COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW SECTION NOVEMBER 14, 2014
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nside O u t
NCCU, Duke and UNC all have eyes on March
Blue Devils, Tar Heels counting on All-Americans Okafor, Paige to lead ACC title runs NCCU: Moton, Eagles look to build on NCAA Tournament appearance
Page 2
NCCU’s Parks, Jawara vital to Moton’s formula
THE HERALD-SUN | DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
friday, november 14, 2014
CHEMISTRY 101
BY JOHN McCANN
JMCCANN@HERALDSUN.COM; 919-419-6601
D U R H AM
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hether the game changer is the x’s and o’s of N.C. Central coach LeVelle Moton or his ability to turn miscellaneous parts into interchangeable pieces, the other coaches in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference apparently respect it. Last season, when NCCU won both the regular-season and league-tournament titles in the MEAC, Norfolk State coach Robert Jones and Bethune-Cookman coach Gravelle Craig said Moton’s squad wasn’t league’s most talented bunch of guys, but they mixed well together — the Eagles had great chemistry. Emanuel “Poobie” Chapman and Jeremy “Jerm” Ingram were the main ingredients. Chapman became NCCU’s No. 1 all-time assists leader with 617. “That kid just saw things two steps ahead before the play even arrived,” Moton said. Ingram was the player of the year in the MEAC. But they’ve left the building. Both Ingram and Chapman graduated and are playing pro ball overseas. That has left NCCU with a group of largely unproven guys, Moton said. Yet NCCU still is going to win the regular-season title in the MEAC again, according to the league’s head coaches and directors of sports information. Which gets at the respect MEAC insiders seem to have for Moton as a master chemist who can go in his lab during the offseason and stir up some good stuff. “Games aren’t won on paper, and they definitely aren’t won in the preseason,” said Moton, the coach of the year in the MEAC last season. Senior forwards Jordan Parks (6-7, 200) and Karamo “K.J.” Jawara (6-8, 235) made the preseason all-MEAC first and third teams, respectively. They’re the main ingredients now. Neither one of them give even a little hint that they’re reluctant to lead. “I believe I’m ready,” Parks said. “I think, also, it takes time to be a great leader.” Jawara described himself as a rather natural, vocal leader and said it actually was odd for him to defer to Chapman and Ingram — odd, but not hard, because of the chemistry. Parks is a hype man. That’s his leadership style. “That’s all I really have. I’m not the super-IQ guy. I’m just
The Herald-Sun | File photo by Christine T. Nguyen
N.C. Central coach LeVelle Moton was the coach of the year in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference last season. He said guys like Emanuel Chapman and Jeremy Ingram made him look really good. Those two are gone, but NCCU still is favored to win the regular-season title in the MEAC. here to give energy and show dudes exactly how hard you should work,” Parks said. Parks said Moton has offered some pointers about ways that he can help lead the team. The coach said he needs both Parks and Jawara to get the newcomers on point. “Not only can Jordan and K.J. tell you about the light at the end of the tunnel, they can tell you about the light at the end of the light at the end of the tunnel, because they had a chance to go to the NCAA
well. I doubt if I’ll ever get another captain that I’ve known since the day he was in his mother’s womb, and that’s the connection (he) and I had. So he always knew what I wanted, when I wanted it. He knew when to get the guys together. K.J. and Jordan have to figure that out, and our guys have to buy in and learn that process along the way. It’s going to be a tough challenge, needless to say. Obviously, it’s our biggest weakness at this point.” The reason Ingram and Chapman were able to play off of (Tournament) each other so and see that,” well had a good bit Moton said. “ But to do with them arriving these guys that are together as NCCU newcomers, they freshmen and enduring have tunnel vision. the bumps and bruises They haven’t been from the beat-downs there. They haven’t that came with the experienced that, so Eagles’ transition from it’s their job to follow Division II to Division I. K.J. and Jordan, and “Being a part of that, it’s Jordan’s and K.J.’s they basically became job to lead them the heart and soul of the appropriately in the program,” Parks said. right direction so we Neither Ingram nor can all eventually be on Chapman were highly one accord at the end of recruited. Moton gave the light at the light at them a shot. Those the end of the tunnel.” two realized that they NCCU was 28-6 needed each other, overall and 15-1 in the something more MEAC with Chapman talented players tend and Ingram last season to have a tougher time during a run to the grasping, Moton said. NCAA Tournament. It “It’s human nature was the Eagles’ first when you don’t have time in the Big Dance. as much skill as an But that was last opponent to, kind season. of, supplement and “The thing about manufacture that skill Poobie Chapman last level in other ways, and year, his most vital we did that through contribution to the team chemistry,” Moton said. was invisible. It was “What it shows our guys the leadership,” Moton is that even though said. “He knew me so Poobie and Jeremy
weren’t highly recruited when they came in here, when they left, they were high-major basketball players. So, regardless of your skill level, they understand that it’s going to require that synergy. It’s going to require that love for your brother and your brother’s keep and all those corny clichés that people announce at the beginning of the year, but somehow the team fades away from that. But we’ve got to stick to that, because it’s those intangibles that allow you to be a really good basketball team.” By the time Chapman and Ingram had gone through the rite of passage that made them senior leaders, Moton had surrounded them with a supporting cast who didn’t want to let them down, Parks said. Jawara and Parks were used to being led by Chapman and Ingram, Moton said. Now Jawara and Parks have to demonstrate that they can lead together, prove that they can play together, Moton said. “Me and K.J. click great,” Parks said. “I think our games go hand in hand. He’s a passer, I’m a finisher. He finds me, and I finish. But, also, off the
court, that’s my man.” “He’s super energetic,” Jawara said about Parks. “He kind of inspires me to jump higher sometimes. He’s a high flyer.” Jawara said he can talk straight with Parks and not worry about him taking it the wrong way.
This season isn’t about doing things the way Ingram and Chapman did them, Jawara said. It’s a different ballgame. “We’re not so focused on what they did and what happened before,” Jawara said. “We have to find our own swag.”
