ACC Thoughts

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

UVA looks like the team to beat IMO. UNC and Duke steal headlines and have a better post season pedigree, but as far as the regular season goes I think the title goes through UVA. Gill is the best player nobody talks about. Their PG is a SR shooting over 50% from the 3 pt line. Brogdon is a tough cover.

I think UNC is my tepid #2 despite a couple losses. They aren't that great defensively but they are the most efficient offensive team in the league.

I think the Cards are right there, just a step behind @ #3, I think the loss of Mathiang really hurts but it could help the team in the long run, and if the team can get it done without him his addition later in the year will be gravy.

I'm dropping Duke to #4 losing Jefferson really impacts their front line. He averaged a double double and if there is ever a year where Duke comes back to the pack and is just another decent team this is that year. I'd drop them more if not for K.

Miami is my #5 I love their guards man they are good. They could easily finish higher.

FSU is rounding into form I put them #6 but they also have a high ceiling. Lots of youth though could cost them in close games.

Pitt is next up, I've got them slightly ahead of Syracuse. These teams are pretty good and we're talking #7 and #8 here.

WF is my #9, they are really improved we open with them and that game makes me nervous. Thomas is a SR and a beast, we need to foul that guy and make him hit FTs, he shoots FGs almost as well as his FTs...they've already got a couple nice wins over UCLA and IU, so they won't be intimidated by us. They got a young FR PG hoping we force him into mistakes.

I'm going to give ND the nod @ #10 - they lost two key players in the back court their guards are decent but it's a drop off. To see those guys as my #10 tells you how tough this league looks.

 

[shadow force]

Honestly I haven't seen enough basketball this season yet to develop a strong opinion of the everyone in the ACC. I agree that UVA once again looks solid and Duke will definitely be hurting without Jefferson.

 

[cuzimacardfan]

Despite everything I still think UNC is very good. They can beat anybody. They have size speed and talent and one of the best PGs in the country. Their other guards aren't deadly but they could go off in a given night. I think they will give us some problems.

Duke is bad. They have a coach that can improve them but they need work.

I have a feeling that as long as they have their coach that Virigina will be a mainstay at the top (during the regular season). I believe they are Kenpom #1 right now.

I would put Miami ahead of Duke right now personally.

 

[tn00nan]

Despite everything I still think UNC is very good. They can beat anybody. They have size speed and talent and one of the best PGs in the country. Their other guards aren't deadly but they could go off in a given night. I think they will give us some problems.

Duke is bad. They have a coach that can improve them but they need work.

I have a feeling that as long as they have their coach that Virigina will be a mainstay at the top (during the regular season). I believe they are Kenpom #1 right now.

I would put Miami ahead of Duke right now personally.

I don't know about Miami but I consider UNC to be the team to beat in the country. Paige (sp?) is a guard that can hit from 25 ft or drive past you. Bryce Johnson is a great player.

And you can't tell me that Duke is 'bad'. Relative to whom?

Sorry, they are still the top two teams to beat in the ACC in my opinion.

UVA? I'm not sure.

 

[Senore2006]

Nice work, Ihop. Yeah, UNC actually appears to be a team to beat not just in the ACC but in the national picture as well. Duke will recover when Jefferson returns. In fact, his return could give them a retro rocket boost after adapting to life without him by utilizing more Kennard and firing 3's with absolutely no conscience at all. When J returns, suddenly they'll strengthen themselves inside with the toughness they need for their run, later.

But Virginia is doing it well, indeed. They seem to be the toughest-minded team in the conference and they have their All American, Brogden, who needs no introduction to Louisville fans. I really like their grit and their PG. I actually like their entire team, where I sometimes falter at enjoying anything UNC does because of their weird sense of entitlement.

None of this mentions Miami, who are one hell of a team, by my calculations, with a gritty coach and PG in Angel - a guy I enjoy watching play. Plus we play them down there. Trust me when I say they already have that event circled on their calendar. They are waiting for us down there.

Luckily, we have UNC here, if memory serves. I expect they will come in very much overlooking us, simply because that's how they roll. The ACC tourney is in NC again, of course - at Raleigh - so they ooze even more confidence about their later prospects as well. We have Duke twice this season, thankfully, finally playing at Cameron, an event all UofL fans should treasure for all the best reasons.There is a part of me who believes we might do what our baseball team did last season in conference.

