Is it basketball yet?

Every year, I put together my own pre-season ACC final standings; last year, I picked Virginia to finish third amongst much pointing and laughing, and then they tied Carolina for 1st. So sometimes I'm smarter than the experts. But probably not this year -- aside from Carolina, I really don't know what to make of this year's ACC. This is all a wild shot in the dark.


1. Carolina. What? We return three starters, including the near-consensus pre-season National Player of the Year, 5 bench players who got solid minutes last year, and Quentin Thomas. The outside shooting remains a question -- the Duke had the best percentage on the team last year but he often faded when he should have shone -- but I'm excited to see what Deon and Tyler can do inside (I think Deon's style of play is more suited to Tyler's than Brandan's was) and I'm 100% on board the Ty Lawson train.

2. NC State. Only question mark is at point guard. They find somebody to fill Atsur's shoes, they could win the ACC this year instead of just playing season spoiler.

3. Clemson. Oliver Purnell is coming for the big guns in the ACC, and this might be the year he shows everybody else who's boss. The talent's there, but can they hold up in ACC season? Last year's 17-0 start, followed by their grand collapse in conference, is on lots of people's minds.

4. Duke. Most pre-season guides pick them higher. DeMarcus is hurt, Brian Zoubek is hurt, Greg Paulus is a weenie, and the freshman class is great on paper -- but so was last year's Duke freshman class, and we all know how that ended. Also, I always pick Duke low, because I am a bitch like that. A. loves me anyway.

5. Virginia. Again, I say what? Sean Singletary is on a mission from God.

6. Maryland. This Maryland team baffles me. I really don't know where to put them -- could be higher, could be a complete collapse and a whole hell of a lot lower.

7. Georgia Tech. Paul Hewitt is lucky: he has an AD who believes in him, and is willing to be patient. A smart, talented young team that beat Carolina last year. Like Maryland, could go up or down a couple of spots.

8. Virginia Tech. Deron Washington's tights will only take you so far.

9. Boston College. The talent's there, but they lost all their heart to the draft and counterfeiting schemes, and I love Tyrese Rice as much as the next Boston College hater, but, friends, I knew Jared Dudley (to hate on), and Ty Rice is no Jared Dudley.

10. Florida State. What the fuck ever. Who cares about Florida State? Anybody? Yeah, me neither. I keep forgetting that Pat Kennedy doesn't coach them anymore, and he's been gone for ten years! (Huh. Wikipedia tells me that Mr. Kennedy is now coaching at the university of my hometown, the grand old Towson University of the CAA. That's a step down, Mr. Kennedy.)

11. Wake Forest. A team that's been reeling for the last two years doesn't add much talent and loses its coach in the off-season. Dino Gaudio has his work cut out for him, and this Wake team is young and probably freaked as all shit right now. Next year, maybe, but this year it's another bad year for the Deacs.

12. Miami. Poor Miami. Why did you guys want to be in the ACC, again?