UNC Seventh Place In the ACC?

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Things are getting so complacent around here that I thought I would post this link to rile things up.

https://howtheyplay.com/team-sports/2016-ACC-Basketball-Preview

Here's his list:

1. Duke
2. Virginia
3. NC State
4. Louisville
5. Syracuse
6. Virginia Tech
7. UNC
8. Clemson
9. Wake Forest
10. Miami
11. FSU
12. Pittsburgh
13. Notre Dame
14. Boston College
15. Georgia Tech

Needless to say, some of those are pretty bold predictions. Shocking, even. And drilling down, I think he makes a few mistakes that show he doesn't know some of the teams well enough to peg them properly.

That said, though, he told me info about the personnel of teams like NC State and Syracuse and Louisville that I didn't know and that make me move them up my list.

Like most there, I've been thinking we'd be in contention for the top spot in the ACC with Duke. And I'm not willing to back off of that. But this article makes me think that there will be several other teams I wasn't counting on who will also be in tight contention. There very well could be 6 teams fighting for that top honor.

Let the tearing and rending begin.

 

[DSouthr]

Things are getting so complacent around here that I thought I would post this link to rile things up.

https://howtheyplay.com/team-sports/2016-ACC-Basketball-Preview

Here's his list:

1. Duke
2. Virginia
3. NC State
4. Louisville
5. Syracuse
6. Virginia Tech
7. UNC
8. Clemson
9. Wake Forest
10. Miami
11. FSU
12. Pittsburgh
13. Notre Dame
14. Boston College
15. Georgia Tech

Needless to say, some of those are pretty bold predictions. Shocking, even. And drilling down, I think he makes a few mistakes that show he doesn't know some of the teams well enough to peg them properly.

That said, though, he told me info about the personnel of teams like NC State and Syracuse and Louisville that I didn't know and that make me move them up my list.

Like most there, I've been thinking we'd be in contention for the top spot in the ACC with Duke. And I'm not willing to back off of that. But this article makes me think that there will be several other teams I wasn't counting on who will also be in tight contention. There very well could be 6 teams fighting for that top honor.

Let the tearing and rending begin.

That is about as negative a spin job as I could imagine he puts on us? Bad enough that he puts us behind the likes of Cuse, Lville, and VT but he actually puts us behind the wuffies as well, he actually seems to think the wuffs are going to be 3rd in the ACC? Please tell me no one pays him to write this stuff...

 

[Calabrias Inferno]

National Runners-up returning 6 of our top 8 players and we're projected to be #7 in the conference? Makes sense.

 

[keysersosay#1]

hey it's the end of a hot summer and BBall talk is a little slow. Guy needs some clicks and I for one will not bother with this nonsense...like going on a dook website ...you gain nothing but a few laughs.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

That is about as negative a spin job as I could imagine he puts on us? Bad enough that he puts us behind the likes of Cuse, Lville, and VT but he actually puts us behind the wuffies as well, he actually seems to think the wuffs are going to be 3rd in the ACC? Please tell me no one pays him to write this stuff...

Well, if Yurtseven is eligible and lives up to his billing, and with all the returning injured guys and transfers they have, they sound a whole lot better than I was thinking they would be.

Of course there are a lot of IFs they have to resolve. Dennis Smith was terrific before he got injured. How healthy will he be? Will he be ready to lead a team at this level? Henderson and Freeman are both coming off injuries, too.

Even if everybody is healthy and eligible, the lineup will consist of a lot of guys who have never played together before, outside of practices. Will the chemistry be good enough?

One of the things Gott has seemed pretty good at is stitching together a team from the parts he has lying around. Sounds like he has more parts than he did last year - despite the departures. So I wouldn't be surprised to find the wuffies in the bunch at the top of the conference.

Having said that, it's unlikely that all the potential top tier teams will have all their questions answered the way they'd like them answered. So the wuffies could slide down pretty far, too. Especially if Smith needs a year and Yurt isn't eligible.

Anybody know if Yurt's eligibility has been ruled on?

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

The assessment that really made me take notice was Syracuse. Between their personnel losses and the recruiting restrictions, I was figuring this would be, at best, a middle of the pack year for Boeheim. But after reading about their transfers and grad players, they sound pretty dangerous. If I'm correct in thinking Coleman will be back as a 5th year senior, they should have a very competitive and deep front line. If the author is right about their PGs, and given the added shooting from grad players, they could be very dangerous.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

At the lower end of his predictions, I find it hard to believe that Notre Dame will slip all the way to #13.

Sure, they sound height-challenged. But aren't they always?

Brey is a sharp coach. He may not have enough talent to be in the top tier of the ACC, but surely no worse than middle of the pack.

