Offseason news and notes from the ACC.
Boston College
The top two scorers -- senior Tyrese Rice and sophomore Rakim Sanders -- are back. But if the Eagles are to bounce back from last season's 14-17 debacle that saw them lose 13 of their last 15 games they are going to have to find them help.
It didn't help that Shamari Spears, the team's No. 3 scorer and its top rebounder who would have been a junior, announced last spring he was leaving the program along with classmate Dave Kaba. Spears ended up at Charlotte, Kaba at Marist.
Had Spears not transferred, the Eagles would have returned four starters from a team that was 12-4 with wins over Maryland, Wake Forest and Miami before hitting its second-half slump. Their chances of moving up would have increased dramatically.
Now Rice, Sanders and forward Tyler Roche are the only returning starters on the freshman-sophomore laden club. Of the 11-man roster, only two -- the senior Rice and junior Roche -- are upperclassmen.
Joe Trapani, who averaged in double figures in his one year at Vermont before transferring and sitting out last season, looks to join that trio. Also in the mix for a starting spot are Corey Raji, Josh Southern and Biko Paris, all of whom flashed signs of potential as freshmen last season.
The Eagles are still looking to fill the shot-blocking role that Tyrelle Blair played last season. Also gone is John Oates, who had 14 starts and was steady off the bench.
Clemson
Clemson last season reached the ACC tournament title game for the first time since 1962 and made the NCAA field for the first time since 1998, but the Tigers were oh so close to accomplishing even more.
They took North Carolina to overtime twice in the regular season and lost to the Tar Heels by only five points in the ACC title contest, and they led Villanova by 18 points in their first-round NCAA game before losing by six.
More good things could be forthcoming despite the loss of two key players, James Mays and Cliff Hammonds.
The Tigers return three starters from last season's 24-win team and have four other returnees who got significant court time.
Returning starters are swingman K.C. Rivers, the team's leading scorer; Trevor Booker, one of the league's strongest centers despite his 6-7 stature; and point guard Demontez Stitt, who was second to Hammonds in assists.
Rivers is a one of the top players in the league and can pretty much do it all. He is on pace to become the school's all-time 3-point shooter, was the team's third-leading rebounder, and can take care of the basketball. He has only 130 turnovers in 102 career games and has more steals than turnovers.
Stitt was a notable exception in the Tigers' struggles at the free-throw line, shooting 85 percent as a freshman. Terrance Oglesby, who was a 3-point specialist off the bench as a freshman, could be in that group.
Senior Raymond Sykes, who had six starts last season, is the leading candidate to replace Mays up front, but junior David Potter and sophomore Jerai Grant also will vie for time at forward. The 6-6 Potter played a reserve role at both small and power forward.
That's about as strong as nucleus has anyone has in the league this side of Carolina.
Duke
It was an unconventional approach to offense for the Blue Devils last season, when they lacked a consistent threat inside and concentrated on their perimeter game at both ends of the court.
But when their 3-point shooting failed them down the stretch, the Blue Devils made a second consecutive early exit from the NCAA Tournament, losing in the second round to West Virginia. They lost in the first round to Virginia Commonwealth in 2007.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski says the Blue Devils will have more of an inside presence this season, and they will have more depth than last season, when they faded over the last couple of weeks.
That inside presence could come from Brian Zoubek, a 7-1 junior, or freshman, Miles Plumlee, a 6-10 forward who originally signed with Stanford but got a release after the coaching change.
Zoubek has had his moments the last two years but was hobbled by injury. He has yet to demonstrate he can carry a team over the long haul, but Krzyzewski thinks he could have made a big difference last year if he could have been on the court about 20 minutes a game, twice as long as he managed.
Another newcomer, Olek Czyz, is a 6-7 power forward who looks to have a strong upside, but maybe not right away.
There's no questioning the experience the Blue Devils have returning. The only starter lost was DeMarcus Nelson, who played a big leadership role as a senior. Taylor King, who played a reserve role as a freshman, also left, ending up at Villanova.
Returning starters senior Greg Paulus, juniors Gerald Henderson and Lance Thomas and sophomore Kyle Singler, along with junior Jon Scheyer off the bench, give the Blue Devils lots of firepower, and they can pressure opponents defensively.
Complete Blue Devils team report
Florida State
Florida State has been an enigma in coach Leonard Hamilton's six seasons, generally playing well enough to get cursory attention from the NCAA but not winning enough to actually get into the tournament.
