Watch out Tarheel and Wolfpack fans.....
Here's an article from the Herald Sun in which I totally agree. Yes boys. college hoops is coming back.
Blue Devils unanimous pick to win ACC crown
When J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams decided last spring to return to Duke for their senior seasons, the Blue Devils instantly jumped to the top of nearly everyone's unofficial list of favorites for the upcoming season.
At ACC Operation Basketball on Sunday, Redick, Williams and the Blue Devils topped everyone's official list.
All 87 media members picked the Blue Devils to win the ACC, and Redick and Williams were the lone unanimous choices for the preseason all-ACC team.
"I think that's legitimate with who they have back,' Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "You can't lay off of someone like Redick, but if you extend too much they're going to go inside to Williams.
"That's a pretty good combination to have."
Redick edged Williams as preseason player of the year, getting 45 votes to 33 for Williams. Boston College forward Craig Smith received four votes.
Smith joined Redick, Williams, Miami guard Guillermo Diaz and Wake Forest guard Justin Gray on the preseason all-ACC team.
Smith's Eagles were picked to finish second behind Duke in their inaugural ACC season. The Eagles return four starters from a team that started 20-0 last season and won the Big East regular-season title.
"I think they will be very good," Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser said. "They return all their guys, they won the Big East regular-season championship and they're exquisitely coached."
Prosser's team was picked third, then N.C. State, Maryland and reigning NCAA champion North Carolina rounded out the top half of the 12-team league. The Demon Deacons must deal with the loss of point guard Chris Paul, while the Wolfpack lost Julius Hodge and the Tar Heels lost their top seven scorers.
But Maryland coach Gary Williams, not always the biggest fan of the Big Four, had kind words Sunday for the group.
"Carolina obviously lost a lot of players, but let's face it, they're never going to be bad,' Williams said. "It's all relative; they're still a good basketball team.
"And then if you look at Duke and N.C. State and Wake Forest, those three all have some guys who can really play, obviously. I think we do, too."
Miami and Virginia Tech, second-year ACC teams that were picked at the bottom of the league last year but instead finished in the middle, were picked seventh and eighth Sunday. Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State and Virginia rounded out the poll.
"Lots of times the predictions made in October don't always play out into March,' Prosser said. "I think there will be some teams that surprise us. This time last year people were bemoaning Miami and Virginia Tech and wondering how they could succeed in the league. And they both did very well. It's early."
Prosser and his coaching colleagues also downplayed predictions that the ACC will be down as a conference this season.
"The league has been around for 53 years, and with rare exceptions it's been considered the best basketball conference in the country," Prosser said. "And until proven otherwise, I think that will still be the perception."
3 Comments:
GO PACK. If we stay healthy the preseason pick of fourth is easily attainable with the players returning.
All I have to say is......check out UNC's Class of 2006! Here's a snapshot: #1 PG, #1 SG, #1 PF, #3 C, #13 C (these are national rankings for their position). Can you say best recruiting class in the history of college basketball??
You could say that, but you would be jumping the gun. These guys have yet to play and show any true results, but on paper it does look good.
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