N.C.C.U. Schedule Date Opponent Time TV Nov. 14 North Carolina 8 p.m. ESPNU Nov. 18 COLLEGE OF FAITH 7 p.m. Emerald Coast Classic (1st-4th Rounds) Nov. 23 Creighton 4 p.m. FS1 Nov. 25 Cincinnati 7 p.m. ESPN3 Nov. 28 Eastern Illinois Noon (at Niceville, Fla.) Nov. 29 Southern/N. Arizona TBA (at Niceville, Fla.) Dec. 2 JOHNSON & WALES 7 p.m. Dec. 5 Md.-Eastern Shore 7 p.m. Big Apple Classic Dec. 7 Howard 6 p.m. (Brooklyn, N.Y.) Dec. 10 Maryland 7 p.m. Big Ten Dec. 15 Memphis 8 p.m. ESPN3 Dec. 17 BARBER-SCOTIA 7 p.m. Dec. 20 Miss. Valley State TBA Dec. 22 Jackson State 8 p.m. Dec. 29 IUPUI 7 p.m. (at NCCU) Jan. 10 S. CAROLINA ST. 4 p.m. Jan. 12 SAVANNAH ST. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17 Norfolk State 6 p.m. Jan. 19 Hampton 8 p.m. Jan. 24 COPPIN ST. 4 p.m. Jan. 26 DELAWARE ST. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 E. Tennessee St. TBA Feb. 2 FLORIDA A&M 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 N. Carolina A&T 6 p.m. Feb. 14 Bethune-Cookman 4 p.m. Feb. 16 Florida A&M TBA Feb. 21 MORGAN ST. 4 p.m. Feb. 28 BETHUNE-COOKMAN 4 p.m. Mar. 2 Savannah St. 8 p.m. Mar. 5 N.C. A&T 7:30 p.m. MEAC Tournament March 9-14 at Norfolk (Va.) Scope Arena. NOTES: Home games in CAPS. Neutral site locations noted under game in parentheses.
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N.C.C.U. Roster No. Name Cl Pos 0 Dante Holmes R-Jr. G 1 Jay Copeland R-Sr. F 2 Jordan Parks Sr. F 3 Rashaun Madison Jr. G 4 Kevin Crawford II So. G 5 Anthony McDonald Sr. G 10 Karamo Jawara Sr. F 11 Nimrod Hilliard Sr. G 12 Jeremiah Ingram Jr. G 13 Enoch Hood Jr. F 20 Jamal Ferguson So. G 23 Nate Maxey Jr. C 35 Dajuan Graf Jr. G
Ht 6-3 6-7 6-7 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-8 6-0 6-7 6-9 6-5 6-11 6-0
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THE HERALD-SUN | DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
PAGE 3
Talented Duke seeks togetherness to reach lofty goals By STEVE WISEMAN
improve the defense tremendously over last season. “He gives us an inside D U R H AM presence,� Krzyzewski uke has one player, said. “What we hope to Jahlil Okafor, considered among the have is a perimeter that gets back to playing like best in the country even we did a decade ago as far before he plays his first as our pressure defense collegiate game. and denying passing lanes The Blue Devils have and pushing it down the three veteran players court.� who were on the court in This is the second Indianapolis playing year in a row that for a shot at the Duke will be Final Four counting on two seasons a newcomer ago. to be its The top player. talent on Last season, this year’s Jabari Parker Duke was the basketball much-hyped team is freshman. immense. The The 6-8 Parker expectations are as high scored 19 points a game as they normally are to lead Duke and he around the Blue Devils, was selected a first-team with talk of an ACC All-American and championship and the Final Four accompanying first-team All-ACC. The Blue Devils, them into a new season. though, didn’t live up to The job of the coaches their preseason hopes. and players is to make all While Duke was the ACC these parts fit correctly. Tournament runner-up, From the four-man the Blue Devils lost to freshman class led by Mercer 78-71 in their lone Okfor (rated the nation’s NCAA Tournament game. best incoming class) to Just like that, Parker’s veterans like Quinn Cook, Duke career is done as he Amile Jefferson and jumped to the NBA and Rasheed Sulaimon, the became the No. 2 overall Blue Devils strive to be draft pick by Milwaukee. all-for-one as they chase The team has spent their lofty goals. the offseason hoping to “One of the neat things is that I don’t think learn from the pain that came with an early NCAA our players look at it as Tournament exit. freshman, sophomore, Krzyzewski said junior or senior,� Duke Parker’s versatility, he coach Mike Krzyzewski could shoot from the said. “They’ve really perimeter or post up come together as a group. inside, ended up making They’re a really good it tough for the team to group of guys. Most of grow into a unit around them would like to be on him. Duke’s defensive the team that has Okafor on it. I think they feel that issues last season were one place where it reared makes them a little bit its ugly head. better.� Okafor, being a force in The man in the the middle, should have middle, the 6-11 Okfaor, an easier time, similar to makes Duke among the how Kyrie Irving stepped nation’s best teams all by himself. He’s already been into a starting role in 2010 prior to his injury. selected as a preseason Cook and Jefferson are All-American by the the veteran players asked Associated Press and CBS Sports selected him to be to help Duke become one. A senior guard, Cook the national player of the has been part of two teams year. that saw their seasons Krzyzewski said the end without winning plan is for Okafor to give an NCAA Tournament Duke access to interior game. He was a freshman scoring and rebounding when Duke was ousted while also helping swiseman@heraldsun.com; 919-419-6655
D
Duke Roster No. Name Pos 2 Quinn Cook G 3 Grayson Allen G 5 Tyus Jones G 12 Justise Winslow F 13 Matt Jones G 14 Rasheed Sulaimon G 15 Jahlil Okafor C 21 Amile Jefferson F 30 Semi Ojeleye F 34 Sean Obi F 40 Marshall Plumlee C 42 Sean Kelly G 45 Nick Pagliuca G
Ht Wt Cl 6-2 185 Sr. 6-4 195 Fr. 6-1 190 Fr. 6-6 225 Fr. 6-5 210 So. 6-5 195 Jr. 6-11 270 Fr. 6-9 215 Jr. 6-8 230 So. 6-9 270 So. 7-0 255 Jr. 6-3 195 Sr. 6-3 195 So.
The Herald-Sun | Bernard Thomas
Duke’s lone senior, guard Quinn Cook is playing a key role in how the talented, but young, Blue Devils gel this season. by Lehigh from the 2012 tournament. He was a starter a year later when Duke made it all the way to the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional final before losing to Louisville. “I think we are very prepared,� Cook said. “We have been on both sides. I have lost in the first round twice. That’s probably the worst thing you can go through as a player here at Duke, losing that early in the tournament. We’ve also seen on the other side, being No 1 in the country for a lot of the year, end up losing in the Elite Eight to the national champions in Louisville. We’ve seen what it almost takes to get there and we’ve seen what it takes to not get there at all. For me and Amile, our time is ticking down her and we have to play with a sense of urgency.� Kzyzewski is counting on Jefferson to help the team communicate well on the court. Along with Okafor, he’ll be under the basket directing traffic on defense. “Our best communicator on the court is Amile,� Krzyzewski said. “He can help us tremendously. Whenever a bigger guy takes the defense is better. On offense when a guard
is talking he looks at the entire ream. On defense whenever a big guy talks, he looks at the entire team. On your best defensive teams, usually one of the best characteristics is a big guy talking.� In his junior season at Duke, having been to the edge of the Final Four and knocked out without winning a tournament game, Jefferson relishes his role. “Now that it’s my turn to be a leader,� Jefferson said, “I really try to make sure that each and every day guys’ heads are where they need to be so that young guys don’t have bad practices or come into practice with extra baggage like maybe I did bad on this test or I’m having problems back home. When we’re in practice, we’re in practice, and that’s what guys have to focus on. I take it upon myself as my job to make sure that everyone is ready once we start for the day.� Krzyzewski likes his team’s camaraderie so far. The proof, though, will come as the Blue Devils work their way through a difficult regular-season schedule. Then March will come and the chemistry experiment will be on display for all to see.
