Early Ranking = #19

[What Would Jesus Do?]

That's ESPN's Borzello in his "Way Too Early" preseason poll.

And here's his projected lineup. Interesting that he switches the positions of Ingram and Withers from what some here expect. But I don't suppose it matters if they are both on the floor at the same time.

As someone here said, these days the 3 and 4 are sort of interchangeable - in the way that the 2 and 3 used to be interchangeable a decade or 2 ago.

Projected starting lineup:​

​

R.J. Davis (16.1 PPG)
Cormac Ryan (12.3 PPG at Notre Dame)
Simeon Wilcher (No. 27 in ESPN 100)
Harrison Ingram (10.5 PPG at Stanford)
Armando Bacot (15.9 PPG)​

WTE Top 25: Kevin McCullar Jr.'s return edges Kansas over Duke for No. 1

Wednesday's NBA draft early-entry withdrawal deadline -- the busiest in recent memory -- shuffled our latest rankings and cemented a new No. 1.

www.espn.com

 

[TPFKAPFS]

I expect:
Cadeau, RJ, Ingram/Ryan, Withers/Ingram, and Bacot!

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I expect:
Cadeau, RJ, Ingram/Ryan, Withers/Ingram, and Bacot!

Yep. If Cadeau comes, that sounds right to me. Hoping that some other guys are good enough to get good minutes, but those would be my default 6.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Only 3 ACC teams in Borzella's top 30 (30 because he also lists his next 5, but without details). So we get to look at his projected starters for 2 more ACC teams. With all the usual caveats, of course, since while we may be finished in the portal, other teams may not.

#1 DUKE

Jeremy Roach (13.6 PPG)
Tyrese Proctor (9.4 PPG)
Jared McCain (No. 12 in ESPN 100)
Mark Mitchell (9.1 PPG)
Kyle Filipowski (15.1 PPG)​

#18 MIAMI

Nijel Pack (13.8 PPG)​

Wooga Poplar (8.7 PPG)​

Bensley Joseph (5.2 PPG)​

A.J. Casey (1.0 PPG)​

Norchad Omier (13.3 PPG)​

 

[TPFKAPFS]

All three teams are arguably better than last year. The question is will the newcomers fit in and be additive or cause friction? Miami may be the one who has the most questions IMO.

 

[DSouthr]

What I expect and what I want to see are 2 different line ups. I expect if Cadeau reclasses he starts, but let's just consider who we know we have and not speculate on Cadeau for this thought.

I expect to see starting RJ, Ryan, Ingram, Withers, Bacot.

I would prefer either Wilcher or Tremble to start at the point. Now understand, that would mean that Tremble has put in the shooting work he needs to and has his confidence back as a shooter. It would also suggest that Wilcher has been able to acclimate to the college game very quickly. If those things are not true then RJ has to stay at the point. I am not expecting either Wilcher or Seth to do that and really hope I am wrong about that. Based on some decisions from Hubert this past season I expect that both Seth and Wilcher's PT may be more limited than I feel it should be, that will become a problem like it was last season. I sure hope Hubert has learned from that but I don't see so far that Hubert is willing to alter how he coached last season and it that happens some big boosters will start getting very vocal that the program has to go back into coaching search mode. If Hubert is not careful his seat will go from luke warm right now to blazing hot by season end and a discussion he will not want to be part of directly following our last game next season.

I would prefer Jalen start at the 4, that would mean we see him return more as the player pre-injury, the kid with the unstoppable jump shot that uses his length well. I am not expecting that because was so far away from being that guy this past season. I think Withers not only starts but may be all ACC by the time the season ends.

I both want and expect Ingram to start at the 3 and I don't think anyone expects any less than Bacot starts at the 5. I expect Ryan to get a LOT of PT, I expect Wojick to get more PT than many realize. I do not expect to see Dunn on the roster, I do expect we get a reclass guy from the 24 class to come in and start at the point for us.

 

[DaveChapelle]

Putting out rankings at this point seems like nothing more than clickbait.

