ACC Preview

So I called my old high school basketball coach to see if he could use any help this season as I look for a job. I want to get into coaching at some point, why not now, especially while I look for a job. It would give me something to look forward to everyday, and it's basketball, awww yeah. Well, it looks like I'll be helping out the Junior Varsity, where my old freshman and JV coaches are still coaching, so that will make it fun and a great learning experience. Plus, I always felt like I had some unfinished business in my high school gym. I played good ball at Miami, now I can go back to the "Thunderdome" and show how good I've become. I feel I can teach the kids a lot, and I feel I can be effective since I came up through the Northmont system.

Today I also got a check from Miami worth quite a bit of money. Why do you ask??? Well, I'm not sure, but I think it's some backpay from my assistantship. But hey, it's money, and I won't argue about money.

Before I get to the ACC, I'd like to acknowledge that my stats come from The Sporting News preview. I think they do the best job getting you ready for the season.

The Big East may have the better teams at the top, but top to bottom, no one beats the ACC. Any road win is a good win, and that includes Clemson. Even though the Big East has become really good, the ACC still has won 3 of the last 5 national championships. This year, all of the teams have suffered key losses, and for most of them, they will rely on freshmen playing vital roles to get them victories. There will be no bigger example of that than North Carolina, who may start as many as 3 freshmen after winning it all last year.

1. Duke. JJ Redick is a complete offensive player, Shelden Williams has developed into a big force at both ends, and they may have the best freshmen class in all the land. I can't wait to see Josh McRoberts, who will more than make up for the loss of Shavlik Randolph. Greg Paulus will push Sean Dockery at the point guard spot, and competition is always a good thing, especially with Dockery who needs to raise his level of play. DeMarcus Nelson is the defensive stopper and Lee Melchionni is the guy who you forget about, but he makes a lot of big shots. This will be a stellar defensive team without a doubt. The question is at the other end. Who will create their own shot and/or shots for the others??? Redick can get his own shot, but he needs help from Dockery or Paulus to slash to the goal every once in ahwile. This is a Final 4 team.

2. Maryland. I ragged on the Terps last year because they wasted a lot of talent. They beat Duke twice, yet lost to Clemson three times. Now that John Gilchrist is gone and everyone else is back, there are no excuses for this team not to go far. After losing a cancer like Gilchrist, usually a team is better for it (except this year's Minnesota Vikings). Nik Caner-Medley is a good offensive player on the wing, he needs to step up and be a star. Ekene Ibekwe can hurt you inside and outside, along with Travis Garrison. Chris McCray is money from 3, and DJ Strawberry can do it all off the bench. James Gist and Mike Jones add more scoring pop and Will Bowers has a lot of potential inside. The only question is at the point, where Sterling Ledbetter needs to be the leader on a team that had no leaders last year. Maryland may have the most depth of any team in the nation, they can go 10 deep. Can they make it all work and be a team???

3. Boston College. This will be the 1st year in the league for BC, and they could make a title run. There aren't many better forward duos than Craig Smith and Jared Dudley. Smith is listed at 6'7, which is generous, but he plays much bigger, proving himself to be unstoppable on the low block. Dudley is a perfect fit for BC's flex. He's shifty inside and can make the mid-range jumper. While small inside, BC is big outside with Sean Marshall and Louis Hinnant, who are capable scorers on the perimeter. If Sean Williams can stay healthy and play like he did the 1st half of last year, BC has a complete team. The negative: not much depth. They will need to get something out of their freshmen. The flex is hard to prepare for because you can do so much with it. That will give BC an early advantage against ACC teams who haven't played against it. If BC can get something from their bench, they could challenge for the title.

4. NC State. The loss of Julius Hodge hurts, but Herb Sendek returns a lot of guys from a team that finally made it over the hump in the postseason and made it to the Sweet 16. Tony Bethel is healthy, so he has a chance of putting up Hodge-like numbers. Engin Atsur complements him in the backcourt, along with versatile Cameron Bennerman who could explode. Ilian Evtimov is a rock at power forward, and Andrew Brackman should only continue to build off of his solid freshman year. Cedric Simmons gives the Pack some inside depth, Gavin Grant does the same on the outside. Bethel and Bennerman will be the go-to guys in the clutch because they have the most ability, can the produce in the clutch?? This team should have a lot of confidence after the way they finished last year.

5. Wake Forest. Wake lost a lot (Chris Paul, Jamaal Levy, Vytas Danelius, and Taron Downey). Justin Gray will have to play a lot of point guard, where he is not as effective as he is at shooting guard. Eric Williams does return at center, where he had a big year last year. Chris Ellis and Trent Strickland go from the bench to the starting lineup, where both significantly need to improve their offensive output. Freshman Kevin Swinton will probably start, he has a scorer's mentality. Kyle Visser provides experience off the bench inside, while freshman Shamaine Dukes will relieve Gray at the point. Wake may actually be better defensively, which shouldn't be hard because they couldn't guard anyone last year. Wake has athletes, but only two proven scorers. Dare I say, Wake may struggle offensively at first???

