Am I the only one who thinks the ACC is overated??

[maverick2112]

I think UNC has sucked this past 2 weeks, no heart , lucky to beat an undermanned Duke squad at home with big time revenge, lucky to beat a average Clemson squad then was behind almost the entire game against Geo Tech........

Wake Forest.......high scoring and talented team but plays terrible defense......

Duke......deny the 3 point shot and dont let Redick go crazy and they are kind of limited. Only decent inside guy is Williams. The last 2 games they barely had enogh players to finish the game.

Georgia Tech.........one of the most up and down teams in the nation. Even last year when they made it to they final they had a lots of breaks go their way in close games....

Now, I am not saying these are not good teams but I sure see a lot of people raving about Wake and UNC but to be honest I have'nt been that impresses with either........maybe a team like UNC can just turn it on whenever but I cant see how they wouldnt want to play well this weekend....there defense sucked both games....

 

[gman2]

show me a conference with better 'middle-of-the-pack' teams than georgia tech, maryland, and ncstate in the acc. im not one for excuses, but elder being out for a good chunk of the season really messed with their chemistry. should great teams be able to overcome (or at least adjust to) an injury? probably. but he is a huge piece for them. ncstate would stand a good chance of finishing in the top 3 of almost every other major conference. the acc has its garbage teams just like any other conference. and defense isnt always at a premium (although gatech and duke are much better defensively than they get credit for) but its the overall depth that makes it the best conf. imo

 

[Sun Tzu]

As a conference no it isnt overrated. I do think some of its TEAMS are overrated - there is a difference.

 

[pt1gard]

these teams in all conferences are so damn close and competitive and so many kids play hoops at a high level (70 games a summer) and get good coaching somewhere at sometime, that parity exposes them all at some juncture ... I watch UW lose to trees and beavs and zona lose to cougs and UW and NC play like crap and KY get blown today and so on, and I have to always recall these games are competitive and anything can happen ...

gl, gregg

 

[moe777]

yes,you are

 

[johnnyb.]

overrated would be big 10, acc is superior to all others. think big east has potential to reach that plateau.

 

[Scott4USC]

*What did UNC have to play for at the end of the year? Wasn't McCants out for UNC for 4 games to end the year with bad virus? He is just getting back in shape and should be fine for "important" tourney. He is prob. their best player on a very talented team. McCants is great at taking the ball to rim and that is a major weapon UNC was missing. When UNC was playing for something (early in year) they were dominant. I think they go to the finals.

*Georgia Tech played a TOUGH schedule this year AND were missing their best player Elder due to hamstring problem. He came back late in season and took while for the team to gel. No chemistry for most of year but they are looking good now. I think they lose in elite 8.

*Wake Forest has been solid all year and I am sure they will play harder defense come tourney time. Defense is mostly about effort. WF won't play lights out defense but I am sure they will increase their effort in the big dance. You gotta like their offense and IMO they are the 3rd best team in the country. Paul is one of the best players in the country. I think WF goes to final four.

*You mentioned ways to stop Duke yet Duke only has 5 losses playing tough schedule. These are college kids so I don't put too much emphasis in depth or teams getting tired. Duke will go as far as Reddick takes them and good news for Duke is he is pretty consistent. Although I think Syracuse beats Duke.

 

[maverick2112]

Scott you say "What did UNC have to play for at end of the yr??

How about the conference title?
The Acc tourney title?
How about some Pride?

Last I checked McCants played in both tourney games this week?

Maybe all I am trying to say is that I will not be surprised to not see an Acc team in the final four?

The way some of these announcers and pundits are taking about UNC you would think they have allready won the national title.

Lets also not forget the Roy factor..........seems a lot similar to his days at Kansas......go into the conference tourney highly ranked.....stumble and then lose in the big dance.

 

[Sun Tzu]

Scott showing some novice here. Go ask any ACC fan - their conference tourney is an ENORMOUS important event. To even remotely imply they wouldnt go all out for it is absurd.

 

[pt1gard]

ur right Mav, roy has crapped his pants many a time, utep got him once, the zona Nat Champs got his best team with Jacque, he played for two titles tho and maybe this is his time--hard to say, but will admit if my team played with such lack of heart as 2 games I saw in acc, id be worried, and Ive always been huge NC fan so im not a powder blue basher, i hope they win it all

 

[Its Gravy]

ACC is a meatgrinder conference high octane offenses
Defense not nearly as good as the big 12 and SEC

 

[Scott4USC]

Scott you say "What did UNC have to play for at end of the yr??

How about the conference title?
The Acc tourney title?
How about some Pride?

Last I checked McCants played in both tourney games this week?

I think McCants missed quite a few games of the regular season. I do know he was out last 3-4 weeks of season. That explains UNC not playing "sharp" at the end of the year. McCants is their best player.

At the end of the year, UNC beat DUKE without McCants and I think they packed it in after that. In ACC tourney, McCants is getting his condition back (been out for 3-4 weeks). Look for a healthy and engergized UNC team in the big dance.

Who cares if you win your conf. tourney when you already have a #1 seed locked up. UNC will only be remembered what they accomplish in the big dance. Players know that and prob. just focusing on that especially after beating Duke (their rival).

