My intent with these next two sections was to add some additional humor via photos, but, apparently, there is no ability to do this on this board. I'm disappointed because you all would have gotten some great laughs, but I can fully understand why this site would not want posters to have that ability. The photos would have gone where you see gaps. Oh well, hope you enjoy this anyway!
THE MIDDLINS’ – PART 2
Here are the picks for 4th through 7th place.
7th place: Virginia Polytechnical Institute’s Gobblers (last year’s finish: tie for 7th)
The Hokies were the surprise of the ACC last season, finishing in a tie for 7th place, breaking their 4-year string of last place finishes and exceeding all pre-season picks that had them near the bottom of the conference. Had it not been for Miami soaring into the top 10 nationally last season and finishing in a tie for second in the ACC, Coach Buzz Williams (aka “Curly) would have been hands-down winner of the conference coach-of-the-year award.
(In lieu of the photo that wouldn't copy and paste here, go to Google and google the words "Look alike pictures Buzz Williams Curly Howard." Pretty hilarious!)
The Gobblers returned to their once-lofty heights of the NIT Tournament where they had not been since Uncle Fester (aka Seth Greenberg) led them there for the 4th straight time in 2011.
(In lieu of the photo that wouldn't go here, Google pics of both Seth Greenberg and "Uncle Fester" from the Adams Family. Pretty amazing similarity!)
The question for the Hokies this season will be can they take the next step and reach their first NCAA tournament in a decade? Part of the answer to that question will likely come from their out-of-conference schedule. The Turkeys had too many RPI creampuffs on their schedule last season, then struggled to beat them, even losing to Alabama State. That out-of-conference performance will have to change this year or else the Chokies may again find themselves in a once familiar place – the Seth Greenberg Invitational (aka, the NCAA Bubble.)
VPI was a royal pain in the keister to play last year. Coach Curly put 4 quick, good –shooting guards on the floor together most of the time and forced the opposition to try and solve the mismatches this created. But Tech’s strength was also their weakness as they lacked any serious threat in the paint. Expect the same look from VT this season as most of their team returns intact and Curly failed to secure any real help down low. Guards Seth Allen, Justin Bibbs, Devin Wilson, and Justin Robinson all return to create Hokie Havoc on both ends of the floor. One significant backcourt contributor, Jalen Hudson, decided to transfer, but one of the prior year’s top backcourt players, Ahmed Hill, returns from an injury red-shirt year to replace his minutes. Chris Clarke, a former high school teammate of UVA’s Devon Hall, came on strong late in his freshman season after an early season injury forced him to miss more than half of the season. Clarke provided a real spark and showed he can play either the 3 or 4 position for the Hokies. One has to wonder, however, how satisfied Clarke will remain if he has to continually play out of position at the 4, as the Hokies have only 2 big men skilled enough to play inside. One of them, stretch-4 Zack LeDay, was a huge surprise last season, finding a never-before-displayed 3-point shot in the Hokies upset of UVA in the dark confines at Bleaksburg, VA. LeDay’s other mate in the post will be rising sophomore Kerry Blackshear, Jr. who showed nice improvement during the season. Two of Tech’s other bigs are gone and Curly brought in Kadim Sy from Oak Hill Academy. Sy is a project who will probably not see the floor much this season unless there are some serious injuries upfront.
Curly’s hoopsters always play hard and their efforts will likely lead them to the same spot in the conference as last season. A better non-conference showing should stamp their ticket somewhere in March and at least secure them a return trip to the Seth Greenberg Invitational.
If you are looking for a theme to the order of my picks, you need look no further than here. To be a top team, you need to be good in all areas of the game. But the game has been evolving the past few years similarly at both the collegiate and pro levels. The teams that have separated themselves at the top are the ones who have players that can control the ball on the offense end via the dribble, and, create separation, penetrate, and hit the outside shot. Just look at the last 3 NCAA champs: UConn, Duke, and Villanova, or the past 2 NBA champs, Golden State and Cleveland. Virginia Tech is an extreme example of what great guard play can do. They have virtually no inside game on either end of the floor, yet they are able to be competitive in the country’s toughest conference by controlling the game and forcing their will on teams via this kind of guard play (apparently, Curly was the smartest of the Stooges.) Imagine what this Tech team would be like if they added a player like Akil Mitchell to this current roster! Thankfully, they haven’t and I can trash talk here and not have to listen to all my Hokie relatives and friends outside of football season.
