- 3,580
- 10
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2011
Marcus Thornton should be 1st team all-SEC, over Gee.
College Basketball "off-season" Thread (players leaving/coaching changes/recruiting)
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by wildkycat,
- Start date
- 8,956
- 39
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2007
Yea why the *$%@ didn't he own like that in the beginning of the year. I had him on my BE fantasy team and he didn't do thatgood.
Well maybe it wasn't all his fault. I had Sharaud Curry as my 2nd pick
- 6,061
- 2,018
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2005
I had Sharaud Curry as my 2nd pick
- 10,056
- 10
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2006
I gota see how Pitt's freshmen guards are...cause as of now...they do not have 1 shooter you have to honor
- 17,900
- 793
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2006
Ric I can see y'all making it to the 16 maybe 8, if and only if Aj's back where he was last year and remains healthy.
Honestly, this year is the year to do it cause we losin' Hash (he definitely leaving), Jeff, AJ, and Austrie.
And I see Pitt being a team to knock off UNC. I just feel like their toughness would ruffle the UNC frontcourt and IMO they match up with them perfectly, front to back. And who stoppin' Blair? Dude is gonna eat, eat, eat if they play UNC.
Honestly I thought about that, but my pure hatred wouldn't allow me to type that
- 7,237
- 3,035
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2006
allen speaking
i think hansborough would own blair imo
i think hansborough would own blair imo
- 3,646
- 12
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2004
id give tyler the edge over dejuan..but "own" is a strong word...i doubt that
- 6,061
- 2,018
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2005
I just don't think Tyler can bang with Dejuan when he's on offense and Deon ain't guardin' him either. The one thing I can guarantee is therefs would whistle Dejuan for 2 quick fouls. I'ma say Hansbroad averages at least 12 free throws and 5 missed travel calls a game.
- 10,056
- 10
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2006
Yeah...but have you ever seen Blair make a nice post move or face up?
He really has little to no offense game other than scrap points.
He really has little to no offense game other than scrap points.
- 10,056
- 10
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2006
Also, Louisville has to be a contender to knock off UNC..
easy to forget they only trailed them by a basket with 5 minutes to go in the East Regional...and only lost Padgett. Which defensively, is a plus.
Palacios had been nothing..his injuries took their toll and Caracter was Caracter.
Samuels, Goode and Jennings up front are gona improve their D (at least really putting pressure on people)...and by end of the season should find a littlerhythm offensively.
easy to forget they only trailed them by a basket with 5 minutes to go in the East Regional...and only lost Padgett. Which defensively, is a plus.
Palacios had been nothing..his injuries took their toll and Caracter was Caracter.
Samuels, Goode and Jennings up front are gona improve their D (at least really putting pressure on people)...and by end of the season should find a littlerhythm offensively.
- 43,626
- 8,620
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2005
I had them beating UNC in my bracket.
I really thought they were gonna win.
- 6,061
- 2,018
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2005
- 10,056
- 10
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2006
the league is absurd
I'm seeing 10 Tournament QUALITY teams...prob only 8 or 9 get in cause of everyone beatin up on each other
and everyone outside of Seton Hall, G'Town and West Va can make the case of being improved.
I'm seeing 10 Tournament QUALITY teams...prob only 8 or 9 get in cause of everyone beatin up on each other
and everyone outside of Seton Hall, G'Town and West Va can make the case of being improved.
- 6,061
- 2,018
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2005
- 2,714
- 10
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2008
collison is overrated.
Anyone got an article or info on Boynton / Favord GT visit?
Anyone got an article or info on Boynton / Favord GT visit?
- 10,056
- 10
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2006
Effective this season, the 3-point line in the men's game is moving back 1 foot to 20 feet, 9 inches.
It's the first major alteration to the line since its inception in the college game in the 1986-87 season.
[table][tr][td]
[/td] [td]
[/td] [/tr][tr][td]
[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Kyle McAlarney led the Big East in 3-pointers per game last season.[/td] [/tr][/table]The desired effect is less crowding in the lane. Some coaches believe it will create more room for everyone to operate, post players and perimeter guys.
Is the game going to change significantly, or will the net effect of the line moving back be negligible? That's the question we posed to basketballeditor Bob McClellan and staff writer Andrew Skwara.
