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INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers, the best home team in
the NBA, faced little challenge from the Washington
Wizards, who were trying for their longest road winning
streak in more than five years. David West scored 20
points and C.J. Watson had 16, leading the Indiana Pacers
to a 93-66 win over the Washington Wizards on Friday
night. "This was a sensational defensive effort," Indiana
coach Frank Vogel said. "You want to see a team come out
and play as hard as any on the defensive end, come see
this team play." Indiana (29-7) used an 11-3 run in the
third quarter to create separation from Washington. Two
field goals from West capped off the swing, which put the
Pacers up 56-40. Trying for their first four-game win
streak on the road since February 2008, the Wizards (16-
18) stumbled at the foul line. They finished 9 of 23 on
free throws, hitting just five of their first 14. "I
thought we did a great job moving the ball early in the
game and sticking with it," John Wall said. "But you cant
stay in the game when you are missing free throws like we
were." Washington lost to the Pacers for the 11th time in
12 tries and havent won at Indiana since April 18, 2007.
Indiana remains the NBAs best home team at 17-1 at
Bankers Life Fieldhouse, including seven in a row. Paul
George of the Pacers and Wall of Wizards each opened 1 of
8 from the field. George finished with eight points on 2-
of-14 shooting and Wall had 13 points. "We knew they
would be tough to beat," West said. "They came out strong
and we countered." Walls struggles in Indiana continued.
He shot four 4 of 15 from the field Friday and is 8 for
29 in his past two games here. Washington was led by
Bradley Beal with 17 points. The Pacers overcame a 37-of-
83 shooting night with a 6-of-13 performance from the 3-
point range. Washington finished 26 of 81 from the field.
The Pacers outrebounded Washington 61-41. They were led
by George, who had 14 rebounds, and Lance Stephenson, who
had 10. Watson entered with about nine minutes remaining
in the second quarter to score five quick points. His 3-
pointer pushed Indianas lead to 31-26 with 6:32 left in
the quarter. Nene came off the bench in the first half
for Washington to tally eight points and four rebounds.
He finished with 12 points. Watson again provided a spark
for Indiana in the second half. He scored 11 of his 16 in
the fourth quarter and finished 6 of 6 from the field.
The Wizards got within 10 after Walls dunk with 10:04
left in the game, but Indiana used a 10-0 run to seal.
"We didnt give ourselves a chance in the second half to
win the game," Washington coach Randy Wittman said. "It
boils down to your top players making plays to win in a
game like this. Thats all it is."
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drove in two runs before leaving with an injury, Eduardo
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No. http://www.shopspurs.com/womens-lamarcus-aldridge-
basketball-jersey/. The Mavericks avoided a season sweep
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weeks ago to hand Dallas its longest losing streak at
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This should be celebrated because it will not always be
this way. With the amount of money given to players by
their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of
those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many
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(SportsNetwork.com) - OUTLOOK: Change has been good for
the ACC the last couple of seasons and that trend should
continue in 2014-15. The league added Syracuse,
Pittsburgh and Notre Dame last year and gets powerhouse
Louisville this season to ease in alongside stalwarts
North Carolina and Duke, forming arguably the most
dominant conference in all of college basketball. Despite
the embarrassment of an academic scandal in Chapel Hill
over two decades, it is the Tar Heels that reign supreme
heading into the 2014-15 campaign. Roy Williams squad won
24 games a year ago, but hasnt made an appearance in the
NCAA Tournament since 2010. With a solid core and a
stellar recruiting class, UNC will find its way to the
top of the ACC once again. If any recruiting class rivals
UNCs it is Dukes. Mike Krzyzewski has once again reeled
in tons of talent and that talent should help the Blue
Devils push the Tar Heels and others for conference
supremacy this season. After Miami surged to the top of
the conference in 2012-13, it was Virginias turn a year
ago, as Tony Bennetts Cavaliers finally put it all
together in capturing the ACC crown. While improvement on
a 30-win season is a lot to ask, the Cavaliers arent
going away anytime soon. Expect them to defend their
crown with stifling defense once again and hang around
the top of the standings all season long. Holding down
the fourth spot in the preseason is a nice place for
newcomer Louisville to begin its ACC era. Rick Pitinos
Cardinals may be young, but they are scary talented. That
