Quote :

"we barely have any significant turnover from last year to this year"

we lost a starter, an experienced backup pg and our only competent frontcourt sub and replaced them w/ unproven freshman

careful w/ the kool-aid, puking it up leaves a real nasty stain

11/5/2012 9:57:07 PM

you can't go saying we should win the acc because you never know how good unc/duke are going to be. we could be as good as expected and they could STILL be that much better.

11/5/2012 10:00:16 PM

Quote :

"you'd be "really happy" with a 3 win improvement over last season? "

JUST LET ME PAD ANY POTENTIAL DISAPPOINTMENT OK?!?!

I want to do just as well as the rest of you... but I feel like we have the potential to drop a couple WTF games. We always do (but I concede that we haven't been expected to be this good... so I don't know). And I'll believe that we'll sweep UNC and Duke when I see it.

11/5/2012 10:07:05 PM

So 23-8 is going to be considered a disappointing season?

11/5/2012 10:12:33 PM

Quote :

"we lost a starter, an experienced backup pg and our only competent frontcourt sub and replaced them w/ unproven freshman"

this is college basketball. you're always going to lose something. to lose only one starter, and a role player at that, is pretty light turnover.

11/5/2012 10:13:32 PM

Not when you replace all losses with unproven frosh and players proven mid-roaders

Depth was a huge problem last year, once we went past 7 we were in trouble. The frosh could easily pan out and TDT and JVD could have large improvements, but if either of those doesn't happen, we could struggle

11/5/2012 10:31:43 PM

Quote :

"So 23-8 is going to be considered a disappointing season?"

Not winning the ACC = disappointing

It's not fair, but it's true

11/5/2012 10:45:39 PM

From watching the exhibition TBDV and TDT did not have big improvements


We need Warren at the 4 at least a little bit this year.

[Edited on November 5, 2012 at 10:49 PM. Reason : not scrimmage]

11/5/2012 10:46:13 PM

Yep, warren will have to replace painter. It's going to be quite a challenge for him on the defensive end, but he is an improvement on the offensive end over painter.


TDT and Vandy are just wastes of size and height, respectively. Neither of the look as though they have played competitive basketball before.

11/5/2012 10:49:19 PM

Quote :

"Depth was a huge problem last year, once we went past 7 we were in trouble."

yeah, and it's going to be a problem again this year, but everything else is going to be better, thus i expect the results to be better.

11/5/2012 10:58:46 PM

Just took a look at the schedule again. We should not lose more than 4 games.

[Edited on November 6, 2012 at 10:21 AM. Reason : and I'm 100% serious]

11/6/2012 10:20:49 AM

It's still only year 2.

Don't fuck up this year too bad and I'm happy. Finish in the top 4 in the ACC, finally snap the losing streak against UNC and have the team ready to play in March. That's all I ask*

*I'm still going to bitch when we don't show up but I'll be fine at the end of the day.

11/6/2012 10:25:13 AM

Yeah after the football debacle this year I'm not setting my expectations too high. I think as long as we finish maybe top 3 in the ACC, are easily into the tourney, and make it back to the sweet 16, I will be at least satisfied with the season.

11/6/2012 10:28:20 AM

Quote :

"Yeah after the football debacle this year I'm not setting my expectations too high. I think as long as we finish maybe top 3 in the ACC, are easily into the tourney, and make it back to the sweet 16, I will be at least satisfied with the season. "

This. Time to get out of preseason hype.

11/6/2012 10:33:43 AM

^^that's about where I'm at, as well. I could also throw in an ACC semifinal showing with a close loss to one of the top 2.

[Edited on November 6, 2012 at 10:34 AM. Reason : ^^]

11/6/2012 10:34:05 AM

Yeah, I mean I think we have the potential to have a real special year and finally get a regular season or ACC title and make a run at a final four but I dont want to expect that. It is hard to speculate on the NCAA tourney just because so much comes from how you draw. I just dont want to have a great season and then get bounced in the first or second round by some random team. Make it to the second week and I will be happy.

11/6/2012 10:40:35 AM

Our depth is so bad that in blowouts we won't even be able to sit all of our major rotation players

11/6/2012 10:41:39 AM

Quote :

"Yeah after the football debacle this year I'm not setting my expectations too high. I think as long as we finish maybe top 3 in the ACC, are easily into the tourney, and make it back to the sweet 16, I will be at least satisfied with the season."

Translation:

I'm not setting my expectations too high this season. Here are the too high expectations I am setting.

11/6/2012 10:55:19 AM

How is that too high for this team?

11/6/2012 10:57:01 AM

Those things are certainly possible, but they are no way certain.

11/6/2012 10:58:47 AM

Who said anything about certainty?

Top-3 in a weak ACC and another Sweet Sixteen berth are reasonable expectations.

