STF Conference Reports: The ACC

Alright, everyone knows that Duke/UNC is tomorrow. Big Deal. I can't hype it up more than anyone else has, so let's just assume that this game will be amazing and very, very important. Although Carolina is playing great, I still like the Dukies, by three at home. I will even be in Durham tomorrow for the contest (though not at Cameron - dang). But still, now I can die happy.

Instead, the real intrigue lies in the last weekend games that will make an even bigger difference -- the ones that will help solidify/destroy a team's hopes of making the Dance.

3/8 NC State @ Wake -- Wake has a microscopic chance of getting into the tournament. The losses last week probably killed them. But, they are my super "darkhorse" bid to win the ACC tournament and lock up an automatic bid. Chances of making the dance, 1%. Chances of winning the ACC tournament and getting the automatic bid, 2 %.

3/9 VTech @ Clemons -- Tigers are in. That is for sure. However, they will need momentum from this game the conference tournament to get a better seed. The last thing these guys want is and 8-9 matchup. Get to the ACC semi-finals and make a strong showing, they could get as high as a 5. Probably a 6 or 7. Hokies also right on the bubble.

3/9 Maryland @ Virginia -- Maryland is probably in to. Though, not a slam dunk like Clemson. Pound on UVa and don't have a blow up in the ACC tournament. Chances of a blow up, 30%. They are still probably in, blow up or not.

This last weekend, plus the upcoming tournament (which will be previewed, along with my picks for ACC POY, ROY and COY) will decide a lot. Although the ACC is rated highly as a conference, they could get as few as 4 teams in. If things go the right way, they could get 6. I will take the middle ground and say 5.

Cheers, to the most wonderful time of the year.

STF Conference Reports: The ACC

Looks like this post (much like Matt Causey) is going to be short and sweet. Didn't get to see as much ball this week as I would have liked (damn you, real job), but I have read enough to be relevant on this post. Screw this whole leap year excitement. Anyone ready for the Duke/UNC rematch to decide the East #1 seed?

Team of the Week: North Carolina

Was there any doubt? Besides the game at Duke, UNC has rolled over its opponents on way to regaining the #1 ranking in the polls this coming week. Hansbrough has been unstoppable, Quentin Thomas has been viable and the rest of the rosters has started playing some defense. I do not see another loss coming until they get to that awesome March 6th showdown in Cameron. Then, who knows. Oh, and in case you haven't heard, Ty Lawson is back. So, that's kind of a big deal.

Worst of the Week: Wake Forest

Sorry Deacs. You had all this NCAA Tournament momentum after that huge win against Duke. Then, you come out and are barely competitive against UNC. That is understandable, seeing how well they have been playing, but you didn't even scare them a bit. Then, you get to polish that resume a bit more by getting Maryland at home... and you blow it. You live by the freewheelin' style, you die by the freewheelin' style. If you are trying to make the tournament, you should start by knocking off another probably tournament team on your home turf. Not the way to keep the momentum going.

Player of the Week: Tyler Hansbrough, UNC

I have done my best to keep him off this list so far this year, but in the end, much like every team he competes against, you just have to give up at some point. The kid has been absolute dynamite since Ty Lawson went out and if it weren't for this pesky freshman in Manhattan, KS, ole Tyler would have National Player of the Year all locked up. Perhaps the Lawson injury was the best thing that could have happened to this team. With him out, they have been forced to rely on the burly shoulders of their dominant All American. Which seemingly everyone knew (except for Roy Williams). Fate forced your hand there, Roy, and now you look like a genius. Keep Hansbrough on the court and you won't be leaving the state again until you (potentially) get to San Antonio.

What To Watch For:

3/1 Duke @ NC State (could decide Freshman of the Year in the ACC)

3/1 Wake @ Georgia Tech (on thin ice, the Deacs need this for a NCAA Tournament push)

3/1 Virginia @ Miami (read the parenthetical analysis directly above me. Substitute Canes for Deacs)

3/2 Clemson @ Maryland (one team will rise, another will fall -- in the NCAA Tournament seeding)

3/4 FSU @ Carolina (you think Uche Echefu wishes he would have picked the Tar Heels now?)

STF Conference Report: The ACC

Obviously a disheartening week for yours truly. However, I will do my best to be objective in my weekly ACC analysis and not crap all over all the atrocities that troubled my Devils this past week. With that being said... here comes a big plate of crow, just waiting for me to eat it up.

