sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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College Basketball News
Really (Really) Early ACC Hoops Rankings (courier-journal.com; Greer)
...
All that said, let's run through the whole league and attempt an early (really, really early) guess at where they rank:
1. North Carolina
Last season: 26-12, fifth in the ACC, Sweet 16.
Key players leaving: G/F J.P. Tokoto.
Key players returning: G Marcus Paige, F Justin Jackson, F Kennedy Meeks, F Brice Johnson, G Nate Britt, G Joel Berry.
Key newcomers: G Kenny Williams.
Overview: One of the most talented rosters in the nation has experience to go with it.
2. Duke
Last season: 35-4, second in the ACC, national champion.
Key players leaving: G Tyus Jones, F Justise Winslow, C Jahlil Okafor.
Key players returning: G Grayson Allen, G Matt Jones, F Amile Jefferson, C Marshall Plumlee.
Key newcomers: G Derryck Thornton, G Luke Kennard, F Brandon Ingram, C Chase Jeter.
Overview: The Blue Devils lost a lot, but the incoming class paired with Allen and Jones could produce another March run.
3. Virginia
Last season: 30-4, first in the ACC, second round.
Key players leaving: G/F Justin Anderson, F Darion Atkins
Key players returning: G Malcolm Brogdon, G London Perrantes, F Evan Nolte, C Mike Tobey, F Anthony Gill.
Key newcomers: C Jarred Reuter.
Overview: Don't underestimate the significant losses of Anderson and Atkins, but UVA will still be really good on defense and efficient on offense.
4. Notre Dame
Last season: 32-6, third in the ACC, Elite 8.
Key players leaving: G Jerian Grant, G Pat Connaughton.
Key players returning: G Demetrius Jackson, F Zach Auguste, F Bonzie Colson, F V.J. Beachem, G Steve Vasturia.
Key newcomers: F Matt Ryan.
Overview: Jackson is arguably the best returning player in the league, and Auguste has developed into a really good big man.
5. Louisville
Last season: 27-9, fourth in the ACC, Elite 8.
Key players leaving: G Terry Rozier, F Montrezl Harrell, G/F Wayne Blackshear, G Chris Jones.
Key players returning: G Quentin Snider, C Mangok Mathiang, C Chinanu Onuaku, F Jaylen Johnson, F Anas Mahmoud.
Key newcomers: G Damion Lee, G Trey Lewis, G Donovan Mitchell, F Deng Adel, F Raymond Spalding.
Overview: In early April, Louisville's roster was in rough shape, but the Cards now have three scorers coming in and expect a big jump from Johnson at power forward.
6. Miami
Last season: 25-13, seventh in the ACC, NIT.
Key players leaving: G DeAndre Burnett, G Manu Lecomte.
Key players returning: G Angel Rodriguez, G/F Sheldon McClellan, G/F Davon Reed, C Tonye Jekiri.
Key newcomers: F Kamari Murphy.
Overview: The Canes lost some solid guard depth to transfers, but Rodriguez, McClellan and Reed make up a really strong perimeter.
7. NC State
Last season: 22-14, sixth in the ACC, Sweet 16.
Key players leaving: G Trevor Lacey, G Ralston Turner.
Key players returning: G Cat Barber, F Abdul-Malik Abu, F Lennard Freeman, C BeeJay Anya.
Key newcomers: G Terry Henderson.
Overview: Two big-time perimeter guys are gone, but there's talent. Barber's consistency is the key.
8. Florida State
Last season: 17-16, 11th in the ACC.
Key players leaving: G Aaron Thomas.
Key players returning: G Devon Bookert, G Xavier Rathan-Mayes, F Montay Brandon, F Phil Cofer, C Boris Bojanovsky, F Jarquez Smith.
Key newcomers: F Dwayne Bacon, G Malik Beasley.
Overview: The Seminoles have a ton of good players on the roster, but they can't have the kind of year they just had offensively and expect to make the tournament.
9. Syracuse
Last season: 18-13, eighth in the ACC.
Key players leaving: F Rakeem Christmas, F Chris McCullough.
Key players returning: G Trevor Cooney, F Michael Gbinije, G Kaleb Joseph,
Key newcomers: F Malachi Richardson, F Tyler Lydon, F Moustapha Diagne, G Franklin Howard.
Overview: Another athletic, long Syracuse roster, but no Christmas means the Orange need some young bigs to step up.
10. Pittsburgh
Last season: 19-15, ninth in the ACC, NIT.
Key players leaving: G Cameron Wright.
Key players returning: G James Robinson, F Jamel Artis, F Mike Young, F Chris Jones, F Sheldon Jeter, G Josh Newkirk.
