The Confidential

The ACC Sports Blog

Archive for the month “April, 2012”

06 Apr 2012

Good News/Bad News on Early Entries

One ACC team received good news with respect to the NBA Draft, while another ACC team received bad news.  The good news is that North Carolina’s James Michael McAdoo will be returning for his sophomore season.  The bad news is that Syracuse’s Fab Melo has declared his eligibility for the NBA Draft.  While both moves were expected, that does not lessen the impact.

For North Carolina, it is already looking at a season without Josh Henson, Harrison Barnes, Kendall Marshall, and ACC Player of the Year Tyler Zeller.  And there was talk that McAdoo would be a lottery pick.  That is somewhat surprising given that he averaged about 15 minutes a game, and only six points per game.  But the NBA is all about potential and McAdoo’s potential is clear.  Also, he played very well down the stretch.  This is a win-win, as North Carolina gets one more experienced player and McAdoo gets a chance to develop his game.

In Syracuse, the expectation that Fab Melo was finished does not lessen the impact.  Melo was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year.  However, he had eligibility troubles all year–making it unlikely that he would return to work on his improving, but subpar, offensive game.  Syracuse does have a few returning big men, plus incoming McDonald’s All-American DaJuan Coleman.  So all is not lost for the Orange.  Still, they would have preferred one more year of Melo.

 

 

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball and tagged , , , ,
05 Apr 2012

Football Spring Practice Updates

It is April.  That means that the college football season is just five months away.  In fact, August practices begin in… doing the math… four months.  Anyway, here are some snippets from what is taking place across the ACC.

In Miami, Al Golden is trying to toughen up the Hurricanes.  He implemented the “U Tough” program to get the kids into the gym in the offseason.  With all those 4 and 5 star kids roaming around Coral Gables, getting them focused on the gym only means bad things for the rest of the ACC.

Up north a few miles, Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher liked what he saw in the first scrimmage.  There was a lot of intensity, plus it was productive.  That does sound like a good mix.

Meanwhile, in Clemson, the first scrimmage led to only mixed reviews.  Apparently, the offense had little trouble overpowering the defense.  That will have to change.

In North Carolina State country, everyone is trying to figure out whether Mustafa Greene is still on the team.  It sure looks like just a suspension right now–it would have been easy for Tom O’Brien to just say he had been kicked off.

In Pittsburgh, three coaches in three years means that the depth charts are in flux.  The quarterback position is particularly unsettled.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Football and tagged , , , , , ,
04 Apr 2012

Here comes the 2012-2013 Preseason Polls

While most of the college basketball world has shifted from the 2011-2012 season into preparing for the Mayan End of the World in December 2012, a few brave souls have decided to issue early pre-season basketball polls.

CBS’s Dennis Dodd decided to go away out on a limb by projecting Kentucky #1.  Syracuse, at #7, is the highest ranking ACC team, while North Carolina is at #10.  North Carolina State at #15 edges out Duke at #18.  No other ACC team made Dodd’s list.

ESPN’s Andy Katz at least tries to do something different, projecting Indiana as #1.  Katz has North Carolina State at #6 and North Carolina at #11.  Syracuse and Duke are #14 and #15, respectfully.  He also has Florida State, Pitt, and Maryland “on the cusp.”

NBC’s Mike Miller also has Indiana as the projected #1.  So maybe Katz is right and Dodd is the one that is clueless.  Miller has North Carolina State #4, Duke #11, Syracuse #15, and North Carolina all the way down at #22.  Miller also “considered” Maryland, which is nice.

Combining these three polls, reveals the following results:

  • North Carolina State: #15, #6, and #4 = 25 pts
  • Syracuse: #7, #14, and #15 = 36 pts
  • North Carolina: #10, #11, and #22 = 43 pts
  • Duke #18, #15, and #11 = 44 pts

There it is, folks.  Looks like the North Carolina State Wolfpack are you early favorites to take home the ACC Championship in 2012-2013.  Assuming we make it that far, of course.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball, Predictions and tagged , , , , , , ,
03 Apr 2012

Kentucky Wins National Title

If, by chance, you were living under a rock for the past 24 hours, you might not have noticed that Kentucky defeated Kansas to win the National Championship last night, 67-59.  For John Calipari, his recruitment of one-and-done players has finally panned out with a national title.  For the rest of college basketball, it is a bit disappointing that such a non-traditional roster was able to achieve what it did.  Still, there is no question that Kentucky was the best team in college basketball in 2011-2012.  The team deserves the title.