Team of the Week: Miami
Its too bad that Wake did not play/win another game this week, because they would have been a lock. However, they get a hearty runner-up vote in my book. Miami decided it was time to make a run for the NCAA tournament this week and managed to pull off two victories in very dramatic fashion. Both single point wins! Although most people did not see the Duke/Miami game on Wednesday (stupid local coverage), they missed seeing a team that, when properly motivated, can hang with anyone in the league. A total team effort, plenty of scoring and solid defense from everyone, big free throws from Jack McClinton and even bigger dunks by some guy named Dwayne Collins. Who knew? However, Miami, after looking like a tournament team early in the season has really started to turn things around. They have found their lost aggression and their athleticism can confound most of the teams left on their schedule. They are an extreme dark-horse, but if they can win out and put up a good showing in the ACC tournament, they could squeeze in. Definitely worth a follow the rest of the season.

Worst of the Week: Duke
Two tough away games. Two nights where this team walked out like they believed everything that was written about them just a week ago (not by me, but by major media). They look like they have lost that fighting spirit that they relied on earlier in the season -- when they had doubters and no one thought they were in UNC's class (and they still probably aren't). You can't blame those sorry performances on injuries (even though Gerald Henderson has been a complete non-factor since his wrist injury). They have had poor attitudes, poor teamwork, poor ballhandling and atrocious defense. Time to make some more adjustments, K. When you stop the passing lines, people drive on you (and that is an Achilles heel with this Duke team). So, now its time to stop the drives. What are you gonna do? Plus, I have remarked to my friends how hard it will be for a team to stop Duke's terrific 3-point attack, namely because they have so many people who are good (or great) shooters. Well, I was wrong. Thanks for making me look like a jackass, Blue Devils. Maybe the best thing that can happen to you is if you get crapped on a little by the media. You played better when that was happening.

Player of the Week: Jeff Teague, Wake Forest
Despite being the 9th best recruit entering the ACC this year (according to Rivals.com), Teague has become an absolute beast for Wake on both ends of the floor. He is nearly the leader for steals in the league, a dead eye shooter (when he is on a roll) and a crafty, speedy ball handler who can finish amidst tons of distractions. He has a killer attitude and plays with a huge chip on his shoulder. That is something Wake hasn't seen since the days of Josh Howard. His 26 point performance against Duke was incredible (as was teammate James Johnson's 24 point, 15 rebound performance) and he has gotten so much better as the season has gone along. On a team filled with burly big and lots of tweeners, he has provided new coach Dino Gaudio with an icy persona and a legit scorer. If he plays this strong the rest of the way, I could certainly envision an unheard of split ROY prize for Teague and Johnson. And just want til Amino & Co. make there way to Winston-Salem next year. YIKES!!

What To Watch For (Besides Duke falling apart):
2/26 Wake @ UNC (Can the Deacs pull a back-to-back beatdown?)
2/27 Miami @ Clemson (Clemson is probably already in the tournament, but Miami really needs this one)
2/27 Georgia Tech @ Duke (If Duke wants the East #1, they gotta start whipping people)
2/28 Maryland @ Wake (Substitute Maryland for Clemson and Wake for Miami, from 2 entries before)

STF Conference Reports: The ACC

Sorry, folks. But this one is gonna be quick and painless. Leaving the computer and out of town all weekend, so get ready for a rapid fire ACC report.

Team of the Week: Duke

I hate to keep saying it, but they are playing about as well as anyone right now. Teams keep talking about how they refuse to match up against Duke and "play their game," yet they still try to run small ball and end up getting crushed. Kyle Singler has certainly begun to blossom and Gerald Henderson's D is superb. I mean, they could stumble, and very well may, but they are truly imposing their will on teams. Coack K for National Coach of the Year? Don't be surprised if he gets some votes.

Worst of the Week: Clemson

I mean, seriously. No one can ever really pull for you guys against Carolina ever again after that crap. First, you let them off the hook in Littlejohn. Now... Not only do you blow a double digit lead in the final few minutes, you wanted to stick the dagger into yourself even further. You not only failed to get up the last shot in regulation (from which you had the entire shot clock to work with), but you let it happen again in overtime(I mean, seriously, WTF?). Then, you get pummelled in double OT, people start laughing at you and you sulk you way back to the other Carolina 0-for-everything-ever against the Heels. The Kelvin Sampson allegations were easier to take than this.

Players of the Week: Kyle Singler, Duke

Two different 20 point games. A matchup nightmare. Jumping all up in a dude's grill after a hard foul on Gerald Henderson. I just read this morning that he even leads the team in stitches, with 23. I got a message for you world. Get ready to hate, because the next great Dukie is upon us. Now, can he hold up for the back end of ACC season and the Tournaments. Duke's fate rests squarely on his perma-white shoulders.