The Seminoles finished 7-9 in conference play for the second consecutive season following a 9-7 mark in 2006, their only winning ACC record under Hamilton.
Getting over the hump and into the NCAA field for the first time since 1998 looks to be a long shot at best for the 'Noles, who return three starters.
Uche Echefu was the 'Noles' leading rebounder and gives them a solid power forward. Ryan Reid was the No. 2 rebounder. Throw in Soloman Alabi, who appeared in only 10 games as a freshman before going out with a leg injury, and the 'Noles look solid in the frontcourt.
It might have been one of the best in the conference had 6-foot-10 Julian Vaughn not packed his bags and transferred to Georgetown, where he received a waiver from the NCAA to play this upcoming season. Vaughn started seven games as a freshman last season.
Hamilton also is high on some newcomers, but the one who looks to have the most immediate impact is Derwin Kitchen, a junior college transfer who can play either guard spot. He'll team up in the backcourt with returning starter Toney Douglas.
Of the five freshmen, 6-8 forward Chris Singleton has the best chance of contributing right away. He has the ability to earn a starting position up front.
Complete Seminoles team report
Georgia Tech
Since reaching the Final Four and losing to Connecticut in the 2004 national championship game, Georgia Tech has gone 27-37 in ACC play and twice has had sub-.500 overall records, including last season when it went 15-17.
Early defections of Javaris Crittenton and Thad Young after just one year on campus wrecked last season's hopes, and another defection could have an impact -- though much smaller -- this season. Ra'Sean Dickey, a 6-10 center who redshirted last season -- decided in July to skip his senior year and signed a contract to play professionally in the Ukraine.
Dickey could have added muscle to a frontline headed now by junior Zack Peacock. Dickey averaged five rebounds a game over his career. That's one more than Tech's top returning rebounder, senior Alade Aminu, averaged last season.
Tech does return three starters, including point guard Moe Miller. Miller finished strong his freshman season and had 96 assists against 59 turnovers. Senior De'Andre Bell also returns in the backcourt, and sophomore Gani Lawal returns at forward.
Senior guard Lewis Clinch could be a difference maker for the Jackets if he regains the form he showed as a sophomore. He was Tech's leading scorer through the first 10 games of the 2006-07 season before being suspended for "violation of school policy."
Clinch returned and was one of Tech's top two scorers early last season before slumping in ACC play. If he can regain his shooting touch, that should relieve some of the pain felt by the loss of 3-point specialist and top scorer Anthony Morrow.
In addition to Morrow, Tech also lost seniors Jeremis Smith, the leading rebounder, and guard Matt Causey, who was a big factor with the intangibles he brought to the floor. Mouhammad Faye, a 6-10 forward who could have been a nice addition up front, transferred to SMU.
The Jackets brought in only one newcomer, Iman Shumpert, a 6-4 guard who could start in Tech's three-guard set.
Complete Yellow Jackets team report
Maryland
Maryland got good news in August when shooting guard Sean Mosley gained approval for admittance by the NCAA Clearinghouse.
That addition makes up for a couple of subtractions earlier this summer. First, top prospect guard Tyree Evans asked to be released from his letter-of-intent. He was the subject of some controversy when it was revealed his past featured a string of criminal offenses. Though offered a scholarship, he had yet to be cleared by the admissions office when he asked for his release in late May.
Less than two weeks later Gus Gilchrist, a 6-9 forward who was ticketed to replace the departed James Gist, also asked to be released from his scholarship. Gilchrist originally signed with Virginia Tech in the fall of 2006 but asked for, and was granted, a release following the tragic shootings on the Tech campus in the spring of 2007. He enrolled at Maryland for the spring semester this year and was going to have to sit out the fall semester this campaign because of ACC rules. Maryland's appeals to the conference to get a waiver were denied, and Gilchrist decided to leave so he could play four full years elsewhere.
The addition of Mosley does come with one caveat. He simply makes the Terrapins stronger in an area of depth. The Terps have returning starters Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes in the backcourt along with Adrian Bowie and Cliff Tucker, who had eight starts between them.
A third returning starter, junior Landon Milbourne, also plays on the perimeter.
The loss of Gilchrist, however, along with the departures of Gist and Bambale Osby, plus the transfer of 6-10 Shane Walker after just one year on campus, leaves the Terps hurting in the post area. The job will go by default to someone in a mix that includes sophomores Braxton Dupree, Jerome Burney, and Dino Gregory.
