SB Nation - Josh Southern

ACC Power Rankings: 12.8

MRickman84 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:30:14 -0000

So this probably should have been done yesterday, but I really want to get in the habit of doing power rankings throughout the season. UNC occupies the top spot this week, with Duke coming in second, as both are coming off tough losses last week to strong opponents.

Let's take a look at who is where after the jump...

1.) UNC-- [W vs. Michigan State, L vs. Kentucky] UNC is getting better as was expected. The young guys are playing well and Larry Drew II looks a lot more comfortable. I'm still concerned about the Heels' bench, as Strickland looks a little lost out there and Henson just does not know what to do with his body. The Wear twins are eating up a ton of minutes without a lot of productivity. Tyler Zeller is a great player for them though and really makes the perfect sixth man. UNC gets another tough test when they head to Dallas to play Texas at the Cowboys stadium next week.

2.) Duke -- [L vs. Wisconsin, W vs. St. John's] I thought this Duke team was supposed to be able to shoot? Kyle Singler is looking average at best so far this year and is taking a LOT of shots. You know what you're getting out of Jon Scheyer week in and week out and that is a great stabilizer. Andre Dawkins has been spectacular so far and we are going to be seeing a lot more of him as Duke enters ACC play. Duke's big weakness is still down low--Zoubek and Thomas are just bad, but the Plumlees work hard and are good players.

3.) GT [W vs. Siena, W vs. USC] The Jackets were left out of the Challenge this year because of their finish last season, and that really is a shame as I believe they would have won their matchup and turned the tide for the ACC. Instead, Tech put a whooping on Siena and USC last week. GT is stellar in the frontcourt with Lawal, Peacock and Favors, but losing Iman Shumpert is going to be sidelined for 3-6 weeks with a knee injury.

4.) Clemson [L vs. Illinois, W vs. South Carolina] Clemson is looking like bi-polar Clemson again, surprise! This is a good, solid basketball team. They have 5 players averaging at least 9 points per game and Trevor Booker is almost averaging a double-double (13 and 9). Their problem is that they just lose focus (as seen by the terrible collapse against Illinois). I think they are a better team than Georgia Tech, but they just can't pass them until they show some consistency.

5.) Miami [W vs. Minnesota, L vs. BC] Yes, I know they lost their first conference game. But it was very close and came down to the buzzer. They picked up a great non-con win over Minnesota, but still have not really been challenged other than their last two contests. Dwayne Collins is very good, but there's a lot of pressure on him coming into conference play since two of Miami's three strong guards are newcomers (Malcolm Grant from Villinova and freshman Durand Scott.) James Dews can get it done too, but we will see just how much the 'Canes miss Jack McClinton after the 1st of the year.

6.) Wake Forest [L vs. Purdue, W vs. Gonzaga] After a disappointing loss at home to William & Mary, the Deacs took to the road for two very tough tests. After a hard-fought loss to Purdue, the Deacs looked like they finally clicked in a win over Gonzaga at the Kennel. If the Demon Deacons can use this as a momentum builder, they could enter the new year at 10-2. They will be tested by UNC-W, who has played some good teams tough, as well as Richmond, which received votes in the polls this week. Freshmen C.J. Harris and Ari Stewart are looking like the real deal, but the Deacs absolutely need to get consistency from their bigs and from Al-Farouq Aminu.

7.) Virginia Tech [W vs. Iowa, W vs. Georgia] I like VT. They're better than they look on paper, and their loss to Temple is not a bad one--the Owls almost pulled off the upset against Georgetown a few games ago. They easily could finish anywhere between 6th and 10th, but the combo of Malcolm Delaney and Jeff Allen should be good for at least 6 conference wins.

8.) Maryland [W vs. Indiana, L vs. Villanova] I've seen Maryland play 4 times now this year and I'm sorry, I just don't think they are very good. Greivis Vasquez takes way too many ill-advised shots and he is shooting 32%. Sean Mosley and Landon Milbourne are the strong points to this team and Eric Hayes keeps them calm sometimes, but they aren't deep and I'm not sold on their front court. The Terps were a hot pick to start the season, but they have to prove something to me before they can move up the board.

9.) Boston College [W vs. Michigan, W vs. Miami] Here we go again. It's the same old story every year. BC looks sparse on paper and then Al Skinner does a great job coaching his team to overachieve. It'll probably happen again this year and their last two wins are a big indicator of this. Reggie Jackson could be a great player, and BC gets bumped up a spot just from his nasty dunk against the 'Canes (on a terrible offensive foul call in the last 30 seconds) and his clutch FTs to seal the win. Raji, Jackson, Trapani is a great combo and they get a good effort out of Josh Southern too.

10.) Florida State [L vs. Ohio State, W vs. FIU] Florida State looked downright ugly against Ohio State. And downright ugly against Florida. But that win against Marquette was big, so they have that in them. Alabi, Singleton and Kitchen are a nice 1-2-3, but the 'Noles need to be getting more out of Xavier Gibson and Ryan Reid.

11.) NC State [L vs. Northwestern, W. vs Marquette] After their loss to Northwestern, I didn't think at all that the Wolfpack would beat Marquette. It was the furthest thing from my mind. State is 6-1, but they are a mess and there is just not much there.

12.) Virginia [L vs. Penn State, L vs. Auburn] Hey, at least Virginia has beaten Cleveland State, something Wake wasn't able to do last year. Sylven Landesberg is a heck of a player, but when your next two leading scorers are Mike Scott and Sammy Zeglinski, there's a problem there. Virginia is not very good.

Around the ACC: 11.24.09

MRickman84 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:49:13 -0000

by Brennan Linsley - AP

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How about that Purdue-Tennessee game? Those two teams looked like top ten teams, and it was definitely a physical game to say the least. I'm excited to go more into Purdue's team as we look forward to next week's showdown in West Lafayette. As to the ACC, teams went 4-1 with the only loss being BC at the hands of Northern Iowa.

Boston College 69, Northern Iowa 81
UNI got a spectacular game from Kwadzo Ahelegbe, who was 14-17 from the floor, scoring 32 and adding 4 assists and 2 rebounds. Any time a guy goes 14-17 it's usually a combination of poor defense and the player just straight balling. UNI shot 65% as a team and 5-9 from deep. They also had just 5 turnovers on the day. That's usually a recipe for success. Corey Raji led BC with 18 points and 5 rebounds. Josh Southern and Joe Trapani added a combined 23 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.

Virginia Tech 71, Campbell 60
The Fighting Camels sure lived up to their name yesterday. Virginia Tech usually has a couple games like this (3 point win over Gardner-Webb last year, loss to Seton Hall), so it was good to see them get back under control and finish the game. J.T. Thompson set a career high with 17 points, while Malcolm Delaney added 15 on just 3-13 shooting.