What To Watch For:

2/16 Clemson @ NC State

2/17 Duke @ Wake Forest

2/19 Clemson @ Florida State

2/20 UNC @ NC State

2/20 VT @ Maryland

STF Conference Report: The ACC 2/8/2008

If they had only had Ty Lawson, then their two best shooters wouldn't have gone 4-24, their halfcourt offense would have flowed better, they would have been able to stop Duke's spacing (and subsequent ability to take Hansbrough away from the basket), Greg Paulus wouldn't have hit any of his shots and the rebounding margin would have been bigger than +1. If they only had Ty Lawson.

In other news, the ACC season is halfway over and there is only a modicum of drama left in the league. Duke and UNC are the clear front runners, with about 6-8 teams having a chance at a strong second half and possible post season acceptance and the rest of the league is horrific. Yep, sounds like we are back to normal on Tobacco Road.

Instead of doing a usual weekly report, I am going to do a quick breakdown of the teams at this point (i.e. where they stand, chances of making the tournament, coaches who better be sprucing up their resumes, etc.)

Stone Cold Lead Pipe Locks:
Duke -- Perhaps the most unusual team in the land. K has really flashed his coaching genius this year. A year after they said he has lost it, he has shown a cunning and adaptability that few others possess. Although a team full of shooters, its gonna be tough to get 6 guys to not shoot the ball well on any given night. A matchup nightmare and the clear leader on the race to the Raleigh/Charlotte NCAA bracket.
UNC -- The best player in the land and a lot of great complimentary pieces. Downright scary when they defend well and ignite one of the nation's most lethal fast breaks. Still a top 4 teams in most pundit's eyes. Built to go deep in the tournament and fueled by the Duke's 2 game lead, they could be eating up ACC opponents in the second half of conference play. If only Roy would learn how to make adjustments ;(

Should Make The Tournament ("Should" is the optimal word)
Clemson -- Deep, big and skilled, the Tigers can really disrupt the flow of most teams. Should they get an improbable win (based on historical repitition) in Chapel Hill this weekend, they could springboard into near-lock NCAAville. If they beat the teams they should the rest of the way, they are in. A victory or two in the ACC tourney would be good in the close proximity of Charlotte.

Maryland -- The NCAA committee is probably smart enough to realize that this is NOT the same team that lost to American earlier in the year. They are finally drinking some of that Gary Williams Ferocity Kool-Aid and already have a signature win against UNC. If their guards handle the ball and run the offense, the rest takes care of itself. Perhaps the easiest schedule (sans a game @ Duke) the rest of the way. If they aren't in the Dance, they only have themselves to blame.

Gotta Stop Beating Themselves
NC State -- Where did Brandon Costner go? A good win the other night, but they are gonna have to get on a serious tear (much like the end of last year) if they are gonna have a shot. El Sid needs to get his talented frontcourt to work together, or they have no shot. Gonzalez has played well (mostly) at the point. Gavin Grant needs to step up and be a leader. A long shot, but not THE longest shot. They get 3 of the 4 teams that are better than them (right now) at home, so take care of business.

People Still Believe In You, For Some Reason
Miami -- If you look at a lot of "reputable" sports sites, a lot of "experts" think that "if" the ACC can get "5" teams in the tournament, then "maybe/probably" the U will be it. "Not Likely." They were sitting on a gold mine coming in, but some uninspired play from their role players has led to a bunch of "close but no cigar" losses for the Canes. If Jack McClinton keeps up his campaign for All-ACC and the rest of the team plays hard, they "might" win enough games to get in, but its gonna be tough. Nah, forget it. At 2-6 in the first half of conference play, they are toast. No team with a losing record in the conference (and I don't see how they can avoid it) will get in the tournament. Unless Andy Katz wills them in with his telekinetic powers.

There You Go, Forgetting About Us...Again
Virginia Tech -- Every time I watch the Hokies, I fear for the other players on the court. They are lean, mean and feral. However, they are also very talented for a young team and people literally seem to be scared of playing them. Literally. Jeff Allen is a beast and Seth Greenberg has shown a true knack for both maximizing talent and generating passion/energy in his team. If not for K (yes, go ahead and call me biased) I would probably make Greenberg my coach of the year at this point. They still have a longgggggg shot (especially with no national press or landmark wins) but it can happen. I mean, the Giants beat the Patriots, right? My darkhorse to win the ACC tournament and get an automatic bid.

