A lot of attention will be on championship week in college football, but there are several really interesting games in college basketball this weekend too. Here are the more intriguing games on the ACC schedule:
Saturday:
Delaware at Duke, 2:00 p.m. (FSN) - Delaware is much better than it has been in the last several years, already winning at UVA. They don't have much chance of an upset in this one, although if they catch Duke on an emotional letdown after the Ohio State game they can keep it close. I expect this to be one of those games where Duke is up maybe three at halftime and ends up winning by 20.
Miami at UMass, 2:00 p.m. (CBS Sports Network) - It wouldn't surprise me at all to see UMass win this game at home, with Miami coming off that big win over Michigan State. The Hurricanes need to carry the momentum from Wednesday, though, and continue to build their NCAA resume.
Oklahoma State at Virginia Tech, 2:00 p.m. - I will be keeping a close eye on this one from Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies have certainly played well in the earlygoing, but this is by far their toughest test. Oklahoma State has that one big blowout win over N.C. State, and a ton of talent. They have only played one game in the last two weeks, so it will be interesting to see if they come out rusty. Virginia Tech could get on the cusp of the Top 25 with a win.
UAB at North Carolina, 6:00 p.m. (ESPNU) - North Carolina is looking to get back to their winning ways at home. And UAB is no slouch. This is the fourth of five straight games on the road for the Blazers. They really haven't beaten anybody yet, so I don't expect them to beat the Tar Heels. But they should at least give them a good game.
Wake Forest at Richmond, 6:00 p.m. - I can't remember how many times this year already I've said: Wake has to win this game. But here's another one. They have got to get some positive momentum to their season. Richmond is certainly beatable: they have lost their only two games against good teams (Minnesota and Ohio). But it is going to be tough for Wake to win on the road.
Sunday:
Clemson at South Carolina, 12:00 p.m. (ESPNU) - Clemson is another team that really needs some positive momentum, especially after that clunker of a game against Illinois. They can certainly win against their rival South Carolina, even on the road. The Gamecocks have lost to Elon already this year and look to be near the bottom of the SEC.
Maryland vs. George Mason, 5:00 p.m. - This game is part of the BB&T Classic at the Verizon Center in D.C. Maryland has been really hot to start the season, and should beat everyone's favorite cinderella. George Mason is always a tough team to play, but they are a little down this year (even though they beat UVA). Expect a 15 point Maryland win.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
ACC/Big Ten Challenge: Winners and Losers
All told, it wasn't a bad week for the ACC, earning a tie against what many people think is the best conference. Some of the wins came from unexpected sources, as well. My predicting skills were much better on Day 1: I went 5-1 on the first day, and 2-4 on the second. So let's take a look at some winners and losers, focusing on the ACC:
Winners:
Losers:
Winners:
- Miami
- Virginia schools
- The Cameron Crazies
- Boston College
Losers:
- Florida State
- Home Losers
- UNC's Poise
- Close Games
Monday, November 26, 2012
ACC/Big Ten Challenge Preview
ACC/Big Ten Challenge week is here, and for many ACC teams that means their toughest non-conference game. First, a quick look back at the weekend. Duke has moved up to #2 in the AP poll, and deservedly. They looked very good at the Battle 4 Atlantis, taking care of Minnesota, VCU and Louisville. Quinn Cook has really been a standout for the Blue Devils, although a number of guys are getting it done.
I want to give some credit to Georgia Tech as well. Their stay in the DirecTV Classic was a success, with a good win over St. Mary's. On the negative side, Boston College continues to struggle. Losing at home to Bryant is not going to score any points for the conference. And N.C. State appears to still be in a bit of a funk. They needed some late scoring to get a two point win at home against UNC Asheville.
Here are the matchups for the challenge:
Tuesday:
Iowa at Virginia Tech (7:15 p.m., ESPNU)
The Hokies have looked pretty good this year, especially on offense. They really haven't played anyone, though, and were only seriously challenged in one of their first five games. Iowa is expected to contend for an NCAA bid this year. They have already lost to Wichita State. At the beginning of the year I probably would have picked Iowa but I'll go with the home team.
Pick: Virginia Tech
Minnesota at Florida State (7:15 p.m., ESPN2)
Florida State has rebounded from their first game loss to win four in a row, including wins against BYU and St. Joe's. Minnesota has also played solidly, beating Memphis and Stanford, with their only loss to Duke. This could be one of the best games of the challenge. I'm not quite buying into Florida State yet. I think the Gophers make a late basket to steal one.
Pick: Minnesota
N.C. State at Michigan (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
This was the marquee game of the challenge in my opinion at the start of the year. Now I think it's a pretty easy Michigan win. N.C. State has really struggled to stop anybody in their last two games, and John Beilein's team is rolling. The Wolverines could win this one by double digits.
Pick: Michigan
Maryland at Northwestern (9:15 p.m., ESPN2)
Northwestern is a tricky place to play. The Wildcats usually start out the season well, then fade late in the year. They are undefeated this year, but their best win is against TCU. Coach Mark Turgeon was unhappy with Maryland's effort in their latest game against Georgia Southern, but I think the Terps have a significant edge in talent.
Pick: Maryland
Nebraska at Wake Forest (9:15 p.m., ESPNU)
Wake's best win last year was probably their road win at Nebraska. They should beat the Cornhuskers again this year. Nebraska is a team in transition, with a new coach, and in their last game they lost to Kent State by 14. This is in the running for ugliest game of the challenge.