UNC 93, Gardner-Webb 72
This game was a lot closer than the final score indicated. Gardner-Webb really hung in there. And once again, it was a combination of poor defense and turnovers that were stinging the Heels. Gardner-Webb hit 15 of 36 threes on the day, but a lot of those misses came near the end of the game when they were in desperation mode.

Deon Thompson is quickly becoming an All-ACC candidate and had another big night--22 and 10 on 9-10 shooting. Tyler Zeller and Ed Davis combined for 31 points and 18 rebounds, while highly-touted freshman John Henson continued to struggle with his production (Just 2 points on 1-3 shooting in 13 minutes).

Clemson 102, Winthrop 66
Now Clemson is doing it right so far. They are winning by an average of 35 points in their 4 wins. They're playing cupcakes like a lot of other teams, but they are just straight dusting people. Clemson had 6 players in double figures--Jerai Grant, David Potter, Tanner Smith, Andre Young, Noel Johnson and Trevor Booker--and 10 players played double-digit minutes. This is the way to see what you have on your bench and keep your starters fresh.

Maryland 79, Chaminade 51
Maryland looked shaky early on and it could be a combination of the trip to Hawaii or the fact that Chaminade really tries to get up for these games, but the Terrapins were able to take the lead with 7 minutes left in the first half and run with it. Sean Mosley led all scorers with 19 points and had 8 rebounds. Greivis Vasquez continues to struggle with his shot (2-7), as he is just 28.6% in the early goings.

Paradise Jam Preview part 1: South Dakota State, Boston College, St. Joseph's

BoilerTMill — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:45:41 -0000

Since I can't seem to narrow down TV coverage for this one I'll be tuning towards the radio and gametracker for Friday night's Paradise Jam opener. Since this tournament is striving to become a Maui East I am surprised they haven't worked out better TV coverage. Ah well. In all honestly I don't think we need to be glued to our TV sets for the opener. Even with LewJack and Sandi Marcius both being hurt we have little trouble with the Jackrabbits. Meeting Boston College in round 2 could be a different story.

To be accompanied by Michael Jackson's JAM video this week.

South Dakota State Jackrabbits

Conference: Summit League

2009-10 Record: 2-0

2008-09 Record: 13-20 (upset Oral Roberts in Summit League Tournament)

Blog Representation: SDSUFans.com (warning: this is a very user unfriendly site, but it is an SDSU blog. I searched that hard for you!)

SDSU may be a little better this season, as they have started 2-0. One victory is over non-D1 Mayville State, whom they crushed 89-56. The opening season victory is a decent one though over Mountain West Conference member Wyoming 77-61. The Cowboys were a 19-14 team a season ago that made one of the postseason tournaments, so an easy Jackrabbit victory does turn some heads. This is just the second season of full Division 1 eligibility for SDSU.

SDSU features a balanced scoring attack led by senior guard Garrett Callahan. Callahan averages 12.5 points per game and is a 3-point shooting threat having hit 3 of 9 from long range so far. He is actually down a bit from last season's 15.8 ppg average, but obviously the season is very young. His most telling statistic from last season was a 42.7% clip from long range. He is also an accurate free throw shooter when he gets to the line.

6'6" senior forward Kai Williams is next in scoring at 12.5 per game. His average is weighted by a 17 point performance in the opener at Wyoming. Williams has been a double-digit scorer in all four seasons at SDSU except last season when he dipped to 9.8ppg. He is a tough rebounder that can also step out and shoot the three. This makes him a versatile weapon, like a poor man's Robbie Hummel. It is interesting that he is only playing about half as many minutes this season as he has averaged in his career, yet his numbers are similar.

Anthony Cordova (11ppg) and Clint Sargent (18ppg) give the Jackrabbits four double figures scorers, showing their offensive versatility. Both are juniors, making SDSU a team that is dominated by upperclassmen. Sargent did not play against Mayville State after hitting five 3-pointers as Wyoming. Cordova has nice size at 6'7" 245lbs.

South Dakota State will live and die by the 3-pointer against us. They hit 11 of 21 against Wyoming to build a big lead early. Michael Palarca paces the offense by distributing the ball well at 6 assists per game. We can also expect to see Giffan Callahan (Garrett's younger brother), Nate Wolters, Dale Moss, and Josh Cassaday in a nine man rotation. The younger Callahan has shown a talent for rebounding at 5.5 per contest.

This is not a team that should dominate us on the glass. Their tallest player, 6'10" Mark Engen, is a senior that barely plays. Most of the team is between 6'4" and 6'7", but they lack the sheer physicality that we have as a Big Ten team. We should absolutely be able to dominate the interior and focus on defending from the perimeter. I can see this game being close only if SDSU gets insanely hot from outside and starts raining threes. On paper they are about equal with Cal State Northridge, and we had little trouble with the Matadors. Purdue 85, South Dakota State 57

Boston College Eagles

Conference: ACC

2009-10 Record: 1-0 (They play St. Francis tonight and St. Joseph's in round 1)

2008-09 Record: 22-12 (lost to USC 72-55 in round one of NCAA Tournament)

Blog Representation: Eagle in Atlanta, BC Interruption

Our round two opponent will likely be our first true test of the season. The same was true last year, as we squeezed out a 71-64 win over the Eagles at Madison Square Garden in the preseason NIT semi-finals. Joe Trapani had 14 points and eight rebounds against and he is back. 6'10 center Josh Southern (9 points, 11 rebounds) is also back. We are basically facing most of a team walked into North Carolina last season and won. They also beat Duke, but lost WTF games against Harvard and St. Louis.

It is hard to guess how well the Eagles will respond this season. Cory Raji and Rakim Sanders are returning starters that were suspended for the opener against Dartmouth and tonight's game against St. Francis. They must also replace leading scorer Tyrese Rice who graduated. Rice had a great game against us in New York, so missing him will not help their chances. This is still a young team that features just one senior in Tyler Roche. Roche only went for 30 against Dartmouth, but we are not Dartmouth.

We should have a better idea of what to expect from BC once they get everyone back from suspension. This is still not a team we can take lightly, however. I seem to remember North Carolina having a pretty good season last year and BC beat them seven in their own house. Still, they followed up that monster win with a loss to Harvard three days later. That tells me that consistency will be a major issue with them.

To win again we have to make sure they don't dominate the paint. Southern, Trapani, and Roche could give us some matchup problems in the paint if all three are playing. We have to keep them off the offensive glass and limit second chance points. We did a pretty good job of that last year, but we have to keep it up. Sanders and Raji are capable scorers that can create their own shot as well. This will be the first true test of our team defense.