will go a long way in Louisvilles first season in the
conference. The second tier in the ACC is probably good
enough to win other conference crowns, as NC State,
Syracuse and Florida State will jockey for position in
the upper half of the league. A ton of experience returns
for NC State, with the one glaring loss being last years
ACC Player of the Year. Still, Mark Gottfrieds team can
match its 22 wins from a year ago and perhaps improve on
its 9-9 conference finish. Jim Boeheims Orange also lost
a key component to the NBA, but recruiting is never an
issue with Boeheim, whose squad is once again young and
extremely gifted. The Orange won 28 games last season and
finished second in the ACC. That wont happen this time
around, but they shouldnt be too far off the mark. Two of
the conferences top-20 scorers return to Florida State,
which may be the biggest team in the league. From a
physical standpoint, not many teams compare. Translating
that into wins will be Leonard Hamiltons job. The next
set of teams vying to climb the ACC ladder are
Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Miami-Florida and Clemson. Jamie
Dixons Panthers have a top-notch backcourt, but matching
that production up front with a slew of newcomers is a
tall task indeed. Mike Breys Irish get a boost from the
return of their best player after being kicked out of
school last year, but is there enough around him to help
the Irish make a move in the right direction? Jim
Larranagas Hurricanes are just a year removed from a
conference crown, but last year was a dose of harsh
reality with just seven conference wins. A similar fate
may befall the Canes this time around, as too much hinges
on newcomers. Brad Brownells Tigers won 23 games a year
ago and made a nice run in the NIT. The team does have
four starters back, but the one defection was all-
conference. The bottom of the conference will feature
Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Boston
College. Three of those programs are under new
management. Buzz Williams is a master motivator and the
Hokies are likely to overachieve as a result, but inching
close to .500 would be a huge step in the right direction
after winning just nine games a year ago, including a
mere two ACC bouts. The Yellow Jackets continue to
rebuild with Brian Gregory, but he will need newcomers to
perform at top level for Georgia Tech to make any
significant move up the ACC. Wake Forest has found its
man in Danny Manning. The former Conference USA Coach of
the Year with Tulsa, Manning knows how to win both as a
player (1988 national title) and as a coach. Rome wasnt
built in a day, and neither will Wakes return to the ACC
elite. It will take some time, but Manning is more than
capable. Steve Donahue just couldnt get the job done at
Boston College, which opted for Jim Christian to take
over this season after a successful run in the Mid-
American Conference with Ohio. There is some talent to
work with in Chestnut Hill this season, just not enough
to be relevant in terms of competing with the conference
big boys. CONFERENCE CHAMPION: North Carolina PREDICTED
ORDER OF FINISH: 1. North Carolina, 2. Duke, 3. Virginia,
4. Louisville, 5. NC State, 6. Syracuse, 7. Florida
State, 8. Pittsburgh, 9. Notre Dame, 10. Miami-Florida,
11. Clemson, 12. Virginia Tech, 13. Georgia Tech, 14.
Wake Forest, 15. Boston College TEAM BY TEAM ANALYSIS:
NORTH CAROLINA: An NCAA investigation continues to loom
large in Chapel Hill, but so does heavy expectations for
this years basketball squad. Roy Williams team is loaded
with both veterans and an influx of young talent that
should push the team to the top of the ACC. The team won
24 games a year ago, but a third-place finish in the
conference standings simply isnt good enough at UNC. The
team loses James Michael McAdoo to the NBA, but it may be
a case of addition by subtraction, as the 2014-15 squad
is shaping up to be a much more cohesive bunch. The
backcourt will feature star guard Marcus Paige (17.5 ppg,
4.2 apg), but doesnt stop there. Nate Britt (6-1, 165)
adds depth along the perimeter and the addition of
McDonalds All-American Joel Berry (6-0, 188) could make
the UNC backcourt special this season. Out on the wing
another McDonalds All-American comes to town with tons of
hype in the 6-6, 192-pound Theo Pinson, who can jump out
of the building. The frontcourt has even more depth than
the backcourt, starting with swingmen J.P. Tokoto (9.3
ppg, 5.8 rpg) and freshman Justin Jackson, yet another
McDonalds All-American. Junior Brice Johnson (10.3 ppg,
6.1 rpg) and sophomore Kennedy Meeks (7.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
will handle the dirty work in the paint. There simply
arent many weaknesses when sizing up the UNC roster. The
Tar Heels havent been in the NCAA Tournament for a few
years, but that should change this season. DUKE: Not to
be outdone by UNCs acquisition of three McDonalds All-
Americans this season, Mike Krzyzewski nabbed four. In
all the team has nine former McDonalds All-Americans on
the roster, the most in the nation (tied with Kentucky).