Pick: Wake Forest
North Carolina at Indiana (9:30 p.m., ESPN)
North Carolina is still trying to figure out its rotation, and they have a monumental challenge here. Indiana hasn't really been playing like the #1 team in the country, but you have to believe they will bring their best at home against the Tar Heels. This one could get out of hand early.
Pick: Indiana
Wednesday:
Virginia at Wisconsin (7:00 p.m., ESPN2)
Wisconsin is a very tough place to play, and the Badgers have another solid team. Coach Bo Ryan's squad is 4-2, but their losses are to Florida and Creighton. Virginia has been playing better, but they don't have the horses to win on the road in Madison.
Pick: Wisconsin
Purdue at Clemson (7:15 p.m., ESPNU)
This may not be the prettiest game, but it is an intriguing matchup. This is definitely not the same quality Purdue team as we've come to expect. They have already lost to Bucknell, Villanova and Oregon State. Clemson struggles to score at times, but I give them the slight edge because they are at home.
Pick: Clemson
Michigan State at Miami (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
It says a lot about the expectations for Miami this year that they got a big time matchup against the Spartans. Michigan State has struggled a little bit so far this year, but then again so has Miami. The Hurricanes will have a tough time dealing with a team that has the experience and coaching of Michigan State. If they had a more hostile home environment, I would be inclined to pick them. But I like the Spartans.
Pick: Michigan State
Georgia Tech at Illinois (9:00 p.m., ESPN2)
Georgia Tech did pick up that nice win over St. Mary's, but they will have a tough road challenge in Champaign. Illinois is 7-0, coming off that surprising Maui Invitational title. They are scoring a lot of points, and the Yellow Jackets will be hard pressed to keep up with them. If Georgia Tech can keep the game in the 60s they have a chance.
Pick: Illinois
Boston College at Penn State (9:15 p.m., ESPNU)
If you are looking to spend two hours being tortured, watch this game. It seems like BC and Penn State play each other every year in this challenge. And this game might not make it out of the 40s. Penn State certainly isn't great. They lost to Akron by 25. But I can't bring myself to pick Boston College to win a road game.
Pick: Penn State
Ohio State at Duke (9:30 p.m., ESPN)
We've saved the best game for last. Ohio State is always good, and really took it to the Blue Devils at home last year. Duke, meanwhile, is off to a great start. I have seen Duke completely blow out teams in this situation before. I don't think the Buckeyes will go that easily. But I do think Duke pulls off another big win.
Pick: Duke
If you're keeping score at home, I have the Big Ten winning the challenge once again, this time by a score of 7-5.
I want to give some credit to Georgia Tech as well. Their stay in the DirecTV Classic was a success, with a good win over St. Mary's. On the negative side, Boston College continues to struggle. Losing at home to Bryant is not going to score any points for the conference. And N.C. State appears to still be in a bit of a funk. They needed some late scoring to get a two point win at home against UNC Asheville.
Here are the matchups for the challenge:
Tuesday:
Iowa at Virginia Tech (7:15 p.m., ESPNU)
The Hokies have looked pretty good this year, especially on offense. They really haven't played anyone, though, and were only seriously challenged in one of their first five games. Iowa is expected to contend for an NCAA bid this year. They have already lost to Wichita State. At the beginning of the year I probably would have picked Iowa but I'll go with the home team.
Pick: Virginia Tech
Minnesota at Florida State (7:15 p.m., ESPN2)
Florida State has rebounded from their first game loss to win four in a row, including wins against BYU and St. Joe's. Minnesota has also played solidly, beating Memphis and Stanford, with their only loss to Duke. This could be one of the best games of the challenge. I'm not quite buying into Florida State yet. I think the Gophers make a late basket to steal one.
Pick: Minnesota
N.C. State at Michigan (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
This was the marquee game of the challenge in my opinion at the start of the year. Now I think it's a pretty easy Michigan win. N.C. State has really struggled to stop anybody in their last two games, and John Beilein's team is rolling. The Wolverines could win this one by double digits.
Pick: Michigan
Maryland at Northwestern (9:15 p.m., ESPN2)
Northwestern is a tricky place to play. The Wildcats usually start out the season well, then fade late in the year. They are undefeated this year, but their best win is against TCU. Coach Mark Turgeon was unhappy with Maryland's effort in their latest game against Georgia Southern, but I think the Terps have a significant edge in talent.
Pick: Maryland
Nebraska at Wake Forest (9:15 p.m., ESPNU)
Wake's best win last year was probably their road win at Nebraska. They should beat the Cornhuskers again this year. Nebraska is a team in transition, with a new coach, and in their last game they lost to Kent State by 14. This is in the running for ugliest game of the challenge.
Pick: Wake Forest
North Carolina at Indiana (9:30 p.m., ESPN)
North Carolina is still trying to figure out its rotation, and they have a monumental challenge here. Indiana hasn't really been playing like the #1 team in the country, but you have to believe they will bring their best at home against the Tar Heels. This one could get out of hand early.
Pick: Indiana
Wednesday:
Virginia at Wisconsin (7:00 p.m., ESPN2)
Wisconsin is a very tough place to play, and the Badgers have another solid team. Coach Bo Ryan's squad is 4-2, but their losses are to Florida and Creighton. Virginia has been playing better, but they don't have the horses to win on the road in Madison.
Pick: Wisconsin
Purdue at Clemson (7:15 p.m., ESPNU)
This may not be the prettiest game, but it is an intriguing matchup. This is definitely not the same quality Purdue team as we've come to expect. They have already lost to Bucknell, Villanova and Oregon State. Clemson struggles to score at times, but I give them the slight edge because they are at home.
