CATEGORY 6

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Tag Archives: ACC Standings

Category 6 ACC Preview: Miami (17-10) at NC State (18-11)

(Editor’s note: Special thanks to  Akula Wolf with http://www.backingthepack.com/  for working on this collaboration and providing advanced scouting on NC State)

Coming off of an exhilarating and clutch win over FSU, Miami returns to action in Raleigh with another huge match-up against the suddenly struggling NC State Wolfpack (Wednesday 9PM EST Raycom/ESPN3). While the Hurricanes may have saved their NCAA hopes by thrashing Florida St, 78-62 on Sunday, NC State comes in losers of 4 in a row.  They likely need to win their last 2 contests as well as make a run in the ACC Tournament to salvage any chances of being selected. Earlier this year the Wolfpack did defeat UM 78-73 at the Bank United Center. After the game Coach Jim Larranaga questioned his ‘Canes, and they responded with 5 wins in a row. That game may have been the turning point in Miami’s season, but this game may be its most important. It is unclear whether Reggie Johnson will be cleared in time for this match-up.

Reggie Johnson was forced to sit out against FSU.

 

 Atlantic Coast Conference Standings

Conf All
 Duke (5) 12-2 25-4
 North Carolina (7) 12-2 25-4
 Florida St. (15) 10-4 19-9
 Virginia (25) 8-6 21-7
 Miami (FL) 8-6 17-10
 N.C. State 7-7 18-11
 Clemson 7-7 15-13
 Maryland 6-8 16-12
 Virginia Tech 4-10 15-14
 Wake Forest 4-10 13-15
 Georgia Tech 3-11 10-18
 Boston Coll. 3-11 8-20

 

 

Projected Starting Lineups:

Miami

C Reggie Johnson                  6’10 290 JR

or Raphael Akpejori                6’10 230 SO

F Kenny Kadji                         6’11 260 SO

G Shane Larkin                      5’11 160 FR

G Malcolm Grant                   6’1 188  SR

G Durand Scott                      6’4 198  JR

 

NC State

F Richard Howell                     6’8 250 JR

F CJ Leslie                              6’8 209 SO

F Scott Wood                          6’6 177 JR

G CJ Williams                         6’5 224 SR

G Lorenzo Brown                    6’5 189  SO

 

Keys to the Game: Avoid the “Woodshed”. After the FSU game Jim Larranaga admitted they had a goal of knocking down 10 threes and 20 free throws. And while they only knocked down 9 threes, they made up for it with 23 free throws. Against NC State we imagine Coach L might set a number to the amount of touches they allow for Scott Wood. In January Wood lit up the ‘Canes for 21 points, including 4-6 from downtown.

Scott Wood is no easy match-up.

Win with Depth. NC State only plays 7 players and their starters tend to play 30 minutes or more nearly every time out. Wood, CJ Leslie, Lorenzo Brown. and CJ Williams are all very talented players, but we wonder if extended minutes haven’t left those guys with tired legs. In the meantime Miami has enjoyed sparkling bench play of late featuring the all around game of Rion Brown, the red-hot shooting of Trey McKinney Jones, and the ferocious athleticism of DeQuan Jones. The biggest mismatch in this game is the ‘Canes depth. This becomes even more a factor if Reggie Johnson is cleared in time to play.

Key Match-up: Scott Wood VS Trey McKinney Jones/Rion Brown. As we noted earlier, Wood killed UM the last time these two teams played. Something tells me this time around TMJ and RB will stick to Wood like glue, while keeping him busy on the defensive end as both have been shooting the ball very well in the last few games.

Prediction: Miami has come too far to let their NCAA hopes falter. Injuries, suspensions, and a new system have not deterred the resilient ‘Canes. CJ Leslie and Scott Wood are too good to let the Wolfpack roll over, but there’s no way UM shoots just 2-20 again on threes as they did in the first match-up. Kenny Kadji is a force to be reckoned with, and Malcolm Grant continues to return to form. Look for Grant to score in double figures in this one. Miami makes another statement on the road, 77-70.

Durand Scott celebrates with UM fans.


Here is our full Q&A with Akula Wolf of http://www.backingthepack.com/

Please check their site to see our answers to their questions.

C6: If you could pick an all time NC State team who would be the starting five, and who would be the go to player?

BP: Wow, that’s tough. Do I go with the best players in school history regardless of era, or do I try to build a team that could compete in today’s game? David Thompson is a no-brainer, of course, and he’d be the focal point of the offense.
I’d probably go small and take Chris Corchiani and Rodney Monroe as well. Ronnie Shavlik and Tommy Burleson would make up my front court. Julius Hodge is my sixth man. Anthony Grundy. Tom Gugliotta. Thurl Bailey. Todd Fuller. Kenny Carr. Sorry, I accidentally built a whole team.

