reid
Schedule highlights:
Non-conference: at Florida, vs. Butler, at Providence
Critical stretch: at Clemson, Jan. 12; Duke Jan. 16; at Wake Forest, Jan. 20
Almost 10 years since their last NCAA Tournament appearance, the Seminoles are still laboring to return to the Big Dance. Florida State has been one of the first teams to miss the cut for the past two years. This season, the Seminoles will try to get over the hump without Al Thornton, who graduated and moved on to the NBA. He averaged 19.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and was one of the best players in the country.
Thornton’s graduation will force the Seminoles’ talented backcourt to become more productive. Junior point guard Toney Douglas joins senior guards Jason Rich and Isaiah Swann as the foundation of this Seminoles team. Douglas averaged 12.7 points and 2.9 assists per game last year, but he was limited by injuries for portions of the season. Coach Leonard Hamilton will expect Douglas to become a more efficient leader on the court this season. And he has plenty of weapons with Rich, who averaged 10.3 points per game and shot 39 percent from three-point range, and Swann, who also averaged 10.3 points per game and was even more lethal behind the arc, hitting 41.0 percent of his attempts. In addition, Hamilton can call on senior guard Ralph Mims, junior swingman Casaan Breeden, freshman swingman Jordan Demercy and freshman guard Chris Blake to contribute in the backcourt.
With such depth and talent among the guards, Hamilton may experiment with a four-guard lineup, especially because the frontcourt lacks beef. Junior forward Uche Echefu and sophomore forward Ryan Reid are not dominant post players. Echefu is comfortable playing away from the basket and shooting jump shots. Reid was an important reserve last season, but he averaged only 2.9 points per game. Freshmen Julian Vaughn and Solomon Alabi, a 7-footer, will need to adjust quickly to the collegiate level because Hamilton will expect them to provide significant contributions. One of the freshmen will probably be in the starting lineup before the end of the season.
Florida State does not play a particularly tough schedule, so non-conference road games at Florida and Providence are must-wins for the Seminoles. Like some of its ACC brethren, Florida State will be looking to prove that it’s a legit NCAA Tournament squad and will need to start the conference schedule against Clemson, Duke and Wake Forest with at least two wins to prove that point.
Prediction: 7th
Maryland Terrapins
(2006-07: 25-9, 10-6, 3rd – Tied)
Projected starters:
Sophomore guard Greivis Vasquez
Sophomore guard Eric Hayes
Sophomore forward Landon Milbourne
Senior forward James Gist
Senior forward Bambale Osby
Schedule highlights:
Non-conference: CBE Classic, Illinois, vs. VCU
Critical stretch: CBE Classic Nov. 11-20.
Maryland ended a two-year rut in which the Terrapins failed to reach the NCAA Tournament, which has become an annual expectation under coach Gary Williams. With the graduation of Ekene Ibekwe, Mike Jones and D.J. Strawberry, the Terrapins will struggle to make the tournament a second consecutive year. Maryland’s formula for success last year was an efficient offense and smothering defense. Strawberry and Ibekwe were the defensive leaders, with Strawberry collecting 69 steals and Ibekwe blocking 88 shots. Strawberry and Jones kept the offense on pace, leading the team with 14.9 points and 13.8 points per game, respectively.
Without those three graduating seniors, Maryland will turn to senior forward James Gist and senior forward Bambale Osby to fortify the defense in the post. Gist elevated his intensity last season and posted solid numbers, averaging 12.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while blocking 72 shots. Osby was a key reserve last season, averaging 5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game off the bench. This season, he will need to double that production. Williams will likely start sophomore forward Landon Milbourne with Gist and Osby. Milbourne played sparingly last season, but Williams is confident he’s ready to contribute this season. Maryland has adequate frontcourt depth with junior Dave Neal, redshirt freshman Jerome Burney, freshman Braxton Dupree and freshman Dino Gregory on the bench.
Maryland’s backcourt is young, but sophomore guards Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes each averaged more than 23 minutes per game last season. They are ready to start side by side this season and will give the Terrapins a solid foundation in the backcourt. Vasquez is 6-6 and Hayes is 6-4, making Maryland’s backcourt one of the tallest in the ACC. That fits nicely with Williams’ emphasis on defense. Depth is a concern among the guards, however, because freshmen Adrian Bowie and Cliff Tucker are the only primary backups.
Maryland once again has a soft non-conference schedule. The only highlights would occur in the finals of the CBE Classic, in which the Terrapins might play UCLA, Michigan State or Missouri. That tournament is the critical stretch for Maryland because the rest of the non-conference schedule will not help provide a lot of quality wins to put on the résumé. Maryland does not play a true road game until Jan. 12 at Virginia Tech.
