Projected starting five:

Jr. G Mfon Udofia
So. G Brandon Reed
Jr. G Glen Rice Jr.
So. F Kammeon Holsey
So. C Daniel Miller

Important departures:

Coach Paul Hewitt: 255-187 overall record, 189-160 record with Yellow Jackets, 72-104 ACC record in 11 seasons at Georgia Tech.
Iman Shumpert: 17.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.5 apg
Brian Oliver: 10.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 apg
Maurice Miller: 6.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.4 apg

Percent returning scoring and rebounding:

Scoring: 51.6 percent
Rebounding: 64.2 percent

Additions:

Brandon Reed, sophomore guard transferred from Arkansas State
Julian Royal, No. 125 Rivals.com and ESPNU four-star power forward from Alpharetta, Ga.

Schedule highlights:

Best non-conference game: vs. Alabama
Toughest conference stretch: Jan. 21-Feb. 1 (at Clemson, vs. Miami, at North Carolina, at Florida State)

Outlook:

After Paul Hewitt took Georgia Tech to the 2004 championship game and proved that he could attract elite talent to Atlanta, Yellow Jacket fans just waited for another Final Four run. It never materialized, and the team dismissed Hewitt after another disappointing season. Brian Gregory now takes over with a decent amount of talent left in the cupboard.

Gregory will need to get solid players like Mfon Udofia, Glen Rice Jr., and Kammeon Holsey to buy in to his game plan. If they do, Georgia Tech could quickly move out of the cellar, possibly into the thick of the ACC teams competing for a final NCAA Tournament bid. Besides the existing lineup, Gregory gets the services of Brandon Reed, an elite scorer who transferred from Arkansas State.

Prediction: Ninth

Next: Maryland Terrapins

Back to ACC preview

Go coast to coast with a roundup of news from across the nation.

1. Starting next season, players will no longer be able to test the NBA Draft waters. According to the Associated Press, the NCAA approved a rules change that forces players to decide whether they wish to remain eligible for the NBA Draft by the first day of the spring signing period for recruits. This move helps college coaches replace departing players. But it kills players’ opportunity to gauge their draft stock as few NBA teams are prepared to provide full predictions by mid-April.
2. George Mason wasted no time in finding a new coach. According to the Associated Press, the Colonials picked former Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt, who was fired at Georgia Tech this past season after 11 years and a 190-162 record. In more than a decade with the Yellow Jackets, Hewitt established a reputation for recruiting top-notch talent, but he only made one deep run in the NCAA Tournament, losing to Connecticut in the 2004 championship game. He replaces Jim Larranaga, who left the school to coach Miami.
3. Nearby, in Washington, D.C., George Washington will be in search of a new coach after firing Karl Hobbs, according to the Associated Press. Hobbs led the Colonials for 10 years, including a great 2005-06 season in which George Washington finished 27-3 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
4. And in Atlanta, Georgia Tech replaced Paul Hewitt with Brian Gregory, choosing Dayton’s coach over several other candidates, including a 15-year-old from Connecticut. Wha?! According to the Sporting News’ Mike DeCourcy, Ethan Peikes sent Georgia Tech Athletic Director Dan Radakovich a letter containing a cogent argument for why Peikes should become the Yellow Jackets’ next coach.
5. Colgate presumably didn’t get any applications from 15-year-olds, but the school did find its coach from a relatively young member of the coaching ranks. According to the Associated Press, Colgate hired 33-year-old Temple assistant Matt Langel to replace Emmett Davis, who was dismissed after 13 seasons and a 165-212 record.
6. Wisconsin extended the contract of coach Bo Ryan through 2015-16, ensuring stability for one of the best programs in the Big Ten, according to the Associated Press. Ryan has a 242-91 record in 10 seasons in Madison, and his teams regularly excel in the NCAA Tournament and enjoy one of the toughest home court advantages in basketball.
7. Likewise, in Athens, Ga., coach Mark Fox received an extension with Georgia. The Bulldogs will keep Fox through 2015-16 and increase his pay to $1.7 million per year, according to the Associated Press.
8. Amid coaching changes, some players decide it’s time for a fresh start, especially if a new coach has a significantly different system. That looks to be the case at North Carolina State, according to Eamonn Brennan of ESPN.com’s “College Basketball Nation” blog. Freshman point guard Ryan Harrow will leave the Wolfpack to look for a fresh start rather than play for new coach Mark Gottfried.
9. Give coach Bill Self credit. Even though Kansas is losing plenty of firepower this off-season, the Jayhawks will face a brutal schedule next season, with Kentucky and Ohio State definitely on the horizon, according to the Associated Press. Kansas also will be in the Maui Invitational with Duke, UCLA, Georgetown, Memphis, Tennessee and Michigan.
10. And Kansas might find some tougher competition out of Oklahoma in the Big 12 than originally expected. New Sooners coach Lon Kruger has added two Juco players recently to help hasten the rebuilding of the Oklahoma program, according to Sports Illustrated’s “Fan Nation” blog.
11. Louisville coach Rick Pitino has completed a major overhaul of his staff, according to the Associated Press. Pitino added Kevin Keatts as an assistant coach. Keatts arrives at Louisville after coaching Hargrave Military Academy for 10 seasons and winning two national prep championships. Keatts joins Wyking Jones and Pitino’s son Richard on the staff.
12. Quick hits from the NCAA’s attendance report, via ESPN.com’s Eamonn Brennan for the “College Basketball Nation” blog: total number of people attending games is up compared with 2009-10, average per Division I game is down a tad (because of more Division I schools), and average NCAA Tournament attendance is down slightly.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE

The general consensus is that the NCAA is being selfish in its decision to change the rules on players testing the NBA Draft as early entrants. It’s hard to argue with that sentiment, though the NCAA has an opportunity to do right by student-athletes.

The NCAA is responsible for guiding student-athletes through the collegiate educational experience. That’s not my take; it’s theirs. From the NCAA’s website:

The NCAA’s core purpose is to govern competition in a fair, safe, equitable and sportsmanlike manner, and to integrate intercollegiate athletics into higher education so that the educational experience of the student-athlete is paramount.

By shifting the deadline for players to decide whether they will remain in the NBA Draft or return to school to mid-April, the NCAA is robbing student-athletes of a chance to maximize their educational experience. To borrow a Texas Hold ‘Em poker analogy, the NCAA will be forcing players to go all-in or fold before the flop while letting them see only one card.

In recent years, players have been able to figure out the strength of their draft hand — to see that other card — by receiving evaluations from NBA scouts during late April and May. A few years ago, players had until June to decide whether they’d remain in the draft or return to school. NCAA coaches hated that because they didn’t know what their roster would like and how they should adjust their recruiting strategy in the spring.

The first step in this anti-player direction was a change to the players’ decision deadline to early May. That prevents players from receiving much information, but they can at least make an educated decision about the likelihood that a team will pick them in the first round.

To clarify what’s at stake, the NBA only guarantees contracts to first-round picks. If you’re No. 31, you have to compete with every other unrestricted free agent, NBA Developmental League player and international walk-on who wants a shot at an NBA contract. Good luck. Oh, and you can’t go back to your college team. When early entrants remain in the draft, they’re no longer eligible. You don’t hear of too many players who pay to earn a degree without a scholarship from a school if they fall out of the first round and don’t receive a contract.

For NCAA early entrants, the NBA Draft can be a life-altering decision. Because the NCAA will restrict the relevant information that student-athletes can gather by the mid-April deadline, the NCAA has the responsibility to fulfill its core purpose: ensure that the educational experience is paramount. And that experience is paramount to the self-centered interests of coaches who fear they’ll lose their jobs without NBA-caliber players on their roster instead of leftover recruits.

For the NCAA to fulfill that purpose, it needs to create a method for student-athletes to receive NBA evaluations throughout the season. Perhaps the NCAA should form a consortium of current or former NBA scouts who provide monthly ratings or reviews, citing comments from NBA executives. If the NCAA wants to follow the money, it would need to wade into the world of sports agents, who are perhaps most motivated to gauge players’ value and translate that into NBA dollars. An objective sports agent might not exist, but that’s for the NCAA to figure out.

As the rules stand now, the NCAA is failing its student-athletes. A failed system is bound too fall apart as soon as a better alternative presents itself. And that could quickly emerge from the heavily financed underworld of unscrupulous sports agencies and self-employed talent consultants, who might take an even more aggressive stance and try to fill a need in this evaluation process — if the NCAA doesn’t step up to fully educate its players.

Florida State and North Carolina figure to return at least 70 percent of their scoring from this year, and they have tenured ACC coaches at the helm. However, each team has a question mark that could decide whether the Seminoles and Tar Heels become stalwarts of the top 10 or bounce around the Top 25 polls.

For Florida State, the Seminoles are waiting on Chris Singleton to decide whether he’ll return to school or enter the NBA Draft. Like the Seminoles, North Carolina needs to hear from Harrison Barnes before getting too giddy about next season’s prospects. If both players return, the Seminoles would have nearly 85 percent of the team’s scoring back, while the Tar Heels would have an ACC-best 91 percent of the team’s scoring back in action.

In Tallahassee, coach Leonard Hamilton has constructed a defensive juggernaut, and Singleton is one of the most dominating defensive presences in the country. The team’s Achilles heel was an inability to score for long stretches. If this team remains intact and collectively improves its shooting during the off-season, the Seminoles should be competing for a top three seed in the next NCAA Tournament.

For the Tar Heels, Barnes might be the most critical player on a talent-rich squad. John Henson and Tyler Zeller already informed coach Roy Williams that they intend to return to campus for another season. But Barnes is gathering more information about his draft stock, and he figures to be a top five pick. Fears of an NBA lockout could drive Barnes back to Chapel Hill, which would be just fine to North Carolina fans who loved Barnes’ clutch shooting late in games in ACC play.