OTOH, I don't think Wake has the talent to jump that far up the ladder. The author makes a pretty good case, but there are more IFs and maybes in Wake's prospectus than for most teams.

And even though FSU almost always underperforms, pegging them at #11 seems to disregard their talent.

 

[mikeirbyusa]

Let's let our play do the talking.

 

[Steat]

There is a possible silver lining. Perhaps some of these teams ranked above UNC can beat Duke during the ACC season. I wish!

 

[Spacegrass]

Va Tech and NCSU are terrible picks. I can justify any of the other 4 teams as possibilities to beat out UNC. Just not the schools in Raleigh or Blacksburg.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Let's let our play do the talking.

Sadly, talk is all we've got at the moment.

Boy do I wish we had a summer exhibition tour or maybe some charity games.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Va Tech and NCSU are terrible picks. I can justify any of the other 4 teams as possibilities to beat out UNC. Just not the schools in Raleigh or Blacksburg.

I don't understand the Va Tech pick. Sure, Buzz has done a great job of getting his limited squads to overachieve since he got there. But to do any better, he'll need some real talent. And he doesn't seem to have enough.

Gott has a bad record against Roy. I don't see that changing this year. But if he can get that roster to gel, State could upset plenty of teams. Not us. But others.

Wouldn't you like to see the wuffies beat dook? I would.

 

[smooth as butter]

Lol how they pick NC State over top of UNC. Let's get ready to rumble fellas.

 

[Spacegrass]

I don't understand the Va Tech pick. Sure, Buzz has done a great job of getting his limited squads to overachieve since he got there. But to do any better, he'll need some real talent. And he doesn't seem to have enough.

Gott has a bad record against Roy. I don't see that changing this year. But if he can get that roster to gel, State could upset plenty of teams. Not us. But others.

Wouldn't you like to see the wuffies beat dook? I would.

The other 5 schools are different level programs in comparison to Va Tech and State. Plus they have HOF coaches and Virginia has one of the if not the best younger up and coming coaches in the game.

This year I would like to see Raleigh beat Durham. But I don't want or expect State to finish higher than 7th in the ACC.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

Wouldn't you like to see the wuffies beat dook? I would.

No I wouldn't. Ever. The next game Moo wins in any sport is one too many for my liking.

 

[Tom79]

There are 4 if not 5 teams on that list above UNC that many sportswriters have listed below us. The person creating the list above hasn't a clue. One could create a half way serious list by reasoning through rosters to start...but this poor fella must not be clued in, in any way, shape or form.

 

[RoseHeel]

Never heard of howtheyplay.com or the writer"dmrlowd" for that matter.

Like mike said, just let our play do the talking.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

There are 4 if not 5 teams on that list above UNC that many sportswriters have listed below us. The person creating the list above hasn't a clue. One could create a half way serious list by reasoning through rosters to start...but this poor fella must not be clued in, in any way, shape or form.

Did you read his discussions? I thought the discussions of State and Cuse made sense. Whether things pan out that way depends on plenty of factors, of course, but he showed that the elements for success are there.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

The season needs to start in mid-October and run deep into April.

Our constitutional rights under the 8th amendment are being violated by this unnecessarily short season.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

The season needs to start in mid-October and run deep into April.

Our constitutional rights under the 8th amendment are being violated by this unnecessarily short season.

I actually strongly disagree. I think college basketball should be condensed into a one-semester sport. It should start in early January and end in May, with "March Madness" becoming May Madness. Keep the newly-initiated 20-game conference schedule and have like 6 non-conference games or so, and be done with it. The season drags way too long and overlaps too many more popular sporting seasons:

- beginning of CBB season goes head-to-head with college football regular season and then bowl season / playoff
- then you move into conference play in late January and early Feb which goes up against NFL playoffs and Super Bowl
- and nowadays with the NFL dominating airwaves, the NFL draft pushes March Madness aside more and more.

A January to mid-May season would give college basketball more of a spotlight as once it got to the meat of the schedule, it would only be competing against regular-season NBA and then NBA playoffs. The ongoing NBA playoffs (April - June) might even encourage more CBB viewership during May Madness, as well.

As it currently exists, college basketball is watered down with too many meaningless pre-conference play matchups like UNC vs. UNC-Greensboro and the like. CBB needs to shrink its schedule and play up its marquee matchups. Just my two cents....

 

[DSouthr]

Did you read his discussions? I thought the discussions of State and Cuse made sense. Whether things pan out that way depends on plenty of factors, of course, but he showed that the elements for success are there.

I can put lip stick on a pig to but all I get is a pig with lip stick...It does not make the pig better or the lip stick prettier...

