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Coach K Going For Gold in 2016?

Sun, 19 May 2013 20:16:39 EST

Despite talk to the contrary since the 2012 Summer Games came to a close with another Gold Medal earned for USA Basketball, Mike Krzyzewski is apparently thinking about returning in 2016.

According to this CBSSports.com report Krzyzewski is thinking about going back on his earlier statements that he would not return to coach USA Basketball in Rio de Janeiro. The 66 year- old coach has an impressive 62-1 record as the head coach of team USA and has led the program to two straight gold medals following a fall from grace for the country that invented the game.

After the second medal, Krzyzewski said he was going to hang up his USA coaching duties and focus his efforts on his full-time job at Duke, something that many Duke fans were hoping for.

The move to coach USA Basketball was not a popular one among Duke fans and more than a couple sports analysts who felt that the time Krzyzewski was spending away from Duke was causing a decline in the program. The Blue Devils 2010 National Title appeared to silence those critics but they still all were quietly rejoicing.

It is hard to argue that coaching the Olympic team hurt Duke. The Blue Devils won a championship and continued to win close to 30 games a year during the period he was coaching Team USA. Duke lost some recruiting battles but they won some too and most recently the 2013 class brought in a nice haul and 2014 appears to be shaping up to be one of the better ones in recent memory if a few pieces fall in place.

Unlike those who felt the time away from Duke would cause more harm than good, the results of Duke’s success seem to indicate the positives of coaching the NBA’s best have greatly outweighed any negatives.

Krzyzewski has been a big draw for players like Kobe Bryant and Lebron James and while Bryant isn’t likely going to be playing in 2016, James will still be in his prime and more of the leagues premier stars will likely follow him especially if Krzyzewski is at the helm.

That is a fact that isn’t lost on many of the young players who see those players thrive in Krzyzewski’s system and see how well receive he is by the biggest stars in the game. And in an age when image is truly everything, no 66-year-old coach has expanded and kept his brand going as much as Coach K.

Another tour of duty as the Olympic Coach would likely have many of the same positives for Krzyzewski and the Duke program. Krzyzewski has lauded what coaching NBA players has done for him in terms of Xs and Os much more than what it has done for his public image. Duke has benefited from his experiences and will likely to continue to benefit.

So is it a good thing that Krzyzewski will be back on the sidelines coaching the Olympic team in Rio? Most definitely, regardless of what the critics say.

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Vote to Tighten Transfers Misses Chance for Meaningful Change

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:55:06 EST

Earlier this month, the National Association of Basketball Coaches Board of Directors held their annual off-season meeting and, with only one dissenting vote, decided to suggest to the NCAA a change in the transfer rules.

The change would essentially do away with the present exemptions being given for two (2) of the most controversial waivers:

A. Allowing players to transfer due to within 100 miles of an ill relative.

B. Allowing players to graduate early, then seek a Master’s Degree not offered at their present institution.

Personally, I could not agree more with both reasoning’s. Much too often the present rules have been abused.

Syracuse Head Coach, Jim Boeheim gave the best evaluation of the present rules, saying: “We’ve just got into an area of unintended consequences.”

In March I wrote an article here entitled “How the NCAA’s Ineptitude Affected ACC This Year.” In it, I discussed three cases that I believed were unfair examples of how transfers have or haven’t been give the same treatment.

The problem has been that the NCAA has allowed a gluttony of transfer exemptions for both the above reasons, and it has become more than a bit of a farce. Questions have arisen about how involved the kids actually are with that sick relative, and if the kids are seriously pursuing an academic endeavor, or just wanting to play for another coach.

As I said, I don’t have a problem with making ALL kids sit a year, but one type of student transfer is NEVER discussed. The kid whose coach leaves for another job, is fired, or retires unexpectedly. In these cases, I believe a waiver is, without a doubt, in order.

We all know that in many, many cases, the college coach becomes a defacto father figure for the student athlete. Kids choose programs, many times, because they and the coach understand each other, certain promises are made or inferred, or the parents feel comfortable with their son being in the hands of a particular coach while he is far away from family.

I am firmly against the “one-and-done” and rail against Coach John Calipari of Kentucky for turning the school into a revolving door for the NBA. Could you imagine if he were to suddenly leave the school abruptly (for whatever hypothetical reason you wish)? Would all of those recruits be happy with whomever replaced him to fulfill the promises he made? I think not. Those kids ought to be allowed to go elsewhere without penalty.

Now, I’d never allow a kid to transfer to the same school the coach went who left a particular program went to, in the event of his simply going elsewhere as Calipari did before. I would never allow more than one kid to transfer to the same school as the coach. That could open up a whole different can of worms.

We all know that the “Coaching Carousel” rears it’s head each year as soon as the Field of 64 is seeded. Coaches move around faster than a street “shell game” with firings and hiring’s happening sometimes faster than 24 hour ESPN can cover. The problem is that while everyone focuses on the new coach, no one focuses on the squad he leaves behind. The kids he recruited, who came to the school because of HIM. They are left to whomever the school hires, and with no options left if the kid dislikes the new coach, or he has a different vision for him. They are stuck, and I believe it is unethical, unprincipled, and unprofessional.

The problem is, I believe, that the only voice given any credence by the NCAA is the NABC. Interestingly enough, their Board of Directors reads like a Who’s Who in college basketball, and is missing only the voice of Coach K and Roy Williams for an All-Star roster.

Whatever could they be thinking of by ignoring these ignored kids? Could it be that they are thinking only of fellow coaches in the transition of a coaching change?

While there are no carpetbaggers on that Who’s Who list, I find it rather myopic of them to ignore the plight of these kids. When a Coach leaves, it’s always a lose-lose situation – The school loses a Coach and the players lose the guy who recruited them, and they came to be led by and play for !!!

Coach Boeheim worried that the changing the transfer rules to require all to sit out for one year might be viewed as “anti-player.” Well, following my idea would be one great step toward guaranteeing that the student athlete comes first when a Coach leaves.

How about it Gents … How could there possibly be a downside ???

Bermuda Bob is a contributing writer for Duke Sports Blog and an avid Duke Basketball fan. You can follow him on Twitter @TheBermudaBob.

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Jamie Dixon downplays potential Pitt-Penn State basketball series

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:06:17 EST

With news of Pitt and Penn State possibly starting up another annual football series, you knew it was a matter of time before things switched to the basketball side.

The Post-Gazette's Sam Werner did a great interview with Jamie Dixon at the ACC meetings. So be sure to read the thing in its entirety. Among other things, Dixon addressed playing Penn State in basketball:

"There are obviously limitations on what you can do. You can’t please everybody. If you look at scheduling, there’s really no way you can do it. You’ve got to satisfy so many different components, whether it be revenue, whether it be ACC, your conference schedule, your non-conference schedule, rivalry games, exempt tournaments. It really takes care of itself if you sit down and look at it."

My hope is that the game this year in the B1G-ACC Challenge will renew some interest in the game. As I said last year, I'd rather see Pitt play a marquee team from the conference and save Penn State for an annual game. But as I noted this week, it's a more attractive matchup than playing a middle-of-the-road B1G team.

Committing to a non-conference opponent in football on an annual basis is far more difficult. But in basketball, teams have any number of chances to schedule a team regularly. It'd be one thing if the Panthers were rolling out games against top opponents, but Kennesaw State? North Florida? Bethune-Cookman? I'd much rather see Pitt square off against Penn State than any of those teams.

Dixon is right that many components are involved - trying to play near hometowns of players, 'finding new rivalries, facing opponents with coaches that may have ties to Dixon or to Pitt, etc. And I get that the Nittany Lions many years may not boost the RPI. But neither do some of the teams that Pitt faces. There's little reason that Pitt couldn't play Penn State every year in basketball with so many non-conference slots.

I typically agree with Dixon, but this isn't one of those times.

Be sure to join Cardiac Hill's Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @PittPantherBlog for our regular updates on Pitt athletics. Also follow the author @AnsonWhaley.

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Ranking the ACC Football Coaches for 2013

Sat, 18 May 2013 20:09:59 EST

As we near the end of May, let’s go ahead and rank the ACC football coaches. This will be the first of several ACC rankings as we start with the coaches and move to the ACC postional rankings in preparation for the season.

When I look up and down the ACC’s coaches I see more coaching depth than I’ve seen in literally years. This doesn’t even include Louisville’s Charlie Strong who will join next year and would have certainly been in the top 4.

There isn’t a single coach that hasn’t had some level of success at least the assistant coaching level. Agree or disagree with the rankings?

Leave a comment or hit me up on twitter at @TalkinACCSports

1. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech

Frank Beamer has had an absolute stranglehold on being the ACC’s top coach for years, but his grip is slipping. After 8 straight 10 win seasons, that included 4 ACC Titles the Hokies went 7-6 last year. The Hokies have clearly fallen behind Florida State and Clemson as the ACC’s top programs, but I’m not giving up on Beamer just yet. If he can put together a 10+ win season he’ll be able to hold off the hard charging Jimbo Fisher and Dabo Swinney.

2. Jimbo Fisher, Florida State

You know I think Jimbo Fisher gets a lot of undeserved criticism. For a coach that’s won 31 games in 3 years, there are whispers of of underachievement. I don’t think people realized just how far the Seminole’s program had sunk in Bobby Bowden’s final years. Fisher has returned FSU to relevance, and the 11 players drafted in the 2013 NFL draft proves the talent is returning to Tallahassee. Yes there are head scratching losses to NC State and Wake Forest in recent years, and I’m not a fan of him calling the offensive plays, but FSU prorgam is in the best shape it’s been in since the late 1990s.