 

[cuzimacardfan]

I don't know about Miami but I consider UNC to be the team to beat in the country. Paige (sp?) is a guard that can hit from 25 ft or drive past you. Bryce Johnson is a great player.

And you can't tell me that Duke is 'bad'. Relative to whom?

Sorry, they are still the top two teams to beat in the ACC in my opinion.

UVA? I'm not sure.

Duke is bad relative to themselves. They have some good players like Allen, who I think was way overhyped preseason but still good, and they likely have the number 2 draft pick on their team. But they have a lot of work to do. I expect they will improve but they are not elite or even great.

I don't mean they are NIT bad. But their defense is awful and they have had some close wins over some bad teams. They are not the best team in the ACC as they were expected to be preseason.

 

[turducken71]

Miami has a very good team and beating them down there will take our A game.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

I think UNC is the favorite for the title. But I think they will finish behind UVA in the league.

Goofy thoughts, I know.

 

[tn00nan]

I think UNC is the favorite for the title. But I think they will finish behind UVA in the league.

Goofy thoughts, I know.

Something like that can happen with imbalanced schedules that we have. But I think when the NCAA rolls around, they'll be the favorite. That being said, I think we can beat them.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

I think we can beat any team in the league. What keeps me from putting Louisville #1 or #2 is our big men are physically weak and struggle to score on a consistent basis. Our guards will be good the majority of the time.

I do think as the season progresses we will see improvement across the board for the team - it's been that way for years and I am obviously comfortable with sitting back and watching Pitino prepare the team for the post season, he has excelled in that department for sure.

 

[Mayoman]

I think we can beat any team in the league. What keeps me from putting Louisville #1 or #2 is our big men are physically weak and struggle to score on a consistent basis. Our guards will be good the majority of the time.

I do think as the season progresses we will see improvement across the board for the team - it's been that way for years and I am obviously comfortable with sitting back and watching Pitino prepare the team for the post season, he has excelled in that department for sure.

Totally agree. And thanks for the first post. I haven't had the opportunity to watch many BB games yet.....so I really appreciate your analysis. As far as UVA winning the regular season ship and UNC the tournament ship......there is some historical precedence for that happening, is it not? (with Duke)

At any rate.....a good call on your part. And keep the posts coming.....I am grateful for your efforts.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

Mayo Miami, WF, and Pitt are the most improved teams in the league.

Miami's guard play is bordering on elite status with McClellan @ SG taking an obscene step in improvement. There is a major ambush for the Cards waiting on game day vs those guys.

Danny Manning is in year two @ WF they did quite well out in Maui and they rely on an unstoppable lefty that combines skill and strength to make himself a near lock for first team All-ACC. Thomas is pretty much a force and he is a lefty which makes him even trickier to handle. They have a FR PG with a lot of talent his name escapes me but he is not afraid of the moment. They are the worst kind of opening opponent for the Cards because they could easily be overlooked and the team could have a hangover from the UK game.

PITT has a unique team by their standard the defense has tailed off but their offense is producing @ a high level. They've got a lot of experience and guys that can play inside out.

The ACC is going to bury one or two pretty good teams, I hope we aren't one of them.

 

[Cue Card]

The ACC is every bit as good as advertised, and after these next 2 cream puff games, the days of snacking are over. It all starts with a wounded UofK team in Rupp Arena and then it's off to the game to game grind we know as the best college basketball conference on earth.

It's about to get real.

 

[Sawyer]

Nice work, Ihop. Yeah, UNC actually appears to be a team to beat not just in the ACC but in the national picture as well. Duke will recover when Jefferson returns. In fact, his return could give them a retro rocket boost after adapting to life without him by utilizing more Kennard and firing 3's with absolutely no conscience at all. When J returns, suddenly they'll strengthen themselves inside with the toughness they need for their run, later.

But Virginia is doing it well, indeed. They seem to be the toughest-minded team in the conference and they have their All American, Brogden, who needs no introduction to Louisville fans. I really like their grit and their PG. I actually like their entire team, where I sometimes falter at enjoying anything UNC does because of their weird sense of entitlement.

None of this mentions Miami, who are one hell of a team, by my calculations, with a gritty coach and PG in Angel - a guy I enjoy watching play. Plus we play them down there. Trust me when I say they already have that event circled on their calendar. They are waiting for us down there.