Is there is a single team in America who has their roster set yet? Over a thousand players in the portal, with more joining every day. High profile players still deciding if they will stay in the draft. High profile players deciding where they will transfer to. Not to mention potential 2024 reclassifications.

 

[UNC-75]

“Putting out rankings at this point seems like nothing more than clickbait.”

I think that’s why they call it “way to early”.

 

[TPFKAPFS]

RJ & Bacot are locks to start!
Withers & Ingram are pretty close to locks but are at least guaranteed starter minutes
Ryan will get significant PT
Wilcher & Trimble will get significant PT
Wojick will earn a rotation spot no later than ACC time
Washington is solely dependent on health and growth so hard to predict
High will see spot backup at 4/5
Dunn might just earn some of the minutes already allocated or he might leave
Cadeau will reclass/stay '24 (?) and will start (23 or 24) he is a lock also IMO.

Hubs has demonstrated throughout his career that he is smart and self-reflective; I see no reason to believe he won't grow significantly!

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

RJ & Bacot are locks to start!
Withers & Ingram are pretty close to locks but are at least guaranteed starter minutes
Ryan will get significant PT
Wilcher & Trimble will get significant PT
Wojick will earn a rotation spot no later than ACC time
Washington is solely dependent on health and growth so hard to predict
High will see spot backup at 4/5
Dunn might just earn some of the minutes already allocated or he might leave
Cadeau will reclass/stay '24 (?) and will start (23 or 24) he is a lock also IMO.

Hubs has demonstrated throughout his career that he is smart and self-reflective; I see no reason to believe he won't grow significantly!

I like your outline, but I worry that there aren't enough minutes.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I wonder why Virginia isn't on the list?

Sure, they don't look like they belong there . . . but they never look like they belong there. And yet....

 

[gunslingerdick]

Cadeau
RJ
Ryan
Ingram
Bacot

That's the line up I expect to see in November. With Withers and Wilcher getting some run. Dunn and Trimble getting spot minutes.

If that team gels (unlike last year's), I could see them as a top 20 team for most of the year and the potential to be dangerous in March.

 

[alabamaheel]

Cadeau
RJ
Ryan
Ingram
Bacot

That's the line up I expect to see in November. With Withers and Wilcher getting some run. Dunn and Trimble getting spot minutes.

If that team gels (unlike last year's), I could see them as a top 20 team for most of the year and the potential to be dangerous in March.

Spot on and I hope it happens. But I do hope Ingram is better at spot up or catch and shoot threes. If so, then we will be dangerous.

 

[gary-7]

Spot on and I hope it happens. But I do hope Ingram is better at spot up or catch and shoot threes. If so, then we will be dangerous.

Y'all talking about Ryan being a starting 3? Not giving me warm and fuzzies.

 

[alabamaheel]

Y'all talking about Ryan being a starting 3? Not giving me warm and fuzzies.

We’d get a lot more offensively from him than that spot last year. And the defense wouldn’t be that large of a gap. Not saying I’d be warm and fuzzy, but I’d tingle a little. Lol
Edit to say that I know we’d be on the smaller end with that lineup but dang it would be a scoring team imo. Unless Ingram shoots it like he has in the past. But I also HOPE that a great pg would help everyones game.

 

[TPFKAPFS]

I really think Withers will start at 4 unless Washington makes some serious off-season strides! I think Ingram will battle Ryan for the 3, but I hope it is Ingram.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I really think Withers will start at 4 unless Washington makes some serious off-season strides! I think Ingram will battle Ryan for the 3, but I hope it is Ingram.

Without Cadeau the lineup looks pretty straightforward (and very promising)

RJ
Ryan
Ingram
Withers
Armando

...with a pretty solid bench (in no particular order) of

Seth
Dunn
Wojcik
Wilcher
Washington
High

Obviously we can't know how these personalities will mesh, but the parts seem to fit extremely well. Cadeau will upset that fit, but everybody says there will be a big net gain despite that. I guess we'll find out.

