With a new arena and a team with NCAA Tournament potential, Virginia men's hoops fans should be in for an exciting ride during the 2006-2007 season. With that in mind, I thought I'd take an early preview look at what should be a thrilling year in the ACC.
1. North Carolina Tar Heels
Roy Williams did an amazing job leading a young Tar Heel squad with few expectations to 12-4 conference record last season that was good for second place. This year, however, an older and deeper North Carolina team will have to face the burden of living up to major expectations. Sophomore Tyler Hansbrough is a beast in the paint and will be complemented by the highly-touted incoming power forward Brandan Wright. The Tar Heels were unlucky not to advance to the Sweet 16 last year and Tar Heel fans should be disappointed if this year's team does not reach the Final Four in Atlanta.
2. Duke Blue Devils
Despite the losses of J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams, no one should count Duke out this season. Over the years, Coach Mike Kryzsewki has more than proven his ability to restock the talent pool in Durham. Sophomore Josh McRoberts should put up monster numbers as he fills the void left in the paint by the departure of Williams. Look for sophomore guard Marty Pocius to have a breakout season. Duke will not have the firepower to contend for a national title but could win its eighth conference championship in nine years if the North Carolina slips up.
3. Virginia Cavaliers
No, this is not a misprint. Virginia will finish third in the ACC this year and go to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001. The Cavaliers will feature what will undoubtedly be the best backcourt in the league -- junior point guard Sean Singletary and senior shooting guard J.R. Reynolds. Through recruiting, Leitao and his coaching staff have addressed Virginia's main Achilles heel from last season -- a lack of depth in the front court. All five incoming recruits are 6'5" or taller.
4. Boston College Eagles
In their first season of ACC play, Al Skinner's Eagles overcame a sluggish start and finished third with an 11-5 conference mark. Boston College lost forward Craig Smith and guard Louis Hinnant, but talented forward Jared Dudley will still be roaming the paint in Chestnut Hill. Boston College is a solid program that should be in the upper half of the ACC standings for the foreseeable future.
5. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Paul Hewitt has brought in a sick recruiting class that will bring the Yellow Jackets back to the upper-tier of the ACC after a disappointing season in which Georgia Tech posted a 4-12 conference mark and missed out on the post-season. Incoming recruits Thaddeus Young -- a small forward -- and Javaris Crittendon -- a point guard -- will give opposing ACC coaches nightmares.
6. Florida State Seminoles
Leonard Hamilton's Seminoles always seem on the verge of a breakout season but have not been able to jump out of the middle of the pack. The Seminoles lost some serious size when Alexander Johnson decided to leave early for the NBA.
7. Maryland Terrapins
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Only a few years ago, Gary Williams's Maryland program looked as if it had entrenched itself among the nation's elite. Now, after two straight NIT seasons and various off-the-court issues, the glory days of the 2002 national title seem like a distant memory. If incoming guard recruits Eric Hayes and Greivis Vasquez fail to live up to the hype, the heat on Williams will be turned up a notch.
8. Miami Hurricanes
Like Florida State, Miami is a program that appears to be destined to remain in the middle of the ACC pack. The early departure of star guard Guillermo Diaz to the NBA will prevent Frank Haith's squad from improving upon last season's 7-9 conference mark.
9. N.C. State Wolfpack
The loss of head coach Herb Sendek to Arizona State will hurt the N.C. State program for years to come. Sendek ran a consistently above-average program that went to the NCAA Tournament five straight years. Gritty veteran Ilian Evtimov has graduated and precocious big man Cedric Simmons was taken in the first round of the NBA draft after completing his sophomore season.
10. Clemson Tigers
The graduation of guard Shawan Robinson and forward Akin Akingbala will gravely hurt Clemson's ability to compete against conference foes. Robinson was the leading three-point shooter for the Tigers and Akingbala's absence leaves Clemson without depth in the frontcourt.
11. Virginia Tech Hokies
Seth Greenberg's squad features several very talented players -- i.e. Coleman Collins, Deron Washongton, Zabian Dowdell -- but will not be able to improve much upon last year's 4-12 conference mark.
12. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
One would think that things could only get better in Winston-Salem after 3-13 conference record last year. But with the graduation of Justin Gray, Trent Strickland and Eric Williams things might get much worse for the Demon Deacons.
Read More
Volleyball holds off Boston College in tight five-set win
By Lauren Halak | 21 hours agoSenior outside hitter Elayna Duprey led the team throughout the match with 22 points and 18 kills.
Virginia annihilated 41-14 in a must-win contest versus North Carolina
By Peter Kriebel | 2 days agoJust about everything that could have gone wrong for Virginia football went wrong.
No. 24 women’s soccer not to be denied in late win over Clemson
By Sam Chun | 2 days agoThe Cavaliers topped Clemson 1-0 in front of a packed out Klöckner Stadium.
