ACC Basketball Discussion

• ironman02

  Carolina followed up its win over FIU with a 47 point drubbing of NCCU tonight.
  
  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=293150153
  
  I watched the second half of the game. Carolina was pretty sloppy down the stretch, but they were playing a lot of different guys, getting the young guys some valuable experience. I know this is just NCCU, but I think this team is going to be VERY good defensively. Davis, Zeller, and Henson are going to block a ton of shots, and the overall defensive intensity from everyone has been pretty impressive so far. The Heels are definitely a work in progress right now, but this team has the potential to be VERY good once March rolls around.
  
  Valpo is next on the schedule before a BIG matchup with Ohio State.
• wildcats20

  

  Roy supposedly has said that Zeller is the best running big man he has ever coached. I saw some of that tonight. Kid needs to bulk up, but he could be another special player this year.
  
  I am really looking forward to the development of Drew II and Strickland at the 1. Should be a great battle all year.
  
  REALLY looking forward to the game with the Bucks.
• ironman02

  The game against OSU should give us an indication of how far this team still needs to go. These OOC games are going to really test the young guys, but in the end, I'm sure they'll be better for it.
  
  #17 Ohio State
  #25 Syracuse/#12 Cal
  #2 Michigan State
  at #5 Kentucky
  #3 Texas in Dallas
  
  If those games don't get this team ready for ACC play, nothing will.
• ohiotiger33

  

  Clemson BBall starts on Friday. We should just turn this into a discussion on ACC bball. I will be camping in a tent for tickets to three games including Big Ten/ACC challenge against Illinois.
• ironman02

  ohiotiger33,
  
  I went ahead and changed the thread to ACC basketball discussion. No sense in starting a bunch of separate topics for some of the smaller OOC games. If any of our teams play a big game, we can devote a new thread to that.
• hoops23

  

  UNC wins the ACC. They are stacked again and Roy Williams in the best coach in the country.
  
  I was so happy when Ed Davis declared he was coming back and it's nice to see Marcus Ginyard healthy.. Of course it's nice to see Mr. Tyler Zeller healthy too.
• wildcats20

  

  Ginyard is going to be HUGE this year. Leadership, defense, the only true outside threat as of now. I love having him back.
• ohiotiger33

  

  Yep I would say my top 5 are:
  
  1. UNC
  2. Clemson
  2a. Duke
  3. Wake
  4. Maryland/FSU
  
  Sleeper for me is GT
• hoops23

  

  wildcats20 wrote: Ginyard is going to be HUGE this year. Leadership, defense, the only true outside threat as of now. I love having him back.

  Agreed. Our depth really saved us last year when Ginyard got shut down due to his injury.
  
  It's great to have his leadership and defensive ability out there now.
• hoops23

  

  ohiotiger33 wrote: Yep I would say my top 5 are:
  
  1. UNC
  2. Clemson
  2a. Duke
  3. Wake
  4. Maryland/FSU
  
  Sleeper for me is GT

  I hope you're right! I'd love to see Duke finish 3rd lol.
  
  Clemson has always been a team that disappoints me. I think it's going to be their breakout year, they start off GREAT, but then fizzle out..
• ohiotiger33

  

  What you have to remember is that this has been the best W/L record over two years in Clemson history. What has been happening at Clemson has been the building of the program from the ground up. No player on the team in the last two years has been over 3* coming out of high school (including Booker). Now, however, Purnell is bringing in a class that includes 5* Milton Jennings, 4* Noel Johnson, top 100 Devin Booker (Trevor's brother), and top 150 Dante Hill. Clemson now has 11 guys that can run the floor and play the press for 40 minutes. I am really excited.
  
  In the first exhibition game, clemson went up 24-3, on the back of 22 forced turnovers in the first half, and shot 56% from 3-pt range for the game.
  
  Clemson will get it done at the end of the season one of these years. But you have to remember this program is still very young, and winning the big ones takes time. Purnell is a great, great coach.
• reclegend22

  

  I will admit, I love Clemson's style. But I'm still not convinced Purnell has what it takes to win through March. You make a convincing argument, though, ohiotiger.
  
  No way in hell Duke finishes third in the ACC regular season award race (not to be mistaken by the ACC championship race that will take place in the March tournament in Greensboro). I know it, and you all know it. With the star power of Singler and Scheyer up front -- one a national player of the year candidate and the other a potential All-American -- and a solid supporting cast, I look for the Blue Devils to be the team to beat in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the best conference in basketball (that's said in a traditional sense -- way too early for that discussion).
  
  Sure, a lot will depend on the progression of the Plumlees and what kind of player Nolan Smith has become (word is, it's a "great" player, but we'll see). But I like Duke's chances in Greensboro. We rarely lose there.
  