If Barnes isn’t the team’s most valuable player, it’s probably freshman point guard Kendall Marshall, who blossomed when junior Larry Drew II bolted the team mid-season. Marshall immediately became one of the most impressive facilitators in the country. With Marshall at the helm for a whole season, the Tar Heels have high expectations for a more efficient offense in 2011-12.

Besides Florida State and North Carolina, Miami and Georgia Tech also might return nearly 90 percent of the teams’ scoring from this past season. That will depend on whether the Hurricanes’ Reggie Johnson opts to remain in the NBA Draft. Ditto for Georgia Tech’s Iman Shumpert. For the Yellow Jackets, Shumpert is especially crucial as one of the most valuable players in the ACC. He’s an all-around great player, especially on defense. If Shumpert returns for his senior season, new coach Brian Gregory will have a talented young team with a veteran leader at the helm.

However, Gregory’s ability to lead Georgia Tech to success in his first season will depend on how smoothly the team embraces his style. And there’s no guarantee that every player will be on board for a new coach’s strategy. Miami is in the same boat, except the Hurricanes don’t yet know who their coach will be after Frank Haith left for Missouri. Quite a few fans would love to see the university go after Miami-native Frank Martin, who has led a renaissance at Kansas State. However, he doesn’t appear to be a target of the school’s search right now.

After the ACC received plenty of criticism for having a down season, the conference could have several elite teams once again. Nearly three-quarters of the conference might return at least a third of its scoring. With an influx of talented recruits, ACC teams figure to make strides toward the No. 1 spot among the power conferences after sliding to fourth this season. And stability will be a major factor in realizing that potential.

After a bumpy start to the season, conference teams enter the holiday tournament season needing to win some statement games. And the outlook isn’t great.

In the first week and a half, Wake Forest has dropped two home games, and Georgia Tech got obliterated by Kennesaw State. The Yellow Jackets gave up 80 points to the Owls, who mostly played only five guys. Georgia Tech’s eight-man rotation floundered, shooting only 35 percent while committing 19 turnovers.

In Winston-Salem, the Demon Deacons figure to have a long season ahead in coach Jeff Bzdelik’s first year at the helm. Stetson shot 46.4 percent against Wake Forest and, more revealing, out-rebounded Wake Forest 42-31. ACC teams shouldn’t get outworked in their own building to open the season, unless they’re facing a top 10 opponent. That’s just embarrassing.

But there’s plenty of time to change course. Although the conference ranks fifth in winning percentage of the six power conferences, there’s no shame in Virginia Tech losing at Kansas State or Miami losing at Memphis. Road victories for either team would have been a major upset for the conference.

The early season emergence of the ACC must start tonight, when Maryland plays Pittsburgh in the semifinals of the 2K Sports Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. The Terrapins are one of seven ACC teams playing in tournaments during the next 10 days. However, Maryland is one of the few teams with an opportunity to pick up crucial statement victories.

Against Pittsburgh, Maryland will be decided underdogs, and a strong showing, even in a loss, would give the Terrapins plenty to crow about. If the team can beat Pitt or their next opponent — either Illinois or Texas in the championship or consolation game — the trip to Madison Square Garden would be a success. The worst-case scenario for the ACC and Maryland is a two-game sweep in which the Terrapins don’t look competitive against some of the strongest teams from the Big East, Big Ten and Big 12.

In San Juan, North Carolina is the highest rank team in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. That means the young, unproven Tar Heels are supposed to win the tournament, and anything short of a three-game sweep against a field that includes West Virginia and Minnesota would be a disappointment. We’ll quickly find out how this year’s Tar Heels handle the pressure of lofty expectations after last season’s squad fell apart.

Back on the shores of South Carolina, North Carolina State is one of the favorites in the Charleston Classic. The only way for the Wolfpack to pick up a quality win is to reach the championship game and beat Georgetown. A loss to anyone besides the Hoyas would be detrimental to North Carolina State’s résumé and the ACC’s credibility.

Georgia Tech and Boston College have the best opportunity to grab unexpected quality wins in the Legends Classic in Atlantic City and the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, respectively. Georgia Tech will face either Syracuse or Michigan in the championship or consolation game of the Legends Classic. However, the Yellow Jackets must first get past a tough UTEP team, which is perfectly capable of knocking off a shaky ACC team. The Eagles face a bunch of tough, unranked teams, with the exception of a possible match up with Temple. Boston College needs to represent the ACC well in potential games against Cal, Georgia, Texas A&M, Notre Dame and Wisconsin.

On the West Coast, Virginia Tech finds itself in the same situation that North Carolina does in Puerto Rico: tournament favorite. The Hokies’ toughest opponents in the 76 Classic are Oklahoma State, UNLV, Stanford and Murray State. Unfortunately for Virginia Tech’s résumé, the Hokies won’t garner much more clout by doing anything less than stomping those teams, which won’t be easy, especially 3,000-plus miles away from Blacksburg, Va.

And then there’s Duke. The reigning national champs are No. 1, so they’re supposed to beat anyone, anytime. Despite those ridiculous expectations, the Blue Devils would have a great opportunity to assert themselves as the unquestioned favorites to win this season’s national title if they draw Kansas State and beat the Wildcats in the CBE Classic in Kansas City, Mo. It’s practically a home game for the Wildcats, so a Duke victory would be huge for the ACC’s elite.

Although critics poke the ACC for lacking the quantity of elite teams that the Big East boasts, the ACC has once again proven that its best teams are legitimate title contenders every year. Duke managed to fly under the radar last season as the media fawned over veteran-laden Kansas and John Calipari’s freshmen sensations at Kentucky. But in the end, a ruthlessly balanced team stormed through the post-season and beat Cinderella, aka Butler, in a thrilling championship game. The two will reprise that battle in December when they meet in New Jersey.

This season, Duke will be on everyone’s radar. The Blue Devils return most of their key contributors, with the exception of Jon Scheyer, Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas. Scheyer was one of Duke’s Big Three last season, joining Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler to form the most potent threesome in the ACC. Coach K will look for the rest of the roster to make up for Scheyer’s production. Don’t underestimate the importance of Zoubek, who became a starter midway through last season and dominated the boards at both ends. His presence was a catalyst for Duke’s late-season boost in efficiency.

But if Duke falters, ACC haters will once again jump up and down and shout about how overrated the conference is. There’s not a clear No. 2 team, though Virginia Tech has an excellent chance to emerge as an elite squad. The Hokies return nearly everyone from last season’s team, including all five starters. This veteran squad is poised to make a serious run in the NCAA Tournament, especially if the Hokies figure out how to be more efficient on offense.

In recent years, the ACC has been marked by relative stability, especially among the coaches. That changed dramatically this past off-season with a couple of inexplicable moves. Clemson’s Oliver Purnell left the Tigers for DePaul. The man obviously likes renovation projects. Purnell successfully turned Clemson into a legitimate ACC heavyweight after the Tigers had been a doormat for most of the previous decade. He leaves for one of the Big East’s doormats.

While Purnell chose to leave Clemson, Wake Forest’s Dino Gaudio didn’t get to decide his fate. The school dismissed Gaudio after the Demon Deacons had a disappointing end to the regular season and post-season. A 30-point massacre at the hands of Kentucky in the second round of the NCAA Tournament left a bad taste in the mouths of Wake Forest’s power brokers, who lost confidence in Gaudio. No one doubted his recruiting prowess – and new Demon Deacons coach Jeff Bzdelik can thank Gaudio for another strong class – but the highly-ranked recruits rarely led to highly-ranked teams at the end of the season.

Like Gaudio, Boston College’s Al Skinner was shown the door for a mildly questionable reason. Skinner, a well-respected coach, was Gaudio’s opposite. He rarely brought top recruits to Chestnut Hill, but he coached his guys to play tough, efficient basketball and often sneaked into the top half of the ACC standings. But Skinner’s teams were never flashy, and pro sports-obsessed Boston fans didn’t pay the Eagles too much attention – or pay for many tickets.

Boston College executives want more fans in the stands, so they removed Skinner in favor of Cornell’s Steve Donahue. The Big Red’s main man led Cornell to startling success in the Ivy League, which had been dominated by Penn and Princeton for seemingly the entire existence of the league. Donahue’s teams launched bombs from three-point territory all day and night, and the team’s offensive efficiency led to upsets of Temple and Wisconsin in last season’s NCAA Tournament. Chicks dig the long ball, and Eagles execs hope Donahue’s style will fill Conte Forum.

Without further ado, here’s a rundown of preseason awards. After that, we dive head first into the team-by-team previews.

2010-11 ACC AWARDS

Coach of the Year: Seth Greenberg, Virginia Tech

Coach on the Hot Seat: Sidney Lowe, North Carolina State

Player of the Year: Kyle Singler, Duke

First-Team All-ACC:

Kyle Singler, Duke

Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech

Jordan Williams, Maryland

Jeff Allen, Virginia Tech

John Henson, North Carolina

Second-Team All-ACC:

Tracy Smith, North Carolina State

Chris Singleton, Florida State

Seth Curry, Duke

C.J. Leslie, North Carolina State

Joe Trapani, Boston College

Third-Team All-ACC:

Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

Dorenzo Hudson, Virginia Tech

Larry Drew II, North Carolina

Durand Scott, Miami

Iman Shumpert, Georgia Tech

Best NBA Prospect: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

Newcomer of the Year: Seth Curry, Duke

Rookie of the Year: C.J. Leslie, North Carolina State

All-Rookie Team:

C.J. Leslie, North Carolina State

Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

Kyrie Irving, Duke

Ryan Harrow, North Carolina State

Reggie Bullock, North Carolina

Defense Player of the Year: Chris Singleton, Florida State

All-Defensive Team:

Chris Singleton, Florida State

Jeff Allen, Virginia Tech

Kyle Singler, Duke

Iman Shumpert, Georgia Tech

John Henson, North Carolina

Projected Finish:

1. Duke

2. Virginia Tech

3. Florida State

4. North Carolina

5. Clemson

6. North Carolina State

7. Maryland

8. Virginia

9. Georgia Tech

10. Miami

11. Boston College

12. Wake Forest

Duke Blue Devils (35-5, 13-3)

Glad to Have You Back:

The Cameron Crazies are first and foremost thrilled to have the national title back in Durham. For the fourth time in coach Mike Krzyzewski’s career, the Blue Devils enter the season trying to defend that title. Since they accomplished that feat in 1992, only Florida has managed to win back-to-back titles. This season, the Blue Devils have a legitimate shot at doing it again.