3. Dabo Swinney, Clemson

It’s time give Dabo Swinney his due. The Tigers have put together back to back 10+ win seasons, and they are coming off of a 11 win season that included a win over SEC Power LSU. The Tigers have now established themselves along with Florida State as the ACC teams most likely to eventually breakthrough and contend for a national title. He’s arguably the conference’s best recruiter. If Clemson knocks off Georgia to open the 2013 season, Clemson could jump into the top 5.

4. Al Golden, Miami

Al Golden has impressed me at Miami. With the cloud of the NCAA investigation still hanging over the Miami program, Golden has keep the Hurricanes program afloat. He rebuilt Temple while he was there, and has recruited decently at Miami. Last year he tied for first in the Coastal Division. I have a prediction, Golden will again make Miami a perennial top 20 program.

5. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech

I don’t think there is a better play caller in the ACC. Johnson’s triple option offense is as tough to defend 5 years later as it was when he first arrived at Georgia Tech. That is with less talent too. He’s made 3 ACC Title games in his 5 years, and turned Navy’s football program around. Unfortunately the Yellow Jacket’s talent level has declined in recent years, but as I’ve said here before Georgia Tech is modifying their recruiting philosophy to recruit more nationally. If Johnson can ever figure out this recruiting thing and start bringing in some stronger classes, the Jackets could be a real force. Yes I know Georgia Tech has a limited curriculum. He can still recruit better.

6. David Cutcliffe, Duke

What David Cutcliffe has done at Duke is remarkable. The Blue Devils football program was an absolute laughing stock when Cutcliffe got there. He’s made Duke respectable, and he got the Blue Devils to their first bowl game since 1994. He’s one of the most respected quarterback gurus in the country. He’s worked with the likes of Peyton and Eli Manning and turning Sean Renfree into a NFL pick. With Duke finally investing in their football program, the Blue Devils rise may not be quite finished.

7. Larry Fedora, North Carolina

In his first year at UNC, Larry Fedora won 8 games and had the Heels not been on probation, they would have represented the ACC Coastal division in the ACC Title. This was following a 12-2 season at Southern Miss. Fedora uptempo offense should be even better in 2013. Fedora and UNC could make a huge splash if they can defeat South Carolina to open the year down in Columbia.

8. Dave Doeren, North Carolina State

This will be Dave Doeren’s first season at NC State, but he’s coming off a 23-4 record at North Illinois that saw the Huskies make the 2012 Orange Bowl. Doeren is a little tough to judge because he has yet to coach in the ACC, but I like the hire. I wasn’t a fan of Tom O’Brien and I think Doeren is a big upgrade for the Wolfpack.

9. Jim Grobe, Wake Forest

That I have Jim Grobe at 9th on this list, is testament to the ACC’s improved depth of coaching. Grobe won the ACC Title at Wake Forest and won 28 games in a 3 year span from 2006-2008. I still think Grobe can coach, but his last winning winning season was in 2008. The talent level has decline since that time. Wake will never recruit all that well no matter who is coaching there, but Grobe hasn’t found those diamonds in the rough that seemed to be there during the 06-08 run. The ascension of Atlantic Division rivals Clemson and FSU has hurt Wake Forest, and it remains to been seen if Grobe got Wake Forest as far as they could go.

10. Paul Chryst, Pittsburgh

I think ACC fans will be surprised by Paul Chryst, he’s a good offensive mind, and was a very successful offensive coordinator while at Wisconsin. There were some worried folks at Pitt when the Wisconsin job opened last year, but the Panthers were able to retain Chryst. I have long feltPittsburgh is a place that under the right coach can be consistent winner. It would not surprise me to see Pittsburgh become a perennial bowl team under Chryst with the occasional run at the ACC Coastal Title.

11. Mike London, Virginia

Mike London looked like the ACC’s next big thing at head coach, but 3 years after his hire the Cavaliers are right back where they started with London. There are bookend 4-8 seasons in year year 1 and year 3. London is a decent recruiter, but coming into year 4 Virginia fans are going to start expecting some better results. He did win a FCS Championship at Richmond.

12. Steve Addazio, Boston College

Addazio has brought some much needed energy to a Boston College program stuck in neutral. He’s a Northeastern guy, that’s a good fit for Boston College. Addazio won 9 games at Temple in 2011, but only 4 last year in a transitional season. If Addazio can produce a bowl season at BC this year, he’ll move up this list quickly.

13. Scott Schafer, Syracuse

Schafer has no head coaching experience, so he’s been the toughest to judge. You would prefer that a head coach have some experience running a program, but he has had some strong defenses at Syracuse while he was DC there. He’s a noted defensive guy and he’ll need that when he faces high powered ACC offenses like Clemson’s in the Atlantic Division. As with Addazio if Schafer gets Syracuse to a bowl, he’ll move up this list.

14. Randy Edsall, Maryland

Somebody has to be at the bottom of these rankings. Edsall really isn’t that bad of a coach. He got Connecticut to a BCS game, and averaged more than 8 wins his final 4 years there. His tenure at Maryland has been a disaster though. He won 2 games in 2011 and just 4 last year. An exodus of players left after year one. He was the victim of a rash of injuries in 2012 at quarterback, but if anyone can make an argument for Edsall to be higher than 12th on this list I’m listening.

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Is Vanderbilt transfer Sheldon Jeter on the way to Pitt?

Sat, 18 May 2013 07:23:56 EST

It's not yet a done done deal, but all signs are pointing to Sheldon Jeter transferring to Pitt. Jeter, a 6'7" forward, is a local player from Beaver Falls who was at Vanderbilt. He averaged a little more than five points and three rebounds per game this year. Out of high school, he was a three-star recruit and ranked as Rivals' No. 150 player in the nation.

SB Nation's Vanderbilt blog Anchor of Gold calls the loss a big blow. According to his coach, he wanted to be closer to home. Jeter himself cited personal issues.

The closer to home statement seems to indicate that the Panthers would be in the mix. All the talk is about Jeter coming to Pitt, but he says his mind's not made up yet:

Just to clear this up, I do not know what school I will go to. That is another conversation to take place at another time with my family.
— Sheldon Jeter (@LongLive_Jete21) May 18, 2013

I wouldn't take that as a sign that he's not coming to Pitt. I'm not saying his mind is set on Pitt, only that if it is, he may not want to come out and say it.

Jeter initially chose Vandy over Penn State, South Carolina, and Wisconsin, but Pitt didn't offer him. There's no question that he could help Pitt's depth issue. He won't be able to play this year after sitting out, but with the losses of Lamar Patterson, J.J. Moore, and Talib Zanna, Pitt will have plenty of opportunities at forward next season. Jeter would have three years of eligibility left.

Projected 2013-14 Lineup: NC State Wolfpack

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:03:16 EST

Mark Gottfried has his work cut out for him in 2013-14. He loses his entire starting five and as of now only has nine scholarship players. There are so many unknowns, it’s tough to settle on one starting lineup. I would say NC State’s lineup will be in constant flux, because there are a handful of players capable of playing multiple positions.

GONE BABY GONE: Just about everybody…Lorenzo Brown, C.J. Leslie, Richard Howell, Scott Wood, Rodney Purvis, Jay Lewis

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

PG – Tyler Lewis (SO), 5-11/165
SG – Anthony “Cat” Barber (FR), 6-2/165
SG – Ralston Turner (JR), 6-6/210
PF – T.J. Warren (SO), 6-8/235
C – BeeJay Anya (FR), 6-9/275

I’ll be straight up, I like Cat Barber better than Tyler Lewis. Don’t get me wrong, I think Lewis is going to have a great career in Raleigh. He’s a four-year guy, capable of being a three-year starter. However, Barber reminds me of a taller Ty Lawson. Of course I said that about my sandwich the other day, but this time I mean it.

He’s so quick with the ball (you can enjoy some ankle breaking moves in the video below), Barber can beat his man off the dribble with no help and he could be unstoppable in transition. He’s also should be a better defender than Lewis, the kind of guy that turns defense into offense faster than Dick Vitale can say the word “Duke.”

However, look for Gottfried to use them both, switching them from point guard to off the ball. Lewis is an underrated athlete, who has some solid dribbling skills, but it’s his IQ and leadership skills that the Wolfpack will want on the court. I honestly can’t imagine a time in a game where one of these two will not be on the court.

Of course to get these two together, that means both Turner and Warren will need to slide out of their natural positions. Turner is big enough to play the three, but he’s primarily a shooter (he led LSU in scoring as a freshman) and has mastered moving underneath and through screens without the ball. In fact, I expect his three-point shooting percentage to hit 40% since he won’t be asked to be the go-to guy this year.

That role falls to Warren. The sophomore is ready to be a star as one of the more impressive scorers in the league. However, I think he’d be better at the three, out in the open area where he can abuse his defenders with either his outside shot or an effective ability to drive inside. While I think Warren will still see plenty of minutes at small forward, as a team I think it’s better having both Lewis/Barber on the floor, instead of Freeman or Washington inside.

At center, I know the Wolfpack are dying for production from the Big Aussie, but it’s not going to happen. I suspect the five spot is going to be a problem all year. Gottfried has bodies, but none are ready to take on an offensive role. Personally, I like Anya. At the very least, you better have a rebounder inside. Anya isn’t tall, but he’s extremely long (7-4 wingspan) and he loves to own the paint with his refrigerator frame. He doesn’t have a back to the basket game, but he’s not afraid to bounce his big body for closer shots and put backs.

SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTORS

G – Desmond Lee (JR), 6-4/195
F – Lennard Freeman (FR), 6-8/240
F – Kyle Washington (FR), 6-9/215

Lee is a transfer from New Mexico junior college. From what I’ve read and seen, he’s a good shooter from the outside and loves to draw contact when he drives inside (always looking for a trip to the free throw line). However, it’s tough to really know much about a player by watching a couple edited highlight reels. At best, he should be a solid backup at the two. He has some ability to play the point, but it won’t be needed with Lewis/Barber.

Freeman and Washington will back up both the 4/5 spots, allowing Warren to slide back to the three. Both are athletic and long, both are great off the ball shot blockers and both can rebound. Washington is listed as a center, but the lefty likes to play facing the basket. Inside the paint, he’s raw. Because of his light frame (about 215), he’s a classic case for redshirting, but Gottfried doesn’t have that luxury this year.

Freeman is a little shorter than Washington, but he’s got good bulk (240). If you put him on the front line with Anya, then you’re talking about 515 pounds of beef in the paint. That’s a lot of meat, folks. He’s an active big man, who loves to play D and not afraid to take a charge. However, his offensive game…how can I put this…he doesn’t have an offensive game.

ROLE PLAYERS

C – Jordan Vandenberg (SR), 7-1/265

I don’t like The Dunker From Down Under. Seriously, it takes a rare bred of a human to get worse every year in college. Am I being harsh? Maybe, but he has no go-to moves, he rebounds like he thinks the ball has teeth and tell me if I’m wrong, he appears to be allergic to paint, because he still continues to play outside during his brief stints on the floor. I have him in the “role players” section only because I have to. The less time he plays, the better. Sorry.

LIMITED ACTION

No one.

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ACC Lands Seven on 2013 Lott IMPACT Watch List

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:55:34 EST

GREENSBORO, N.C.— A total of seven football standouts from the Atlantic Coast Conference have been named to the first 2013 Watch List for the Lott IMPACT Award announced Thursday by the Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Calif.

In all, the Watch List honored 42 student-athletes from 37 different colleges around the country featuring players who have made the biggest IMPACT on their teams both on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

The Award honors the nation’s top defensive player and in doing so takes into consideration an individual’s IMPACT on and off the field.

The ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten each had seven selections on the watch list, while the Pac-12 had 11 players tabbed. The SEC had five players chosen.

Virginia Tech was one of seven schools nationally to have multiple selections on the Watch List. They were joined by Baylor, Northwestern, Ohio State, Stanford, UCLA and Washington.

Named to the Award from the ACC were:

Duke cornerback Ross Cockrell, a senior from Waxhaw, N.C.;
Pittsburgh defensive lineman Aaron Donald, a senior from Pittsburgh, Pa.;
Boston College linebacker Steele Divitto, a senior from Ridgefield, Conn.;
Virginia Tech defensive back Antone Exum, a senior from Glen Allen, Va.
Florida State defensive back Lamarcus Joyner, a senior from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.;
Clemson linebacker Spencer Shuey, a senior from Charlotte, N.C.; and
Virginia Tech linebacker Jack Tyler, senior from Oakton, Va.

The ACC has had one previous winner in the Lott IMPACT Awards nine-year history, Boston College’s Luke Kuechly claimed the honor in 2011.

Voting for the award is held throughout the season by a National Voter Panel of former college coaches and players, select members of the media, past winners of the award and the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, the sponsors of the award. The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation also announced charity donations of $25,000 which brought their total donations in nine years to over $1 million. The 10th annual Lott IMPACT Trophy Black-Tie Awards Banquet will be Dec. 8 at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach.

by @hokiesmash

Pitt pursuing Alabama transfer Trevor Lacey

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:56:57 EST

Pitt has had a whirlwind offseason to say the least. The surprising departure of Steven Adams set the Panthers back in the post. Now with Trey Zeigler and potentially even JJ Moore gone, they seem a bit thin on the wings as well. It is rumored that DeAndre Kane is leaning towards coming back home to play for Pitt, but that has not been solidified yet. Enter: Trevor Lacey.

Lacey is a former five star recruit out of high school and signed with Alabama . He was initially recruited by the likes of Kentucky, Kansas, and UConn before ultimately deciding with the in-state Crimson Tide.

Lacey has been a two year starter for the Tide, and he averaged 11 points per game in 2013. Jon Rothstein tweeted yesterday that Pitt is in play for the former Alabama guard. They will reportedly go up against conference mates North Carolina, NC State, and Miami in the recruiting battle:

UNC, NC State, Miami, and Pitt are all in the mix for Alabama transfer Trevor Lacey, per multiple sources. 2 years of eligibility remaining
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 15, 2013

Pitt had quite a roster turnover this offseason, but they are bringing in three very good freshmen in Mike Young, Josh Newkirk, and Jamel Artis, along with a talented JuCo transfer in Joe Uchebo. After that, there are still three scholarships available. Two locals in Sheldon Jeter and DeAndre Kane have been rumored, but are not definite. So the crazy offseason continues, but a guy like Trevor Lacey would be the biggest addition of them all.

Be sure to join Cardiac Hill's Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @PittPantherBlog for our regular updates on Pitt athletics.

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The ACC looking forward after spring meetings

Fri, 17 May 2013 06:09:31 EST

Well the ACC Springs meetings have closed up shop for 2013. From what I’ve read, there were positive feelings all around. Remember this time last year when FSU BOT Chairman Andy Haggard’s comments started a firestorm of rumors right before the 2012 meetings and I asked what should the ACC do? That’s all history now since the conference’s Grant of Rights was signed. The ACC can look to the future. This year’s meetings hit of some of those future topics and here are my thoughts on them.

ACC Network

From the Orlando Sentinel.

Swofford said Monday even though the ACC’s proposed new television network was discussed in athletics directors meetings Monday, it’s still in its early development stage.

“It’s preliminary,” he said.

Representatives from ESPN were on hand to catch administrators up on the conference’s current exposure, but discussions about the future have yet to begin in earnest.

“We don’t want to let any grass grow,” Swofford said, emphasizing the need for patience. “We want to be very thorough with it.”

Swofford typically understates any planning that the ACC does, and in many case you are completely unaware of any ACC moves until they happen. Hence his Ninja Commissioner nickname. I believe these talks are further along than are publicly being released. Now that doesn’t mean a network is year away. I think we are still looking at 2015 or 2016, but I’ve heard it could be as many as 5 years from now. I don’t think that will be the case. I’d expect a ACC network in 2 or 3 years. Swofford says “we don’t want to let any grass grow”, you know that means these negotiations are really about to accelerate.

8 Game Conference Schedule

From ESPN

Though league scheduling was not a major topic on the spring meetings agenda, ACC coaches unanimously support an eight-game conference slate.

And they told the athletic directors as much.

I’m not surprised by this. Maybe the in the future the ACC can look at 9 games, but when 2 of your biggest football brands Clemson and Florida State have yearly in state rival, a 9 game conference really hurts their flexibility in scheduleing. Also with Notre Dame being a OOC game for each ACC once every 3 years, it only makes sense right now.

No Divisional Changes

From ESPN

There’s been no discussion at all about divisional realignment, and Swofford says there are no plans to change the way the divisions look.

While there are matchups like Georgia Tech\Florida State that should be played more often, overall I am indifferent to divisional moves.

I’m not against them, but I also don’t see a great need for them. Moving teams around for the sake of possible matchups gets in the business of trying to manufacture quality games. The last time the ACC tried this by splitting Miami and Florida State with dreams of marquee ACC Championship Games in Florida it was a disaster. Now some think Clemson and FSU should be split…

This is something to me that can be looked at and changed at any time. I don’t see it as a priority at the moment. Maybe the permanent rivalry should be dropped from every year to 2 out of every 3 years to increase the frequency of playing other cross-divisional teams.

Bowl Money Distribution

From the Daily Press

The ACC has historically pooled bowl revenue after expenses and shared it evenly. But with the football playoff set to generate another windfall, I asked Swofford if the ACC is considering rewarding its football champion, or playoff teams, with a bonus.

“There’s some discussion about that,” he said. “There’s some preliminary ideas that have been thrown out just for consideration.”

This idea I’m all for. TV money should always be equally distributed, but if Virginia Tech makes the Orange Bowl, I’ve have no problem if they get a $2 Million bonus. If you don’t go to a bowl certainly it doesn’t makes sense to me that someone who does should share equally, especially for the case of a team on probation.

The ACC is also going to look into ensuring that teams that make the ACC Championship don’t lose money. That’s a no brainer.

Bowl Alliances

From ESPN

First on the agenda will be solidifying bowl tie-ins. Much progress has been made here, and official announcements should come in the next several weeks. It already has been reported the ACC has been exploring a new tie-in with the New Era Pinstripe Bowl and reconnecting with the Gator Bowl. Opponents are also set to change in the Russell Athletic Bowl (Big 12) — which could move up in the pecking order – and the Belk Bowl (SEC). Both previously featured a team from the soon-to-be renamed Big East.

Earlier this week we heard that the Russell Athletic Bowl would be the ACC’s top bowl, andthat the Gator was lost. Now we hear the Gator Bowl is in… There wasn’t enough definitive information for me to have an opinion on this. I’m fine if the Russell Athletics Bowl becomes the ACC’s top bowl after the Orange Bowl. Tie in the Big 12′s number #2 team and a good payout and it’s great. If it’s an agreement with the Big East the way it currently is then uh oh. What you will have is more rotation of teams through some bowls from all the power 5 conferences and that’s a good thing.