Duke Schedule Date Opponent Time TV Nov. 14 PRESBYTERIAN 6 p.m. ESPNU Nov. 15 FAIRFIELD 8 p.m. ESPN3 State Farm Champions Classic Nov. 18 Michigan State 7 p.m. ESPN (at Indianapolis) Coaches vs. Cancer Classic (Semifinals & Finals) Nov. 21 Temple 9:30 p.m. TruTV (at Brooklyn, N.Y.) Nov. 22 Stanford or UNLV TBA Tru TV (at Brooklyn, N.Y.) Nov. 26 FURMAN 5 p.m. ESPNU Nov. 30 ARMY Noon ESPNU ACC/Big Ten Challenge Dec. 3 Wisconsin 9:30 p.m. ESPN Dec. 15 ELON 7 p.m. ESPNU Dec. 18 Connecticut 8 p.m. ESPN (at E. Rutherford, N.J.) Dec. 29 TOLEDO 7 p.m. ESPN2 Dec. 31 WOFFORD 3 p.m. FSC Jan. 3 BOSTON COLLEGE 4 p.m. FSC Jan. 7 Wake Forest 9 p.m. WRAL Jan. 11 N.C. State TBA CBS Jan. 13 MIAMI 9 p.m. ESPNU Jan. 17 Louisville Noon ESPN Jan. 19 PITTSBURGH Jan. 25 St. John’s Jan. 28 Notre Dame Jan. 31 Virginia Feb. 4 GEORGIA TECH Feb. 7 NOTRE DAME Feb. 9 Florida State Feb. 14 Syracuse Feb. 18 NORTH CAROLINA Feb. 21 CLEMSON Feb. 25 Virginia Tech Feb. 28 SYRACUSE Mar. 4 WAKE FOREST Mar. 7 North Carolina
7 p.m. ESPN 2 p.m. FOX 7:30 p.m. ESPN2 TBA ESPN 7 p.m. ESPN2 1 p.m. CBS 7 p.m. ESPN 6 p.m. ESPN 9 p.m. WRAL 4 p.m. ESPN 9 p.m. ESPN2 TBA ESPN 8 p.m. WRAL TBA ESPN
ACC Tournament March 10-14 at Greensboro Coliseum, ESPN or WRAL. NOTES: Home games in CAPS. Neutral site locations noted under game in parentheses.
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THE HERALD-SUN | DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
friday, november 14, 2014
UNC has a ‘complete player’ in Paige BY HAROLD GUTMANN hgutmann@heraldsun. com; 919-419-6655
C H A P E L
D
H I L L
uring an hour-long interview at the ACC’s preseason media event, junior forward Brice Johnson kept hedging on whether he would be in North Carolina’s lineup this season. When asked why he kept saying things like “if I start,” Johnson replied: “Because I’m not Marcus Paige.” The Tar Heels, ranked sixth in the preseason AP poll, are expected to challenge for the ACC title and could advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2009. The biggest reason is their junior guard, who was named the ACC preseason player of the year and a preseason AP All-American. “He’s a complete basketball player,” UNC coach Roy Williams said. “He’s our best shooter, probably best driver, best defender. If I had five of him at the same size, we’d probably be really good.” Williams also said that Paige, whose mom was a high school coach, has one of the top five basketball IQs he’s seen in 26 years as a college coach. “If they were all like Marcus I would pay our administration to let me coach instead of them pay me. He’s a true leader on the court,” Williams said. “If you can’t talk to him, you have major problems. Nobody’s perfect, but he’s darn near perfect.” Still, there’s always room for improvement. After missing two shots and committing a turnover as UNC lost an eight-point lead in the final four minutes,
The Herald-Sun | Bernard Thomas
UNC’s Marcus Paige, a preseason All-ACC and All-American selection, averaged 17.5 points per game last season. Paige blamed himself for the team’s loss to Iowa State in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 last season. Paige didn’t want
UNC Schedule Date Opponent Time TV Nov. 14 N.C. CENTRAL 8 p.m. ESPNU Battle 4 Atlantis (1st Round) Nov. 16 ROBERT MORRIS 6 p.m. ESPNU Nov. 22 Davidson 2 p.m. TBA Battle 4 Atlantis (2nd Round, Semis, Finals) at Paradise Island, Bahamas Nov. 26 Butler Noon ESPN2 Nov. 27 Oklahoma/UCLA TBA TBA Nov. 28 UAB/Fla./G’town/Wisc. TBA TBA ACC/Big Ten Challenge Dec. 3 IOWA 7:30 p.m. ESPN Dec. 7 EAST CAROLINA 3 p.m. ESPNU Dec. 13 Kentucky Noon CBS Dec. 16 UNC Greensboro 7 p.m. ESPN2 CBS Sports Classic Dec. 20 Ohio State 1 p.m. CBS (at Chicago Dec. 27 ALA.-BIRMINGHAM 4 p.m. ESPN2 Dec. 30 WILLIAM & MARY TBA TBA Jan. 3 Clemson TBA ESPN Jan. 5 NOTRE DAME 7 p.m. ESPN or ESPN2 Jan. 10 LOUISVILLE 2 p.m. ESPN Jan. 14 N.C. State 7 p.m. ESPN2 Jan. 18 VIRGINIA TECH 6:30 p.m. ESPNU Jan. 21 Wake Forest 7 p.m. ESPN2 Jan. 24 FLORIDA ST. 2 p.m. ESPN or ESPN2 Jan. 26 SYRACUSE 7 p.m. ESPN Jan. 31 Louisville TBA ESPN or ESPN2 Feb. 2 VIRGINIA 7 p.m. ESPN Feb. 7 Boston College 3 p.m. WRAL Feb. 14 Pittsburgh Noon WRAL Feb. 18 Duke 9 p.m. WRAL Feb. 21 GEORGIA TECH Noon WRAL Feb. 24 N.C. STATE 8 p.m. WRAL Feb. 28 Miami 2 p.m. CBS Mar. 3 Georgia Tech 7 p.m. ESPNU Mar. 7 DUKE TBA ESPN ACC Tournament March 10-14 at Greensboro Coliseum, ESPN or WRAL. NOTES: Home games in CAPS. Neutral site locations noted under game in parentheses.