For most ACC fans, there is little to really complain about.  Other than North Carolina and Syracuse, nobody was going to beat Kentucky.  Not Duke.  Kentucky was that good.

For North Carolina and Syracuse, there is disappointment.  A healthy Tar Heels squad would have competed with Kentucky.  After all, Kentucky only beat North Carolina 73-72 when both teams were at full strength.  Of course, the Tar Heels were not healthy for most of the last several weeks of the season.  Ultimately, no rematch happened for the 32-6 Tar Heels.

Syracuse did not suffer injuries, but was plagued by the academic (allegedly) woes of Fab Melo.  The Orange battled valiantly without the Big East Defensive Player of the Year.  At the same time, the Kentucky front line would have given the 34-3 Syracuse Orange all it could handle.  Plus, Kentucky’s outside shooting last night suggested that the zone might not have posed much of a problem–especially without Melo.

In the end, it was Kentucky’s year.  Although bittersweet, it is what it is.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball, Game Review and tagged , , , , ,
02 Apr 2012

Big City Classic at MetLife Stadium Recap

Sunday was a big day for college lacrosse as the Big City Classic at MetLife Stadium featured three games involving elite teams, including Duke, Syracuse, and North Carolina.

The big winner of the day was North Carolina, who knocked off previously #1 Johns Hopkins, 13-9.  R.G. Keenan won 18 face-offs, Jimmy Bitter scored three goals, and Marcus Holman added a two-goal, four-assist performance to lead the Tar Heels.  The game was 8-7 after three periods, but North Carolina outscored Hopkins 5-2 in the final period to win by a comfortable margin.  As Tarheelblue also noted:

R.G. Keenan was named the Konica Minolta Big City Classic MVP as he won 18 of 25 face-offs, the sixth time in his career and the third time this campaign he has won at least 18 draws in a game. He led both teams with nine ground balls. That was Keenan’s second highest ground ball total of the season, exceeded only by the 11 he had at Navy on February 25.

Congratulations to Keenan and the Tar Heels.

The other big winner of the day was Duke, who defeated Syracuse 12-10 to win its sixth straight game.  Duke senior Robert Rotanz tallied four goals to lead the team.  The teams were tied several times during the game, including at 9-9 and 10-10.  But each time Duke got a timely goal.  Syracuse has lost two straight games now–the first such streak since 2007.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Game Review, Lacrosse and tagged , , , ,
01 Apr 2012

Wisconsin: Home for Unhappy ACC Quarterbacks

It is confirmed.  The Wisconsin Badgers are not just willing to take unhappy ACC Quarterbacks, they roll out the red carpet.  Last year, Wisconsin provided a nice landing spot for former North Carolina State’s Russell Wilson.  Now former Maryland quarterback Danny O’Brien will be transferring to Wisconsin.

In O’Brien, Wisconsin will get the 2010 ACC Rookie of the Year.  However, O’ Brien fell out of favor with new Maryland coach Randy Edsall.  He was already losing playing time before suffering a season-ending injury.

O’Brien apparently considered Vanderbilt and Mississippi.  But the lure of playing behind Wisconsin’s massive front line apparently was a selling point.  He had this to say: “You hear how big these guys are, but until you see them practice, it doesn’t do them justice.”  Frankly, that is a great reason for any quarterback to choose Wisconsin.  But it also does not hurt that Wilson meshed so well with the Badgers.

For Wisconsin, they will land a player with immense potential.  Again.  One wonders how they are capable of consistently landing these elite quarterbacks?  Perhaps they have a Craigslist ad, such as this:

Are you an ACC quarterback?  Does your current coach not treat you with the respect that you deserve?  Stop settling.  We can satisfy all your needs.  We have a high octane offense.  Massive offensive line to keep you safe.  Reasonable coaching staff.  As a Big 10 school, you’ll play the best of the best on the biggest stages.  If you’ve got the talent, we’ll take you to the next level.

Whatever Wisconsin is doing, it is working. Makes you wonder how Greg Paulus slipped by.

Now it is time for the ACC coaches to rally a bit and not be such easy targets.   If they guy is good enough to play at Wisconsin, maybe it’s you and your program.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Football and tagged , , ,

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