We’ll have to wait on this.

ACC Basketball Tournament in MSG

From ESPN

The ACC coaches want to get the conference tournament in Madison Square Garden and discussed it at length during the league meetings in Amelia Island, Fla., on Tuesday and Wednesday

This one is simple to me. Absolutely the ACC Tournament should be played in NYC at some point. It should not be the permanent home. The Greensboro Charlotte, NC are still the most centrally located sites to the majority of the ACC schools. More than half the ACC can drive to NC, within 7 hours. I’d like to see a format something like this…

2 years in North Carolina, 1 year Atlanta, Georgia, 2 years in North Carolina, 1 year NYC, 2 years North Carolina, 1 year Atlanta, Georgia, 2 years North Carolina, 1 year NYC.

You may also throw in the occasional Washington DC, Florida site, or other Northeastern city, but I’d pretty much stick with the above.

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ACC Spring Meeting Wraps Up With Little Drama

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:37:56 EST

The Atlantic Coast Conference wrapped up its annual Spring meetings in beautiful Amelia Island, FL on Thursday, and unlike years past everything finished up pretty civilly.

(I knowww righttt? I thought, for sure, there'd be like, lots of, like, drama, but no, it was, like, pretty chill.)

The calmness had a lot to do with the lack of conference realignment talks -- because, you know, they already did most of it -- which led to a lot of folks preaching "conference stability." Most of the preaching was done by ACC commissioner John Swofford.

"Just a lot of positive going on for the entire meetings, and I think a lot of excitement from this group looking ahead in terms of what the possibilities are, so that's all very, very positive," Swofford said. "That's the biggest takeaway from the meeting, actually."

Because there was little drama some business was actually done, including the talks of getting new bowl ties...

It already has been reported the ACC has been exploring a new tie-in with the New Era Pinstripe Bowl and reconnecting with the Gator Bowl. Opponents are also set to change in the Russell Athletic Bowl (Big 12) -- which could move up in the pecking order -- and the Belk Bowl (SEC). Both previously featured a team from the soon-to-be renamed Big East.

As mentioned Wednesday, there were talks about a ACC Network being formed, but it sounds as if it is in the hands of ESPN.

Meanwhile, there was a little drama -- more good, friendly poking than drama -- and it was caused by James Arthur Boeheim.

I asked Jim Boeheim why Rick Pitino wasn't at ACC meetings. "He's still waiting for his horse to finish in the Derby"
— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) May 16, 2013

Zing!!

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Thoughts On The ACC Tournament In NYC

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:45:01 EST

I was fully prepared not to bother addressing yesterday’s buzz about New York City possibly entering the rotation of ACC Tournament sites. I assumed it would happen at some point anyway, given the (former) Big East’s demise and the ACC’s footprint extending more appreciably northward. It made—and still makes—some sense.

But you know me…all it takes is some offhand, ill-thought-out slight against the things I hold sacred to set me off. And in the midst of the ACCT-to-NYC news cycle, the N&O’s Laura Keeley did just that:

onward and upward RT @mcmurphyespn Momentum gaining for ACC to hold future hoops tourneys at Madison Square Garden, sources told @espn

— Laura Keeley (@laurakeeley) May 15, 2013

Like it or not, the ACC has grown beyond a southeastern-based, North Carolina-heavy league. It’s a national player. Act the part.

— Laura Keeley (@laurakeeley) May 15, 2013

The best hoops conference (the ACC’s words) is going to play its tournament in a city most in the country couldn’t find on a map? Please

— Laura Keeley (@laurakeeley) May 15, 2013

Greensboro does a great job w the ACC tourney & there’s great tradition there. But you can’t take sentiment to the bank. & this is business

— Laura Keeley (@laurakeeley) May 15, 2013

Whoaaaaaholdup. As a native North Carolinian, it was hard for me to not find those tweets jarring.

Subsequent tweets in Keeley’s timeline suggest she isn’t simply interested in hitting up NYC once every few years: she feels like it needs to exit Greensboro permanently in favor of big-market locales.

@notthefakesvp I think the recent round of expansion will make it harder to ever have it outside a major market

— Laura Keeley (@laurakeeley) May 15, 2013

There are myriad reasons this Twitter barrage from Ms. Keeley—the Duke beat reporter for the N&O, by the way, in case you aren’t familiar—set me off just like a clumsy Goodman or Parrish dig would, but I think what realllllly twisted the knife deep in my core was the “Act the part” tag line on Tweet #2.

Here’s how my North Carolina brain translated that tweet with that tag line: “Hey North Carolina. I know college basketball is something y’all like and are good at, but lookit, after 60 years of piddling around down here in the south, the ACC finally wised up, added some real players in college basketball and has now made the big time! The rest of the country finally is paying attention to the ACC! So let’s not let this backwards-ass hick state hold us back anymore…it’s time to go to the place where all dreams are made of—NEW YORK CITY! Then and only then will the ACC act the part of the big-time college basketball conference it now is!’”

With all due respect to Ms. Keeley, who does an excellent job covering Duke and I’m sure is a nice enough person, but forgive me if I don’t bow down and kiss the rings of Mayor Bloomberg and Jay-Z.

While the glitz and glamour of New York City once held a lot of appeal to me, I’m old enough now to know that—while certainly the most recognizable city in America (and presumably the easiest to find on a map)—NYC is not the end-all-be-all epicenter of the Universe. It’s a fun town to visit, and I bet if you can afford the obscenely high rent, it’s also a neat place to live when you’re young and single. But when you enter the REAL real world—the one with a spouse and kids and if-I-don’t-earn-a-living-my-kids-starve kind of responsibilities—you come to appreciate a state like NC that much more, where you can own a house with a backyard in a neighborhood with nice, safe schools and host a pig pickin if you’re so inclined.

My point being, the Big Time ain’t that big time. Not with some perspective.

Which, of course, I feel like Keeley lacks when she belittles North Carolina and the South as second-rate to the next level markets and venues she feels ACC now deserves to be a player in. So what if some schmuck in Sheboygan can’t find Greensboro on a map? Guess what: I can’t find Sheboygan on a map. But I’ve heard of it. Just like folks in Sheboygan have heard of Greensboro.

And if you follow college basketball AT ALL, you know that Greensboro IS the ACC; that’s the ACC home, as it always has been and as it always should be.

I feel like Ms. Keeley, in her earnest desire to see the ACC Tournament relocated away from podunk Greensboro to bigger markets, completely ignores the fact that the ACC doesn’t need NYC to elevate its profile. Not now. Not ever.

In the 80′s and 90′s, when State, Duke and Carolina won five national titles in 11 years, was the North Carolina-centric ACC not viewed as the most dominant force in college basketball? When it was an eight-team, regional league confined to the dirty, dirty wasteland of the South, did the ACC not boast the most impressive collection of college basketball coaches on the planet?

ACC Basketball ain’t Zach Galifinakis leaving rural North Carolina hoping to make it big in show business. The ACC in the 80′s and 90′s WAS the business. If you were a fan of college basketball back then, you knew the ACC, you knew its teams, its coaches and its players. And you also knew its heart and sole was firmly rooted in Greensboro, NorthCarolina. Somehow, amazingly, the ACC did just fine back then.

Laura wants to paint the scenario that not embracing NYC or big-time markets will be bad for the bottom line. I would remind her that—despite our passion for college basketball here in NC—the sport only accounts for 1/5th of the ACC’s television contract value. The other 80% of its worth is based on football properties. So whatever net gain that might come from permanently hosting the ACC Tournament in NYC or other major markets wouldn’t ultimately amount to much of a bump in the overall picture. Yes, the bottom line matters, but even if you could somehow quantify NYC’s monetary impact and prove it doubled the existing value of ACC basketball, you’ve still only doubled a fraction of the overall monetary pie.

And color me skeptical about a possible move to NYC having ANY sort of impact on the ACC’s brand anytime in the near future, let alone doubling it. Elite recruits are going to go to elite programs regardless of where they are or where they hold their postseason tournament. Maybe over time you might convince a few college basketball fans that NYC is ACC country, but would the folks in the Big Apple ever feel the ownership of the league that North Carolinians do? Highly, highly doubtful.

Which brings me back around to my initial beef—Keeley thumbing her nose at the very folks who love and support the ACC. We North Carolinians love the ACC in a way unlike residents in any other state in its footprint. ACC Basketball is a point of pride for our state, and we claim ownership of the ACC Tournament by wheeling TVs into classrooms, closing up our businesses and stalking fans of the schools that lose in the opening rounds to pick up their unused ticket books at a discount to jam-pack Greensboro Coliseum with fans of the local teams. It makes sense, of course, given The Big Four comprised fully half of the league members at one time.

Apart from NASCAR and pork BBQ, is there anything quite as identifiable with North Carolina as ACC Basketball?

If you make a push to rip away the ACC Tournament from North Carolina in favor of bigger markets to chase the Almighty Dollar, you’ll take away something central to our DNA. And you’ll justify it in the harshest way possible: by saying it’s too good for you anymore. The ACC is now a 10; you, North Carolina—you’re maybe a 7, in good lighting.

It’s akin to the guy who marries his high school sweetheart, strikes it rich in the DotCom world, then ditches her for the hot piece of ass everyone expects a guy of his wealth and stature should be with. Don’t we despise those kinds of people? Shouldn’t we despise those kinds of people? Yet isn’t that precisely what Keeley is hoping the ACC will do—trade in their longtime spouse for a trophy wife who’ll look good on the red carpet?

