SWC75
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Wednesday 2/2/22 in Raleigh NC NORTH CAROLINA STATE RV: ESPN2/ESPNU
NC State has quite a basketball history. They built Reynolds Coliseum in the late 40’s and for years it was the biggest palace in college basketball, the Carrier Dome of its time, and the Wolfpack led the nation in attendance for many years. Their basketball program, under Everett Case, was the first to really make it big from Tobacco Road. Later Norm Sloan won a national championship in 1974 with David Thompson and then there was the Jim Valvano miracle of 1983. In recent years they’ve been kind of spinning their wheels. Les Robinson, Herb Sendek, Sidney Lowe, (Valvano’s national championship point guard), Mark Gottfried and now Kevin Keatts have tried to bring back the old days. They’ve had 21 winning seasons in 31 years but double figures in losses every year. They’ve made it to the Sweet 16 three times but never beyond that. They haven’t been to an NCAA tournament game since Keatts’ first year five seasons ago when they lost in the first round.
Keatts’ last two teams have gone 14-11 but he’s got 4 starters back and has added two impressive transfers and two talented recruits. And he’s done this at a time when his rivals in the ‘Triangle’, North Carolina and Duke, are transitioning to new coaching eras so it’s an opportunity to put the Wolfpack back on the front page.
6-3 Cam Hayes is the returning point guard. “He can distribute the ball well, make some long-range shots and play pretty good defense.” He’ll be backed up by 6-0 Breon Pass, who decided to five up passing a football to pass a basketball instead. 6-3 Terquavion Smith was North Carolina’s ‘Mr. Basketball’. ”He was a volume scorer in high school”. Virginia transfer, (from Virginia to Tech?!?) Casey Morsell scored 15 on Notre Dame.
6-11 230 Manny Bates led the conference in blocked shots, (2.7), for the second year in a row and scored 9.8p/5.9r on 65% shooting. 6-7 205 Jericole Hellems, (12.9p/51r) is the leading returning scorer. “If you put a big man on him, he can hit perimeter shots. If you put a guard on him, he has the ability to take him down low.” 6-9 210 Ernest Ross was their highest ranked recruit, even above Smith, (247 #69 vs. #97). “He is skilled forward, a versatile defender and a solid rebounder.”
Saturday 2/5/22 in the Dome LOUISVILLE TV: ESPN2
The Cardinals missed the NCAA tournament last year despite a 13-7 record, (8-5 in the conference). The FBI probe of college basketball recruiting has been hanging over the program and, in a bizarre twist, Head Coach Chris Mack has been suspended for the first six games this season for “failing to follow university guidelines” in firing assistant Dino Gaudio. Mack taped Gaudio threatening to report Mack and Louisville for recruiting violations if he were to get fired. Mack’s suspension will be long over by the time we play the Cardinals but you wonder how these events will impact the team’s psyche.
Mack lost his backcourt: Carlik Jones and David Johnson left for the NBA. He’s brought in four interesting talents to replace them.5-11 Jerrod West transferred in from Marshall, where led conference USA in assists and steals while shooting 41% from the arc. 6-3 El Ellis was the #1 rated JUCO prospect in the country, averaging 17.7p/4.3a while shooting 42% from three for Tallahassee CC. (How’d they get him away from Leonard Hamilton?) 6-3 205 Noah Locke transferred from Florida, where he hit 40% of his treys over a three season period. Lindys: “He’s a catch-and-shoot wizard capable of game-changing hot streaks.” He averaged 10.6P/2.4r last year. 6-6 Freshman Mike James was 247’s #77 recruit.
Up front they’ve got 6-11 250 Malik Williams, who missed much of the last two seasons with ankle and foot problems. Athlon: “When he’s healthy, Williams is the Cardinal’s best interior defender, a productive three point shooter and a soldi rebounder.” 6-7 210 Samuel Williamson “is the team’s sole McDonalds All-American”, (a sad state of affairs), but he’s been inconsistent and was benched at one point last year. It may have worked because he had double-figure rebounds in five of their last seven games. He averaged 9.6p/8.1r. 6-8 230 Jae’Lyn Withers scored at least 12 points in ‘Ville’s last ten games. He averaged 10.0p/7.7r.