The Blue Devils must deal with the departure of stars
Jabari Parker and Rodney Hood to the NBA, but the
aforementioned dearth of quality youngsters should help
fill the void. The Blue Devils boast of a really good
point guard in Quinn Cook (11.6 ppg, 4.4 apg) and the
scary thing is that he might be beaten out for the job by
freshman sensation Tyus Jones (6-1, 180). Jones is a
superb court general with a pass-first attitude, but
possesses the requisite skills to fill up the basket as
well. Throw in junior guard Rasheed Sulaimon (9.9 ppg)
and freshman Grayson Allen (another McDonalds All-
American) and Coach K has to like his options along the
perimeter. The frontcourt is even deeper thanks in large
part (pun intended) to the arrival of seven-foot freshman
Jahlil Okafor. The top recruit in the country, Okafor (7-
0, 265) is already slated as the No. 1 pick in next years
NBA Draft. A do it all post presence, Okafor could vie
for National Player of the Year this season. Junior
Marshall Plumlee (7-0, 260) will give Okafor a breather
at times and keep the big guy fresh. Versatile junior
Amile Jefferson (6.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg) and freshman Justise
Winslow will press for minutes along the wing. With more
young talent than any team in the country, Duke will get
its chance to get back in the ACCs drivers seat.
VIRGINIA: Everything went right for the Cavaliers last
season, as their tough- as-nails defensive mentality led
to a program-record 30 victories, while they captured
both the regular season and tournament titles in the ACC
(first time in school history). Virginias ascension to
conference elite came in steady fashion, with the team
improving its conference mark in each of Tony Bennetts
first five seasons. Improving on last years 16-2 league
mark isnt likely this time around, but that doesnt mean
Virginia will give up the conference crown without a
fight. The Cavaliers lose scorer Joe Harris (12.0 ppg)
and rebounder Akil Mitchell (7.0 rpg), but there is still
plenty of depth. While not possessing the flashy
playmakers that UNC and Duke have, Virginias roster is
stockpiled with hard workers that have bought into
Bennetts system. The backcourt this year will be
headlined by All-ACC guard Malcolm Brogdon (12.7 ppg, 5.4
rpg) and London Perrantes (5.5 ppg, 3.8 apg). Both
players handle the ball extremely well and arent prone to
turnovers. Newcomer B.J. Stith, son of Virginia legend
Bryant Stith could be a valuable scorer early on and give
the team a serious perimeter threat. The frontcourt lacks
a star, but makes up for it with numbers. Juniors Anthony
Gill (8.4 ppg), Mike Tobey (6.4 ppg) and Evan Nolte (2.8
ppg) are serviceable, while freshman Isaiah Wilkins
(step-son of Dominique) should push for minutes. The Cavs
have a target on their backs this season, but that
shouldnt stop them from staying within striking distance
down the stretch. LOUISVILLE: The addition of Louisville
to a conference as talent rich as the ACC almost doesnt
seem fair. The Cardinals are only two years removed from
an NCAA title and made a run to the Sweet 16 last season.
