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Thinking Out Loud: 2010 ACC Football Preview – Clemson – Brandon Rink, ACC Blogger

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

It’s that time of year–football season speculation time, and I’m going through the ACC team by team with an outlook for the 2010 season.

Let’s go to the replay (2009 season): 9-5 (6-3 ACC)

The year 2009 was a strange, crazy ride with early season losses to Georgia Tech, TCU, and Maryland that fired up the locals, but Dabo’s Tigers reeled off 6 wins in a row to clinch the Atlantic Division before the next turn in the drama and losses to rival South Carolina and Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship Game. The Tigers finished the season on a good note with a 21-13 win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl. Can’t mention 2009 without C.J. Spiller who won ACC player of the year with 21 TDs on 2,680 all-purpose yards.

But in 2010…

Dabo’s uncanny recruitment success rate of those tempted by the pros continued with most notably Kyle Parker, but also top ACC safety DeAndre McDaniel and another NFL prospect in Jarvis Jenkins at defensive tackle back with a talented, deep Tigers squad at most positions. Once again, a RB duo headlines the Clemson offense with the speedy Andre Ellington and powerful Jamie Harper – and a third RB in Rod McDowell has wowed coaches in practice recently. The Tigers have to replace the bulk of their catches with Spiller, Jacoby Ford, and Michael Palmer gone to graduation – Dabo is looking to a lot of youth to step up with redshirt and true freshman in the mix. On D, the secondary and d-line are among the best in the conference with linebacker being the where the spotlight shines as they struggled all 2009.

On the schedule…

DATE OPPONENT

9/04 North Texas

9/11 Presbyterian

9/18 @ Auburn

10/02 Miami (FL)

10/09 @ North Carolina

10/16 Maryland

10/23 Georgia Tech

10/30 @ Boston College

11/06 North Carolina State

11/13 @ Florida State

11/20 @ Wake Forest

11/27 South Carolina

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If there’s ever a schedule that sets a team up, it’s Clemson’s. With two cupcakes to start, a trip to tough Auburn, and then a week off before their first ACC game in October at home vs Miami – the Tigers can gel in the first two games and possibly makes some noise early. October is where the season heats up for the Tigers with ranked Miami (home), UNC (away), Georgia Tech (home) and a tough trip to BC to round out the month. In November, the spotlight game is November 13th against FSU, but the finale with South Carolina is huge for state pride reasons.

—

Fun with (record) scenarios…

Best Case: 10-2 (7-1 ACC)

Parker develops a connection with his receivers and they go off all the way to Charlotte .

Worst Case: 6-6 (4-4 ACC)

The schedule is daunting if the team comes unglued, but I can’t see them not making a bowl regardless.

Realistic-like case: 9-3 (6-2 ACC)

I’m getting more optimistic on Clemson as the season draws near, but the road trips to BC/FSU and tough home games with GT/Miami in conference puts them at 2 conference losses at least.

I see a lot of Tiger fans representing in the poll on the sidebar – picking Clemson to win the ACC. Give me your assessment of why they can/can’t take the ACC in the comments…

Previous 2010 ACC Football Previews

Duke Blue Devils
Georgia Tech
Maryland Terrapins
Miami Hurricanes
North Carolina Tar Heels
NC State Wolfpack
Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia Tech Hokies
Wake Forest Demon Deacons

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Football Season Is Here…My ACC Picks/All-ACC Teams – Brandon Rink, ACC Blogger

Monday, July 26th, 2010

This weekend’s ACC Football Kickoff really brings football that much closer and the media did their ACC picks and All-ACC teams. Over at ACC Blogger, I did my own projections and here exclusively are my projected All-ACC and awards.

Projected ACC Standings

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Atlantic

Florida State Seminoles 7-1 (10-2 overall)
Boston College Eagles 6-2 (10-2 overall)
Clemson Tigers 6-2 (9-3 overall)
Maryland Terrapins 3-5 (5-7 overall)
NC State Wolfpack 2-6 (6-6 overall)
Wake Forest Demon Deacons 1-7 (3-9 overall)

Coastal

Virginia Tech Hokies 6-2 (9-3 overall)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 5-3 (9-3 overall)
Miami Hurricanes 5-3 (8-4 overall)
North Carolina Tar Heels 4-4 (8-4 overall)
Duke Blue Devils 2-6 (4-8 overall)
Virginia Cavaliers 1-7 (4-8 overall)

Championship Game (Charlotte, NC): Florida State Seminoles vs. the Virginia Tech Hokies, 7:45 ET, ESPN.