to see a replay of that game during the offseason. Instead, he watched the tape of UNC’s 2007 Elite Eight loss to Georgetown, when the Tar Heels blew a 10-point lead in the final six minutes. Two years later, that group of Tar Heels won the national championship. “It was therapeutic,” Paige said. “I’ll put it that way.” A title is something Paige hasn’t won yet. When asked about being named the ACC’s top player, he said his hope was that it could translate to more wins. “I see they picked us second in the conference and we have goals of finishing higher than that,” Paige said. “If you guys can read the between the lines on that.”But Paige knows that it won’t be entirely up to him. The Iowa native made a leap from starter to all-ACC player last season, and the Tar Heels need someone to make a similar jump this year – whether it’s a bulked-up junior Brice Johnson playing power for ward for the first time, or slimmed-down sophomore Kennedy Meeks generating more consistent production at center, or a perimeter player
offering a second scoring threat from behind the arc, which was missing last season. “Marcus can’t beat a team by himself,” Johnson said. “Well, he did against State, but that was one game. We have to step up as a team and help him on the offensive end.” Paige had 31 points after halftime in Raleigh, including the winning shot in the final second of overtime. But too often UNC mixed stunning wins with maddening losses last season because the Tar Heels lacked a consistent complementar y scorer – especially in the post. UNC’s past championship teams under Williams had a dominant center – Sean May in 2005 and Tyler Hansbrough in 2009 – and its last ACC regular-season title team in 2012 featured Tyler Zeller and John Henson. It will be up to Johnson and Meeks to carr y on that tradition this season. “If you establish your inside game, then ever ything else opens up,” Paige said. “We need them to step up in a big way, and I think they’ve made strides, but it’s still a long way to go.”
Paige’s natural position is point guard, though he was asked to play off the ball last season because the Tar Heels were thin on the wings. Williams said he
wasn’t sure yet how many minutes Paige will get at each position this year, though one thing is certain. “When decisions have to be made that determine the outcome of the game, Marcus is going to be heavily involved,” Williams said. “Whether that’s with the ball in his hand to make the play or make the pass or make the shot or whatever, I don’t know that.” One of Paige’s biggest strengths is his ability to facilitate for others. He’s shown the ability to score seemingly at will – especially in the second half last season – but his point-guard mentality also means he sometimes passes up shots that would benefit the team. “We’ve practiced three times and I know I’ve repeated it three times, ‘That is our best player and don’t ever ybody forget that,’” Williams said at UNC’s preseason media day. “If that’s the case then we should give him more opportunities to do some things. He handles that really well. There’s not a conceited bone or selfish bone in the boy’s body.” Williams has experimented with starting lineups throughout the preseason, and he disagreed with his assistants on who should start in the team’s first exhibition game. He could go small with three point guards, like he did one time at Kansas, or he could start four players who are at least 6-foot-6, as he wound up doing in the exhibition against Fayetteville State. But like Johnson, Williams made one thing clear after the first week of practice. “There’s been one constant,” Williams said. “Marcus has been on the white (first) team ever y day.”
UNC Roster No. Name Pos 0 Nate Britt G 1 Theo Pinson F/G 2 Joel Berry II G 3 Kennedy Meeks F 4 Luke Davis G 5 Marcus Paige G 11 Brice Johnson F 13 J.P. Tokoto F 14 Desmond Hubert F 21 Jackson Simmons F 22 Isaiah Hicks F 24 Sasha Seymore F 25 Justin Coleman G 42 Joel James F 44 Justin Jackson F/G 45 Stilman White G
Ht Wt Cl 6-1 170 So. 6-6 195 Fr. 6-0 195 Fr. 6-9 270 So. 6-0 178 Sr. 6-1 175 Jr. 6-9 228 Jr. 6-6 200 Jr. 6-10 225 Sr 6-7 225 Sr 6-8 230 So. 6-6 220 Sr. 6-2 180 Jr. 6-10 280 Jr. 6-8 193 Fr. 6-0 170 So.
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THE HERALD-SUN | DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
PAGE 5
NC State’s Gottfried looking for another NCAA trip I
By AARON BEARD
AP Basketball Writer
RA L EIG H
f North Carolina State is going to make it back to the NCAA tournament once again, Mark Gottfried’s club will have to do it in ver y different fashion than a year ago. The Wolfpack hopped on the back of Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year T.J. Warren and made a late-season surge to return to the NCAAs for the third time in as many seasons under Gottfried. With Warren in the NBA, it’s now on the returning supporting cast to step up with more scoring production and inside-out balance to get there again. “Last year we had the luxur y of having a player like T.J. Warren bail you out of tough situations, get you a basket if the offense broke down,” Gottfried said. “He just had that ability to make life easy for your team. “Without him, now you’ve got a number of players that need to step for ward and be a whole lot better than we’ve been in the past.” Warren ranked third nationally in scoring (24.9 points) and accounted for 34 percent of the team’s scoring and 32 percent of its shot attempts. That means the returnees and newcomers will have no shortage of opportunities for a team looking for consistent playmakers. N.C. State (22-14, 9-9 ACC) returns senior guard Ralston Turner — who developed into a solid second scorer at 10.5 points per game last year — improving point guard Anthony “Cat” Barber (8.5 points) and senior guard Des Lee (8.4). The arrival of transfer Trevor Lacey will help, too. He averaged about 11 points and started ever y game for Alabama in 2012-13, and Gottfried said he can play either guard position. The most immediate question is whether N.C. State can find scoring inside among its young for wards to go with those perimeter threats. “When you have an unproven team with a lot of players that have potential but yet are unproven, that makes it kind of fun,” he said, “because it’s fun to see what this group can become.” Here are things to watch with the Wolfpack for the 2014-15 season:
SCORING BIGS:
Sophomores Kyle Washington, Lennard Freeman and BeeJay Anya played supporting roles last year up front. That group has more experience and adds 6-foot-8 freshman Abdul-Malik Abu. Is there a reliable scorer in that group? “We
didn’t really need to do anything other than rebound, set screens and defend the rim,” Anya said of last season. “This year they’re going to ask more of us on the block. We’re all capable of scoring.”
BARBER’S DEVELOPMENT:
Anthony “Cat” Barber showed flashes of his McDonald’s All-American talent and plenty of open-court speed last year as a rookie, but the offense flowed better when Tyler Lewis played more minutes at the point late in the year. Now Lewis has transferred to Butler, setting Barber up for a big opportunity.
LACEY’S LAYOFF:
Trevor Lacey should bring some scoring, versatility and size to the backcourt. But the Alabama transfer will need some time to adjust to the speed of the game again after sitting out last year. If Lacey can get off to a strong start, that could speed up the Wolfpack’s development.