C6: NC State has struggled of late. What has been their main weakness in the recent losing streak?  Has depth been a concern?

BP: I don’t know that there’s any one thing to point to. Well, other than sadness. NC State just couldn’t close out Duke in Durham and it seemed to snowball from there. They were flat against Florida State a couple days later, and then didn’t play that poorly against UNC, but the Heels were really good that night. The Clemson game was a complete choke job in the final minute. It happens.

Depth is always a concern for this team, but I don’t think that’s been any more  trouble of late than it has been all season.

C6: In the last match-up Scott Wood played extremely well. Who else on the Wolfpack do you feel will give the ‘Canes problems? Which players on Miami do you feel will give NC State issues?

BP: State has several players that can give most teams problems, it’s just a question of how they’re playing on the night in question. That’s one of State’s issues; it’s hard to know what to expect out of anybody on a game-to-game basis. Calvin Leslie and Lorenzo Brown can be big difference-makers, Scott Wood can hit six threes to change a game, but all of those guys have an ability to fade into the background or shoot their way out of the game.

I was really impressed by Kenny Kadji in the first meeting and I think he’ll create plenty of trouble for State’s frontcourt guys. I think that Scott and Grant have the potential to be tough matchups as well.

C6: What does NC State need to do to get back in the Tournament discussion?  Do you feel Miami is worthy of a selection?

BP: State probably needs to win four games in a row, at minimum. It’s always hard to tell, though. I think Miami is definitely worthy of a selection, and the situation could be a lot different for that team had Reggie Johnson been available and in game shape all season.

C6: How do you see the game playing out/what is your prediction for the outcome?

BP: I have no idea how they’re going to respond to the losing streak at this point, so your guess is as good as mine. I’ve had a feeling for a while that Miami would have its revenge, and I still feel that way.

Thanks again to Akula Wolf for working with us.

Go Canes!!!

Category 6 ACC Basketball Preview: Maryland (13-7) at Miami (12-7)

(Editor’s note: Special thanks to Jeremy Gold with http://turtle-soup.com/ for working on this collaboration and providing advanced scouting on Maryland)

The Miami Hurricanes return home to the BUC Wednesday (8pm EST Raycom/ESPN3) with a visit from Terrell Stoglin and Maryland Terrapins. Stoglin who leads the ACC in scoring at 21.2 points per game, will provide UM’s backcourt a unique challenge. Fortunately for the ‘Canes, Durand Scott (19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals against BC) looked the part of an All-ACC guard his last time out. With each team coming in tied for 6th place at  3-3 in conference, it is a game both teams need desperately if they hope to emerge from the middle of the ACC pack.

Durand Scott and Malcolm Grant came alive against BC.

 

 ACC Standings

TEAM CONF OVERALL
Duke 5-1 18-3
North Carolina 5-1 18-3
Florida State 5-1 14-6
Virginia 4-2 17-3
North Carolina State 4-3 15-7
Maryland 3-3 13-7
Miami (FL) 3-3 12-7
Clemson 3-3 11-9
Wake Forest 2-5 11-10
Boston College 2-5 7-14
Virginia Tech 1-5 12-9
Georgia Tech 1-6 8-13

 

Projected Starting Lineups:

Miami

C Reggie Johnson                   6’10 300 JR

F Kenny Kadji                          6’11 260 SO

G Trey McKinney-Jones         6’5  216 JR

G Malcolm Grant                    6’1 188  SR

G Durand Scott                      6’4 198  JR

 

Maryland

F James Padgett                  6’8 215  JR

F Ashton Pankey                  6’9 220 FR

G Pe’Shon Howard               6’3 195  SO

G Sean Mosely                     6’4 210 SN

G Terrell Stoglin                   6’1 185  SO

 

Keys to the Game: Run the offense through Kadji & Johnson. Maryland’s “bigs” are at a distinct height and weight advantage against K2 and Big Reg. It was fun to see Malcolm Grant and Durand Scott break out against Boston College, but Miami is still at its best when the ball works inside-out. James Padgett and Ashton Pankey won’t be able to contain the ‘Canes down low, let’s hope UM’s guards don’t make life easier on them by failing to get the ball in the post.

Give Stoglin plenty of defensive looks. I expect Shane Larkin, Malcolm Grant, and Durand Scott to all get a chance at defending the left handed Stoglin. Maryland’s top scorer  plays like former Piston great Vinnie Johnson and does his best work creating his own shot off the dribble (usually a jumper) and getting out and finishing in transition. Scott and perhaps Rion Brown have the length to bother Stoglin in the halfcourt and Larkin is quick enough to stay in front of him on the break. More then anything the Canes will need to play excellent team defense to keep the Terrapins version of “the microwave” in check.