Saint Joseph's Hawks

Conference: Atlantic 10

2009-10 Record: 1-0 (Holy Cross tonight and Boston college in round 1)

2008-09 Record: 17-15 (no postseason)

Blog Representation: None

I expect to play Boston College in round 2, but here is a brief preview of St. Joseph's anyway. St. Joseph's was one of the many teams that had a dominating win over Indiana last year, beating the Hoosiers 80-54 in the Maui Invitational. This means they are not strangers to big preseason tournaments, so this should be interesting. So far this season they have a 77-67 overtime win over Drexel.

Forward Idris Hilliard had a breakout game in the opener with 16 points and seven rebounds. He was also 10 of 11 from the line, so we don't want to foul him. Guard Darrin Govins was the leading scorer with 23 points on 6 of 17 shooting. He is a smaller shooting guard at 6'1", but he can score from anywhere on the floor. Garrett Williamson and Carl Jones were double figures scorers with 11 and 13 points, respectively. Overall St. Joe's hit 33 of 42 free throws against the Dragons, so we have to keept hem off the line.

Honestly, I am preparing to face Boston College in round two. St. Joseph's is well coached and they play in a surprisingly tough Atlantic 10 conference, but the Eagles are the better team. It would take an upset for St. Joe's to get past them, and if they do I don't think they have two int hem to get past us. They don't have much size outside of 6'11" center Todd O'Brien, so if we can neutralize him we should own the interior. I certainly trust our perimeter defense to stop anyone in the country from there.

BtB 2009-10 ACC Preview

Chris Dobbertean — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:00:28 -0000

North Carolina claimed the conference's 11th national title last season, but thanks to major personnel losses, they'll be hard pressed to repeat. The Tar Heels aren't alone, as the overwhelming majority of teams in the ACC lost at least one key player during the offseason. Not only will Wayne Ellington, Danny Green, Tyler Hansbrough, and Ty Lawson not be in the league next year; players like Alade Aminu, Brandon Costner, Toney Douglas, Gerald Henderson, James Johnson, Jack McClinton, Terrence Oglesby, Greg Paulus. K.C. Rivers, Jeff Teague, and A.D. Vassallo will be missing as well. But as is traditional, plenty of high-profile recruits have signed on with the league's 12 teams--with Derrick Favors, John Henson, Ryan Kelly, Mason Plumley, Durand Scott, and Michael Snaer the most prominent newcomers.

These freshmen will join several returning stars who have already shown brightly in the ACC universe, like Al-Faroq Aminu, Trevor Booker, Ed Davis, Malcolm Delaney, Gani Lawal, Sylven Landesberg, Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler, and Greivis Vasquez. Those are the type of impact players who can keep the league at the forefront of the national conversation for yet another season.

The big question is whether one of the teams can get the old and new to mix well enough to claim the conference's 12th crown in Indianapolis in April. More on the 12 contenders after the jump.

Here's a recap of last year's ACC standings.

Atlantic Coast Conference Standings

(updated 4.7.2009 at 12:22 AM EDT)

	Conf		Overall
	W	L	W	L
North Carolina Tar Heels	13	3	34	4
Duke Blue Devils	11	5	30	7
Wake Forest Demon Deacons	11	5	24	7
Florida St. Seminoles	10	6	25	10
Clemson Tigers	9	7	23	9
Boston College Eagles	9	7	22	12
Maryland Terrapins	7	9	21	14
Miami Hurricanes	7	9	19	13
Virginia Tech Hokies	7	9	19	15
N.C. State Wolfpack	6	10	16	14
Virginia Cavaliers	4	12	10	18
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	2	14	12	19

Now, here are my picks for 2009-10, presented in reverse order. If a team's name appears in red, click the link to visit that school's SB Nation site, where you'll find complete coverage and analysis throughout the season.

NC State (last NCAA: 2006) The Wolfpack could be in for a very long season, as the top three scorers are gone from a team that won only 6 ACC games last season. 6-8 junior F Tracy Smith (10 ppg, 4.5 rpg) is Sidney Lowe's leading returning scorer, and the coach has to settle on a point guard with Javier Gonzalez (6.6 ppg, 3.3 apg), Farnold Degand (4.7 ppg, 2.4 apg), and Julius Mays (4.7 ppg, 1.9 apg) all options. 6-9 senior Dennis Horner (6.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg) joins Smith in the frontcourt, but three freshmen--6-7 Richard Howell, 6-9 DeShawn Painter, and 7-0 Australian Jordan Vandenberg--will see significant minutes. Another newcomer, 6-6 Scott Wood, will get time as a swingman. NC State's schedule includes a home game with Georgia State in the Glenn Wilkes Classic, followed by games with Akron, Austin Peay, and Auburn in Daytona Beach. They face Northwestern in the ACC/BIg Ten Challenge; visit Marquette; and face Arizona and Florida in Raleigh.

Miami (last NCAA: 2008) PG Jack McClinton graduated after a season that ended with a loss to Florida in the second round of the NIT. It was a disappointing end to a year that started with high expectations. Now, McClinton's replacement, Villanova transfer Malcolm Grant, walks into a situation where he'll be the floor general for a team with few hopes. Frank Haith's squad got a major boost when 6-8 senior F Dwayne Collins (10.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg) decided to withdraw from the NBA Draft. That decision really helped the Canes' frontcourt, as 6-9 senior Cyrus McGowan (4.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and 6-7 senior Adrian Thomas (5.1 ppg, 2.3 ppg) would have been the most experienced players on the unit. 6-9 redshirt freshman Reggie Johnson will see action this season, as will several backcourt newcomers. 6-6 Garrius Adams, 6-1 Antoine Allen, and 6-5 Durand Scott--one of the top SG prospects--in the country will be called into immediate action to support Grant and 6-4 senior James Dews (8.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg). The Canes will take on Tulane in their first game at the Charleston Classic, then face either UNC Wilmington or NIT champ Penn State. They also host Minnesota in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and visit Pepperdine.

Virginia (last NCAA: 2007) Tony Bennett was the surprise choice to replace Dave Leitao as head coach during the offseason. Now, while Bennett's arrival won't improve an offense that rated 11th in the league last season, the defense should improve (and it won't be hard as UVa rated 12th in scoring D in the ACC). That should result in more wins for a team that has talent. 6-6 sophomore Sylven Landesberg was a worthy replacement for Sean Singletary, as he averaged 16.6 points, 6 boards, and 2.8 assists a game during his freshman year. 6-8 Mike Scott is a frontcourt talent, but he needs to be more assertive. If he can do that, he'll improve on his already decent numbers of 10.3 ppg and 7.4 rpg. Virginia fans are hoping Bennett is working closely with his guards, as 6-2 Calvin Baker (8.4 ppg, 2.8 apg) and 6-0 Sammy Zeglinski (7.8 ppg, 3 apg) are just about as adept at passing the ball to the other team as they are to feeding teammates. (Both averaged 2.5 TO per game last season.) 5-11 freshman Jontel Evans is ready to take over the point if they don't improve. 6-8 freshman F Tristan Spurlock provides the Cavaliers with a legit inside/outside threat, so he'll see time right off the bat as well. The Cavaliers will be tested in the Cancun Challenge, and not only in the games in Mexico against Stanford, then Kentucky or Cleveland State. They face two difficult opponents, Rider and Oral Roberts, in Charlottesville before they head to the Caribbean.