The Blue Devils return two-thirds of last season’s three-headed monster: Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith. In addition to those two, who each averaged more than 17 points per game last season, the Blue Devils return a trio of talented frontcourt weapons: the Plumlee brothers (Miles and Mason) and Ryan Kelly. They also have good depth in the backcourt with Andre Dawkins at point guard.

We’ll Miss You:

Despite the promising returning cast, Krzyzewski will need to find a way to win without Jon Scheyer, who engineered last season’s fantastic run as the team’s makeshift point guard. Although Scheyer had mostly played shooting guard during his first three seasons, Coach K asked him to run the offense last season. He responded by averaging 18.2 points and 4.9 assists per game.

Besides Scheyer, Duke loses some frontcourt beef in Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas. Zoubek saved his best action for the final two months of his collegiate career. After Krzyzewski inserted Zoubek into the starting lineup, Duke’s offense flourished. With more self-control, the former foul machine averaged 5.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game – in only 18.7 minutes per game. Thomas was far less proficient at grabbing rebounds and taking up space, but his effort at both ends made him valuable.

Duke also will be without the services of sparingly used big man Olek Czyz, who transferred to Nevada.

Welcome to the Program:

Entering last season, most observers – including me – figured that Duke would be strong and potentially an under-the-radar title contender. However, even the most optimistic Duke sympathizer figured that the lack of experienced backcourt depth would haunt the Blue Devils at some point. The team’s best title chances seemed to be in 2010-11 when point guard Kyrie Irving and sharpshooter Seth Curry arrived.

Well, Irving and Curry are ready to suit up for this Blue Devils squad, which already have one title under its belt. Irving is a candidate for ACC rookie of the year and will compete with Curry, a transfer from Liberty and brother of legendary Davidson guard Stephen, for the top newcomer in the ACC. Combined, Irving and Curry should more than make up for the loss in production from Scheyer’s graduation.

Joshua Hairston, a four-star power forward out of Spotsylvania, Va., and Tyler Thornton, a likely reserve point guard from Washington, D.C, join Irving in one of the top recruiting classes in the ACC.

Who They Play:

As usual, Coach K has the Blue Devils set to play several tough opponents during the non-conference slate, highlighted by a rematch of the national championship game against Butler in early December in New Jersey. Duke also gets Marquette, Michigan State, Oregon and either Gonzaga or Kansas State – with only the Spartans coming to Cameron Indoor Stadium.

In the ACC, the Blue Devils’ two-game match ups aren’t ridiculously daunting: Maryland, Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Virginia. Duke will face Florida State, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest on the road without a return home game.

Keep Up the Good Work:

When you win a national championship, you’re obviously doing a lot right already. The Blue Devils need to remain balanced this season by playing a ruthlessly efficient offense and shutdown defense. In recent years, Duke has had one of the stingiest perimeter defenses in the country, which prevents teams that love the three-point shot from getting hot and stealing games. If Duke’s relatively young backcourt players can continue that tradition, this team should be as good on defense as last year’s team was.

Room for Improvement:

As we just mentioned, it’s hard to improve on being the best. Duke’s young guards will need to mature quickly or face the wrath of Krzyzewski and veterans like Singler and Smith.

Don’t Be Surprised:

Duke could win it all again. Most people assume that no one will repeat as national champions with the NBA Draft beckoning the best athletes. However, Smith and Singler hung around for one more season, and they have perhaps even more raw talent around them this season than they did last season.

Outlook:

The Blue Devils should be just as good as they were last season. The only question is whether any other team in the ACC – or the rest of the country – can step up to seriously threaten Duke’s drive to back-to-back titles. Coach K makes winning ACC titles and earning No. 1 seeds a seemingly unspectacular feat. This season should be no different as the Blue Devils figure to be spectacular in nearly every phase of the game en route to a conference title and maybe another national title.

Virginia Tech Hokies (25-9, 10-6)

Glad to Have You Back:

Quite simply – everyone is back. Virginia Tech returns its starting lineup and every player who logged at least eight minutes per game last season. The most critical players are in the Hokies’ outstanding backcourt: seniors Malcolm Delaney and Dorenzo Hudson. The pair form one of the best guard combinations in the entire country and easily the most experienced in the ACC. Together, they averaged 35.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game last season.

We’ll Miss You:

Lewis Witcher is the only contributor the Hokies will miss this season. The senior graduated in May after scoring a total of 24 points in 237 minutes last season.

Welcome to the Program:

With five seniors in the starting lineup and plenty of experience on the bench, Virginia Tech didn’t need to add many players. But coach Seth Greenberg still nabbed a couple of players who could become important contributors. Freshman Jarrell Eddie is an athletic wing player who can play on the perimeter or in the post, and former Florida Gator Allan Chaney adds some serious muscle in the post at 235 pounds.

Who They Play:

Virginia Tech should be the favorite in the 76 Classic in Anaheim, Calif. The Hokies’ top competition out west will include Oklahoma State, Stanford and UNLV. In addition to that tournament, Virginia Tech will face a huge road game at Kansas State in the team’s second game of the season. The schedule-makers clearly consider Virginia Tech to be an ACC heavyweight because the Hokies draw Final Four-contender Purdue in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Virginia Tech gets a pretty favorable draw in the conference with two games against Boston College, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Virginia and Wake Forest. All of those teams have question marks to answer entering the season, which might make Virginia Tech the favorite at home and on the road against all five. The Hokies get road trips to Clemson, North Carolina and North Carolina State without the luxury of hosting those teams in Blacksburg. A home date in late February against Duke could be the game of the year in the ACC.

Keep Up the Good Work:

As usual, Greenberg’s teams played excellent defense last season, especially at home. Jeff Allen and Delaney are two of the best defenders in the ACC, and they will continue to make intense pressure their hallmark.

Room for Improvement:

The Hokies need to win the big games this season. At 23-8 after the ACC Tournament, Virginia Tech was one of the best teams that missed the NCAA Tournament. However, the Hokies simply lacked enough marquee victories. This season, the Hokies have the potential to make a deep NCAA Tournament run, but they must first prove their worth by winning big games against the likes of Purdue, Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Duke.

Don’t Be Surprised:

By the season’s end, Delaney could be an All-American. The senior guard is one of the best players in the ACC, and that usually means he should be on the national radar as one of the best player in the nation. And it wouldn’t surprise me if three or four Hokie starters end up on the first or second All-ACC teams.

Outlook:

Virginia Tech is poised to return to the NCAA Tournament and make some noise. This team struggled on offense at times last season. But if they can gel on that side of the ball, the Hokies’ defense will carry them to at least a No. 2 finish in the ACC and a likely top four seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Florida State Seminoles (22-10, 10-6)

Glad to Have You Back:

Florida State returns a trio of players who could become stars this season: Chris Singleton, Michael Snaer and Derwin Kitchen. Singleton is an explosive athlete who is the team’s leading returning scorer and rebounder. Snaer struggled at times during his rookie campaign, but he has the tools needed to become a dominant wing player for the Seminoles. And Kitchen should be the engine that drives the offense. He had a respectable 1.8-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio last season.

We’ll Miss You:

The No. 1 defensive team in the ACC and one of the top defensive teams in the country will miss its centerpiece: Solomon Alabi. The sophomore 7-footer took his game to the NBA after swatting 75 shots last season and adding 11.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. The Seminoles also need to replace junior Jordan DeMercy, who transferred to Georgia State, and senior Ryan Reid, a veteran leader who contributed 6.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.

Welcome to the Program:

As usual, coach Leonard Hamilton has a solid recruiting class coming to campus. Point guard Ian Miller figures to be a critical piece of the puzzle for the Seminoles because he can lead the offense and create scoring opportunities for himself. Okaro White is a wiry, uber-athletic forward. And the Seminoles will finally get 7-footer Jon Kreft to suit up in Tallahassee. The center was scheduled to arrive in 2007, but academic eligibility issues forced him into the junior college circuit for a couple of seasons.

Who They Play:

For several years in a row, Florida State was a perennial bubble team, and critics often pointed to the Seminoles’ weak non-conference schedule. Once again, Florida State has only a handful of opportunities to notch marquee wins outside conference play. The Seminoles’ best shots come against Florida and Ohio State – both in Tallahassee – and a potential second-round game against Butler in the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii.

In the ACC, Florida State gets two games against Clemson, Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Wake Forest. The Seminoles’ lone games against Georgia Tech, Maryland and Virginia Tech will be on the road.

Keep Up the Good Work:

The Seminoles squashed opponents’ offenses last season, ending the year as the top-ranked team in defense efficiency, according to Ken Pomeroy’s efficiency statistics. Even without Alabi, this team figures to remain a great defensive squad.

Room for Improvement:

Conversely, Florida State was borderline awful on offense at times last season. The Seminoles were often victimized by long scoring droughts. The veteran squad, led by Singleton, Snaer and Kitchen, need to achieve a balance of offensive discipline and pure athleticism. If they do, this team should be even better.