Rick Pitino must find a way to replace All-American Russ
Smith (18.2 ppg) and Luke Hancock (12.3 ppg), while
taking a big step up in terms of competition from the AAC
to the ACC. The cupboard isnt exactly bare, but matching
last years 31 victories would be a minor miracle. First
and foremost, the team must find a backcourt identity now
that Smith has moved on. The point guard spot is in good
hands with the return of Chris Jones (10.2 ppg), while
the hope is that sophomore Terry Rozier (7.0 ppg) takes
the next step in his development alongside. Spelling
Jones at the point will be freshman Quentin Snider (6-1,
170), who has great potential as both a scorer and
facilitator. Louisvilles frontcourt is in much better
shape, thanks to Montrezl Harrells decision to return to
school instead of jumping ship to the NBA. Harrell (14.0
ppg, 8.4 rpg) will vie for All-America honors as the go-
to-guy for the Cardinals this season. Senior forward
Wayne Blackshear (8.2 ppg) has plenty of experience,
while freshman Shaqquan Aaron (6-7, 175) is dripping with
potential. The Cardinals arent going to blow by many
teams with gaudy point totals this season, but they
possess the requisite defensive skills to have a very
successful debut season in their new conference. NC
STATE: Mark Gottfrieds Wolfpack picked up 22 wins last
season, but the team struggled a bit in conference play,
with a 9-9 ledger, good for just a seventh-place tie. The
team was paced by a superstar in ACC Player of the Year
T.J. Warren, who finished third nationally in scoring at
a hefty 24.9 ppg. Unfortunately, that led to Warrens
exodus to the NBA and leaves Gottfried without a
centerpiece. There arent a ton of people worrying in
Raleigh this year though, as most of the complementary
pieces return. The backcourt will be a strength this
season, led by senior guard Ralston Turner (10.5 ppg).
Gottfried has the luxury of two quality ball handlers
this season in sophomore Anthony Barber (8.5 ppg, 3.5
apg) and Alabama transfer Trevor Lacey (11.3 ppg, 3.2 apg
two seasons ago). Throw in juco transfer Desmond Lee (8.4
ppg) and an NC State legacy in Chris Corchiani Jr. and
the backcourt seems well stocked for the present and
future. The frontcourt is where NC State must prove its
worth. There arent any real commodities to speak of down
low. The hope is that star recruit Abdul-Malik Abu (6-8,
230) makes an immediate impact. Sophomore forward Kyle
Washington (6-9, 225) will get extended minutes as well
after flashes of strong play in limited action a year
ago. The Wolfpack arent likely ready to contend for the
conference crown, but they will be competitive throughout
and should remain in the upper half of the league
standings. SYRACUSE: Jim Boeheims Orange were their usual
selves last season, posting 28 total victories and
finishing second in the ACC with a stellar 14-4 record.
Syracuse has been very tough of late thanks to strong
play at the point. A couple of years ago it was Michael
Carter-Williams that bolted to the NBA early and this
past season Tyler Ennis (12.9 ppg, 5.5 apg) was one and
done. The frontcourt will also need an identity with the
losses of C.J. Fair (16.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and Jerami Grant
(12.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg). Boeheim is likely to go with another
youngster at the point and the hope is that 6-3 freshman
Kaleb Joseph fits the bill. A top-50 recruit, Joseph is a
facilitator with a ton of energy. Harnessing it will be
job one. Perimeter scoring will come in the form of
junior guard Trevor Cooney (12.1 ppg). The departures of
Fair and Grant up front cannot be minimized. However,
Rakeemm Christmas (6-9, 250) is a force down low,
especially defensively.dddddddddddd A healthy DaJuan
Coleman (6-9, 280) will provide another big body and
freshman Chris McCullough (6-10, 220) can block shots as
well. Junior forward Michael Gbinije could surprise a lot