Virginia Tech (last NCAA: 2007) Seth Greenberg has a major hole to fill, thanks to the graduation of A.D. Vassallo, but the Hokies' roster still features a lot of talent. 6-3 junior PG Malcolm Delaney becomes the face of the program, and he's already one of the best returning players in the league (18.1 ppg, 4 rpg, 4.5 apg). 6-7 FJeff Allen (13.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg) could fill the same role in the frontcourt, if he stays consistent and on his best behavior. 6-6 junior J.T. Thompson (6.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg) should provide more support after struggling through an injury-plagued season, as should 6-8 Victor Davila, who averaged 3.1 points and 2 boards a game in limited action. The Hokies' newcomers will see some time right off the bat--6-4 Erick Green backing up Delaney, 6-4 Ben Boggs at off guard, and 6-7 Manny Atkins in Vassallo's swingman spot. VPI's schedule features games against Delaware and Temple in the Philly Hoop Group Classic; at Iowa in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge; at Penn State; and against Seton Hall in Cancun to kickoff the New Year.

Wake Forest (last NCAA: 2009) The Demon Deacons will be without James Johnson and Jeff Teague, two major losses for a team that faded after a brief stay atop the polls. Even without Johnson, Dino Gaudio's frontcourt is a talented one, thanks to the presence of 6-9 sophomore Al-Faroq Aminu (12.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg). 7-foot senior C Chris McFarland (8.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg) could be more of a factor if he can play more consistently and stay off the bench. After those two, the Deacons' other bigs have a lot of room to improve. David Weaver, Tony Woods, and Ty Walker only managed to average a combined 6.2 points and 6.2 boards a game last season. 6-7 freshman Ari Stewart could see a lot of the minutes Johnson played in '08-09. In the backcourt, Teague's scoring punch will be missed. 6-0 PG Ishmael Smith (6.2 ppg, 3.4 apg) is a good passer, but lacks an outside shot, while 6-4 L.D. Williams (8 ppg) is more of a factor on the defensive end. 6-4 JC transfer Konner Tucker, who committed to Kentucky out of high school, will play shooting guard. Wake's schedule isn't overwhelming. They take on Purdue in the ACC/BIg Ten Challenge, visit Gonzaga, and host A-10 powers Dayton and Xavier around the New Year.

Boston College (last NCAA: 2009) Al Skinner's squad should be OK this year as they learn to play without Tyrese Rice, but expect next year to be even better as 6-7 reserve F Tyler Roche is the only senior on the roster. 6-1 junior Biko Paris (3.4, 1.7 apg) will get the first crack at replacing Rice, while 6-5 swingman Rakim Sanders (12.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and 6-3 Reggie Jackson--a 44 percent shooter who only averaged 7 points a game last year--will provide offense from the backcourt. The frontcourt will be pretty good, as 6-8 F Joe Trapani (13.4, 6.6) and 6-6 F Corey Raji (9.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg) have shown they can be a force in the ACC, and 6-10 Josh Southern (6.5 ppg while shooting 50.3% from the floor) could be if he's more assertive. The Eagles will face St. Joseph's in their opening game at the Paradise Jam, with a contest against either Purdue or South Dakota State to follow on day 2. The Eagles travel to Providence and Michigan in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, while they host UMass and South Carolina.

Clemson (last NCAA: 2009) Three key players from last year's squad are gone--swingman K.C. Rivers, big man Raymond Sykes, and sharpshooter Terrence Oglesby, who left to play professionally in Europe, but the top rebounder and field goal shooter in the league, 6-7 Trevor Booker (15.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg) is back for his senior season. The arrival of his brother Devin, a 6-8 F/C, and 6-9 Milton Jennings, a McDonald's All-American, gives the frontcourt an immediate boost. 6-6 Noel Johnson, a swingman who originally committed to Southern Cal, should prove to be a nice replacement for Rivers. The backcourt could be a bit of a concern for Oliver Purnell; however, as 6-2 junior PG Demontez Stitt (8.7 ppg, 3.8 apg) can be a bit inconsistent. That means 5-9 Andre Young (4.4 ppg, 2.1 apg) could see plenty of time at the 1 spot. Overall, the Tigers will really have to do better from the charity stripe this season, as they ranked 10th in the ACC last season. The Tigers will play in the very tough 76 Classic in Anaheim, where they open with Texas A&M. They also take on Illinois in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and host archrival South Carolina.

Florida State (last NCAA: 2009) The Seminoles' heart and soul of the past few seasons, ACC leading scorer and Defensive Player of the Year Toney Douglas, graduated, as did F Uche Echefu. So that means FSU will be headed back to the NIT, right? Well, thanks to the return of a bunch of key players and one top recruit, don't expect the Noles to fall too far. 7-1 sophomore Solomon Alabi (8.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.1 bpg), an inside force and the team's leading returning scorer, anchors a frontcourt that also features 6-9 Chris Singleton (8.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 6-11 Xavier Gibson (2.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg in 6 mpg), and 6-8 senior Ryan Reid (4.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg). The big issue for FSU's backcourt is finding a replacement for Douglas. 6-4 junior Derwin Kitchen (7.9 ppg, 2.5 apg) could be the answer from a passing and defensive perspective, while 6-5 freshman Michael Snaer--who averaged 28 ppg during a senior year in which he was named California HS player of the year--could replace his scoring. If the returnees kick their scoring up a notch, FSU will be right back in the Dance. The Seminoles will be tested by a schedule that includes the Old Spice Classic--where they should have more of a home advantage than UCF had in 2007. They'll open that tournament with Iona, then face Alabama or Baylor on Day 2. Leonard Hamilton's squad also travels to archrival Florida and faces Ohio State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Maryland (last NCAA: 2009) The equation for the Terrapins is pretty simple. If Greivis Vasquez is healthy and playing well, they'll be pretty good. The 6-6 Venezuelan senior decided to not enter the NBA Draft, and that's a good thing for Gary Williams' side. It not only would have been difficult to replace his 17.5 points, 5.4 boards, and 5 assists per game, but it would have been impossible to replace his heart and spirit. 6-4 Eric Hayes (10.3 ppg, 3.2 apg) and 6-2 drive-first junior Adrian Bowie (9 ppg, 2.5 apg) join Vasquez to form one of the top backcourt units in the league. The frontcourt features 6-7 senior Landon Milbourne (11.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and not much else in the way of experience, especially after Dave Neal's graduation. Freshmen James Padgett (6-8) and Jordan Williams (6-9) will be expected to provide instant interior presence for the Terps. Maryland will play in Maui, where they open with Chaminade before facing either Cincinnati or Vanderbilt on Day 2. They visit Indiana in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and Villanova in DC at the BB&T Classic.