Key newcomers: G Damon Wilson, F/C Rozelle Nix.
Overview: Artis and Young can be ACC standouts, but they need help around them, especially inside.
...
College Basketballl: Offenses Will Need to Pick Up the Pace Next Season (newsok.com; Aber)
Lon Kruger’s teams generally don’t need anything close to 35 seconds to put up a shot.
Starting next year, it’s likely all college basketball coaches will need to get their offenses moving a bit quicker.
The NCAA men’s basketball rules committee meets beginning Tuesday in Indianapolis, and chairman Rick Byrd recently told ESPN.com that it was likely the shot clock would be reduced to 30 seconds for the upcoming season.
Byrd also said it was likely that the restricted area under each basket would be moved from three feet to four feet away from the basket to create more space in the lane.
Kruger, Oklahoma’s coach, is in favor of both moves but said the impact would be negligible.
“I think it’s good,” Kruger said. “It’s a piece of the bigger picture of trying to increase the pace a little bit, increase the flow of the game, increase the number of possessions, increase scoring (and) make it more appealing to fans.”
Plenty of the focus on college basketball in recent years has been on how to inject more offense into the game.
Two seasons ago, the rules were altered regarding freedom of movement, block/charge calls and hand checking but by conference play, the emphasis on those calls faded away and last year officials called those plays as they had previously.
...
Meet New Florida Basketball Coach Mike White (gulflive.com; AP)
Florida coach Mike White is getting a few pointers about his new job.
Not just anyone's two cents, either.
White has spoken to former Florida coach Billy Donovan several times in the last few days about what to expect and who to lean on as he makes the most daunting coaching transition of his life.
It's a welcome relief, especially given the program Donovan put together in Gainesville and the legacy he left behind.
"It's more of embracing the fact that you have a great, great job that Coach Donovan has built," White said Monday as the school formally introduced him. "I think it was a good job when he got here, and now it's a great job."
Replacing Donovan will be a tough job.
The former Louisiana Tech coach was tasked with keeping the Gators at the level they've grown accustomed to — Donovan guided the football-first program to two national titles, four Final Four appearances and 14 NCAA Tournament berths in 19 years — and possibly improving it. White agreed to a six-year contract worth $2 million annually Thursday, a week after Donovan left for the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder.
...
Really (Really) Early ACC Hoops Rankings (courier-journal.com; Greer)
...
All that said, let's run through the whole league and attempt an early (really, really early) guess at where they rank:
1. North Carolina
Last season: 26-12, fifth in the ACC, Sweet 16.
Key players leaving: G/F J.P. Tokoto.
Key players returning: G Marcus Paige, F Justin Jackson, F Kennedy Meeks, F Brice Johnson, G Nate Britt, G Joel Berry.
Key newcomers: G Kenny Williams.
Overview: One of the most talented rosters in the nation has experience to go with it.
2. Duke
Last season: 35-4, second in the ACC, national champion.
Key players leaving: G Tyus Jones, F Justise Winslow, C Jahlil Okafor.
Key players returning: G Grayson Allen, G Matt Jones, F Amile Jefferson, C Marshall Plumlee.
Key newcomers: G Derryck Thornton, G Luke Kennard, F Brandon Ingram, C Chase Jeter.
Overview: The Blue Devils lost a lot, but the incoming class paired with Allen and Jones could produce another March run.
3. Virginia
Last season: 30-4, first in the ACC, second round.
Key players leaving: G/F Justin Anderson, F Darion Atkins
Key players returning: G Malcolm Brogdon, G London Perrantes, F Evan Nolte, C Mike Tobey, F Anthony Gill.
Key newcomers: C Jarred Reuter.
Overview: Don't underestimate the significant losses of Anderson and Atkins, but UVA will still be really good on defense and efficient on offense.
4. Notre Dame
Last season: 32-6, third in the ACC, Elite 8.
Key players leaving: G Jerian Grant, G Pat Connaughton.
Key players returning: G Demetrius Jackson, F Zach Auguste, F Bonzie Colson, F V.J. Beachem, G Steve Vasturia.
Key newcomers: F Matt Ryan.
Overview: Jackson is arguably the best returning player in the league, and Auguste has developed into a really good big man.
5. Louisville
Last season: 27-9, fourth in the ACC, Elite 8.
Key players leaving: G Terry Rozier, F Montrezl Harrell, G/F Wayne Blackshear, G Chris Jones.
Key players returning: G Quentin Snider, C Mangok Mathiang, C Chinanu Onuaku, F Jaylen Johnson, F Anas Mahmoud.