Don’t Be Surprised:

Chris Singleton could become a fixture of SportsCenter highlights reels this season. With Alabi gone, he will likely be the No. 1 option on offense, and his athletic talent will guarantee at least one or two jaw-dropping plays per game.

Outlook:

The Seminoles are starting to expect success on the hardwood these days. This season should deliver another NCAA Tournament trip if the offense can become a little more consistent. The defense will remain stout, which will keep the Seminoles competitive against almost any opponent.

North Carolina Tar Heels (20-17, 5-11)

Glad to Have You Back:

The Tar Heels look to flip the script on last season’s squad. Without a proven backcourt, North Carolina relied on its big men much of last season. However, this season, the guards figure to carry the team. Larry Drew II, Dexter Strickland and Leslie Strickland are three of the top six returning scorers. A couple of other newcomers will add to North Carolina’s strength, which could help the Tar Heels forget a turbulent 2009-10 season.

We’ll Miss You:

The Tar Heels must find a new frontcourt rotation after Deon Thompson graduated, Ed Davis went to the NBA, and Travis and David Wear transferred to UCLA. North Carolina also must replace the veteran leadership of Marcus Ginyard, who offered more as a defensive specialist and senior leader than his stat line suggests, and Will Graves, who was dismissed from the team. In sum, that’s about two-thirds of the team’s scoring, and North Carolina wasn’t exactly its usual offensive juggernaut last season.

Welcome to the Program:

The Tar Heels import one of the best recruiting classes in the country, including uber-athletic swingman Harrison Barnes, whom many experts consider to be the top recruit in the country. Kendall Marshall is likely the point guard of the future for North Carolina, and Reggie Bullock will join the rotation at shooting guard.

Although he’s not a freshman, transfer Justin Knox, a graduated senior from Alabama, could be one of the biggest additions. Physically, he is the biggest at 6-9 and 240 pounds. He will pair with Tyler Zeller in the frontcourt.

Who They Play:

As always, North Carolina plays a tough schedule that includes powerhouses such as Kentucky and Texas. The Tar Heels also draw Illinois and William & Mary, and they could play West Virginia, Vanderbilt or Minnesota in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

North Carolina will play two games apiece in conference action against Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State and North Carolina State. North Carolina’s lone games against Georgia Tech, Miami and Virginia are on the road.

Keep Up the Good Work:

North Carolina’s height last season made the Tar Heels one of the top rebounding teams in the country. It’s hard to imagine that happening again this season without Davis and Thompson, and Graves was a great rebounding wing player, but John Henson has beefed up to compete for more rebounds in the post. His gigantic wingspan and Vince Carter-esque athleticism should propel him from 4.4 rebounds per game to closer to eight.

Room for Improvement:

The offense was disjointed last season, often because the team lacked cohesion. Coach Roy Williams must find a rotation and stick with it. The roster befits a classic Williams-coached fast-tempo squad. If Williams can find roles for all his talented players and convince them to play within that role, this team should return to the upper half of the ACC.

Don’t Be Surprised:

The newcomers could become the biggest names on this team. NBA scouts are drooling over Barnes. But Knox might be the type of grinder who posts good but not spectacular stats like 10 points and six rebounds every night. More importantly, he can handle opponents’ beefiest big men. With Barnes’ flash and Knox’s fight, the new Heels could return North Carolina to its old dominant form.

Outlook:

After more than a half decade of consistency, North Carolina suffered through a rebuilding year last season. The roster for this season figures to be a better match for the Tar Heels’ style, and a strong recruiting class should make North Carolina a dominant team once again. The Tar Heels aren’t in Duke’s class, but they will compete in the second tier and return to the NCAA Tournament.

Clemson Tigers (21-11, 9-7)

Glad to Have You Back:

After the surprising departure of Oliver Purnell for DePaul, Clemson transitions to a new era under Brad Brownell. The new coach will benefit from a roster filled with talent. Seniors Demontez Stitt and Jerai Grant will be the veteran leaders on a team that includes skilled wingmen like Tanner Smith and Milton Jennings and a blazingly fast guard in Andre Young. In sum, the team returns nearly 70 percent of its scoring from last season’s NCAA Tournament squad.

We’ll Miss You:

In recent years, Purnell transformed Clemson from a regular cellar dweller to a regular contender in the ACC. Fans will miss his up-tempo, pressure defense that generated memorable upsets against the likes of Duke – a couple of times.

On the court, the Tigers will miss their leader from the past few years: Trevor Booker. The senior graduated as one of the program’s most dominating players, and he had a great stat line in his final season with 15.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. The Tigers also will enter the season without David Potter, a key member of the frontcourt rotation who graduated in May.

Welcome to the Program:

Brownell will introduce a drastically different style based on lengthy possessions and tight defense. The former Wright State and UNC-Wilmington coach will likely decelerate the Tigers into one of the slowest-paced teams in the ACC.

As a new coach, Brownell’s lone new arrival is Cory Stanton, a point guard from Springfield, Tenn., who will be third on the depth chart behind Demontez Stitt and Andre Young.

Who They Play:

In his first season with the Tigers, Brownell has scheduled a soft non-conference slate, with the highlights coming against Michigan and South Carolina. Clemson could possibly face Xavier in the Paradise Jam, which would be a critical marquee win for the Tigers.

In conference action, the Tigers draw two games with Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina and North Carolina State. They also get Duke, Maryland and Virginia on the road without a return game.

Keep Up the Good Work:

Clemson’s defense last season was often spectacular, as Purnell’s pressure defense forced a ridiculous number of turnovers. Brownell won’t employ such pressure, but these Tigers know how to attack on defense. If they maintain that intensity in a new system, they should remain in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament bid.

Room for Improvement:

Live by the sword, die by the sword – an apt cliché for the Tigers last season. Although they were adept at forcing turnovers, the Tigers too often gave the ball right back with turnovers of their own. Clemson finished the season with 27 more turnovers than assists, a number that must change in the new world order.

Don’t Be Surprised:

Look for Clemson to embrace Brownell’s slower pace on the court. The Tigers must find a way to move on from the Trevor Booker era, and a methodical offense could lead to greater efficiency. This team will score fewer points because they won’t be hustling up and down the court. But Clemson might post even more wins this season if the Tigers play smart, efficient ball at both ends of the court.

Outlook:

The Purnell administration left plenty of talent for Brownell to work with, and the outlook is promising. Although the Tigers will likely go through some growing pains as they adjust to a new system, an easy non-conference schedule should ease those frustrations. By ACC action, Clemson should be ready to roll toward the top of the standings.

North Carolina State Wolfpack (20-16, 5-11)

Glad to Have You Back:

After testing his NBA value, senior Tracy Smith decided to return to Raleigh for one final season with the Wolfpack. He will anchor North Carolina State’s offense after leading the team with 16.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season. Smith has the potential to be one of the most dominant big men in the ACC this season, and he has a better supporting cast around him this season, which should lead to more open looks.

We’ll Miss You:

The Woflpack will miss forward Dennis Horner, who graduated after last season. He was a fan favorite because of his energy. Horner always gave 100 percent of his effort despite often being athletically overmatched.

The Wolfpack lose one other starter, Farnold Degand, who also graduated. Degand averaged 2.5 assists per game as one of coach Sidney Lowe’s two point guards. However, neither Degand nor Javier Gonzalez could keep the offense flowing smoothly. North Carolina State ranked near the bottom of the ACC in offensive efficiency in three of Degand’s four seasons.

Welcome to the Program:

There’s plenty of hope – and high expectations – in Raleigh this season as Lowe brings in a great recruiting class. C.J. Leslie, Ryan Harrow and Lorenzo Brown will all play extensively as freshmen and need to contribute to help elevate the Wolfpack into the top half of the ACC standings. Leslie is an athletic forward who has the skills to score in multiple ways, making him a prime candidate to earn Rookie of the Year honors. Harrow and Brown give Lowe more explosive options at point guard than the Wolfpack have had in many years.

Who They Play:

North Carolina State will try to bring home the ACC’s third Charleston Classic title in the tournament’s three seasons when the Wolfpack take the court in November. The Wolfpack open the tournament against East Carolina and could face the likes of George Mason, Charlotte and Georgetown. Anything less than a trip to the tournament’s title game would be disappointing, and an early season victory against Georgetown would be a huge confidence builder. The Wolfpack have plenty of opportunities to pick up good wins with games against Wisconsin, Syracuse and Arizona, with the first two coming on the road.

The Wolfpack get two games against Clemson, Duke, Florida State, North Carolina and Wake Forest in ACC action, with road games without a return game against Boston College, Maryland and Virginia.

Keep Up the Good Work:

North Carolina State was good at defending the perimeter last season as most teams had to score within the arc against the Wolfpack. With more experience and size in the post this season, that will be harder to do. So if North Carolina State can maintain the stout outside defense, this team’s already-good defense will become even better.

Room for Improvement:

The perimeter will also be important on offense for the Wolfpack. The team shot only 33.3 percent from three-point range last season, which made it easier for opponents to double-team Smith. With the addition of Leslie and some better three-point shooting, North Carolina State should be able to free Smith for more open looks near the basket. If teams continue to center on Smith, the rest of the players must make them pay.

Don’t Be Surprised:

With Smith manning the post, Leslie should get plenty of opportunities to operate one-on-one. He’ll also get plenty of playing time. That’s a recipe for success for such a talented player, and don’t be surprised if the Rookie of the Year award comes to Raleigh this season.

Outlook:

Sidney Lowe’s job might be the least secure of any ACC coach. Team observers, especially in Raleigh, will be evaluating the Wolfpack nearly on a game-by-game basis. Look for Lowe and the Wolfpack to ignore that noise and deliver the team’s best season in several years. North Carolina State has a realistic chance to earn an NCAA Tournament bid, especially with the expanded field.

