White addition moves us from 8th to 4th in this pre-season prediction...

[HoustonCuse]

This freaking conference is a beast. Goodness.

 

[Briancuse]

This freaking conference is a beast. Goodness.

I love it, it prepares you for March.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

UVA lost the conference player of the year and their two best bigs. UNC lost their two best players from a 30 win team.

The prognosticators think their replacements are better than ours... At least that's how I read it.

Or their returnees are better than ours.

 

[zhanjuzi]

I hope they do take a step back, but as high as I am on our team this year, UVa looks like they've reloaded very well and will be a tough game. They return Perrantes, who is as good as any PG in the country, and bring in Austin Nichols, who would be in the NBA right now in all likelihood if he didn't transfer from Memphis and sit out a year. Losing Gill and Tobey up front hurts, but I think the combo of Nichols and Isiah Wilkins, who's a very strong defender, are just as good. The question is how much does losing Brogdon hurt them, but they bring in four 4 star recruits, including Kyle Guy, who's a borderline 5 star and lights out shooter. I guess it'll depend on how fast some of these guys come along, but I don't see UVa being any worse this year. But either way, I think we take them! The games will just be tough battles.

If we can only "take them" in the NCAA again that's fine with me

 

[HoustonCuse]

What seed would a team get if they went 0-fer in the ACC regular season but won the conference tourney?

 

[cuseattle]

What seed would a team get if they went 0-fer in the ACC regular season but won the conference tourney?

Why? Is that B.C.'s plan this year?

 

[Cusefan0307]

Or their returnees are better than ours.

Disagree...

 

[Briancuse]

What seed would a team get if they went 0-fer in the ACC regular season but won the conference tourney?

I would say a 14.

 

[IthacaMatt]

UVA lost the conference player of the year and their two best bigs. UNC lost their two best players from a 30 win team.

The prognosticators think their replacements are better than ours... At least that's how I read it.

We also lost about 10 more games during the regular season than they did.

 

[Cusefan0307]

We also lost about 10 more games during the regular season than they did.

That doesn't mean anything.. If you went by that Duke wouldn't be ranked number 1 would they? Nova or UNC would.

 

[HoustonCuse]

That doesn't mean anything.. If you went by that Duke wouldn't be ranked number 1 would they? Nova or UNC would.

But Duke added an all-time class. Maybe the best in the history of the game (by the numbers) and return just as much as UVa. UVa's additions are on par with ours by the look of it.

 

[Cusefan0307]

But Duke added an all-time class. Maybe the best in the history of the game (by the numbers) and return just as much as UVa. UVa's additions are on par with ours by the look of it.

That's what the rankings say, but if the rankings were always right Karl Town's wouldn't have been the number 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft and Skal Labissiere would have been a lot better than 6 points and 3 rebounds a game last year.

 

[orangefog]

That's what the rankings say, but if the rankings were always right Karl Town's wouldn't of been the number 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft and Skal Labissiere would have been a lot better than 6 points and 3 rebounds a game last year.

It will be interesting how the talent at Duke meshes together. Frank Jackson is a great athlete, but can he be a pass first point guard? Tatum is great, I think he will have a great year. Giles is coming off of an injury, but he is so skilled, he should do very well, but he and Tatum will have to get used to being muscled more than they are used to by more experienced teams. Boldon seems soft to me. I think he might struggle. But, we shall see. Also, can Grayson Allen be a leader as an upper classman? From the outside looking in, he seems to be a spoiled punk, so he will have to take a step up from a maturity standpoint and show some leadership skills. You know what you are getting with Jefferson. K is a great coach, and he will have to figure out how all the pieces fit together.

 

[Knicks411]

It seems that the prevailing theory is we lost 14 games last year and lost three key guys, I guess they forgot about the fact that we got to the Final Four, and have a really good recruiting class, and some impact transfers coming in.

Honestly if you're projecting the team, the 14 games they lost is a lot more relevant than the final four run. The final 4 run was 4 games.

That being said, there's really no good way to project us for next year, we have a ton of new players plus a few returning guys in new roles. I think third or fourth is probably a fair pick. Third or fourth in the ACC is probably good for top 10 in the country.

 

[SUalldway]

UVA is awfully deep. They lost some serious talent, like we did, but they have more continuity and depth returning than we do.

Not sure I'd say UVA will have more quality depth. Even if Moyer winds-up redshirting, we'll have 9 guys that can bring it. Now whether JB will go that deep, is another ?