Back In Line for 2009
Wake Forest -- The Deacs are actually playing really well this year. They have two of the best freshmen you've never heard of (quick hands Jeff Teague and the awesome James Johnson) and the most improved player in the conference, Chas McFarland. However, you get the slightest feeling that the coach (and to an extent, the players) are really just waiting for next year when they bring in a superstar recruiting trio unlike any to ever arrive in Winston-Salem. They can give their coach, and their fans, a lot of confidence going into next year if they can finish strong and make the NIT, where they can surely do some damage, given the versatility of their lineup.
B.C. -- Up until about a week and a half ago, the Eagles were the clear cut #3 in the conference and were playing great. Then, reality happened. Now, they are meshed in with the rest of the pack, everyone has figured out their offense (Tyrese Rice or bust) and they can't seem to keep defensive juggernaut and swat-master Tyrelle Blair on the floor without picking up tons of fouls. This is still a young team as well. Al Skinner needs to drill a little more sense into them and find someone to get Rice off the ball more and get the rest of the team involved in the offense.
Georgia Tech -- These guys play tough. Are versatile. Have lots of interchangable parts. And, are well coached. Yet, they just cant seem to put together a winning streak. They are barely over .500 right now and looking like they may be running on empty. Injuries (and some surly attitudes) have kept them from being a cohesive team, but if there is 1 coach in the ACC who can turn it around, its Paul Hewitt. Just maybe not this year.

Welp, That Was Fun. See Ya Round
Florida State -- Leonard Hamilton is sort of the Isiah Thomas of the ACC. He takes on a lot of kids whose skills don't really fit and forces them to play his own brand of basketball, which is completely antithetical to their actual skill sets. He also finds the occasional diamond in the rough (Ryan Reid is a dynamite defender and rebounder), but on the whole, he does not have a clue how to make his team work. A lot of that comes from having about 20 combo guards, all of whom like to shoot and are allergic to passing. They have the talent, they just don't have the coaching or the discipline. Hamilton will be seeing pink slips in his dreams, no matter how the Seminoles fare from here on out. I wouldn't bet against VCU's Anthony Grant returning to Florida and taking this gig.
Virginia -- I am not even going to rip on Virginia. Mainly because they have one of my all-time favorite ACC players, Sean Singletary. He plays hard, has built up his draft stock every year, never given up on his team (even as they have given up on him) and will die trying to win a game. It's not his fault that Dave Leitao is just not a good talent evaluator or a great salesman that can lock up recruits early (before having to take whatever is left later in the year). I like Leitao and his teaching is strong, but I don't see how they can keep fan support, not to mention ticket sales to the new arena, up with this much losing. It ain't getting prettier any time soon. Another likely spot for Grant if Leitao is gone, but I suspect they might give him another year or two, even if that's not exactly the best decision.

So, we are going to have a great, albeit odd, second half of the ACC season. I expect plenty of more upsets, heartbreaks, buzzer beaters and brawls. It doesn't matter if you have no shot at the Tournament or are the front runner, you cannot take anything for granted in the ACC (god, I sound like Mike Hogwood). Regardless, its going to be a lot of fun from here on.

Dark Secrets Of College Basketball: Roy's Gameplan

For quite some time, I've suspected that Roy Williams is not good at making in-game adjustments. I get the distinct impression he comes to games with one specific game plan in mind, without backup. If his plan doesn't work, he'll run it until it works. It also doesn't help that when it comes down to executing the game plan, some of Carolina's players seem to have the attention span of a goldfish.

Last night, after a disappointing but not devastating loss to Duke, my fears about Roy were realized when I was walking around the now-vacant Dean Dome and came across what appeared to be his "cheat sheet".

So now, in a STF/Dark Secrets exclusive, I present to you the plan that Roy has brought into every ACC game so far this year. Needless to say, it's not a pretty sight for Heels fans.

STF Conference Report: The ACC 2/1/2008

Its getting to be that time of year again. Punxatawny Phil is going to try and pimp his shadow. Actors start sucking up for Oscars. And, Duke and UNC start pulling away from the rest of the ACC en route to the first of 2 death-matches every year. Its not that the rest of the ACC is bad -- in fact, Maryland, Wake Forest, Clemson and Miami have all had their spurts-- but as it usually is (last year being a glaring exception) the two teams in blue distance themselves like Lance Armstrong in the mountain stages. So, here's what's happening on Tobacco Road:

Team of the Week: Duke
Having not trailed all year at the half, Duke first back from their first 2 haltime defecits this past week in thwarting upset bids by the very capable Terps and the very red? Wolfpack. For a team that lacked any resolve last year, this team has become the living incarnation of it. Greg Paulus might be the most clutch shooter in the conference. Demarcus Nelson and Gerald Henderson are wreaking havoc on offense and defense and Kyle Singler has become the Phillip Seymour Hoffman of the league, capable of quirky, nuianced supporting performances but also scene stealing, dynamic lead roles when the lights are on him. Could be a "Beowulf"-esque battle in Chapel Hill this coming Thursday.

