Before you know it college basketball will be right around the corner. I thought it would be a good idea to start my college basketball preview. In the following weeks and months I will be breaking down the teams in each conference as well as the top players, freshman, coaches and much more.
Today I look at the ACC; I ranked teams 7-12 for the 2011-12-college basketball season. Tomorrow will be teams 1-6.
7. Clemson - Starters Returning (3) Young, Smith, Booker
The Tigers lose their top two scorers from a team that made the NCAA tournament last year in Brad Brownell’s first year as head coach. They do return 4 players who scored over 7 points per game. Andre Young (11.1 ppg) will take over the point guard duties from the departed Demontez Stitt. Joining Young in the backcourt is Tanner Smith (7.8 ppg)who needs to be more consistent. Leading the way in the frontcourt is Devin Booker (8.1 pgg) who is a very hard nose player. Milton Jennings (8.3 ppg) also returns; he can shoot, but he needs to be more aggressive in the paint. Bryan Narcisse (2.9 pgg) provides solid depth, as does Catalin Baciu; both need to work on their offensive game. Clemson really needs depth in the backcourt that will come from their recruiting class with two point guards. Problem is they weren’t highly rated. Their top recruit is power forward Bernard Sullivan.
8. Virginia Tech - Starters Returning (2) Green, Davila
The Hokies have been on the bubble recently every year, now it will be a successful season if they’re on the bubble this year. The Hokies lose 3 starters including leading scorer and all everything Malcolm Delaney; they also lose forward Jeff Allen. Erick Green (11.6 ppg) returns at the point, he will be more productive with Delaney gone. Dorenzo Hudson (10.4 ppg) returns from taking a medical redshirt last season. Jarrell Eddie (2.9 pgg) and Tryone Garland provide solid depth in the backcourt. The frontcourt will be the huge question for the Hokies. Victor Davila (7.4 pgg) returns, but he always has been a complementary player. The return of J.T. Thompson (7.3 pgg) from injury will help. Cadarian Raines is also coming off an injury. Luckily for the Hokies they brought in a top recruiting class of four players. Leading the way is small forward Dorian Finney-Smith, look for him to start right away. Power forward C.J. Barksdale is also a top player.
9. Maryland - Starters Returning (2) Stoglin, Mosley
Things don’t look so bright for the Terps, Gary Williams retired, and they lose 4 out of their top 5 scorers. Gone is center Jordan Williams who averaged a double double last season. Good luck to new head coach Mark Turgeon, whom I think will do a good job but it will take time. The Terps best returning player is point guard Terrell Stoglin (11.4 ppg)who really came on last year as a freshman. Also in the backcourt is Sean Mosley (8.1 ppg). Pe’Shon Howard (5.4 ppg) provides solid depth off the bench. The frontcourt is where Maryland will be really hurting. Their top returning player here is James Padgett (3.3. ppg), he played under 10 minutes last season. Ashton Pankey and Berend Weijs also return in the backcourt but don’t provide much. The coaching change didn’t help the recruiting class as they only brought in 1 player in shooting guard Nick Faust who should play right away. They are really in need of a small forward
10. Wake Forest - Starters Returning (4) McKie, Terrell, Harris, Desrosiers
Bad news is Wake Forest only won 1 ACC game last year for new head coach Jeff Bzdelik, but the good news is that they are returning 4 starters from that team, 3 of which where just true freshman. Travis McKie (13 ppg)leads the frontcourt at power forward, and is a star in the making. Also in the frontcourt are Niktia Mescheriakov (4.5 ppg) and Carson Desrosiers (4 ppg) they provide great size, but need to improve on offense. Ty Walker and Melvin Tabb also provide depth in the frontcourt, but they are currently suspended. In the backcourt Wake Forest brings back 2 players who averaged in double figures last year in J.T. Terell (11.1 ppg) and C.J. Harris (10.3 ppg). Harris handles the point guard duties. Tony Chennault (4.0 ppg) is an excellent back up at the point. Wake Forest could really use some depth at shooting guard and small forward. The Demon Deacons bring in 3 recruits none of which is highly rated. Shooting guard Chase Fischer is the best of the bunch.
11. Georgia Tech - Starters Returning (2) Morris, Miller
Paul Hewitt is finally gone so now Brian Gregory takes over the Yellow Jackets program. Gone also is the Yellow Jackets best player Iman Shumpert. Mfon Udofia (6.7 ppg)didn’t start last year, but look for him to start at the point. Guard Jason Morris (6 ppg) is an excellent three-point shooter. Look for Glen Rice Jr. (12.8 ppg) to do most of the scoring in the backcourt; he will be relied on more to score with Shumpert gone. Providing depth in the backcourt will be Brandon Reed a transfer who averaged 15.1 ppg at Arkansas State. Daniel Miller (4.4 ppg) leads the way in the in the middle; needs to become a better scorer. Nate Hicks and Kammeron Holsey (3.4 ppg) also return in the frontcourt . The Yellow Jackets really lack depth here and this is a concern. They bring in 2 freshmen, one of which is forward Julian Royal; look for him to get a lot of playing time.
12. Boston College - Starters Returning (0)
Wow, the Eagles lost a lot, they lost their top five players in points, assists, and rebounds. This is going to be a rough second year for head coach Steve Donahue who brings in 7 freshmen. The two Eagles players that return are both guards Danny Rubin (4.1 ppg) and Gabe Moton (2.5 ppg) they barley played last year. Deirunas Visockas is a transfer who will also provide depth. Look for true freshman shooting guard Lonnie Jackson and point guard Jordan Daniels to provide depth here. The Eagles will really be lacking in the frontcourt. Their best player will be Matt Humphrey a transfer from Oregon. Boston College’s best recruit is power forward Ryan Anderson he will start from day one. Freshman Kyle Caudill and Dennis Clifford will give the Eagles some depth in the frontcourt.
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Tags: ACC, Boston College, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
[...] I look at the ACC; I ranked teams 7-12 yesterday. Today I ranked teams 1-6 in the ACC for the 2011-12-college basketball [...]
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[...] College Basketball Preview: Power Rankings ACC teams 7-12 (Roundballchat.com)12. Boston College – Starters Returning (0) Wow, the Eagles lost a lot, they lost their top five players in points, assists, and rebounds. This is going to be a rough second year for head coach Steve Donahue who brings in 7 freshmen. The two Eagles players that return are both guards Danny Rubin (4.1 ppg) and Gabe Moton (2.5 ppg) they barley played last year. [...]