Prediction: 8th
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
(2006-07: 15-16, 5-11, 10th – Tied)
Projected starters:
Sophomore guard Ishmael Smith
Junior guard Harvey Hale
Sophomore guard L.D. Williams
Junior forward Cameron Stanley
Sophomore forward Jamie Skeen
Schedule highlights:
Non-conference: BYU, Air Force, at Vanderbilt
Critical stretch: Duke, Feb. 17; at North Carolina, Feb. 24; Maryland, Feb. 28
Any discussion about the Demon Deacons must start with the death of coach Skip Prosser. After six years as Wake Forest’s coach, Prosser died suddenly this summer of a massive heart attack. Prosser’s death raises questions about the rigorous life style that college coaches endure. Associate head coach Dino Gaudio has stepped into the head coaching position and will lead the team through what could be an emotionally taxing season.
On the court, the Demon Deacons have plenty of questions to answer. A porous defense allowed opponents to score 76.4 points per game last season. Michael Drum and Kyle Visser, the Demon Deacons’ leading scorer and rebounder, have graduated, and Shamaine Dukes, Kevin Swinton, Casey Crawford and Anthony Gurley transferred. In sum, Wake Forest lost more than 50 percent of its scoring production from last season. Averaging 17.0 points per game, Visser was the only Demon Deacon to score at least 10 points per game.
Gaudio will need to rely on an undersized but explosive trio of guards, led by sophomore Ishmael Smith. Smith averaged 8.7 points and 6.0 assists per game last season and will be the Demon Deacons’ playmaker this season. A lightning-quick guard, Smith can force the pace of a game but is not a great shooter. He’ll need sophomore L.D. Williams and junior Harvey Hale to become reliable options and detract some of the pressure defenses will apply. Freshmen Jeff Teague and Gary Clark add quality depth to Wake Forest’s backcourt.
In the frontcourt, forward Cameron Stanley and Jamie Skeen will try to make up for Visser’s absence. The two combined to average only 9.1 points per game last season. Sophomores Chas McFarland and David Weaver will need to be productive off the bench.
The Demon Deacons finished in the bottom three last season, and on paper, they should be back toward the bottom of the conference. Wake Forest plays four Division I newbies during its non-conference schedule, which might help the team find an effective rotation before conference play. If the Demon Deacons channel their memories of Prosser onto the court, they will have an emotional edge over many opponents. Wake Forest could be surprisingly tough at Lawrence Joel Coliseum, already one of the toughest venues in the ACC.
Prediction: 9th
Boston College Eagles
(2006-07: 21-12, 10-6, 3rd – Tied)
Projected starting five:
Junior guard Tyrese Rice
Freshman guard Rakim Sanders
Sophomore forward Shamari Spears
Senior forward John Oates
Senior forward Tyrelle Blair
Schedule highlights:
Non-conference: Kansas, at Michigan, St. Louis
Critical stretch: Maryland, Feb. 6; at Duke, Feb. 9; North Carolina State, Feb. 14
After two years of success in the ACC, Boston College faces its first real test in its new conference. The Eagles lost four major contributors from last season’s third-place team and nearly 70 percent of the team’s scoring. More importantly, the team’s heart and soul, Jared Dudley, graduated, leaving a gaping leadership hole. Coach Al Skinner now has a lineup with only three juniors or seniors, and all of them will start.
Junior guard Tyrese Rice is the centerpiece of this season’s team. Rice averaged 17.6 points per game and is capable of creating plays for himself and others. He must step into the leadership void created by Dudley’s graduation. Freshman shooting guard Rakim Sanders will probably join Rice in the starting lineup, and freshman point guard Biko Paris will back up Rice.
Boston College’s frontcourt is nearly as raw as the backcourt, despite the presence of seniors John Oates and Tyrelle Bair. Oates is the most seasoned starter on the team, but he averaged only 4.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game last season. He must become a more dominant force in the post or else defenses will be able to consistently double-team Rice on the perimeter. Blair is a defensive specialist who blocked more than two shots per game last season. However, the Eagles need Blair to deliver on the offensive end, too, where he scored only 2.7 points per game last season. Sophomore Shamari Spears is the most offensively accomplished frontcourt player, and he averaged 7.1 points per game last season. Sophomore Tyler Roche, freshman Josh Southern and freshman Courtney Dunn will also have opportunities to earn playing time.
The Eagles have one marquis game on its non-conference slate, with Kansas coming to Chestnut Hill in January. The rest of the schedule is soft, which is a smart scheduling strategy for such a young, inexperienced team. Boston College will likely start the conference season slowly, and the Eagles need to coalesce by early February when they play vs. Maryland, at Duke and vs. North Carolina State in eight days.
Prediction: 10th
Miami Hurricanes
(2006-07: 12-20, 4-12, 12th)
Projected starters:
Freshman guard Eddie Rios
Junior guard Jack McClinton
Sophomore forward Dwayne Collins
Junior forward Brian Asbury
Senior forward Anthony King
Schedule highlights:
Non-conference: at Mississippi State, St. John’s, vs. Winthrop
Critical stretch: Georgia Tech, Jan. 12; at Boston College, Jan. 15; at North Carolina State, Jan. 19
Miami had its hands full last season trying to find enough offense to make up for the loss of guards Robert Hite and Guillermo Diaz. Then injuries and suspensions forced several players to miss significant time. As a result, Miami finished last in the ACC. Through the adversity, players like junior forward Jimmy Graham and sophomore forward Dwayne Collins received more playing time, which will prepare them for a more pivotal role this season.