ACC Championship Pick: Florida State

  • The Why: Two of the better offenses of the ACC will faceoff in the Queen City’s first shot at the ACC Championship Game. In the battle of QBs, I’ll take FSU with Ponder, but by far, the Hokies have the advantage at running back. The determining factor in this one will be which defense can make the big stop to win the ACC. And I have little confidence in either at this point, but give me the team with the top-flight QB and solid scheme to win the ACC.
  • Score: 27-24 Noles

First Team All-ACC

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QB: Christian Ponder (FSU)
RB: Ryan Williams (VT)
RB: Montel Harris (BC)
WR: Bert Reed (FSU)
WR: Jarrett Boykin (VT)
TE: George Bryan (NCSU)
OT: Andrew Datko (FSU)
OT: Anthony Castonzo (BC)
OG: B.J. Cabbell (UVA)
OG: Thomas Clairborne (BC)
C: Sean Bedford (GT)
PK: Matt Bosher (Mia)

Defense

DE: Robert Quinn (UNC)
DE: Allen Bailey (Mia)
DT: Jarvis Jenkins (Clemson)
DT: Damik Scafe (BC)
LB: Quan Sturdivant (UNC)
LB: Luke Kuechly (BC)
LB: Alex Wujciak (MD)
CB: Kendric Burney (UNC)
CB: Ras-I Dowling (UVa)
S: DeAndre McDaniel (Clemson)
S: Deunta Williams (UNC)
P: Travis Baltz (MD)
Specialist: Torrey Smith (MD)

Player of the Year: Christian Ponder (FSU)

Coach of the Year: Jimbo Fisher (FSU)

Rookie of the Year: RB Josh Snead (Duke)

Breakdown

Coastal players All-ACC: 11
Atlantic players All-ACC: 14

Per Team

BC: 5
Clemson: 2
Duke: 0
FSU: 3
GT: 1
MD: 3
Mia: 2
NC State: 1
UNC: 4
UVa: 2
Wake: 0

The ACC will be full of strong teams in 2010 – who do you think will take it all this season? Who did I leave off the All-ACC team that’s a must-have? Let me know what you think in the comments…

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The ACC Stays at 12 Through the Storm – And Strong

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

The whole super-conference dilemma of 2010 will go down in history much like your comedy-drama you would find on the USA Network.

First, the drama with the crime — in this case, we have the Big Ten and Pac-10 rumored to be swooping up teams from coast-to-coast. And to add to the drama, this all could have awoken the sleeping giant in the SEC to raid our conference of 2 to 3 to 4 teams.

Next, there’s the investigation, and we had Rivals’ OrangeBloods.com giving up-to-the-second tweets and articles to keep everyone guessing. The blogs consulted and speculated along the way with each new rumor as we looked to be on the precipice of a new age in college athletics.

And finally, the resolution where it all isn’t quite as bad as we thought, and we all have a good laugh, which came with the media stepping in to save the Big XII —  and most of college sports as we currently know it.

Whether by fate or good fortune-telling, ACC Commissioner John Swofford made the right decision to not expand and spread the new TV deal money thin to compete with everybody else. The ACC stood their ground – too much criticism throughout the process – and came out strong. By not blinking and working to keep everyone on board, the ACC found out just how committed football-minded schools like Virginia Tech, Clemson, and Miami were with their firm assurances of the strength of the ACC.  Even when reports were that basketball-powers Duke and UNC were the jewels of the SEC’s expansion plans, it never gained any real credibility.

Now, the best way to fortify conference strength will be success this upcoming football season and beyond, but for now, the ACC made it through the storm and will be strongly intact for years to come.

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Early, Early Picks for ACC Basketball–2010-11

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Here’s a simulcast with my daily ACC blog at On The B. Rink…

Last couple weeks, we looked at the early entrants and the grads–but how about the ACC players coming back and how the ACC dominoes fall next season?

The News & Observer puts together an early projected starting lineup yearly with early entrants/graduation/new recruits factored in and here’s my early picks based off how the ACC is looking at this point.

