College Basketball: Power Ranking the Likely Starting Lineups of All ACC Teams

Starting lineups in basketball are not always created from putting the five most talented players on the court at the same time.

As important as raw skills are, how well five individuals play together may be just as critical.

As the late Herb Brooks (1980 USA Olympic hockey coach) was once reportedly to have said: "I'm not looking for the best players. I'm looking for the right ones."

With one month to go before a new college basketball season begins, coaches are already considering who they might "go to war with."

For some coaches, they've already identified their Five. For other coaches. the starting lineup is far from being determined.

Let's take a quick look at who the likely starting lineups of every 2011-12 Atlantic Coast Conference team will be.

For a moment, we'll focus on the upcoming season and not the ACC's future expansion.

Who would you be putting on the floor? Here are my predictions:

12. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Wake Forest's basketball program is travaling a very difficult stretch of road.

Four years ago, the Demon Deacons head coach Skip Prosser died suddenly of a heart attack.

Last year, Wake went 8-24 overall, winning only one game in the ACC.

In the last 12 months, the program has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. 

Four players who would have formed the core of this year's team (Tony Woods, Ari Stewart, Melvin Tabb and J.T. Terrell) have either left or been dismissed from school.

On top of all of this, senior center Ty Walker is suspended for the first semester for a WFU student code of conduct violation.

As a result, the Demon Deacons will begin the season with eight scholarship players and four walk-ons.

C.J. Harris, a 6'3" junior (10.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 3.5 apg) will start at one guard.

Carson Desrosiers, a 7'0" sophomore (4.0 ppg; 3.2 rpg; 1.7 bpg) will anchor the Wake front-line for at least the first semester.

Nikita Mescheriakov, a 6'8" senior who began his college career at Georgetown, contributes size and outside shooting ability.

Incoming freshman Chase Fischer (6'4 SG) and Daniel Green (6'9 PF) may get thrown into starting duty immediately.

Fortunately for head coach Jeff Bzdelik, he has the "unquestioned support" of the school and athletic director.

11. Boston College Eagles

This picture was taken right after second-year coach, Steve Donahue realized what he had got himself into...Not really.

Boston College is another ACC team that finds itself facing a very challenging 2011-12 season.

The Eagles lost Reggie Jackson (BC's scoring and assist leader) to the Draft and eight (count 'em, eight) seniors.

Sharpshooting sophomore wing Danny Rubin (6'6"; 4.4 ppg; 43.4 percent from beyond the arc) gives the Eagles someone who is returning that can hit some shots.

BC will carry nine freshmen (one of the highest number of first time players in the country; Texas Tech also has nine; St. John's had nine, but lost three as academic casualties) on the 2011-12 roster.

Most of them will have the chance to start or compete for major minutes right off the bat.

Look for Ryan Anderson (PF), Kyle Caudill (C), Jordan Daniels (PG), and Lonnie Jackson (SG) - all from California - to be in the Starting Five.

10. Maryland Terrapins

First year coach Mark Turgeon has a major rebuilding job to do.

With losing Jordan Williams (early entry) and three seniors, Maryland has to replace 45 ppg and 24 rpg.

Turgeon will build from the backcourt where he has Terrell Stoglin (11.4 ppg; 3.3 apg) and Sean Mosley (8.1 ppg; 3.8 rpg; 2.2 apg).

Incoming freshman wing Nick Faust (6'6" 175 lbs) could start from Game one. 

The Terrapins front-court is not only filled with question marks...There simply is not much for Turgeon to work with in Year One. 

Maryland may start the season with 6'10", 200-pound Berend Weijs (1.8 ppg; 1.1 rpg) patrolling the middle.

James Padget (6'8" 215 lbs; 3.3 ppg; 1.9 rpg) will most likely start at PF.

This could be an ugly first-season for Turgeon.

9. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

First year head coach Brian Gregory has hit the ground running so that he can get the Georgia Tech back in the ACC hunt.

Gregory has the nucleus of a team that could surprise people after GT went a disappointing 13-18 (5-11 ACC) a year ago.

The Yellow Jackets will have a very solid backcourt in Glen Rice Jr (12.8 ppg; 5.6 rpg; 3.5 apg) and Mfon Udofia (6.7 ppg; 1.2 apg).

Jason Morris (6'5" 210), a combo G-F who started Tech's last five games, averaging 9.6 ppg and 3.0 rpg, is likely to start on the wing

Gregory has some decent frontcourt size with Daniel Miller (6'11" 258 lbs) at center, and either Kammeon Holsey (6'8" 226 lbs) or freshman Julian Royal (6'7" 230) at the PF.