Top returning players: Zack LeDay, 15.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg; Seth Allen, 14.7 ppg, 2.5 apg; Justin Bibbs, 11.7 ppg; Chris Clarke, 8.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg; Justin Robinson, 7.3 ppg, 2.8 apg; Kerry Blackshear, Jr., 6.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg.
Newcomers of significance: Ahmed Hill (returning from redshirt injury: 8.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg as a freshman.)
6th place
Florida State Seminoles (last season’s finish: tied for 11th)
This admittedly is my shakiest pick of the preseason. Leonard Hamilton recruiting strategy seems to be aimed at recruiting the largest, most-athletic bodies he can find that aren’t necessarily good basketball players, then he tries to teach them how to play. This often doesn’t work and last year was no different as the Seminoles struggled to an 11th place tie with Georgia Tech. It was their 4th straight season finishing at .500 or less in-conference. But Hamilton is only 5 years removed from an ACC Tournament Championship in 2012 as well as FSU’s 4th straight NCAA appearance and back-to-back seasons of 11-5 and 12-4 in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. Last season’s 2nd leading scorer, freshman Malik Beasley, declared for and was drafted in the NBA draft. FSU’s 4th and 5th leading scorers (Bookert andBojanovsky) have completed their eligibility as well. Which version of Florida State are we going to get? The answer may lie in both the recruiting class as well as who returns.
It’s just very difficult to ignore the 3 future NBA players that FSU will have in its starting lineup this year. Leading scorer and rising sophomore Dwayne Bacon returns after spurning the NBA draft, stating that he was dissatisfied that FSU had not won anything while he was there. He’ll join another star, Xavier Rathan-Mayes, in the backcourt to give FSU an athletic, talented duo controlling the ball. Joining them will be consensus top-10 recruit, Jonathan Isaac, who at 6’10”, is listed as a small forward by many recruiting services. That trio is going to be quite a handful for any team to contend with. Former starter, 7’1” center Michael Ojo, returns after injury for a 5th year, and could give the Seminoles an intimidating presence in the middle if he’s ready to play more than the 8.8 minutes per game he averaged in his prior season.. 6’9” senior Jarquez Smith will likely round out the starting five to give FSU one very large, long, and dangerous starting five.
FSU will have depth as well. 6’6’’ Terrance Mann had a nice freshman year and will certainly see time on the wing. More depth in the backcourt will come from senior Benjii Bell, and newcomer Trent Forrest, a consensus top-60 pick. Phil Cofer returns up front for his junior season. The Seminoles hope that 7’4’ JM Christ Koumadje can perform some miracles in the middle and give Ojo some rest this season. If Hamilton can get these guys playing together, FSU is a threat to go a long way come March.
Top returning players: Dwayne Bacon, 15.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg; Xavier Rathan-Mayes, 11.8 ppg, 4.4 apg; Terrance Mann, 5.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg; Jarquez Smith, 5.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg.
Newcomers of significance: Jonathan Isaac, 6’10” F; Trent Forrest, 6’3” SG.
5th place
LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (last season’s finish: 4th place)
How much will the pending NCAA investigation of “stripper gate” affect the Cardinals play this season? If last year is any indication? Not much. At least not in the regular season standings. Every year I want to pick Louisville lower than they finish, but I’ve learned my lesson with Rick Pitino’s teams – never underestimate them.
