ESPN Pre Season Rankings

[bleeduncblue]

Surprised to see the Twerps at the top .... and the ACC with 4 of the top 6. Wow!

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bas...tar-heels-lead-no-longer-way-too-early-top-25

 

[RoseHeel]

No disagreements from me. Could see Arizona being a little higher though. Hope UNC stays #2 and Maryland stays #1 for a potential 1v2 Matchup. I will be at that game!

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

Maryland is Big 10 now, so only 3 of the top 6 are current ACC - but still impressive nonetheless

 

[BillyL]

I think Maryland is going to be very, very good this year. Our game with them in Chapel Hill December 1 should be a great contest.

 

[Bigblueforever]

UNC will have no trouble putting Maryland away, matter of fact Maryland want even win the Big 10.

 

[Crank_it_loud]

UMD will be really good this year, but I don't think they'll be ready for the 12/1 game.....late season though, they play with anyone I bet.

 

[keysersosay#1]

I can tell you that the local media, Md alums with long time ACC ties, and basketball fans in general in the DC area are REALLY looking forward to that game on 12/1

 

[imajericho]

Maryland wouldn't finish in the top 5 in the ACC.

 

[trollbaby]

Sulaimon will singlehandedly dismantle the twerps!

 

[Bur-Heel]

Maryland wouldn't finish in the top 5 in the ACC.

Yes they would!!

 

[jah420]

Maryland wouldn't finish in the top 5 in the ACC.

I understand the Maryland hate, but were you really able to type that with a straight face. Considering the talent they have this season, and how tough the atmosphere in College Park is for a road game, I think it is pretty ill informed to think these guys wouldn't finish top 5 in the upcoming ACC season. If they played something similar to the UVA schedule the past few seasons, they could actually win the ACC.

 

[dadika13]

Yeah the Maryland hate is just so off-base this year. They are loaded with new and returning talent.

I'm bias, but I'd rank UNC over them as it stands today. No one has the amount of experienced talent we have and that matters so much in the early part of the season.

 

[mikeirbyusa]

Maryland wouldn't finish in the top 5 in the ACC.

OUCH! Not a Merryland fan but come on, you really don't believe that do you?

 

[Nick Horvath]

Maryland wouldn't finish in the top 5 in the ACC.

Uhhh.... yes they would. Maryland would be the 2nd best team in the ACC after UNC. They will be better than both Duke and UVA this year. I honestly don't think it's remotely close. On paper I think UNC and Maryland are the 2 best teams in the entire country going into this season, easily.

I know it's a message board and we're all kinda spit-balling here, but good lord dude. How can you legitimately think that Maryland wouldn't come in the top FIVE in the ACC this year? I'd love an extensive breakdown of why you think that. Sorry, but when people post something like that (regardless of fan affiliation) it just really bothers me. And it's for your your sake too man... so you don't look like a complete idiot.

 

[GACMAN]

I hate the Terps just because.....but they will have a good ball team this year. Will be a nice match up when they play the Heels!

 

[gunslingerdick]

I think Maryland is vastly overrated. Dez Wells was their toughest player and maybe their best. He will be tough to replace. I see Maryland as a Sweet 16 team - maybe EE if everything falls into place for them.

 

[imajericho]

Yes, I do believe that. I watched Maryland teams which were basically similar to this year get stomped in the ACC year in and out. Just because they play in a weaker league now, they look good. Last year Maryland would have been a fringe NCAA tourney team if in the ACC.

 

[imajericho]

Uhhh.... yes they would. Maryland would be the 2nd best team in the ACC after UNC. They will be better than both Duke and UVA this year. I honestly don't think it's remotely close. On paper I think UNC and Maryland are the 2 best teams in the entire country going into this season, easily.

I know it's a message board and we're all kinda spit-balling here, but good lord dude. How can you legitimately think that Maryland wouldn't come in the top FIVE in the ACC this year? I'd love an extensive breakdown of why you think that. Sorry, but when people post something like that (regardless of fan affiliation) it just really bothers me. And it's for your your sake too man... so you don't look like a complete idiot.

Sure.

UNC
UVA
Duke
Louisville
one of ND/Syracuse/FSU 5th.

Maryland is overrated. And, Virgina thrashed them last year for anyone thinking they were better than Virgina last year. lmfao. Maryland can't stand up to athletic teams with speed. It can overpower grind it out Big 10 teams.

 

[imajericho]

Maryland had 1732 points scored against Power 5 schools / NCAA tourney games.
Maryland had 1699 points scored against them by Power 5 Schools / NCAA tourney games.

Average Maryland score 69.28 to 67.96

Realistically they won a lot of close games and got blown out by the majority of the good teams they played. They only had a couple of quality wins over good opponents.

 

[imajericho]

To further it, Maryland had 6 wins by one possession or less. (3 points)

If we increase that to just 6 points (2 possessions) they had 12 wins by 6 points or less.

Maryland had just 1 loss by 6 points or less (2 possessions).