SKWARA'S PICK: SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
I've heard a lot of people tell me the new 3-point line won't matter. They say, "It's only one foot, right?" They like to point outthat a lot of players already take and make 3-pointers from 3-4 feet behind the line. Some can go farther back.
I'm not buying any of it. Everybody has a specific limit to their shooting range. I don't care if you wheeze your way through a pickup game withyour out-of-shape co-workers once a week, or you've got a meeting tomorrow to design your third sneaker. Your range is basically as far back as you canshoot from without changing your natural form. For some guys it's only 15 feet. For others it's 25 feet or more. Regardless of where your range ends,when you step back just 12 inches from that spot, your shooting percentage drops dramatically. You are out of your comfort zone. You have to overcompensate,often putting more of your body into the shot instead of just flicking your wrist.
Here's the problem: The range of most of the big men who shoot 3-pointers in the college ranks - and there are plenty - usually stops right around theold 19-9 line. Suddenly those guys are no longer inside-outside scorers. Many of their coaches will take away their green light, and they sure don't wantthem shooting from a foot inside the arc (the shot that is often described as the worst in basketball).
But, seeing less big men shoot 3-pointers will only be the most noticeable change. Everyone will be affected in one way or another. Shooting percentages aregoing to drop significantly. There will be fewer double-digit comebacks and there will be a bigger premium on 3-point specialists and teams with a plethora ofgood outside shooters. There is going to be more room to maneuver inside the arc. That will make it harder to double-team post players. It could also lead tomore mid-range jumpers, a sort of lost art form that was pushed out by the arrival of the 3-point line.
There's a reason many coaches made sure that the 20-9 line was painted on their practice floors in the offseason. They know the game is about to change,and those who adapt first will have a big edge.
MCCLELLAN'S PICK: NEGLIGIBLE IMPACT
[table][tr][td]
[/td] [td]
[/td] [/tr][tr][td]
[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Stephen Curry might see his average of 4.3 3-pointers a game drop off - mainly because he's moving to point guard.[/td] [/tr][/table]For those expecting to see a wholly different game it isn't going to happen. Coaches who build their offenses around the 3 are still going to shoot nearlythe same amount. Coaches who don't won't.
Players are used to making sure their feet are behind the line at 19-9. What's another foot? The best shooters in the college game probably are hopingfor professional careers, so I hope when they practice they're chucking a lot of jumpers from the NBA 3-point line, which is well behind 20-9.
I don't believe 3-point shooting percentages will change dramatically either. Some coaches I've talked to have said one thing the new line might dois keep guys who were marginal at 19-9 from trying as many 3s as they might have otherwise. If you're better shooters are the ones launching from 20-9,maybe some teams actually will shoot it better from behind the arc.
Will it create that much more space? I doubt it. If you like to spread the floor and have guys who can handle the ball you were fine at 19-9 and will befine from 20-9.
My biggest concern is guys locating the line with another one on the floor. There will be some confusion early. But other than that, I just don't see amajor change.
Bob McClellan is the college basketball editor for Rivals.com. He can be reached at [email protected].
Andrew Skwara is a national writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at [email protected].
..
I finally watched the FULL Davidson game last night (never had since it got cut to another game during their comeback))
You know in Four Brothers when they finally see how their mother got killed and how it all went down?
!%+* felt like that
It's the first major alteration to the line since its inception in the college game in the 1986-87 season.
[table][tr][td]
Is the game going to change significantly, or will the net effect of the line moving back be negligible? That's the question we posed to basketballeditor Bob McClellan and staff writer Andrew Skwara.
SKWARA'S PICK: SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
I've heard a lot of people tell me the new 3-point line won't matter. They say, "It's only one foot, right?" They like to point outthat a lot of players already take and make 3-pointers from 3-4 feet behind the line. Some can go farther back.
I'm not buying any of it. Everybody has a specific limit to their shooting range. I don't care if you wheeze your way through a pickup game withyour out-of-shape co-workers once a week, or you've got a meeting tomorrow to design your third sneaker. Your range is basically as far back as you canshoot from without changing your natural form. For some guys it's only 15 feet. For others it's 25 feet or more. Regardless of where your range ends,when you step back just 12 inches from that spot, your shooting percentage drops dramatically. You are out of your comfort zone. You have to overcompensate,often putting more of your body into the shot instead of just flicking your wrist.