Worst of the Week: Boston College
A week ago, they were talked about as the clear cut #3 team in the conference and a step above the cluster**** of teams right below. So, what happens? They lose in OT, at home, to Virginia Tech. Then, they go in to the Dean Dome and get steamrolled (courtesy of a 21-0 run between the end of the first half and start of the second) by the Heels. They are plagued by foul trouble, offensive inconsistency and an inability to handle full court pressure. Yep, they sound just like everyone else they recently joined in that steaming pile right below Duke and Carolina.

Player of the Week: Jeff Teague, WF
Hardly referenced as one of the better freshmen in the league coming into the season, Jeff Teague has proved an invaluable part of the Wake resurgence. Starting for the injured L.D. Williams on Monday, Teague goes for a career-high 27 as the Deacs eek out a 2 point win against The U. An excellent long range bomber and second in the ACC in steals, Teague proves case-in-point that you don't have to wear McDonald's on your jersey before you head to school to be a potent force and major contributor to your team. Between him and (my current pick for ACC ROY) James Johnson, coupled with the recruiting juggernaut coming in next year, Lil' Dino's gonna have to coach his butt off to find space for all these great, inspiring youngsters.

To Watch This Week:


DUKE @ CAROLINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (One game to rule them all... until the first week of March).

STF Conference Reports: The ACC 1/25/08

Much like a over-anxious freshman point guard pulling the trigger on a horrible, contested 3 with plenty of time left on the shot clock, I am jacking up this conference report before taking full survey of the games. I will be out of internet (and liver) availability this weekend while having fun with friends in Chicago, so I send off this report before all the games are through for this week. However, the ACC just keeps on getting tougher and the games just keep getting better. Here's the latest recap.

Team of the Week: Maryland
No ifs, ans or buts (well, maybe a few buts... BIG ONES!), the Terps got it done this week by knocking off the top ranked Tarheels in the Dean Dome. Their 7th defeat of a top ranked team under Gary Williams comes as a bit of a catch 22, since it does vault their heavily hated Duke Blue Devils to first place in the conference. But, that is a mere drizzle on their parade as the thus-far-underachieving Terps racked up a big time win that can lead them to a successful surge as the conference season rolls on. And although they are the darkest of dark horses to reach the tournament (at worst, they are a big time spoiler to a lot of borderline teams), you can't even put anything past the hardest sweating coach in the business, Gary Williams.

Worst of the Week: Miami
I hate to put them here, but they were the only team with two losses on the week. One to a hapless NC State team (yes, I know you don't have a dependable point guard, Wolfpack Nation) and the other to a fire breathing Carolina team still smarting from that previous defeat. Expect Miami to get a lot better and to win quite a few of these close game. Jack McClinton is a gamer. We believe in the overall depth of the conference, no matter what others might say.

Player of the Week: Matt Freakin' Causey
Never thought I would hear those words come out of my mouth. But alas, the kid dropped 30 on Virginia Tech last week and led the Jackets in scoring again as they snuck past NC State the other night. For a kid without much rep, especially compared to the footsteps he was walking into (Price, Anderson, Marbury, Jack, Crittendon), Causey has taken the smaller expectations levied on him and totally blown them out of the water. It's nice to see a redshirt senior take his time, develop his game and really blow up after putting in so much effort on the practice squad. He is just one of those guys you cheer for... well, not if he drops 30 on you.

Games To Check Out:
#3 Duke @ Maryland 1/27 (I smell death threats!)
Clemson @ Miami 1/27 (should be physical, physical)
FSU @ VT 1/29 (somebody's gotta win it!)
NC State @ #3 Duke 1/31 (the two most opposite teams in the league - should be interesting)
BC @ #4 UNC (Tyrese Rice loves the spotlight)

STF Conference Reports: The ACC

In the words of Maury Ballstein, "THAT'S what I'm talking about!" What a great start of the week for ACC games. It's like a walkoff, but with more fiercity, intenseness and, uh, balls. Seriously, whether it was the Paulus punch, the Heels almost going down (no joke needed) in Atlanta or the absolute bitch-slap Wake took at BC, we certainly had some highlights ( or lowlights, depending on whom you follow). And it is just starting, including some awesome games on tap for this week. Let's recap...