 

[Cusefan0307]

It will be interesting how the talent at Duke meshes together. Frank Jackson is a great athlete, but can he be a pass first point guard? Tatum is great, I think he will have a great year. Giles is coming off of an injury, but he is so skilled, he should do very well, but he and Tatum will have to get used to being muscled more than they are used to by more experienced teams. Boldon seems soft to me. I think he might struggle. But, we shall see. Also, can Grayson Allen be a leader as an upper classman? From the outside looking in, he seems to be a spoiled punk, so he will have to take a step up from a maturity standpoint and show some leadership skills. You know what you are getting with Jefferson. K is a great coach, and he will have to figure out how all the pieces fit together.

Agreed. Duke will be good, but they aren't going to be completely unbeatable like some people are making them out to be. I don't think they have the talent that UK had in 2014-15. That team was the most loaded college basketball has seen. I'm sure a couple their guys will meet expectations, and a couple won't. It happens every year when you take top level recruits. Just look at the rankings the past couple years. Not everybody who is ranked in the top 10 dominates.

Anyway, I bet Allen ends up playing the point for them. Fox is the one most likely to meet expectations. I think Gile's will be good, but will struggle against bigger front lines(like ours). It's going to be a fun year.

 

[Knicks411]

Not sure I'd say UVA will have more quality depth. Even if Moyer winds-up redshirting, we'll have 9 guys that can bring it. Now whether JB will go that deep, is another ?

UVA is bringing 5 guys back who played for them last year, plus a top 10 recruiting class that includes 4 guys in ESPN's top 75, and Austin Nichols, who was a a pretty solid player for Memphis.

 

[Knicks411]

Agreed. Duke will be good, but they aren't going to be completely unbeatable like some people are making them out to be. I don't think they have the talent that UK had in 2014-15. That team was the most loaded college basketball has seen. I'm sure a couple their guys will meet expectations, and a couple won't. It happens every year when you take top level recruits. Just look at the rankings the past couple years. Not everybody who is ranked in the top 10 dominates.

Anyway, I bet Allen ends up playing the point for them. Fox is the one most likely to meet expectations. I think Gile's will be good, but will struggle against bigger front lines(like ours). It's going to be a fun year.

Agree with that, but most guys in the top 10 are really good players. Not sure if this formatting will work but..
2015
RSCI Chg Avg Dev VC ESPN Scout Rivals PrepStars 247Sports
Total
Ht Pos City College

1 2 1.2 Ben Simmons 1 1 2 2 4 1 595 6-8 PF Melbourne, AUS LSU

2 5 2 1.5 Skal Labissiere 5 2 1 1 1 2 594 6-11 C Cordova, TN Kentucky

3 -1 4 1.7 Jaylen Brown 2 4 4 3 7 5 581 6-7 WF Alpharetta, GA California

4 14 5 4.5 Brandon Ingram 14 3 3 4 2 3 577 6-8 WF Kinston, NC Duke

5 6 2.9 Ivan Rabb 4 8 5 7 3 11 568 6-10 PF Oakland, CA California

6 -2 8 5.1 Cheick Diallo 3 7 9 5 17 4 561 6-9 PF Centereach, NY Kansas

7 -1 8 4.5 Diamond Stone 17 6 6 6 5 8 558 6-10 C Milwaukee, WI Maryland

8 -5 9 2.2 Malik Newman 6 10 10 8 12 7 553 6-3 WG Jackson, MS Mississippi State

9 2 11 6.3 Henry Ellenson 11 5 7 11 9 23 540 6-10 PF Rice Lake, WI Marquette

10 4 12 3.5 Stephen Zimmerman 7 12 8 15 14 15 535 7-0 C Las Vegas, NV UNLV

2014

RSCI Chg Avg Dev VC ESPN Scout Rivals PrepStars 247Sports Total Ht Pos City College