Georgia Tech (last NCAA: 2007) While the Yellow Jackets won't have the services of either Alade Aminu inside or Lewis Clinch outside, they will be a bigger threat thanks to the arrival of a true game-changer, 6-10 freshman Derrick Favors. He'll join a frontcourt that retains 6-9 junior Gani Lawal (15.1 ppg, 9.5 rpg) and 6-8 Zachary Peacock (9.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg). The backcourt could be Paul Hewitt's squad's Achilles heel, however. 6-5 guard Iman Shumpert's (10.6 ppg) assist-to-turnover ratio of 5 to 3.7 was way too high. He may handle the ball less this season, especially since 6-2 Maurice Miller (5.8 ppg, 4.3 apg) and 6-2 freshman Mfon Udofia are both capable point guards. The Yellow Jackets' schedule features some nice matchups, as they face Dayton, then either George Mason or Villanova in the first two days of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. Tech also hosts Hewitt's former employer, Siena, and USC.

Duke (last NCAA: 2009) In a rarity for a recent Duke team, Mike Krzyzewski's 2009-10 Blue Devil outfit will be frontcourt-oriented, thanks to the departure of Gerald Henderson, Greg Paulus, and Elliot Williams. While 6-5 Jon Scheyer (14.9 ppg, 2.8 apg) and 6-2 junior Nolan Smith (8.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg) are back, and 6-4 freshman Andre Hawkins enrolled early, the Duke backcourt will be extremely thin. It's so thin that Kyle Singler, a 6-8 junior who averaged 16.5 points and 7.7 rebounds a game in '08-09, will spend a lot of time on the wing this season. The frontcourt is talented, but will lack experience. 7-1 senior C Brian Zoubeck (4.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and 6-8 senior PF Lance Thomas (5.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg) are the key holdovers from last season, but they'll be pushed hard by two 6-10 McDonald's All-Americans, Mason Plumlee (brother of Duke soph Miles) and Ryan Kelly. They're two players who will cause major matchup problems for opponents, as they love to get out and play on the perimeter on offense. If the new guys live up to the hype, it could be a big year in Durham. Duke's schedule includes the NIT Season Tip-Off. They'll take on Coastal Carolina in their first game, then face either Charlotte or Elon with a ticket to New York on the line. The Blue Devils will play at Wisconsin in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, face Gonzaga in New York, Iowa State in Chicago, and Tulsa in a rare late February non-conference tilt.

North Carolina (last NCAA: 2009) This pick relies on a lot of "ifs." Considering that Roy Williams lost an average of 66.2 ppg when Wayne Ellington, Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green, and Ty Lawson left Chapel Hill, it won't be easy for the Tar Heels to repeat as NCAA Champion. It will even be tough for them to retain the ACC title. That being said, between the returnees--led by 6-8 senior Deon Thompson (10.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and 6-10 Ed Davis (6.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, but bound to do better when playing more minutes)--and a sterling group of newcomers, the Heels should be able to keep making national noise. Davis and Thompson will be joined in the frontcourt by 6-10 frosh John Henson, who does a lot of everything well. The biggest knock on him is his weight (195 lbs.), but that won't stop him from being a force at this level. 6-5 swingman Marcus Ginyard was out for all but three games last year with an injury, while 6-6 G/F Will Graves (4 ppg, 2.6 rpg) is also back after missing time last season for disciplinary reasons. Freshmen Leslie McDonald (6-4) and Dexter Strickland (6-3) will also see plenty of action in their first season. The revamped Tar Heels will get their first test against in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, with a game against Ohio State to start, then one with California or Syracuse to follow the next night. They also host Nevada and Texas; face a rematch with Michigan State (in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge); and visit Kentucky.

The Tar Heels are my pick to repeat in the ACC, though they'll have a more difficult time this season with a younger roster. They'll hold the league's auto bid in my 2009-10 Final Preseason Bracket, which I will release on November 9. Check in then to see which other ACC squads I think have the best chance to go dancing in March.

To wrap up this preview, here is my preseason All-ACC team, featuring the best returning players from last season.

Preseason All-ACC Team

Player of the Year: Greivis Vasquez, 6-6 G, Sr. (Maryland)

Remainder of the Team
Trevor Booker, 6-7 F, Sr. (Clemson)
Ed Davis, 6-10 F, So. (North Carolina)
Malcolm Delaney, 6-3 G, Jr. (Virginia Tech)
Kyle Singler, 6-8 F, Jr. (Duke)

Poll

Who is your pick to win the ACC this season?

Boston College

9 votes

Clemson

1 votes

Duke

35 votes

Florida State

1 votes

Georgia Tech

3 votes

Maryland

37 votes

Miami

0 votes

North Carolina

22 votes

NC State

2 votes

Virginia

1 votes

Virginia Tech

1 votes

Wake Forest

3 votes

115 votes | Poll has closed

Josh Southern's Bulletin Board Material...and some other notes

Paragon SC — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:52:05 -0000

Earlier this week I posted that BC's Josh Southern had made some comments about USC that sit very well... (emphasis added)

The Eagles were boosted by quality wins over North Carolina and Duke, but the team has had it's fair shair of struggles this season, losing to Ivy Leage team Harvard -- at home. Which is why it might sound a little strange to hear sophomore forward Josh Southern pointing out USC's deficiencies.

"I know that they have some athleticism, but maybe they're lacking a little toughness," Southern said. "We have some toughness on this team and we've demonstrated that over the course of the season."

Fair points, possibly. USC won the Pac-10 tournament, but had one less win than BC's 22 this season. So, if Southern were to stop there, one would understand. But looking past the Trojans would open up a can of worms.

"I'm glad we're a 7 seed and I'll get a chance to meet Michigan State, I think," Southern said. "I'm from Michigan so that's going to be a pleasure to play them, so I'm looking forward to it."

Really? Lacking some toughness? I especially liked that he was looking forward to MSU...damn shame for him.

Southern thought the comments weren't all that big a deal.

A reporter pointed out to Southern that it sounded as if he was guaranteeing a win against USC. He denied that what he said was a guarantee -- just positive thinking.

