2009 Pre-Season Team Profiles

North Carolina

Despite departures, Tar Heels favored again

November 05, 2009

No. 50 is gone, and so are a host of other starters, but the Tar Heels remain one of the favorites in the ACC thanks in part to an incoming class of five freshmen, many of whom can expect significant playing time.

“It’s hard to practice without Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green and Bobby Frasor,” head coach Roy Williams said. “We lost some great guys who were bigtime basketball players, wonderful kids, wonderful leaders and very successful.”

Virginia

Landesberg leads thin Cavaliers

Tim Visutipol

November 05, 2009

Virginia’s floor general actually has more experience than the one on the bench this season.

As new Cavalier head coach Tony Bennett begins to take over a team that won just 10 games last year, he will rely heavily on reigning ACC Rookie of the Year Sylven Landesberg.

Bennett also has the luxury of having all but two of last season’s players returning to Virginia.

Miami

Down year looms for Hurricanes

Andy Margius

November 05, 2009

The 2008-09 season was a relatively successful one for Miami as it was able to hang tough with some of the top teams in the ACC, including during its trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium. With an overall record of 19-13, the Hurricanes earned a bid to the NIT before losing in the second round.

Boston College

Deep Eagles could struggle without Rice

Patricia Lee

November 05, 2009

One thing Boston College head coach Al Skinner seems to keep emphasizing is the idea of success—a successful basketball team, a successful season and successful players.

And with one senior, seven juniors and three sophomores returning this year, the Eagles should have no problem building momentum and having that success in the ACC.

Virginia Tech

Hokies not satisfied with NIT

Jason Palmatary

November 05, 2009

With the last two seasons coming to the same disappointing end—NCAA bubble team to NIT participant—Virginia Tech is hoping to leave no doubt in the selection committee’s mind as to its Big Dance readiness this year.

In order to get to the NCAA Tournament this March, the first order of business is finding a way to replace the scoring of graduated swingman A.D. Vassallo. The forward averaged 19.1 points per game as a senior last year and was always the player that the Hokies turned to when they needed a big basket down the stretch.

Florida State

With go-to scorer gone, Seminoles hope to keep pace

Tim Visutipol

November 05, 2009

After a highly successful season in which they reached the NCAA Tournament and lost in the ACC Tournament finals, the Seminoles aim to prove that they are not one-season wonders.

This season however, Florida State will not have departed point guard Toney Douglas, taken 29th in the 2009 NBA Draft. Douglas leaves a huge scoring hole, having averaged 21.5 points per game last season. Douglas was also the only Seminole to average more than nine points per game last year.

Head coach Leonard Hamilton is not expecting any one player to step up.

Wake Forest

Deacons decimated by NBA Draft

Matt Levenberg

November 05, 2009

Last season was quite the roller coaster for the Demon Deacons. After getting off to a sizzling 16-0 start and reaching No. 1 in the country, they stumbled down the stretch and still have a bitter taste in their mouth after suffering a shocking opening-round upset to No. 13 seed Cleveland State in the NCAA Tournament.

“The last game was disappointing, but the season as a whole was pretty good,” head coach Dino Gaudio said.

2009 Pre-Season Team Profiles