The ACC doesn’t need NYC to raise its profile. It won’t boost our bottom line appreciably and it won’t be good for business. What the ACC needs more than anything is for teams outside of Duke and Carolina to win at a high level, just like they did back in the 80′s and 90′s when the ACC—despite being weighed down by the shackles of a backwards state in a backwards region adored by a backwards people—was as big time as any college basketball brand has ever been. A few tournaments up in NYC are fine every now and then, but the ACC is, has been and should always be a North Carolina-centric league, no matter how many listens of “Empire State Of Mind” might convince you otherwise.

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Syracuse Basketball Faces Big Odds, According to Vegas Bookmakers

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:07:17 EST

Ladies and gentlemen, bettors of all ages, the 2013-14 college basketball betting odds are in, thanks to VegasInsider.com and Bovada. According to Bovada, the Syracuse Orange have 25-1 odds to win the National Championship, while VegasInsider.com has them at a get-out-your-check-books-right-now 40-1 long shots.

The favorite? You guessed it -- or maybe you didn't because I find it a bit surprising this team is the favorite considering what happened last year (though, most bettors are stupid so that is why the lines are the way they are sometimes) -- the Kentucky Wildcats, who are currently 5-1 favorites at both sites.

The Kansas Jayhawks, who just nabbed maybe the best freshman in the country, Andrew Wiggins, Tuesday, have the second-best odds (11-2) at Bovada, but are listed at 15-1 at VegasInsider.com.

Louisville, the defending champions, are 17-2 favorites probably thanks to the return of guard Russ Smith and Luke Hancock. The Cardinals will need to find a way to replace point guard Peyton Siva and center Gorgui Dieng.

Meanwhile, our new ACC friends, Duke and North Carolina, are among the favorites to win it all. The Blue Devils are listed at 14-1 at Bovada and 12-1 at VegasInsider.com, while the Tar Heels are 16-1 and 25-1, respectively.

All of VegasInsider.com's listings can be found here, while I copied and pasted the Bovada odds below:

Kentucky 5/1
Kansas 11/2
Louisville 17/2
Michigan State 12/1
Duke 14/1
Arizona 15/1
North Carolina 16/1
Florida 18/1
Ohio State 20/1
Syracuse 25/1
Connecticut 33/1
Indiana 33/1
Memphis 33/1
Michigan 33/1
Colorado 40/1
UCLA 40/1
Baylor 50/1
Creighton 50/1
Georgetown 50/1
Gonzaga 50/1
Iowa 50/1
Marquette 50/1
Missouri 50/1
NC State 50/1
New Mexico 50/1
Oklahoma State 50/1
Pittsburgh 50/1
St. Louis 50/1
VCU 50/1
Wisconsin 50/1

Feel free to share your picks below. If I were to select a few sleepers, I'd put money on the Orange, while St. John's is listed 125-1 at VegasInsider.com.

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The ACC's had talent, so what's been the problem in football?

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:10:02 EST

The ACC spring meetings are currently going on at the moment, and later this week I’ll give you my impressions of what went on. Before that though there was an interesting piece written by Dennis Dodd of CBSSportsline titled “On-field results don’t come close to matching potential for ACC” that I want to talk about.

From that article Dodd details the ACC’s NFL pedigree, then asks the question why hasn’t the ACC been more successful on the field? Hers’s an excerpt…

In the last three recruiting classes, only the SEC has signed more prospects than the ACC in ESPN’s top 150. In the last nine NFL drafts the SEC and ACC are the only two leagues to have at least 30 players drafted. Florida State just had 11 players taken last month, a school record matching its total of the previous four drafts combined.

In the 2012 Pro Bowl it wasn’t even close. The SEC (26) and ACC (20) had more players on the rosters than the other three BCS conferences (Big Ten, Pac-12 and Big 12) combined (44).

Conclusion: The ACC is recruiting good players and producing more than its share of pros. But the mystery grows when they actually play football at ACC schools.

First if you are a fan of an ACC school, this is actually a positive. This proves you can recruit talent to the ACC and produce NFL players in significant numbers, so what’s happening on the field? The answer is far simpler than Dodd made it appear. What do all successful teams have? Talent and coaching. Well the talent is there in general, so it obviously must be the coaching.

Going back the last 10 years in the ACC reads like a who’s who of collegiate head coaching mediocrity There are names like Georgia Tech’s Chan Gailey, UNC’s Jim Bunting, Clemson’s Tommy Bowden, the last 5 years of Bobby Bowden’s tenure at FSU, Miami’s Randy Shannon, Virginia’s Al Groh need I go on? The coaches that were actually decent X’s and O’s guys couldn’t get elite talent to their schools. I’m talking about guys Maryland’s Ralph Friedgen, Wake Forest’s Jim Grobe, Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson, NC State’s Tom O’Brien, Duke’s David Cutcliffe and to a lesser extent even Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer who has been the ACC’s most successful program in the last decade.

The Hokies had decent talent but would frequently get exposed in BCS games.

It’s not hard to see that the problem has been at the coaching level. I think we are beginning to see changes there though that bode well for the future. Dabo Swinney of Clemson is not a noted football strategist, but has surrounded himself with very strong assistant coaches to compliment his recruiting ability. Georgia Tech is currently undergoing changes in their recruiting philosophy. I would like to see Jimbo Fisher give up the play calling duties at FSU, but he’s a very good recruiter. In addition, there’s no denying he has Florida State moving in the right direction.

There have been recent coaching changes at UNC , NC State and Boston College. Duke is upgrading their football facilities. That will certainly aid in David Cutcliffe’s recruiting. Louisville managed to retain one of the hottest coaching names in the business in head coach Charlie Strong last season as they prepare to join the ACC next year.

So the great mystery Dodd was wondering about wasn’t that complicated. It was the odd case of a last decade of good talent with mediocre coaches and inferior talent with good coaches. It certainly appears that moves are being made in the ACC to align the good coaching with good talent.

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Projected 2013-14 Lineup: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:08:13 EST

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish get their first shot at the ACC. Luckily for head coach Mike Brey, he brings along one of the more experienced backcourts. Overall, the team returns with three starters and will be relying on a lot of freshmen for depth.

GONE: Jake Cooley, Scott Martin, Tom Knight, Joey Brooks, Mike Broghammer (probably)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

PG – Eric Atkins (SR), 6-2/180
SG – Jerian Grant (JR), 6-5/200
SF – Pat Connaughton (JR), 6-5/210
PF – Cameron Biedscheid (SO), 6-7/185
C – Garrick Sherman (SR), 6-10/230

For the Irish, everything starts in the backcourt. Atkins is a two-year starter, who rarely ever sits (he averaged over 38 minutes per game last year). A bit on the small side, he struggles against beef in the paint, but loves to get his teammates involved and is not afraid to shoot a three from deep.

Jerian Grant is the star, despite not being great at one single thing. Throughout his career, he’s gotten better at the deep ball and worked on his ball handling skills. As long as he continues to add muscle, he should be hard to handle in the ACC. These two alone averaged nearly 25 PPG and over 10 assists per game last year.

Pat Connaughton is a spot-on three-point shooter from the wing, who can be dangerous when he gets rolling. Last season, he led the team with 154 three point attempts, hitting a solid 38-percent. Inside, I’m putting Cameron Biedscheid in as a stretch four. He’s a little undersized to be a power forward, so he’ll need to hit the gym. However, he’s a versatile swingman, who can actually play three different positions. He’s a decent ball handler in traffic and good at avoiding turnovers. He’s a good free throw shooter, but fails to get to the line enough.

Inside, Mike Brey has a variety of big men to roll into the lineup at the five spot. For now, Garrick Sherman should get the start. The former Michigan State transfer is best known for scoring 17 points in the five overtime win over Louisville last year. That may not seem impressive until you realize he didn’t play a second during regulation.

Sherman is a gifted big, with great hands and a wide body. He’s got good footwork inside and is capable of scoring with back to the basket (he shot 21-33 in last year’s last five games), but the problem is he can get pushed around when an opponent challenges him.

SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTORS

PF – Zack Auguste (SO), 6-10/230
SG – Steve Vasturia (SG), 6-5/190
SF – Austin Burgett (SO), 6-9/214

Depth will be a huge problem next year. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Irish go with a rotation of just six or seven players. Auguste is sure to get his minutes. He’s the most physically gifted front court player. In fact, he could up starting the at the four spot. His offensive skill set is limited, but he’s active, loves to rebound and is an underrated defender/shot blocker. He can play both the four and five spots.

Of all the freshmen, Vasturia is not the most talented long-term, but right off the bat, he’s the best option for Brey. He’s an old-school player, who makes good decisions. He’s not the quickest cat in the litter, but he’s got great size, good ball handling skills and can handle the pressure.

Burgett only got about three minutes per game as a freshman last year, but he should get more playing time as he continues to improve. He’s a point forward and is a solid outside shooter for a big man. He’s a versatile player, who isn’t afraid to attack the boards.

ROLE PLAYERS

PG – Demetrius Jackson (FR), 6-1/185
SF – V.J. Beachem (FR), 6-6/180

Jackson is the top recruit in Mike Brey’s 2013 class. The 6th rated PG has great speed and good vision. His speed allows him to get past defenders and can put up an impressive pull up jumper. However, he’s not a strong shooter and it’s tough seeing him sneaking minutes away from Atkins.

Beachem is a long wing with a solid stroke from deep. However, he badly needs weight and has been described as soft as he struggles to defend and grab rebounds. It’s tough to get minutes if defense and rebounding are you flaws.