1 2 2.0 Jahlil Okafor 3 1 1 1 1 6 593 6-11 C Chicago, IL Duke

2 3 1.7 Emmanuel Mudiay 4 5 2 2 5 1 587 6-4 PG Dallas, TX SMU

3 1 4 1.8 Stanley Johnson 2 7 3 3 3 5 583 6-6 WF Santa Ana, CA Arizona

4 -1 5 2.7 Cliff Alexander 1 3 6 4 9 4 579 6-9 PF-C Chicago, IL Kansas

5 3 6 4.0 Karl Towns 12 9 4 5 2 2 572 6-11 C Metuchen, NJ Kentucky

6 6 2.4 Myles Turner 5 2 5 9 7 7 571 7-0 C Euless, TX Texas

7 -2 7 1.8 Tyus Jones 6 4 9 7 8 8 564 6-1 PG Apple Valley, MN Duke

8 2 7 2.9 Kelly Oubre 10 11 7 6 6 3 563 6-6 WF Henderson, NV Kansas

9 -2 9 1.6 Justin Jackson 7 8 10 11 11 9 550 6-7 WF Spring, TX North Carolina

10 -1 10 5.3 Rashad Vaughn 8 19 8 8 4 13 546 6-5 WG Henderson, NV UNLV
2013
1 new 1 0.0 Andrew Wiggins 1 1 1 1 1 1 600 6-8 WF Thornhill, Ont, Canada Kansas

2 1 3 1.2 Julius Randle 3 3 2 2 5 2 589 6-9 PF Plano, TX Kentucky

3 -2 3 1.6 Jabari Parker 2 2 3 4 2 6 587 6-8 WF Chicago, IL Duke

4 1 4 1.0 Aaron Gordon 4 4 4 3 6 4 581 6-8 PF-WF San Jose, CA Arizona

5 -3 5 0.8 Andrew Harrison 5 5 5 5 4 3 579 6-5 PG Fort Bend, TX Kentucky

6 -2 6 2.0 Aaron Harrison 6 9 6 7 3 5 570 6-5 WG Fort Bend, TX Kentucky

7 9 2.4 Chris Walker 11 12 8 6 10 7 552 6-9 PF Binofay, FL Florida

8 new 10 3.4 Noah Vonleh 7 13 7 8 8 15 548 6-8 PF Haverhill, MA Indiana

9 new 10 3.6 Dakari Johnson 9 7 17 9 9 8 547 6-11 C Brooklyn, NY Ken

 

[Cusefan0307]

Agree with that, but most guys in the top 10 are really good players. Not sure if this formatting will work but..
2015
RSCI Chg Avg Dev VC ESPN Scout Rivals PrepStars No links to . . . allowed on this site
Total
Ht Pos City College

1 2 1.2 Ben Simmons 1 1 2 2 4 1 595 6-8 PF Melbourne, AUS LSU

2 5 2 1.5 Skal Labissiere 5 2 1 1 1 2 594 6-11 C Cordova, TN Kentucky

3 -1 4 1.7 Jaylen Brown 2 4 4 3 7 5 581 6-7 WF Alpharetta, GA California

4 14 5 4.5 Brandon Ingram 14 3 3 4 2 3 577 6-8 WF Kinston, NC Duke

5 6 2.9 Ivan Rabb 4 8 5 7 3 11 568 6-10 PF Oakland, CA California

6 -2 8 5.1 Cheick Diallo 3 7 9 5 17 4 561 6-9 PF Centereach, NY Kansas

7 -1 8 4.5 Diamond Stone 17 6 6 6 5 8 558 6-10 C Milwaukee, WI Maryland

8 -5 9 2.2 Malik Newman 6 10 10 8 12 7 553 6-3 WG Jackson, MS Mississippi State

9 2 11 6.3 Henry Ellenson 11 5 7 11 9 23 540 6-10 PF Rice Lake, WI Marquette

10 4 12 3.5 Stephen Zimmerman 7 12 8 15 14 15 535 7-0 C Las Vegas, NV UNLV

2014

RSCI Chg Avg Dev VC ESPN Scout Rivals PrepStars No links to . . . allowed on this site Total Ht Pos City College

