Pre-Season Rankings

[CameronBornAndBred]

Jeff Goodman has us in 1st for his preseason rankings out today. I'm sure more will be following soon.
http://msn.foxsports.com/collegebasketb ... basketball

[devildeac]

Jeff Goodman has us in 1st for his preseason rankings out today. I'm sure more will be following soon.
http://msn.foxsports.com/collegebasketb ... basketball

And we STILL get all the calls!

[Jesus_hurley]

SI ranked the top front and backcourts:

Frontcourt rankings (Duke: #2): http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multim ... nt.15.html
Backcourt rankings (Duke: #1): http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multim ... nt.16.html

[Jesus_hurley]

Dick Vitale's preseason top 40: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/dickvita ... id=5677115

ACC Schools:
#1: Duke
#9: unc-ch
#23: Virginia Tech
#34: FSU
#40: Miami

A little surprised with the talent upgrades at NC State that they did not make the list.

Non-conference opponents on the list:
#2: MSU
#8: Kansas State (potentially)
#13: Butler
#14: Gonzaga (potentially)
#26: Temple
#39: St John's

We face either Kansas State or Gonzaga in the CBE Classic.

[Bob Green]

We face either Kansas State or Gonzaga in the CBE Classic.

Having previously lived in the Evergreen State 95-01 and now being back here, I'm a bit of a 'Zags hater. Washington State locals are really obnoxious about their local teams. Of course, now that UDub is ranked the Top 10, the a lot of 'Zags bandwagon jumpers will be jumping back onto the purple wagon. Anyway, to get to my point, I hope we play Gonzaga and whup them worse than last season, which was a whuppin for the ages.

I watched Nebraska destroy the Huskies in football and enjoyed every second of it.

[devildeac]

We face either Kansas State or Gonzaga in the CBE Classic.

Having previously lived in the Evergreen State 95-01 and now being back here, I'm a bit of a 'Zags hater. Washington State locals are really obnoxious about their local teams. Of course, now that UDub is ranked the Top 10, the a lot of 'Zags bandwagon jumpers will be jumping back onto the purple wagon. Anyway, to get to my point, I hope we play Gonzaga and whup them worse than last season, which was a whuppin for the ages.

I watched Nebraska destroy the Huskies in football and enjoyed every second of it.

Hey, Bob,
Should we be looking for you and your Dad at CTC, too?

[Bob Green]

Hey, Bob,
Should we be looking for you and your Dad at CTC, too?

Unfortunately, I can't make CTC due to family commitments.

[devildeac]

Hey, Bob,
Should we be looking for you and your Dad at CTC, too?

Unfortunately, I can't make CTC due to family commitments.

Well then I shall hoist an ale for you at Tyler's Taproom as part of our pre-CTC meal.

[Jesus_hurley]

Another SI list - Top 16 impact freshman: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multim ... nt.15.html

Kyrie at #2 (Hint: don't look at #1)

[CameronBornAndBred]

How shocking! We are the choice of the media to win the ACC.

Here's their prediction for end of year finish.
season.
1. Duke
2. VT
3. UNC
4. N.C. Sate
5. Florida State
6. Maryland
7. Clemson
8. Miami
9. Georgia Tech
10. Boston College
11. Virginia
12. Wake Forest

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/college...story/8484214/

It was not unanimous for us, I'd love to know who the one dissenting voter was.

[devildeac]

How shocking! We are the choice of the media to win the ACC.

Here's their prediction for end of year finish.
season.
1. Duke
2. VT
3. UNC
4. N.C. Sate
5. Florida State
6. Maryland
7. Clemson
8. Miami
9. Georgia Tech
10. Boston College
11. Virginia
12. Wake Forest

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/college...story/8484214/

It was not unanimous for us, I'd love to know who the one dissenting voter was.

Well, at least (ol') devildeac has the poll covered from top to bottom .

[Jesus_hurley]

How shocking! We are the choice of the media to win the ACC.

Here's their prediction for end of year finish.
season.
1. Duke
2. VT
3. UNC
4. N.C. Sate
5. Florida State
6. Maryland
7. Clemson
8. Miami
9. Georgia Tech
10. Boston College
11. Virginia
12. Wake Forest

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/college...story/8484214/

It was not unanimous for us, I'd love to know who the one dissenting voter was.

Jay Bilas (kidding, sort of)

They also named the preseason first team: http://www.wralsportsfan.com/college_ba ... y/8484328/
Singler (unanimous)
Nolan Smith
Tracy Smith
Malcolm Delaney
Chris Singleton

Player of the year: Singler (duh!)
Rookie of the year: Harrison Barnes

[devildeac]

How shocking! We are the choice of the media to win the ACC.