LIMITED ACTION

PF – Eric Katenda (R-FR), 6-9/220
PF – Austin Torress (FR), 6-6/200

Katenda is the unluckiest guy in basketball. First he suffered a career-threatening eye injury prior to his rookie season. When it looked like he was about to come back this offseason, he got a painful plantar fasclitis on his foot and needed surgery. Right now, who knows if he can even suit up next season. Torres is a garbage man, not afraid to get dirty inside. However, he’s a project at best, so it’s tough to see him getting minutes his freshman year.

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Bracketology Breakdown

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:33:55 EST

EPSN’s Joe Lunardi has out the first post-Andrew Wiggins decision Bracketology. The 1 seeds are obvious, Kentucky, Michigan State, Louisville and Arizona.

Kansas sneaks into the two-seed, despite a lack of upperclassmen. I think Oklahoma is a little low at three, while Stanford and Iowa are pleasant additions to the field.

As for the ACC, Lunardi has given two conference teams the two-seed, Duke in the East and Syracuse in the Midwest.

North Carolina gets the three seed, while Notre Dame and Virginia each get a 5-seed. Pittsburgh is the sixth and final ACC team in.

I’m fine with all those teams, however, I’d probably swap seeds with Syracuse and North Carolina.

It is a bit shocking to see that only three teams from the old ACC will get in (Duke, UNC, Virginia), but it’s hard to argue with the logic. The ACC has always been a top-heavy league.

However, the two teams I think can challenge for a spot in the big dance are Boston College and Maryland.

The Terrapins came close last year, just missing out. They are losing Alex Len and will need to find a consistent point guard, but they do have a nice collection of wings and could win 20 games again this year.

However, the team I like is Boston College. I think they are THE surprise team next year. They have a solid inside-outside tandem with Ryan Anderson and Olivier Hanlan. Both Patrick Heckmann and Alex Dragicevich are prototype wings and Joe Rahon is an underrated floor general. The key for the Eagles is to not fall victim to bad teams. They won’t have the strongest strength of schedule, so bad losses will hurt. Also, just beat Harvard…for once.

I see Boston College winning 20+ and sliding into the tournament as a 12-seed play-in.

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Projected 2013-14 Lineup: North Carolina Tar Heels

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:55:08 EST

Now that Andrew Wiggins has finally made his decision (it was Kansas), we can go ahead and officially pencil in the projected North Carolina lineup and rotation.

The question mark coming in was whether Roy Williams would continue small ball. I certainly don’t think he wants to. In fact, I’ve already stated he shouldn’t. With all the size the Tar Heels have returning inside, plus the addition of the new bigs coming in, I just can’t imagine all those trees just sitting on the bench.This season, Roy lives with the bigs or dies with the bigs.

GONE: Reggie Bullock (leaving early) and Dexter Strickland (graduated)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

G – Marcus Paige (SO), 6-0/160
G – Leslie McDonald (SR), 6-5/215
G – P.J. Hairston (JR), 6-5/220
F – James Michael McAdoo (JR), 6-9/230
F – Brice Johnson (SO), 6-9/190

The good news is the Tar Heels have two of the better players in the ACC. With another year under their belts, both Hairston and McAdoo have an opportunity to lock down first-team All-ACC awards. McAdoo gets more of the props, but he still makes too many mistakes for my taste. Look for Hairston to end up the better of the two, now that he’s removed the one-dimensional label.

Speaking of one-dimensional…that’s one thing Leslie McDonald can’t be this year. So far, his stay in Chapel Hill has been less than impressive (injuries and suspensions have not helped). However, he’s finally getting a chance to start and he’ll need to be the multi-dimensional player he was expected to be coming out of high school. He’ll need to hit over 40-percent from deep and also be able to create his own shot inside.

Of course Marcus Paige’s development is key to Carolina’s success. He turned it over way too much last year and struggled with his outside shot. That’s not a good combination, but it should have been expected from a freshman being asked to carry the load. The fact is, we all can’t be Ty Lawson. With a year to learn from those mistakes, look for Paige to be much improved.

The biggest question mark for this team will remain inside. Right now I have Brice Johnson penciled in. He’s not a true center. In fact, unless he owns the gym this offseason, I’m not sure he can even handle the load inside. However, at times last year, he showed he has the physical tools to run with Roy Williams’ offense, capable of putting some points into the basket. He just needs to add that weight and work on being more consistent.

SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTORS

G/F – J.P. Tokoto (SO), 6-5/185
PF – Isaiah Hicks (FR), 6-8/210
PG – Nate Britt (FR), 6-1/165

Depth at the wing is going to be a major issue for North Carolina. Right now, the only player they have capable of backing up the 2-3 spots is J.P. Tokoto. He’s a gifted athlete with amazing length. However, he plays like a stretch four. He prefers to work inside, but he has no business being outside (1-11 from three as a freshman). When McDonald needs a break, Hairston will roll to the two-spot, while Tokoto jumps into the three-spot.

Nate Britt is a point guard who lives to facilitate, but he’s not a huge threat to score. He’ll give Paige a breather or two, but don’t be surprised if you see both point guards on the court at the same time for some stretches.

Inside, it’s tough to figure out what Roy Williams will do, although I’ve certainly tried already. Assuming he keeps McAdoo at the power forward spot, that leaves five players to battle for minutes at center and backup McAdoo. Last year, neither James or Hubert impressed me, so I suspect the Carolina coaching staff will give freshman Hicks an opportunity to show them what he can do as the primary big off the bench. Overall, he’s a solid defender, with great length, capable of running the floor. However, like Brice Johnson, he prefers to face the basket and is a bit undersized for the five.

ROLE PLAYERS

C – Joel James (SO), 6-10/260
C – Kennedy Meeks (C), 6-9/275

The reality is, both James and Meeks could easily be placed one spot up. In fact, either one could start at some point this season. These two are the big boys, combining for over 520 pounds. James has the height and size to be a great center, but he’s struggled to develop the back to the basket game. He’s got good speed for his size, but he can’t do the things Johnson and Hicks can do in the open court.

Meeks is sort of a mystery. Against the other high school elites at the McDonald’s game, Meeks looked small and slow. He doesn’t have a ton of leap and it will certainly help if he can turn some of his beef into muscle. However, he arguable has the softest hands of the big boys and might be the best passer from the post. At best though, he’s looking at about 10 minutes per game.

LIMITED ACTION

PF – Desmond Hubert (JR), 6-9/230
SF – Jackie Simmons (JR), 6-7/220

Hubert has the defensive skills, but he’s got zero offensive ability. On another team, he could earn some solid minutes, but with so many big boys at Chapel Hill, someone will need to sit and that’s Hubert. Simmons is a gritty combo forward, with glue-guy potential. Look for him to get his minutes when Williams needs to make a point.

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Hurricanes Continue To Grow

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:29:52 EST

The Miami Hurricanes have announced the signing of two newbies. Junior college transfer James Kelly signed a national letter of intent, as did Belgium point guard Manu LeComte.

The 6-8 Kelly averaged 18.3 points and 10.1 rebounds last season for Owens Community College. The Hurricanes are desperate for bodies underneath the rim and Kelly has one big body (245 pounds). However, he’s not a banger, preferring to face up, but is limited to his right hand.

Manu Lecomte is on the small side, barely 5-11. He’s a true point guard, who makes good, quick decisions with the ball. However, he’s going to need to add to his frame to withstand the punishment of ACC play.

If Jim Larranaga is lucky, he’ll only need Lecomte as a backup to Angel Rodriguez (the Canes are still waiting to see if the K-State transfer can play right away).

Along with Kelly, Lecomte and Rodriguez, the Hurricanes have a four-man recruiting class coming in, shooting guards Deandre Burnett and Davon Reed, small forward Derrick Griffin and point guard Corn Elder.

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Duke's Josh Hairston Has Surgery

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:22:09 EST

What is it with Duke University surgeons…are they getting paid by the player?

Josh Hairston becomes the fourth Blue Devil to go under the knife since the end of the 2012-13 season. He joins Ryan Kelly, Seth Curry and Marshall Plumlee.

Hairston had surgery to repair ligament damage in his right thumb. He hurt the finger back in February during practice. He’s expected to miss six-eight weeks, which shouldn’t be a big deal for the soon-to-be senior.

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ACC Network: Sooner rather than later

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:18:33 EST

The ACC meetings are underway and commissioner John Swofford has had his hands full over the year. But according to him at the meetings, he's going to be pretty busy trying to set up an ACC Network. And judging my his comments, that time seems like it will be sooner rather than later:

"We don't want to let any grass grow, and I don't think ESPN does either," said Swofford, who updated conference athletic directors Monday on the viability of the proposed ACC Network.

Swofford also says the conference has some kind of reach:

Swofford said the 15 schools will give the ACC footprint a population of about 107 million, the largest of any collegiate conference in the U.S.

"By 2030," he said, "over 50 percent of the population of the U.S. will be in the ACC footprint."

The ACC also had a study done and that seemed to support such a network.

I've long said that more networks would happen ever since the Big Ten Network hit the airwaves. Heck, if the conference was still together, I even thought there would be a Big East Network at some point. The fact that this is happening should surprise no one. At this point, it would be a huge surprise if it didn't go down.

It seems like it's been on the table for quite some time, but the Grant of Rights deal was the first order of business. Swofford has been (rightfully) a bit preoccupied with strengthening the conference. That took priority and it's understandable the network thing has been placed on the back burner.