Maryland Terrapins (24-9, 13-3)

Glad to Have You Back:

Coach Gary Williams enjoyed Maryland’s resurgence last season as, for the first time in several years, no one whispered about whether his job was on the line. Entering this season, Maryland will look to follow up on last season’s share of the ACC regular-season title with a new trio of senior leaders: Adrian Bowie, Dino Gregory and Cliff Tucker. The seniors will likely step into starting positions and surround the cornerstone of Maryland’s offense: Jordan Williams. The sophomore big man promises to be a candidate for ACC player of the year after averaging 9.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game last season.

We’ll Miss You:

Greivis is gone. The ACC’s most fiery player, Greivis Vasquez, has graduated from Maryland and taken his 19.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game to the NBA. But Maryland needs to replace more than their top scorer and emotional leader; the Terrapins also need to replace their No. 2 and 3 scoring options: Landon Milbourne and Eric Hayes. Collectively, the trio accounted for 55 percent of the team’s scoring.

Welcome to the Program:

Maryland has a large, five-player recruiting class arriving at College Park. Most of the class received solid but not outstanding reviews. Swingman Mychal Parker is the most heralded of the bunch. Gary Williams is usually reluctant to rely on freshmen, but he will probably need to tap the youth movement to help replace the production of Vasquez, Hayes and Milbourne.

Who They Play:

Maryland plays a bunch of soft opponents around potentially tough match ups from Pennsylvania schools: Villanova, Temple and Penn State. The Terrapins also play in the 2K Sports Classic and will get Pittsburgh for sure and either Illinois or Texas in the second game of the national rounds of the tournament. The team should be on high upset alert against the College of Charleston in the regional round of the 2K Sports Classic.

Keep Up the Good Work:

Although Maryland’s offense appeared unstoppable at times last season, the team’s defense fueled many of the Terrapins’ back-breaking runs. Without Vasquez and Hayes on offense, the Terrapins need to continue to play great defense to stay close until they can identify reliable scoring options.

Room for Improvement:

If you take out the long-range production of Vasquez, Milbourne and Hayes, the rest of the Terrapins made only 49 three-pointers. To prevent teams from constantly double-teaming Jordan Williams, Sean Mosely, Bowie and Tucker need to improve their shooting touch from behind the arc.

Don’t Be Surprised:

The Terrapins will frequently struggle on offense. It’s unclear whom Gary Williams will count on to run the offense and whether that guy can get the job done effectively. Jordan Williams is a stud in the post, but he needs someone to keep the offense flowing so he can get clean looks. Those good opportunities might be few and far between this season.

Outlook:

With the second-best home-court advantage in the ACC, Maryland will always be tough at home. However, long offensive droughts could turn the always-energetic crowed against the guys in white jerseys at times this season. Maryland will be going through a transition this year, and Bowie and Tucker will need to make significant leaps forward to keep Maryland near the top of the ACC standings. More likely, this team falls back to the middle of the pack.

Virginia Cavaliers (15-16, 5-11)

Glad to Have You Back:

Coach Tony Bennett Jr. enters his second year as the Cavaliers’ head man, and he is starting to shape this team. Seniors Mike Scott and Mustapha Farrakhan will likely be in charge of leading a young team this season. Scott, an athletic forward, is the leading returning scorer, after he averaged 12.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last season. Junior Sammy Zeglinski is a tough-as-nails guard who also will likely need to step up to keep Virginia competitive this season.

We’ll Miss You:

The Cavaliers enter this season without a clear go-to scorer after sophomore stud Sylven Landesberg left the team in early March. He failed to meet academic standards and, by most accounts, was more interested in his NBA potential at that point in the season. The team’s leading scorer from last season is now playing for Maccabi Haifa in Israel.

Besides Landesberg and his 17.3 points per game, the Cavaliers will also miss Calvin Baker, Jerome Meyinsse and Soloman Tat, who all graduated. Tristan Spurlock transferred to Certral Florida, and Jeff Jones left the program for Rider. In sum, Virginia must replace about 60 percent of its scoring – and the team wasn’t exactly prolific last season.

Welcome to the Program:

Bennett’s first recruiting class in Charlottesville is huge – seven fresh faces will be making their debut at Virginia this season. Shooting guard K.T. Harrell, from Montgomery, Ala., is the biggest catch in this class, and he leads a balanced group that includes four guards and three forwards. Not surprisingly, Bennett continues to strongly recruit his former Pac-10 territory – he arrived in Charlottesville via Washington State – with two newcomers hailing from California and Washington.

Who They Play:

Give Bennett credit for scheduling one of the toughest non-conference slates of any ACC team. Despite significant roster changes, the Cavaliers face William & Mary, Stanford, Washington, either Kentucky or Oklahoma, Minnesota, Oregon and Iowa State all before New Year’s. If Virginia emerges with only three or four losses, the Cavaliers will be in great shape heading into conference play.

In the ACC, the Cavaliers draw two games against Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland and Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers will hit the road to play Florida State, Miami and Wake Forest without seeing those three back in Charlottesville.

Keep Up the Good Work:

As Bennett-coached teams tend to do, the Cavaliers played a slow-paced, ball control game last season. Virginia committed only 10.7 turnovers per game last season. Landesberg accounted for about 25 percent of those turnovers, so Virginia might be even stingier with the ball this season. However, Bennett will need to hope that his freshmen buy in to the system from Day One or else this team could regress.

Room for Improvement:

Despite the lack of turnovers, the Cavaliers’ inability to shoot dropped them to No. 10 in the conference in offensive efficiency, as measured by Ken Pomeroy’s statistics. A ball control offense requires players to shoot a high percentage or grab lots of offensive rebounds, and the Cavaliers did neither last season.

Don’t Be Surprised:

With a larger percentage of the roster on board for Bennett’s style of play this season, the Cavaliers might be surprisingly tough despite their youth. The team has a solid nucleus of veterans in Scott, Zeglinski and Farrakhan, and they must lead this offense to help the Cavaliers build on a respectable 5-11 conference record.

Outlook:

The Cavaliers have a legitimate chance to win six or seven games in the ACC. If they make it through a fairly tough non-conference schedule with only a handful of losses, the Cavaliers might remain relevant in the NCAA Tournament bubble conversation longer than many might expect. However, in the end, Virginia is probably headed to the NIT this season, which would provide great experience for a very young team.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (23-13, 7-9)

Glad to Have You Back:

The Yellow Jackets will shift from a frontcourt-dominant team to a guard-heavy lineup. And junior point guard Iman Shumpert will be the center of attention. Shumpert is the team’s leading returning scorer at 10.0 points per game, and he’s also the catalyst for an offense that needs to improve. For Georgia Tech to return to the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive trip, Shumpert must help Georgia Tech avoid scoring droughts. To do so, he needs to cut down on turnovers after averaging 4.0 assists and 3.1 turnovers per game last season. As a team, the Yellow Jackets gave away the ball more than 16 times per game.

We’ll Miss You:

With the departure of Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors, the Yellow Jackets can’t afford to be sloppy. Georgia Tech’s twin towers have moved on to the NBA, taking with them a combined 25.5 points and 16.9 rebounds per game. The duo blocked 123 shots last season, making the Yellow Jackets one of the toughest defensive squads in the conference last season. Georgia Tech doesn’t have a single returning player taller than 6-6, so frontcourt defense will be a huge liability this season.

Welcome to the Program:

The good news for coach Paul Hewitt and the Yellow Jackets is that the team is reloading in the frontcourt while leaning on veterans in the backcourt. A trio of freshmen big men will likely see significant playing time: Nate Hicks, Kammeon Holsey and Daniel Miller. Hosley and Miller were nationally ranked recruits entering the 2009-10 season who sat out on redshirt scholarships.

Although he’s not eligible this season, Georgia Tech can look forward to getting the services of Brandon Reed in 2011-12, a transfer from Arkansas State who won the Sun Belt Conference’s Freshman of the Year award after averaging 15.1 points per game.

Who They Play:

The Yellow Jackets play a fairly tough non-conference schedule even if they don’t have a guaranteed match up against an elite team. Georgia Tech will hit the boardwalk in November to play in the Legends Classic in Atlantic City, N.J., where the Yellow Jackets will play UTEP in the opener and either Michigan or Syracuse in the second game. Georgia Tech also gets Niagara, Richmond, Siena, Georgia and Charlotte – a bunch of strong but not spectacular opponents.

In the ACC, Georgia Tech gets two games against Clemson, Miami, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest, plus single games on the road against Boston College, Duke and North Carolina State.

Keep Up the Good Work:

Ideally, the Yellow Jackets will continue to be defensive stalwarts, ranking among the top teams in Division I in defensive efficiency. However, without the likes of Lawal, Favors and graduated senior D’Andre Bell, Georgia Tech’s defense will likely have occasional lapses.

Room for Improvement:

This team must shoot better. The three leading returning scorers – Shumpert, Brian Oliver and Mfon Udofia – shot 38.5, 39.4 and 36.8 percent from the field, respectively. That’s a recipe for disaster for a team that must rely on its guards, who often will be guarded by taller opponents.

Don’t Be Surprised:

Freshman Daniel Miller has a legitimate shot at becoming a major factor. He studied under Lawal and Favors last season as a redshirt scholarship player. He should know Hewitt’s system, and with little other experienced big men, he’ll be able to compete for significant minutes early in the season.

Outlook:

Georgia Tech’s defense covered up some major weaknesses on offense last season. With the key members of that defense gone, the Yellow Jackets will likely struggle this season, especially during the rugged conference slate. Yellow Jacket fans must hope that Georgia Tech’s guards have spent hours in the gym this off-season working on their shot from everywhere on the court. Georgia Tech’s strength must be its experienced backcourt, and Shumpert, Lance Storrs and Maurice Miller must set the pace for the younger guards, such as Oliver, Udofia and Glen Rice Jr.