Dave Neal, the only senior on the roster, adds bulk (263 pounds on his 6-7 frame), but has played only 49 game over the last two seasons. Two newcomers, 6-10 center Sean Goins and 6-7 forward Jin Soo Kim of Korea, are still in the process of completing requirements to join the team this season.
Complete Terrapins team report
Miami (Fla.)
Miami ended a five-year NCAA drought last season. Now the Hurricanes are looking for a repeat performance.
And they look to have the firepower to do it.
Four starters plus several key reserves return to a team that overcame a January slump to win six of its last eight regular-season games, including its first win over Duke since joining the ACC, to earn its first at-large NCAA bid since 2002.
The only lost starter is center Anthony King, who started all but one game but went into somewhat of a funk after his gaffe caused the Hurricanes a loss at N.C. State. Raymond Hicks, who gave the Hurricanes some valuable minutes off the bench, also is gone.
Miami has plenty waiting to replace them. The Hurricanes not only return power forward Dwayne Collins, a two-year starter, but also welcome back senior Jimmy Graham. Graham started early in the season but was more effective coming off the bench. He and Collins are two physical players who can muscle their way inside.
Julian Gamble, who sat out his freshman year, and transfer Cyrus McGowan from Arkansas also will compete for time.
Brian Asbury's production dipped late in the season, but he is an athletic player on the wing. Adrian Thomas also can be a big plus at forward if he can stay healthy.
Of course, the big returnee is leading scorer Jack McClinton. He has the ability to take over a game. James Dews and Lance Hurdle also are returning starters in the Hurricanes' three-guard lineup, and Eddie Rios finished his freshman year on an uptick.
As if the Hurricanes weren't already awash with returnees, they also will welcome one of the league's top freshmen in forward DeQuan Jones. An athletic wing player, he also is considered a strong defender, something the Hurricanes lacked at times. Another newcomer, forward Reggie Johnson (6-9, 290) adds even more bulk inside.
Complete Hurricanes team report
North Carolina
Following two consecutive disappointing performances in the NCAA Tournament -- three if you include a regional semifinal loss to George Mason in 2006 -- North Carolina will be a team on a mission in 2008-09.
With Tyler Hansbrough returning and Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green all withdrawing their names from the NBA Draft to come back to school, the Tar Heels will go into the season with virtually the same cast that went 36-3 and swept the ACC regular-season and tournament titles before losing to Kansas in the Final Four.
A couple of newcomers also figure to have key roles and make up for the loss of Quentin Thomas, who was a senior last season, and Alex Stepheson, who is transferring to Southern California.
Freshmen Ed Davis (6-8) and Tyler Zeller (6-11) both should fit in with Carolina's emphasis on getting up and down the floor and may take some of the pressure off Hansbrough on defense and rebounding. Both are power forwards, and Zeller also can play center.
A third newcomer, Larry Drew Jr., the son of former NBA player and Atlanta Hawks assistant Larry Drew Sr., ordinarily wouldn't figure on seeing much time in the backcourt with Lawson starting and senior Bobby Frasor coming off the bench.
But both Lawson and Frasor have had injury problems so you never know. Drew is known for his decision-making and passing ability, which should fit right in with the Heels' needs.
Stepheson's defense and rebounding off the bench will be missed, but in addition to Green and the freshmen, Carolina also welcomes back junior Deon Thompson.
Complete Tar Heels team report
North Carolina State
After a year of frustration and disappointment, North Carolina State is looking to rebound -- literally and figuratively -- in 2008-09.
After averaging under 68 points a game and finishing last in rebounding margin in the league, the Wolfpack will have to improve in both categories if it expects dramatic improvement over its 15-16 (4-12 ACC) record.
It won't be easy. The top two scorers from last season, J.J. Hickson and Gavin Grant, are gone. Hickson, who left after just one year to enter the NBA Draft (he went to the Cleveland Cavaliers as the 19th pick), also led the 'Pack in rebounding.
But as much as he contributed, Hickson essentially ate up some of the numbers veterans had provided the year before. Brandon Costner and Ben McCauley saw their scoring output cut about in half (to 8.5 points and 6.9, respectively) from the 2006-07 season, and Courtney Fells stayed flat (10.6).
They are going to have to regain their previous form if State is to avoid dropping into the bottom of the standings.
Another lingering problem remains at point guard. Farnold Degand sustained a season-ending knee injury after just 10 games, and Javier Gonzalez and Marques Johnson never really picked up the slack. Fegand is expected to be ready when practice begins in October.
