A Pocket Preview For The 2010-2011 ACC Basketball Season
Some things in the ACC (Duke) are certain. Other things, less so. We know who the best team is. How about the second-best? How about the worst? Which players and teams will surprise people? Who's the best coach? The best newcomer? Who looks to be overrated?
Speculation on this and many other topics is contained herein. Please enjoy.
1. Best Team -- Duke
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No suspense or mystery here, so let's get it out of the way first.
As has been laboriously documented on this site and many others, Duke is poised and expected to repeat as ACC and National Champions. The Blue Devils topped the season's first AP poll (released yesterday), and the sight of that was not unlike seeing Bill Gates top the richest man list.
The additions of Kyrie Irving and Seth Curry actually make the Blue Devils better. The departed Brian Zoubek fit nicely into last year's lineup, but it's not like he was Bill Russell. The Plumlee Brothers should be able to pick up the slack.
This team could run a lot of tables this year.
By the way, today's Obligatory Kyle Singler Arms Raised Championship Photo is brought to you by Speed Stick.
2. Best Non-Duke Team -- Virginia Tech Hokies
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Malcolm Delaney is a dark horse for ACC MVP, and rightly so. He's a scoring machine and tenacious competitor. But the Hokies also return fellow seniors Dorenzo Hudson and Jeff Allen for one more run. Florida transfer Allan Chaney hopes to round out the front court.
Last year, the Hokies either won or lost ten games by seven points or less. Perhaps their experience and two straight seasons of near-missing have taught them how to finish games. Their rabid fan base will make Cassell Coliseum a tough place to play. Their schedule (tougher than in years past) includes Purdue and Duke in Blacksburg.
The Hokies are well stocked and well coached under Seth Greenberg. They have been knocking on the door of the ACC's upper echelon for several years now. This is the year it opens.
3. Worst Team -- Wake Forest Demon Deacons
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Not a lot of debate on this one, either.
It's a clean slate for the Deacs. Jeff Bzdelik has the tools to get this program back to the top. He has had success in college and the pros, although his previous three seasons in Colorado were fairly underwhelming.
But even if a resurgence is realistic, it's not in the cards for this year. The only returning starter is sophomore C.J. Harris, who averaged 10 points and one assist in his first year at Wake. Not to put too fine a point on it, but the eight players on Wake's roster who played college basketball last season averaged three points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in ten minutes per game. Not, eh, not what you want to see if you're a Wake fan there.
Some of their freshmen are promising, especially forward Travis McKie, who led all scorers Monday night when Wake was lucky to squeak past Hampton. Nevertheless, it's gonna be a long year in Winston-Salem.
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4. Most Underrated Team -- Boston College
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Most people, including those who vote in the ACC's official preseason media poll, have the Eagles finishing at or near the bottom this year. I think they'll be better than that.
Everyone always discounts experience at the college level, choosing instead to fixate on the one-and-done phenom of the month. I understand that--hey, I do it, too. But Boston College is in a position to show how far a solid, stable nucleus can take you.
The Eagles return four starters from last year, anchored by steady Joe Trapani. Corey Raji, Biko Paris and Reggie Jackson are also important pieces. All of them are seniors except for Jackson, who is a junior.
New coach Steve Donahue took Cornell to the Sweet 16 last year and has committed to an exciting, up-tempo brand of basketball that should fit well in the ACC and accentuate their versatility. Plus, Boston fans and media all seem impressed thus far. Never underestimate the power of a motivated fan base. Especially in Boston.
They're not going to overtake the Dukes of the world, but I predict they'll be in a lot of games late and will finish above the predictions.
5. Most Overrated Team -- North Carolina Tar Heels
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Yeah, I know. Harrison Barnes, Harrison Barnes, Harrison Barnes. But last I checked, you needed five guys on the floor. They've got other promising freshmen in Reggie Bullock and Kendall Marshall to go along with Barnes, but at this point, that's all they are--promising. For all their talent, they still haven't proven they can win night in and night out in the ACC, and you can bet that other teams will be gunning for them.
Furthermore, they still have several pieces from last year's disappointing squad. John Henson still looks like he needs a hamburger or twenty. Tyler Zeller and Larry Drew are serviceable, but not much more. Don't forget that this supporting cast supported the Heels right into the NIT last season.
Don't get me wrong--they have a chance to be good. But I'm not ready to rubber stamp them for a second-place finish in the conference just yet, much less a deep run in March. They'll have to earn that.