This clearly shows that Maryland is far and away more likely to be WORSE record-wise than better record-wise barring improvement because they were 12-1 in games decided by less than 6 points which means Maryland eked out a lot of close games which they could have easily lost.

 

[gary-7]

To further it, Maryland had 6 wins by one possession or less. (3 points)

If we increase that to just 6 points (2 possessions) they had 12 wins by 6 points or less.

Maryland had just 1 loss by 6 points or less (2 possessions).

This clearly shows that Maryland is far and away more likely to be WORSE record-wise than better record-wise barring improvement because they were 12-1 in games decided by less than 6 points which means Maryland eked out a lot of close games which they could have easily lost.

I wasn't gonna get in this but here's my take:
TIFWIW
(disclaimer: I despise MD - always have)
- Give 'em credit: MD was pretty good last season, despite losing their most talented player to transfer (Faust) --- they got hosed in the NCAA tourney. Maybe the worst officiated game I've ever seen vs WVA. MD could have given UK fits in the next round, IMO.
- They will be very good again this season. I can't say how they would do in the ACC but their success in the BIG 10 last season was no fluke.
- Wells was indeed a big loss --- a difference-maker by sheer will if nothing else.
- I am not a fan of Turgeon... at all... even if he did play for Roy, his teams don't play anything like that, and they take some physical "shortcuts"... plus he doesn't have Gary Williams's scruples on the recruiting trail.
- Stone will be a presence (but he's still a freshman), and Carter (transfer from GaTech) will help their front line.
- Trimble, as we know, was a very nice local find for them, and they struggled mightily when he was on an off-night or not on the floor, so he figures to be their star this season. Fair enough. Trimble got the opportunity to step into a (huge) vacuum at that position as a freshman and took advantage of it. That being said, I'll take Joel Berry running our show over Trimble any day of the week (in other words they are each perfect fits for their respective systems), and they're not gonna have anything like our perimeter fire-power at the 2 and 3 spots.
- Again, they will be very physical and do whatever they can to slow down our transition game. They can't run with us and Turgeon knows it. I'm glad that we're playing them at home --- not that it always helps us with zebras, but still, it beats hell outta playing them up there in front of their heathenous fan base.

 

[imajericho]

I think anyone that thinks Maryland is a number 1 contender is insanely mistaken.

 

[gary-7]

I think anyone that thinks Maryland is a number 1 contender is insanely mistaken.

I dunno, bro... I mean, I wouldn't have voted them #1 (that should be UNC ), but I think you might be underestimating them. Pre-season top-5 is at least legit IMO.

 

[imajericho]

I dunno, bro... I mean, I wouldn't have voted them #1 (that should be UNC ), but I think you might be underestimating them. Pre-season top-5 is at least legit IMO.

They will have 10+ losses.

 

[32TheEnigma]

Yeah the Maryland hate is just so off-base this year. They are loaded with new and returning talent.

I'm bias, but I'd rank UNC over them as it stands today. No one has the amount of experienced talent we have and that matters so much in the early part of the season.

Maryland is going to be a problem for a lot of teams. We do not match up very well with the strengths they have. Specifically, We do not match up very well defensively with big strong guards that penetrate/attack the way Trimble does. and Clayman as a stretch four is going to get lots of open looks from 3. And the wildcard is Sully.

 

[mikeirbyusa]

Conversely, they do not match up well with us!

 

[gary-7]

Conversely, they do not match up well with us!

Truth. It will be a battle of styles.
In fact, Mikey, much of our anticipated success in general will depend on re-establishing "Carolina basketball" and forcing OUR tempo and let opponents try to deal with it.

 

[gary-7]

Maryland is going to be a problem for a lot of teams. We do not match up very well with the strengths they have. Specifically, We do not match up very well defensively with big strong guards that penetrate/attack the way Trimble does. and Clayman as a stretch four is going to get lots of open looks from 3. And the wildcard is Sully.

I'm not so worried about penetrating Guards with JB and MP on the floor. Some might shoot over us but few will go around us.
The more interesting question will be to see how Brice and Hicks respond to guarding smaller guys or stretch-4s this season. Lotsa folks don't realize that Brice fought a balky ankle most of last season that according to him is better now, so that should help. Hicks needs to work on his balance, and both need to move their feet better and avoid needless fouling. Unfortunately from what I've heard Theo may not hit the ground running at 100% right away so we may have to wait awhile to be able to go small... something I would LOVE to see more of.

 

[imajericho]

We will beat Maryland by 8+. Not worried about them.

 

[Tom79]

Someone say "Converse".... "it's the shoes!"

 

[gunslingerdick]

I wonder what imajericho thinks about Maryland.

 

[imajericho]

I wonder what imajericho thinks about Maryland.

lol...

They use the same metric for the NFL every year where you compare how the team won their games compared to lost them to determine who will be more likely to recede the following years. Maryland being 12-1 in 2 possession games is undebatable. Anyone who can put that together can't have Maryland as a top tier team. Why I had Maryland flaming out early in the bracket last year (to WVU) and why they probably should have lost to Valpo.