1. Duke Blue Devils

2009-10: 13-3, first
G Kyrie Irving, fr.
G Seth Curry, soph. (20.2 ppg @ Liberty)
G Nolan Smith, sr. (17.4 ppg)
F Kyle Singler, sr. (17.7 ppg)
F Mason Plumlee, soph. (3.7 ppg)
Bench: G Andre Dawkins, F Miles Plumlee, F Ryan Kelly, F Josh Hairston

Outlook: Loooooooooooooooaded. They will be a unanimous choice for the ACC and one of the top teams in the country.

2. Florida State Seminoles

2009-10: 10-6, third
G Derwin Kitchen, sr. (8.1 ppg)
G Deividas Dulkys, jr. (8.7 ppg)
G Michael Snaer, soph. (8.8 ppg)
F Chris Singleton, jr. (10.2 ppg)
F Xavier Gibson, jr. (5.5 ppg)
Bench: G Luke Loucks, F Terrance Shannon, PG Ian Miller, F Okaro White, F Jon Kreft

Outlook: No Alabi, no problem? That’s what I’m saying–the cupboard isn’t bare at FSU and if there’s a year that Hamilton’s Noles make a run–it has to be this season.

3. Virginia Tech Hokies

2009-10: 10-6, fourth
G Malcolm Delaney, sr. (20.2 ppg)
G Dorenzo Hudson, sr. (12.0 ppg)
F Terrell Bell, sr. (6.1 ppg)
F Victor Davila, jr. (5.3 ppg)
F Jeff Allen, sr. (15.2 ppg)
Bench: F J.T. Thompson, G Erick Green, F Jarell Eddie, F Allan Chaney, F Cadarian Raines, F Manny Atkins, G Ben Boggs

Outlook: The time is now in Blacksburg as they return everybody. Greenberg needs to advance past simply making the ever-elusive NCAA Tourney, but win some games in said tourney.

4. North Carolina Tar Heels

2009-10: 5-11, 10th
G Larry Drew II, jr. (8.5 ppg)
G Reggie Bullock, fr.
F Harrison Barnes, fr.
F John Henson, soph. (5.7 ppg)
F Tyler Zeller, jr. (9.3 ppg)
Bench: F Will Graves, G Dexter Strickland, PG Kendall Marshall, G Leslie McDonald

Outlook: The Tar Heels are an interesting squad to watch this season because they had such a fall from grace last season. Heels are still young and Williams will have quite a coaching job to do to get UNC back to the top.

5. Maryland Terrapins

2009-10: 13-3, second
G Adrian Bowie, sr. (4.8 ppg)
G Sean Mosley, jr. (10.1 ppg)
G Cliff Tucker, sr. (5.7 ppg)
F Dino Gregory, sr. (4.2 ppg)
F Jordan Williams, soph. (9.6 ppg)
Bench: F James Padgett, G Terrell Stoglin, F Mychal Parker, PG Pe’Shon Howard

Outlook: Terps lose three of their biggest starters from last season with Vasquez, Hayes, and Milbourne, but they have a talented group coming back. Sean Mosley has to step into the go-to-guy role and Jordan Williams has to expand his role in the paint for the Terps to stay here.

6. Clemson Tigers

2009-10: 9-7, sixth
G Demontez Stitt, sr. (11.4 ppg)
G Tanner Smith, jr. (8.7 ppg)
F Milton Jennings, soph. (3.2 ppg)
F Devin Booker, soph. (4.5 ppg)
F Jerai Grant, sr. (7.2 ppg)
Bench: G Noel Johnson, G Andre Young, G Donte Hill, F Bryan Narcisse

Outlook: The Tigers are in transition between philosophies with a new coach in Brownell and lose star forward Trevor Booker, but this team still has the guns to compete in a wide-open(past Duke) ACC.

7. N.C. State Wolfpack

2009-10: 5-11, 11th
G Javier Gonzalez, sr. (9.5 ppg)
G Lorenzo Brown, fr.
F C.J. Leslie, fr.
F Richard Howell, soph. (4.9 ppg)
F Tracy Smith, sr. (16.5 ppg)
Bench: PG Ryan Harrow, G Scott Wood, G C.J. Williams, F DeShawn Painter, F Jordan Vandenberg

Outlook: Expectations should be high in Raleigh with a talented crew coming in and back. If Lowe can capture the magic of the ACC Tourney run to the semis, the Pack can go far, but I’m staying a bit skeptical on them.

