Toyminator's 2003-2004 ACC Conference Preview

As I predicted last season, the ACC struggled to overcome the loss of abundant talent and the inconsistency of its young stars. Wake Forest relied heavily on the league's top senior and a host of promising youngsters to propel themselves to the top of the conference. Coming off a national championship, Maryland proved they still had plenty of talent to reach the NCAA Tournament once again. However, neither made much noise last March once postseason play began. Duke, the league's most hyped team, managed to make it to the Sweet Sixteen, but no further. This was no surprise to those who truly follow college basketball, as the Blue Devils were overated all season long by the no-nothing windbags of the major media. All in all, it was a disappointing season for the ACC.

Fortunately, those promising young stars of the league have gained valuable experience which should bolster the ACC and return it to national prominence. Two teams in particular, North Carolina and Duke, will lead the way. Despite the loss of Dahntay Jones, Duke should be improved thanks to its talented sophomore class, experienced backcourt, and the arrival of heralded freshman Luol Deng. North Carolina may have the most talented trio in the country with sophomores Ray Felton, Rashad McCants and Sean May. The Tar Heels were playing great ball before May's injury, so there's no reason they can't get back to that level, especially with new coach Roy Williams on the sidelines. Defending conference champs Wake Forest may miss MVP Josh Howard, but there's still plenty of pieces remaining to make another run at it this season. Maryland and North Carolina State should also be competitive, but the real sleeper in the league is Florida State. Leonard Hamilton is quickly rebuilding the program with the help of the nation's top rated recruiting class. Look for the Seminoles to beat Duke again, along with a few other top teams this season, as they quickly move up the conference!

ON THE RISE: Florida State
The Seminoles already had some quality players returning this season in Tim Pickett and Anthony Richardson. Now add in the nation's top recruiting class and you can see why I believe this team will be the most improved in the country! Coach Hamilton has added 3 high impact players for this season, including some promising big men to strengthen their frontline. If he can get this team to improve offensively as much as they have defensively, then look for FSU to start knocking on the NCAA's door this season!

IN DECLINE: Virginia
I've given up on the Cavaliers! This seemingly talented team continues to underachieve year after year, so why should things change now that their best players have moved on. Coach Gillen continues to attract highly regarded prospects to Charlottesville (this season is no exception), but somehow can't get them to play to their potential. There's something amiss with this program, and it may not heal itself on its own. Another poor season could mean Virginia will be looking for a new coach in March!

1. NORTH CAROLINA

Strengths: Loads of talent, but now have a coach that can maximize it! Potent, quick offensive team. Aggressive team defense.
Weakness: Poor rebounding team. Inconsistent play at times. Poor FT shooting team.
Outlook: The Tar Heels' NIT bid last season was a good start. Hiring Roy Williams this season should bring them back to national prominence. He should provide the necessary discipline and confidence for this talented group to make a run at the championship this season!

2. DUKE

Strengths: High scoring team, thanks to their great shooting ability. Solid team defense. Limit their turnovers.
Weakness: Poor rebounding team. Poor ball distribution.
Outlook: Duke has some talented wings and a promising big man in Williams, but need improved play from Duhon and Randolph if they want to recapture the conference title and reach the Final Four. Either way, they should at least equal last season's success.

3. WAKE FOREST

Strengths: Excel at the fundamentals: rebounding, defense, FT shooting. Strong, deep backcourt.
Weakness: Need better ball handling & distribution. Little frontcourt depth. Loss of Howard.
Outlook: The Deacons may have lost the league's MVP, but gain probably the country's top point guard in Chris Paul, who should win the starting spot sooner than later. This team is still pretty solid and should have another fulfilling season.

4. FLORIDA STATE

Strengths: Excellent team defense (no surpise with coach Hamilton). Very quick, athletic, deep and experienced team.
Weakness: Weak rebounding team. Poor ball handling & distribution. Need to improve outside shooting.
Outlook: Besides boosting the overall talent of the squad, this season's recruiting class addresses many of the team's weaknesses. Look for the Seminoles to be one of the most improved team's in the country and reach postseason play. One thing's for sure...the days of cellar dwelling are over in Tallahassee!

5. NORTH CAROLINA STATE

Strengths: Good shooting team, especially FT shooting. Very quick and experienced team. Hodge's scoring ability.
Weakness: PG...anyone see a PG? Poor rebounding team. Weak bench with few big men.
Outlook: The unexpected loss of Powell can be overcome, but coach Sendak missed the boat by not recruiting a point guard. With Hodge forced to play the point, it takes away some of his scoring ability and makes this team less dangerous. Bubble bound again!

6. MARYLAND

Strengths: Excellent team defense is a given. The rest is unknown, but should be a decent shooting and rebounding team.
Weakness: Very inexperienced with no proven scorers. Inconsistent play, especially on the road, should be expected.
Outlook: The Terps are rebuilding with a ton of talented freshmen and sophomores. Coach Williams will make this team competitive, but another trip to the NCAA Tournament may be too much to ask this season.

7. GEORGIA TECH

Strengths: Good team defense. Strong, quick, deep backcourt.
Weakness: Weak frontcourt with little inside scoring and rebounding. Commit too many turnovers.
Outlook: What should have been a breakout season this year got squashed by the early exodus of Bosh and Nelson. Their backcourt is good enough to win some games, but the frontcourt will struggle in this league.

8. VIRGINIA

Strengths: Good rebounding team. Good 3-pt shooting team. Lots of depth.
Weakness: Horrible ball handling & distribution. Poor team defense. Poor FT shooting team. Way too many turnovers!
Outlook: Not having high expectations may actually help this team and its fans cope with this season because from the looks of things, it won't be a memorable one!

9. CLEMSON

Strengths: Big, deep frontcourt that rebounds very well. Good team defense.
Weakness: Loss of Scott at PG leaves a big hole. Poor ball handling & distribution. Limited offense. Poor FT shooting team. Road woes.
Outlook: The Tigers are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Miami and Virginia Tech next season, so they can finally beat up on someone. However, they first have to get through this long season!

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Last updated on 10/20/03 by toyminator@prodigy.net