Pick: Clemson
Michigan State at Miami (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
It says a lot about the expectations for Miami this year that they got a big time matchup against the Spartans. Michigan State has struggled a little bit so far this year, but then again so has Miami. The Hurricanes will have a tough time dealing with a team that has the experience and coaching of Michigan State. If they had a more hostile home environment, I would be inclined to pick them. But I like the Spartans.
Pick: Michigan State
Georgia Tech at Illinois (9:00 p.m., ESPN2)
Georgia Tech did pick up that nice win over St. Mary's, but they will have a tough road challenge in Champaign. Illinois is 7-0, coming off that surprising Maui Invitational title. They are scoring a lot of points, and the Yellow Jackets will be hard pressed to keep up with them. If Georgia Tech can keep the game in the 60s they have a chance.
Pick: Illinois
Boston College at Penn State (9:15 p.m., ESPNU)
If you are looking to spend two hours being tortured, watch this game. It seems like BC and Penn State play each other every year in this challenge. And this game might not make it out of the 40s. Penn State certainly isn't great. They lost to Akron by 25. But I can't bring myself to pick Boston College to win a road game.
Pick: Penn State
Ohio State at Duke (9:30 p.m., ESPN)
We've saved the best game for last. Ohio State is always good, and really took it to the Blue Devils at home last year. Duke, meanwhile, is off to a great start. I have seen Duke completely blow out teams in this situation before. I don't think the Buckeyes will go that easily. But I do think Duke pulls off another big win.
Pick: Duke
If you're keeping score at home, I have the Big Ten winning the challenge once again, this time by a score of 7-5.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Thanksgiving Weekend Preview
Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving, and it's a great time of year to watch some college basketball. Let's start with what's happened so far this week. The Maui Invitational did not go quite as planned. For North Carolina, they easily moved past a bad Mississippi State team, and got Butler in the second round. In a surprise, Butler blew out North Carolina, up by 20 or more for most of the game. That left the Heels to play Chaminade in a game that was not competitive. If you are North Carolina, you can't be too happy, in that you lost your only game against a team that was even a little bit of a challenge.
Boston College and Wake Forest got much needed wins, albeit against not the best competition. BC beat Auburn at home by one point, and Wake Forest won in the Paradise Jam against Mercer.
Duke, Clemson and Georgia Tech all started out tournament play on Thursday. Duke had a strong win against Minnesota, and continues to look like the best team in the ACC so far. They will take on VCU tonight, a game that should bring back bad memories for Duke fans of Eric Maynor in the NCAA Tournament. If Duke can win, they will likely play Louisville in what could be a very compelling final at the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Clemson had a tough draw in the Old Spice Classic, taking on the best team in the field in Gonzaga. They kept it close for much of the game before losing by eight. The road will get easier for the Tigers, against UTEP on Friday and against either Marist or Vanderbilt in the finals.
Georgia Tech beat Rice convincingly, and will have a much stiffer test Friday against Cal. Their final game in Anaheim will be against either St. Mary's or Pacific.
There are a couple of other interesting games on the weekend schedule. Wake Forest plays host to William and Mary on Friday. That's the kind of game that Wake has lost in the past couple years that they really need to win. On Saturday, Miami hosts Detroit, a very solid mid-major team that should be the favorite to win the Horizon League.
Enjoy the games and I'll be back Monday for a preview of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
Boston College and Wake Forest got much needed wins, albeit against not the best competition. BC beat Auburn at home by one point, and Wake Forest won in the Paradise Jam against Mercer.
Duke, Clemson and Georgia Tech all started out tournament play on Thursday. Duke had a strong win against Minnesota, and continues to look like the best team in the ACC so far. They will take on VCU tonight, a game that should bring back bad memories for Duke fans of Eric Maynor in the NCAA Tournament. If Duke can win, they will likely play Louisville in what could be a very compelling final at the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Clemson had a tough draw in the Old Spice Classic, taking on the best team in the field in Gonzaga. They kept it close for much of the game before losing by eight. The road will get easier for the Tigers, against UTEP on Friday and against either Marist or Vanderbilt in the finals.
Georgia Tech beat Rice convincingly, and will have a much stiffer test Friday against Cal. Their final game in Anaheim will be against either St. Mary's or Pacific.
There are a couple of other interesting games on the weekend schedule. Wake Forest plays host to William and Mary on Friday. That's the kind of game that Wake has lost in the past couple years that they really need to win. On Saturday, Miami hosts Detroit, a very solid mid-major team that should be the favorite to win the Horizon League.
Enjoy the games and I'll be back Monday for a preview of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
Monday, November 19, 2012
ACC Update: 11/19
It was a pretty rough weekend for the ACC. That was never more evident than in N.C. State's game with Oklahoma State. The Wolfpack looked outclassed from the beginning and ended up losing by 20 points! That's pretty pathetic when you are supposed to be the best team in the conference. Especially since N.C. State had played pretty well up until then. It was also a rough weekend for the presumed bottom dwellers, Boston College and Wake Forest. After holding up pretty well against UConn, Wake was down 30 points (!) in the first half to Iona, and ended up losing by 26. Boston College lost to Dayton by 16 points, and then lost to the College of Charleston in the 7th Place game.
The one team that did perform well was Florida State. They rebounded in a big way from their opening game loss to South Alabama by blowing out BYU and knocking off St. Joe's. Those were both games that Florida State could have lost.