Miami Hurricanes (20-13, 4-12)

Glad to Have You Back:

In past years, the backcourt has been Miami’s strength. This season will continue that tradition with Malcolm Grant and Durand Scott. Swingman Adrian Thomas will add to that pair to give the Hurricanes a solid three-point shooting threat. Scott and Grant can run the offense and averaged more than three assists per game last season. Meanwhile, Grant and Thomas can stretch opposing defenses as they shot better than 41 percent from behind the arc.

We’ll Miss You:

The Hurricanes had one of the most underrated players in the ACC last season in senior forward Dwayne Collins. He averaged 12.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting better than 60 percent from the field. Although Miami prefers a guard-oriented lineup, the Hurricanes need Reggie Johnson and Julian Gamble to hold their own in the post.

Miami will also miss its second-leading scorer, James Dews, who graduated after averaging 11.5 points per game last season. Although Dews was capable of scoring in bunches, he struggled with consistency.

Welcome to the Program:

The Hurricanes don’t have one of the strongest recruiting classes in the ACC, but they do have a couple of potentially key players. Donnavan Kirk returns from an injury-shortened freshman season with four years of remaining eligibility. He will probably factor into coach Frank Haith’s frontcourt rotation. In addition, new arrival shooting guard Rion Brown will be another long-range threat for the Hurricanes.

Who They Play:

Miami does not have too many opportunities to collect big wins during the non-conference slate, so games against Memphis, Mississippi and West Virginia will be huge. In the ACC, the Hurricanes will get two games against Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State and Georgia Tech.

Keep Up the Good Work:

Miami was surprisingly efficient on offense last season, averaging a respectable 72 points per game. Collins’ 60 percent shooting significantly contributed to that efficiency, so Miami will need to be sure that his replacements continue to take good shots and work for post position as the guards stretch the court.

Room for Improvement:

To make that happen, Grant and Thomas need to be selective with their shots. Those perimeter players shot better from three-point range than they did inside the arc. If they can elevate their mid-range game or get to the rim more often, the Hurricanes’ offense could become very difficult for opponents to stop.

Don’t Be Surprised:

Reggie Johnson is poised to have a huge season. The center is a 6-10 300-pounder, which is a load for any team to defend. Johnson flashed moments of brilliance last season in averaging 6.4 points and 4.6 rebounds in only 13.6 minutes per game. He must cut down on the fouls – he also had 2.2 fouls per game in those limited minutes – to maximize his potential.

Outlook:

Miami won’t be an easy win for anyone in the ACC. The talented backcourt and beef in the post present defensive match up problems. However, the lack of a consistent go-to scorer will hurt the Hurricanes, especially in crunch time. The Hurricanes likely will finish in the bottom third but will be a dangerous team in the ACC Tournament and could make a surprising push for an automatic bid.

Boston College Eagles (15-16, 6-10)

Glad to Have You Back:

Donahue arrives at Chestnut Hill with some talented players who can help make his first season with the Eagles at least competitive. Forward Joe Trapani is the team’s senior leader, and he was tops on the team in scoring and rebounding last season. Three other returning starters will join Trapani: Reggie Jackson, Corey Raji and Biko Paris.

We’ll Miss You:

After Skinner’s departure, Evan Ravenel and Rakim Sanders opted to transfer rather than stick it out under Donahue. Ravenel, primarily a reserve forward, left for Ohio State, while Sanders, a regular starter, chose to follow former Boston College assistant Ed Cooley to Fairfield. Sanders averaged 11.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game last season. However, he frequently struggled with his shot.

The lone graduating senior from last year’s squad was Tyler Roche, who was an active albeit unspectacular member of the frontcourt rotation.

Welcome to the Program:

Donahue’s arrival in April cost Boston College a couple of Skinner’s recruits. However, the new coach imported Danny Rubin, a decent three-point shooter from Chevy Chase, Md., and Gabriel Moton, an energetic point guard who averaged 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game last season in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Who They Play:

Boston College’s best non-conference match ups will likely come in the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla., during the Thanksgiving break. The Eagles draw Texas A&M in the first round of the eight-team tournament and could also face Wisconsin, Temple, Notre Dame, California or Georgia. Besides that tournament, the Eagles face several familiar New England foes: Providence, Rhode Island, Harvard and Massachusetts. The Eagles play only two true road games during non-conference action.

In conference play, the Eagles face a few tough teams twice: Maryland, Miami, North Carolina, Virginia and Virginia Tech. And the team’s lone match ups against Clemson, Duke and Florida State are all on the road.

Keep Up the Good Work:

Like several other ACC teams, Boston College worked hard last season to extend possessions. The Eagles were one of the most proficient teams in the country at collecting offensive rebounds, and Raji was usually in the thick of everything. He led the team with 90 offensive rebounds, which is 12 more rebounds than he grabbed at the defensive end. Jackson and Trapani were no slouches either; each grabbed more than 50 offensive rebounds last season.

Room for Improvement:

Guess which team was No. 3 in the country last season in effective field goal percentage, based on Ken Pomeroy’s efficiency metrics? No, not Boston College. Cornell. Under Donahue, the Big Red were ruthless marksmen, shooting nearly 43 percent from long range. They weren’t too shabby overall either, shooting better than 48 percent from the field and 73 percent from the free throw line.

On the other hand, the Eagles were far less proficient on offense, shooting 44.7 percent from the field and only 32.6 percent from three-point range. That’s more than 10 percentage points worse than Cornell. If Donahue hopes to enact a similar offensive strategy, this team could deliver some ugly results. However, Donahue will likely mold his approach to the team’s strengths, which is Raji’s ability to get to the basket and Trapani and Jackson’s skills at working inside out to stretch the court with well-timed three-point attempts.

Don’t Be Surprised:

Although the Eagles will likely be overmatched in many ACC games, don’t bet against the Eagles winning two out of three home games against North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Maryland in early February. As the Eagles adjust to Donahue’s system, the seniors will settle in and lead this team into some hard-fought ACC battles. One of the reasons for Skinner’s ouster was a perceived – and observed – lack of home court support. Donahue would be well advised to take that to heart and make sure the Eagles find a way to protect their nest by late in the season.

Outlook:

With Donahue leading the flock, the Eagles have a bright future. Cornell was one of the darlings of the NCAA Tournament as Donahue’s sharpshooters captivated the upset-minded imaginations of fans throughout the Northeast and across the country. After Donahue brings in some of his recruits, Boston College should be able to build a larger-scale version of the Big Red.

But for this season, the growing pains will likely result in double-digit losses in the ACC and a bottom-third finish. Anything better than that should propel Donahue into the conversation for ACC coach of the year.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (20-11 9-7)

Glad to Have You Back:

The Jeff Bzdelik era will begin with a roster in flux. After losing four starters from last season’s team, Wake Forest will turn to sophomores C.J. Harris and Ari Stewart to lead a team that has only one junior or senior who averaged more than 10 minutes per game last season. Harris and Stewart also are the team’s leading returning scorers, after combining for a modest 17.2 points per game last season.

We’ll Miss You:

The biggest off-season departure is coach Dino Gaudio, whom the university dismissed after a disappointing end to last season. The Demon Deacons stumbled past Texas in the NCAA Tournament’s first round before losing in an utter blowout to Kentucky in the second round. The embarrassing season finale was the team’s sixth loss in eight games.

In addition, the Demon Deacons will need to adjust to life without NBA Draft pick Al-Farouq Aminu and electric point guard Ishmael Smith. The pair led the team in scoring and fueled the team’s offense last season. In addition, seniors L.D. Williams, David Weaver and Chas McFarland graduated after last season, and Tony Woods left the school after an off-court incident.

Welcome to the Program:

Bzdelik is obviously the biggest new arrival in Winston-Salem. The new coach has said that he won’t necessarily install the ridiculously slow-paced game he led at Air Force and Colorado. But don’t expect the Demon Deacons to return to the high-octane game of the Chris Paul years either.

Bzdelik won’t be the only new man on campus. Gaudio’s parting gift to Wake Forest was a sensational 2010 recruiting class that includes shooting guard J.T. Terrell, swingman Travis McKie, and big men Melvin Tabb and Carson Desrosiers. Point guard Tony Chenault is not as highly rated, but he’s no slouch and could work into the rotation behind Harris and senior Gary Clark. With so much roster turnover, the freshmen will see plenty of minutes right from the opening tip of the season.

Who They Play:

Wake Forest has a few huge non-conference games on its schedule, notably games against Xavier and Gonzaga. The Demon Deacons also will likely get either VCU or Winthrop in the second round of the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament. That’s no gimme en route to the tournament’s finals in New York, where UCLA, Tennessee or Villanova could await.

In conference play, Wake Forest will play two games apiece against Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina State and Virginia Tech. The team’s lone games against Boston College, Clemson and North Carolina come on the road.

Keep Up the Good Work:

In the first 23 games last season, Wake Forest’s defense only let six opponents score 70 points or more. During the meltdown during the final eight games, opponents reached that mark five times. Under new coach Bzdelik, the Demon Deacons need to remain defensively sound while focusing on peaking late in the season, rather than in January. That cost Gaudio his job.

Room for Improvement:

Wake Forest’s offense was often stagnant, and the team’s inability to stretch the court was a major factor. The team shot 30.8 percent from three-point range. The good news is that the team’s best shooters – Harris, Stewart and Clark – all return this season. All three must approach 40 percent from beyond the arc to force opponents to step out and open space in the middle for Ty Walker and some of the younger post players.

Don’t Be Surprised:

Wake Forest likely will struggle early in the season as returning players adjust to Bzdelik’s style of play and a bunch of freshmen learn on the fly. Although the Demon Deacons play the NIT Season Tip-Off opening rounds in Winston-Salem, don’t be shocked if VCU is the team that ends up playing in the tournament finals in New York City.