"Not really guaranteeing," Southern said. "I just try to be positive and speak positive."

"Not trying to be

Yeah...well...seems there were a few guys on the other team who thought differently.

Taj Gibson's battle with Boston College center Josh Southern started before either jockeyed for position in the post during Friday's first-round NCAA Tournament game at the Metrodome.

Gibson read an East Coast report in which Southern described USC as having "a little more athleticism, a little more finesse."

Southern also said his Eagles were "tough." Gibson took that as a stab at USC's toughness, and the article was posted in the locker room.

The 10th-seeded Trojans were plenty tough Friday as they played a stifling defense, which held the Eagles to 32.7 percent shooting from the field and led to dunks and easy baskets. Gibson made all 10 of his shots and missed only one of five free throws en route to a game-high 24 points in USC's 72-55 comeback victory against BC.

For the life of me I can never understand how some players can make comments and think that it won't come back to haunt them. Especially in the era of instant connectivity. Many thought that the Pac-10 looked thin, but the other way of looking at it was that there are a lot of good teams and that they beat each other up.

Marcus Simmons and Dwight Lewis never let BC's Tyrese Rice get into a rhythm and it hurt BC bad with Rice scoring only 9 points, 7 in the first 6 minutes of the 1st half with his last two points coming late in the 2nd half. Talk about thet tag team of Simmons and Lewis clamping down! I wasn't sure how SC would adjust to the flex/motion offense but once they got going in the second half you could see they figured it out, or more accurately just wore BC down.

SC has the hot hand right now. I'm not sure how that will pan out against MSU tomorrow, who seemed to dispatch Robert Morris U with relative ease, but you have keep the riding the wave for as long as you can. And until SC gives me a reason that they will totally collapse I see no reason to not think that they can keep it up.

It wasn't the prettiest game but it got the job done though Adam Maya of the OCR thinks SC's run is coming to an end...

That first half shows the Trojans still are late sometimes with their defensive close outs on the perimeter and it burns them … What does it mean when your offense’s best quality is that its “athletic”? … I love how Gibson and Hackett are wired to think “Team” first, second and third … Marcus Johnson needs to figure out his role now … USC’s defense is very good but not great … DeRozan’s best quality might be his willingness to rebound (think about it) … How long can the Trojans survive playing just six players? … Kailin Lucas, meet Marcus Simmons … USC is not a Sweet 16 team.

I haven't read anything on MSU yet so I am not sure how they will match up. I guess we'll find out tomorrow.

FIGHT ON!

USC gets ready to Dance!

Paragon SC — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:53:09 -0000

With USC's phenominal run in the Pac-10 tournament it shouldn't surprise anyone that some on the team might be a little bit tired...

USC's Marcus Simmons was alive and well, and upright, Monday afternoon.

It was a dramatic change from when he was last seen, ice packs on his left ankle and left knee after spending three days chasing around smaller guards in the Pacific 10 Conference tournament.

From California's Jerome Randle to UCLA's Darren Collision to Arizona State's Derek Glasser, it was a tiring, but rewarding, weekend for Simmons.

"After that last game, I was exhausted," the 6-foot-6 sophomore said. "I needed a day off."

Simmons earned it.

You bet he did.

While DeMar DeRozan was the offensive player of the tournament and with Taj Gibson the favorite for the defensive player of the tournament it can easily be said that Simmons was the ~~not so~~ invisible man for USC. His stellar defense was one of the keys to USC's improbable run to the Pac-10 Tournament title.

USC will face Boston College on Friday in Minneapolis. BC is led by Tyrese Rice, a 6'-1" senior averaged 17.1 points and 5.4 assists per game during the regular season. When he is on the theam feeds off his energy. You can just about gurantee that Simmons will be called upon once again to guard the opposing teams best player. The other player to key ion on will be center Josh Southern. Southern, at 6-10 and 242 pounds, might the "big man" on the team but he has been streaky and is not considered a consistent scorer at this point in his career.

Southern, it would appear, also likes to run his mouth...

"I know that they have some athleticism, but maybe they're lacking a little toughness," Southern said. "We have some toughness on this team and we've demonstrated that over the course of the season."

Wow!

I give BC credit for some solid wins against UNC and Duke, but they also lost to Harvard- at home so it's not like BC are a bunch of world beaters.

...the Eagles (22-11), who finished tied for sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference and have a blue-chip victory over then-No. 1 North Carolina on the road and a red-faced loss to Harvard three days later at home. The Eagles lost four of their last six regular-season games, then lost to Duke in the second round of the ACC tournament.

USC is in because they won the Pac-10 Tourney and I think its safe to say that they probably would not have made it had they not won it all so Josh Southern needs to settle down and not get carried away...it would appear that he is looking ahead to Michigan State. When USC is on they are tough to beat. One interesting stat that was mentioned under the announcers breath on Saturday was that USC is 7-0 when everyone is healthy...we are pretty much there now and while I thought SC might have their bubble burst in the Pac-10 Tourney I am not prepared to say that now...I think this team is now focused with a new resurgence after Saturday.

A little more...

That puts Boston College in the what-gives category with the Trojans (21-12), who lost six of seven games in February, then gritted out three games in three days to win the conference tournament.

Right now I think this game is a pick 'em. SC has had their issues this season but they have the hot hand right now. Of course a let down can come at any moment after playing on such a high level of adrenalin while BC has just kind of moved along kind of under the radar.

SC has really showed some grit this past week...

Pick your cliche' SC has lived it. They have a real shot at making some noise in the tournament they just need to keep it up. Because they they threw everything including the kitchen sink the past week. This team is tough...a lot tougher than Josh Southern gives them credit for...lets hope we make him eat his words.

FIGHT ON!

ACC Tournament: BC vs Virginia Recap

MRickman84 — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 03:45:19 -0000

Well that was trbl. In one of the slowest games I've ever seen with a crowd that looked more dead than Keith Richards, BC was able to hold off Virginia, 76-63, despite Tyrese Rice and Joe Trapani both having off nights.

Rice, who only hit one shot from the field, had nine points (7 for 8 FTs). BC was able to dominate the game inside and even though Virginia was hot from beyond the arc, the points in the paint (36 vs 22) and the free throw differential (36 vs 20) were just too much for the Cavaliers.

Virginia senior Mamadi Diane had 24 points in his final game in a Cavalier uniform. He got a nice ovation from what few fans were in the Georgia Dome late at night when he was taken out of the game with 40 seconds remaining. His performance, as well as some hot shooting from Jamil Tucker and an average game from ACC Rookie of the Year Sylven Landesberg was not enough to overcome Rakim Sanders who went seven for 11 from the floor, good for 25 points and seven rebounds. Josh Southern also had a strong game, finishing with 13 points.

