Quote :

"A projection for next year: "4. N.C. State Projected Starters: sophomore point guard Farnold Degand, senior wing guard Gavin Grant*, sophomore wing forward Brandon Costner*, junior power forward Ben McCauley*, freshman center J.J. Hickson. Off The Bench: junior wing guard Courtney Fells*, sophomore wing forward Dennis Horner, freshman power forward Tracy Smith, freshman point guard Javi Gonzalez, sophomore combo guard Marques Johnson (will become eligible in December), freshman wing forward Johnny Thomas, sophomore wing guard Trevor Ferguson, redshirt freshman center Bartosz Lewandowski. Known Departures: point guard Engin Atsur (senior), wing forward Bryan Nieman (senior). Comment: If Atsur had another year, this team would have had an incredibly high ceiling. As it is, the key factor moving forward for the Wolfpack will be the development of a reliable point guard or two from among Degand, Gonzalez and Johnson. (Any of the three could end up as the starter.) Considering the talent — and, for a change, some quality depth — available at other positions, State will compete for the ACC title if that one, huge question can be answered in a satisfactory manner.""

http://www.wral.com/sports/blogpost/1249281/

1. UNC
2. Georgia Tech
3. Duke

it's just dave glenn, but it's still nice to be picked higher than dead last

3/27/2007 10:22:18 AM

has anyone even declared for the draft yet? how can a prediction be made when we don't even know who will be around for each team?

3/27/2007 10:27:20 AM

^Exactly.

UNC will probably lose Wright, maybe Hansbrough and Lawson.

GTech could lose Young or Crittendon. They could be NASTY though only losing Mario West.

3/27/2007 10:28:45 AM

when's the deadline to declare for the draft?

3/27/2007 10:31:22 AM

They likely have assumed Wright is gone for UNC, with Lawson returning. Seriously, they have Thompson who can come in and take Wright's place, certainly a huge drop off, but it's not like a nobody is feeling in. And Rey Terry, well no big loss there. Duke is losing McRoberts but gaining 3 McD AA's, shouldn't be to big of a drop off, and the fact that some people think that K isn't losing sleep over McRoberts going pro might make Duke better. G tech is the wild card here, if Crittenton or Young leaves, that could hurt, who did they lose to graduation (was Clinch a senior?). And it's good to see others realize that Hickson will start over a current starter this year, he ain't coming to an NIT team to ride the pine no matter how few games it may be at the beginning (in regards to the "he will start in January" claim).

[Edited on March 27, 2007 at 10:35 AM. Reason : ..]

3/27/2007 10:33:45 AM

obviously it's early for projections. i was just posting it b/c it had us in the top 4. other projections will come out after players have declared.

[Edited on March 27, 2007 at 10:39 AM. Reason : ]

3/27/2007 10:39:21 AM

Quote :

"GTech could lose Young or Crittendon. They could be NASTY though only losing Mario West."

The only way they'll meet expectations is if they lose Hewitt.

3/27/2007 10:41:30 AM

I think UNC losing Terry will hurt more than you guys think. He's a pretty good defender and he basically won the ACC championship game for them with a couple of huge baskets. He did this a couple other times during the season too. He's just a little inconsistent.

3/27/2007 10:43:44 AM

^, their 3 Frosh were ALL ACCT team, Terry no where to be seen. Sure, he had 2 monster 3s in the last 5 minutes, but Wes Miller had some monster 3s at the end of the first half to give them the distance for the double digit lead. With the bodies they have, people will forget Terry played for UNC by february of next year.

^^ Couldn't agree more abotu Hewitt, the guy is a dud in my opinion. Yea he made the champ game in 04, but they weren't even close to a final four caliber team, didn't we sweep them that year? However, if Hewitt can recruit like he has been, he might not need to be a good coach.

[Edited on March 27, 2007 at 10:49 AM. Reason : .]

3/27/2007 10:47:33 AM

that projected lineup sounds pretty big...yall think we would have big costner at the 3? i would be more inclined to guess that 2 of the 3 big men (costner, mccauley, hickson) will start, gavin will play the 3, and fells will slide in at the 2 spot...but who knows

3/27/2007 10:50:42 AM

yeah, i'm thinking we'll have a 3 big man rotation....where they all share minutes at the 4 and 5 spots.

3/27/2007 10:53:18 AM

I think Costner CAN play the 3...that would be a huge freakin matchup problem for most teams on offense if he goes down low. I dont think I want him playing the 3 though. He's a matchup problem at 4 anyway cause he can shoot.

Personally I think JJ doesnt start right away. He may earn his playing time in which case we have to see who to slide out of the lineup, but we'll figure that out after the first 8 scrub games we play. I'm not worried about it.

3/27/2007 10:53:37 AM

Quote :

"it's just dave glenn"

ha wtf does that mean

3/27/2007 10:54:13 AM

this is just getting our hopes up. We all know being a wolfpack fan is a lifetime of heartbreak.

3/27/2007 11:00:35 AM

Quote :

" think Costner CAN play the 3...that would be a huge freakin matchup problem for most teams on offense if he goes down low"

true that but it works both ways...a quick wing player at the 3 would have the advantage of breaking him down off the dribble

3/27/2007 11:08:16 AM

Quote :

"Known Departures: wing forward Reyshawn Terry (senior), wing guard Wes Miller (senior), perhaps freshman power forward Brandan Wright (expected early NBA entry)."

Looks like he is anticipating Wright leaving...

3/27/2007 11:12:07 AM

1. NC State 16-0
...
(bunch of other teams)
...
11. Duke 2-14
12. North Carolina 0-16

3/27/2007 11:15:52 AM

^^yeah he's projected as a top 3 pick...i'd be shocked if roy didnt personally tell him to go pro...cant turn down that money

[Edited on March 27, 2007 at 11:25 AM. Reason : .]

3/27/2007 11:25:16 AM

Quote :

"G tech is the wild card here, if Crittenton or Young leaves, that could hurt, who did they lose to graduation (was Clinch a senior?)"

No. Mario West was the senior. A good defensive player, but not a great player.

Clinch was only a sophomore, but is Hewitt going to let him back on? This year had to count as one of his four so he has two left. He was their leading scorer before getting the boot.

3/27/2007 11:29:28 AM

Quote :

"it's just dave glenn"

Haha. It's just the most reasonable and knowledgeable sportswriter that covers the ACC. That's all.

3/27/2007 1:31:02 PM

though he can be an ass Tudor knows more about ACC basketball

3/27/2007 2:33:42 PM

that 04 GT team had some talent. jack, elder, lewis and even schenscher (at the very end) were playing pretty well, and they also had is'mail muhammed and will bynum.

that said, that same team finished 8-8 in the conference, so i'm not exactly shaking and quaking at the thought of crittendon and young

3/27/2007 4:13:14 PM