8. North Carolina State Wolfpack

First year head coach Mark Gottfried has the big job of elevating the NC State program in the same neighborhood as UNC and Duke.

Forward C.J. Leslie (6'8" 206 lbs) is the Wolfpack's go-to guy. Last year, Leslie was named to the ACC All-Freshman team. He finished second on team in scoring (11.0) and led the Pack in rebounding (7.2)

Scott Wood returns (6'7 177 lbs). His 135 made three-pointers are the most for any NC State player after his sophomore season.

Richard Howell (6'8" 261 lbs; 7.4ppg; 6.5 rpg) adds bulk in the middle.

Gottfried could run without a true point guard and go big in the backcourt.

Lorenzo Brown (6'5" 186 lbs) led the team in assists (3.7 apg) and tied for fourth on the team in scoring (9.3 ppg). C.J. Williams (6'5" 218 lbs) saw spot starting duty in the last half of 2010-11. 

7. Miami Hurricanes

Miami, in seven ACC seasons, has never placed higher than a tie for fifth place.

Jim Larranaga had great success at George Mason (13 consecutive winning seasons). Hopefully for the Hurricanes, he can hoist the program upward as the athletic department is under the national microscope for what appears to be a full-fledged NCAA-violations nightmare.

Larranaga has a solid backcourt in Durand Scott (pictured; 13.6 ppg; 4.2 rpg; 3.1 apg) and Malcolm Grant (14.8 ppg; 1.8 rpg; 3.2 apg).

A huge question mark will be the recovery of the Canes center Reggie Johnson (6'10" 303 lbs; 11.9 ppg; 9.4 rpg). Johnson hopefully returns at full speed after a serious ACL injury.

Garrius Adams is another athletic perimeter player (6'6" 196 lbs; 7.5 ppg; 3.7 rpg).

Julian Gamble provides more bulk (6'9" 258 lbs; 3.7 ppg; 3.2 rpg) down low.

Miami was a disappointing 6-10 in the ACC last year. If they can stay healthy, the Hurricanes have a chance to jump back into the top half of the league standings.

  

6. Virginia Cavaliers

Virginia basketball is still trying to find its way in the ACC.

Cavalier head coach Tony Bennett is working through the long process of re-establishing the program.

And it hasn't been an easy couple years, but progress may not be far away. 

Fifth-year senior Mike Scott (6'8" 237 lbs) was awarded a medical redshirt after an ankle injury sent him to the sideline 10 games into last season. Up until that time, Scott was leading the team in scoring (15.9 ppg) and rebounding (10.2 rpg).

Sophomore wing Joe Harris (6'6" 202 lbs - 10.4 ppg; 4.4 rpg) returns ready to build on a solid freshman season.

Red-shirt freshman forward James Johnson (6'9" 238 lbs) will provide size on the Cavs frontline.

Junior PG Jontel Evans led the team in assists (109) and steals (40) last season.

Senior G Sammy Zeglinski's versatility (7.8 ppg; 3.1 rpg; 2.3 apg) is a major plus.

By mid-season, incoming freshman SG Malcom Brogdon (from the ATL) will challenge for serious minutes. 

5. Clemson Tigers

Clemson head coach Brad Brownell may not be a household name yet, but he is sure leaving his mark wherever he goes.

Last year, in his first season at Clemson, Brownell led the Tigers to a 22-12 record.

While they lost Demontez Stitt and Jerai Grant, the Tigers bring back a talented, deep group for '11-12.

Mighty-mite senior PG Andre Young (5'9" 175 lbs - 11.1 ppg; 3.0 apg) will lead the Tigers attack.

Senior guard Tanner Smith (6'5 210 lbs - 7.8 ppg; 3.5 apg) provides a quality running mate for Young.

Milton Jennings (6'9" 225 lbs - 8.3 ppg; 5.2 rpg) and Devin Booker (6'8" 245 lbs - 8.1ppg; 5.5 rpg) could be a dominant duo.

K.J. McDaniels (6'6" 190 lbs), a freshman combo forward, is awesome in the open-court, and has no problem getting to the rim.

4. Virginia Tech Hokies

Virginia Tech is another ACC school that is losing lots of players from last year's roster. Seven seniors said "So long" to Blacksburg.

Malcolm Delaney and Jeff Allen alone accounted for 32 ppg and 13 rgp and 6 apg.

While the Hokies have won 121 games in the last five years, they have only been invited to the Dance one time. 

