ACC Basketball Preview

A few weeks ago I previewed the Big Ten, the conference I declared was and will be the best conference in college basketball. The ACC though (now that it’s been redone) rivals it. It surely doesn’t have the depth, but the teams at the top are elite. Here you go:

Projected Standings

1. Duke Blue Devils – They lost three great players, but they still retain Cook Thornton, Dawkins, Murphy, Sulaimon, Hairston, Plumlee (the young one) and Jefferson. They are also adding three freshmen studs, one named Jabari Parker who could rival Wiggins as the best in the country. Oh, and Coach K is still the coach. If they don’t win the conference, it would be because they don’t get production inside, but even then I’d be shocked.

2. North Carolina Tarheels  - For the record, UNC won’t be the second best team early on when PJ Hairston is suspended. But he should be back in plenty of time for conference play, and if that is the case, they are the second best team. They ended last season on a tear when they played small ball. The good news for them is that they return practically everyone and add a couple of quality big men to boot. How quickly they develop will be a key to watch.

3. Syracuse Orangemen – Syracuse is one of the new kids on the block. They are fresh off a Final Four appearance and should have a strong frontcourt. CJ Fair, who will be one of the best ACC players, leads that group inside. The question for them is how much production and leadership can they get from their guards, who will be led by freshman Tyler Ennis. What the team may lack in experience, they’ll make up for in defense though. Their 2-3 zone will be new to most ACC opponents and could cause trouble, just as we saw in the NCAA Tourney.

4. Virginia Cavaliers – The Cavs return basically everyone from a team that should have made the NCAA Tourney last year. That includes Joe Harris, who is All-American candidate. The style of play they have is similar to Wisconsin, which makes them tough to beat. Experience is important and they have it.

5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Nearly put them at #5 but they lack a star player. Atkins, Grant, Sherman, and Connaughton are all solid, but they will surely miss Cooley. The good news is that they have a couple key recruits coming in that could give them another dimension, especially Demetrius Jackson.

6. Maryland Terrapins – We’ve been discussing new teams to the ACC, but this is a team that will play its final season with the conference. That sounds weird doesn’t it? Maryland is athletic and is fairly deep. I know they lost Alex Len, but nearly everybody else returns including Dez Wells, who will have a big year. Evan Smotrycz is a key transfer they got from Michigan that should give them some perimeter shooting, something they missed last year.

7. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets – You want a sleeper in the ACC, look to these guys.

8. Boston College Eagles – Olivier Hanlan and Ryan Anderson can keep them in any game.

9. North Carolina State – At the end of the year, this ranking may look silly, as they possess a lot of talent despite losing a ton.

10. Pittsburgh Panthers – Not as dominate as past Panther teams, but just give them a couple years.

11. Florida State Seminoles – Losing the Andrew Wiggins recruiting battle hurts big time.

12. Wake Forest Demon Deacons – One of the youngest teams in the nation, maybe they can develop quicker than expected.

13. Virginia Tech Hokies – They are sure going to miss Erick Green.

14. Clemson Tigers – Maybe are a few spots too low here, but all of these teams will be close.

15. Miami Hurricane – What a difference a year makes huh?

Preseason Major Awards

Player of the Year – Joe Harris (Virginia)

Defensive Player of the Year – Rakeem Christmas (Syracuse)

Freshman of the Year – Jabari Parker (Duke)

Most Improved Player – Brice Johnson (UNC)

Coach of the Year – Tony Bennett (Virginia)

All ACC Teams

First Team:

G Quinn Cook, Duke

G Joe Harris, Virginia

F CJ Fair, Syracuse

F Jabari Parker, Duke

F James Michael McAdoo, UNC

Second Team:

G Eric Atkins, Notre Dame

G Jerian Grant, Notre Dame

G Olivier Hanlan, Boston College

F Dez Wells, Maryland

F Rodney Hood

Third Team:

G Marcus Paige, UNC

G Rasheed Sulaimon, Duke

F P.J. Hairston, UNC

F Ryan Anderson, Boston College

F Jerami Grant, Syracuse

By: The Sports Guys