of people with more playing time. This will once again be
a team relying on a very young point guard. If Joseph
delivers like his predecessors, Syracuse will remain
competitive in a top-heavy ACC. FLORIDA STATE: It may be
a little surprising, but FSU ranks third over the last
six years in conference wins (62). Leonard Hamilton gets
the job done year-in and year-out and last season was no
different, as the Seminoles amassed a 22-14 record
overall. The team loses Ian Miller (13.7 ppg) and Okaro
White (13.6 ppg), but Florida State shouldnt miss a beat,
with a nice returning core of players, some talented
additions and of course, the bruising style of play that
is synonymous with FSU. The hope in the backcourt is that
freshman Xavier Rathan-Mayes (6-4, 210) has been worth
the wait. Ruled ineligible a year ago, Rathan-Mayes will
finally suit up for FSU at the point. That should allow
6-3 junior Devon Bookert (8.5 ppg) to be much more of a
scorer this time around and really complement outstanding
junior Aaron Thomas (14.5 ppg) along the perimeter. FSU
will boast of the biggest frontcourt in the ACC thanks to
three seven-footers on the roster. Junior Boris
Bojanovsky (5.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.9 bpg) is the best of the
big men, that includes Kiel Turpin (7-0, 225) and Michael
Ojo (7-1, 292). Freshman forward Phil Cofer (6-8, 205)
will get every opportunity to thrive in FSUs frontcourt
this season. The defense will once again be there for
Florida State, but if the offensive weapons materialize
as well, Hamilton may have one of his better squads in
some time and that is saying a lot. PITTSBURGH: The
Panthers certainly asserted themselves as a force to be
reckoned with in their debut season in the ACC, finishing
26-10 overall and a respectable 11-7 in conference play,
good for a fifth-place finish. Jamie Dixons squad must
move on without stars Lamar Patterson (17.1 ppg) and
Talib Zanna (13.0 ppg, 8.6 rpg) and that is a daunting
task given the state of the roster this season. Long
known for its defensive tenacity, Pitt may need to lean
on that in 2014-15, at least early on. The Panthers has
some stability in the backcourt with the return of both
senior Cameron Wright (10.5 ppg) and junior James
Robinson (7.6 ppg, 4.1 apg), Expect more from sophomores
Josh Newkirk (4.6 ppg) and Chris Jones (2.4 ppg) as well.
Sophomore forward Michael Young (6-9, 235) is the go-to-
guy up front to start the year. The hope is that a
healthy Durand Johnson (6-6, 210) is back to form and
that Vanderbilt transfer Sheldon Jeter (6-8, 225) can
provide offensive balance. Juco transfer Tyrone Haughton
(6-9, 220) could evolve into a solid pivot, although he
is a much better defender and shot blocker than scorer at
this time. Dixon seems to always have a squad that can
impose its will on opponents on the defensive end. That
may need to be the gameplan once again until offensive
weapons emerge. NOTRE DAME: Mike Breys squad lost one of
the ACCs top scorers a year ago and as a result, the
Irish were never the same, finishing a dismal 15-17
overall, with a mere 6-12 league ledger. It marked Notre
Dames first losing season since before the turn of the
century. The good news is that the return of Jerian Grant
should push the Irish back over the ,500 mark all but
itself. Grant is a dynamic scorer, who netted 19.0 points
and 6.2 assists per game in the 12 he played last season
before being shelved for the year. He has found his way
back on the court for Notre Dame and that is a huge plus
for this team going forward. Grant will be joined in the
backcourt by sophomore Demetrius Jackson (6.0 ppg), who
did some nice things as a freshman last season. Jackson
will see an increased role with the departure of Eric
Atkins (13.9 ppg). Senior Pat Connaughton is a jack-of-
all trades out on the wing, providing scoring (13.8 ppg),
rebounding (7.1 rpg) and distribution skills (3.0 apg).