8. Miami Hurricanes

2009-10: 4-12, 12th
G Durand Scott, soph. (10.3 ppg)
G Malcolm Grant, jr. (9.6 ppg)
G DeQuan Jones, jr. (5.7 ppg)
F Julian Gamble, jr. (3.5 ppg)
F Reggie Johnson, soph. (6.4 ppg)
Bench: G Rion Brown, G Garrius Adams, G Antoine Allen, F Donnavan Kirk

Outlook: Miami will be a trendy pick this season, but I’m on the fence with them. I  like Scott and Johnson, but Miami has a lot to prove right now.

9. Virginia Cavaliers

2009-10: 5-11, ninth
G Jontel Evans, soph. (2.4 ppg)
G Sammy Zeglinski, jr. (8.9 ppg)
G K.T. Harrell, fr.
F Mike Scott, sr. (12.0 ppg)
F James Johnson, fr.
Bench: PG Billy Baron, F Will Regan, F Assane Sene, G Joe Harris, G Mustapha Farrakhan, F Will Sherrill

Outlook: I had the ‘Hoos at ninth in my early, early picks last season and that’s where they finished–completely new team coming to play next season with Bennett cleaning house, but they have some talent.

10. Boston College Eagles

2009-10: 6-10, eighth
G Reggie Jackson, jr. (12.9 ppg)
G Dallas Elmore, jr. (3.9 ppg)
F Corey Raji, sr. (11.4 ppg)
F Joe Trapani, sr. (14.1 ppg)
F Josh Southern, sr. (4.4 ppg)
Bench: PG Biko Paris, F Courtney Dunn

Outlook: New system, several transfers, and a squad of mostly unproven, consistently, players at this level–hard to get behind the Eagles at this point.

11. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

2009-10: 7-9, seventh
G Moe Miller, sr. (3.9 ppg)
G Iman Shumpert, jr. (10.0 ppg)
G Glen Rice Jr., soph. (5.4 ppg)
F Kammeon Holsey, r-fr.
F Brad Sheehan, sr. (1.2 ppg)
Bench: G Brian Oliver, PG Mfon Udofia, F Daniel Miller

Outlook: The Jackets return all of their primary guards, but the problem falls with losing the three best players off last year’s team with Favors, Lawal, and Peacock in the paint. I will stay cautious on Georgia Tech because I’m not sure the Jackets’ guards can carry them.

12. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

2009-10: 9-7, fifth
G Tony Chennault, fr.
G C.J. Harris, soph. (9.9 ppg)
F Ari Stewart, soph. (7.3 ppg)
F Tony Woods, jr. (4.6 ppg)
F Carson Derosiers, fr.
Bench: F Travis McKie, F Melvin Tabb, G J.T. Terrell, F Ty Walker, G Gary Clark

Outlook: New coach Jeff Bzdelik has a project on his hands, but the cupboard isn’t totally bare. If he can get the Deacs back to the NCAA Tourney, Bzdelik did a great coaching job.

Who’s too high? Who’s underrated? Can anyone knock off Duke? Early NCAA Tourney bid predictions?

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Graduation Time in ACC Basketball – Brandon Rink of On the B.Rink

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

It’s May, and college students all across the country are graduating–where does this time of year leave ACC basketball for the 2010-11 season?

We looked at early entrants last week. By team, here’s the ACC seniors gone to graduation…

BC-N/A(but losing G Rakim Sanders and G Brady Heslip to transfer)

Clemson-F Trevor Booker, F David Potter.

Here’s your “no duh” analysis here–losing Booker will be big for Clemson.

Duke-G Jon Scheyer, F Lance Thomas, C Brian Zoubek.

These guys were huge in the title run last season, but the Blue Devils aren’t losing any on the NBA Draft front–they can be replaced for another run.

Florida State-F Ryan Reid.

The ‘Noles will be fine post-Reid, but he brought energy to FSU.

Georgia Tech-F Zachery Peacock, G D’Andre Bell

Losing Peacock to graduation may be just as big as losing Lawal and Favors to the draft as Georgia Tech’s frontline has been decimated this offseason.