Team of the Week: Boston College
A team no one was really talking about 2 months ago, BC has firmly established itself as the #3 team in the league right now (shut up, Clemson fans -- you let it slip away). Al Skinner has a scoring dynamo in Tyrese Rice and a gaggle of excellent legos he is building into an NCAA Tournament nightmare. Not to mention Tyrell Blair averaging over 4 blocks a game and the fact that they have a player named Biko Paris (I swear). Who knows if it will hold, but BC looks to be right back in the upper echelon of the league.

Worst of the Week: NC State
Everyone in Charlottesville should be saying thank you to El Sid and his confused, and confusing, Wolfpack. I know losing your point guard is tough, but the get pile-drived in Chapel Hill and then barely put up a fight in Clemson is downright inexcusable. The true surprises of last year, Costner and McCauley, have been putrid and not even the potential ACC Freshman of the Year, JJ Hickson, can save them. No passing, poor shot selection and a lousy attitude. A great way to deal with lofty expectations.

Player of the Week: Greg Paulus, Duke
Why you might ask? Well, when you can get away with this, become your teams most clutch shooter, finally average better than a 2-to-1 assist/turnover ratio and be genuinely despised by every other player on every other team in the country (not to mention their fans), then you deserve it. You might hate the kid, but he has developed a mean streak and a "screw you" attitude down the stretch of games that could really be a difference maker for Duke as the ACC schedule continues.

What To Watch For:
Any and Everything on Saturday, the 19th. What a schedule!!
FSU vs. Wake 1/20
#1 UNC vs. Miami 1/23
Georgia Tech vs. NC State 1/23
#5 Duke vs. Virginia Tech 1/24

STF Conference Reports: The ACC

It's time to shout from the rafters -- FINALLY IT'S ACC TIME!! The teams are looking great (most of the time), stars are starting to emerge and everyone is chasing UNC and Duke. Seems like old times. The only bad thing about the conference is that horrible injury bug that has swept through like a plague. What are we, the Phoenix Suns?

All that means is that there is even less room for error this year and teams are going to have to grow up fast and adjust on the fly. Not necessarily the easiest things to do during conference play. Right now the ACC has 1 great team, 1 really good team, 2 pretty good teams and a bunch of others working out the kinks and finding their identity. So, in the coming weeks, expect plenty of upsets, plenty of great games, plenty of great individual performances and plenty of heart palpitations from me. I haven't seen everyone play enough to do a short break down of the teams, but after the first few games of the conference season, I will do a prediciton chart for the NCAA Tournament and give my thoughts on how each team is rounding out. Hopefully you will care! On to the Reports!!


Team of the Week: North Carolina
From that mighty comeback against a determined Clemson squad to the dunk heard round the world (and by world, I mean die hard ACC enthusiasts), the Heels are looking like a freight train headed into conference play. If Wayne "The Rain" Ellington and Danny Green keep knocking down threes and the rest of the guys step up on defense, it will be hard to derail Roy's Boys.
(Also, even though I hate Carolina, I would like to extend a heartfelt thought to UNC sophomore PF Alex Stephenson. We hope his father is doing well.)


Worst Team of the Week: Clemson
Poor Clemson. So close, so very, very close. Yet, you can't let home games in the ACC slip through your fingers like that. If there is a silver lining (and there never really is in a loss like that) it is the assurance that the Tigers are going to be a match-up nightmare for a lot of teams. Except Charlotte, who they inexplicably lost to a few days later. Talk about a let down. Oliver Purnell has a history of these letdowns with his club, so they need to toughen up for a very likely run at the Tournament.


Player of the Week:Wayne Ellington, UNC
A career high 36 (including the game winner) against Clemson. A stellar 19 against UNC-Asheville. He is turning into the long range threat the Heels were sorely lacking last year. And, if he understands that he can take over games when he is in the zone, it would be lights out for Tar Heel opponents. Really becoming an elite, all-around player. (Please don't tell him!!)


Games to Watch:
N.C. State at #1 UNC 1/12 (State NEEDS this game)
Florida State at Clemson 1/12 (Tigers need to bounce back strong)
Wake Forest at Maryland 1/15 (Two teams still trying to find themselves)
#7 Duke at Florida State 1/16 (Devils have a history of stumbles in Tallahassee)

Brandan Wright All-Stars: ACC

Brandan Wright was a great player in his short time at Carolina. As half of one of the best 1-2 frontcourt punches in the nation, he led the ACC in field goal percentage, and was a big lift to a 12-deep UNC team which, when mentally in the game, could not be stopped.

However, Brandan had a weakness. Oh, did he have a weakness. His free throw shooting was terrible. The shooting motion was almost painful to watch, and Heels fans could hear the clang of the ball bouncing off the rim from the moment Wright drew a foul. It was especially painful when compared to Tyler Hansbrough, about an 80% free throw shooter. As great and talented a player as Brandan was, the one aspect of his Carolina career which I will always remember is OH MY GOD HE'S SHOOTING FREE THROWS RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!