BALANCED PRODUCTION:
N.C.State is hoping to find some strength in numbers when it comes to scoring options. “I think we’ll be
North Carolina State’s Abdul-Malik Abu looks to pass on July 20 during a workout in Raleigh. well-balanced where it’s going to be difficult for teams to guard all five players on the court,” guard Trevor Lacey said.
DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT:
Coach Mark Gottfried’s focus isn’t solely on offensive changes with Warren
gone. His coaching staff spent the summer pushing the players to become better defensively. “Hopefully we can still score
Associated Press
in the high 70s and 80s most nights,” he said. “But if you can’t, we have to be better defensively to help ourselves win.”
N.C. State Roster No. Name 0 Abdul-Malik Abu 1 Trevor Lacey 3 Terry Henderson 4 Chris Brickhouse 5 Desmond Lee 10 Lennard Freeman 12 Anthony ‘Cat’ Barber 13 Chris Corchiani Jr. 14 Caleb Martin 15 Cody Martin 20 Patrick Wallace 21 BeeJay Anya 22 Ralston Turner 25 Chase Cannon 30 Staats Battle 32 Kyle Washington
Ht 6-8 6-3 6-4 6-5 6-4 6-8 6-2 6-0 6-6 6-6 6-1 6-9 6-5 6-5 6-6 6-9
Wt Pos Cl 240 F Fr. 213 G R-Jr. 190 G Jr. 210 F So. 200 G Sr. 250 F So. 180 G So. 180 G Fr. 200 F Fr. 200 F Fr. 185 G So. 295 F So. 205 G R-Sr. 200 G Jr. 203 G Sr. 225 F So.
N.C. State Schedule Date Opponent Time TV Nov. 14 JACKSON STATE 7 p.m. Nov. 17 HOFSTRA 7 p.m. Nov. 20 JACKSONVILLE 7 p.m. Nov. 23 SOUTH FLORIDA 4 p.m. ESPNU Nov. 26 RICHMOND 7 p.m. Nov. 28 BOISE STATE 7 p.m. ACC/Big Ten Challenge Dec. 2 Purdue 9 p.m. ESPN2 orESPNU Dec. 6 WAKE FOREST 7:30 p.m. Dec. Dec. 14 CHARLESTON SO. 7 p.m. (at Reynolds Coliseum) Dec. 14 WOFFORD 4 p.m. (at Reynolds Coliseum) Dec. 17 TENNESSEE 7 p.m. ESPN2 Dec. 20 West Virginia 9:30 p.m. ESPN2 (at New York City) Dec. 23 LOUISIANA TECH 7 p.m. Dec. 30 CINCINNATI 4 p.m. Jan. 3 PITTSBURGH Noon WRAL Jan. 7 Virginia 7 p.m. ESPN2 Jan. 11 DUKE TBA CBS Jan. 14 NORTH CAROLINA 7 p.m. ESPN2 Jan. 17 Florida State 1:30 WRAL Jan. 22 Miami 8 p.m. WRAL Jan. 25 NOTRE DAME 6:30 p.m. ESPNU Jan. 28 CLEMSON 9 p.m. WRAL Jan. 31 Georgia Tech Noon WRAL Feb. 3 Wake Forest 8 p.m. WRAL Feb. 11 VIRGINIA 8 p.m. WRAL Feb. 14 Louisville 4 p.m. ESPN orESPN2 Feb. 21 VIRGINIA TECH 6 p.m. ESPN2 Feb. 24 North Carolina 8 p.m. WRAL Feb. 28 Boston College Noon FSC Mar. 3 Clemson 9 p.m. FSC Mar. 7 SYRACUSE Noon CBS ACC Tournament March 10-14 at Greensboro Coliseum NOTES: Home games at PNC Arena in CAPS. Two games at Reynolds Coliseum on campus also in CAPS are noted. Neutral site location of West Virginia game noted under game in parentheses.
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THE HERALD-SUN | DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
friday, november 14, 2014
Around the MEAC N.C. Central will repeat as the regular-season champion of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, according to the league’s head coaches and directors of sports information. Here’s a look at who the Eagles have to deal with in order to that. The teams are listed in their predicted order of finish. No. 2 HAMPTON PIRATES (18-13, 13-3 MEAC in 2013-14) Hampton coach Ed Joyner Jr. brings back guard Deron Powers, a junior who averaged 11.8 points and 4.0 assists per game. He scored in double figures 16 times last season, including a careerhigh 29 points at Missouri State. Powers made the preseason all-MEAC first team. Junior guard Brian Darden averaged 10.8 points per game a year ago. No. 3 MORGAN STATE BEARS (15-16, 11-5 MEAC in 2013-14) Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman will put the ball in the hands of his son, Blake, who earned a spot on the preseason all-MEAC third team. Todd Bozeman, who has taken Morgan State to the NCAA Tournament two times (2009, 2010), has another 7-foot Bear in Jordan Omogbehin (7-3, 325), a transfer from the University of South Florida. He will be the biggest player in the MEAC. Ian Chiles was a 7-footer who wrapped up his Morgan State career last season. No. 4 NORFOLK STATE SPARTANS (19-15, 11-5 MEAC in 2013-14) Norfolk State returns seven players, including senior point guard Jamel Fuentes and junior for ward RaShid Gaston, both of them preseason allMEAC second-team selections. Fuentes averaged 6.0 points, 4.8 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game last season. An injur y forced Gaston to miss 13 games last season, but he came back and averaged 8.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in 20 contests. No. 5 DELAWARE STATE HORNETS (9-21, 5-11 MEAC in 2013-14) Delaware State coach Keith Walker was 5-6 in the final 11 games as interim head coach last season. Before Walker was appointed, the Hornets were
4-15 overall and 0-6 in the MEAC under Greg Jackson, who coached LeVelle Moton at NCCU. Moton is NCCU’s head coach. Delaware State center Kendall Gray earned a spot on the preseason all-MEAC first team, and guard Kendal Williams made the third team. No. 6 COPPIN STATE EAGLES (Coppin State 12-20, 7-8 MEAC) Former Division II Stillman College coach Michael Grant has replaced MEAC legend Fang Mitchell. “Coach Mitchell put in 28 long years here and did a great job with the new facilities, everything that’s in place and all of the NCAA runs that they made throughout the years,” Grant said. “This program has a lot of history. I want to get the program back to where it used to be.” Grant inherited 11 players, including seniors Taariq Cephas, Dallas Gary, Arnold Fripp, Brandon St. Louis and Daquan Brickhouse. Cephas, who made the preseason all-MEAC first team, averaged 9.4 points and 4.1 assists per game last season. No. 7 SAVANNAH ST A TE TIGERS (13-19, 10-6 MEAC in 2013-14) Savannah State coach Horace Broadnax is looking to improve on last season with five recruits, including Jamal Norman, Demarcus “D.J.” Bryant, Treyvon Francis, Sullivan Hernandez and Khaleen Pinkett. Hernandez (6-8, 210) was raised in Guadeloupe, an overseas region of France in the Caribbean. He attended Vanguard, a boarding school located in Lake Wales, Florida, where he averaged 19.5 points, 12.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game as a senior. Broadnax certainly can use the help. Savannah State’s top returning scorer is 6-foot-5 sophomore guard Alante Fenner, and he averaged just 6.4 points a game last season. No. 8 HOWARD BISON (8-25, 5-11 MEAC in 2013-14) Howard guard James “J-Byrd” Daniel (5-10, 165) is the preseason player of the year in the MEAC after last season leading the league in scoring with 21 points per game as a freshman. Daniel scored in double figures in every regular-season game, topped the conference in made 3-pointers (88) and