A big problem is always that cable companies don't want to pass on the additional cost that it will cost them to their customers. But it would still be a shock if it didn't get done. That hurdle's been successfully cleared by the B1G and there's no reason that other conferences can't navigate those waters as well. There's the a la carte hurdle, but we could still be a while from that happening.

For now, all signs point to an ACC Network.

Be sure to join Cardiac Hill's Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @PittPantherBlog for our regular updates on Pitt athletics.

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Andrew Wiggins to...Kansas

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:15:10 EST

And with one tweet, it was official.

Andrew Wiggins will be attending Kansas
— Grant Traylor (@GrantTraylor) May 14, 2013

Proving once again we all knew absolutely nothing, Andrew Wiggins decided to take his talents to Kansas. Word was starting to spread that the Jayhawks were coming on strong, but still, when you look at the experts’ ~~predictions~~ guesses, the clear favorites were Florida State, followed by Kentucky.

For the Seminoles…this has to be crushing. I mean like a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick to the groin. This was suppose to be the moment that would finally push their program into elite status. Now they’re just a team in desperate need of a small forward, destined to battle for mediocrity in the ACC. Even though Florida State fans never officially got together with Wiggins, this really has to feel like a bad breakup.

As for Kansas, what a get. Props to Bill Self.

Obviously everyone is going to say, “Kansas is the perfect fit for Wiggins,” but let’s be honest, that statement was true of any school he went to.

Having said that, Kansas is a perfect for the Andrew Wiggins. He can walk in on day one and the team will be his team. The Jayhawks are starting from scratch after graduating four starters and losing freshman Ben McLemore.

They will be ridiculously young. They have no seniors on scholarship, as they bring in the nation’s second best recruiting class (and that’s without Wiggins). In total, six new players will be headed to Kansas, including the number one center Joel Embiid, the 4th and 9th rated shooting guards, Wayne Selden and Brannen Greene, plus the #10 rated point guard Conner Frankamp.

The projected starting line up will feature junior point guard Naadir Tharpe, sophomore power forward Perry Ellis and Wiggins of course at small forward. I would guess freshmen Embiid will get the start inside, while freshmen Selden and Greene will battle for playing time with sophomore guard Andrew White III.

Prior to Wiggins, I would have had Kansas in the top-20. I probably move them into or near the top-10 with Wiggins, but let’s be careful with expectations. This team’s player rotation will feature just one player who can legally drink. Of the top 12 players capable of stealing some minutes, 11 of them are underclassmen. Even John Calipari is looking at Bill Self’s roster and saying, “damn, they’re young.”

As a ACC fan, I’m sad not to have Wiggins in the conference. However, we are guaranteed one great look at what he could do against an ACC team.

On November 12, Kansas takes on Duke in the Championship Class. This year, the classic is being played at the United Center in Chicago. Yep, Jabari Parker’s backyard. That’s right, it will be the next Lebron vs. the next Lebron, although technically, Rodney Hood will probably be asked to guard Wiggins.

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The Power of Andrew Wiggins

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:31:19 EST

Imagine being a Florida State Seminoles fan. You’re coming off a disappointing 18-15 season. With senior heavy team, you’re expecting better days to be ahead next Fall. However, as excited as any Seminoles fan can be, they know, I know, the hoarder down the street with no TV or Internet, she knows, we all know we’re not talking about championship expectations. They’re talking about 20 wins, maybe a surprise ACC tournament run and if they’re really lucky, they’ll crash the NCAA’s Sweet 16 like they did in 2012.

Those are the normal expectations.

Yet, thanks to one kid…a Canadian no less, the folks down in Tallahassee can wish big. They have visions of Andrew Wiggins dancing in their heads.

FSU is one of four schools the “greatest player since LeBron” is considering. The others of course are Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina.

However, with or without Wiggins, those other programs are going to be just fine. Those three schools have won a combine 16 national champions, including three of the last six. Those schools have Hall of Fame worthy coaches. Those schools already have elite recruiting classes coming in next Fall. Those schools’ fortunes don’t hinge on the decision of a one-and-done small forward.

Florida State is not like those schools, no matter how much Tim Brando wishes it was.

Florida State is a football school first and foremost. Most of the fan base could name the football teams third-string offensive guard’s mother’s maiden, but couldn’t name a third of the basketball team’s starting lineup. Last year, barely half the stands were filled when Duke showed up, a team they beat the year before.

This is a team that has been to the dance just 12 times since 1947. They’ve advanced beyond the second round just three times and have never crashed the Final Four.

Don’t get me wrong, they have had some success lately. Since Leonard Hamilton has joined the Seminoles as head coach, he has made FSU the best team in the ACC not named Duke/North Carolina. They have won at least 20 games six times over the last eight years. They recently went four straight years to the NCAA Tournament, earning a 3-seed in 2012.

Also, despite not running what some would call a high-powered offense and despite not recruiting the elites, Hamilton has sent five players to the NBA. That’s good.

Let’s be honest though, if Andrew Wiggins’ parents didn’t play sports at the school, Wiggins probably wouldn’t even take FSU’s call.

Yet here we are.

Could a player like Andrew Wiggins change all that? Could Andrew Wiggins turn Florida State into an elite team?

If the question is in regard to just this coming season, then maybe. Yeah, I know…kind of a lame answer.

If Wiggins heads to Florida State, then he more than likely starts along side (a healthy) Ian Miller and Devon Bookert in the backcourt, with Okaro White and Kiel Turpin inside. He’d also have his best friend and fellow freshman Xavier Rathan-Mayes (8th rated shooting guard according to ESPN) getting serious minutes, with a good chance to start.

That’s a solid lineup, but at best I would put them third in my preseason ACC rankings, behind both Duke and North Carolina. I certainly would have them in the NCAA Tournament, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on them going far.

Of course to get to this reasoning, instead of looking at LeBron James, who never played college ball, I actually look at Kevin Durant.

If you recall, Durant played one year of ball at Texas, where he was named “National Player of the Year.” He had a fantastic season and was clearly the best player in the country, but if you recall, the Longhorns lost nine games that year in a weak Big 12 conference. They earned a fourth seed and were crushed by 19 by USC.

As good as Durant was, not even he could carry a team completely on his back to the Final Four. Plus, I would argue that Texas team was better than next year’s Florida State team. That Longhorns featured three future NBA players. On this Noles team, I’m not sure I see any (at least when discussing the current, non-freshmen players) NBA talent. Maybe an improved Okaro White could be drafted late in the second round and work off a pro team’s bench, but that’s about it.

On top of that, Durant’s decision to go to Texas has had zero impact on that program. After Durant bolted to the NBA, the Longhorns did make it to the Elite Eight the following year, but since then, they have been eliminated in the NCAA first-round twice, the second-round twice and this past season they didn’t even qualify. The program has gotten worse…although that says more about Rick Barnes awful coaching ability than it says about Kevin Durant.

In the end, I’m predicting Andrew Wiggins picks Florida State.

First, it’s not really a prediction, but a guess I’m pulling deep out of my ass. It’s also what I hoping for. If the ACC really wants to be the best basketball conference in American, then it needs to be able to get the best player. Now Wiggins could go to North Carolina and achieve this, but let’s face it, the league can’t just be about Duke/North Carolina.

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Syracuse Basketball: Indiana, North Carolina, Duke, Oh My...

Mon, 13 May 2013 18:40:29 EST

We're getting closer and closer to it being reality, but I'm still not totally used to this whole Syracuse in the ACC thing. I mean, in looking at the football schedule, I thought most of the shock had worn off; I was mentally ready for it. Seeing Georgia Tech, Clemson, N.C. State, Florida State on the agenda was a little strange, but not really Earthshaking.

But with the Orange will hosting Indiana in the Big 10/ACC Challenge, well, I realized, this is still kind of crazy to me. Really, just the fact that Syracuse is once again involved in a real conference v. conference battle (sorry SEC hoops, but I will always prefer the ACC/Big East Challenge) is something to look forward to. And giving us the tradition-rich Hoosiers? I mean, that's a nice Christmas present for us hoops fans.

Of course, adding in Tom Crean, his highly rated recruits, and his ode to Dwight Schrute haircut does make the overall slate of games for the ACC-bound Orange look more than daunting.There's the Maui Invitational, then the Hoosiers, a For Old Time's Sake game at the Dome with Villanova, and then the regulars of the ACC.

That type of schedule is either a basketball present for us in Central New York, one that keeps giving. Or it's bunny pajamas you're forced to wear, over and over again, every time your aunt is in town -- and she visits a lot.

Just look at the field in Maui: Gonzaga and Baylor, two potential Orange opponents in Paradise, are both in the preseason top 25 polls. Even if the field is down, the tourney is usually the most coverage college hoops gets in football-mad November. So, should Syracuse avoids the ~~Zags~~ Bulldogs and/or the Bears, it will still likely receive a fair amount of attention -- which could be good or bad, or both.

And back on the Mainland, those Hoosiers will be waiting -- Tuesday, Dec. 3 -- for a game that's sure to bring Dick Vitale and the rest of the ESPN Big Boys to the Dome. And while Indiana is likely to be preseason top-20 rather than top-10, it's yet another ranked opponent for Jim Boeheim and company, just a few days removed from Thanksgiving!

It's all not exactly murder's row, but November and December are full of pitfalls and real challenges, including the Wildcats of Villanova (Tuesday, December 28) returning to the Dome just a few days before the ACC schedule starts up. In other words, we'll learn a lot about a team that's losing three starters and will be relying on a whole lot of inexperience within the first few months.