Here's their prediction for end of year finish.
season.
1. Duke
2. VT
3. UNC
4. N.C. Sate
5. Florida State
6. Maryland
7. Clemson
8. Miami
9. Georgia Tech
10. Boston College
11. Virginia
12. Wake Forest

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/college...story/8484214/

It was not unanimous for us, I'd love to know who the one dissenting voter was.

Jay Bilas (kidding, sort of)

They also named the preseason first team: http://www.wralsportsfan.com/college_ba ... y/8484328/
Singler (unanimous)
Nolan Smith
Tracy Smith
Malcolm Delaney
Chris Singleton

Player of the year: Singler (duh!)
Rookie of the year: Harrison Barnes

For ROTY (I refuse to type R*Y ), I wonder if that is with or without his pumpkin suit.

[Jesus_hurley]

Jay Bilas (kidding, sort of)

They also named the preseason first team: http://www.wralsportsfan.com/college_ba ... y/8484328/
Singler (unanimous)
Nolan Smith
Tracy Smith
Malcolm Delaney
Chris Singleton

Player of the year: Singler (duh!)
Rookie of the year: Harrison Barnes

For ROTY (I refuse to type R*Y ), I wonder if that is with or without his pumpkin suit.

I had started out with the acronym's but when I looked and saw what it spelled I decided it was worth the time and energy to type it completely out.

[devildeac]

Jay Bilas (kidding, sort of)

They also named the preseason first team: http://www.wralsportsfan.com/college_ba ... y/8484328/
Singler (unanimous)
Nolan Smith
Tracy Smith
Malcolm Delaney
Chris Singleton

Player of the year: Singler (duh!)
Rookie of the year: Harrison Barnes

For ROTY (I refuse to type R*Y ), I wonder if that is with or without his pumpkin suit.

I had started out with the acronym's but when I looked and saw what it spelled I decided it was worth the time and energy to type it completely out.

Great minds...

[Jesus_hurley]

#1 in the coaches poll

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5711887

1. Duke
2. MSU
3. Kansas St
4. Pitt
5. Ohio State

unc-ch is 9th

[CameronBornAndBred]

unc-ch is 9th

Phllllltttttt!

[ArkieDukie]

unc-ch is 9th

Jimmy Dykes was a special guest during the broadcast of the Arkansas-Ole Miss football game, and they asked him about the pre-season poll. Based on his visit to Duke's practice last week, he raved about their team. He said, as we know, that Duke has the best backcourt in the country, and that the team hinges on the performance of the Plumlee bros in the middle. Other interesting commentary: also based on a visit to practice, he says that unc's ranking is too high and predicts a finish of somewhere between 2nd and 4th in the ACC. Reading between the lines of what he said, I don't think he was terribly impressed with the heels.

[Bob Green]

unc-ch is 9th

Jimmy Dykes was a special guest during the broadcast of the Arkansas-Ole Miss football game, and they asked him about the pre-season poll. Based on his visit to Duke's practice last week, he raved about their team. He said, as we know, that Duke has the best backcourt in the country, and that the team hinges on the performance of the Plumlee bros in the middle. Other interesting commentary: also based on a visit to practice, he says that unc's ranking is too high and predicts a finish of somewhere between 2nd and 4th in the ACC. Reading between the lines of what he said, I don't think he was terribly impressed with the heels.

I see two big challenges for Carolina this season:

1. Point guard play - I offering no great enlightenment here but Roy Williams' system is dependent upon a strong point guard. This was a major shortfall last season and the jury is out on whether or not this season will be any different. The Carolina faithful are hoping Kendall Marshall is the answer but I am skeptical.

2. Youth - Carolina is going to be able to put a lot of talent onto the court but they are mostly youngsters. Barnes and Bullock will most likely solve the outside shooting woes of last season but they are going to have to perform like seasoned veterans when in fact they are freshman. Henson is a sophomore, Zeller a junior who missed almost his entire freshman season, Larry Drew a junior, the aforementioned Marshall another freshman.

Jimmy Dykes' prediction seems solid to me as I see Duke, VT and State finishing ahead of the Heels.

[ArkieDukie]

Good points, Bob! Jimmy all but came out and questioned their heart. The gist of what he said is that last year's team didn't have the competitive fire that one expects to see from the Heels, and he thinks the jury is out on whether they'll have it this year. Interesting opinion, especially since has been to at least one of their practices.