1 2 2.0 Jahlil Okafor 3 1 1 1 1 6 593 6-11 C Chicago, IL Duke

2 3 1.7 Emmanuel Mudiay 4 5 2 2 5 1 587 6-4 PG Dallas, TX SMU

3 1 4 1.8 Stanley Johnson 2 7 3 3 3 5 583 6-6 WF Santa Ana, CA Arizona

4 -1 5 2.7 Cliff Alexander 1 3 6 4 9 4 579 6-9 PF-C Chicago, IL Kansas

5 3 6 4.0 Karl Towns 12 9 4 5 2 2 572 6-11 C Metuchen, NJ Kentucky

6 6 2.4 Myles Turner 5 2 5 9 7 7 571 7-0 C Euless, TX Texas

7 -2 7 1.8 Tyus Jones 6 4 9 7 8 8 564 6-1 PG Apple Valley, MN Duke

8 2 7 2.9 Kelly Oubre 10 11 7 6 6 3 563 6-6 WF Henderson, NV Kansas

9 -2 9 1.6 Justin Jackson 7 8 10 11 11 9 550 6-7 WF Spring, TX North Carolina

10 -1 10 5.3 Rashad Vaughn 8 19 8 8 4 13 546 6-5 WG Henderson, NV UNLV
2013
1 new 1 0.0 Andrew Wiggins 1 1 1 1 1 1 600 6-8 WF Thornhill, Ont, Canada Kansas

2 1 3 1.2 Julius Randle 3 3 2 2 5 2 589 6-9 PF Plano, TX Kentucky

3 -2 3 1.6 Jabari Parker 2 2 3 4 2 6 587 6-8 WF Chicago, IL Duke

4 1 4 1.0 Aaron Gordon 4 4 4 3 6 4 581 6-8 PF-WF San Jose, CA Arizona

5 -3 5 0.8 Andrew Harrison 5 5 5 5 4 3 579 6-5 PG Fort Bend, TX Kentucky

6 -2 6 2.0 Aaron Harrison 6 9 6 7 3 5 570 6-5 WG Fort Bend, TX Kentucky

7 9 2.4 Chris Walker 11 12 8 6 10 7 552 6-9 PF Binofay, FL Florida

8 new 10 3.4 Noah Vonleh 7 13 7 8 8 15 548 6-8 PF Haverhill, MA Indiana

9 new 10 3.6 Dakari Johnson 9 7 17 9 9 8 547 6-11 C Brooklyn, NY Ken

Good piece. I don't disagree, I just think some of these guys don't dominate in college like many would expect.

 

[Knicks411]

Good piece. I don't disagree, I just think some of these guys don't dominate in college like many would expect.

I don't know what people in general are projecting for all of the Duke freshmen. I think Duke is pretty clearly the #1 team in the country (before any games are played, of course).

They have 4 of the top 14 according to RSCI; it's very unlikely they'll all dominate, because how many teams have 4 players dominate anyway? Plus they have talent coming back, including Allen. But if I had to pick one team to w in the title right now, they'd be my pick.

 

[OttoMets]

Good piece. I don't disagree, I just think some of these guys don't dominate in college like many would expect.

The 2014s had some real college stars, but that 2015 group is a bunch of non-entities from top to bottom: guys who didn't do much for good teams, guys who may or may not have done something for teams that don't matter, and Ingram (who I've talked about before - fine player, good numbers, high draft pick, but I didn't see him do anything of note for Duke, and I think many Duke fans would agree).

 

[Cusefan0307]

I don't know what people in general are projecting for all of the Duke freshmen. I think Duke is pretty clearly the #1 team in the country (before any games are played, of course).

They have 4 of the top 14 according to RSCI; it's very unlikely they'll all dominate, because how many teams have 4 players dominate anyway? Plus they have talent coming back, including Allen. But if I had to pick one team to w in the title right now, they'd be my pick.

I guess my point is some people are already expecting them to automatically win the ACC(including people here). The ACC is way to difficult to automatically write other teams off. I don't disagree they deserve to be number 1 to start.

 

[Knicks411]

The 2014s had some real college stars, but that 2015 group is a bunch of non-entities from top to bottom: guys who didn't do much for good teams, guys who may or may not have done something for teams that don't matter, and Ingram (who I've talked about before - fine player, good numbers, high draft pick, but I didn't see him do anything of note for Duke, and I think many Duke fans would agree).

I dunno, Ingram averaged 17-7 last year and made second team all league. I think he was a pretty good player. My point was more that the hit rate on top 10 freshmen I think it much better than it is even if you go from like 11-25 or whatever.

I guess my point is some people are already expecting them to automatically win the ACC(including people here). The ACC is way to difficult to automatically write other teams off. I don't disagree they deserve to be number 1 to start.

Sure. They're my pick, I think it's pretty obvious they should be the pick, but there's no reason to cede anything to anyone. the 18 conference games are going to be played no matter what.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Man were the Harrison twins overrated or what though...

 

[Knicks411]

Man were the Harrison twins overrated or what though...

That's a real weird one. I wonder if the gimmick of them being twins helped their ranking? (I'm only half joking here...)