2009-2010 ACC All Conference Predictions (Part One of Three)
In my last post I talked about the journey of an ACC season, and the pressures that come along with it. I made my predictions on how I thought the ACC race would end this season. To make those predictions a reality, I'd now like to talk about the players that can make these predictions come to fruition. Summer is a time for some when sleeping an extra hour trumps running an extra mile, and barbeque's are more appealing than barbells. To some ACC hopefuls, this is the time that more minutes are earned, weaknesses become strengths, and futures are brightened. The sweat that is poured, and time that is put in is something that few fans see the fruits of until the first ball is tipped in the new season. This is when that hard work translates. This is when you see who has put in the time. These are the guys I think may be doing just that, as we speak. Every guess on all-conference teams are just that, a guess. With that said, these are the guys I believe put in the work, and time to make themselves and more importantly there teams better.
First Team All ACC
1. Greivis Vasquez - (SR) Point Guard - University of Maryland
Choosing to keep his name in the NBA draft would have left room for someone to play their way onto the first team. However Greivis Vasquez decided that a strong senior campaign at Maryland could and should help his draft stock next year. At 6-6 Vasquez is one of the larger guards in the conference, especially at the point guard position. With three years behind him, and loads of experience running the show, the Terps will again look to Mr. Vasquez to score and distribute the ball as he has in the past. Though hot headed and emotional at times, he was able to cut back his number of turnovers last season which has been his only true flaw, which was normally a result of him trying to do too much. All his other numbers have risen over his time at Maryland including scoring rebounding and three point percentage. With as good of a supporting cast as he has had in his time in College Park, Vasquez could ultimately make a case for ACC POY honors with a strong senior season.
2. Malcolm Delaney - (JR) Shooting Guard - Virginia Tech
An All ACC type of season is I'm sure what Seth Greenberg expects and needs out of Malcolm Delaney this upcoming season. Virginia Tech is a team that is poised to make some waves in the ACC, and they will need him to step up big for them as he did a season ago. And boy did he step up big! He scored in double figures in all but one game last season, all in an offense which was in all truth designed around departed senior AD Vassalo and fellow junior Jeff Allen. He nearly doubled his average from his freshman season in scoring, and bettered himself in assists, rebounding and steals. The only flaw that one could see is his shooting percentage was slightly down, which in part may be due to picking up nearly ten minutes more a game than his freshman season. This should leave him some room for improvement, and with more shots to be taken in the absence of Vassalo, this could be a very tough player for opposing guards to check. I look for him to play his way onto this team and even more into the hearts of the Hokie faithful.
3. Kyle Singler - (JR) Small Forward - Duke University
Kyle Singler was big for Duke a season ago. Not just in the way the native of Medford, Oregon played but the size in which he played at. Singler has been forced to play somewhat out of position his first two seasons at Duke. While being the interior presence for Duke, Singler hit the gym the summer following his freshman season and added nearly twenty pounds of muscle in order for him to withstand the physical play he was up against in the paint. He adapted very well and his numbers increased as a result of his hard work. Now a new season brings new challenges for Singler and his fellow Blue Devils. Gone are Gerald Henderson to the NBA and Elliot Williams who transferred to Memphis, leaving the Devils very thin in the back-court. Incoming freshman Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee join Lance Thomas, Brian Zoubek and Miles Plumlee in the paint. This means good news for Singler. He can play the wing or small forward position which will make him a match-up nightmare for opponents. His size will allow him to back smaller players down and or shoot over the top of them when need be. His defense has improved in his first two seasons, and should continue to do so this season. He is also able to rebound and pass the ball very well for his size, Leading the team in rebounding at almost eight boards per contest, and third on the team in assists. I see a very big season ahead for Kyle at the wing position, one that could very well earn him ACC POY honors and at very least on the Wooden Award list.
4. Deon Thompson - (SR) Forward / Center - University of North Carolina
I'm not sure anyone on this first team has flown under the radar as much as Deon Thompson has in his career in North Carolina. As much as someone who has two Final Fours and one National Championship to his credit can fly under the radar. He has played his entire career behind Tyler Hanbrough, watching the four time All-American lead a Tar Heels team which was both talented and deep. The numbers he quietly posted were even more impressive in my opinion, due to the fact that Hansbrough rarely took a breather in games which can hurt a backup players mindset in some cases. Deon has increased his productivity every season, and been given more minutes as a result. With the NBA train stopping to pick up its yearly load of Tarheels, this season will be Thompson's time to shine. He is going to be one of the elder statesman along with wing Marcus