6. Biggest Question Mark -- Maryland
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Maryland lost three starters from last season's ACC regular-season co-champions, but they're more in a state of flux than of full-on rebuilding.
In three games so far, sophomore Jordan Williams has looked like the best player on the court, averaging a double double. There was a lot of uncertainty at guard coming in. But if freshman Pe'Shon Howard continues to play the way he's been playing, that uncertainty will dry up soon. Senior Adrian Bowie is not a point guard, but is being asked to play there at least for now, pending the development of Howard or fellow freshman Terrell Stoglin. It remains to be seen whether the supporting cast can find consistency, although Cliff Tucker has been terrific in early play.
The Terps are under the radar and have a chip on their shoulder--just the way Gary Williams likes it. If they can solidify their lineup, they could resume their role as the giant killers in the ACC.
7. Most Underrated Player -- Malcolm Grant
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Most ACC fans know about Durand Scott, who as a freshman last season helped carry the 'Canes to the ACC tournament semifinals where they gave Duke all they could handle.
This is Scott's team, but Grant, a Brooklyn point guard, can fill it up, too. Last season, he averaged 9.6 points per game compared to Scott's 10.3, but did it with 25 fewer shots. He also added 3.5 assists and two rebounds to the mix --both also comparable to Scott.
Grant and the rest of the 'Canes may not stay underrated for long. On Monday night, Miami took No. 19 Memphis down to the wire, with Grant chipping in 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and some very clutch play down the stretch. He may not play second fiddle for long.
8. Most Overrated Player -- Chris Singleton
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Here's one not everyone might agree on, but what's the fun of doing these lists if you don't take a flyer or two?
I realize that Singleton won the ACC Defensive Player of the Year last year. Seven rebounds, 1.5 blocks and two steals per game will do that.
But his offense is absolutely atrocious. And it's not just atrocious, it's that he doesn't always seem to know it's atrocious. Time after time he showed an inability or an unwillingness to play within himself. Take the 1-7 shooting at home against Maryland, or the 1-9 versus Virginia Tech. And then there's the pitiful 49 percent free throw percentage.
In their final four regular-season games, when the heat was really on, Singleton went a combined 7-24, including an inexplicable 2-10 from beyond the arc. Over the same four-game period, he netted 17 rebounds, eight steals and one block. Do you think his black hole of an offensive game is worth these other stats?
Singleton spent the summer working with a variety of pro players on his offense. So far this season, he is averaging a very good 16.5 points per game on 46 percent FG shooting and 91 percent FT shooting. Seminoles fans better hope those numbers don't evaporate when the meat of the schedule arrives.
9. Coach Of The Year -- Seth Greenberg
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I had to use that picture--it's just too amusing. Jazz hands! He looks like an extra from The Lord of the Rings: The Musical.
I kid, but his resume is serious. In seven seasons at Virginia Tech, Greenberg has spun less-than-blue-chip talent into a 132-94 record.
Greenberg has been a good and well-respected coach for a long time, regularly scratching out a blue collar living in the blue blooded ACC. That is no mean feat. He won this award in 2008, but that year was the first in a string of three that ended in the NIT. When he wins the award this year, he'll cap it off with a ticket to the dance.
10. Freshman Of The Year -- Harrison Barnes
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The guy is being compared to Kobe. What else can I add? Just give him the trophy now.
11. All-Conference Guard -- Malcolm Delaney
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Already averaging 20 points a game. We'll know a lot more about Delaney and the team he leads when they go into Manhattan to face third-ranked Kansas State on Tuesday afternoon.
12. All-Conference Guard -- Nolan Smith
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Nolan Smith is the quiet contributor on a Duke team that so many people expect to repeat as National Champions. He'll get his due on the All-ACC team.
13. All-Conference Forward -- Kyle Singler
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Today's second Obligatory Kyle Singler Arms Raised Photo is sponsored by the Greater Durham Convention and Tourism Bureau.
14. All-Conference Forward -- Harrison Barnes
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I still don't know what else I can add to his accolades. He's gonna be real good.
15. All-Conference Center -- Jordan Williams
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Williams currently ranks second in the ACC in scoring and third in rebounding. His free throws need work, but he's a bona fide stud and will be the best center in the conference this year.
16. Conference Player Of The Year -- Kyle Singler
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Today's third Obligatory Photo of Kyle Singler With His Arms Raised is brought to you by Dramamine.
But seriously, he's the odds-on favorite to win this award. Expectations are high for the Blue Devils, and Singler is their leader and top player.
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