BC, who had about 10 people in the stands, will take on Duke tomorrow. They have already beaten the Blue Devils once this season and if Rice got whatever it was that kept him from having a good game out of his system, he could go off tomorrow. Rice seemed to have trouble handling the ball (as other players have all day--maybe it's the floor or the ball itself), and he wasn't looking for his shot all day.

Yes, Matt Ryan and Doug Flutie were in attendance and Bob Ryan was here to cover the game, but the stars couldn't help the sub-par atmosphere--maybe everyone was just exhausted from a long day of basketball, but it will be bumping tomorrow for the quarterfinals. Goodnight from Atlanta.

ACC Preview Part 2: The Middle Men

TrueCubbie — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:14:55 -0000

In my previous post, I discussed the four teams, who I feel, will be competing for the conference title at the end of February. I also stirred up the crowd by making the argument that Duke is better than UNC (barely). In this post, I look at the next 4 teams, the middle 4, of the toughest conference in the country.

In the last post, we took a look at Wake Forest, Clemson, UNC and Duke, detailing how each team has fared thus far and how they might do during the rest of the year. Today, let's take a look at Maryland, Boston College, Miami and us. This is an excellent group of basketball teams that is capable beating any team at any given time, see BC vs UNC.

Let's take a look at each of the teams:

8. Boston College Eagles

Yes, they beat the best team in the nation. It was one game and they deserved to win. Boston College shot lights out and took advantage of the opportunities that UNC provided them. UNC had a miserable shooting night. This win goes to show that the ACC is going to be more competitive than people thought, meaning any given team could win on any given day. Last year, the Eagles finished 14-17 overall, going a lowly 4-12 in ACC conference play. Somehow, they pulled themselves together after erratic conferenc play to beat Maryland in the first round of the ACC tournament, only to get destroyed by Clemson in the second round. This year, BC only has 67% of returning minutes back on the floor this year. But they are going to be led by two excellent sophomores: Corey Raji and Josh Southern. Last night we also see the coming out party of Corey Raji, another highly athletic sophomore on this team. Notice a pattern? This is a young team and despite their success in the early part of the season, it is likely they will have their struggles down the stretch. Currently, BC is ranked 52nd in the Pomeroy Ratings and they are 12-2 in OOC play, losing to Purdue and St Louis. The average rating of the OOC opponents is 174, with big wins over Massachussetts, Providence, Iowa and UAB. However, they have only played 4 games outside of the Commonwealth.

                      Offense               Defense
Raw Efficiency :  112.9 ( 27)           95.4 ( 90)
Adj Efficiency :  112.2 ( 31)           95.9 ( 86)

Effective FG%  :   51.5 ( 84)           44.3 ( 40)
Turnover Pct.  :   17.5 ( 25)           19.1 (263)
Off. Rebound%  :   40.9 ( 16)           34.7 (211)
Free Throw Rate:   25.7 (136)           29.7 ( 55)

3-Point FG%    :   34.9 (139)           30.1 ( 40)
2-Point FG%    :   51.0 ( 69)           43.9 ( 60)
Free Throw Pct.:   68.7 (161)           66.4 ( 98)
Block Pct.     :   10.4 (251)           11.4 ( 61)
Steal Pct.     :    8.3 ( 58)            9.3 (217)

3PA/FGA        :   31.6 (208)           30.3 ( 79)
A/FGM          :   59.8 ( 66)           46.7 ( 27)

Clearly, a mixed bag of stats. BC, despite its athleticism, play a relatively down tempo game, averaging 70 possessions per game, scoring 1.12 points per possession. They also do a great job on the offensive boards, which may be a result of their hustle and their height. They rank 53rd in the nation in average-minutes weighted height. Corey Raji 6'6 So is bringing down 13.8% of his teams offensive rebound opportunities, anything over 10 is considered excellent. Josh Southern 6'10 So is also getting it done on the glass on both ends of the court. Boston College's success will depend on consistent play from Raji, Tyrese Rice (the lone senior on the team) and Rakim Sanders. Raji is one of the top players in the country and is very active all over the court. He is shooting extremely well with an eFG% of 56.4. Like our Toney Douglas, Raji rarely gets off the court. Lets hope this Raji doesn't tear up the ACC like his football counter part did. BC and the Noles are similar in many regards, however, they don't have the depth of talent that we do. Look for BC to make some noise in ACC play. We have already seen what they can do against UNC but I don't expect the Eagles to keep it up. While BC may have the offensive skills, they don't force the turnovers that are required to sustain effective play in the ACC. BC may surprise us but they need more experience and talent.

7. Florida State Seminoles

This team is close to being one of the elite teams in the conference, but not this year. We have shown flashes of brilliance in the OOC schedule and demonstrated that we're not quite there. For examples of both, see our performance against the Pitt Panthers and the Northwestern Wildcats.

                      Offense               Defense
Raw Efficiency :   99.3 (200)           89.1 ( 28)
Adj Efficiency :   98.8 (206)           88.2 ( 21)

Effective FG%  :   49.1 (158)           42.8 ( 19)
Turnover Pct.  :   24.1 (299)           23.0 ( 80)
Off. Rebound%  :   35.5 (103)           34.1 (190)
Free Throw Rate:   32.9 ( 18)           31.5 ( 78)

3-Point FG%    :   34.6 (150)           32.6 (112)
2-Point FG%    :   47.7 (179)           39.3 ( 10)
Free Throw Pct.:   69.9 (130)           63.5 ( 25)
Block Pct.     :    6.4 ( 44)           18.6 (  6)
Steal Pct.     :   10.4 (204)           12.7 ( 33)

3PA/FGA        :   33.1 (165)           36.7 (282)
A/FGM          :   55.0 (151)           46.7 ( 26)

Currently, our offense ranks 206th in the nation. Our defense is 21st. Worst offense. Fourth best defense. We have no players in the top 500 in offensive effeciency. But, we get to the line early and often. Our assist rate is improving, and slowly but surely our Assist to FG ration is improving. Defensively, we continue to shut teams down, forcing steals and blocking shots. You all know our cast of characters. Keep an eye on Singleton; he is a special player. I think we keep the likes of Duke, UNC and Clemson to some of their lowest scoring games of the year, but I don't think we have the offensive fire power to keep up. Check out all of our old posts in the Basketball section to get the full analysis of this team.