Louisville’s H.O.R. (head of recruiting)
(In lieu of the photo that wouldn't go here, use your imagination. )
Louisville loses its top 3 scorers, Damion Lee, Trey Lewis, and Chinanu Onuaku. But Pitino is a master at defense and recruits the athletes he needs to play it, and gets just enough offense out of them to consistently win 25 or more games. Returning for his 3rd season is point guard, Quentin Snider, the Cardinals’ leading assist man and top returning scorer. He’ll be joined in the backcourt by Donovan Mitchell, a rising star who averaged 7.4 points per game in his inaugural season. Jaylen Johnson is a talented young junior and at 6’9”, can play either forward position. Mangok Mathiang, Raymond Spalding, and Anas Mahmoud give the Cardinals some excellent size and talent in the frontcourt. 6’7” Deng Adel’s 7-ft. wingspan and off-the-charts athleticism are hard to ignore.The top newcomer this year is V.J. King, a consensus top-25 recruit who may possibly start at the 3 from day one.
The one variable that could change all this would be if Rick Pitino were forced to resign because of the scandal. But, playing fairly by the rules has never been a huge priority in the State of Kentucky and the likelihood of Pitino being forced out is slim. So, look for the Cardinals to remain a top team in both the ACC and on the national scene.
Top returning players: Quentin Snider, 9.4 ppg, 3.5 apg; Donovan Mitchell, 7.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg; Jaylen Johnson, 5.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg; Mangok Mathiang, 7.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.2 bpg; Raymond Spalding, 5.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg;
Newcomers of significance: V.J. King, SF
4th place
SYRACUSE ORANGEMEN (last season’s finish: tied for 9th)
This pick is sure to bring a lot of debate, but Syracuse gelled at the right time last season and (ouch, painful memory!) made it to the final four, losing to fellow ACC member UNC. Had Malachi Richardson not opted for the NBA draft, I would have picked this team in the same spot, but put them in the Elite section that will follow this section. The Orangemen also lose the rest of their backcourt as Michael Gbinije and Trevor “Never saw a shot I wouldn’t take” Cooney used up their eligibility. But the ‘Cuse return enough key players and add some talented “fits” for their zone to once again make Jim Boeheim’s team a top team nationally and a serious threat to go far in March.
Returning to manage the point after missing last season with an injury is 6’3” Kaleb Joseph* - see edit below. He’ll be joined right away by Syracuse’s top recruit in the backcourt, the very talented, consensus top-35 recruit, 6’5” Tyus Battle. They’ll be pushed by rising sophomore 6’5” Franklin Howard who got some excellent experience last season at both guard spots. Tyler Lydon had an excellent freshman season last year on the frontline and was particularly strong down the stretch both defensively and offensively. He’ll be joined in the frontcourt by strongman Tyler Roberson, one of the conference’s top rebounders, who will be looking to cap off his career with a strong senior season. While 6’9” Chinonso Obokoh will return to play inside, he could very well lose most of his playing time to 7’2” Providence transfer Pascal Chukwu. Chukwu sat out last season, but seems like a perfect fit for the Syracuse zone. If Dejuan Coleman can ever recover fully from his knee injuries, the Orangemen will be very strong and deep along the frontline. Another talented newcomer who could crack the rotation is incoming freshman Matt Moyer, a small forward who was a consensus top-65 recruit.
Despite the NCAA penalties which have limited Syracuse to 10 scholarship players, the Orangemen are both deep and talented. Jim Boeheim has the long players he likes to play his zone and he will be looking to go out a winner in his final two years. He has the system and talent to do it.
EDIT : Kaleb Joseph announced this past April 11 that he's transferring to Creighton. But just as soon as I found this out, Taurean Thompson, the 6'10" consensus top 100 pick listed #84 by Rivals, committed to Syracuse on July 2nd. The 'Cuse are going to have a sick front line! And John Gillion, a speedy point guard from Colorado State is transferring to Syracuse as a graduate transfer. Gillion averaged 13.2 ppg, 3.8 apg, and 87.9% FT and is known as a good 3-point specialist even from NBA range.
Top returning players: Tyler Lydon, 10.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.8 bpg; Tyler Roberson, 8.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg; Dejuan Coleman, 4.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.9 bpg; Franklin Howard, 1.6 ppg, 1.8 apg.
