JustinYoung

“And a child shall lead them.” It’s only fitting that a Biblical verse should be the theme for the religious followers of the Atlantic Coast Conference. This year, the ACC will be different.

Gone are Tony Akins, Lonny Baxter, Carlos Boozer, Jason Capel, Monte Cummings, Juan Dixon, Mike Dunleavy, Anthony Grundy, Kris Lang, Roger Mason, Darius Songalia, Jason Williams, Chris Williams and Chris Wilcox. See what we mean?

Now it’s a new era. 45% of the 2002 McDonald’s High School All Americans will call the ACC home for the next four years…or at least they should be. And seven of them will be starting on teams that made it to the NCAA tournament last year.

There isn’t a clear-cut conference favorite going into the season. Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina, NC State and Virginia will all be fighting for the top spot. Wake Forest is in a down year but could still ride out last year’s successful year. Clemson has a strong core of players that could overachieve and Florida State will be fighting for new head coach Leonard Hamilton.

The point? It’s anybody’s year. But don’t discount the league as a whole. The ACC is the heart and soul of college basketball. It will provide plenty of classic battles. It’s a new era.

Here is a look on how the league may pan out as well as All ACC team selections and other various individual awards.

Predicted Conference Rankings
1. Duke
2. Virginia
3. NC State
4. Georgia Tech
5. Maryland
6. North Carolina
7. Wake Forest
8. Clemson
9. Florida State


All ACC First Team
Chris Duhon, Duke
Travis Watson, Virginia
Steve Blake, Maryland
Josh Howard, Wake Forest
Julius Hodge, NC State

Second Team
Edward Scott, Clemson
Chris Bosh, Georgia Tech
Marvin Lewis, Georgia Tech
Dahntay Jones, Duke
Ray Felton, UNC

Player of the Year: Chris Duhon, Duke
Coach of the Year: Pete Gillen, Virginia
Newcomer the Year: Chris Bosh, Georgia Tech
Most Improved: Josh Powell, NC State
Most Underrated: Edward Scott, Clemson
Most Overrated: Dahntay Jones, Duke
Most NBA Ready: Chris Duhon, Duke

iverson3

i agree this is the toughest conference to rank but perhaps the best conference top to bottom. So many option but this is how i see things panning out:

Predicted Conference Rankings:
1. Duke
2. Maryland
3. Virginia
4. North Carolina
5. Georgia Tech
6. NC St.
7. Wake Forest
8. Florida St.
9. Clemson

First Team-
Chris Duhon
Steve Blake
Jawad Williams
Josh Howard
Travis Watson

Second Team-
Ray Felton
Ed Scott
Julius Hodge
Jamar Smith
Chris Bosh

Player of the Year- Chris Duhon PG Duke
COach Of the year- Matt Doherty North Carolina
Newcomer of the year- Ray Felton PG North Carolina
Most Improved- Ryan Randle PF Maryland/Daniel Ewing SG Duke
Most Underrated- Ismail Muhammed G/F Georgia Tech
Most Overrated- Julius Hodge PG/SF NC St.
NBA Ready- Chris Duhon PG Duke

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TerpBurp

Justin, how can you have Dahntay Jones on the 2nd team and as Most Overrated? Isn't that kinda stupid?

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Maryland - 2002 NCAA Champs

kansasalumn

So what are your reasons for this comment? Do you think Jones deserves to be 1st team, and not overrated. ? I want to know why you disagree with Justin.

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TerpBurp

No, the logic doesn't make any sense. First, he placed Jones in the All-ACC 2nd team, which means that he thinks very highly of Jones. Then immediately, he said that actually the guy is the most overrated, which means he probably didn't deserve to be on any All-ACC team in the first place.

So does Jones deserve 2nd team or not? Cuz if he does, he's not overrated at all. If he doesn't, why the hell did Justin put him there?

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Maryland - 2002 NCAA Champs

ihatespn

Justin..I think Wake Forest will surprise a lot of people, Howard is as good as anyone in the Acc and the freshman they picked up should fill in the holes very nicely. Ncst is one of the most overrated teams in the country and Ive given my reasons in the past. Have a little more respect for MD, Gary Williams has proven to do win with less talent than this, their freshman are good and they return more experience than any team in the Acc.