Thanksgiving week means a lot of early-season tournaments and some good tests for our ACC teams. First off, Wake Forest takes on Mercer in the final round of the Paradise Jam. To put it plainly, Wake needs to win this game.
North Carolina is in the Maui Invitational this year (seems like it's almost always either Carolina or Duke). Here's how the bracket shakes out: their first game is Monday against Mississippi State, one of the worst teams in the SEC. Their next game will either be against Butler or Marquette on Tuesday (if I had to pick I would say Marquette). The last game would likely be against either Texas or Illinois. This isn't the strongest Maui field, and I think the winner of the potential North Carolina/Marquette game will take it all.
Later this week, Duke, Clemson and Georgia Tech will be in early-season tournaments. On Thursday Duke plays Minnesota and Clemson plays Gonzaga, both tough games. I'll be back after Thanksgiving to update those tournaments.
One other game of note on the schedule this week: Boston College plays host to Auburn on Wednesday. Auburn is one of the worst teams in the big six conferences, and BC needs to win that game to regain a little respectability.
The one team that did perform well was Florida State. They rebounded in a big way from their opening game loss to South Alabama by blowing out BYU and knocking off St. Joe's. Those were both games that Florida State could have lost.
Thanksgiving week means a lot of early-season tournaments and some good tests for our ACC teams. First off, Wake Forest takes on Mercer in the final round of the Paradise Jam. To put it plainly, Wake needs to win this game.
North Carolina is in the Maui Invitational this year (seems like it's almost always either Carolina or Duke). Here's how the bracket shakes out: their first game is Monday against Mississippi State, one of the worst teams in the SEC. Their next game will either be against Butler or Marquette on Tuesday (if I had to pick I would say Marquette). The last game would likely be against either Texas or Illinois. This isn't the strongest Maui field, and I think the winner of the potential North Carolina/Marquette game will take it all.
Later this week, Duke, Clemson and Georgia Tech will be in early-season tournaments. On Thursday Duke plays Minnesota and Clemson plays Gonzaga, both tough games. I'll be back after Thanksgiving to update those tournaments.
One other game of note on the schedule this week: Boston College plays host to Auburn on Wednesday. Auburn is one of the worst teams in the big six conferences, and BC needs to win that game to regain a little respectability.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Weekend Preview
Non-conference season is kicking into high gear, and some ACC teams have interesting games. First, a look at what's happened in the last few days: the conference got a big win Tuesday night when Duke was able to get past Kentucky. That offset a couple of bad losses. Virginia lost at home to Delaware, their second loss to a CAA team this year. And Miami lost on the road to Florida Gulf Coast. Why they are playing Florida Gulf Coast on the road is beyond me. The Miami loss is a more damaging one, because if they end up on the bubble this could come back to bite them.
Boston College actually was quite competitive yesterday against Baylor, giving their fans hope that they might not be a cellar-dweller this year. Ryan Anderson could be a very strong player for them. N.C. State got a pretty easy win against Penn State as expected in Puerto Rico, and move on to face stiffer competition. Right now seven ACC teams are still undefeated, although Duke is the only one that has really faced tough competition.
Now to this weekend. There are a whopping eight games involving ACC teams on Friday, and some of them are good ones.
Let's start with N.C. State. They take on UMass on Friday afternoon. UMass already has decent wins over Harvard and Providence. If N.C. State can win Friday, they will play the winner of Tennessee and Oklahoma State in the Championship Game on Sunday. Both Tennessee and Oklahoma State should be competing for NCAA bids this year, so that will be a good barometer game for State.
Boston College is taking on Dayton Friday afternoon. That should be a good battle and a game that BC can definitely win. Their next game is on Sunday against either Auburn or Charleston. Both teams did not look good in their first games. What's interesting is BC has another game scheduled at home against Auburn on Wednesday, so they could end up playing the Tigers twice in a week.
Wake Forest is taking part in the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands this weekend. They have a tough draw, having to play the best team in the tournament in the first game: UConn. That game is Friday evening. If they lose, which is likely, they will play the loser of Quinnipiac and Iona on Saturday. I'm guessing that will be Quinnipiac, a team Wake should beat. The final game of the tournament is not until Monday.
Florida State is playing in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic this weekend, a prestigious event with good teams. And the Seminoles really need to play well, after their first game loss to South Alabama. They take on BYU on Friday night, a team that is expected to be in the NCAAs this year. Their second game is on Saturday, against either St. Joseph's or Notre Dame. St. Joseph's is predicted to finish in the top two of the Atlantic 10 this year, so they are no slouch. Florida State cannot afford to go 0-2 this weekend.
On more game of note on the schedule Friday night: UNC plays at Long Beach State, on their way to the Maui Invitational. Long Beach State is the best team in their league and will definitely pose a challenge for the Tar Heels. You have to stay up late to see that one: it doesn't tip off until 11:00 p.m.
Boston College actually was quite competitive yesterday against Baylor, giving their fans hope that they might not be a cellar-dweller this year. Ryan Anderson could be a very strong player for them. N.C. State got a pretty easy win against Penn State as expected in Puerto Rico, and move on to face stiffer competition. Right now seven ACC teams are still undefeated, although Duke is the only one that has really faced tough competition.
Now to this weekend. There are a whopping eight games involving ACC teams on Friday, and some of them are good ones.
Let's start with N.C. State. They take on UMass on Friday afternoon. UMass already has decent wins over Harvard and Providence. If N.C. State can win Friday, they will play the winner of Tennessee and Oklahoma State in the Championship Game on Sunday. Both Tennessee and Oklahoma State should be competing for NCAA bids this year, so that will be a good barometer game for State.