Newcomers of significance: Tyus Battle, SG; Matt Moyer, SF; Paschal Chukwu, C (transfer from Providence.) Taurean Thompson, 6'10" F; John Gillion (graduate transfer from Colorado St.)
THE MIDDLINS’ – PART 2
Here are the picks for 4th through 7th place.
7th place: Virginia Polytechnical Institute’s Gobblers (last year’s finish: tie for 7th)
The Hokies were the surprise of the ACC last season, finishing in a tie for 7th place, breaking their 4-year string of last place finishes and exceeding all pre-season picks that had them near the bottom of the conference. Had it not been for Miami soaring into the top 10 nationally last season and finishing in a tie for second in the ACC, Coach Buzz Williams (aka “Curly) would have been hands-down winner of the conference coach-of-the-year award.
(In lieu of the photo that wouldn't copy and paste here, go to Google and google the words "Look alike pictures Buzz Williams Curly Howard." Pretty hilarious!)
The Gobblers returned to their once-lofty heights of the NIT Tournament where they had not been since Uncle Fester (aka Seth Greenberg) led them there for the 4th straight time in 2011.
(In lieu of the photo that wouldn't go here, Google pics of both Seth Greenberg and "Uncle Fester" from the Adams Family. Pretty amazing similarity!)
The question for the Hokies this season will be can they take the next step and reach their first NCAA tournament in a decade? Part of the answer to that question will likely come from their out-of-conference schedule. The Turkeys had too many RPI creampuffs on their schedule last season, then struggled to beat them, even losing to Alabama State. That out-of-conference performance will have to change this year or else the Chokies may again find themselves in a once familiar place – the Seth Greenberg Invitational (aka, the NCAA Bubble.)
VPI was a royal pain in the keister to play last year. Coach Curly put 4 quick, good –shooting guards on the floor together most of the time and forced the opposition to try and solve the mismatches this created. But Tech’s strength was also their weakness as they lacked any serious threat in the paint. Expect the same look from VT this season as most of their team returns intact and Curly failed to secure any real help down low. Guards Seth Allen, Justin Bibbs, Devin Wilson, and Justin Robinson all return to create Hokie Havoc on both ends of the floor. One significant backcourt contributor, Jalen Hudson, decided to transfer, but one of the prior year’s top backcourt players, Ahmed Hill, returns from an injury red-shirt year to replace his minutes. Chris Clarke, a former high school teammate of UVA’s Devon Hall, came on strong late in his freshman season after an early season injury forced him to miss more than half of the season. Clarke provided a real spark and showed he can play either the 3 or 4 position for the Hokies. One has to wonder, however, how satisfied Clarke will remain if he has to continually play out of position at the 4, as the Hokies have only 2 big men skilled enough to play inside. One of them, stretch-4 Zack LeDay, was a huge surprise last season, finding a never-before-displayed 3-point shot in the Hokies upset of UVA in the dark confines at Bleaksburg, VA. LeDay’s other mate in the post will be rising sophomore Kerry Blackshear, Jr. who showed nice improvement during the season. Two of Tech’s other bigs are gone and Curly brought in Kadim Sy from Oak Hill Academy. Sy is a project who will probably not see the floor much this season unless there are some serious injuries upfront.
Curly’s hoopsters always play hard and their efforts will likely lead them to the same spot in the conference as last season. A better non-conference showing should stamp their ticket somewhere in March and at least secure them a return trip to the Seth Greenberg Invitational.
If you are looking for a theme to the order of my picks, you need look no further than here. To be a top team, you need to be good in all areas of the game. But the game has been evolving the past few years similarly at both the collegiate and pro levels. The teams that have separated themselves at the top are the ones who have players that can control the ball on the offense end via the dribble, and, create separation, penetrate, and hit the outside shot. Just look at the last 3 NCAA champs: UConn, Duke, and Villanova, or the past 2 NBA champs, Golden State and Cleveland. Virginia Tech is an extreme example of what great guard play can do. They have virtually no inside game on either end of the floor, yet they are able to be competitive in the country’s toughest conference by controlling the game and forcing their will on teams via this kind of guard play (apparently, Curly was the smartest of the Stooges.) Imagine what this Tech team would be like if they added a player like Akil Mitchell to this current roster! Thankfully, they haven’t and I can trash talk here and not have to listen to all my Hokie relatives and friends outside of football season.