Maryland-G Greivis Vasquez, G Eric Hayes, F Landon Milbourne

The two big guards and a key forward are gone for the Terps–makes you wonder where the scoring will come from next season.

Miami-C Cyrus McGowan, C Dwayne Collins, G James Dews, F Adrian Thomas

Hurricanes are tied with Wake for losing the most key seniors in the ACC, and the going could very well be tough again for Miami.

NC State-G Farnold Degand, F Dennis Horner

Horner and Degand came on during the ACC Tourney, but are replaceable with the talent coming in for the ‘Pack.

North Carolina-F Deon Thompson, G Marcus Ginyard

Ginyard and Thompson had disappointing senior seasons and UNC will see a better team next year coming from rock bottom.

Virginia-G Calvin Baker, C Jerome Meyinsse, F Solomon Tat

The ‘Hoos are a team in transition with Bennett over-hauling the squad–these seniors had some impact, but UVA will move on just fine.

Virginia Tech-N/A

Wake Forest-G Ish Smith, C Chas McFarland, F L.D. Williams, F David Weaver

I don’t envy Bzdelik in year one without all of that experience and Aminu gone to the NBA.

Analysis: On the whole, the ACC loses a ton in experience and talent. Virginia Tech is the only team not replacing key starters and the time is just about now for a strong run to the NCAAs. Duke loses one ‘S’ from the crew with Scheyer, but they are loaded. Wake Forest, Maryland, and Georgia Tech are three solid NCAA Tourney teams from 2010 that could all be on the bubble due to their losses. Clemson will have to adjust to a new system with Trevor Booker under Brownell. BC has a new coach and not many players as of yet due to transfers. FSU returns a number of players, but can they find an offense in the offseason? Virginia and Miami hope to climb out of ACC cellar doldrums–Miami has a better shot. If there’s a year that Lowe’s NC State is going to rise in the rankings, the Wolfpack should expect something from the 2010-11 season with most of the ACC rebuilding. UNC is another interesting case as they are bringing in the talented recruits, but they had a number of issues last season. The ACC is going to be wide-open next season with a number of fresh faces.

Who’s your extra-early favorite in the ACC?

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ACC Notes in the Dead Period: Vol. 1 – Brandon Rink of On the B.Rink

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

We’re musing on a couple ACC topics today…

The true “Dead Period” of college sports is when college baseball ends, but since we cover football/basketball here, it started after Duke took the title. What’s happening?

* Hope springing eternal at spring games. Every ACC team thinks they will improve, but who do I think will be looking good going into the fall?

In the Coastal, I’m a fan of the two Techs to stay at the top with the Hokies having a slight edge. With UNC, their defense will be out of this world, but it is the same old story, the offense. I still do not see a great QB emerging or a number of skill position stars. They shouldn’t need much offense to win games this season, but having a consistently bad O can wear down the defense physically and mentally. I’m not a big fan of Miami going into the season, but they have the talent. Duke and UVA both have reason to be optimistic, but obviously nowhere near the top of the ACC.

Atlantic-wise, we have a bit more of a log-jam with the returning division leader Clemson with key players coming back, FSU rounding into form on offense and trying to fix the defense, and the oft-forgotten BC Eagles who will have a stout defense and a great player in Montel Harris to lead the O. Among NC State, Wake Forest, and Maryland, I see quite possibly three of the worst teams coming into 2010.

But it’s spring, and it is a long way to the summer/fall and football, way too long.

* ACC basketball will have a completely different look with seniors and early entries in the NBA Draft. We’ll look at the possible early entrants right now.

By team at this point, the ACC could/will lose…

BC-N/A

Clemson-N/A

Duke-N/A(even after a championship!)

Florida State-Solomon Alabi(Center)

NBADraft.net says Alabi goes late first to second round. ESPN has him at 19th in the draft.

Georgia Tech-Derrick Favors(Forward), Gani Lawal(Forward)

ESPN has Favors at third on their board. NBADraft.net says Favors in top five; Lawal goes late first.

Maryland-N/A

Miami-N/A

NC State-Tracy Smith(Forward)

This one is hot off the presses so we’re not sure where he’s going as of yet. He hasn’t hired an agent so there’s good possibility he comes back.

North Carolina-Ed Davis(Forward)

NBADraft.net again says in early to mid first round. ESPN still has Davis at 7th.