Boston College is taking on Dayton Friday afternoon. That should be a good battle and a game that BC can definitely win. Their next game is on Sunday against either Auburn or Charleston. Both teams did not look good in their first games. What's interesting is BC has another game scheduled at home against Auburn on Wednesday, so they could end up playing the Tigers twice in a week.
Wake Forest is taking part in the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands this weekend. They have a tough draw, having to play the best team in the tournament in the first game: UConn. That game is Friday evening. If they lose, which is likely, they will play the loser of Quinnipiac and Iona on Saturday. I'm guessing that will be Quinnipiac, a team Wake should beat. The final game of the tournament is not until Monday.
Florida State is playing in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic this weekend, a prestigious event with good teams. And the Seminoles really need to play well, after their first game loss to South Alabama. They take on BYU on Friday night, a team that is expected to be in the NCAAs this year. Their second game is on Saturday, against either St. Joseph's or Notre Dame. St. Joseph's is predicted to finish in the top two of the Atlantic 10 this year, so they are no slouch. Florida State cannot afford to go 0-2 this weekend.
On more game of note on the schedule Friday night: UNC plays at Long Beach State, on their way to the Maui Invitational. Long Beach State is the best team in their league and will definitely pose a challenge for the Tar Heels. You have to stay up late to see that one: it doesn't tip off until 11:00 p.m.
Monday, November 12, 2012
First Weekend Thoughts
The first weekend of the college basketball season is in the books. Every team except Clemson has played at least one game (UNC has played two). For the most part, the conference escaped disaster. The one notable exception is Florida State. They had a bad home loss against South Alabama, a team that went 8-8 in the Sun Belt last year. I had Florida State taking a step backward this year, and they are not off to a good start. It's just one game, though, and they had some head-scratching losses last year, so it's not time to panic yet.
Without question the team that impressed me the most was Maryland. Yes, they were one of three ACC teams to lose this weekend. But they had a very good chance of beating Kentucky. This Terps team has a lot of talent, and Alex Len looks like he could have a breakout year. The other team to lose was Virginia, on the road at George Mason. It's a game you'd like to win over a team from the CAA, but Virginia was down two starters, so I give them a pass. All of the teams in the ACC who won did so against teams from lesser conferences.
The competition gets a little stiffer this week, as several teams are playing in early-season tournaments. On Thursday, Boston College takes on Baylor and N.C. State plays Penn State. Duke plays a neutral site game against Kentucky on Tuesday night, which should be a dandy. It's a big week for the ACC, they need to prove that they can win games against teams from the other big six conferences (so far they are 0-1).
Without question the team that impressed me the most was Maryland. Yes, they were one of three ACC teams to lose this weekend. But they had a very good chance of beating Kentucky. This Terps team has a lot of talent, and Alex Len looks like he could have a breakout year. The other team to lose was Virginia, on the road at George Mason. It's a game you'd like to win over a team from the CAA, but Virginia was down two starters, so I give them a pass. All of the teams in the ACC who won did so against teams from lesser conferences.
The competition gets a little stiffer this week, as several teams are playing in early-season tournaments. On Thursday, Boston College takes on Baylor and N.C. State plays Penn State. Duke plays a neutral site game against Kentucky on Tuesday night, which should be a dandy. It's a big week for the ACC, they need to prove that they can win games against teams from the other big six conferences (so far they are 0-1).
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Season Preview: #1 Duke
Games against 2012 NCAA Tournament teams: 11
Games against ACC top 4: 6
Games against ACC bottom 4: 7
Best non-conference game: 11/13 vs. Kentucky (in Atlanta)
Projected Starting Five:
F - Mason Plumlee (Senior)
F - Ryan Kelly (Senior)
F - Josh Hairston (Junior)
G - Seth Curry (Senior)
G - Tyler Thornton (Junior)
Most people are predicting that N.C. State will win the conference title this year. I went in a different direction. My main reason: 2003. That's the last year that someone other than Duke or North Carolina won the conference title outright. Until someone knocks off both of them, I'm not going to predict that it will happen. So what does Duke have? They have a very veteran team that is looking to rebound from an extremely embarrassing NCAA Tournament loss to #15 seed Lehigh.
I think Duke's best player is probably Ryan Kelly. Just see how they played without him at the end of last year. Kelly is a very dangerous weapon as a 4 with the ability to knock down threes. The rest of the starting five is really solid as well. Mason Plumlee can put up big numbers, and will have to down low. Seth Curry has a ton of promise and if he gets more consistent he could be the team's leading scorer. Expect this starting lineup to change some as the year goes on too, because talented freshmen like Amile Jefferson could break in.
Duke almost always plays the toughest non-conference schedule in the league. This year is no exception. They have an early season game against Kentucky that should be a dandy. It's odd to see Duke in the Battle 4 Atlantis, because they are almost always in Maui or the preseason NIT. But they will have to navigate a strong field there. A January 12th game at N.C. State is one all ACC fans should mark on their calendars.
One thing that will change for Duke this year is I have to believe they will be better at home. Maybe the weirdest stat in the ACC last year was that Duke lost three home games and didn't lose a road game in conference. They don't really have that superstar player that they've had a lot over the past two decades. But the collection of players should be battle tested enough to rise to the top of the ACC when the dust settles.