Luckily, we have UNC here, if memory serves. I expect they will come in very much overlooking us, simply because that's how they roll. The ACC tourney is in NC again, of course - at Raleigh - so they ooze even more confidence about their later prospects as well. We have Duke twice this season, thankfully, finally playing at Cameron, an event all UofL fans should treasure for all the best reasons.There is a part of me who believes we might do what our baseball team did last season in conference.

Senore, the ACC Tournament is at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC this year and at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in 2016. Raleigh is hosting a 1st & 2nd Round of the NCAA this year.

 

[Senore2006]

Senore, the ACC Tournament is at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC this year and at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in 2016. Raleigh is hosting a 1st & 2nd Round of the NCAA this year.

Thanks for the correction. LMAO, that's even worse.

 

[Tigertown_a_Rick]

As a Carolina fan, I hope all the above prognostications are correct!

I do agree that the ACC is going to be really tough this year, and the imbalanced schedule does make a difference in which team will ultimately claim the trophy at the end....

UVA is loaded with experience, and has won or shared the last 2 ACC Crowns....Don't know what has happened to the big guy Tobey, but UVA is really tough on defense, and has a got a go to guy in Brogden who is physically stronger than most guards he will face...

As a Carolina fan, I like what I see out of Joel Berry, and hope that injuries don't derail what looks to be a promising season for the Tar Heels...And I'm glad that Brice Johnson is starting to live up to his potential...He's playing at a very high level at the moment....Paige has been hampered by injuries since the start of the season, and hope that he can play the rest of the season injury-free?....Really like Justin Jackson's overall game, and like the way that Hicks has improved in the offseason....We really need him to step in, and add some toughness to the inside game, and he's been able to do that for the most part, thus far this season....

Having watched several ACC teams play this year, I can see that the league is going to be brutal this season....Miami as others have mentioned is a seasoned bunch who will be tough to handle, and agree that McClelland has really improved his game during the offseason, and is playing like a first-team All ACC guard right now....The last time Miami had this much talent and experience, the Canes won the ACC....

Florida State is another team that will be tough to handle by season's end as both touted freshman seem to be finding their groove, and they still have Rathan-Mayes to take the big shot when needed...The Noles biggest deteriment may be that they are still trying to find a consistent low post threat, but that may be a year away in next year's stellar recruiting class?

Have to also agree about Wake Forest...The Demon Deacons IMO are on the verge of making the NCAA tourney this year behind seniors Thomas and Codi-Miller McIntyre who just returned from an injury that has saddled him since the start of the season....Manning seems to be adding pieces to the puzzle every season, and Wake will definitely have more depth this year than they've had in a while, but a lot of that depth is still young and unproven...Those early season wins in Maui over Indiana and UCLA has surely improved the young players' confidence...Will be interesting to see how they match up with unbeaten Xavier tonight in Winston-Salem?

Also agree that both Pittsburgh and NCST will also be tough to handle with their aggressive style of play, but don't see either team as a factor for the ACC title chase....

As for the ACC title chase, I have to say at the moment that my top 4 are: UNC, Miami,Louisville and UVA with Duke as a possible darkhorse with Jefferson sidelined at the moment...

The ACC is getting better right before our eyes, and the future looks even brighter for the conference as a whole!

Good luck to the Cards with the exception of when they face my Tar Heels!

 

[Knucklehank1]

I think UVA will win the regular season conference title. However I cannot see them winning the NCAA title running their type of offense.

 

[SchmidtyNole]

I agree with the original poster. The ACC will be a bear this year. To put it in perspective, the ACC has 8 teams in the current Top 50 of the RPI (over half of the conference) and 12 teams in the current Top 100 of the RPI. That's 80% of the conference. One ACC team not in the Top 100 is FSU, and we are a good team. We sit at #134 in the RPI with a 9-2 record but that low number has been because most of our non-conference teams we've played haven't been very good which gives us an awful Strength of Schedule at #319. Our only losses are to a very good Hofstra team and in OT against Iowa on the Road. That will change on December 29th when we play UF (current #3 in RPI) on the Road and our RPI would shoot up a lot if we could pull the upset. Either way, it would move our Strength of Schedule up but we need to win that game to improve our RPI rating.

But my point is there are 13 very good teams in the ACC that are capable of beating anybody in the ACC on any given night and it is anybody's guess as to what the Standings will look like at the end of the season. Plus, there will be some really good ACC teams that are NCAA Tournament level that may be left out because they get beat up by the Conference Schedule.

I mean, I could see the ACC getting 10 or 11 bids maximum but that would mean 2 or 3 really good teams will be left out.