 

[DSouthr]

Never heard of howtheyplay.com or the writer"dmrlowd" for that matter.

Like mike said, just let our play do the talking.

Rose, with writing like that, is it any wonder we have not heard of that place before? LOL

 

[DSouthr]

There are 4 if not 5 teams on that list above UNC that many sportswriters have listed below us. The person creating the list above hasn't a clue. One could create a half way serious list by reasoning through rosters to start...but this poor fella must not be clued in, in any way, shape or form.

Tom, we are pre-season ranked what, #6 or so, the guy has us 7th in the ACC?

 

[DSouthr]

I don't understand the Va Tech pick. Sure, Buzz has done a great job of getting his limited squads to overachieve since he got there. But to do any better, he'll need some real talent. And he doesn't seem to have enough.

Gott has a bad record against Roy. I don't see that changing this year. But if he can get that roster to gel, State could upset plenty of teams. Not us. But others.

Wouldn't you like to see the wuffies beat dook? I would.

Totally agree, really respect Buzz as a coach but their talent level has to climb before they move much higher than they have been.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I actually strongly disagree. I think college basketball should be condensed into a one-semester sport. It should start in early January and end in May, with "March Madness" becoming May Madness. Keep the newly-initiated 20-game conference schedule and have like 6 non-conference games or so, and be done with it. The season drags way too long and overlaps too many more popular sporting seasons:

- beginning of CBB season goes head-to-head with college football regular season and then bowl season / playoff
- then you move into conference play in late January and early Feb which goes up against NFL playoffs and Super Bowl
- and nowadays with the NFL dominating airwaves, the NFL draft pushes March Madness aside more and more.

A January to mid-May season would give college basketball more of a spotlight as once it got to the meat of the schedule, it would only be competing against regular-season NBA and then NBA playoffs. The ongoing NBA playoffs (April - June) might even encourage more CBB viewership during May Madness, as well.

As it currently exists, college basketball is watered down with too many meaningless pre-conference play matchups like UNC vs. UNC-Greensboro and the like. CBB needs to shrink its schedule and play up its marquee matchups. Just my two cents....

Needless to say, you are completely and comprehensively wrong.

Except for the part about too many creampuffs. That I agree with.

There simply is no other more popular or more deserving sport or sporting season. Basketball is inarguably the best. And (to quote from Are You Being Served?) I am unanimous in that.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

There simply is no other more popular or more deserving sport or sporting season. Basketball is inarguably the best.

Well, unfortunately, TV numbers show that your claim is very false. Thus, the condensed and shifted back CBB season would help shine a brighter spotlight on CBB and could lead to more eyeballs and popularity.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Several people are getting upset but don't seem to be looking at the arguments he makes about the rosters.

Look at the roster comments for State and Syracuse (and even Louisville) and tell me where he is wrong. Maybe he is. If so, I'd like to know.

I do think he is wrong on a few teams. But what he says about those teams makes sense to me. Why do you disagree?

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Well, unfortunately, TV numbers show that your claim is very false. Thus, the condensed and shifted back CBB season would help shine a brighter spotlight on CBB and could lead to more eyeballs and popularity.

TV numbers favor lots of crappy shows. They are still crappy shows.

I stick to my statement: college basketball is the best. AINEC.

 

[Calabrias Inferno]

There's actually A LOT of really good teams.

Syracuse is going to be scary good with the addition of Andrew White - I think he's good enough to make one of the All-American teams. They already have transfer-grad John Gillion (13 ppg, 4 ppg) and big-man transfer Chukwu from Providence. At 7'2 225, Chukwu is very mobile and can certainly alter a lot of shots. Idk if he starts ahead of Coleman, but he certainly has a much, much higher ceiling than Coleman. A potential starting lineup of 6'4, 6'7, 6'8, 6'8, 7'2 will give a lot of teams fits.

With the inclusion of the two-transfers, State has 4 players who have averaged around 12+ ppg. Throw in talented freshman Dennis Smith and Omer Yurtseven, and you've got yourself a decent team.

Louisville has a lot of length on their team. They return 5 rotational players 6'9 or taller. Don't forget returning guards Snider, Mitchell, Adel, and grad-transfer Hicks. Freshman stud, VJ King, should factor into the rotation as well.

Virginia Tech returns essentially their whole team minus Hudson - but they get Ahmed Hill back after a year.

Pittsburgh brings back 6 of their top 7 players from last year, including 4 seniors. Pitt seems to be the team that we often gloss over and think, "Yes, they'll be decent. But not a huge threat to being a top-tier team." I think the senior-leadership will be huge for them. I could see them sneaking into the top 4 or top 5 of the league and getting a very high seed in the NCAAs.