Iverson...props for having Ncst 6th!! I also agree with your top three! Unc 4th? I could see it but I wouldnt bet on it after what happened last year. Jamar Smith 2nd team? From what ive heard hes been having trouble in practices, I guess hes a tweener inside and hasnt been able to beat people off the dribble. We will see though.

"So what are your reasons for this comment? Do you think Jones deserves to be 1st team, and not overrated. ? I want to know why you disagree with Justin"

I have to admit, that was sort of a stupid comment by Justin. Didnt really make a lot of sense to me either, its not like Jones is being predicted to be a 1st team all american this year, so having him 2nd team all acc, yet overrated was odd.

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JustinYoung

My teams are what the ACC will most likely hand out. Do I think he'll win All ACC based on that? Yeah I do. Not sure where the confusion really is.

JustinYoung

(This is a big answer for the emailers...)

Okay I've received about 54 emails and two death threats (no exaggeration) regarding Duhon being POY and Maryland at #5.

1. First off - Who else would be the ACC POY? Who? Honestly, who would it be? Howard? Not healthy enough. (And by the way, the most boring interview I've ever done. That's why you haven't seen a story.) Watson? Maybe but will it be because he led the Hoos to the NCAA tournament or will his teammates do it? The rest is wide open.

2. Maryland - How high will they finish? Is Steve Blake as good as everyone thinks? The key to their success is in Jamar Smith. That's it. The other four starters are okay but they aren't players that will help win. They are all role players who now have a bigger stage.

RetroDreams

Beware of Sean May! I've seen him so many times and I think he can come in right now and put up 15 and 10.

He is just an extremely gifted kid... and I still remember when I watched him wipe the floor with Zach Randolph. Keep an eye on him, boy did I piss my pants when he didn't go IU.

JustinYoung

Sean May is one of those kids who makes you shake your head because it's impossible to believe so much talent is in that body. He's pretty darn skilled that's for sure. He brought that great Indiana shooting here to the South! Maybe the second coming of Sam Perkins?

OZZY

I don't know JustinYoung about Virginia being second in the conference. Every single year they are supposed to be a great team, and every year they blow it! Plus the fact they lost some very good players in Chris Williams and Roger Mason from last season. Yeah it would be cool if they did good and Mapp could have a breakout year but I don't think they will be 2nd in the conference... Your right if Watson has a 1st Team All ACC year but I still don't know if they will pull it off, maybe with last years team but not this years.

And what about Isma'il Muhammad, no one ever mentions him and he is probably one of the most talented players in the ACC easy.

JustinYoung

He'll be the most talented player sitting on the bench. He's a great athlete who knows how to finish but he'll be a "casulity" of a deep bench, particulary the guards. That's why he doesn't get the individual accolades.

TerpBurp

Justin, Duhon is not even the best player on his team, let alone in the ACC. Daniel Ewing has been lighting him up in practice. Sean Dockery was seriously pushing him for playing time during their trip in England. Dahntay Jones is clearly their best player right now.
My candidates for ACC POY:
1. Julius Hodge
2. Josh Howard
3. Travis Watson
4. Daniel Ewing
5. Steve Blake

As for putting Maryland at #5, I don't have a problem with it. Everyone has their own opinion. One thing though, the key to our success is not Jamar Smith but the seniors stepping up their play.
Towards the end, this might be our line-up: Steve, Drew, Nik, Tahj, and Ryan.

My ACC predictions (biased, of course)
1. Duke
1. Maryland
I believe they'll have the same records. Don't care too much about tie-breaker rules right now.
3. NC State
4. Georgia Tech
5. UVA
6. Wake
7. UNC
8. FSU
9. Clemson

ACC POY: Julius Hodge, NC State
ACC Rookie OTY: Shavlick Randope, Duke
COY: K or Gary

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Maryland - 2002 NCAA Champs

OZZY

Isn't he a SF though? I think he is better than any SF on there team, and will play SF because of his 6-6 230 frame and strong slashing style of play. Because Bosh won't play SF he will play PF, so I don't see were your getting he will not play...

I still say he will have a great year.