Tuesday 2/8/22 in Chestnut Hill, Ma BOSTON COLLEGE TV: ESPN2
The Jim Christian era finally ended at BC after a disastrous 4-16 year, (they lost 9 of 10 conference games). He’d spent seven years at Chestnut Hill, trying to bail out a leaky boat. He’s had one winning season, (19-16, in 2018) but had an overall record of 78-132, just 26-94 in the conference. Now a new guy will try to build something here: Earl Grant.
No- not him. (Still, it will be interesting when they play Virginia: Tony Bennett vs. Earl Grant!) BC’s Earl Grant was an assistant to Gregg Marshall at Wichita State and moved on to make College of Charleston a name to be conjured with. So he knows about building programs. Grant: “You need to build a foundation. You need to be competitive. You need to learn what it looks like to win. That’s where we are.” Not yet. “I think we’ve got to be gritty, not pretty. This is a place for a fighter to come to play.” Can we expect some brawls?
Grant’s two top scorers, guards Jay heath and Wayne Tabbs both transferred. 6-3 Makai Ashton-Langford (9.6p/3.3r/3.2a) is a “strong distributor and good defender who can get to the rim.” 6-5 DeMarr Langford (4.7p/4.2r) is “good off the dribble”. Both need to improve their outside shooting. Grant brought in two players from is CoC days. One had played for him: 6-2 Brevin Galloway, a “strong shooter and defender” who averaged 15.0p/3.0r/2.8a. the other was a recruit who switched to BC when Grant did: 6-4 Kanye Jones, a “versatile defender”.
Grant has two fifth year big men up front: 6-8 230 Frederick Scott (7.6p/3.9r), who, like Bourama Sidibe, has battled knee problems and 6-9 230 James Karnick (6.8p/5.4r), “a good rebounder who can also step away from the basket”. Grant has brought in two transfers: 6-9 210 ‘point forward’ TJ Bickerstaff from Drexel (10.2p/5.2r but only 1.4a) and 7-0 240 Quinten Post from Mississippi State (8.7m, 2.8p, 2.1r). he’s good in the post.
Saturday 2/12/22 in Blacksburg, Va VIRGINIA TECH TV: ESPN2/ESPNU
Mike Young has been a big success in Blacksburg after coming there after 17 seasons at Wofford. After a 16-16 start last year they went 15-7 and 9-4 in the conference, losing in the first round of the NCAAs. He’s won a contract extension already.
He lost his point guard but still has 6-4 Naheim Alleyne (11.1p/2.6r), “a classic marksman…with a budding reputation as a big-time scorer”. He hit 41% from three. He scored 28 on Florida in a five-point NCAA loss. 6-0 Storm Murphy transferred from Wofford, where he started 119 games. “he’s a good distributor who can also make long-range shots”. (Lindy’s). 6-3 Hunter Cattoor (8.5p) “is a fine outside shooter who can also pass, (but just 1.4a), and is tough on defense.”
But their great strength is up front. 6-9 235 Keve Aluma flirted with the NBA but decided to come back and is Lindy’s pre-season pick for ACC player of the year. Last year he averaged 15.2p/7.9t/2.2a. “He is a stalwart all over the court and has the skill to score inside and out, rebound well, set up teammates and block shots.” 6-7 230 Justyn Mutts, (9.5p/6.4r) is “an interior force who can also hit the long ball”. He’s “strong as an ox”.
Saturday 2/19/22 in the Dome BOSTON COLLEGE RV: ESPN2
Game #2 (see 2/8/22)
Tuesday 2/22/22 in South Bend, Ind NOTRE DAME TV: ESPN2
The Irish have now gone four seasons without an NCAA tournament bid after going 12 times in Mike Brey’s first 17 years there. Last year they were 11-15, (7-11) and their season ended with a 42-point blow-out loss to North Carolina in the ACCT. Brey has “one of the most experienced teams in the country” with 5 of his top 6 scorers back. But “The Irish still must play better defense and rebound more aggressively”. For years Notre Dame was one of the best rebounding teams in the country and they need to get back to that.
The one missing piece is 6-11 223 Juwan Durham (10.7p/5.6r), who graduated. But 6-10 227 Nate Laszewski (13.3p/7.3r) is back. “He can score all over the court and hit the boards well.” (Lindy’s) 6-9 225 Paul Atkinson transferred in from Yale where he was the Ivy League co-player of the years with 17.6p/7.3r.