Center Garrick Sherman (13.5 ppg. 7.3 rpg) was solid in
the middle for Notre Dame last year, but has moved on. A
couple of incoming freshmen will get a chance to make an
impact in Bonzie Colson (6-5, 225) and Martinas Geben (6-
9, 230), while 6-9 junior Zach Auguste (6.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
will move from valuable reserve to primetime contributor
this time around. The Irish will improve simply with
Grant on the floor all year long. However, to make a move
up the conference ladder, the newcomers will need to
excel from the get-go. MIAMI-FLORIDA: Despite having a
slew of newcomers last season, Jim Larranaga managed to
lead the Hurricanes to a winning record. The Hurricanes
did win the ACC the year prior, but a 17-16 overall mark
was really a solid job considering all that had to be
replaced from that championship squad. Unfortunately,
this season will likely mirror last year, as the team
needs to replace a ton of talent, including Rion Brown
(15.5 ppg) and Garrius Adams (10.2 ppg). The good news is
that Kansas State transfer Angel Rodriguez is ready to
suit up and handle the point. A gifted distributor and
defender, Rodriguez posted 11.4 points and 5.2 assists
per game for the Wildcats two seasons ago and was an All-
Big 12 defensive team member two times. The point guard
spot is settled, leaving scoring along the perimeter to
be vetted out. Texas transfer Sheldon McClellan could be
the man for the job, after averaging 13.5 ppg in 2012-13
with the Longhorns. Sophomore guard Manu Lecomte (7.7
ppg) showed flashes of strong play a year ago and a lot
is expected of incoming freshman scorer DeAndre Burnett
(6-2, 191), who averaged a ridiculous 37.0 ppg as a high
school senior. The frontcourt isnt nearly as stocked as
Miamis backcourt and balance may be hard to come by.
There simply werent any players of note on the roster
following last year, but the hope is that Niagara
transfer Joe Thomas (6-7, 235) and/or incoming freshmen
Chris Stowell (6-7, 190) and Omar Sherman (6-8, 220) can
develop into solid contributors. CLEMSON: Brad Brownell
was on a bit of a hot seat at Clemson a year ago, but his
team responded with a 23-win campaign and a sixth-place
finish in the ACC (10-8), resulting in a six-year
extension for Brownell. No player meant more to his team
than forward K.J. McDaniels, who averaged 17.1 points and
7.1 rebounds per game, while also being named the ACCs
Defensive Player of the Year. McDaniels has moved on to
the NBA, leaving a huge hole to fill along the frontline
for the Tigers in 2014-15. Clemson made it to the NIT
semifinals last year and does return four starters from
that group, so the cupboard isnt completely bare. The
backcourt is in good hands with veterans like seniors Rod
Hall (9.7 ppg, 4.0 apg) and Demarcus Harrison (7.8 ppg)
and junior Jordan Roper (7.4 ppg) back in the fold.
Redshirt freshman Patrick Rooks and true freshman Gabe
DeVoe add to the perimeter depth on the roster. The
frontcourt is void of that kind of depth and will likely
keep the Tigers fighting for position in the ACC all year
long. Sophomore forward Jaron Blossomgame showed flashes
of strong play a year ago, but suffered a leg fracture in
the postseason. Blossomgame needs to take it to the next
level as a key figure up front for Clemson this season.
The center position will be manned by junior Landry Nnoko
(6-10, 250), who was third in the ACC in blocked shots a
year ago. Freshman Donte Grantham (6-8, 205) is the
prized recruit coming in and will need to make an
immediate impact for Clemson to compete at a high level
this season. VIRGINIA TECH: Three straight last-place
finishes in the ACC was simply more than the Virginia
Tech brass could handle, prompting an all-around change.
The streak should stop there with the arrival of Buzz
Williams, who left Marquette for the task at hand in
Blacksburg. The roster is well stocked with four of five
starters returning and a strong recruiting class. The
backcourt will feature a myriad of options starting with
6-1 junior Adam Smith (11.0 ppg), 6-5 sophomore Ben
Emelogu (10.5 ppg) and 6-4 sophomore Devin Wilson (9.2
ppg). A lot is expected of incoming freshman Ahmed Hill
(6-4, 197) as well. The frontcourt isnt nearly as loaded,
although familiar faces like senior forward C.J.
Barksdale (8.1 ppg) and junior forward Joey van Zegeren
(6.4 ppg, 1.7 bpg) should provide some balance. Juco
transfer Shane Henry (6-8, 193) is on the frail side, but
plays much bigger with his rebounding and shot-blocking
skills. The Hokies ranked 326th in the nation in scoring
last season, but that is likely to change this time
around. Despite improved scoring though, scaling the ACC
landscape is a few years away, even for Williams. GEORGIA
TECH: Brian Gregory was supposed to deliver in 2013-14,
but a slew of injuries prevented Georgia Tech from making
a move up the ACC, instead finishing with a mere 16-17
overall mark and a tie for 11th in the conference at 6-
12. Excuses arent acceptable though and Gregory could
find himself on the hot seat in 2014-15 if things dont
get better fast. The good news is that the backcourt
seems to have some depth. USF transfer Josh Heath will
get the first crack at the point. Heath left USF after
his father, Stan was fired as head coach. He has been
given immediate eligibility and has three seasons left.