Top returning players: Zack LeDay, 15.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg; Seth Allen, 14.7 ppg, 2.5 apg; Justin Bibbs, 11.7 ppg; Chris Clarke, 8.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg; Justin Robinson, 7.3 ppg, 2.8 apg; Kerry Blackshear, Jr., 6.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg.
Newcomers of significance: Ahmed Hill (returning from redshirt injury: 8.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg as a freshman.)
6th place
Florida State Seminoles (last season’s finish: tied for 11th)
This admittedly is my shakiest pick of the preseason. Leonard Hamilton recruiting strategy seems to be aimed at recruiting the largest, most-athletic bodies he can find that aren’t necessarily good basketball players, then he tries to teach them how to play. This often doesn’t work and last year was no different as the Seminoles struggled to an 11th place tie with Georgia Tech. It was their 4th straight season finishing at .500 or less in-conference. But Hamilton is only 5 years removed from an ACC Tournament Championship in 2012 as well as FSU’s 4th straight NCAA appearance and back-to-back seasons of 11-5 and 12-4 in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. Last season’s 2nd leading scorer, freshman Malik Beasley, declared for and was drafted in the NBA draft. FSU’s 4th and 5th leading scorers (Bookert andBojanovsky) have completed their eligibility as well. Which version of Florida State are we going to get? The answer may lie in both the recruiting class as well as who returns.
It’s just very difficult to ignore the 3 future NBA players that FSU will have in its starting lineup this year. Leading scorer and rising sophomore Dwayne Bacon returns after spurning the NBA draft, stating that he was dissatisfied that FSU had not won anything while he was there. He’ll join another star, Xavier Rathan-Mayes, in the backcourt to give FSU an athletic, talented duo controlling the ball. Joining them will be consensus top-10 recruit, Jonathan Isaac, who at 6’10”, is listed as a small forward by many recruiting services. That trio is going to be quite a handful for any team to contend with. Former starter, 7’1” center Michael Ojo, returns after injury for a 5th year, and could give the Seminoles an intimidating presence in the middle if he’s ready to play more than the 8.8 minutes per game he averaged in his prior season.. 6’9” senior Jarquez Smith will likely round out the starting five to give FSU one very large, long, and dangerous starting five.
FSU will have depth as well. 6’6’’ Terrance Mann had a nice freshman year and will certainly see time on the wing. More depth in the backcourt will come from senior Benjii Bell, and newcomer Trent Forrest, a consensus top-60 pick. Phil Cofer returns up front for his junior season. The Seminoles hope that 7’4’ JM Christ Koumadje can perform some miracles in the middle and give Ojo some rest this season. If Hamilton can get these guys playing together, FSU is a threat to go a long way come March.
Top returning players: Dwayne Bacon, 15.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg; Xavier Rathan-Mayes, 11.8 ppg, 4.4 apg; Terrance Mann, 5.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg; Jarquez Smith, 5.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg.
Newcomers of significance: Jonathan Isaac, 6’10” F; Trent Forrest, 6’3” SG.
5th place
LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (last season’s finish: 4th place)
How much will the pending NCAA investigation of “stripper gate” affect the Cardinals play this season? If last year is any indication? Not much. At least not in the regular season standings. Every year I want to pick Louisville lower than they finish, but I’ve learned my lesson with Rick Pitino’s teams – never underestimate them.