Terrell Stoglin leads the ACC in scoring.

 

Best Match-up: Stoglin VS Grant/Scott. It’s easy to forget just how great Malcolm Grant and Durand Scott have been over their UM careers. Niether have played their best basketball this season and with expectations being so high for the NYC guards, this season could be classified as a dissapointment thus far. But something seemed to click for MG and DScott simultaneously in the 2nd half at BC. With a match-up against the super scorer Stoglin, Grant and Scott get an other chance to show they too can play with anyone. The key will be to be both poised and productive, and not forget to share the ball with their teammates, while matching Stoglin’s intensity and flare.

 

Prediction: Maryland has niether surprised nor dissapointed this year. New Coach Mark Sturgeon inherited a star in Stoglin but very little inside punch. Miami has way too much depth and versatility to lose, despite the scoring of Stoglin and Sean Mosely. Kenny Kadji will flirt with 20 points, Reggie Johnson will force double teams, and Durand Scott and Malcolm Grant will continue their resurgence. With Trey McKinney-Jones, Shane Larkin, and DeQuan Jones adding punch off the bench, the Canes get a much needed win, 79-66.

Trey McKinney-Jones and Miami look for a big victory Wednesday.

 

Here is our full Q&A with Jeremy Gold of http://turtle-soup.com/   Be sure to check out his site to see our answers to his Q&A as well.

 

 C6: Terrell Stoglin is having an incredible year. What NBA or current college player is his game reminiscent of? What type of players have had success slowing him down?

TS: Right now, a lot of Terp fans are comparing him to Greivis Vasquez.  Their games couldn’t be more disparate; but both players have/had a knack for scoring points in bunches for both teams.  One minute, Stoglin will drain back-to-back threes within the flow of the half court set; and the next minute, he’s chucking up off-balance shots on a fast break just when the team needs a good possession.  Vazquez did the same thing.

In terms of actual style, I’d say Stoglin is a poor man’s Allen Iverson (minus the shut down defense).  He’s a great clutch shooter; but he’s also deadly going to the hole.  He’s also a shooting guard in a point guard’s body.

 C6: Aside from Stoglin, who else has played well this year? Who is the biggest surprise player? Who is the biggest dissapoinment?

TS: It depends.  The first three games Alex Len played were a revelation.  He averaged 14 points and 8 boards in under 20 minutes per game.  He even showed up on an NBA 2013 Mock Draft! He’s fallen down to Earth big time when the ACC Season started. He’s an unreal talent. He’s 7’1″, with good feet, and a three point shot.  He’s learning the US game; but will be a force by the end of the season.

Recently, Sean Mosley has stepped up his offense game; but he often throws up a 3 points, 4 fouls game as often as he turns in 19 point scoring nights.  Ashton Pankey has been the biggest surprise.  He’s a 6’9″ redshirt freshman who will be a star eventually. He is still raw defensively and needs to work on his footwork but he’s got a good offensive game and no one anticipated that- even Turgeon.

The biggest disappointment has been freshman Nick Faust.  He’s going to be good and he oozes athleticism; but his outside shooting has been dreadful.  He was touted as an elite shooter and he’s hitting 19% of his threes.

 C6: How would you classify Maryland’s style of basketball? Do they press? Who is their best defensive player?

TS: The Terps ran the flex offense and pressed for the 22 years that Gary Williams was at the helm.  They run the motion with Mark Turgeon; but you get the sense that Turgeon wants to run more.  He just lacks the horses.  The Terps play 9 guys, but they are the only scholarship players on the team.  The guards are sub-par defenders and Turgeon is not able to press as a result.

 C6: Which players/match-ups on Miami concern you? How do you see the game on Wednesday playing out? What is your prediction?

TS: Obviously, Johnson and Kadji are concerns.  Miles Plumlee took our bigs to school last week and both Kadji and Johnson are capable of doing the same.  Terp bigs Ashton Pankey and James Padgett have displayed good skill; but they’ve lacked the toughness that is required to defend and rebound in the paint night in and night out in the ACC.

The Terps have been in every game they’ve played since they added Len and starting PG Pe’Shon Howard to the roster on 12/28.  Unfortunately, the games are 40 minutes long. The Terps will go toe to toe for 30 minutes and then falter down the stretch.  This happened during  the most recent losses (NCST, FSU, Temple and Duke). A big reason is free throw shooting.  In crunch time, I don’t trust any Terp at the line.  That includes Stoglin who had big misses against both Duke and Va Tech this past week.

 

Thanks again to Jeremy and http://turtle-soup.com/ for working on this preview with us.