6-3 Prentice Hubb is the leading returning scorer (14.6p/3.2r/5.8a) but, per Lindy’s, “The key for Hubb this year is an improved shooting eye and a drop in turnovers”. 6-5 Cormac Ryan (9.9p/4.4r/2.5a), is “a solid shooter who should be more accurate from long range this year”. (He and Hubb were both 34% from the arc last season.) 6-6 Dane Goodwin (11.8p/5.2r/1.7a) “has a strong shooting stoke, (35% from the arc), can rebound well and distributes the ball”. 6-5 Trey Wertz (8.3p/2.7a/2.3a) “is a skilled marksman” (43% from three). These four guys have played in 314 college basketball games, so they have plenty of experience – and plenty of size, too.
Saturday 2/26/22 in the Dome DUKE TV: ESPN/ESPN2
Game #2 (see 1/22/22)
Monday 2/28/22 in Chapel Hill, NC NORTH CAROLINA TV: ESPN
Roy Williams became the first of the Great Triumvirate of legendary ACC coaches to retire after last season and the Tar Heels promoted from withing, choosing Hubert Davis, who had been Williams’ assistant for 9 years and who once, when working for ESPN, told Syracuse to “get yourself an offensive dude”, even though we had several of them on a balanced team. It led to my designating the SU player who had the most ‘hockey points’, (points plus assists), the ‘O-DOG’: Offensive Dude of the Game. Hopefully we’ll have plenty of O-DOG contender when we play the Tar Heels.
Last year they were 18-11 and 10-6 in the league, decent comeback from the 14-19 (6-14) disaster of the year before. They are looking to take another step back toward the perennial national title contenders they have normally been over most of our lifetimes. Davis says that “he will not abandon the foundation that Dean Smith and Williams built, but a change in offensive style imminent. Davis will emphasize shooting and spacing – which is no surprise, given that he is UNC’s all-time leader in 3-point percentage (43.5%).” (Athlon) Will we still see the secondary break?
Davis’ backcourt will win any name contest. 6-4 Caleb Love (10.5p/2.6r/3.6a), who “played so poorly at the beginning of the season that his statistics never recovered but his size, speed and scoring ability are assets”. (Athlon). Per Lindy’s he suffered from “too many turnovers and uninspiring shooting”. You want your shooting to inspire people. 6-0 RJ Davis (8.4p/2.3r/1.9a) “had a similar debut and must sharpen his shooting eye”. 6-5 Kerwin Walton ((8.2p/1.7r/1.9a), “proved he could shoot from long range (42% from three), but he must become more diverse in his scoring”. 6-8 195 Leaky Black, (5.6p/4.9r/2.4a), “is just a 26 three point shooter for his career, a key reason why he has been unable to fulfill his lofty potential. But at 6-8, he is a capable defender, rebounder and passer who does not need to score to help his team”. (Athlon) 6-8 190 freshman Puff Johnson “is slight of frame, but his length and shooting ability will give him a chance to develop into a contributor.” If only Leaky could shoot like Puff.
UNC has been noted for it’s four-year-player approach to filling out its line-up over the years, as opposed to one-and-doners and it’s helped them to win three national championships in the Williams era. Davis immediately showed a willingness to bring in transfers and got them from power five schools, not mid- or lower major schools. He already has 6-10 240 Armando Bacot (12.3p/7.8r), “a reliable interior scorer and strong rebounder who can also block shots” who “improved his ability to score through contact and make face-up jumpers from mid-range.” From Marquette he got 6-11 235 Dawson Garcia who scored 24 points and pulled down 11 rebounds when the Golden Eagles whipped the Tar Heel 83-70 last year. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. He averaged 13.0p/6.6r. From Oklahoma Davis got 6-9 245 Brady Manek (10.9p/5.0r) who started for four years and is “a fine inside-out scorer”. From ACC rival Virginia came 6-7 225 Justin McCoy (3.5p/3.3r),”a solid rebounder and strong defender who scores well close to the hoop.
Saturday 3/5/22 TBD U OF MIAMI TV: ESPN2/ESPNU/ACC Network
Game #2 (see 1/5/22)
Summary: I think ACC basketball is going to be rather like ACC football: rather flat but competitive, with the traditional powers not at their peak and other schools having teams that will have a real chance at the title for the first time in a while, perhaps a long while. The post season will be what it always is: a spinning roulette wheel where many favorites go down but the eventual champ will be someone who has been (consistently) good all season and is (occasionally) great at the tight time. Could that be Syracuse? Stay tuned.
