Catholic 7 + Butler/Xavier

[kirbivore]

That's the question going forward for Miami, can they maintain? We've seen other ACC teams compete with Duke/UNC for brief episodes, only to fall back. GT in the Lethal weapon 3 years, Wake Forest in the Duncan and Chris Paul eras, Maryland early 2000's, BC mid 2000's, etc.

 

[Marsh01]

That's the question going forward for Miami, can they maintain? We've seen other ACC teams compete with Duke/UNC for brief episodes, only to fall back. GT in the Lethal weapon 3 years, Wake Forest in the Duncan and Chris Paul eras, Maryland early 2000's, BC mid 2000's, etc.

Coaching changes also hurt programs like Wake, GTech, BC. Miami needs to keep Larainaga around for a decade to keep the momentum they have built up.

 

[jncuse]

Around 2000 (and fading into about 2004), the ACC had multiple powers beyond Duke and UNC. Not all years, but Maryland was really good for awhile, Wake had some nice teams, Tech had a few good seasons.

About up to 2009, while the ACC only had a few great teams (really Duke and UNC), almost all its programs were solid. It was still deep but not necessarily at the top. There was only one bad team at the most each year.

In the last 3 or 4 years, the ACC has started to get a number of really bad teams -- Wake Forest, Boston College, Virginia Tech (this year), Clemson (last year), Georgia Tech (one year) . Maryland (one year) 4 or 5 sub 100 KenPom teams -- that did not happen until recently.

BC is on the rise. Clemson too -- with a Pitt style. Maybe Tech will change it around with the coach from Dayton (Hewitt was a disaster). Syracuse, Louisville and Pitt is strengthening the top. Hopefully, teams like BC, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech will at least become respectable.

 

[jncuse]

Coaching changes also hurt programs like Wake, GTech, BC. Miami needs to keep Larainaga around for a decade to keep the momentum they have built up.

Wake has never solved its coaching issue.

But I think things at BC and Tech, were on their way down (and quickly) at the end of the Skinner and Hewitt era. I think the current coaches may help those two out.

 

[jncuse]

The upside of the ACC teams are higher. Clemson, NC State, Virginia will be good and even BC is starting to pull themselves back up to the respectability line. Miami is not a joke. That guy can both recruit and coach and they will be a very good program going forward.

The style of play is what will be easier. Aside from Pitt and Louisville (and maybe Virginia) there are no more meat grinder teams and we should see the offense open up when we get there.

Clemson has seemed to also fully embrace meat grinding.

 

[Marsh01]

Clemson has seemed to also fully embrace meat grinding.

Thankfully the talent level isnt where it needs to be to actually make a difference. Still amazed that Clemson cant field a decent team.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Has anyone honestly and truly looked at the Catholic 7 lineup?

the hallowed 7 (are these schools all even Catholic?):

Depaul - crap
Seton Hall - crap, but occasionally gets shined
St. John's - crap that experienced short lived relevance under Lavin
Providence - mafia crap
Villanova - the best of the Philly programs. We just hit our first quality basketball program.
Marquette - not crap, but ugly like crap
Georgetown - still sucks

the new entrants:

Butler - crap among crap style
Xavier - I respect this program

the leftovers, if invited:

UCONN - dog crap
Cincy - commuter crap

So by my count of the sure things you have 5 teams that may contend to be Top 25, 4 punching bags, and overall, just an abundance of crap. And people are saying they like that conference more than the ACC?

Geez.