Here's the problem: The range of most of the big men who shoot 3-pointers in the college ranks - and there are plenty - usually stops right around theold 19-9 line. Suddenly those guys are no longer inside-outside scorers. Many of their coaches will take away their green light, and they sure don't wantthem shooting from a foot inside the arc (the shot that is often described as the worst in basketball).
But, seeing less big men shoot 3-pointers will only be the most noticeable change. Everyone will be affected in one way or another. Shooting percentages aregoing to drop significantly. There will be fewer double-digit comebacks and there will be a bigger premium on 3-point specialists and teams with a plethora ofgood outside shooters. There is going to be more room to maneuver inside the arc. That will make it harder to double-team post players. It could also lead tomore mid-range jumpers, a sort of lost art form that was pushed out by the arrival of the 3-point line.
There's a reason many coaches made sure that the 20-9 line was painted on their practice floors in the offseason. They know the game is about to change,and those who adapt first will have a big edge.
MCCLELLAN'S PICK: NEGLIGIBLE IMPACT
[table][tr][td]
Players are used to making sure their feet are behind the line at 19-9. What's another foot? The best shooters in the college game probably are hopingfor professional careers, so I hope when they practice they're chucking a lot of jumpers from the NBA 3-point line, which is well behind 20-9.
I don't believe 3-point shooting percentages will change dramatically either. Some coaches I've talked to have said one thing the new line might dois keep guys who were marginal at 19-9 from trying as many 3s as they might have otherwise. If you're better shooters are the ones launching from 20-9,maybe some teams actually will shoot it better from behind the arc.
Will it create that much more space? I doubt it. If you like to spread the floor and have guys who can handle the ball you were fine at 19-9 and will befine from 20-9.
My biggest concern is guys locating the line with another one on the floor. There will be some confusion early. But other than that, I just don't see amajor change.
Bob McClellan is the college basketball editor for Rivals.com. He can be reached at [email protected].
Andrew Skwara is a national writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at [email protected].
..
I finally watched the FULL Davidson game last night (never had since it got cut to another game during their comeback))
You know in Four Brothers when they finally see how their mother got killed and how it all went down?
!%+* felt like that
- 17,900
- 793
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2006
OJ shot 41% from 3 last year.
McAlarney shot 44% from 3 last year.
Josh Carter shot 38% from 3 last year.
Tyrese Rice shot 36% from 3 last year.
That's just a small sample to go off of. Now, do you honestly think Collison is a better shooter than the 4 I just mentioned? % numbers don't mean shhhhh. If people leave you wide open or sag off of you because they don't respect you as a shooter then you damn sure better be making 52% of those shots.
My thoughts exactly
collison is overrated
Church!!!!
Allen that game was something else, Steph was on extra grind in that 2nd half of the 2nd half
- 4,857
- 14
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2008
Anthony Stover is expected to announce Arizona soon....
- 10,056
- 10
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2006
I posted that article cause he's one guy I think it can effect.
Plus there's no K Love drawing attention this season
Plus there's no K Love drawing attention this season
- 4,946
- 548
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2004
Good God do I hate Kyle McAlarney
- 10,056
- 10
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2006
RANDOM NOTES: Baylor has brought on ex-NBA player David Wesley as a student manager while hecompletes his undergrad degree. Wesley left Baylor 33 hours short back in 1993. … Maryland picked up a commitment from New York big man JamesPadgett. … Western Kentucky picked up Orlando Olympia forward William Green and also 6-foot-6 wing Jordan Swing out of Vestavia Hills (Ala.). … South Dakotajunior Cody Larson pledged to Iowa.
- 10,056
- 10
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2006
[table][tr][td]Head coach: Dino Gaudio
Last season: 17-13, 7-9 in ACC.
Postseason: None.[/td] [td]
[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Breakdown: Probable starters | Backcourt | Frontcourt | Offense | Defense | Outlook[/td] [/tr][/table]
http://
BACKCOURT
The Demon Deacons essentially start two point guards in sophomore JeffTeague and junior Ishmael Smith. Both have great wheels - they could be thefastest tandem in the country - and they complement one another because each uses his speed for different purposes.
http://
[size=-2]Sophomore guard Jeff Teague averaged nearly 14 points a game last season.[/size]
[table][tr][td]PROBABLE STARTING FIVE[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G Ishmael Smith, 6-0/Jr.
8.6 ppg, 4.7 apg, 1.3 spg[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G Jeff Teague, 6-2/So.