Virginia-Sylven Landesberg(Forward)

Looking like Landesberg will have an issue even being drafted, but could land in the second round–either way, he’s not coming back to UVA.

Virginia Tech-Malcolm Delaney(Guard)

Delaney should being coming back based on draft projections.

Wake Forest-Al-Farouq Aminu(Forward)

ESPN has Al-Farouq at sixth in their draft rankings. Aminu’s top ten status echoed by NBADraft.net.

Analysis: The biggest sting, pardon the pun, is felt by the Yellow Jackets as their primary scorers and rebounders are gone. Coming in second is Wake Forest as Al-Farouq Aminu was a double-double machine for the Deacs. NC State losing Smith would be big for them even with the recent recruiting success, but seems like he will be back. Other than that, I think the biggest impact for most of these teams will be more from seniors going than early entries. FSU would be better with Alabi, but they can manage without him. UNC won’t lose much with Davis gone. Virginia Tech should get Delaney back, and the ‘Hoos and Landesberg weren’t getting along anyway apparently. Duke returning both Smith and Singler is not good news for the rest of the ACC with the other talent returning and recruits coming in. We’ll analyze the impact of seniors leaving in another post and where that leaves the ACC with the early entries that are coming back.

Who’s your favorite in the ACC divisions in football here in spring? What early entries are going early in the draft? Who should be coming back?

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It’s Spring…Time for Expansion Talk to Be in the Air – Brandon Rink of On the B.Rink

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

More teams=better for the ACC? Not opposed to it, but it’s not necessary if the ACC can hang on to what they’ve got.

When expansion came to the ACC back in the mid-2000s, football was key to the deal for 12 teams to an ACC Championship Game. With the Big Ten looking to become the Big 14 or 16 now, the domino effect will most likely be a divide and conquer of the Big East mega-conference if the right teams leave. What does the ACC do with all of this?

Right now, I don’t think the ACC needs to expand, but–if they do, basketball should be in mind this time. I don’t think there are any “can’t miss” football rich teams out on the market like a Virginia Tech/BC/Miami(but then again, we didn’t know they were on the market back then).  Teams thrown around include Syracuse which would be an excellent addition to the conference for another basketball-rich team. If you look at the Big East on the basketball side, they are the best overall conference despite the back-to-back titles for the ACC. Add a couple basketball powers from the Big East and the conference becomes that much better.

Maryland blog Testudo Times has West Virginia, Louisville, South Florida, Cincinnati, and East Carolina as possibilities in the case that the Big Ten goes 16 teams. They go on to discuss the geographic and academic fit-issues with each school which are valid points. I personally would love to add West Virginia and another one of those schools or more, but I blog and do not have the call on such decisions.

Will expansion further break up the Tobacco Road rivalries? Possibly, but I think it could be structured where they don’t lose much in the deal. But they are only four of 12 teams in the conference and money comes with each NCAA Tourney win and TV markets. With NC State’s struggles in the last few years, there are only three consistently competitive squads in NC(granted, two of the better programs in college basketball history included there). Adding a Syracuse can cooperate with BC for blanketing that Northern market and add a deadly, tradition-rich team for the NCAA Tourney.

On the other side, if the SEC/Big Ten come calling for ACC squads–can the ACC hold them off? Clemson and Florida State are two of the more likely SEC candidates. I’m not sure any ACC team would fit with the Big Ten geographically. With the money the SEC is bringing in, you have to think they would be listening. Clemson is an original member of the ACC, and with a stronger emphasis on academics now–that might stave off any other conference’s advances. For Florida State, coach Fisher obviously has experience with SEC football so that would be interesting. For the ACC, keeping these squads is paramount for a respectable football conference which may be why a proactive expansion could be in the cards.

In the case of the ACC’s big expansion of BC/VT/Miami, the ACC went with a delayed reaction to the SEC’s move in the 90s. I will argue until my face is as blue as the ACC logo that the expansion was a positive for the conference as a whole. If they move quickly like the Big Ten, they could be at or ahead of the curve, but I don’t think they will expand with their emphasis on keeping tradition and strong academics. The most likely scenario is that another conference comes calling for an ACC team and the conference works hard to keep everyone intact.

To expand or not to expand, that is my question to you.