Games against ACC top 4: 6
Games against ACC bottom 4: 7
Best non-conference game: 11/13 vs. Kentucky (in Atlanta)
Projected Starting Five:
F - Mason Plumlee (Senior)
F - Ryan Kelly (Senior)
F - Josh Hairston (Junior)
G - Seth Curry (Senior)
G - Tyler Thornton (Junior)
Most people are predicting that N.C. State will win the conference title this year. I went in a different direction. My main reason: 2003. That's the last year that someone other than Duke or North Carolina won the conference title outright. Until someone knocks off both of them, I'm not going to predict that it will happen. So what does Duke have? They have a very veteran team that is looking to rebound from an extremely embarrassing NCAA Tournament loss to #15 seed Lehigh.
I think Duke's best player is probably Ryan Kelly. Just see how they played without him at the end of last year. Kelly is a very dangerous weapon as a 4 with the ability to knock down threes. The rest of the starting five is really solid as well. Mason Plumlee can put up big numbers, and will have to down low. Seth Curry has a ton of promise and if he gets more consistent he could be the team's leading scorer. Expect this starting lineup to change some as the year goes on too, because talented freshmen like Amile Jefferson could break in.
Duke almost always plays the toughest non-conference schedule in the league. This year is no exception. They have an early season game against Kentucky that should be a dandy. It's odd to see Duke in the Battle 4 Atlantis, because they are almost always in Maui or the preseason NIT. But they will have to navigate a strong field there. A January 12th game at N.C. State is one all ACC fans should mark on their calendars.
One thing that will change for Duke this year is I have to believe they will be better at home. Maybe the weirdest stat in the ACC last year was that Duke lost three home games and didn't lose a road game in conference. They don't really have that superstar player that they've had a lot over the past two decades. But the collection of players should be battle tested enough to rise to the top of the ACC when the dust settles.
Friday, November 09, 2012
Season Preview: #2 N.C. State
Games against 2012 NCAA Tournament teams: 12
Games against ACC top 4: 5
Games against ACC bottom 4: 7
Best non-conference game: 11/27 at Michigan
Projected Starting Five:
F - Richard Howell (Senior)
F - C.J. Leslie (Junior)
F - Scott Wood (Senior)
G - Rodney Purvis (Freshman)
G - Lorenzo Brown (Junior)
The days of Sidney Lowe are long gone. Fans are abuzz about the possibilities in Raleigh this year, as N.C. State is coming off a Sweet 16 run and is poised to be better this year. Many people have them as the #1 team in the ACC this year. I do not, as I will explain in more detail in my Duke preview. Regardless, there is a lot to like about the Wolfpack this year.
Let's start with C.J. Leslie. The issue with him has not been talent. It has been drive and effort. Leslie has looked disinterested at times, but Coach Mark Gottfried got the best out of him this year. He is probably the best player in the conference. And he has plenty around him. Lorenzo Brown is an excellent point guard, a scorer and distributor who makes his teammates better. Richard Howell and Scott Wood are very solid players who are certainly capable of putting up 20 on any given night. And the Wolfpack bring in a great recruiting class, the best in the ACC, highlighted by Rodney Purvis. They certainly have the pieces to be an elite team.
N.C. State has put together an interesting schedule. They are in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, which they can certainly win. They also go to Michigan and have a neutral site game against UConn. They have a very manageable start to the conference season, and a lot of games against teams predicted to be at the bottom.
I certainly think N.C. State will have a very good year, their best in a long time. They should be able to beat people on talent alone, even if they don't have their A game. I do wonder whether they will be able to carry that chip on their shoulder that did so well last year. They will be the favorite in most of their games, so Coach Gottfried might have to take a different motivational tactic. It's interesting when you look at his career, he has not had a lot of success in the NCAA Tournament. The best regular season teams he had at Alabama went out in the first or second round of the NCAAs. So he needs to find a way to carry the team's success into March, so they can at least make it back to the Sweet 16.
Games against ACC top 4: 5
Games against ACC bottom 4: 7
Best non-conference game: 11/27 at Michigan
Projected Starting Five:
F - Richard Howell (Senior)
F - C.J. Leslie (Junior)
F - Scott Wood (Senior)
G - Rodney Purvis (Freshman)
G - Lorenzo Brown (Junior)
The days of Sidney Lowe are long gone. Fans are abuzz about the possibilities in Raleigh this year, as N.C. State is coming off a Sweet 16 run and is poised to be better this year. Many people have them as the #1 team in the ACC this year. I do not, as I will explain in more detail in my Duke preview. Regardless, there is a lot to like about the Wolfpack this year.
Let's start with C.J. Leslie. The issue with him has not been talent. It has been drive and effort. Leslie has looked disinterested at times, but Coach Mark Gottfried got the best out of him this year. He is probably the best player in the conference. And he has plenty around him. Lorenzo Brown is an excellent point guard, a scorer and distributor who makes his teammates better. Richard Howell and Scott Wood are very solid players who are certainly capable of putting up 20 on any given night. And the Wolfpack bring in a great recruiting class, the best in the ACC, highlighted by Rodney Purvis. They certainly have the pieces to be an elite team.
N.C. State has put together an interesting schedule. They are in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, which they can certainly win. They also go to Michigan and have a neutral site game against UConn. They have a very manageable start to the conference season, and a lot of games against teams predicted to be at the bottom.
I certainly think N.C. State will have a very good year, their best in a long time. They should be able to beat people on talent alone, even if they don't have their A game. I do wonder whether they will be able to carry that chip on their shoulder that did so well last year. They will be the favorite in most of their games, so Coach Gottfried might have to take a different motivational tactic. It's interesting when you look at his career, he has not had a lot of success in the NCAA Tournament. The best regular season teams he had at Alabama went out in the first or second round of the NCAAs. So he needs to find a way to carry the team's success into March, so they can at least make it back to the Sweet 16.