Louisville’s H.O.R. (head of recruiting)
(In lieu of the photo that wouldn't go here, use your imagination. )
Louisville loses its top 3 scorers, Damion Lee, Trey Lewis, and Chinanu Onuaku. But Pitino is a master at defense and recruits the athletes he needs to play it, and gets just enough offense out of them to consistently win 25 or more games. Returning for his 3rd season is point guard, Quentin Snider, the Cardinals’ leading assist man and top returning scorer. He’ll be joined in the backcourt by Donovan Mitchell, a rising star who averaged 7.4 points per game in his inaugural season. Jaylen Johnson is a talented young junior and at 6’9”, can play either forward position. Mangok Mathiang, Raymond Spalding, and Anas Mahmoud give the Cardinals some excellent size and talent in the frontcourt. 6’7” Deng Adel’s 7-ft. wingspan and off-the-charts athleticism are hard to ignore.The top newcomer this year is V.J. King, a consensus top-25 recruit who may possibly start at the 3 from day one.
The one variable that could change all this would be if Rick Pitino were forced to resign because of the scandal. But, playing fairly by the rules has never been a huge priority in the State of Kentucky and the likelihood of Pitino being forced out is slim. So, look for the Cardinals to remain a top team in both the ACC and on the national scene.
Top returning players: Quentin Snider, 9.4 ppg, 3.5 apg; Donovan Mitchell, 7.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg; Jaylen Johnson, 5.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg; Mangok Mathiang, 7.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.2 bpg; Raymond Spalding, 5.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg;
Newcomers of significance: V.J. King, SF
4th place
SYRACUSE ORANGEMEN (last season’s finish: tied for 9th)
This pick is sure to bring a lot of debate, but Syracuse gelled at the right time last season and (ouch, painful memory!) made it to the final four, losing to fellow ACC member UNC. Had Malachi Richardson not opted for the NBA draft, I would have picked this team in the same spot, but put them in the Elite section that will follow this section. The Orangemen also lose the rest of their backcourt as Michael Gbinije and Trevor “Never saw a shot I wouldn’t take” Cooney used up their eligibility. But the ‘Cuse return enough key players and add some talented “fits” for their zone to once again make Jim Boeheim’s team a top team nationally and a serious threat to go far in March.
Returning to manage the point after missing last season with an injury is 6’3” Kaleb Joseph* - see edit below. He’ll be joined right away by Syracuse’s top recruit in the backcourt, the very talented, consensus top-35 recruit, 6’5” Tyus Battle. They’ll be pushed by rising sophomore 6’5” Franklin Howard who got some excellent experience last season at both guard spots. Tyler Lydon had an excellent freshman season last year on the frontline and was particularly strong down the stretch both defensively and offensively. He’ll be joined in the frontcourt by strongman Tyler Roberson, one of the conference’s top rebounders, who will be looking to cap off his career with a strong senior season. While 6’9” Chinonso Obokoh will return to play inside, he could very well lose most of his playing time to 7’2” Providence transfer Pascal Chukwu. Chukwu sat out last season, but seems like a perfect fit for the Syracuse zone. If Dejuan Coleman can ever recover fully from his knee injuries, the Orangemen will be very strong and deep along the frontline. Another talented newcomer who could crack the rotation is incoming freshman Matt Moyer, a small forward who was a consensus top-65 recruit.
Despite the NCAA penalties which have limited Syracuse to 10 scholarship players, the Orangemen are both deep and talented. Jim Boeheim has the long players he likes to play his zone and he will be looking to go out a winner in his final two years. He has the system and talent to do it.
EDIT : Kaleb Joseph announced this past April 11 that he's transferring to Creighton. But just as soon as I found this out, Taurean Thompson, the 6'10" consensus top 100 pick listed #84 by Rivals, committed to Syracuse on July 2nd. The 'Cuse are going to have a sick front line! And John Gillion, a speedy point guard from Colorado State is transferring to Syracuse as a graduate transfer. Gillion averaged 13.2 ppg, 3.8 apg, and 87.9% FT and is known as a good 3-point specialist even from NBA range.
Top returning players: Tyler Lydon, 10.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.8 bpg; Tyler Roberson, 8.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg; Dejuan Coleman, 4.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.9 bpg; Franklin Howard, 1.6 ppg, 1.8 apg.
Newcomers of significance: Tyus Battle, SG; Matt Moyer, SF; Paschal Chukwu, C (transfer from Providence.) Taurean Thompson, 6'10" F; John Gillion (graduate transfer from Colorado St.)
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