13.9 ppg, 1.8 spg[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G L.D. Williams, 6-4/Jr.
8.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg[/td] [/tr][tr][td]F James Johnson, 6-9/So.
14.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.4 spg, 1.3 bpg[/td] [/tr][tr][td]C Chas McFarland, 7-0/Jr.
8.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.6 bpg[/td] [/tr][tr][td]TOP RESERVES[/td] [/tr][tr][td]F Al-Farouq Aminu, 6-9/Fr.
Rivals.com five-star prospect[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G Harvey Hale, 6-3/Sr.
8.1 ppg[/td] [/tr][tr][td]F Jamie Skeen, 6-8/Jr.
5.6 ppg[/td] [/tr][tr][td]C Ty Walker, 7-0/Fr.
Rivals.com five-star prospect[/td] [/tr][tr][td]C Tony Woods, 6-11/Fr.
Rivals.com five-star prospect[/td] [/tr][/table]
Teague is the score-first type who can rack up points quickly. Teague scored 25 or more in five games last season. Four of those resulted in wins for theDeacons, including an 86-73 upset over then-No. 9 Duke where Teague finished with 26 and looked like the best player on the court. Teague excels at beatingdefenders off the dribble, and he does a good job finishing around the basket and drawing fouls. The former four-star prospect is also a good on-the-balldefender. With a year of experience to draw from, expect him to be a little better in all areas and blossom into an All-ACC selection.
Smith, who enters his third year as a starter, is more of a setup man who can score but prefers to pass the ball. Smith suffered a foot injury in a pickupgame last week that required surgery, and he probably will miss most of preseason practice. He's expected to be back in time for the season opener. TheDeacons need Smith to be healthy so they can take full advantage of what promises to be a deep rotation loaded with scoring threats.
Junior L.D. Williams, a two-year starter, could be moved to the bench infavor of a bigger lineup, but he will still play 20-plus minutes a game. An athletic 6-foot-4 wing, Williams may be the best defender on the team and in thepast has guarded the opponent's top perimeter scorer. Williams has a knack for energizing the team with highlight-reel worthy dunks. He needs to improvehis ball-handling and outside shooting.
Shooting guard Harvey Hale, a senior, will be one of the first players offthe bench. Hale, who has been a starter on and off for the past three seasons, has a history of being a streaky shooter. Sophomore shooting guard Gary Clark, who saw action in 24 games last season, could be used as a role player toprovide more depth.
That group of guards is the deepest in the ACC and also ranks among the most talented. But the Deacons need someone to knock down open 3-pointers withregularity. They shot 31.6 percent from beyond the arc last season, last in the ACC.
FRONTCOURT
The Deacons are welcoming a collection of big men who will make coaches at the most elite programs envious. Forward Al-Farouq Aminu (6-9) and centers Tony Woods (6-11) and Ty Walker (7-0) - which made up the nation's No. 3-rated recruitingclass - are all five-star recruits. Each probably will play in the NBA someday. That trio joins what was already a solid returning core and will combine togive the Deacons one of the most talented and deepest frontcourts in the nation.
The multi-dimensional James Johnson was arguably the best freshman in theACC last season. An inside-outside scoring threat, Johnson ranked 12th in the league in scoring (14.6 ppg), third in rebounding (8.1 rpg), fifth in field-goalpercentage (48.7 percent) and eighth in blocks (1.3 bpg). Johnson had eight double-doubles, including a 24-point, 16-rebound performance in that signature winover the Blue Devils. With such an influx of talent, Johnson may not be relied upon as much, but he still could prove to be the team's best player.
The Deacons also return a pair of juniors who saw regular action last season - 7-foot center Chas McFarland and power forward Jamie Skeen. McFarland was one of the ACC's most improved players. After barelyplaying as a freshman, the big man ranked second on the team in rebounding and fifth in the league in blocks. Skeen was a solid contributor off the bench andcan be counted on for rebounding.
Aminu is the most ready of the three freshmen and could start from Day One. Long and athletic, Aminu possesses a similar game to that of Johnson with anability to shoot from 3-point range and score in the paint. The Deacons will use the two together frequently, which will create big matchup issues foropponents.
Walker and Woods, who will challenge McFarland for a starting job, will make their biggest impact on defense. Both have the size and athleticism to be greatshot blockers. Walker is more polished and can step outside and hit jump shots. Woods is more of a raw project who could go through some growing pains thisyear.