Thursday, November 08, 2012
Season Preview: #3 North Carolina
Games against 2012 NCAA Tournament teams: 12
Games against ACC top 4: 6
Games against ACC bottom 4: 5
Best non-conference game: 11/27 at Indiana
Projected Starting Five:
F - Desmond Hubert (Sophomore)
F - James Michael McAdoo (Sophomore)
G - Reggie Bullock (Junior)
G - Dexter Strickland (Senior)
G - Marcus Paige (Freshman)
This is a reloading year in Chapel Hill, after losing so many talented players to the NBA Draft. It was a surprise that they didn't win it all last year, but a lot of that had to do with injuries that came up late in the season. Tyler Zeller, Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Kendall Marshall are all gone. All extremely talented players. It's hard to lose that much talent and not expect a dip the next year.
But I don't think that dip will be too far. If you look at their lineup this year, it's still more talented than the majority of teams in the league. James Michael McAdoo is poised to be a star, a first team all-ACC player, and someone who can really fill up the stat sheet. Reggie Bullock came up big in games later in the year, and can be the second best player on the team. They do get a boost as Dexter Strickland and Leslie McDonald are back from injury. I think the potential weak point is down low. Desmond Hubert was not great last year, and does not have a lot of size. They could struggle against teams that have a lot of strong frontcourt players.
The schedule is very tough, as it usually is with North Carolina. They play five games in a row away from Chapel Hill early in the year, including the Maui Invitational and a road game against preseason #1 Indiana. They also have a road game at Texas and host a UNLV team that beat them last year. Then, in the conference, they play two games each against Duke, NC State and Miami.
Despite all the losses and the tough schedule, I still think North Carolina can compete for a league title this year. They have the talent - it's just a matter of getting all their inexperienced players to play together. They will lose some games, but don't be surprised if at the end of the day they have a 12-6 or 13-5 conference record and a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Games against ACC top 4: 6
Games against ACC bottom 4: 5
Best non-conference game: 11/27 at Indiana
Projected Starting Five:
F - Desmond Hubert (Sophomore)
F - James Michael McAdoo (Sophomore)
G - Reggie Bullock (Junior)
G - Dexter Strickland (Senior)
G - Marcus Paige (Freshman)
This is a reloading year in Chapel Hill, after losing so many talented players to the NBA Draft. It was a surprise that they didn't win it all last year, but a lot of that had to do with injuries that came up late in the season. Tyler Zeller, Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Kendall Marshall are all gone. All extremely talented players. It's hard to lose that much talent and not expect a dip the next year.
But I don't think that dip will be too far. If you look at their lineup this year, it's still more talented than the majority of teams in the league. James Michael McAdoo is poised to be a star, a first team all-ACC player, and someone who can really fill up the stat sheet. Reggie Bullock came up big in games later in the year, and can be the second best player on the team. They do get a boost as Dexter Strickland and Leslie McDonald are back from injury. I think the potential weak point is down low. Desmond Hubert was not great last year, and does not have a lot of size. They could struggle against teams that have a lot of strong frontcourt players.
The schedule is very tough, as it usually is with North Carolina. They play five games in a row away from Chapel Hill early in the year, including the Maui Invitational and a road game against preseason #1 Indiana. They also have a road game at Texas and host a UNLV team that beat them last year. Then, in the conference, they play two games each against Duke, NC State and Miami.
Despite all the losses and the tough schedule, I still think North Carolina can compete for a league title this year. They have the talent - it's just a matter of getting all their inexperienced players to play together. They will lose some games, but don't be surprised if at the end of the day they have a 12-6 or 13-5 conference record and a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
Season Preview: #4 Miami
Games against 2012 NCAA Tournament teams: 10
Games against ACC top 4: 5
Games against ACC bottom 4: 7
Best non-conference game: 11/28 vs. Michigan State
Projected Starting Five:
C - Reggie Johnson (Senior)
F - Kenny Kadji (Senior)
F - Trey McKinney Jones (Senior)
G - Durand Scott (Senior)
G - Shane Larkin (Sophomore)
The first thing you see when you look at Miami is experience. Four seniors in the starting lineup. The second is their coach, Jim Larranaga. I have been high on him since I saw him at many George Mason games over the years. I think he's got what it takes to get the program over the hump that they couldn't get over during Frank Haith's tenure. Miami was very close last year to making the NCAA Tournament. And if it weren't for some injuries they might have made it.
This year's team will be led by Reggie Johnson. Johnson is a great talent who struggled some last year after having to sit out much of the first half of the season. If he can stay in shape and active in the game, he can be the best center in the conference. Kenny Kadji really played strong in Johnson's absence, and if these two can play together they can form a formidable frontcourt. I also like Shane Larkin, who can score from the point and distribute.
Miami has one of the stronger schedules in the conference. They have a great home game against Michigan State in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge. They also have sneaky tough road games at UMass and UCF before going to Hawaii for the Diamond Head Classic. Their conference schedule is manageable, and look out for the Hurricanes late in the year. In their last six games, only a road trip at Duke is a game they should lose.
I'm pretty high on the Hurricanes this year, as you can see by the fact that I picked them to finish fourth. I think they have the combination of talent and coaching to give the other teams fits. They may struggle some early in the year, but they should be peaking in March, and carry momentum into their first NCAA Tournament in a while.