finished second in the league in hitting 40 percent of his 3-point field-goal attempts. “When I took the job, I said that in order to move the program forward, we needed to recruit player-ofthe-year and all-conference level players,” Howard coach Kevin Nickelberry said. “I am proud of all that J-Byrd has accomplished during his short time at Howard, and he is the epitome of what hard works does for you.” Howard will miss Prince Okoroh (6-5, 220), who is out for the season after fracturing his foot. He would have given the Bison some options at the guard and forward spots. Okoroh actually was selected to the all-MEAC second team after last season leading Howard in rebounds and assists. No. 9 N.C. A&T AGGIES (9-23, 5-11 MEAC in 2013-14) A&T coach Cy Alexander enters the season with Aggies big men Bryan Akinkugbe and Bruce Beckford on the preseason all-MEAC second and third teams, respectively. Akinkugbe is a senior center, and Beckford is a junior forward. Alexander said he needs to find a point guard. He’ll also have to figure out how to replace the loss of two-thirds of A&T’s offense without departed Aggies Jeremy Underwood, Richaud Pack and Lamont Middleton. Beckford led the Aggies in scoring and rebounding with 11.2 points 7.4 boards per game last season. “The freshmen went into last season thinking because we won a championship the year before they were entitled or it was going to be easy to win another one,” Alexander said. “They had no idea the level of competition not only in the MEAC but in our nonconference schedule. It was almost like a bomb blew up in their face when they realized nothing is automatic.” No. 10 BETHUNE-COOKMAN WILDCATS (7-25, 5-11 MEAC in 2013-14) Bethune-Cookman coach Gravelle Craig said all of the new faces on his squad have the Wildcats trying to develop chemistry, although the new additions have been nice and necessary upgrades, he said. “We had to get bigger, so we actually have a 7-foot transfer from Harvard. He’s not bad.” That
would be center Ugo Okam (7-0, 255). But the Wildcats will be able to play small ball, too, Craig said.
No. 11 MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE HAWKS (6-24, 4-12 MEAC in 2013-14) Coach Bobby Collins’ last four Winston-Salem State teams averaged nearly 20 wins per season and qualified for the NCAA Division II tournament in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He’ll be aiming to start duplicating that success during his first year as the head coach at Maryland Eastern Shore. “I’m looking forward to the challenge of re-engaging with some of my old friends and rivals in the MidEastern Athletic Conference.” Before taking the Winston-Salem State job, Collins was coach of the year at Hampton in 2005. The next season, Hampton won the MEAC Tournament, which got the Pirates into the NCAA Tournament. Expect Collins to have the Pirates running a fast-break offense and going man-to-man on defense quite a bit.
No. 12 S.C. STATE BULLDOGS (9-21, 5-11 MEAC in 2013-14) S.C. State coach Murray Garvin said Bulldogs freshman Tashombe Riley is one of the highest-ranked recruits the program has had in some time, and he’s a local guy from right there in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Riley (6-7, 190) can play the 3 or the 4 positions, and the versatility of transfer Gabe McCray (6-7, 200) will give the team some options, Garvin said. “He’s one of those kids that plays multiple positions,” Garvin said.
No. 13 FLORIDA A&M RATTLERS (14-18, 8-8 MEAC in 2013-14) It’s a rebuilding year at Florida A&M, where every player on the roster and every coach on the staff is new. “We have, certainly, a few challenges in front of us,” first-year coach Byron Samuels said. Samuels comes to FAMU from the University of Georgia, where he was coordinator of basketball operations. But he’s been a head coach at three schools, including Hampton (199597). After helping Hampton transition to Division I (1995-97), Samuels left to assist Jerry Green, his college coach, at the University of Tennessee.
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Friday, November 14, 2014
THE HERALD-SUN | DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
PAGE 7
Syracuse
Pittsburgh
Coach: Jim Boeheim (39th season) 2013-14 record: 28-6 overall (14-4 in ACC, 2nd place) 2014 postseason: NCAA Round of 32 Returning starters: G Trevor Cooney, F Rakeem Christmas Player to watch: Trevor Cooney, 6-4, Jr. – Cooney led the ACC in 3-pointers (2.65 per game), shooting 37.5 percent from behind the arc, and ranked second in steals (1.88). His nine 3-pointers against Notre Dame last season are tied for third all-time in ACC play. The skinny: Jim Boeheim goes into his 39th year as head coach at Syracuse with lots of new faces. Leading scorer C.J. Fair and inside defender Baye Moussa Keita exhausted their Syracuse’s Trevor Cooney, left, shoots against Careligibility, and standout leton’s Phillip Scrubb, right, in the first half of an point guard Tyler Ennis NCAA college basketball game in Syracuse, N.Y., and forward Jerami Sunday, Nov. 2. Grant left for the NBA. But Syracuse has another strong incoming class and a seventh straight 27-win season seems likely, provided an ongoing NCAA investigation isn’t too much of a distraction.
Coach: Jamie Dixon (12th season) 2013-14 record: 26-10 overall (11-7 in ACC, 5th place) 2014 postseason: NCAA Round of 32 Returning starters: G James Robinson, F Michael Young, G Cameron Wright Player to watch: Cameron Wright, 6-5, Sr. – The fifth-year senior, who won the 2014 Skip Prosser Award as the ACC’s top scholar-athlete for men’s basketball, improved his scoring average from 4.3 to 10.5 last season and seems poised to make another leap this year. The skinny: Pittsburgh is as consistent as it gets – though the Panthers have never made the Final Four, they have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 12 of the past 13 years with strong Pittsburgh guard Cameron Wright (3) shoots over defense and rebounding. Colorado guard Xavier Talton (3) during the second Pitt must replace Lamar half in a second-round game in the NCAA college Patterson (17.1 points, basketball tournament Thursday, March 20, in 4.3 assists) and Talib Orlando, Fla. Zanna (13.0 points, 8.6 rebounds), so another NCAA berth and early exit may be in the cards.