The two incoming freshmen, guard Julius Mays and forward C.J. Williams, appeared destined for backup roles. Johnny Thomas, a 6-5 swingman, still has some issues with the knee injury that forced him to redshirt his freshman year last season.
Virginia
Virginia tumbled from a tie for first place in 2007 to 10th place in the ACC in 2008, but you can be assured that the climb back up is going to take a lot longer.
The Cavaliers relied heavily on Sean Singletary last season, and even with him could win only five ACC games. Now that he and his nearly 20 points-per-game average are gone, where are the Cavaliers going to get their points from?
Mamadi Diane has had his moments over the last three years and is the only player on the roster who managed to average in double figures last season. But he is very streaky.
That puts the pressure on forward Jeff Jones and forward Mike Scott, who started 25 and 21 games as freshmen last season, to pick up the pace. That's a big if. Jones averaged just under five points a game, Scott just under six.
Sammy Zeglinski is the logical candidate to step into Singletary's spot. But he played in only eight games last season before sustaining season-ending ankle injuries.
Virginia also will be looking to replace forwards Adrian Joseph and Ryan Pettinella, who combined for 52 starts last season. Laurynas Mikalauskas, who missed 13 games with a shoulder injury, looks to step in. He is a strong presence inside, but may be slowed early after having shoulder surgery in the off-season.
Freshmen Assane Sene (7-0) and John Brandenburg (6-11) could give Virginia the shot-blocking capability it lacked last season when Tunji Soroye was limited to two games because of injuries.
Complete Cavaliers team report
Virginia Tech
Though the season ended on a disappointing note when the Hokies were bypassed by the NCAA and then lost at home in the third round of the NIT, Virginia Tech overachieved in winning 21 games and finishing in fourth place in the ACC.
With four starters and nine of its top 10 players returning, the Hokies have the opportunity to surpass that win total. The loss, however, is a key one. Deron Washington not only was the No. 2 scorer and rebounder, he also was a team leader and the one the Hokies looked to in tight situations.
Senior A.D. Vassallo, the top scorer, looks to be that guy this season. He scored in double figures in all but two games. If his defense is a liability, he makes up for it with his rebounding and perimeter shooting.
A big surprise last season was the play of freshman Malcolm Delaney. Delaney not only proved to be a good assist man but also shot well from behind the 3-point arc. He's also rated a good defender and should raise his scoring output with more opportunities.
Jeff Allen also made a quick impression as a freshman by taking over in the middle. If he can keep his emotions under control -- he was suspended for two games for making contact with an official -- he could develop into one of the league's top inside players. A fourth returning starter is forward Lewis Witcher, a junior who doesn't score a lot but is a steady contributor and defender.
A nice three-member recruiting class took a hit in the summer when it was announced that guard Kendall Durant, who could have backed up either guard position, would not enroll. Reasons were not given.
That leaves Victor Davila and Gene Swindle as the only newcomers. Both are forwards. Davila could compete for a starting role, but Swindle will probably redshirt.
Wake Forest
Despite a late slump, Wake Forest exceeded expectations by going 17-13 and handing Duke its worst defeat of the season. The Demon Deacons won't be sneaking up on anybody in 2008-09.
The addition of a strong recruiting class to a roster that includes all five returning starters makes this squad one of the deepest and most talented in Wake in several years. Coach Dino Gaudio, who took over last season under the most difficult circumstances -- the death of his boss, Skip Prosser -- has an embarrassment of riches, especially up front.
He not only has one 7-footer in the middle in returning starter Chas McFarland, he has two with freshman Ty Walker coming in. Walker needs to work on his offense, but looks to be an immediate contributor with his defense.
The Deacons have a wealth of potential at the forward position, led by last season's freshman phenom James Johnson. L.D. Williams also is a returning starter, and Jamie Skeen and David Weaver also bring experience.
Pushing them for time will be two newcomers, 6-foot-8 Al-Farouq Aminu and 6-10 Tony Woods. Aminu in particular has the talent to earn a starting position if he can become more consistent.
Wake brings in no new faces in the backcourt but didn't have to. Ish Smith became an accomplished point guard and twice hit baskets in the closing seconds to give Wake wins over Virginia Tech and Miami. Freshman Jeff Teague became Wake's No. 2 scorer behind Johnson. And senior Harvey Hale is an experienced guard to provide depth.
If Gaudio can put them together right, all the pieces are there for Wake to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005.
