ACC Basketball Preview
After a 2004-05 during which five different ACC teams (Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Wake Forest) were each ranked in the Top 3 of the ESPN/ USA Today Poll, it's not hard to predict that it will be a down year for the 2005-06 ACC. The loss of talent in the conference is striking- seven first round picks in last year's NBA Draft- and beyond Duke, it's hard to find a team that doesn't have significant question marks. With the Blue Devils clearly the class of the conference, up-and-coming teams like Miami, Clemson and Virginia Tech could make major strides.
1. Duke (25-5, '04-'05 record)
Need to Know: Hands down, Duke is the best team in the ACC and should be a serious National Championship contender. The Blue Devils' two returning All-Americans, J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams, are joined by the nation's best recruiting class, including PG Greg Paulus, PF Josh McRoberts and C Eric Boateng. Last year, Duke was lucky to go six deep and Coach K was forced to go his great wall of white scrubs far too often. This season, the Dukies go ten deep and have the personnel to bang with a team like BC or run with a squad like Maryland. All the virgins in Cameron will have plenty of reasons to make up dorky chants about how good their Devils are.
Achilles' Heel: Give me a break. I could coach this team to a Final Four.
Difference Maker: Shelden Williams. Simply the most dominant defensive player in the country. His presence in the middle lets the other Dukies take more chances on defense.
NCAA Hopes: Final Four Material
2. Maryland (19-13)
Need to Know: Losing their top player may be the best thing to happen to the Terps. With Gary Williams free from John Gilchrist's incessant pouting, the Maryland head coach can focus on getting his talented team back to the top of the ACC. Don’t forget- Maryland won the ACC tournament only two years ago and has three talented seniors- Nik Caner-Medley, Travis Garrison and Chris McCray- with oodles of experience. Why is Maryland ranked higher than BC- they've been there before. A new league for BC means new refs, new arenas, new teams to defend and Maryland is better constructed to win in the ACC.
Achilles' Heel: Point Guard. The Terps are loaded with athletic wing players but right now there isn't a reliable point guard on the roster. Parrish Brown could emerge as Gary Williams' best bet to run the offense.
Difference Maker: D.J. Strawberry returns after missing most of last season with a knee injury. Strawberry is the conference's best perimeter defender and the one player in the league who can shut down J.J. Redick.
NCAA Hopes: Sweet Sixteen
3. Boston College (25-5)
Need to Know: In their first season in the ACC, Boston College should be one of the conference's best teams…but there is a big "if" looming: If C Sean Williams doesn't regain his eligibility, the Eagles don't have the size or depth to be a legitimate Final Four contender. Assuming that Williams does return (and indications are that he will), the Eagles have one of the best frontcourts in college basketball. Craig Smith is a monster underneath and should overpower many an ACC power forward and Jared Dudley is a super all-around player. But without solid backcourt play, the Eagles will struggle to contain up-tempo teams. BC's early season game against freakishly athletic Michigan State should be a reliable barometer of the Eagles' NCAA prospects.
Achilles' Heel: Defending athletic teams. BC's frontcourt is rugged and tough but when the Eagles end up trying to run with teams, Superfans the world over shudder.
Difference Maker: Sean Marshall. Someone needs to hit some outside shots or else ACC opponents are going to zone BC's frontcourt to death. Marshall needs to step up and be that player or else Craig Smith is going to have to get used to double and triple teams.
NCAA Hopes: Sweet Sixteen but with the right NCAA matchups, the Eagles could muscle their way further.
4. NC State (19-13)
Need to Know: This is the most experienced team in the ACC and while the loss of Julius Hodge is painful, Herb Sendek has plenty of talent left. NC State's hybrid-Princeton offense presents problems for opponents and is perfectly suited to the Wolfpack's personnel. NC State's backcourt including Cameron Bennerman, Tony Bethel & Engin Astur is loaded with savvy players who can knock down threes.
Achilles' Heel: Who takes the big shot? Sure, there is ton of experience on the Wolfpack but who gets, or more importantly, wants the ball with the clock ticking down?
Difference Maker: Andrew Brackman. Anyone who watched NC State last year saw that when Brackman was on the court, good things happened for the Wolfpack. After playing big minutes as a freshman, Brackman should be a major contributor as a sophomore.