11/6/2012 11:02:47 AM

it's not certain that i'll be alive tomorrow, but i 100% expect it.

11/6/2012 11:06:12 AM

100% expecting those things is a setup for disappointment

11/6/2012 11:40:41 AM

Welcome to this forum for sports discussion.

11/6/2012 11:57:23 AM

If expecting a season marginally better than last years results is too high of expectations then so be it. Too high of expectations for me would be expecting us to win the ACC and make a final four. Could it happen? Sure. Do I expect it? No.

11/6/2012 12:47:35 PM

I can't really see how anyone would think picking up a few games over last year would be over reaching. We dropped a few very winnable games last year that would have put us exactly where that prediction says and we bring back most of the major pieces from that team to go with a solid freshman class. Throw in the extra year of experience and the returning pieces having a year of experience with our new system and that is reasonable. The biggest hurdles will be keeping the team level headed, healthy, and then hope we don't draw a terrible match up in the early rounds of the tournament.

If we hadn't lost Painter and Harris to transfer, front court depth wouldn't even be a huge concern, but there's no use crying over spilt milk at this point.

[Edited on November 6, 2012 at 1:36 PM. Reason : .]

11/6/2012 1:08:02 PM

got my tickets today.

11/6/2012 1:17:35 PM

will be nice to not hear Mike Patrick this season

http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2012/11/espn-2012-13-mens-college-basketball-commentators/

11/6/2012 1:23:01 PM

Quote :

"SPLIT MILK"

11/6/2012 1:30:41 PM

Mr. Wuf on the front page of espn

Lunardi's pre-season bracketology has Duke a 2 seed, us a 3 seed, the holes a 4 seed, the noles a 7 seed, and miami a 9 seed

11/6/2012 2:21:43 PM

how you can possibly put Kentucky as a #1 seed in the tournament at this point is absolutely absurd to me. rankings, projections, etc. should not even come out until at least 2-3 weeks into the season.

11/6/2012 2:40:05 PM

Quote :

"will be nice to not hear Mike Patrick this season http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2012/11/espn-2012-13-mens-college-basketball-commentators/"

you seriously just made my day

11/6/2012 2:59:25 PM

^^ I agree. I just tend to ignore all that as it gets to be a bit much.

11/6/2012 3:04:13 PM

Kentucky is going to be pretty good, #1 seed is a fair projection.


We have a pretty tough draw.

Mercer, then Baylor, then Florida, then Indiana to reach the final four.

It'd be great if #4 Arizona beats Indiana and we can take on Sean miller.

I don't wanna look past Florida or Baylor though, they are good teams too.

11/6/2012 3:45:48 PM

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/pack-hype-shifting-to-reality-with-season-opener/11745253/

Quote :

"“You really only have a couple chances to do it in college,” junior Lorenzo Brown said. “You have four years and this is going on my third year. I feel like I should be one to push my team and help us win a national championship.”"

11/7/2012 10:17:18 AM

I would take that with a grain of salt. Just like Purvis saying he's getting his degree first.

11/7/2012 10:23:55 AM

haha, i know. i was trying to determine which emoticon i should put after the quote, i don't think it means anything. and a lot of players that leave early initially say they're going to get their degree first.

[Edited on November 7, 2012 at 10:53 AM. Reason : ]

11/7/2012 10:26:37 AM

I saw that too when I read it earlier, I like the sound of Brown for four years!!!

11/7/2012 10:52:27 AM

Calling ESPN Insider:

http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/ncbexperts/id/8602320/ranking-college-basketball-top-5-shooters-heading-2012-13-ncb

11/7/2012 12:46:32 PM

Quote :