Which of course could end up being a very good thing. Michigan State's Tom Izzo is famous for scheduling tough in November and December, and usually his teams are either considered tough outs come March, or they actually are tough outs come March. Sometime perception is greater than reality -- perception can lead to higher than deserved seeds and easier paths to the Final Four.

Either way, playing the Big Boys early can pay off late.

Although it is interesting; Boeheim has usually avoided too many difficult tests early, usually pointing to the bloated Big East as reason not to wear down his teams. This season, even under a new conference banner, will still bring a bloated league. The ACC will provide a home-and-home with Duke, Miami, and Pittsburgh, all NCAA tourney teams last season. Plus, North Carolina comes to the Dome and Syracuse will battle top-25 Notre Dame, and will have to venture to Tallahassee, a place highly ranked ACC teams go to lose.

Basically, looking over the paper in May, the schedule, ACC and otherwise, looks like it could be rough. Interesting, entertaining, providing big media coverage...but, still, rough.

Yet, there is another possible "benefit" in play I thought of after seeing that Indiana was coming to the Dome - on top of Duke, UNC, etc - given the likely high preseason ranking, and the big names coming to the Dome like UNC and the Blue Devils and Hoosiers. Syracuse should be poised to take back the nation's attendance crown. A "championship" that was exclusive to Central New York for years has belonged to Kentucky for the better part of the 2000's. With huge crowds expected, I would imagine 30,000-plus, for a handful of games, the Orange should get that belt back.

(I should point out though, given that Syracuse has such a huge arena to play in, it is impressive that, even in the down years, UK does so well. Basketball is big in CNY, it's life in certain other parts of the country -- i.e., Kentucky. Actually, home, away, and on neutral courts Kentucky draws better than any other team. Syracuse comes in a very respectable third behind another Blue Grasser, Louisville.)

But we of course have time before any of this happens. Before Maui, before the non-conference slate, before the first ACC tip-off. For now, we just have to wait for it to become reality. Time to get ready for what should be one of the most exciting, entertaining, frustrating, inexplicable, and interesting seasons in Syracuse history.

Actually, come to think of it, maybe this move won't be that much of a change from the norm after all?

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Articles from around the ACC Blogosphere 5/13

Mon, 13 May 2013 18:39:50 EST

Time to check in with the ACC bloggers and see what’s happening across the ACC.

What are the expectations of each ACC Football program? ACC Prescription gives his take on each ACC team.

On the eve of prep basketball star Andrew Wiggin’s decision of where he’ll attend school, TomahawkNation looks at how Florida State’s European trip could factor in his decision. Frankly if Wiggin’s doesn’t attend FSU because of that, I’d really question what’s going on in his head. That can’t be factor can it?

Georgia Tech proved how deep ACC baseball is when they took a series from #1 ranked North Carolina. The ACC has 6 teams in the top 25, and Georgia Tech is not one of them. Georgia Tech blog FromtheRumbleSeat talks about building momentum for the homestretch for the Yellow Jackets.

DukeSportsBlog says expectations for Duke’s basketball team will be sky high, but the window of time to take advantage is limited.

Good article from Virginia Tech Hokie blog Gobbler Country on the strengths, weaknesses, and pro-prospects of Erick Green. NBA teams could do a lot worse than drafting Green in my opinion.

Do you know who’s pumped about their basketball schedule? How about Syracuse blogger NunesMagician. Hey as much as I love football and it is my favorite, I’m really looking forward to seeing Syracuse, Pitt, and Notre Dame this year in basketball.

Become a fan of the ACC on Facebook and follow the ACC on Twitter

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Projected 2013-14 Lineup: Boston College Eagles

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:18:45 EST

The Boston College Eagles are coming off what would appear to be a disappointing 16-17 record, 7-11 in the ACC, but they did that with a rotation that featured mostly sophomores and freshmen. They were a team that got better throughout the year, taking six of their last ten games, including four in a row before falling to the top-seeded Hurricanes in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament.

Looking ahead, Boston College will benefit from having just about everybody back, losing only Andrew Van Nest’s 10 minutes per game. However, the best part is, this is still a young team. None of their projected starters are seniors, so the future looks bright. Barring injury, the Eagles should win 20 games this year, with 10 wins in the ACC not out of the question. If all goes well, this team could challenge for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

GONE: Andrew Van Nest and Jordan Daniels (left mid-season last year)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

PG – Joe Rahon (SO), 6-2/195
SG – Olivier Hanlan (SO), 6-4/188
SF – Patrick Heckmann (JR), 6-5/205
PF – Ryan Anderson (JR), 6-8/220
C – Dennis Clifford (JR), 7-0/250

Inside, Ryan Anderson will remain the star. If not the star, at the very least, he’s one of two players Eagles’ fan doesn’t want to see missing any time. A two-year star, he’s been a double-digit scorer since stepping on campus. He’s got a legit back the basket game and is extremely agile for a man his size. The problem has been maturity, which hopefully will be less of a problem now that he’s a junior.

At the three spot Boston College has a prototype wing man in Patrick Heckmann. Long and athletic, he’s been compared to Manu Ginobili, a slasher, capable of showing off his jumper (38-percent from three).

However, if the Eagles want to get to the next level, it will come down to their guards, Rahon and Hanlan. The two are interchangeable, both capable of running the point, both capable of moving without the ball and finding open spots. For me, if Rahon can improve his assist to turnover ratio, then his quickness and court vision will make him one of the better points in the conference. Hanlan is a scorer, plain and simple. Thanks to good length and solid footwork, the man knows how to get a good look. He averaged 15.4 as a freshman and should challenge for the league scoring title this coming season.

The only weak spot in the starting lineup is at center. Clifford has the size (a seven-footer) and a developed hook shot. He’s also not afraid to step out and drain a jumper. However, he’s a weak defender and a terrible rebounder, which is true of all the big men on this team not named Ryan Anderson.

SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTORS

G – Lonnie Jackson (JR), 6-3/173
F – Eddie Odio (JR), 6-7/205
F – Alex Dragicevich (JR), 6-7/220

With the addition of Notre Dame transfer Alex Dragicevich, the Eagles have a solid eight-man rotation. At 6-7, The Serbian Sensation has an excellent jumper, but is not afraid to take the ball inside, thanks to some quality ball handling. He’s not a great athlete, but he is willing to sneak behind the defense through the back door. If Heckmann comes off the floor, the production at the 3-spot will not drop off with Dragicevich in the game.

Jackson is a lights out three-point shooter…the kind most teams would kill for off the bench. He led the team in three pointers last year despite coming off the bench. The problem is, he’s not a strong ball handler and struggles to work inside. Odio is the opposite of Jackson, he’s a terrible shooter from deep, but he’s a solid athlete, with great hop, and a really good offensive rebounder.

The best part about these three is their versatility.

ROLE PLAYERS

G – Danny Rubin (SR), 6-6/190
C – K.C. Caudill (JR), 6-11/275

For me, the Eagles are solid with a eight-man rotation, simple because there is a major drop in talent from here on out. Now Caudill could easily move up. He’s the only true backup center on the bench and since Clifford has struggled to stay healthy, Caudill could see some minutes. He’s a beast inside, arguable the biggest boy in the league, but like Clifford, he’s a terrible rebounder, who really needs to work on his conditioning.

Rubin looked like he had a future as a freshman, as he averaged 16 minutes per game. However, the last two years he’s been stuck deep on the pine. Since he’s a senior, he could spell Rahon at the point, but it has been three years and he still hasn’t been consistent enough from behind the arc.

LIMITED ACTION

G – Darryl Hicks (FR), 6-2/190
F – Garland Owens (FR), 6-5/205
F – John Cain Carney (JR), 6-7/220

Hicks and Owens are the new kids of on the block. While both have solid futures ahead, I just don’t think the future is now. Hicks has good size and athleticism. However, he’s a streaky shooter and he can’t go left.

Owens is a explosive athlete, who loves to run. He can attack the rim with both hands and can guard multiple positions. The problem is, there is nothing these two can do that can’t be done by the more experienced bench players above.

For the Eagles, this is a important year for them to prove that all the losing hasn’t been for not. This is a team looking to win 20 and make it to the tournament. The freshmen, as well as Carney, will get some looks early in the schedule, but I don’t expect to see much of them come ACC play.

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Clemson adds second big man in class of 2013

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:42:33 EST

The Tigers are proving yet again, size does matter…at least in the ACC.

Brad Brownell has locked down Sidy Mohamed Djitte out of Fayetteville, N.C., the second big man in the 2013 class. The other was Ibrahim Djambo, who comes with one season of playing time at Three River Community College in Missouri.

Djitter is a solid get. The 43rd ranked center, according to ESPN, he’s long and physical and can dominate the paint defensively. He gets good position on the block, but prefers to swat away the shots. When it comes to offense, Djitte likes to face the basket and is capable of stretching his shot out to about 12-15 feet.

Like most big men, Djitte has a lot of potential, but will need a couple years to develop his back the the basket game.

For Clemson, with the departure of Devin Booker, Milton Jennings and Bernard Sullivan, they headed into the offseason desperately needing to get some bodies for the paint. I would go ahead and declare it a success.

No, I don’t expect either to be competing for first-team All-ACC any time soon, but without them, the Tigers were in serious trouble next year.

Djitter and Djambo will be competing for playing time with 6-10 sophomore Landry Nnoko, who I suspect will start at the center spot. They could also get some minutes at the four spot, but I predict Brownell will go small with K.J. McDaniels.

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