NCAA Hopes: Sweet Sixteen
5. Wake Forest (26-5)
Need to Know: Chris Paul is gone and without him running the point the effectiveness of the Demon Deacons' offense is a major question mark. Sure, Wake returns two All-ACC performers in PG Justin Gray and PF/C Eric Williams but Gray is better-suited as a shooting guard and Williams needs someone to get him the ball on the block. Wake will survive in the ACC because it's a down year for the league but don't be fooled- this is far from a complete team.
Achilles' Heel: Backcourt. Justin Gray is a dangerous perimeter player who could be wasted running the offense.
Difference Maker: Chris Ellis. Wake is going to have to win with its frontcourt and Ellis needs to become a consistent double-double threat to keep opponents from doubling Eric Williams.
NCAA Hopes: Second Round
6. Virginia Tech (15-13)
Need to Know: Tech returns four starters from an 8-8 ACC team that was robbed of a spot in the NCAA's. Seth Greenberg's Hokies play an aggressive, guard-dominated style that can give teams fits. VTech is a tough place to play and Hokies have the talent to improve on last season's .500 conference record.
Achilles' Heel: Last season, the Hokies snuck up on a lot of teams. Won't happen this year- can Virginia Tech perform when teams are gunning for them?
Difference Maker: Coleman Collins. The Hokies' center was inconsistent last season but could be a force in the middle.
NCAA Hopes: First Round
7. Clemson (16-15)
Need to Know: Oliver Purnell knows how to coach and has an experienced team that could be a major surprise in the ACC. Purnell has good depth to work with and if one of his young post players can emerge as a reliable starter, the Tigers could make the NCAA's for the first time in a very, very long time.
Achilles' Heel: Clemson has loads to talented guards and wing players but no one ready to replace C Sharrod Ford.
Difference Maker: PF/C Akin Akingbala showed flashes last year but needs to become a more consistent frontcourt contributor.
NCAA Hopes: Bubble Team
8. Miami (16-12)
Need to Know: The Canes have one of the ACC's best backcourts- Guillermo Diaz, Robert Hite & Anthony Harris- and return four starters. But Miami isn't going to sneak up on anyone.
Achilles' Heel: Frontcourt. The Canes lost their best big man, Will Frisby, and will need some freshman to step up.
Difference Maker: Guillermo Diaz. Last year, Diaz was very good. This season, he needs to be great to keep the Canes from dropping out of NCAA contention.
NCAA Hopes: Bubble Team
9. North Carolina (27-4)
Need to Know: Everyone good is gone. Roy Williams is in the midst of a major rebuilding project. There are talented freshmen but are they ready to succeed in the ACC?
Achilles' Heel: Every ACC team will be looking to kick UNC when they're down. There could be some major blowouts in the Dean Dome.
Difference Maker: Tyler Hansbrough. The freshman PF has serious talent and should be UNC's best player.
NCAA Hopes: NIT Bound
10. Florida State (12-19)
Need to Know: Leonard Hamilton just can't get it together but the presence of stud freshman Uche Echefu could help the Noles limps toward respectability.
Achilles' Heel: Lack of leadership. FSU lost a bunch of close games last season. Who takes command on the court in the closing minutes.
Difference Maker: Uche Echefu- who cares if he's never played a college game before, Echefu needs to become the Noles' go-to player.
NCAA Hopes: Watching from home
11. Georgia Tech (19-11)
Need to Know: All five starters are gone and though there is some young talent, the Yellow Jackets have no backcourt talent to speak of.
Achilles' Heel: No veteran guards translate into a lot of broken down offensive possessions.
Difference Maker: Anthony Morrow. The slick-shooting swingman could emerge as the Yellow Jackets' best player.
NCAA Hopes: Watching from home
12. Virginia (14-15)
Need to Know: When the Cavs are relying on Jason Cain and his mighty moustache to provide inside scoring, you know UVA is in trouble. Dave Leitao is in for a long first season as the Cavs' head coach.
Achilles' Heel: No frontcourt talent.
Difference Maker: Sean Singletary- if he can stay healthy, he should be UVA's best player and a potential All-ACC performer.
NCAA Hopes: Watching from home