"Hubie Brown, one of the great teacher-coaches in the history of the game of basketball, once said, "Shooting makes up for a multitude of sins." This is something that is always on your mind as a coach, knowing that having a player who can make shots and be a consistent threat puts a great deal of pressure on the defense and opens up scoring opportunities for teammates. But there are different types of knock-down shooters, and having one is not a cure-all for a team's offense. Fans need to realize that it is one thing to have the ability to make a high percentage of your shots, and another to understand how to get open even when facing a defense that is trying to run you off of the 3-point line or otherwise disrupt your rhythm. The best shooters know how to get open, and the best teams get their shooters the ball when and where they are most effective. It's the coach's job to put his shooters in position to do what they do best. Does a player want to turn in off his right foot or left foot coming off screens? Does he need a rhythm dribble or is he best as a spot-up shooter playing off penetration or in transition? Elite shooters know how to get open, set up and read screens well, move on penetration and are always "shot ready." Here is my ranking of the five best shooters in college basketball, including a look at how their coaches and teammates will help them be most effective this season. 1. Scott Wood, North Carolina State Wolfpack At 6-foot-5, Wood has the size to get shots off and, just as important, has a quick release. Wood is effective getting out in transition, giving himself space and opportunities to shoot in rhythm. Coach Mark Gottfried runs a number of different sets for him; Wood does a great job coming off the down screen in NC State's triangle action as well as the double-down in the team's UCLA offense. Plus, he is patient as a baseline runner in rover action, stays low and does a great job of reading fades and curls off screens. Wood benefits from playing with both an elite point guard in Lorenzo Brown -- who sees plays early and delivers the ball on time -- and a talented frontcourt player in C.J. Leslie who draws an extra defender as well as runs the floor in transition, which forces defenses to run back inside-out. 2. Rotnei Clarke, Butler Bulldogs The former Arkansas long-distance marksmen played shooting guard for the Razorbacks but will move to the point for Brad Stevens. I expect Butler to set random drag-ball screens for Clarke in transition to help create separation in the open court. Once the offense is initiated, Stevens will get Clarke in the action by having him come off staggers as well as flare re-screens. The addition of freshman sharpshooter Kellen Dunham will stretch the defense and help open up space for Clarke to use his shot fake to give him a driving lane to either shoot pull-up jumpers or make plays for others. Butler likely will run a lot of shake-ball screens with Clarke and Andrew Smith while spotting up Dunham on the weak side. This will put a great deal of pressure on the defense. 3. Allen Crabbe, California Golden Bears Crabbe is a 6-5, silky-smooth player with unlimited range and a quick release. He uses his jab step to create space and has improved off the dribble, which has enabled him to use ball screens to create separation. Mike Montgomery is one of the game's best coaches at putting his players in position to play to their strengths. Cal teams, which cut hard and screen as well as any team in the country, also typically play with great spacing. The team will run a number of sets to free Crabbe to come off double screens, staggers and wide pindowns. Crabbe consistently runs the floor hard, which frees him up for rhythm jumpers in transition. Plus, playing alongside his former AAU backcourt teammate Justin Cobbs will ensure that Crabbe receives the ball when and where he wants it. 4. Doug McDermott, Creighton Bluejays McDermott is one of the toughest matchups in college basketball. He has the size (6-8, 225) and footwork to post on and off the block, and has the range to stretch the defense. Additionally, he plays in a system the gives him opportunities to score in transition and in the half court. The Blue Jays are efficient because they are an excellent passing team with skilled players -- and they have a player in McDermott who moves well without the ball, changes speeds on his cuts and utilizes screens as well as any player in the country. Plus, his coach (and father), Doug McDermott, is a creative offensive strategist who will move his son around and play him at multiple positions. He is extremely effective in pick-and-pop situations as well as in roll-replace sets when he is the replace man. In transition, McDermott is especially effective in the trail position for step-in 3s. 5. Troy Daniels, Virginia Commonwealth Rams Daniels, the sleeper on this list, is a 6-5 designated shooter who last season attempted 247 of his 299 shots from beyond the arc. He gets a number of his scoring opportunities playing off the penetration of Darius Theus and Rob Brandenburg, moves well to find open space and is always ready to take a shot. The Rams run a number of different spread-ball screen sets where Daniels comes off a baseline screen or behind the roll as the replace man. He is also benefits from the Rams' full-court system that creates turnovers and produces open-floor opportunities. Others to watch • Isaiah Caanan, Murray State -- Great at shooting the 3 off the bounce • Seth Curry, Duke -- Uses his shot fake well to set up step-backs and draw fouls • Michael Snaer, Florida State -- Has the uncanny ability to make big shots at critical times"

11/7/2012 12:54:52 PM

damn, came here to post that

11/7/2012 12:57:14 PM

#2, Lorenzo Brown, Junior - Roswell, GA

6'5" / 186 lbs., Starting Point Guard































[Edited on November 7, 2012 at 1:35 PM. Reason : ]

11/7/2012 1:23:39 PM

^the best <3

11/7/2012 1:42:00 PM

Very excited to see if Zobokkake can make 'the leap' this year

[Edited on November 7, 2012 at 2:43 PM. Reason : a]

11/7/2012 2:40:10 PM

i really think he does. i trust that kid so much out there.

11/7/2012 3:04:36 PM

[Edited on November 7, 2012 at 4:11 PM. Reason : .]

11/7/2012 4:08:47 PM

Can't wait to see the Zobra play on Friday. Zoobrow is really gonna take it to the rack. Zerburg is going to make the plays. Zizbo can get it done. Lozebort is the guy.

11/7/2012 7:04:12 PM

You talking about Zub Zub?

11/7/2012 7:06:10 PM

Zodhisattva is in for a huge season

11/7/2012 7:08:30 PM

Enzo!

11/7/2012 7:10:42 PM