NC State has quite a basketball history. They built Reynolds Coliseum in the late 40’s and for years it was the biggest palace in college basketball, the Carrier Dome of its time, and the Wolfpack led the nation in attendance for many years. Their basketball program, under Everett Case, was the first to really make it big from Tobacco Road. Later Norm Sloan won a national championship in 1974 with David Thompson and then there was the Jim Valvano miracle of 1983. In recent years they’ve been kind of spinning their wheels. Les Robinson, Herb Sendek, Sidney Lowe, (Valvano’s national championship point guard), Mark Gottfried and now Kevin Keatts have tried to bring back the old days. They’ve had 21 winning seasons in 31 years but double figures in losses every year. They’ve made it to the Sweet 16 three times but never beyond that. They haven’t been to an NCAA tournament game since Keatts’ first year five seasons ago when they lost in the first round.
Keatts’ last two teams have gone 14-11 but he’s got 4 starters back and has added two impressive transfers and two talented recruits. And he’s done this at a time when his rivals in the ‘Triangle’, North Carolina and Duke, are transitioning to new coaching eras so it’s an opportunity to put the Wolfpack back on the front page.
6-3 Cam Hayes is the returning point guard. “He can distribute the ball well, make some long-range shots and play pretty good defense.” He’ll be backed up by 6-0 Breon Pass, who decided to five up passing a football to pass a basketball instead. 6-3 Terquavion Smith was North Carolina’s ‘Mr. Basketball’. ”He was a volume scorer in high school”. Virginia transfer, (from Virginia to Tech?!?) Casey Morsell scored 15 on Notre Dame.
6-11 230 Manny Bates led the conference in blocked shots, (2.7), for the second year in a row and scored 9.8p/5.9r on 65% shooting. 6-7 205 Jericole Hellems, (12.9p/51r) is the leading returning scorer. “If you put a big man on him, he can hit perimeter shots. If you put a guard on him, he has the ability to take him down low.” 6-9 210 Ernest Ross was their highest ranked recruit, even above Smith, (247 #69 vs. #97). “He is skilled forward, a versatile defender and a solid rebounder.”
Saturday 2/5/22 in the Dome LOUISVILLE TV: ESPN2
The Cardinals missed the NCAA tournament last year despite a 13-7 record, (8-5 in the conference). The FBI probe of college basketball recruiting has been hanging over the program and, in a bizarre twist, Head Coach Chris Mack has been suspended for the first six games this season for “failing to follow university guidelines” in firing assistant Dino Gaudio. Mack taped Gaudio threatening to report Mack and Louisville for recruiting violations if he were to get fired. Mack’s suspension will be long over by the time we play the Cardinals but you wonder how these events will impact the team’s psyche.
Mack lost his backcourt: Carlik Jones and David Johnson left for the NBA. He’s brought in four interesting talents to replace them.5-11 Jerrod West transferred in from Marshall, where led conference USA in assists and steals while shooting 41% from the arc. 6-3 El Ellis was the #1 rated JUCO prospect in the country, averaging 17.7p/4.3a while shooting 42% from three for Tallahassee CC. (How’d they get him away from Leonard Hamilton?) 6-3 205 Noah Locke transferred from Florida, where he hit 40% of his treys over a three season period. Lindys: “He’s a catch-and-shoot wizard capable of game-changing hot streaks.” He averaged 10.6P/2.4r last year. 6-6 Freshman Mike James was 247’s #77 recruit.
Up front they’ve got 6-11 250 Malik Williams, who missed much of the last two seasons with ankle and foot problems. Athlon: “When he’s healthy, Williams is the Cardinal’s best interior defender, a productive three point shooter and a soldi rebounder.” 6-7 210 Samuel Williamson “is the team’s sole McDonalds All-American”, (a sad state of affairs), but he’s been inconsistent and was benched at one point last year. It may have worked because he had double-figure rebounds in five of their last seven games. He averaged 9.6p/8.1r. 6-8 230 Jae’Lyn Withers scored at least 12 points in ‘Ville’s last ten games. He averaged 10.0p/7.7r.