So this is dedicated to the players who only shoot the ball smooth as silk when there's a hand in their face. The great shooters of each conference who can't hit a free throw to save their souls. These...are the Brandan Wright All-Stars of the ACC.

Center: Ryan Pettinella, Virginia. The 6-9 senior transfer from Penn has rapidly regressed in his free throw abilities during his college career. As a freshman, he shot 63.1 percent from the free throw line. Since then, the percentage has come down to 42%, to 24%, to an unbelievable 10% this season.

Read that again. Ten percent from the free throw line. Dave Leitao would get a better free throw percentage from a parapalegic with Tourettes in the student section. All of this despite shooting nearly 54% from the field.

Forward: Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech. The local freshman phenom from College Park is second in the ACC in field goal percentage (66.1), but is only 20 of 38 from the charity stripe, less than 53 percent.

Forward: Dwayne Collins, Miami(FL). The Hurricanes' sixth man has been a valuable part of their 13-1 start, shooting 59.1% off the bench. However, with a 46.3 shooting percentage from the stripe. expect to see him on the bench in the final minutes.

Guard: Rakim Sanders, Boston College. The Eagles' shooting guard, designated sharpshooter, and second leading scorer (behind the indispensable Tyrese Rice) is a paltry 36.4 percent from the line this season.

Guard: Cliff Hammonds, Clemson. You know I had to put a Clemson player on this list. While he was not involved in the Tiger's charity stripe breakdown against North Carolina, his free throw percentage is perhaps the worst among ACC starters (35%), despite being one of the conference's best 3-point shooters, 46.3% from beyond the arc.

So the next time your team is playing from behind late in a game, these are the players you need to foul.

(Dis)honorable mention: Brian Zoubek (Duke), Deon Thompson (UNC), Ismael Smith (Wake), The entire Clemson squad, except Terrence Oglesby, in their game against North Carolina.

STF Conference Report: The ACC 12/14/07

Corn here. Gotta love ACC Hoops.

Umm......... Yeah....... I'm gonna need you guys to study for finals instead of play basketball this week. Riiiiiiight!

Damn Finals Week. Don't they know that these kids are only on campus to play ball and hook up with dancers? Gosh, what are these places? "Academic institutions." Sounds more to me like they are Cuckoo's nests. Anyways, I have somehow managed to scrape together some insight on the league during this tenuous stretch.

Team of the Week: Duke

Not trying to sound like a homer, but they did put up the most impressive win of the week, throttling Michigan at Cameron and showing a depth and fluidity most Duke teams (since 2001) haven't shown. And don't look now, but these boys might be the most feared on Tobacco Road.

Team with the Worst Week: Maryland (again)

Drumroll, please......... I hate to keep picking on the Terps (lie), but after losing their first conference game, to an up and down BC team, the turtles managed to self destruct against Ohio. At Home. Yeah, not Kosta Koufos and OSU, but ordinary Ohio. Of course this makes me as giddy as a snot-nosed pre-teen getting a brand new iPhone and Facebook account for Christmas, but Gary Williams seems to be doing one of his worst coaching jobs ever. Maryland has had teams with a similar talent level before (late 90's) that had more cohesion and heart than this. All is not lost, as the ACC is a long season. I'm just saying...

Player of the Week: Take Your Pick

Isiah Swann drops 20 against FIU. Nolan Smith has a break out game for Duke against Michigan. Jack McClinton pummels Mississippi State with 29, including back to back 3s to take the lead down the stretch. Sean Singletary upped his winning streak in Madden to 47 games over the rest of the UVA squad. And Deon Thompson now holds the record for most chicken fingers consumed in one sitting at Sutton's Drugstore, with 824. And well, if that ain't good enough, Santa is on his way soon. Maybe some of the other ACC players can ask him for a better week AND MORE GAMES!!

Games to Watch:

12/15: SC State @ NC State (can the Wolfpack drop another inconcievable game this early in the season? State!)

12/16: Va. Tech @ Old Dominion

12/16: (1) UNC @ Rutgers (all my i-banking friends in New York will be there. Yay!)

12/19: 4 cupcakes @ 4 ACC schools (if you are realllllllly desperate for some ACC Hoops)

12/20: (6) Duke @ (11) Pitt (Finally, a marquee matchup. Should be a bruiser.)

I promise these will get better soon. I promise. Enjoy the week.