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What Do the Wake Forest and Clemson Hires Mean for the ACC? – Brandon Rink of On the B.Rink

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Wake Forest goes out West to Colorado to snag Jeff Bzdelik. Clemson gets another coach from Dayton, Ohio in Wright State’s Brad Brownell.

They are not the “big” names.

Bzdelik and Brownell have no NCAA Tournament wins between them.

No one besides the two schools involved were really beating down the respective schools’ doors to get them, but I think both squads have reason to be optimistic about the hires.

First, for Clemson, Brownell is known as a X’s and O’s guy that can get the most out of the talent in place. He is a young guy who, right now, is inexpensive for the Tigers and has potential to build Clemson in the future. What Brownell has to come in and do is win over the players first–who are a bit jilted after what Purnell did, and secondly, the fans who so want a winner, but are not used to being a part of a basketball-centered school.

As for Wake Forest, Bzdelik had a solid run at Air Force before ending up with the Denver Nuggets and then Colorado. Bzdelik has coached at the NBA level–not successfully, but he can sell that he knows what it takes to be in the NBA. He also has a reputation for being a X and O’s guy with a bit of an unorthodox style.

Brownell and Bzdelik will bring a different edge to the ACC as they will both be hungry to bring their new schools to prominence with dramatically different styles from their predecessors. I’m most interested in seeing what Brownell does with Clemson’s defensive scheme as to if they will zone more and abandon the full court press. For Wake Forest, Bzdelik will have to maximize his talent as they lose so much next season–he could very well have an in year one for rebuilding, which could be why he was brought in now for Gaudio.

The most important factor at both schools is a little bit of patience of the fanbase–that very well might not come with how off-the-wall each hire seems to be. Wake Forest and Clemson won’t be Final Four material in a year, but if each one is the right hire, the fans can expect incremental success until they reach the promise land. Both Clemson and Wake Forest fans should expect Duke/UNC-like success at least once in a while if they really want to be among the best, and that does not come in a day–or with the wrong hire. Now, the fun really begins for both schools and the fans should be excited one way or the other.

Deacs/Tigers excited about your hires? Other ten teams’ fans, do either coach strike fear or at least respect?

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Eventful Post-Championship Week in ACC Basketball – Brandon Rink of On the B.Rink

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Duke wins an NCAA Title–and the dominoes fall in the ACC.

Duke Wins NCAA Championship

First off, Duke/Butler–what a game! I’ll admit that I thought it would be a blowout for the Blue Devils, but the Bulldogs hung tough and had a good shot at the upset. Duke really surprised me all season as the questions were out there as to if this team full of talent could put it all together for a championship-run–I wondered if they were a contender in the ACC this season, but behind the top level play of Nolan Smith, Jon Scheyer, and Kyle Singler with the improved role play of Brian Zoubek, Lance Thomas, and the Plumlees–Coach K molded this team into a winner, and they will be right back on top next season if they can get Smith to return with all of the talented recruits coming in.

Coaching Changes-A-Plenty

>We’ll start with the shocker of Oliver Purnell leaving for Depaul. I wrote on my site:

The move by Purnell concerns me on a few different fronts. I feel for the players as I’m sure they could never have imagined that Purnell would leave them–I mean, it’s an ACC school, the conference that just one back-to-back championships–this had to have completely blindsided them. It makes me wonder about Purnell quite frankly. He started something–something good, and wasn’t willing to finish–it’s absolutely a strike against him and his career as he did not stick with the program to see them to a NCAA Tourney win and more success in the ACC.

I was blindsided by the move and it still stuns me that Purnell would forsake a program he put so much into for another rebuilding project–Clemson is better off without him if he was not willing to finish the job which appears to be the case. The Tigers, like Wake Forest now, will be looking all over the college basketball landscape for a hire. This next hire is crucial to the future of Clemson basketball as they could easily slip back into the depths of the ACC of the pre-Purnell days with the wrong hire.

>Gaudio getting the axe was surprising also as he had regular season success at Wake, but as I have noted here and on my site, there seemed to be a mental block going into the postseason and late stretches of the regular season for Gaudio. Still, he got the big win over Texas in the NCAA Tourney–the move puzzles me. I don’t hate the move as the jury was still out on Gaudio, but it seems like he should have had at least one more year to show his worth with his players. Something besides on-court performance has to be behind the move whether its recruiting going bad or a poor relationship with boosters/administration. Like with Clemson, Wake Forest is not all that bad off without Gaudio and the next hire is huge.