Tuesday 2/8/22 in Chestnut Hill, Ma BOSTON COLLEGE TV: ESPN2
The Jim Christian era finally ended at BC after a disastrous 4-16 year, (they lost 9 of 10 conference games). He’d spent seven years at Chestnut Hill, trying to bail out a leaky boat. He’s had one winning season, (19-16, in 2018) but had an overall record of 78-132, just 26-94 in the conference. Now a new guy will try to build something here: Earl Grant.
No- not him. (Still, it will be interesting when they play Virginia: Tony Bennett vs. Earl Grant!) BC’s Earl Grant was an assistant to Gregg Marshall at Wichita State and moved on to make College of Charleston a name to be conjured with. So he knows about building programs. Grant: “You need to build a foundation. You need to be competitive. You need to learn what it looks like to win. That’s where we are.” Not yet. “I think we’ve got to be gritty, not pretty. This is a place for a fighter to come to play.” Can we expect some brawls?
Grant’s two top scorers, guards Jay heath and Wayne Tabbs both transferred. 6-3 Makai Ashton-Langford (9.6p/3.3r/3.2a) is a “strong distributor and good defender who can get to the rim.” 6-5 DeMarr Langford (4.7p/4.2r) is “good off the dribble”. Both need to improve their outside shooting. Grant brought in two players from is CoC days. One had played for him: 6-2 Brevin Galloway, a “strong shooter and defender” who averaged 15.0p/3.0r/2.8a. the other was a recruit who switched to BC when Grant did: 6-4 Kanye Jones, a “versatile defender”.
Grant has two fifth year big men up front: 6-8 230 Frederick Scott (7.6p/3.9r), who, like Bourama Sidibe, has battled knee problems and 6-9 230 James Karnick (6.8p/5.4r), “a good rebounder who can also step away from the basket”. Grant has brought in two transfers: 6-9 210 ‘point forward’ TJ Bickerstaff from Drexel (10.2p/5.2r but only 1.4a) and 7-0 240 Quinten Post from Mississippi State (8.7m, 2.8p, 2.1r). he’s good in the post.
Saturday 2/12/22 in Blacksburg, Va VIRGINIA TECH TV: ESPN2/ESPNU
Mike Young has been a big success in Blacksburg after coming there after 17 seasons at Wofford. After a 16-16 start last year they went 15-7 and 9-4 in the conference, losing in the first round of the NCAAs. He’s won a contract extension already.
He lost his point guard but still has 6-4 Naheim Alleyne (11.1p/2.6r), “a classic marksman…with a budding reputation as a big-time scorer”. He hit 41% from three. He scored 28 on Florida in a five-point NCAA loss. 6-0 Storm Murphy transferred from Wofford, where he started 119 games. “he’s a good distributor who can also make long-range shots”. (Lindy’s). 6-3 Hunter Cattoor (8.5p) “is a fine outside shooter who can also pass, (but just 1.4a), and is tough on defense.”
But their great strength is up front. 6-9 235 Keve Aluma flirted with the NBA but decided to come back and is Lindy’s pre-season pick for ACC player of the year. Last year he averaged 15.2p/7.9t/2.2a. “He is a stalwart all over the court and has the skill to score inside and out, rebound well, set up teammates and block shots.” 6-7 230 Justyn Mutts, (9.5p/6.4r) is “an interior force who can also hit the long ball”. He’s “strong as an ox”.
Saturday 2/19/22 in the Dome BOSTON COLLEGE RV: ESPN2
Game #2 (see 2/8/22)
Tuesday 2/22/22 in South Bend, Ind NOTRE DAME TV: ESPN2
The Irish have now gone four seasons without an NCAA tournament bid after going 12 times in Mike Brey’s first 17 years there. Last year they were 11-15, (7-11) and their season ended with a 42-point blow-out loss to North Carolina in the ACCT. Brey has “one of the most experienced teams in the country” with 5 of his top 6 scorers back. But “The Irish still must play better defense and rebound more aggressively”. For years Notre Dame was one of the best rebounding teams in the country and they need to get back to that.
The one missing piece is 6-11 223 Juwan Durham (10.7p/5.6r), who graduated. But 6-10 227 Nate Laszewski (13.3p/7.3r) is back. “He can score all over the court and hit the boards well.” (Lindy’s) 6-9 225 Paul Atkinson transferred in from Yale where he was the Ivy League co-player of the years with 17.6p/7.3r.
