2001-2002 ACC Preview
Predictions

The following is Rob Clough's 2001-2002 ACC Predictions.  As always, Rob's article is among the most thorough available anywhere.

Rob's full preview will be posted according to the following schedule (in inverse order of last season's ACC standings):

9/29 - 2000-2001 ACC Predictions vs. Reality
9/29 - Clemson
9/30 - Florida State
9/30 - NC State
10/1 - Wake Forest
10/1 - Georgia Tech
10/2 - Virginia
10/3 - Maryland
10/4 - North Carolina
10/5 - Duke
10/8 - 2001-2002 Projections
10/9 - ACC Schedule Analysis

Rob's Picks:

1. Duke 13-3
2. Maryland 12-4
3. Virginia 10-6
4. UNC 9-7
5. Wake Forest  8-8
6. NC State 6-10
7. Georgia Tech  6-10
8. Clemson 4-12
9. Florida State 4-12

 Comments:

 Picking Duke and Maryland as the two best teams in the league is not exactly a bold prediction.  Beyond that, it's difficult to assess what the league will be like, at least until we see what kind of impact new coaches and recruits will have.  Virginia's veteran squad seems like a good third place bet, though they will have to prove that they can win on the road this year.  UNC could very well beat out Virginia or possibly challenge for an even higher position if all of their various x-factors line up in their favor.  Fourth place seems to be the safest bet for now, until we know what their freshman class will bring.  I see Wake as the ACC's  fifth NCAA team once again, and I don't see them as finishing any higher than  fourth or any lower than sixth.  The veterans on that team give them an edge  over the bottom half of the league.

  NC State is another true mystery team.  I like Hodge enough to give them sixth over Tech, but the skewed distribution of talent on the team will make it very hard to make it to the NCAA tournament.  Tech could zoom over State and Wake if their frosh make a big splash, or could sink to the bottom of the league if they don't.  Akins' star power is enough to keep them at seventh, tied with State.  Clemson and FSU are giving me the most problems in terms of prognostication.  I want to rank these teams higher because both will be greatly improved, but too much depends on too many untested players--and neither team can depend on any winning experience. I do think that they'll play better and more exciting basketball overall, and will give teams more trouble.  I also think both can attain winning records overall. 

Rob's All-ACC Teams:

 Others Considered: Chris Hobbs, Clemson; Dahntay Jones, Duke; Chris Duhon, Duke; Delvon Arrington, FSU; Julius Hodge, NCSU; Adam Hall, UVA; Jawad Williams, UNC                                         

All-Rookie:

C Ed Nelson, Ga Tech
F Jawad Williams, UNC
F Vytautas Danelius, Wake
G Julius Hodge, NCSU
G Anthony Richardson, FSU

 Others considered: Chey Christie, Clemson; Jackie Manuel, UNC;  Melvin Scott, UNC; Dan Ewing, Duke; Elton Brown, UVA; Jermaine Harper, UVA;  Ismail Muhammad, Ga Tech; Ilian Evtimov, NCSU;

POY: 

Jason Williams, Duke

ROY: 

Jawad Williams, UNC

COY: 

Pete Gillen, Virginia

All-ACC Defensive

F    Josh Howard, Wake Forest
F    Dahntay Jones, Duke
F-G  Adam Hall, Virginia
G    Juan Dixon, Maryland
G    Chris Duhon, Duke

 ACC DPOY: 

Juan Dixon, Maryland

Defensive Comments:  

There's a serious lack of big men in general in the ACC, but  big men who specialize in defense are an even rarer species.  So I chose  to go with the best overall defenders in the league.  Howard and Hall are  proven stoppers.  Both are superb, long-limbed athletes with an uncanny  sense for defensive positioning.  Jones' specialty at Rutgers was defense  and the whispers about him shutting down Jason Williams and Shane Battier  last year in practice are legendary.  Duhon was Duke's best on-ball  defender last year, while Dixon's incredibly quick hands and feet make  him the most dangerous defensive presence in the league.  While Dixon  gives up a few inches to most of his opponents, he compensates by not  only making athletic plays, but by making the right play.

 Rob's Archive