Boston College Coach: Jim Christian (first season) 2013-14 record: 8-24 overall (4-14 in ACC, 14th place) 2014 postseason: None Returning starters: G Olivier Hanlan, F Eddie Odio. G Lonnie Jackson Player to watch: Olivier Hanlan, 6-4, G, Jr. – One of the ACC’s most productive players, Hanlan scored in double figures in all but two games last season while averaging 18.5 points per game. For all of BC’s struggles, they can count on points from Hanlan. The skinny: Christian inherits a program that’s lost its way. Boston College never made a postseason appearance under Steve Donahue. The Eagles were particularly poor in late situations in close games. The Eagles have some scoring with Hanlan but need a big upgrade in defense to move up in the ACC.
Boston College’s Olivier Hanlan (21) drives past Miami’s Shane Larkin (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Friday, March 15, 2013.
Louisville
Louisville’s Montrezl Harrell dunks during practice for the NCAA Midwest Regional semifinal college basketball tournament game Thursday, March 27, in Indianapolis. Coach: Rick Pitino (14th season) 2013-14 record: 31-6 overall (15-3, American Athletic Conference champion) 2014 postseason: NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Returning starters: F Montrezl Harrell, G Chris Jones. Player to watch: Montrezl Harrell, 6-8, F, Jr. – A preseason AP All-American, Harrell made 60.9 percent of his shots to lead the AAC last season. A powerful force in the paint, the Tarboro native produced 12 double-doubles last season. The skinny: The Cardinals enhance the top of the ACC in their first season. Pitino’s crew has been to the Sweet 16, or better, in each of the last four seasons. Jones and Harrell are a good nucleus to build around. Senior forward Wayne Blackshear started half of Louisville’s games last season and should be more productive this season.
notre Dame Coach: Mike Brey (15th season) 2013-14 record: 15-17 overall (6-12 in ACC, tied for 11th place) 2014 postseason: None Returning starters: G Jerian Grant, F Pat Connaughton, G Steve Vasturia Player to watch: Jerian Grant, 6-5, G, Sr. – Grant was Notre Dame’s leading scorer at 19 points per game last season when he was suspended from school in late December. The Irish stumbled without him, finishing below .500. The return of Grant’s scoring and leadership will go a long way toward Notre Dame climbing up the ACC standings this season. The skinny: The Irish, after a disappointing first season in the ACC a year ago, should be in position to challenge Notre Dame guard Jerian Grant dribbles up court for postseason play during action in an NCAA college basketball game again. Having Grant, with Cornell Dec. 1, 2013 in South Bend, Ind. Connaughton and Vasturia back gives Brey a solid backcourt to build around. Notre Dame will have to improve its defense after allowing72 points per game last season, 13th in the ACC.
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THE HERALD-SUN | DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
friday, november 14, 2014
wake forest
north carolina
Coach: Danny Manning (1st season) 2013-14 record: 17-16 overall (6-12 in ACC, tied for 11th place) 2014 postseason: None Returning starters: G Codi Miller-McIntyre, G Madison Jones, F Devin Thomas Player to watch: Devin Thomas, 6-9, Jr. – The third-year starter was fourth in the ACC in rebounding (7.5) and averaged 11.1 points while shooting 54 percent. He is one of three returning starters on a team that posted wins over Duke, UNC and NCSU at home. But Wake Forest has won just two ACC road games in four years. The skinny: As Wake Forest tries to climb back to relevance in college basketball, the Demon Deacons hope they won’t need any miracles. Just Danny Manning. Wake Forest hasn’t played in a national postseason tournament since 2010, but Manning -- who recently coached Tulsa to its first NCAA tournament since 2003 – has a solid nucleus in the form of a five-man junior class that’s led by tempo-pushing Wake Forest’s Devin Thomas (2) shoots against Pittsguard Codi Millerburgh during the first half of a second round NCAA McIntyre and college basketball game at the Atlantic Coast Conferbig man Devin ence tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Thursday, Thomas. March 13.
Coach: Roy Williams (12th season) 2013-14 record: 24-10 overall (13-5 in ACC, tied for 3rd place) 2014 postseason: NCAA Round of 32 Returning starters: F Kennedy Meeks, G Marcus Paige, F J.P. Tokoto Player to watch: Marcus Paige, 6-1, Jr. – The ACC preseason player of the year, Paige finished fourth in the ACC in scoring (17.5) and led the conference in free throw percentage (91.1). Known for coming up big in the second half, he now must improve on his slow starts to make an even bigger impact. The skinny: North Carolina has spent North Carolina’s Marcus Paige (5) shoots as UNC the past two seasons Wilmington’s Chris Dixon (1) degends during the trying to overcome second half of an NCAA college basketball game in personnel losses that Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. North Carforced Roy Williams to olina won 84-51. keep reshaping the way his team played. The Tar Heels shouldn’t have that problem this year – not with replenished perimeter depth that has them equipped for a run at the ACC title. UNC has plenty to build on, returning an all-ACC performer in Paige, improved juniors Brice Johnson and J.P. Tokoto, slimmed-down big man Kennedy Meeks and three McDonald’s All-American freshmen.
virginia
clemson
Coach: Tony Bennett (sixth season) 2013-14 record: 30-7 overall (16-2 in ACC, first place) 2014 postseason: NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Returning starters: G Malcolm Brogdon, F Mike Tobey, G London Perrantes Player to watch: Malcolm Brogdon, 6-5, G, Jr. – A relative unknown a year ago after missing a season with a foot injury, Brodgon blossomed into an all-ACC guard for the league champions. His steady play and scoring (12.7 points per game) will be even more important this Virginia’s Malcolm Brogdon (15) shoots over Michigan season with Joe State’s Gary Harris (14) in the first half of a regional Harris having semifinal at the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 28, in New York graduated. The skinny: The ACC champion Cavaliers took a big step forward with a 30-win season. Bennett has a strong group returning that should keep Virginia in the league title hunt. Always strong defensively, Virginia will need more scoring from Anthony Gill as he matures into a starter as junior.