6-3 Prentice Hubb is the leading returning scorer (14.6p/3.2r/5.8a) but, per Lindy’s, “The key for Hubb this year is an improved shooting eye and a drop in turnovers”. 6-5 Cormac Ryan (9.9p/4.4r/2.5a), is “a solid shooter who should be more accurate from long range this year”. (He and Hubb were both 34% from the arc last season.) 6-6 Dane Goodwin (11.8p/5.2r/1.7a) “has a strong shooting stoke, (35% from the arc), can rebound well and distributes the ball”. 6-5 Trey Wertz (8.3p/2.7a/2.3a) “is a skilled marksman” (43% from three). These four guys have played in 314 college basketball games, so they have plenty of experience – and plenty of size, too.
Saturday 2/26/22 in the Dome DUKE TV: ESPN/ESPN2
Game #2 (see 1/22/22)
Monday 2/28/22 in Chapel Hill, NC NORTH CAROLINA TV: ESPN
Roy Williams became the first of the Great Triumvirate of legendary ACC coaches to retire after last season and the Tar Heels promoted from withing, choosing Hubert Davis, who had been Williams’ assistant for 9 years and who once, when working for ESPN, told Syracuse to “get yourself an offensive dude”, even though we had several of them on a balanced team. It led to my designating the SU player who had the most ‘hockey points’, (points plus assists), the ‘O-DOG’: Offensive Dude of the Game. Hopefully we’ll have plenty of O-DOG contender when we play the Tar Heels.
Last year they were 18-11 and 10-6 in the league, decent comeback from the 14-19 (6-14) disaster of the year before. They are looking to take another step back toward the perennial national title contenders they have normally been over most of our lifetimes. Davis says that “he will not abandon the foundation that Dean Smith and Williams built, but a change in offensive style imminent. Davis will emphasize shooting and spacing – which is no surprise, given that he is UNC’s all-time leader in 3-point percentage (43.5%).” (Athlon) Will we still see the secondary break?
Davis’ backcourt will win any name contest. 6-4 Caleb Love (10.5p/2.6r/3.6a), who “played so poorly at the beginning of the season that his statistics never recovered but his size, speed and scoring ability are assets”. (Athlon). Per Lindy’s he suffered from “too many turnovers and uninspiring shooting”. You want your shooting to inspire people. 6-0 RJ Davis (8.4p/2.3r/1.9a) “had a similar debut and must sharpen his shooting eye”. 6-5 Kerwin Walton ((8.2p/1.7r/1.9a), “proved he could shoot from long range (42% from three), but he must become more diverse in his scoring”. 6-8 195 Leaky Black, (5.6p/4.9r/2.4a), “is just a 26 three point shooter for his career, a key reason why he has been unable to fulfill his lofty potential. But at 6-8, he is a capable defender, rebounder and passer who does not need to score to help his team”. (Athlon) 6-8 190 freshman Puff Johnson “is slight of frame, but his length and shooting ability will give him a chance to develop into a contributor.” If only Leaky could shoot like Puff.
UNC has been noted for it’s four-year-player approach to filling out its line-up over the years, as opposed to one-and-doners and it’s helped them to win three national championships in the Williams era. Davis immediately showed a willingness to bring in transfers and got them from power five schools, not mid- or lower major schools. He already has 6-10 240 Armando Bacot (12.3p/7.8r), “a reliable interior scorer and strong rebounder who can also block shots” who “improved his ability to score through contact and make face-up jumpers from mid-range.” From Marquette he got 6-11 235 Dawson Garcia who scored 24 points and pulled down 11 rebounds when the Golden Eagles whipped the Tar Heel 83-70 last year. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. He averaged 13.0p/6.6r. From Oklahoma Davis got 6-9 245 Brady Manek (10.9p/5.0r) who started for four years and is “a fine inside-out scorer”. From ACC rival Virginia came 6-7 225 Justin McCoy (3.5p/3.3r),”a solid rebounder and strong defender who scores well close to the hoop.
Saturday 3/5/22 TBD U OF MIAMI TV: ESPN2/ESPNU/ACC Network
Game #2 (see 1/5/22)
Summary: I think ACC basketball is going to be rather like ACC football: rather flat but competitive, with the traditional powers not at their peak and other schools having teams that will have a real chance at the title for the first time in a while, perhaps a long while. The post season will be what it always is: a spinning roulette wheel where many favorites go down but the eventual champ will be someone who has been (consistently) good all season and is (occasionally) great at the tight time. Could that be Syracuse? Stay tuned.