Outlook:

Wake Forest is entering a rebuilding year. The team has plenty of reason to be optimistic with only one senior likely to contribute major minutes. But this season will likely feature quite a few rough patches as the Demon Deacons fall toward the bottom third of the ACC standings.

Conference Outlook

The ACC will deliver yet another intense season filled with thrilling games and outstanding players. In past years, the ACC has taken a back seat to the Big East and Big 12. That could happen again this season as the conference lacks more than one or two elite teams that will remain in the top 15 of the polls throughout the season.

However, the ACC’s greatest strength is its parity. The bottom teams in the ACC are usually much stronger than the bottom teams in other power conferences. That won’t change this season, as rebuilding teams such as Boston College and Wake Forest will still be capable of knocking off teams that finish in the top third of the standings.

Come March 13, here’s where various ACC teams can expect to play in the post-season.

NCAA Tournament-bound:

Duke: If the Blue Devils aren’t a No. 1 or 2 seed, something went horribly wrong along the way this season.

Virginia Tech: The Hokies have the makings of a dangerous No. 4 or 5 seed. Their peak potential is likely a No. 3 seed.

Florida State: The Seminoles are on pace to reach the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive season, likely as a No. 7 or 8 seed.

North Carolina: After last season’s disaster, a No. 7 or 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament won’t seem like a complete disaster as it might in other seasons. This team’s potential to earn a No. 4 or 5 seed is fairly high, but so is its bust potential.

Clemson: The Tigers won’t likely be highly ranked much of the season, but they will pull off enough ugly, big wins to earn a No. 10 or 11 seed.

North Carolina State: With Lowe’s job on the line, the Wolfpack are in position to be among the final 10 teams to earn an at-large bid. Only time will tell if that’s enough to keep Lowe around for 2011-12.

NIT-bound:

Virginia: Coach Tony Bennett has the Cavaliers heading in the right direction, but they’ll need a tour in the NIT before they’re close to ready for the Big Dance.

Maryland: This is a pretty sharp decline after renowned success during the Greivis Vasquez era.

Georgia Tech: Coach Paul Hewitt’s job isn’t 100 percent safe, so the Yellow Jackets will need to produce some wins when they land in the NIT.

Miami: The Hurricanes will upset a couple of the ACC’s better teams, which will earn this young, talented team enough national cred to warrant a trip to the NIT.

No post-season play:

Boston College: The Eagles won’t be awful, but they’re not going to be good enough for the post-season this year. Get to Boston College while you can, because Donahue will bring in some sharpshooters soon to make this a dangerous team.

Wake Forest: Young talent and a new coach will lead to trouble in Winston-Salem this year, but Jeff Bzdelik gets a free pass this season as long as Wake Forest can stay close in most of its games, especially against Duke and North Carolina.

These 2010 guys are out to prove something, though. One won’t know just how great a draft class it will be until years down the road, once these soon-to-be-rookies go on to participate in several All-Star games, win an MVP or simply bust out to play in Europe.

With that disclaimer in play, here is the best the 2010 NBA Draft has to offer.

1. John Wall, point guard, Kentucky

Wall’s undisputedly No. 1. Not only did he help make Kentucky one of the best teams in college basketball last season, he did it as a freshman while averaging great numbers: 16.9 points, 6.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game. The 19-year-old is a pure point guard with terrific size, speed and court vision. What he needs to improve is his inconsistent jump shot. But other than that, he’s exactly what troubled Washington — owner of the No. 1 pick — needs after such a tumultuous season.

2. Evan Turner, small forward, Ohio State

Averaging 20 points and almost 10 rebounds per game, Turner got to the rim and grabbed misses almost at will in college. He’s an offensive workhorse who can pass while also excelling on defense. His court vision also is outstanding, evidenced by his six assists per game in 2009-10. Just call him Mr. Versatility. It would be interesting to see how much he gets the ball in Philadelphia, which has the No. 2 pick, though. He was the man in Ohio, but he would be Andre Iguodala’s sidekick in Philly.

3. DeMarcus Cousins, center, Kentucky

So Wall didn’t make Kentucky a contender by himself. He had himself a stud of a big man helping him. Standing at 6-11 and weighing 270 pounds, Cousins averaged 15.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game in limited playing time — mostly because of foul trouble. He’s only 19 years old and has a lot of potential, good and bad. He has great hands and a scoring mentality, but there are concerns about his weight and maturity. There’s no question Cousins has all the tools necessary to be very good in the NBA. The New Jersey Nets, who have the No. 3 pick, would hope he decides to use them.

4. Greg Monroe, power forward, Georgetown

Two seasons at Georgetown was all Monroe needed to be NBA ready. He’s a double-double machine with great passing ability, and he’s a lefty. He can create his own shot but needs to work on his jump shot, a lot. He’s only 20, though, so there’s a lot of potential for the already-skilled big man. He’ll be a nice pickup for Minnesota, if the Timberwolves take him with the No. 4 pick, who could really use the help after going 15-67 last season.

5. Derrick Favors, power forward, Georgia Tech

The youngest player entering the 2010 NBA Draft, Favors was among the top players in field goal percentage (61 percent) during the 2009-10 season. He averaged 12.4 points and 8.4 rebounds in 27.5 minutes per game. He’s a very effective big man with quickness and athleticism. His youth also means his body hasn’t fully developed, though, so he’ll need to gain some muscle to be a difference-maker. There’s nowhere to go but up for Favors, and the Kings (No. 5 pick) will likely take him.

The only certainty in this 2010 Draft, it seems, is that Wall will go No. 1. Turner at No. 2 is also as good a prediction as a Tim Duncan bank shot. Picks No. 3 through 5, however, can be switched around among New Jersey, Minnesota and Sacramento. None of those big men will be immediate franchise saviors. Potential is their main label.

The next two teams picking at the top of the draft should deliver plenty of story lines, too. The Philadelphia 76ers were the other big winner in the NBA Draft lottery, moving up to the No. 2 spot. New Jersey, which was the favorite to land the No. 1 pick, slid to No. 3.

The 76ers have a chance to solve a fundamental flaw in their team composition. The team’s top player, swingman Andre Iguodala, and several young guards, including Lou Williams and Jrue Holiday, are best suited for an up tempo game. However, the team’s best big man is Elton Brand, who has been beset by injuries and surgeries that have rendered one of the most dominant post players to a plodding half-court player.

The 76ers intend to do everything they can to ditch Brand this off-season, which might be difficult to do because of his injury history and massive contract. But regardless of whether he’s on the team, the 76ers are in prime position to upgrade their athleticism at power forward. Georgia Tech’s Derrick Favors or Kentucky’s DeMarcus Cousins would be great picks. Favors might have more upside than Cousins, who is the more polished player at this point. However, Favors didn’t have as tumultuous a season as Cousins, who frequently came across as a prima donna.

Meanwhile, the New Jersey Nets desperately wanted to land Wall to help market the team to this summer’s top free agents. Of course, free agents can’t start signing with new teams until July, so the Nets will enter the draft June 24 uncertain of what their team will look like in a matter of weeks. That makes projecting the team’s pick more difficult.

However, we do know that new owner Mikhail Prokhorov is extraordinarily rich and extraordinarily determined to win — and fast. He said he wanted to bring a championship to New Jersey/Brooklyn within two or three years. Those are lofty expectations for the worst team in the NBA.

Despite their awful record, the Nets have a decent foundation with Devin Harris at point guard, Brook Lopez at center and a cadre of wing players: Courtney Lee, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Terrence Williams. Prokhorov’s draft strategy might reveal which free agents he believes he can land. Everyone knows LeBron James is his top target. In addition, the Nets need a power forward. If Prokhorov plans to sign Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh or Amar’e Stoudemire, drafting a player like Favors or Cousins wouldn’t make sense. However, if one of those elite big men won’t be wearing a Nets jersey next season, Prokhorov likely would go with Favors or Cousins.

But if Prokhorov intends to open his checkbook wide enough to draw in one of those top big men, he could use the No. 3 pick on a shooter. Syracuse’s Wesley Johnson comes to mind. Johnson had a sensational year for the Orange, and he is a popular fellow in the greater New York City region. He also has a special talent for shooting the long ball, something the Nets desperately need. If Prokhorov can land Boozer, Bosh or Stoudemire to beef up the post and get James or Dwyane Wade, the Nets would be making an excellent selection by choosing possibly the most talented shooter in the draft.

After Washington makes its pick, the draft promises to become wide open. Expect the unexpected, possibly as soon as Philadelphia makes the No. 2 pick.

With all that negativity, the ACC enters the NCAA Tournament looking to re-establish its position as one of the top power conferences. Duke has an excellent shot at making that happen as one of the best teams in the country that nobody wants to love. Maryland has an outstanding squad that seemed destined to make some noise in the NCAA Tournament — until the committee placed the Terrapins in Kansas’ region.

The rest of the ACC teams in the tournament play great defense but have suspect offenses. A couple of them have favorable match ups, while a couple others look destined to start the off-season before this weekend. Here’s a complete preview of the ACC’s representatives in the NCAA Tournament.

Duke Blue Devils (Overall: 29-5, ACC: 13-3)

No. 1 seed, South Region

The Blue Devils enter the tournament facing criticism because they received a No. 1 seed instead of West Virginia. The naysayers are further enraged that the selection committee awarded Duke a better No. 1 seed, placing the Blue Devils in the South Region, on the S-curve than Syracuse, which would play its regional semifinal and final games in Salt Lake City. With all this talk about the Blue Devils not being worthy, they have plenty to prove.

But let’s be the Devils’ advocate for a moment. Duke has played like one of the two best teams in the country all season, according to Ken Pomeroy’s efficiency statistics. In fact, based on offensive and defensive efficiency, Duke should be the favorite to win the national championship, not Kansas. Swallow that, critics!