OFFENSE
Deacons ranked eighth in the league last season in scoring offense at 72.2 points per game. Expect that number to rise by four to six points. Theirpersonnel is built for the open court, and with a much deeper rotation, they will be pushing the pace much more. In halfcourt sets, Smith will look to createoff the dribble, and Teague and Johnson probably will remain the No. 1 and No. 2 options.
DEFENSE
[table][tr][td]
http://[/td] [/tr][tr][td]The Deacons may have reached the NCAA tournament without any additions. They were more than competitive in the ACC last season with a team that had only one junior and no seniors. When you add one of the top recruiting classes in school history (and that's saying something for a school that has produced the likes of Tim Duncan and Chris Paul), they've got a chance to be dramatically better. Johnson and Teague are two of the top 10 players in the ACC. Aminu could join those ranks as well. The Deacons will have the depth and the size to wear down and overpower opponents. The rotation could go 11 deep, and six of those players are 6-8 or taller. Go ahead and pencil this team in the field of 65, and if the freshmen develop quickly, a trip to the Sweet 16 - maybe even the Elite Eight - is possible.[/td] [/tr][/table]
The defensive problems that plagued the Deacons during the last couple years of the Skip Prosser era appear to have been fixed. After ranking last in theACC in scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense in 2006-07, the Deacs moved to fourth and sixth, respectively, in those categories. A change from anaggressive man-to-man to more of a pack-line defense where nobody drifts out beyond the 3-point line deserves the credit. In the second year of the new system,the Deacs should improve a little more.
SHOES TO FILL
Nobody. All scholarship players return for the Deacons.
MUST STEP UP
Three-point shooting. The Deacons lack a reliable outside shooter, and as a team they need to do a better job of knocking down 3-pointshots. Otherwise, they won't be able to do any damage in the NCAA tournament.
IMPACT NEWCOMER
Aminu. Ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the 2008 class, Aminu has the potential to be a one-and-done player. Aminu will certainly bolsterWake's offense, but it's on the boards where the versatile small forward could make the biggest difference. The coaching staff says he can be a greatrebounder.
Andrew Skwara is a national basketball writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at [email protected].
Talk about it in the
Last season: 17-13, 7-9 in ACC.
Postseason: None.[/td] [td]
http://
BACKCOURT
The Demon Deacons essentially start two point guards in sophomore JeffTeague and junior Ishmael Smith. Both have great wheels - they could be thefastest tandem in the country - and they complement one another because each uses his speed for different purposes.
http://
[table][tr][td]PROBABLE STARTING FIVE[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G Ishmael Smith, 6-0/Jr.
8.6 ppg, 4.7 apg, 1.3 spg[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G Jeff Teague, 6-2/So.
13.9 ppg, 1.8 spg[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G L.D. Williams, 6-4/Jr.
8.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg[/td] [/tr][tr][td]F James Johnson, 6-9/So.
14.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.4 spg, 1.3 bpg[/td] [/tr][tr][td]C Chas McFarland, 7-0/Jr.
8.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.6 bpg[/td] [/tr][tr][td]TOP RESERVES[/td] [/tr][tr][td]F Al-Farouq Aminu, 6-9/Fr.
Rivals.com five-star prospect[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G Harvey Hale, 6-3/Sr.
8.1 ppg[/td] [/tr][tr][td]F Jamie Skeen, 6-8/Jr.
5.6 ppg[/td] [/tr][tr][td]C Ty Walker, 7-0/Fr.
Rivals.com five-star prospect[/td] [/tr][tr][td]C Tony Woods, 6-11/Fr.
Rivals.com five-star prospect[/td] [/tr][/table]
Teague is the score-first type who can rack up points quickly. Teague scored 25 or more in five games last season. Four of those resulted in wins for theDeacons, including an 86-73 upset over then-No. 9 Duke where Teague finished with 26 and looked like the best player on the court. Teague excels at beatingdefenders off the dribble, and he does a good job finishing around the basket and drawing fouls. The former four-star prospect is also a good on-the-balldefender. With a year of experience to draw from, expect him to be a little better in all areas and blossom into an All-ACC selection.