Cadeau will push one starter to the bench. Logically that will be either Withers or Ryan.

Ryan can play either SG or SF, and has all this great experience and IQ, so he might be the best choice to come off the bench while still getting starter-level minutes. That might even add a little extra flexibility to the lineup.

The question I wonder about is who loses minutes, and whether that will lead to another departure, or ill feelings.

 

[TPFKAPFS]

Cadeau makes it:
Cadeau
RJ/Wilcher
Ingram/Ryan
Withers
Bacot

Without C:

RJ/Wilcher
Ryan/Dunn/Wilcher
Ingram/Ryan
Withers
Bacot

Cadeau eats minutes from Ryan, Dunn and Trimble. He also moves RJ to 2. Washington, Trimble, and Dunn are wildcards for various reasons. Dunn could make strides; Washington could be healthy, in shape, and stronger; Trimble could regain his confidence, tighten his handle and decisions, and find a way to avoid being a net 0 on offense. High will learn, play spot 4/5 backup, and be ready next season. This is why I hope we are done for next season. We can field a deep, versatile, and skilled team right now IF the players all buy in and the coach shows the growth I expect!

 

[DSouthr]

Y'all talking about Ryan being a starting 3? Not giving me warm and fuzzies.

I have not nor do I now want to see us resort to small ball as our primary look. Fine to go to it as a rotation that is used and as well as a match up for other small ball teams. I see small ball as more of a curve ball where you still live off the high heat. I think there is a decent debate to be had at who starts at the 4 but at the 3 the starter IMO has to be Ingram. Ingram is a major upgrade as a shooter at the 3 from anyone we played at the 3 last season but ya know so is Wojick.

You just can't over look the whole package Ingram brings to what was our area of need at the 3, a guy that will defend hard, hits the boards really well, has a size mismatch against most every 3. That is kind of the ideal isn't it, a guy that defends hard, hits the boards, and has to be guarded close because he will find double digit points in most games, oh and did I mention he is a really good passer for his size. Teams are going to have to chose who they will leave open so they can double someone else and Ingram just is not a guy you can leave open, he hits open look jumpers but ya know what, so does Wojick. I love Ryan, he will play and he will play a lot for sure, I think he grabs minutes from both the 2 and the 3, he could start at the 2 if Cadeau does not come to us with the reclass. Ryan would have a even shot to start at the 2 even if Cadeau does come if it were my call, it isn't because we all know RJ will start, we just don't know right now if it is at the 1 or 2.

Keep this in mind, duke is coming next season with a LOT of fire power and that fire power has really good size for position. We had to be able to match them physically, Ingram and Withers allows us to do just that.

 

[DSouthr]

Cadeau makes it:
Cadeau
RJ
Ingram/Ryan
Withers
Bacot

Without C:

RJ
Ryan/Dunn
Ingram/Ryan
Withers
Bacot

Cadeau eats minutes from Ryan, Dunn and Trimble. He also moves RJ to 2. Washington, Trimble, and Dunn are wildcards for various reasons. Dunn could make strides; Washington could be healthy, in shape, and stronger; Trimble could regain his confidence, tighten his handle and decisions, and find a way to avoid being a net 0 on offense. High will learn, play spot 4/5 backup, and be ready next season. This is why I hope we are done for next season. We can field a deep, versatile, and skilled team right now IF the players all buy in and the coach shows the growth I expect!

What about Wilcher?

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Keep this in mind, duke is coming next season with a LOT of fire power and that fire power has really good size for position. We had to be able to match them physically, Ingram and Withers allows us to do just that.

UNC	Duke
RJ - 6'0 175	Roach - 6'2 180
Ryan - 6'5 195	Proctor - 6'5 175
Ingram - 6'7 260	Mitchell - 6'8 220
Withers - 6'9 220	Filipowski - 7'0 230
Armando - 6'11 235	Young - 6'10 235

Obviously this could change.