Coach Frank Haith’s mission this season will be to find a way to balance depth and experience in the frontcourt with a shallow backcourt and no true starting point guard. Up front, the Hurricanes return senior Anthony King, who is one of the best shot-blockers in the conference, after he missed most of last season with a torn wrist ligament. Graham, Collins, junior Brian Asbury, senior Raymond Hicks and freshman Julian Gamble will join King in the post. Those players accounted for more than 50 percent of Miami’s scoring last season.
Miami’s seasoned frontcourt is the yin to the backcourt’s yang. The graduation of Anthony Harris and transfer of Denis Clemente leaves the Hurricanes without a clear choice at point guard. Freshman Eddie Rios will probably get the nod to join junior Jack McClinton – who led the team last season with 16.7 points per game – in the backcourt, but Rios is a better shooter than point guard. The Hurricanes will struggle this year because Rios and McClinton are better suited to finish plays than create them. In addition, both players are shorter than 6-2, which means that most opposing teams will have a significant size advantage when Rios and McClinton are on the court at the same time.
Miami will play a soft non-conference schedule, which gives the Hurricanes an opportunity to find a successful lineup combination. Miami will need to coalesce quickly because the first three games of the conference slate will be tough – Georgia Tech, at Boston College and at North Carolina. Starting in an 0-3 hole may be too difficult for Miami to overcome.
Prediction: 11th
Virginia Tech Hokies
(2006-07: 22-12, 10-6, 3rd – Tied)
Projected starters:
Freshman guard Malcolm Delaney
Junior forward A.D. Vassallo
Freshman forward Jeff Allen
Senior forward Deron Washington
Junior forward Cheick Diakite
Schedule highlights:
Non-conference: Great Alaska Shootout, at Old Dominion, George Washington
Critical stretch: Maryland, Jan. 12; at Virginia, Jan. 16; at Georgia Tech, Jan. 19
Less than a month after Virginia Tech lost to Southern Illinois in the NCAA Tournament, the campus became the site of the worst school shooting in U.S. history. Thirty-two students and faculty died when a troubled student went on a deadly rampage April 16. The university will move forward, and the team will try to advance the recovery with another strong season.
But for the Hokies to repeat last season’s third-place finish, Virginia Tech will need to replace its entire backcourt. Zabian Dowdell and Jamon Gordon graduated, and Nigel Munson transferred. The Hokies lost almost 60 percent of their production from a team that wasn’t exactly an offensive juggernaut. Coach Seth Greenberg will need his team to once again be one of the most efficient teams in the conference while forcing plenty of turnovers.
In the decimated backcourt, Greenberg will turn to freshmen Malcolm Delaney and Hank Thorns to play point guard, with Delaney likely to get the call to start the season. Swingman A.D. Vassallo will play some shooting guard. He shot better than 41 percent from three-point range last season, so he can force defenses to move to the perimeter, giving the Hokies’ post players more room to operate.
The best returning player is senior forward Deron Washington, a stellar athlete who can jump sky high for rebounds and dunks. He improved his shooting last season and needs to continue to hit jump shots to force defenses to guard him more than 10 feet away from the basket. Also in the frontcourt, freshman Jeff Allen leads a talented recruiting class that should have plenty of opportunities to contribute this season.
The Hokies have a decent, though not spectacular, schedule that includes a trip to Anchorage for the Great Alaska Shootout. Virginia Tech might meet Michigan, Gonzaga or Texas Tech in the tournament. Virginia Tech’s most important stretch will likely be early in conference play. Virginia Tech needs to steal a few wins early in the season to remain competitive in the conference while the team’s younger players adjust to the rigors of ACC play.
Prediction: 12th
Summary
The axis of power in the ACC returns to the Triangle this season. Duke, North Carolina and North Carolina State appear to be the strongest teams entering this season, and they will likely be the conference’s only locks for the NCAA Tournament. Last season, seven ACC teams received invitations to the tournament, but only North Carolina made it to the Sweet 16. The Tar Heels lost to Georgetown in the Elite Eight. Overall, that’s not a spectacular post-season run for the conference.
This season figures to be different. The ACC will probably receive fewer bids – maybe only five. But the teams that make the tournament will be more dangerous. Here’s an early prediction for the ACC’s NCAA Tournament-bound squads and how they’ll fare.
NCAA Tournament:
North Carolina (National Champion)
Duke (Sweet 16)
North Carolina State (Elite Eight)
Virginia (First-round loss)
Clemson (Sweet 16)
Georgia Tech (First-round loss)
Sorry Florida State.