STF Conference Reports: The ACC

Hey Everyone, its Corn. I will be doing my best to give you unbiased, elite access into the wonderful world of ACC basketball. Having grown up down the street from Wake Forest, doing some time at N.C. State, graduating from UNC and still being a life-long DUKE fan, I would say I might know a thing or two about ACC ball. I can safely say that you will get the 100% truth in my weekly column and, in case you didn't know, everything I say is the law! Just kidding. I hope everyone will enjoy my style and check out some of the great ACC action on tap... in January.

Team Of The Week: UNC (I guess).

They dominated both of their games (@ Kentucky, @ Penn). They played terrific team basketball. Plenty of people scored and Ty Lawson came back from his ankle injury to provide some great minutes. When this team is rolling, they are deep as Memphis, as tough as Kansas, and as skilled as UCLA. And, it makes me sick. But hey, the truth hurts sometimes.

Player Of The Week: Danny Green, UNC

Although I don't like it, as a Duke fan, Green had a marvelous game against Kentucky, going for 20, and adding another 19 against Penn at the Palestra. If he continues to consistently knock down threes (not to mention stepping up big for big games) he might be able to provide the Heels with enough 3 point firepower, along with Wayne Ellington, to really open things up more for Psycho T down low. That would be scary. Scary, indeed.

Team With The Worst Week: Maryland (Damn it feels good to say that in my first post).

Not only did the boys team throw up a donkey against a pretty tough VCU team (the one that knocked my Devils out of the tourney last year), but the women's team squandered a 10 point lead against favored Rutgers to lose in the Jimmy V Classic. If only I could just cut and paste this piece into every week's report, I would be a very happy man.

Games To Watch:

12/7 Longwood @ UVA (hey, it's all we got)
12/8 Michigan @ #6 Duke

12/8 Wake @ Georgia

12/9 BC @ Maryland (First Conference Game!!)

Miami Finds The Perfect Way To Attract Fans and Distract Opponents

Since I'm usually visiting family in the Miami area around the holidays, I've been to a fair share of Miami Hurricanes basketball games. And let me tell you, the student section is like a morgue. Like the rest of the Bank United Center is rocking either, but you expect more from the students section for ACC play.

I know, I've heard the excuses: Who is going to see the 9th best team in the ACC play when there 12,000 other things to do in Miami? And it's not like Miami is home to 30,000 undergrads either.

But according to the Miami Sports Blog, the athletic department has a nifty idea to fill the student section for ACC play.

"UM will add a hot tub, a sandbox and lifeguard tower in the student seating section. Students will be asked to wear beach attire.”

Well now, that's a fantastic idea. Bringing South Beach to court. I can't wait to see the first Duke or UNC player to miss a pass while trying to check out some girls. Hell, I might buy season tickets from Philly

STF Conference Preview: ACC

STF CONFERENCE PREVIEW: ACC



LAST SEASON RECAP: The ACC was easily the top conference in America last season. Basically every team outside of Wake Forest made some kind of impact. Seven teams went dancing (UNC, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Duke, BC, Maryland, Geroegia Tech) and two others had legit arguments to make it (Florida State, Clemson). Carolina and Virgina would end up sharing the regular season crown with the Heels winning the tournament. One flaw with ACC last season: no teams in the Final Four and only one even reached the Sweet 16.

TEAM TO BEAT: You would have to be a damn fool not to pick Carolina to repeat. Almost everyone is back and ACC looks like it will be down from last season

SECOND TIER: Expect Duke to improve from last season's disaster with the return of Nelson, Henderson, Palulus, and Scheyer (2007 annoying white Duke player to hate). NC State is going to be a major player as Coach Lowe returns the trio powered by Costner, Grant, McCauley. Clemson should finally reach the tournament. Virginia and Maryland lost a bunch but could be interesting.

SLEEPER: Miami - Last season's run in the ACC Tournament showed that this team has the talent. Returning are the ACC's top shot blocker in Anthony King and one of the best shooters in Jack McClinton. Don't sleep on the Canes.

OVERRATED: Boston College - Three starters return, but it's rebuilding time in Chestnut Hill. Gone are ACC Player of the Year Jared Dudley and Sean Marshall. Say hello to the NIT!

WORST TEAM: Wake Forest - Hate to do this in the wake of Skip Prosser's death, but a last place team from last season is losing it's top scorer and rebounder. And not exactly sure who is the veteran leader who will carry this squad through such a difficult time.

STF PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1. North Carolina
2. NC State
3. Duke
4. Clemson
5. Virginia
6. Maryland
7. Miami
8. Florida State
9. Georgia Tech
10. Boston College
11. Virginia Tech
12. Wake Forest