Coach: Brad Brownell (fifth season) 2013-14 record: 23-13 overall (10-8 in ACC, sixth place) 2014 postseason: NIT semifinals Returning starters: G Rod Hall, G Demarcus Harrison, F Jaron Blossomgame, F Landry Nnoko. Player to watch: Rod Hall, 6-1, G, Sr. – Having already started two seasons at point guard, Hall enters this season with more starts (75) than any other active ACC player. Clemson has a patient offensive attack and Hall runs it well. He collected 143 assists last season, but Clemson guard Rod Hall drives the lane as Notre Dame Clemson will need forward Garrick Sherman defends during an college more scoring than basketball game against Clemson Tuesday, Feb. 11 in the 9.7 points he South Bend, Ind. delivered last season. The skinny: The Tigers have plenty of experienced players back, losing only K.J. McDaniels (who is in the NBA). Clemson will be tough defensively again after allowing teams to shoot just 39.5 percent last season (second-lowest in the ACC). The Tigers should get additional scoring punch from San Francisco transfer Avry Holmes, who made 41 percent of his 3-pointers two seasons ago for the Dons.
georgia tech Coach: Brian Gregory (4th season) 2013-14 record: 16-17 overall (6-12 in ACC, tied for 11th place) 2014 postseason: None Returning starters: F Marcus Georges-Hunt, G Corey Heyward Player to watch: Marcus Georges-Hunt, 6-5, Jr. – Georgia Tech’s leading returning scorer (11.7) and rebounder (4.3) has 63 career starts. Combined with transfers Charles Mitchell and Demarco Cox, the Yellow Jackets should have much more power and size inside this season. The skinny: The Yellow Jackets won an ACC Tournament game for the first time since 2010 last season but still failed to make a postseason appearance for the sixth time in seven years. Gregory finally has a roster filled entirely with players he recruited, but after going 16-36 in the ACC in his first three seasons, Gregory now must replace three double-digit scorers.
Georgia Tech’s Marcus Georges-Hunt (3) and Boston College’s Patrick Heckmann (33) battle for a loose ball during the first half of a first round NCAA college basketball game at the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Wednesday, March 12.
Friday, November 14, 2014
THE HERALD-SUN | DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
florida state
duke Coach: Mike Krzyzewski (35th season) 2013-14 record: 26-9 overall (13-5 in ACC, tied for third place) 2014 postseason: NCAA Tournament round of 64 Returning starters: G Quinn Cook, F Amile Jefferson Player to watch: Jahlil Okafor, 6-11, C, Fr. – A preseason All-American and national player of the year candidate, Okafor has an all-around game that makes him a threat to take over games with scoring, rebounding and defense. The skinny: Duke has a solid group of veterans in Cook, Matt Jones, Rasheed Sulaimon and Jefferson plus exciting newcomers in Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones. The Blue Devils will have plenty of ways to score but how far they go in March will depend upon how the two groups develop defensively. The inability to shut down teams cost the Blue Devils against Mercer in last season’s stunning NCAA Tournament exit.
PAGE 9
In this Saturday, Oct. 25, photo, Duke’s Jahlil Okafor (15) chases the ball during an NCAA college basketball scrimmage at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. With a lineup stacked with four blue-chip freshmen talented enough to jump to the NBA after one year, these Blue Devils look an awful lot like some recent Kentucky teams.
Coach: Leonard Hamilton (13th season) 2013-14 record: 26-14 overall (9-9 in ACC, tied for seventh place) 2014 postseason: NIT semifinals Returning starters: G Aaron Thomas, G Devon Bookert, G Montay Brandon, C Boris Bojanovsky. Player to watch: Aaron Thomas, 6-5, G, Jr. -- A solid player offensively (14.5 points per game) and defensively (team-best 57 steals), Thomas played his best basketball late last season. He averaged 18.4 points per game from Feb. 5 on. He helped FSU shoot a league-best 46.6 on Florida State’s Aaron Thomas (25) goes up to dunk field goals last season. against Virginia during the first half of a quarterfiThe skinny: The nal NCAA college basketball game at the Atlantic Seminoles have averaged Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C., 21.5 wins per season Friday, March 14. over the last nine years, making them a consistent program. FSU shot well but not often enough last season. That shouldn’t be the case this season with Thomas and last year’s assist leader, Bookert, returning. Bojanovsky, should be a force in the middle on defense. The question will be if he can score consistently.
miami
N.C. State
Coach: Jim Larranaga (4th season) 2013-14 record: 17-16 overall (7-11 in ACC, 10th place) 2014 postseason: None Returning starters: G Manu Lecomte, C Tonye Jekiri Player to watch: Angel Rodriguez, 5-11, Jr. – The most experienced player is point guard Angel Rodriguez, who helped Kansas State win a share of the Big 12 title in 2013. The junior transferred and sat out last season because he wanted to be closer to his family in Puerto Rico. The skinny: Last season required a reboot for the program Miami guard Angel Rodriguez runs through drills after six seniors from on Oct. 3 during the team’s first NCAA college basthe ACC title team ketball practice in Coral Gables, Fla. Rodriguez says departed, although the he no longer gets recognized in the grocery store, team still ranked 11th in as he did when he was at Kansas State, but the transfer is happy with his new role as a point guard scoring defense (59.5) and leader for the Miami Hurricanes. and posted its seventh straight winning season. There will be another huge changeover this year – of the 12 players on the roster, only three have worn a Hurricanes uniform before. A lack of size may force Miami to use a four-guard lineup.
Coach: Mark Gottfried (fourth season) 2013-14 record: 22-14 overall (9-9 in ACC, tied for seventh place) 2014 postseason: NCAA Tournament round of 64 Returning starters: G Ralston Turner, G Desmond Lee, F Kyle Washington. Player to watch: Cat Barber, 6-2, G, Soph. – After starting half of N.C. State’s games last season, averaging 8.5 points and 3.5 assists per game, Barber is in position to be more of a forceful presence this season. The Wolfpack will need him to improve his defense as well. The skinny: The loss of Durham’s T.J. Warren, last season’s ACC player of the year and scoring champion, leaves a large hole in N.C. State’s North Carolina State guard Anthony Barber (2) attack. Ralston Turner, shoots against Xavier in the first half of a firstwho scored 10.5 points round game of the NCAA college basketball tourper game, is the team’s nament, Tuesday, March 18, in Dayton, Ohio. leading returning scorer. The Wolfpack have experience in the backcourt but will need players like Lennard Freeman and the slimmed down Beejay Anya to become more forceful, offensively and defensively, in the paint.
virginia tech Coach: Buzz Williams (1st season) 2013-14 record: 9-22 overall (2-16 in ACC, 15th place) 2014 postseason: None Returning starters: F Joey van Zegeren, G Devin Wilson Player to watch: Devin Wilson, 6-4, So. – Wilson started all 31 games last season and earned ACC all-freshman honors after averaging 9.2 points and 4.8 assists, the third-most in the ACC. He excelled at getting to the free throw line, which will be an important factor for this year’s depleted team – Williams called free throws “a talent equalizer.” The skinny: Buzz Williams’ arrival at Virginia Tech after six seasons at Marquette came amid an exodus of players – the Hokies lost more talent to transfers than they have coming back. Under-sized, and probably with a talent deficiency, Williams is looking for his team to ramp up the scrappiness and effort and thrive off being the underdog. It’s the style Williams has promoted throughout his career.
Virginia Tech’s Devin Wilson (11) goes to the basket against Miami during the second half of a first round NCAA college basketball game at the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Wednesday, March 12. Miami won 57-53.
Page 10
THE HERALD-SUN | DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
friday, november 14, 2014
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