UNC at #5.
Andy Katz says this might be too high but that all depends on the guard play doesn’t it? I cannot think of a team with a better frontline. The X factors are Marcus Ginyard and John Henson. If they step up and provide some perimeter offense while Larry Drew averages 5.5 assists versus only 1.5 TOs then the Heels are easily #5. Absent those particular points of emphasis, it could be a wildly inconsistent season.
I did notice that Katz put Kentucky #7. Katz is many things but apparently one thing he is not is up John Calipari’s rear end like Jeff Goodman and to a slightly lesser extent Gary Parrish. Also of note is the fact Katz’s top seven looks like UNC’s December schedule. #2 Michigan St, #3 Texas and #7 Kentucky adorn the Heels’ early slate not to mention whoever they might draw in the Coaches vs Cancer Classic. It would appear Larry Drew is going to be thrown right into the fire from day one.
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Not much of a on-his-own learning curve for Drew huh? He could be ready for it. I agree, THF, that a top 5 seems high. John Henson will have to shine like a star his freshman season, and Ginyard will have to be fairly decent from the standpoint of being willing to take & make shots. He also has to be healthy, and have we even established that he is yet?
I think UNC at 5 is probably low. I’d have them ahead of ‘Nova or Texas, if not both. I haven’t seen anyone who has them ranked lower than 5.
Any truth to the Steve Streater news I saw yesterday? Hoping there might be some postings about him.
Given the backcourt uncertainty, I’ll take something between # 5 – 15. Texas could be good next year, but Mr. Barnes is still the coach there of course.
yeah, i saw the story on wral.com saturday.
i came to school right after his accident, and saw him for many years on the sidelines at games.
saw this today in looking for Steve’s story. it seems his brother was also sort of claimed by Steve’s accident.
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2004/02/20/streaterargos040220.html
I hear ya C. Michael. Around number 5 is where we spent a good chunk of last season’s NC run. We’ve nearly lost our starting 5, yet you seem confident to put us up there again. I hope we are better than I think, and as good as you think we’ll be.
Heel, appreciate the info. Never saw him play, but remember seeing the story about the accident which ended his career.
any golf fans around? maybe, just maybe, the US Open will end today..
“Around number 5 is where we spent a good chunk of last season’s NC run.”
That’s a bit of a stretch. UNC spent 9 weeks at #1 and only 4 weeks in the 5-6 range. 75% of the season they were ranked in the top-3.
It’s not just about what UNC lost, it’s about what they are bringing back, what they are bringing in, and what others lost, bring back, and bring in. Taking all of that into consideration, there are only teams that are clearly better than UNC: Kansas and MSU.
I say that #5 is a bit high. Sure we may have the best front court in the nation, but our back court is littered with question marks. Will the incoming freshman make a big impact? Will Drew be able to perform at a respectable level? Will Ginyard be the same Ginyard as before? Will Graves be a solid outside shooting threat? Too many questions at positions that mean everything in Roy’s style of play. Too many for me to say this team is top 5. Top 20? Of course, but maybe not top 5. However, if those questions are answered positively, then we could be Final Four material.
Well I based my stance, which is slightly different than C. Michael’s, on those big time non-conference games we have. I am also assuming we lose a few of those. If we win out the non-conference games, then I’d have to say C. Michael was on point in giving them a top 5 standing.
No question if we win those early non-con games then #5 might even be too low. However, that is certainly a big ‘if’.
Yes indeed, it is! I am not as confident as most in our guard/peremiter play. Given that, it is the reasoning behind my # 5 is too high position, coupled with our big time non-conference schedule.
Is Marcus Ginyard actually a better player than Bobby Frasor? Having taken a quick look at the stats, I am not sure that he is. Both are lauded for their defense; neither was/is particularly good on the offensive end. Obviously, Larry Drew Two has a large hill to climb. Maybe he can improve in the manner that Quintin Thomas, Dudley Bradley and King Rice did. Right now, it is hard to see Drew being much more than those guys were, which means competent players, who on their best nights can be stars, but far from a Ty Lawson or Ray Felton.
I haven’t seen these new kids coming in, so I have no idea really. But I would expect next year to be similar to the 2006 season with UNC in the top 3 in the ACC and the top 15 overall. That is a lot better than what happened to Florida and UConn after winning titles. Kansas and UNC, on the other hand, in the last five year, have reloaded fairly well.
I think there is hope Ginyard can have a breakout season on the offensive end and be a solid scorer.
Who knows coming off the foot injury though.
Ginyard appears to be a bit more athletic than Frasor, and is a bit taller/stronger. Ginyard will certainly get his opportunities to shoot the ball, as did Frasor, let’s just hope he can hit a better %. We didn’t need Bobby to score, but we may need some offensive production from Marcus.
That is true. The big question for next year is who can relieve the pressure from outside if the other teams try to pack it in inside. Ginyard has shown flashes of competence from three point range and perhaps Will Graves will be back and return to his form of 2008.
I worry/wonder what effect (if any) Graves’ suspension will have on his game. Maybe he doubles up the effort to prove to Roy that he is a team player? Maybe it rattles him and he never recovers?
One big bonus that we have with Ginyard is that he will be the senior leader with big game experience. The young guys (Drew included) will need that. Sometimes having that guy can be the difference.
“it could be a wildly inconsistent season.” THF, I’m going with that.
The 2006 team was pretty inconsistent, thinking back to that horrible loss at USC and a tepid start in the ACC, followed by a great second half, followed by a lackluster post-season.