6. Miami. The Canes shared 6th in the ACC last year after being picked to finish dead last. They are led by their 3-guard attack: Guillermo Diaz, Anthony Harris, and Robert Hite. Harris runs the show, Diaz is the shooter, Hite is the entertainment. Inside is where the Canes need some help. Anthony King and Gary Hamilton are experienced, but didn't score a lot last year. The other Miami bigmen are all inexperienced underclassmen. Not good when you need a cheap basket to stop a run. The Canes won't be able to sneak up on oeople this year, can they live up to the heightened expectations???

7. North Carolina. Yes, the defending national champs may not make the NCAA Tournament. That hasn't happened since 1987 when Louisville failed to make it to the Dance. But I have a feeling the Heels will make it in. There's too much talent, although young, and Roy Williams is too good of a coach not to go dancin. David Noel has proven in big games he's a reliable scorer, and Reyshawn Terry has made some big shots. The freshmen will play and they are good. Tyler Hansbrough is relentless inside, Bobby Frasor is a McDonald's All-American, and Danny Green is a versatile wing player. The key is the point guard, Quentin Thomas. As Ray Felton was the x-factor in UNC's title, UNC will go as far as Thomas's play takes them. When he started against Santa Clara last year when Felton was suspended, he struggled. Against Santa Clara. Thomas will have to grow up in a hurry.

8. Virginia Tech. The Hokies also made an impact in their first year in the league, beating Duke at home. 4 starters are back, led by Zabian Dowdell who is a fantastic all-around player. Jamon Gordon can drive and dish, and Deron Washington can play in/out. The Hokies have the talent in their starting lineup, if they get anything from their bench, they could finish in the top half of the league. Dowdell will have to replace the graduated Carlos Dixon as the main man.

9. Georgia Tech. The Jackets are another team that could surprise. They don't have a lot of proven parts, but they have a lot of ability. Anthony Morrow and Mario West have played significant minutes outside, and Ra'Sean Dickey has a nice low-post game. Paul Hewitt will play a lot of people, and you know they will guard people. Offensive consistency is something Tech will need to find as their returning leading scorer only averaged 6/game last year.

10. Clemson. The Tigers are coming. Oliver Purnell has the type of team that he wants, they just need to keep improving. His offense needs a low-post threat, which will have to be Akin Akingbala after Sharrod Ford graduated. Clemson has good guards in Shawan Robinson, Cliff Hammonds, and Vernon Hamilton. Hamilton needs to become more of a 3 point threat. The Tigers still don't have a lot of experience, but Purnell likes to play 8-9 people, so his young guys will grow up in a hurry. Next year they may be in a position to compete for an NCAA berth. An NIT berth would be a great accomplishment this year.

11. Virginia. The Cavs get their stalwart backcourt back, but lose their big fellas, Elton Brown and Devin Smith. Sean Singletary and JR Reynolds have a lot of game. Singletary is just a sophomore who has no problem with taking over a game. Gary Forbes gives the Cavs three threats outside. On the inside, the Cavs are inexpreienced and lean. They will get killed on the boards and will struggle, but they are young and will be back.

12. Florida St. Todd Galloway gives them stability at the point, and Al Thornton gives them a low-post threat. Alexander Johnson needs to keep improving inside, and Diego Romero needs to make good on the hype surrounding him. Coach Leonard Hamilton has changed the attitude of the program and got a solid recruiting class. The Noles don't have a lot of depth, but will continue to be tough to beat at Tallhassee.

Next up will be the Big 12.

Tomorrow night is the final Friday of regular season high school football. For Northmont, it's pretty simple. Win, and a trip to the playoffs, most likely a rematch with Wayne in Huber Heights. Lose, and it's a trip home for the 2nd straight year. There will be a lot of scoreboard watching tomorrow night.

In other news, Harriet Miers withdrew her name from consideration for the Supreme Court. Although part of President Bush's White House counsel, I wasn't a fan of her being nominated. From researching some about her, she has no judicial experience, and although she's participated in some high-profile cases, her involvement has been minimal at least. I think the President went too far in finding someone who didn't have much of a past to dig into.

And I think my Christmas list just expanded. I would like: a Chicago Bears football jersey with the name of a certain Coach Ditka on the back, the ESPN College Football encyclopedia, and my newest addition, the Fisher-Price ESPN Basketball game that has the voice of Dick Vitale.

Have a good night.