I've previewed nine early season tournaments that ACC teams are participating in the last couple of days, and I'm down to my last three. Here's previews for the early season tournaments that Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest are participating in. Hope you enjoy!
Virginia
Maui Invitational
As much as I love and believe in my ACC teams, it will be almost impossible for Virginia to win this tournament. The Maui Invitational, which takes place November 22-24, has cut Virginia's work out for them with a stacked field of competition: Chaminade, Connecticut, Kentucky, Michigan State, Oklahoma,Washington, and Wichita State.
It would take a miracle for Virginia to come out of that field and win. Four of those schools have been to the Elite Eight in the last two years, and Washington made a Sweet 16 appearance last season.
Wichita State is the best the Missouri Valley has to offer, and has steadily been building a program over the last five years. Many are predicting them to go at least two rounds deep in the Big Dance this year.
Chaminade gets the award for first team my great Athlon Sports preview magazine does not cover. All I know is that they have the home court advantage- but judging by them not being in the preview magazine, it probably won't matter.
The last thing on Michigan State's mind this season is probably this tournament. They've got national championship hopes- but Tom Izzo will be sure to get them ready for this. Does he ever not get the Spartan's well prepared? The third best team in the nation (in my opinion) will probably not have many struggles in Maui this year.
The phrase "one class out, another class in" has been used a lot concerning the Kentucky basketball program, but I don't think it will work that way. I don't think there will be a better class ever recruited then Kentucky's last year, plus they lose Patrick Patterson. Many people expect the Wildcats to be as good as last year, but I don't think that will be the case.
I think Washington will be in the best shape of teams losing a star player this year. In the Huskies case it will be Quincy Pondexter, who averaged 19 points a contest last season. But Washington has another stellar group this season, led by Isaiah Thomas, who wasn't far behind Pondexter with 16 points a game last year.
While I made reference to Connecticut and Oklahoma both having recent postseason success, that is sort of misleading. Connecticut loses 41 points of production from last year's squad, and Oklahoma is now one of the worst teams in the Big 12. But they're still big programs, and should do average in this tournament.
How Virginia Will Fare: Their chances are slim to none.
Tournament Prediction: Michigan State will play Washington in the championship. Michigan State wins it.
Virginia Tech
76 Classic
After three seasons straight of being snubbed on Selection Sunday, it looks like Virginia Tech might finally have a team this year that won't have to worry about their chances on Sunday. But with strength of schedule being a big factor in Virginia Tech being left out last year, the 76 Classic is huge fir theHokies.
Virginia Tech will travel across the country to Anaheim, California for the 76 Classic, which brings together another good field. The Hokie's competition this year will be Cal State Northridge, DePaul, Murray State, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Tulsa, and UNLV. Looking at that field, Virginia Tech is my favorite to win it.
Oklahoma State is the biggest name besides Virginia Tech in the tournament, and their team isn't much this year. They'll struggle more then any other team in the country that lost a star player in losing James Anderson.
Stanford is the only other big conference team in this tournament, and they also lose a 20 points per game scorer. But I think the Cardinal will do better then the Cowboys of OSU in this tournament.
A familiar face for Seth Greenburg and the Hokies will be on the DePaul sidelines. Oliver Purnell, former Clemson coach, takes over the reigns of DePaul this year, trying to navigate a team that's gone 1-35 in the Big East the last two years back to success.
Murray State begins their encore to their second round appearance in the NCAAs last year. And for teams like the Racers, tournaments like this are huge. UNLV is also trying to make another NCAA appearance this year.
Tulsa and Cal State Northridge are both going through problems that any college basketball team has to go through at one point or another. But it's usually pretty hard for small programs like these to handle them. It will show in the tournament, as both teams will struggle.
How Virginia Tech Will Fare: They are the best team by far in this tournament. Anything less then a tournament championship will be disappointing.
Tournament Prediction: Virginia Tech will play Stanford for the championship. Virginia Tech wins it.
Wake Forest
NIT Season Tip Off
This is how the NIT Season Tip Off works out: four bigger teams host three smaller teams, they play a bracket with the teams, and the winning team from each bracket moves on to the finals in Madison Square Garden. Wake Forest has the perk of being the host, so they SHOULD get to New York for the finals.
The three teams that Wake Forest will host in Winston-Salem will be Hampton, Virginia Commonwealth, and Winthrop. So the Demon Deacons will basically get two high level cupcakes. No big deal, but no excuse if they lose.
If they can get out of Winston-Salem, that's when the fun starts. They'll get to go up and play in Madison Square Garden for the preseason NIT championship. But it will be far from easy- their competition in NYC will likely be Villanova, UCLA, and Tennessee.
Villanova will try to bounce back after a rocky second round exit last year. Everyone obviously thinks they will; Athlon Sports has them winning the Big East and going to the Elite Eight. They're the number 1 seed in this tournament, and they definitely deserve it. Because "number 1" and "best" are synonyms in sports.
While UCLA fans thought it stunk to not be able to win a championship after three straight Final Four runs, they're realizing it stinks a lot worse to not even get to the Sweet 16. The Bruins will have to overachieve to make the tournament this year, and to overachieve, they have to be successful in tournaments like these.
Tennessee will lose a good portion of their team that has been their foundation for the last couple if years, but Bruce Pearl and the Volunteers are always solid. Scotty Hopson will try to lead them to success this year.
How Wake Forest Will Fare: I think it would be an accomplishment to get to Madison Square Garden for the Finals, considering Wake Forest pretty much lost everyone, and it will be in new head coach Jeff Bzdelik's first two weeks of the season. It would be even more impressive for them to win it, but I don't think that will happen.
Tournament Prediction: Villanova plays Tennessee in the championship. Villanova wins it.
Comment your thoughts below and thanks for reading!