6. Miami Hurricanes

Last year, Miami basketball made a splash on the national scene going 23-11 overall, 8-8 in ACC play and made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament, where they lost to Texas 75-72. This year they, they bring back 79% of their possible returning minutes, specifically returning 4 starters and adding highly touted freshman, DeQuan Jones. Look for an absolute battle between the 6'6 small forward and Chris Singleton. However, comparing production so far, Singleton's numbers are miles ahead of Jones, but Jones has seen limited time, only seeing about 13 minutes of playing time per game. Miami's OOC play had its highs and lows, beating teams 94-41 one night and losing by 15 or so to the likes of Connecticut, Ohio State and Clemson. Clemson made a statement against the Hurricanes beating them 91-72 in Miami. Their average OOC opponent's Pomeroy rating was 166 with a majority of their games being played at home. Here are Miami's numbers:

                      Offense               Defense
Raw Efficiency :  110.5 ( 40)           88.7 ( 25)
Adj Efficiency :  111.8 ( 35)           90.2 ( 31)

Effective FG%  :   49.5 (146)           42.0 (  9)
Turnover Pct.  :   20.1 (126)           19.0 (267)
Off. Rebound%  :   42.0 ( 11)           30.3 ( 79)
Free Throw Rate:   31.9 ( 28)           27.2 ( 29)

3-Point FG%    :   35.7 (109)           25.9 (  2)
2-Point FG%    :   47.5 (188)           43.6 ( 54)
Free Throw Pct.:   66.0 (237)           68.9 (191)
Block Pct.     :   11.5 (292)           12.4 ( 45)
Steal Pct.     :    9.6 (148)            9.1 (230)

3PA/FGA        :   33.8 (142)           34.3 (226)
A/FGM          :   51.7 (233)           56.0 (210)

Again, another team with numbers all over the map. They play a slower tempo game, averaging 67 possessions per game, scoring 1.1 points per possession. So, how are they so succesful? They shut you down on defense...not by stealing the ball but by challenging your shot. However, in their three losses, they allowed their 3 worst opponent eFG% of the year. Clemson had an eFG% of 54.9 against the 'Canes. Miami's offensive success rests squarely on the shoulders of Jack McClinton 6'1 Sr and Dwayne Collins 6'8 Jr. Miami beats you by getting to the line and hoping they beat you with the three. McClinton is happy to pull the trigger from deep. Miami's offense is helped by its ability to take care of the offensive glass. If McClinton and Collins can continue to produce on the offensive end, Miami might make it back to the NCAA tournament. It helps that they have 4 seniors and 4 juniors on their team. Miami has fallen of the map on the national scene recently, particularly in light of their loss to Clemson. Boston College shot up the polls today. This type of volatility in the polls is quite common early in the season, particularly in the lower half of the polls. Miami may show up again or they may fade. Based on their experience, I would expect them to make some noise in the ACC and get to the tournament. Though, I still think Miami has been playing ahead of themselves so far this year. I haven't been overwhelmed the couple of opportunities I have had to watch them. Pomeroy is predciting us to lose both games against Miami; I just don't see that happening.

5. Maryland Terrapins

I think that Maryland is the forgotten team in the ACC this year. Putting them at #5 might be a bit generous, but I think they have the ability to play at a high level. I really think the 5-8 spots in the ACC are up for grabs this year. Last year, the Terps went 19-15 overall, 8-8 in the ACC and lost to Syracuse in the second round of the NIT. Maryland could have easily gone 11-5 in the ACC, losing some very close games, this was despite having a middle of the road offense in the conference. This year they bring back 70% of returning minutes, losing two of their key players to graduation: Gist and Bambale. Unfortunately, Gary Williams wasn't able to bring in the typical talent he is used to having in Maryland, thought he is already off to a great start for 2009. Their average OOC opponent ranking was 165. Aside from a two game slide against Gonzaga and Georgetown, Maryland is, in general, taking care of business, winning games by 15-20 points.

                      Offense               Defense
Raw Efficiency :  107.8 ( 69)           89.4 ( 31)
Adj Efficiency :  105.5 ( 91)           88.6 ( 23)

Effective FG%  :   48.0 (193)           44.5 ( 44)
Turnover Pct.  :   17.1 ( 18)           23.3 ( 68)
Off. Rebound%  :   36.0 ( 90)           32.4 (140)
Free Throw Rate:   24.1 (183)           27.2 ( 28)

3-Point FG%    :   34.4 (158)           30.0 ( 38)
2-Point FG%    :   46.6 (215)           44.3 ( 67)
Free Throw Pct.:   79.5 (  3)           64.7 ( 50)
Block Pct.     :    8.6 (163)           12.8 ( 41)
Steal Pct.     :    7.7 ( 20)           11.7 ( 67)

3PA/FGA        :   27.8 (278)           32.4 (148)
A/FGM          :   55.7 (139)           53.0 (137)

Maryland plays a similar "stats" game to the Noles, focusing on defense. They are currently ranked 23rd in the nation. Their offense, however, is 91st and would likely be better if they shot the ball better from the floor. Still, they get away with it because they don't turn the ball over and take advantage of getting to the line. Again, they are a relatively slow tempo offense compared to the likes of Clemson, Wake and UNC. Though, Maryland is scoring a lowly 1.07 points per possession. Keep in mind, we only score 0.99. However, the most points per possession we have allowed this year was 1.1 against Georgia Southern. Against Pitt, we only allowed 0.8 points per possession. So that's how we can get away with only scoring 0.9 points per possession. Sorry for the digression...back to Maryland. Despite their shooting troubles, Maryland has 4 players in the top 500 for Offensive Rating and 3 in the top 500 for turnover rate. That is the key to their offense...they limit their mistakes, which is quite impressive for a team with only one senior. Vasquez 6'6 So is their top offensive player and he, like Toney Douglas, does not come off the court. The big concern for Vazquez is that he turns the ball over on a regular basis. Look for Maryland to play a three guard line up on a regular basis with Vasquez, Sean Mosley 6'5 Fr and Eric Hayes 6'4 Jr. They may run into trouble against some of the bigger teams in the confernce like ourselves and Wake. There isn't a lot to get excited about here. I think the Maryland is a better version of ourselves...meaning they get it done on both ends of the court, unlike ourselves, who have yet to settle into an offensive rhythm on a regular basis. Maryland may quietly hang around in conference play, likely going 8-8. Some have predicted that Maryland may only win 4 conference games this year, which could be entirely possible.

So here is the lay of the land so far:

1. Duke

2. UNC

3. Clemson

4. Wake Forest

5. Maryland

6. Miami

7. Florida State

8. Boston College

What are your thoughts? Did Boston College's win against UNC move them up your rankings? Where do you think FSU will end up this year? The big question is will they make the tournament? With Pitt being ranked #1 and many saying that the FSU game was their closest game of the year, we might have a chance. We just need to hang on for the ride that will be the ACC conference play.

Thanks again for contributing and reading my ramblings.

Go NOLES!