Pressure and Predictions ACC Basketball 2009-2010

Pressure and Predictions ACC Basketball 2009-2010

I wouldn't want that kind of pressure, and I hate it when things are out of my control, but this is the norm in the ACC. To me it must seem like climbing a mountain that you can see the top of but can't quite reach. Or a being in a race that you think you can win, only to see the same familiar faces celebrating at the finish line. To me this is what it must feel like to be a coach in the ACC not named Mike Krzyzewski or Roy Williams, and as I said, I just wouldn’t want that kind of pressure. Yep, being in that ACC regular season race and seeing the same teams finish one and two every year would be tough. The thought of climbing that mountain in the ACC Tournament only to see Coach K or Roy waiting there to knock you back down has to be, well pressure. These are the problems that face an ACC coach in what has come to be the best conference in the country year in and year out. Every now and then someone will catch them napping and inch them out at the finish line. Other times Duke or UNC may slip at bit on the steep ACC mountain and someone else will ascend to the top. This is usually the exception and not the rule and K and Roy are never far from sight. But they run the race and climb the mountain every year waiting for the inch they need at the finish line or the slip on the mountain that may give them the Regular season title or the ACC Tourney Crown. For that moment they have overcome what I think is the toughest thing about the ACC top to bottom, year in and year out. PRESSURE. So who are the teams this season that could handle that pressure and come out on top? Its tough to say, but I'll take a stab at it, because it’s just a prediction, and predicting the ACC is not nearly as much pressure as playing and coaching in it. So here goes...


1. Duke

Key Returnees: Kyle Singler (JR) Jon Scheyer (SR) Nolan Smith (JR)
Key Losses: Gerald Henderson, Elliott Williams, Greg Paulus,
New to Durham: Mason Plumlee, Ryan Kelly, Andre Dawkins
Due for a Breakout Season: Miles Plumlee (SO) Brian Zoubek (SR)

I just believe it may be Dukes turn to win both the regular season title and possibly the ACC Tourney. This team possesses a very good mixture of upperclassmen and talented freshman who seem ready to contribute from day one. Their frontcourt may not have the all around talent that rival North Carolina has, but there are strength in numbers, and the Blue Devils finally have some depth to battle with in the paint. The biggest question mark, and a rarity for a Duke team is its guard play. With the transfer of Elliot Williams to Memphis, will fatigue play a role on this years team if freshman Andre Dawkins is unable to adjust to the speed of play in the ACC? This would leave Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith logging the lion’s share of the minutes in the backcourt for the Devils. Brian Zoubek also appears to finally be healthy, and will need to stay out of foul trouble this season in manning the post. Coach K has done more with less talent, so I wouldn't bet against
him leading this team to a first place finish.


2. North Carolina

Key Returnees: Deon Thompson (SR) Marcus Ginyard (SR) Ed Davis (SO)
Key Losses: Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, Ty Lawson, Danny Green
New to Chapel Hill: Jon Henson, Dexter Strickland, David and Travis Wear
Due for a Breakout Season: Tyler Zellar (SO) Larry Drew II (SO)

North Carolinas standing this season in my opinion hinge on how they handle their trip down Hwy 15/501 this season. The Tarheels have owned Duke at Cameron over the past four seasons. With the mass exodus that ran through Chapel Hill after their run to the National Championship in 08-09, it’s hard to imagine that a second place finish in the ACC is a let down, but this team has set the bar pretty high over the last few seasons. If they are able to steal yet another game in Durham, and play solid on the road then you could easily watch them leap frog Duke for yet another regular season title. The only question mark I see with this team is whether or not Larry Drew II can step into Ty Lawson’s shoes at the point and run the ball down opposing team’s throats like Lawson did over the last three seasons. Ed Davis will play himself into the lottery next season, and with help from Deon Thompson should offset the loss of Tyler Hansbrough as much as can be expected.


3. Boston College

Key Returnees: Joe Trapani (JR) Corey Raji (JR) Rakim Sanders (JR)
Key Losses: Tyrese Rice
New to Chestnut Hill: None
Due for a Breakout Season: Joe Trapani (JR) Reggie Jackson (SO)

Teams in the ACC should breathe a bit easier this season now that senior guard Tyrese Rice has finished his time in Chestnut Hills. Rice was able to take over games at times and put up huge numbers when his team was not playing up to par. Gone is Rice, but his supporting cast remains, which I believe may make the Eagles a more, well rounded team this season. Forward Joe Trapani has put up solid scoring and rebounding numbers since transferring to BC, and will be counted on to do more of the same this season. Guard Reggie Jackson will be asked to come in and direct traffic more in the backcourt as well as feed the ball to a veteran frontcourt of Corey Raji and Josh Southern. This team is seasoned, with lots of guys that Coach Al Skinner can count on to contribute as the season goes. Boston College has been a fairly decent team at home, and if they are able to win a handful of road games. This should make them a team that can be in the thick of the ACC race late in the season.

T-4. Wake Forest

Key Returnees: Al-Farouq Aminu (SO) Ish Smith (SR) LD Williams (SR)
Key Losses: Jeff Teague, James Johnson
New to Winston Salem: Ari Stewart, CJ Harris
Due for a Breakout Season: Al-Farouq Aminu (SO) Chas McFarland (SR)

Wake is a team that caught fire last season and at times looked like world beaters. They gave fits to teams with their balanced inside and outside scoring. They claimed the number one ranking in the country, only to give it back the very next week. Out are two of Wakes top players and play makers Jeff Teague and James Johnson. In, are a pair of talented freshmen, forward Ari Stewart and guard CJ Harris. Much the same as Boston College and perhaps even more so, there