Games against ACC top 4: 5
Games against ACC bottom 4: 7
Best non-conference game: 11/28 vs. Michigan State
Projected Starting Five:
C - Reggie Johnson (Senior)
F - Kenny Kadji (Senior)
F - Trey McKinney Jones (Senior)
G - Durand Scott (Senior)
G - Shane Larkin (Sophomore)
The first thing you see when you look at Miami is experience. Four seniors in the starting lineup. The second is their coach, Jim Larranaga. I have been high on him since I saw him at many George Mason games over the years. I think he's got what it takes to get the program over the hump that they couldn't get over during Frank Haith's tenure. Miami was very close last year to making the NCAA Tournament. And if it weren't for some injuries they might have made it.
This year's team will be led by Reggie Johnson. Johnson is a great talent who struggled some last year after having to sit out much of the first half of the season. If he can stay in shape and active in the game, he can be the best center in the conference. Kenny Kadji really played strong in Johnson's absence, and if these two can play together they can form a formidable frontcourt. I also like Shane Larkin, who can score from the point and distribute.
Miami has one of the stronger schedules in the conference. They have a great home game against Michigan State in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge. They also have sneaky tough road games at UMass and UCF before going to Hawaii for the Diamond Head Classic. Their conference schedule is manageable, and look out for the Hurricanes late in the year. In their last six games, only a road trip at Duke is a game they should lose.
I'm pretty high on the Hurricanes this year, as you can see by the fact that I picked them to finish fourth. I think they have the combination of talent and coaching to give the other teams fits. They may struggle some early in the year, but they should be peaking in March, and carry momentum into their first NCAA Tournament in a while.
Monday, November 05, 2012
Season Preview: #5 Florida State
Games against 2012 NCAA Tournament teams: 9
Games against ACC top 4: 7
Games against ACC bottom 4: 5
Best non-conference game: 12/5 vs. Florida
Projected Starting Five:
C - Kiel Turpin (Junior)
F - Terrance Shannon (Junior)
F - Okaro White (Junior)
G - Michael Snaer (Senior)
G - Ian Miller (Junior)
It was an interesting year for Florida State. After struggling early, they hit their stride in the conference season and excelled. The Seminoles found a way to win late in games with clutch shots and used that momentum to a first ever ACC Tournament championship. With that goal reached, though, it appeared they were either tired or thought they could coast in the NCAA Tournament. They ended up being bounced in their second game by Cincinnati.
This year's team will look different in the frontcourt. Bernard James and Xavier Gibson are gone. So are Luke Loucks and Deividas Dulkys, who were seemingly at FSU forever. The strength of this team is back, though, in Michael Snaer. Snaer had a flair for the dramatic last year, with two buzzer-beating game winners. He was also a standout scorer and the team's second-leading assist man. Snear forms a solid backcourt with Ian Miller, who improved as the season went on. The frontcourt has a few more question marks. Kiel Turpin is a transfer from Lincoln College. Terrance Shannon is coming off an injury. And Okaro White was only a part-time starter last year.
Florida State's schedule is pretty tough. They face BYU and potentially Notre Dame in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. They also have their annual matchup against a top 10-worthy Florida team. And their conference schedule is one of the toughest in the ACC. The start of their conference slate: at Clemson, at Maryland, vs. UNC, at Virginia.
I think in terms of conference play, Florida State hit its peak last year. They will still be a solid team this year, but so much of what they have been able to do in recent years has been because of their big bodies in the frontcourt. I'm not sure they have that this year, so the scoring will be much more reliant on the guard play. Snaer will keep this team in games they might otherwise lose. And I think they will get back to the NCAA Tournament. But it's not going to be another 12-4 type conference year.
Games against ACC top 4: 7
Games against ACC bottom 4: 5
Best non-conference game: 12/5 vs. Florida
Projected Starting Five:
C - Kiel Turpin (Junior)
F - Terrance Shannon (Junior)
F - Okaro White (Junior)
G - Michael Snaer (Senior)
G - Ian Miller (Junior)
It was an interesting year for Florida State. After struggling early, they hit their stride in the conference season and excelled. The Seminoles found a way to win late in games with clutch shots and used that momentum to a first ever ACC Tournament championship. With that goal reached, though, it appeared they were either tired or thought they could coast in the NCAA Tournament. They ended up being bounced in their second game by Cincinnati.
This year's team will look different in the frontcourt. Bernard James and Xavier Gibson are gone. So are Luke Loucks and Deividas Dulkys, who were seemingly at FSU forever. The strength of this team is back, though, in Michael Snaer. Snaer had a flair for the dramatic last year, with two buzzer-beating game winners. He was also a standout scorer and the team's second-leading assist man. Snear forms a solid backcourt with Ian Miller, who improved as the season went on. The frontcourt has a few more question marks. Kiel Turpin is a transfer from Lincoln College. Terrance Shannon is coming off an injury. And Okaro White was only a part-time starter last year.
Florida State's schedule is pretty tough. They face BYU and potentially Notre Dame in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. They also have their annual matchup against a top 10-worthy Florida team. And their conference schedule is one of the toughest in the ACC. The start of their conference slate: at Clemson, at Maryland, vs. UNC, at Virginia.
I think in terms of conference play, Florida State hit its peak last year. They will still be a solid team this year, but so much of what they have been able to do in recent years has been because of their big bodies in the frontcourt. I'm not sure they have that this year, so the scoring will be much more reliant on the guard play. Snaer will keep this team in games they might otherwise lose. And I think they will get back to the NCAA Tournament. But it's not going to be another 12-4 type conference year.
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