Travis Jorgenson (6-0, 177) will see minutes at the point
as well following a redshirt year last season for an ACL
injury. The two distributors will try to get the ball to
scorers in junior guard Marcus Georges-Hunt (11.7 ppg)
and prized recruit Tadric Jackson (6-2, 220). The
frontcourt has much more work to do, thanks in part to
the transfer of Robert Carter (11.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg) to
Maryland. Likely candidates to replace Carters production
include East Carolina transfer Robert Sampson (9.1 ppg,
9.2 rpg in 2012-13), Maryland transfer Charles Mitchell
(6.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg) and Ole Miss transfer Demarco Cox (6-
8, 276). Scoring along the perimeter will be a strength,
but if balance doesnt come in the frontcourt and Georgia
Tech doesnt start showing results in the win column, the
writing could be on the wall for Gregory. WAKE FOREST:
The Demon Deacons did finish last season with a winning
record (17-16), but an 11th-place finish in the ACC (6-
12) simply wasnt the kind of year that Wake Forest was
looking for. The powers that be went out and made a huge
splash by landing one of the most accomplished players in
the history of college basketball in Danny Manning. The
hope is that the former Conference USA Coach of the Year
with Tulsa will make a difference right out of the gate
in Winston-Salem and restore Wake Forest to conference
relevancy. There are some key losses, most notably Travis
McKie (10.7 ppg) and Coron Williams (10.2 ppg), but there
is enough left on the roster, along with some intriguing
newcomers that points to a bright future for the Demon
Deacons. The backcourt returns 6-3 junior Codi Miller-
McIntyre, who can both score (12.6 ppg) and distribute
(4.2 apg). Freshman Mitchell Wilbekin (6-1, 165) signed
on at Tulsa and was allowed to come over when Manning
made the move. He is the younger brother of SEC Player of
the Year Scottie Wilbekin (Florida) and has some of the
same attributes as his accomplished brother. Wakes
frontcourt has talented depth, starting with 6-9 junior
Devin Thomas (11.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg). Campbell transfer
Darius Leonard (6-9, 225) could develop into a go-to
player under Mannings watchful eye, after averaging 10.2
ppg for the Camels a year ago. Juniors Andre Washington
(7-0, 240) and Aaron Roundtree III (6-8, 195) provide
defensive grit. Wake is in good hands with Manning,
although a climb up the ACC isnt expected in year one.
BOSTON COLLEGE: Jim Christian did some nice things at
Ohio the last couple of seasons and the hope is that it
will carry over to Chestnut Hill, as Boston College moves
away from the Steve Donahue experiment. The Eagles
finished with just eight total wins a year ago despite
having a couple of top-notch scorers, with only four wins
coming in an ugly conference run that saw the team finish
in 14th place. Joe Rahon (9.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.2 apg) was
a savvy do-it-all guard but he is now gone. Senior Lonnie
Jackson (7.0 ppg) will see more minutes at the point as a
result. The off-guard spot is much more stable with the
return of prolific scorer Olivier Hanlan (18.5 ppg), who
scores from all over the floor. Rotational players in the
backcourt include Old Dominion transfer Dimitri Batten
(11.0 ppg) and seniors Patrick Heckmann (6.0 ppg) and
Alex Dragicevich (3.9 ppg). The frontcourt lacks similar
depth, and the transfer of two-time All-ACC forward Ryan
Anderson (13.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg) to Arizona only adds to the
problem. The team may be alright if oft-injured big man
Dennis Clifford (7-1, 250) can stay healthy. Clifford
played just two games a year ago due to injuries. There
just arent many standout performers on a roster in
desperate need of them. The Eagles will remain at the
bottom of the conference as a result, although Christian
will have them competing each and every game.
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U47.org Forum :: The Wintergarten
Topic: ppg) and seniors Patrick Heckma