Facing all of those challenges, Seth Greenberg is looking for a break-through season at VTech.

Junior guard Erick Green (6'4" - 11.4 ppg; 2.3 rpg; 2.5 apg) returns to lead the way.

Red-shirt senior Dorenzo Hudson (6'5" 220 lbs) returns from an injury that knocked him out of last season after the ninth game. If Hudson can find his junior-year mojo (15.2 ppg; 3.5 rpg), the Hokies could have the biggest backcourt in the conference.

Victor Davila (6'8" 245 lbs - 7.4 ppg; 5.1 rpg) is a load down low.

The two players that could bring the most excitement to Cassell Coliseum are freshmen Dorian Finney-Smith (6'8" 192 - No. 4 SF in ESPNU's Class of 2011) and PF C.J. Barksdale (6'8" 232 lbs).

These two long, athletic frontcourt players give Virginia Tech a chance to take advantage of all of the transition in the conference, and finish in the top tier of the ACC.   

3. Florida State Seminoles

As long as Leonard Hamilton is the Florida State coach, the Seminoles will be a tough, physcial defensive-driven team.

The 'Noles lost their two leading players, Chris Singleton (13.1 ppg; 6.8 rpg)  and Derwin Kitchen (10.4 ppg; 5.8 rpg; 3.6 apg) from their team that lost in the Sweet Sixteen to VCU.

But everyone else is back, plus they have a super-recruiting class that will add immediate size, talent and depth.

Having junior guard Michael Snaer (pictured; 6'5" 225 lbs - 8.8 ppg; 2.7 rpg; 2.2 apg) is like having a coach on the floor.

Arkansas-transfer Jeff Peterson will be counted on to help run the show and score points.

Bernard James (6'10" 240 lbs - 8.6 ppg; 5.9 rpg; 2.4 bpg) is a force in the paint.

Okaro White (6'8" 200 lbs - 8.8 ppg; 2.7 rpg) is money from the line, hitting 82.8 percent.

Juco transfer Kiel Turpin (6'11" 225) was named the Most Valuable Player in two consecutive junior college national tournaments. He gives Hamilton an enforcer to go alongside James.

Florida State made most of their late season and NCAA tournament run without Singleton. This could be another exciting season for the Seminoles. 

2. Duke Blue Devils

If most teams lost the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, the ACC Player of the Year and a former Final Four Most Outstanding Player, you'd assume that the program would be in panic mode.

Not Duke. Not this year.

While Coach K does have a large task in reassembling the Blue Devils lineup, he does so with plenty of firepower and talent with which to work.

Seth Curry is the leading scorer (9.0 ppg) among all returning players. He will have an expanded role with the departure of Irving, Smith and Singler.

Andre Dawkins (8.1 ppg), Mason Plumlee (6'10 230 lbs - 7.2 ppg; 8.4 rpg), and Ryan Kelly (6'11 235 lbs - 6.6 ppg; 3.7 rpg) are all ready to have a break-out junior seasons.

Prediction: Mason Plumlee will be Duke's next double-double guy.

Saving who could be the best for last...Austin Rivers, ESPNU's  No. 1 SG in the nation, is ready to fill it up at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

While this team may lack the single, superstar(s) that many Duke teams have had, they will be a very good TEAM.

It would not be a surprise at all to see five or more players on any given night score in double figures.

1. North Carolina Tar Heels

North Carolina will have the best starting five in the ACC.

I'm going to go one step further...North Carolina is going to have the best starting five in the nation.

The Tar Heels will put no less than four future NBA Draft picks on the floor to start the game, with one or more coming off the bench.

Roy Williams' squad will again be the best rebounding team in the country.

John Henson (6'10 210 lbs - 11.7 ppg; 10.1 rpg; 3.2 bpg) is the second coming of Sam Perkins.

Tyler Zeller (7'0" 250 lbs - 15.7 ppg; 7.2 rpg; 1.2 bpg) is one of the most under-rated post players in the country.

Harrison Barnes (6'8" 210 lbs - 15.7 ppg; 5.8 rpg) came on strong at the end of last season and is ready to explode this year.

Kendall Marshall (6'3" 186 lbs - 6.1 ppg; 5.8 apg) runs the show as well as any D1 PG.

Dexter Strickland will have first crack at the SG position, but Reggie Bullock and freshman sharp-shooter P.J. Hairston will be right there when needed.

On any other team, McDonald's All-American PF James McAdoo would be in the starting five. This year in Chapel Hill, he'll have to wait his turn.