UNC beats Duke, a #1 seed, without McCants.
UNC loses only by 3pts to a hungrier G-Tech team, with Bynum scoring 35pts and McCants getting back in the flow.

UNC should and will be playing with more intensity in the big NCAA Tourney. You will see the same UNC team you saw earlier in the season who were destroying their opponents. I think the same applies with Illinois.

What is the perfect tune up game to start turning things on? How about a #16 seed and all the practices leading up to the 2nd round opponent.

UNC loses to Illinois.

Illinois hands down will win it all if Brown gets back his offensive game!

 

[Its Gravy]

hey hey hey

 

[vyrus858]

* Although I think Syracuse beats Duke.

AGREED...I think a McNamara vs Reddick shootout will be a site to see this year, if it happens...but I think Warrick takes over the game, much quicker than Williams and better getting to the basket...then comes Pace and the other role players for Cuse, and I think they are MUCH more aggressive and smooth then those white boys for Duke...im sure the refs will give it to Coach K in the end though

 

[maverick2112]

Scott.........its not just that Unc lost in the tourney......what just raises a red flag for me is this..........

Say what ever you want about the Duke game........they were EXTREMELY LUCKY to pull off a win......I thought this was there time......with or without McCants.......they have to come from behind 9 points with a couple minutes left to win........thats the kind of game you make a statement........they didnt. Yeah they won but In my opinion they should have beat Duke soundly.......they could'nt guard the 3 point line and just let Duke connect on wide open 3 after 3. Now on to the tourney......I watched both the Clemson game and GT game and in 120 minutes against inferior teams, UNC HARDLY EVEN HAD THE LEAD DURING EITHER GAME.......no defense, soft on the boards, etc.etc. Now if UNC can just TURN IT ON whenever they want then I am wrong but I just wonder about this team. I find it inexcusable how the barely showed up in the last 3 games, in fact they have'nt really impressed me in their last 5 games........they beat a Maryland team thats played terrible down the stretch by 2........they had to come from behind at home to beat a 12-19 FSU team......they squeak by Duke at home......they come from behind and beat Clemson.......then they lose to Geo Tech in a game they are hardly ever leading.

One thing is for sure........they dont enter this tourney on much of an upswing..........I guess time will tell......

 

[lowell]

everyone is on syracuse to beat duke. you may be right but mich state might surprise you first. izzo has been known to win some big games.

 

[Duke45]

Scott, not winning conference isnt that big of a deal?? These guys play against each other(in the past) for four years straight, and you dont think that the number of comference titles you have while you are there means something? When or if you played ball in high school, was it not important to win district. or regional...., or all you care about is State? For most, I believe they understand this. THere is pride in winning your conference tourney. As for them beating Duke, I agree with Maverick, they squeaked through with a win they shouldnt have gotten, when they should have won hands down. What about the Duke WIN at Cameron when UNC had McCants? noone is mentioning that? If UNC is that great with McCants, then how on earth could they lose to Duke when they are supposedly running "full-throttle" at the time? I believe they are a good team, I just dont know what gets these boys fired up, and I dont believe they are a sure thing for the Final Four.

 

[Fabulous]

I agree with Scot that Illinois will win this tourney if Dee can break out of his mini-slump. Ever since he threw up that airball at Ohio State the last game of the year, he has been in the dumpster with his confidence. He is a tough kid an will get through it. Illinios is like the NE Patriots, they can adapt to any style and win convincingly. Just like yesterday's game with Wisconsin. Illinois slowed it down and played Wisconsin's style and still won by 11. Illinois showed early in the season against WF that they can speed the game up and play ACC style run and gun and out score teams as well. This team is very balanced and will have almost a home court advantage throughout. I think they will face Syracuse in the finals which would be a great matchup.

 

[TigerPawsSC]

UNC can be great. It seems like they have a switch and when it is, they are trouble. Problem with teams like that is the fact that in the NCAA tourney, some good team is going to jump on them early like my Tigers did, but the more experienced tourney teams will hold on if UNC didn't come out ready to play from the tip. I personally see Florida knocking off UNC in the round of 16. I see major character flaws among their players and their team chemistry leaves a lot to be desired.

Also, Clemson should not have been a run-over game for UNC when you consider the history between the teams. 3 of the past four years Clemson has cleaned UNC's clock at home and in the one game they lost(this year), Clemson led at halftime in Littlejohn Coliseum. Granted Clemson has not been able to win in Chapel Hill, they have played very well against the sticky footed Tarholes in the past.

 

[Scott4USC]

Duke45

Then why wasn't UNC playing with a passion in the ACC tourney? I have put my money where mouth is and I am betting you will see a different UNC team in the final four tourney vs UNC team in the ACC touney. This team had the #1 seed locked up, beat Duke prior to ACC Tourney, and teams are only remembered what they do in March.

Fabulous I am praying to God Brown finds his shot. He is too good of a player to stay in this slumo. Even if he doesn't come out of it, Illinois has enough fire power and Brown contributes in other ways. Glad Augustine has stepped up his game heading into tourney. You are right about home court advantage. HUGE!!!!

TigerPawsSC don't you think chemistry was affected because McCants was out so long then he comes back? (but not 100%) Lack of motivation/intensity because of #1 seed locked up and beating rival to end year?