Gary Williams has to step it up with returning talent or the seat will be as hot as his partner on the football side.
As football season reaches its last turn, the glorious ACC basketball season cometh. We can put away thoughts of horribly inconsistent football teams beating each other up and really making us look bad overall with an upcoming season that will have a bunch of horribly inconsistent teams that will beat each other up and possibly not even have a real National Championship contender(*gasp*). This will be an interesting year in the ACC as they all have the talent to make the NCAAs, but getting on a roll will be difficult for any ACC team this season. If you are not familiar with my style of countdown, I start in the middle and branch out so here’s how your ACC b-ball finishes 4-6 which ranges from securely in to on the bubble for the NCAAs…
- 4) Florida State Seminoles
Potential: Sweet 16
Actual: Sweet 16
Strengths: Post-play, depth, experience.
Not-So Strengths: Playing without Douglas, Alabi still on learning curve, Hamilton doesn’t wow as coach.
Make or Break Player: C Solomon Alabi
Circle It: at Clemson on February 10. The ‘Noles have something over the Tigers and with a win here can really put themselves in contention for the ACC crown.
Why They Could Be Higher: Alabi transforms into a dominant post player who the ‘Noles can use as a decoy to setup up good shooters like Kitchen.
Why They Could Be Lower: Losing Douglas becomes an apparent issue with poor ball-handling and lack of scoring from the PG position.
- 5) Boston College Eagles
Potential: Sweet 16
Actual: 1st Round
Strengths: Athletic, some perimeter game, depth, Coach Skinner, no Jekyll/Hyde Rice.
Not-So Strengths: Playing without Rice, no dominant big man, inconsistency in conference recently.
Make or Break Player: F Rakim Sanders
Circle It: UNC at home on February 20. The Eagles could add a real tourney resume boosting win with this one.
Why They Could Be Higher: This team has the talent to win the whole thing. Whether its Sanders breaking you down off the dribble, Trapani hitting the jump shot, or Raji busting it up down-low—the Eagles can score. Losing Rice helps and hurts, he was inconsistent at best, but when he was on, was a great player.
Why They Could Be Lower: They never find a suitable replacement for Rice’s scoring and the defense breaks down too often.
- 6) Maryland Terrapins
Potential: Sweet 16
Actual: Second Round
Strengths: Guard play with handling/shooting/defense, veteran leadership, Gary Williams as coach?
Not-So-Strengths: Size, defense, consistency, quality depth.
Make or Break Player: F Landon Milbourne
Circle It: Villanova on December 6. This could be an early resume builder for the Terps.
Why They Could Be Higher: Vasquez has an All-ACC type season and Hayes complements him with perimeter shooting.
Why They Could Be Lower: Vasquez has a meh season and the Terps play like they have the last few seasons.
Who’s too high/low? What I’m nuts on? ACC basketball is fun to debate about because seemingly every squad/fanbase thinks they can take the ACC…