>As always, BCs move to do something goes under the radar of news events in the ACC after they hired Cornell’s Steve Donahue this week. Donahue coached a decade at Cornell and made the NCAA Tourney three years in a row including the Sweet 16 run this March. Looks like a good move right now as he will bring a more up-tempo offense and should be able to recruit better talent to make BC a more flashy team when the season goes into March. After this season’s success at Cornell, Donahue should be able to parlay that into recruiting top-flight offensive-minded players.

I open the floor to Duke exultation, predictions on next year, who the must-get candidates for Wake Forest/Clemson are, and BC hire thoughts…a lot happening in the ACC right now…

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How Far Does the ACC Go in the NCAAs? – Brandon Rink of On the B.Rink

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

With four ACC teams facing potential matchups with 1 or 2 seeds, a lot of pressure rides on the two top seeds of Duke and Maryland for conference prominence late into the tournament…

We’re looking at you, Duke and Maryland.

The ACC indeed has six teams in the NCAA Tournament, but the committee, and mostly the teams themselves throughout the season, did them no favors with a road to the Sweet 16.

Essentially, four ACC teams face tough matchups not only in round one, but with one seed and one seed-caliber teams in the second as the 7-seeded Tigers have a rough potential matchup with West Virginia, Big East Tournament Champs. Georgia Tech, after the long run in the ACC Tournament, face a tough Oklahoma State squad before a matchup with Ohio State and one of the nation’s best in Evan Turner. The Deacs rode their second half slide right into a matchup with a similarly struggling Texas squad–and John Wall and Kentucky loom in round two. The ‘Noles face the tournament veteran Gonzaga who would have had a much higher seed with a West Coast Tourney Championship–and oh, a Syracuse team that had a run at the number one overall seed dashed in round one of the Big East Tourney.

I’m all for surprises, but Duke and Maryland have the hopes of the conference in their hands.

Duke, as well publicized, received a favorable seed for their excellent run down the stretch–only losses in final 16 games being at high-seeded Maryland and Georgetown. The Blue Devils face the play-in game winner, Louisville-California winner for their Sweet 16 shot–the Cardinals of Louisville could be a stiff challenge, but Duke has beat better teams this season. I expect the Blue Devils to breeze to the round of 16–in that round, you have a weakened 4 seed with Purdue who lost one of their best players in Hummel a few weeks ago. The Aggies are the five seed and I expect them to play the Blue Devils in the Sweet 16–TAMU beat Clemson earlier this season out at the 76 Classic, but they don’t have the guns to run with Duke for an entire game with Singler/Scheyer/Smith on. Baylor and Villanova are top-seed in the bottom of the bracket and I see the Blue Devils making it through to the Final Four against either team. Duke making it to the Final Four, after a few years of disappointment now, would be a tremendous boost to the conference. Prognosticating the other side of the bracket is tough, but Kansas will be tough opponent if they make it through–Syracuse, Kansas State, and Ohio State too. I think the Championship Game is as far as the Blue Devils go, but they have to make it past a Kentucky or West Virginia first which will be tough. Right now, I’ll take the Blue Devils to the regional semifinals and loss.

The Terps, our second conference savior, were given a tall task as the nation’s best team in Kansas, Ohio State with the best player, and last year’s runner-up for the title with Michigan State in the second round. First round, I like the Terps to roll Houston–second round, the Spartans have been up/down this season–anything could happen, but if Vasquez shows out, Terps win. Kansas is the matchup nightmare with quality size, experienced guards, and depth against the Terps–I have Maryland making it to the Elite 8 in a few of my brackets where the Jayhawks are upset in round two, but Maryland can’t run with the KU–Terps make it to the Sweet 16 and fall.

Of just first round survivors, I have Clemson and Wake Forest making it through to round two, but falling to West Virginia and Kentucky respectively.

Quick trips back to Atlanta and Tallahassee for Georgia Tech and Florida State await as I don’t trust either team to make sustained runs–though they have the talent to do so.

Who do you see making it far in the NCAAs? Of Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State, and Wake Forest–who can make  run to the Sweet 16(farther)? Can Duke or Maryland win it all?

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