  It should be a fun season in seeing how things do play out.
• Cmhs74

  Glad to see this thread, been a NC fan for years.
• Prescott

  duke should be the favorite to win the ACC.They have 2 players with extensive experience in Scheyer and Singler and other players; Nolan Smith,Brian Zoubek, and Lance Thomas who have some starts under their belt and tons of experience.
  
  Are the Blue Devils the most experienced team in the league? It looks that way and experience can trump talent if the talent is equal.
• swamisez

  

  Carolina has talent to burn. Henson is a real athletic 6'10" granted he is only 185 pounds.
  I don't see what others think they are seeing from Zeller. I just don't think his hands or footwork are good enough to score one on one in the low block. Good thing for him, Thompson and Davis will attract double teams.
  
  I like what Duke has in terms of interior depth, but their guard play will be the real factor that propels them or hinders. Nolan Smith has to play well, and stay out of foul trouble.
  
  Clemson will always be a beast in LittleJohn, but to win the league you have to win road games. They haven't won at Carolina since like 1957 and haven't won at Cameron since 96?
  
  I like FSU as an upset specialist, and the trip to Chestnut Hill usually knocks a team down a peg. I think the winner of the ACC this year has 3+ losses.
• mattinctown

  Purnell has done a great job at Clemson, this should be a wide open race this year, no one is going to run away with it like Duke/Carolina have done in the past. I have to give UNC the nod over Duke, as much as it pains me.
  
  1. UNC
  2. Duke
  3. Clemson
  4. GT
  5. Wake/FSU
  Last place would be NC State, and this will be Lowe's last year there IMO.
• wildcats20

  

  Rec...glad to see you over here.
  
  The whole regular season comes down to 2 games for me. Both Carolina/Dook games. I have a feeling this year it will be another sweep, just not sure which team yet. As good as Clemson and everyone can be, Carolina and Duke are a step ahead this year IMO. I'm not sure who is going to win it yet, I haven't seen the Dookies yet and I've only seen Carolina against FIU and NCCU.
• jpake1

  

  I think the ACC could start off slow compared to other conferences, but once March comes around, they'll have a few teams playing some really good basketball.
• swamisez

  

  mattinctown wrote:
  1. UNC
  2. Duke
  3. Clemson
  4. GT
  5. Wake/FSU
  Last place would be NC State, and this will be Lowe's last year there IMO.

  Sidney lowe isn't going anywhere. He just brought in his best recruiting class. State fans are starting to get excited for bball again.
• swamisez

  

  wildcats20 wrote: Rec...glad to see you over here.
  
  The whole regular season comes down to 2 games for me. Both Carolina/Dook games. I have a feeling this year it will be another sweep, just not sure which team yet. As good as Clemson and everyone can be, Carolina and Duke are a step ahead this year IMO. I'm not sure who is going to win it yet, I haven't seen the Dookies yet and I've only seen Carolina against FIU and NCCU.

  Wildcat,
  you need to reserve judgement on Duke. Nolan Smith is out the first two games, and much like Carolina, it will take a while for Duke to get a firm rotation of players.
• mattinctown

  Just heard on ESPN that Duke's Mason Plumlee is out indefinitely with a sprained wrist
• ohiotiger33

  

  Duke just doesn't scare me anymore. Maybe a 27 point win will do that.
  
  I will gladly admit to being UNC's little bitch in Chapel Hill. Two years ago, when we lost to you guys twice in overtime, I almost died. The second game we were up by 12 points with 4 minutes left and blew the lead (and a chance to end the now 54 game losing streak in your house) I literally broke things. Hahahahahaha.
• reclegend22

  

  It sounds as if Mason sprained his left wrist, so it is not his shooting hand. That's a big relief.
  
  It's obviously too bad this happened now, with the season starting for Duke in almost exactly a day. With an almost certain trip to New York coming up, and a likely date with Connecticut in the Preseason NIT finals looming, things are going to be interesting for the Blue Devils without Plumlee. He's already Duke's most capable 5, and he hasn't played a college game yet. We will now see just how improved Miles Plumlee and Brian Zoubek are. They are going to need to bring it. Same goes for Lance Thomas.
  
  At least the injury should heal quickly. It doesn't sound too serious, and Duke has the best medical staff in the country. But still, it's unfortunate for sure.
• swamisez

  

  WRAL reporting a fractured wrist. Will be out at least a couple weeks. Can play with a brace after a while
• ironman02

  Bad news about Plumlee. Hope he's able to come back soon. As soon as I heard that, I immediately thought of Zeller's injury last year.
  
  
  So, tomorrow is a big day on the recruiting front as Harrison Barnes will be making his decision. Haven't checked out any of the boards today. Any news or will everyone still be on the edge of their seat tomorrow?