Key newcomers: G Damion Lee, G Trey Lewis, G Donovan Mitchell, F Deng Adel, F Raymond Spalding.
Overview: In early April, Louisville's roster was in rough shape, but the Cards now have three scorers coming in and expect a big jump from Johnson at power forward.
6. Miami
Last season: 25-13, seventh in the ACC, NIT.
Key players leaving: G DeAndre Burnett, G Manu Lecomte.
Key players returning: G Angel Rodriguez, G/F Sheldon McClellan, G/F Davon Reed, C Tonye Jekiri.
Key newcomers: F Kamari Murphy.
Overview: The Canes lost some solid guard depth to transfers, but Rodriguez, McClellan and Reed make up a really strong perimeter.
7. NC State
Last season: 22-14, sixth in the ACC, Sweet 16.
Key players leaving: G Trevor Lacey, G Ralston Turner.
Key players returning: G Cat Barber, F Abdul-Malik Abu, F Lennard Freeman, C BeeJay Anya.
Key newcomers: G Terry Henderson.
Overview: Two big-time perimeter guys are gone, but there's talent. Barber's consistency is the key.
8. Florida State
Last season: 17-16, 11th in the ACC.
Key players leaving: G Aaron Thomas.
Key players returning: G Devon Bookert, G Xavier Rathan-Mayes, F Montay Brandon, F Phil Cofer, C Boris Bojanovsky, F Jarquez Smith.
Key newcomers: F Dwayne Bacon, G Malik Beasley.
Overview: The Seminoles have a ton of good players on the roster, but they can't have the kind of year they just had offensively and expect to make the tournament.
9. Syracuse
Last season: 18-13, eighth in the ACC.
Key players leaving: F Rakeem Christmas, F Chris McCullough.
Key players returning: G Trevor Cooney, F Michael Gbinije, G Kaleb Joseph,
Key newcomers: F Malachi Richardson, F Tyler Lydon, F Moustapha Diagne, G Franklin Howard.
Overview: Another athletic, long Syracuse roster, but no Christmas means the Orange need some young bigs to step up.
10. Pittsburgh
Last season: 19-15, ninth in the ACC, NIT.
Key players leaving: G Cameron Wright.
Key players returning: G James Robinson, F Jamel Artis, F Mike Young, F Chris Jones, F Sheldon Jeter, G Josh Newkirk.
Key newcomers: G Damon Wilson, F/C Rozelle Nix.
Overview: Artis and Young can be ACC standouts, but they need help around them, especially inside.
...
College Basketballl: Offenses Will Need to Pick Up the Pace Next Season (newsok.com; Aber)
Lon Kruger’s teams generally don’t need anything close to 35 seconds to put up a shot.
Starting next year, it’s likely all college basketball coaches will need to get their offenses moving a bit quicker.
The NCAA men’s basketball rules committee meets beginning Tuesday in Indianapolis, and chairman Rick Byrd recently told ESPN.com that it was likely the shot clock would be reduced to 30 seconds for the upcoming season.
Byrd also said it was likely that the restricted area under each basket would be moved from three feet to four feet away from the basket to create more space in the lane.
Kruger, Oklahoma’s coach, is in favor of both moves but said the impact would be negligible.
“I think it’s good,” Kruger said. “It’s a piece of the bigger picture of trying to increase the pace a little bit, increase the flow of the game, increase the number of possessions, increase scoring (and) make it more appealing to fans.”
Plenty of the focus on college basketball in recent years has been on how to inject more offense into the game.
Two seasons ago, the rules were altered regarding freedom of movement, block/charge calls and hand checking but by conference play, the emphasis on those calls faded away and last year officials called those plays as they had previously.
...
Meet New Florida Basketball Coach Mike White (gulflive.com; AP)
Florida coach Mike White is getting a few pointers about his new job.
Not just anyone's two cents, either.
White has spoken to former Florida coach Billy Donovan several times in the last few days about what to expect and who to lean on as he makes the most daunting coaching transition of his life.
It's a welcome relief, especially given the program Donovan put together in Gainesville and the legacy he left behind.
"It's more of embracing the fact that you have a great, great job that Coach Donovan has built," White said Monday as the school formally introduced him. "I think it was a good job when he got here, and now it's a great job."
Replacing Donovan will be a tough job.
The former Louisiana Tech coach was tasked with keeping the Gators at the level they've grown accustomed to — Donovan guided the football-first program to two national titles, four Final Four appearances and 14 NCAA Tournament berths in 19 years — and possibly improving it. White agreed to a six-year contract worth $2 million annually Thursday, a week after Donovan left for the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder.
...