Almost everyone is back for Clemson minus Roper and Nnoko. But they bring in 3 talented transfers that should all contribute. Not sure where they'll finish in the league, but I expect a bid to the NCAA Tournament with so much experience there.

We know Duke and Virginia will be good. Notre Dame should be decent, but they have big question marks at the point and in the post. FSU and Miami have solid rosters as well - but they also have a lot of unproven talent. Wake should field a much more competitive team than the previous seasons, but with so much talent in the ACC, I'm not sure where they get all their wins from. An NCAA Bid is a realistic possibility if they play up to their ability.

Lastly, let's not forget about UNC. Nobody is picking us to win the ACC, and that's fine. Motivation is always welcome. We have arguably the best point-guard in the country; an All-ACC type wing in JJ; 3 quality bigs in Hicks, Meeks, and Bradley; an amazing all-around player in Theo; two great perimeter shooters in Kenny and B-Rob; we also have a freakish athlete that will be fun to watch in Seventh Woods. The ACC will be tough next season, but I think we'll be just fine.

 

[Spacegrass]

Maybe the the whole 7th in the predictions is a play on the fact UNC has a player named Seventh? Otherwise article blows.

 

[Tom79]

Tom, we are pre-season ranked what, #6 or so, the guy has us 7th in the ACC?

Yeah, guy is abound for Pulitzer land...
Yeah, kinda like WWJD is doing as well, take a peek at the rosters, some of the teams will be better. But since Gilbert Gottfried over at Rawlee is bringing his son in as a transfer from Sienna I'm certain they are on the rise... couple of clubs have a serious talent back to couple with those unknowns on some clubs to create those vagaries that are tough to ferret out..

 

[HeelFan58]

Never heard of howtheyplay.com or the writer"dmrlowd" for that matter.

Like mike said, just let our play do the talking.

any jerkoff can get a sports blog. I clicked on a site and before I knew it I accidentally had a sports blog.

 

[superstar57]

One of those writers that make bold predictions and if there right they just made a name for themselves. No way there waw any thought given to these predictions.

 

[gary-7]

Things are getting so complacent around here that I thought I would post this link to rile things up.

https://howtheyplay.com/team-sports/2016-ACC-Basketball-Preview

Here's his list:

1. Duke
2. Virginia
3. NC State
4. Louisville
5. Syracuse
6. Virginia Tech
7. UNC
8. Clemson
9. Wake Forest
10. Miami
11. FSU
12. Pittsburgh
13. Notre Dame
14. Boston College
15. Georgia Tech

Needless to say, some of those are pretty bold predictions. Shocking, even. And drilling down, I think he makes a few mistakes that show he doesn't know some of the teams well enough to peg them properly.

That said, though, he told me info about the personnel of teams like NC State and Syracuse and Louisville that I didn't know and that make me move them up my list.

Like most there, I've been thinking we'd be in contention for the top spot in the ACC with Duke. And I'm not willing to back off of that. But this article makes me think that there will be several other teams I wasn't counting on who will also be in tight contention. There very well could be 6 teams fighting for that top honor.

Let the tearing and rending begin.

Is this for real?
Wonder how much money this guy has. I got a bet I'd like to make with him

 

[Ozheelfan]

Didn't bother clicking through.

Oh yeah, I'd love to see JB's reaction to that, his Instagram post from today speaks volumes..... #unfinishedbusiness

 

[gunslingerdick]

No I wouldn't. Ever. The next game Moo wins in any sport is one too many for my liking.

 

[grillheel]

Sadly, talk is all we've got at the moment.

Boy do I wish we had a summer exhibition tour or maybe some charity games.

They actually play this game called college football in the fall. Carolina is playing Georgia on Saturday and some of us are interested in that. Maybe you can check it out and it will help tide you over till basketball season.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

They actually play this game called college football in the fall. Carolina is playing Georgia on Saturday and some of us are interested in that. Maybe you can check it out and it will help tide you over till basketball season.

As a cable cutter, I won't get to see that. I'll pay to get the channels during basketball season.

I actually like Fedora's game style. But I won't pay an extra $65 a month to catch a small number of fb games.

 

[grillheel]

As a cable cutter, I won't get to see that. I'll pay to get the channels during basketball season.

I actually like Fedora's game style. But I won't pay an extra $65 a month to catch a small number of fb games.

Ok, fair enough.

 

[mikeirbyusa]

They actually play this game called college football in the fall. Carolina is playing Georgia on Saturday and some of us are interested in that. Maybe you can check it out and it will help tide you over till basketball season.

Oh how I want this one! GO HEELS! Whip them Dogs!