2010-2011 ACC Preview

The calendar has turned to November and that means it's just about time for the basketball season to start. And for me that means putting together another ACC preview. The media came up with its predictions for the year, and now it's my turn. I will be counting down from #12 to my prediction as the #1 team in the conference. Before I list the #12 team, a few words about the preview.

I think coming into the year most people will say this will be a down year for the ACC. And it's hard for me to argue with that, looking at the talent that was lost and the rosters for the teams. Once you get past the first few teams, the league is as wide open as any year I've seen it. One of the things I look at going into the year is how many games each team plays against NCAA Tournament teams from the year before. Last year, each team played at least 10 such games, with some much more than that. This year, some teams only have 8 games against NCAA Tourney teams. That's mostly a function of the fact that only 6 ACC teams made the tournament last year. And I'm a bit disappointed with some of the non-conference schedules. Many teams are not playing very challenging slates at all.

With that being said, let's start the list with who I predict will be the last place finisher.

#12: Wake Forest

Games against 2010 NCAA Tournament teams: 11
Best non-conference game: Dec. 18 at Xavier

Projected Starting Five:
C - Ty Walker (Junior)
F - Travis McKie (Freshman)
F - Ari Stewart (Sophomore)
G - C.J. Harris (Sophomore)
G - Gary Clark (Senior)

There really is no sugar-coating: Wake Forest is in for a rough year. The Deacons made the NCAA Tournament last year with a squad of talented players, getting to the second round. Then it was goodbye to Coach Dino Gaudio. And goodbye to Al-Farouq Aminu, among others. That leaves new Coach Jeff Bzdelik to try to impart a new system with a virtually bare cupboard.

The Demon Deacons do not have many players with real significant game experience. Here are the pieces that return from last year: Senior Gary Clark scored 3.2 points per game last year. Guard C.J. Harris scored 9.9 points per game last year as a freshman. Ari Stewart scored 7.3 points per game last year. And that's it. No one else had significant playing time in 2009-2010. The Deacons have very few weapons in the frontcourt, and will miss the point guard leadership of Ish Smith.

The bottom line is I just don't know where the scoring is going to come from with Wake. Harris is going to be a solid player but he's not a scoring machine. They have to hope their incoming freshman will be able to play immediately for them to do anything this year. They do have a fairly easy early season schedule. But we should learn a lot at the NIT Season Tip-Off event in MSG on Thanksgiving week.