Smith, who enters his third year as a starter, is more of a setup man who can score but prefers to pass the ball. Smith suffered a foot injury in a pickupgame last week that required surgery, and he probably will miss most of preseason practice. He's expected to be back in time for the season opener. TheDeacons need Smith to be healthy so they can take full advantage of what promises to be a deep rotation loaded with scoring threats.
Junior L.D. Williams, a two-year starter, could be moved to the bench infavor of a bigger lineup, but he will still play 20-plus minutes a game. An athletic 6-foot-4 wing, Williams may be the best defender on the team and in thepast has guarded the opponent's top perimeter scorer. Williams has a knack for energizing the team with highlight-reel worthy dunks. He needs to improvehis ball-handling and outside shooting.
Shooting guard Harvey Hale, a senior, will be one of the first players offthe bench. Hale, who has been a starter on and off for the past three seasons, has a history of being a streaky shooter. Sophomore shooting guard Gary Clark, who saw action in 24 games last season, could be used as a role player toprovide more depth.
That group of guards is the deepest in the ACC and also ranks among the most talented. But the Deacons need someone to knock down open 3-pointers withregularity. They shot 31.6 percent from beyond the arc last season, last in the ACC.
FRONTCOURT
The Deacons are welcoming a collection of big men who will make coaches at the most elite programs envious. Forward Al-Farouq Aminu (6-9) and centers Tony Woods (6-11) and Ty Walker (7-0) - which made up the nation's No. 3-rated recruitingclass - are all five-star recruits. Each probably will play in the NBA someday. That trio joins what was already a solid returning core and will combine togive the Deacons one of the most talented and deepest frontcourts in the nation.
The multi-dimensional James Johnson was arguably the best freshman in theACC last season. An inside-outside scoring threat, Johnson ranked 12th in the league in scoring (14.6 ppg), third in rebounding (8.1 rpg), fifth in field-goalpercentage (48.7 percent) and eighth in blocks (1.3 bpg). Johnson had eight double-doubles, including a 24-point, 16-rebound performance in that signature winover the Blue Devils. With such an influx of talent, Johnson may not be relied upon as much, but he still could prove to be the team's best player.
The Deacons also return a pair of juniors who saw regular action last season - 7-foot center Chas McFarland and power forward Jamie Skeen. McFarland was one of the ACC's most improved players. After barelyplaying as a freshman, the big man ranked second on the team in rebounding and fifth in the league in blocks. Skeen was a solid contributor off the bench andcan be counted on for rebounding.
Aminu is the most ready of the three freshmen and could start from Day One. Long and athletic, Aminu possesses a similar game to that of Johnson with anability to shoot from 3-point range and score in the paint. The Deacons will use the two together frequently, which will create big matchup issues foropponents.
Walker and Woods, who will challenge McFarland for a starting job, will make their biggest impact on defense. Both have the size and athleticism to be greatshot blockers. Walker is more polished and can step outside and hit jump shots. Woods is more of a raw project who could go through some growing pains thisyear.
OFFENSE
Deacons ranked eighth in the league last season in scoring offense at 72.2 points per game. Expect that number to rise by four to six points. Theirpersonnel is built for the open court, and with a much deeper rotation, they will be pushing the pace much more. In halfcourt sets, Smith will look to createoff the dribble, and Teague and Johnson probably will remain the No. 1 and No. 2 options.
DEFENSE
[table][tr][td]
The defensive problems that plagued the Deacons during the last couple years of the Skip Prosser era appear to have been fixed. After ranking last in theACC in scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense in 2006-07, the Deacs moved to fourth and sixth, respectively, in those categories. A change from anaggressive man-to-man to more of a pack-line defense where nobody drifts out beyond the 3-point line deserves the credit. In the second year of the new system,the Deacs should improve a little more.
SHOES TO FILL
Nobody. All scholarship players return for the Deacons.
MUST STEP UP
Three-point shooting. The Deacons lack a reliable outside shooter, and as a team they need to do a better job of knocking down 3-pointshots. Otherwise, they won't be able to do any damage in the NCAA tournament.
IMPACT NEWCOMER
Aminu. Ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the 2008 class, Aminu has the potential to be a one-and-done player. Aminu will certainly bolsterWake's offense, but it's on the boards where the versatile small forward could make the biggest difference. The coaching staff says he can be a greatrebounder.
Andrew Skwara is a national basketball writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at [email protected].
Talk about it in the
dacomeup
Supporter
- 26,314
- 36,967
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2006