Of course, a team’s performance on the court often contradicts their profile on paper. For Duke to reach the Final Four, the Blue Devils will need to remain ruthlessly efficient on offense. Duke is one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country, anchored by sharp-shooting Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith. Each of those three shoots better than 38 percent from behind the arc and has made at least 49 three-pointers so far. Duke’s offense runs like a well-oiled machine because the team makes the most of its possessions. Duke is one of the best teams at avoiding turnovers and grabbing offensive rebounds.

Defensively, Duke simply makes it hard to score. The Blue Devils force turnovers during more than 20 percent of opponents’ possessions. Teams that don’t turn it over still struggle to score against a defense that allows opponents to only shoot 44.3 percent from inside the arc and 28.2 percent behind it. Duke’s ability to shut down opponents’ long-range shooters is critical to making a deep run in March. Three-pointers can be the great equalizer for seemingly overmatched underdogs. But Duke won’t let someone win that way.

Based on Duke’s draw, the Blue Devils should reach the Final Four. But they will encounter resistance as early as the Sweet 16. No. 5-seed Texas A&M and No. 12-seed Utah State could challenge Duke’s Final Four aspirations in that round. In the Elite Eight, Duke could face No. 3-seed Baylor in Houston in front of a hostile crowd. But the Blue Devils are accustomed to hostile crows at every road game. Look for Duke to reach the championship game before running into the unstoppable force out of Lawrence, Kan. The Jayhawks simply have too many weapons for a shallow Duke team that otherwise matches up favorably against Kansas.

Maryland Terrapins (Overall 23-8, ACC: 13-3)

No. 4 seed, Midwest Region

If Maryland were seeded as a No. 5 or 6 seed in any region outside of Kansas’, the Terrapins would be a trendy pick to wreck some brackets and knock off better seeds. But alas, the Terrapins are a No. 4 seed and would likely face top-seeded in the Sweet 16 of the Midwest Region. Maryland possesses the firepower to hang with Kansas, but the Terrapins don’t have enough defense to pull off what would be one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

Maryland enters the NCAA Tournament with the No. 6 most efficient offense. Senior superstar Greivis Vasquez is the catalyst for the offense, which puts up nearly 80 points per game. Vasquez contributes almost one-quarter of that scoring, averaging 19.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. He’s not the best shooter in the tournament, making about 43 percent of his attempts, but he is one of the most fiery leaders. Fueled by Vasquez’s leadership, a trio of experienced players will be ready to contribute. Landon Milbourne, Eric Hayes and Sean Mosley will need to continue to score in double figures to help the Terrapins advance past No. 13 Houston in the first round and then No. 5 Michigan State or No. 12 New Mexico State.

Against Houston, the Terrapins will face the nation’s leading scorer in Aubrey Coleman. Look for Maryland to give up plenty of points to Coleman but limit the production of any other Cougar. The Terrapins would likely obliterate the defensively challenged Aggies. Coach Tom Izzo’s Spartans would provide a more formidable match up, but the Terrapins will win that one on the strength of clutch performances by Vasquez and Hayes. But Kansas will end Maryland’s hopes. In all, the ACC co-champions should be happy with a run to the Sweet 16. It would mark their best season in nearly a decade.

Clemson Tigers (Overall: 21-10, ACC: 9-7)

No. 7 seed, East Region

As the No. 7 seed in the East Region, Clemson has a tough draw. The Achilles’ heel for the Tigers has been a downright ugly turnover rate. More than 20 percent of the team’s possessions end in a turnover. That’s a problem when facing No. 10-seed Missouri, which is one of the three best teams in the country at forcing turnovers. The Tigers desperately need guards Demontez Stitt and Andre Young to take care of the ball. The two combine to average 4.4 turnovers per game and only 5.6 assists per game. That’s not a great ratio for the team’s primary ball-handlers.

However, if Clemson can cut down the turnovers, senior Trevor Booker will have a huge day. He leads the team with 15.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, with about one-third of those rebounds coming at the offensive end. Missouri is one of the worst teams in the country at keeping opponents off the glass.

On defense, the Tigers from Missouri might play right into the strength of the Tigers from Clemson. Missouri likes to jack up lots of three-pointers. But Clemson allow only 29.4 percent three-point shooting this season, ranked tenth-best.

Clemson will win a wild one against Missouri that should see plenty of turnover-induced scoring runs. But the Tigers will run into trouble against West Virginia. That game could start as a blowout for West Virginia and end with Clemson making it interesting before falling short at the end.

Florida State Seminoles (Overall: 22-9, ACC: 10-6)

No. 9 seed, West Region

Based on their offensive inefficiency, the Seminoles have no business beating anyone in the tournament. But Florida State’s defense manages to make games ugly enough to give the Seminoles a chance. As the No. 9 seed in the West Region, Florida State will face a stiff challenge from No. 8 Gonzaga. In the end, Gonzaga’s balance will undo another strong defensive performance by Florida State.

The Seminoles are among the 15 worst teams in the country at protecting the ball. All those turnovers will lead to defeat against Gonzaga. And if they fall behind, the Seminoles will struggle to rally because they shoot only 33.5 percent from three-point range. Center Solomon Alabi will deliver another strong performance in the paint, but he could easily finish with more blocks than the team has three-pointers. Barring an epic defensive performance, that’s not a good recipe for success in the NCAA Tournament.

Florida State’s best chance at victory is to keep the score under 60 points and maintain at least a two-possession throughout the second half. The Seminoles are a bad free throw shooting team and will need as large of a cushion as possible in the closing moments to stop a late rally. Gonzaga probably won’t even need that, though.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (Overall: 19-10, ACC: 9-7)

No. 9 seed, East Region

Wake Forest, the No. 9 seed in the East Region, has a veteran lineup with three senior starters and a future NBA Draft pick in sophomore Al-Farouq Aminu. But for the second consecutive season, the Demon Deacons are sliding at the end of the season as losers of five of their last six games. To avoid a second straight one-and-done NCAA Tournament performance, the Demon Deacons need to find a way past equally underwhelming No. 8 Texas.

With six wins against the RPI top 50, Wake Forest has the talent needed to beat the Longhorns and maybe even challenge top-seeded Kentucky. But it won’t happen. The team’s offense is floundering, primarily because of the two-headed monster of turnovers and bad shooting. Wake Forest ranks among the bottom half of Division I teams in protecting the ball, and the Demon Deacons shoot a dismal 31.3 percent from three-point range and 47.6 percent inside the arc. Even if Wake Forest has a lead, the team’s 66.0 percent free throw shooting could jeopardize the win.

Aminu will struggle against Texas’ superstar, Damion James. He might approach his average of 15.7 points per game, but if Aminu needs to guard James on the perimeter throughout the game, he won’t be able to grab as many rebounds as usual (10.7 per game). Likewise, James and Dexter Pittman have the size needed to box out Wake Forest’s big men and cut off one of the Demon Deacons’ strengths: their ability to grab offensive rebounds.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (Overall: 22-12, ACC: 7-9)

No. 10 seed, Midwest Region

Like Wake Forest and Florida State, the Yellow Jackets are far better at stopping opponents than scoring. But in comparison to those two ACC peers, the No. 10 seed in the Midwest Region is much better offensively. Georgia Tech will face an offensively oriented team in No. 7-seed Oklahoma State. Both teams have played inconsistently this season, and the Cowboys might rely too much on scoring sensation James Anderson. That would behoove the Yellow Jackets.

Georgia Tech doesn’t let opponents shoot well from anywhere, and Anderson will struggle to find clean looks against the much taller Yellow Jackets. Forwards Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors will need to the difference makers for Georgia Tech. The two big men combine to average 25.6 points, 17.2 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game. Collectively, they grab more than six offensive rebounds per game. In a game that likely will figure plenty of missed shots, rebounding will be critical, and Georgia Tech has an advantage.

Interestingly, Georgia Tech’s likely second-round opponent, No. 2-seed Ohio State, has a similar profile to Oklahoma State, with Evan Turner dominating the offense and the rest of the team coming along for the ride. But the rest of the Buckeyes are much better than the rest of the Cowboys. Ohio State will take advantage of Georgia Tech’s proclivity to commit critical turnovers to win a closer than expected game.

In summary, the ACC figures to have mostly expected results. As a No. 1 seed, Duke is supposed to reach at least the Elite Eight. The Blue Devils will deliver on that promise en route to a championship game appearance — and loss — to Kansas. Besides Kansas, only Maryland will reach the Sweet 16. Wake Forest and Florida State will fail to win a game, while Georgia Tech and Clemson will advance one round before losing to No. 2 seeds.

However, the ACC will likely surprise critics with Duke’s success and close losses to presumably far superior teams.

As of Feb. 2, the ACC has six teams in the RPI top 50: Duke, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Florida State, Clemson and Maryland. All of those teams except Georgia Tech played and lost in last season’s NCAA Tournament. So each team entered this season with hopes of another trip to the Big Dance, but each knew it needed to improve to last longer in the tournament.

Of those six teams, only Duke can feel confident that it is on pace to make a lasting impact in the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils are one of only four teams that rank in the top 20 for offensive and defensive efficiency, as measured by Ken Pomeroy. In the past six NCAA Tournaments, 17 of 24 Final Four participants have met that profile. In addition, Duke is one of the best teams in the country in defending the perimeter, which makes the Blue Devils less susceptible to the machinations of a hot-shooting dynamo. Plus Duke avoids giving teams extra possessions, committing only 12.0 turnovers per game. More importantly, the Blue Devils have a pair of sound ball-handlers in Nolan Smith and Jon Scheyer, who commit fewer than two turnovers per game.

Based on efficiency numbers, Maryland would appear to be poised to make some noise in the NCAA Tournament. The Terrapins rank No. 20 for offense and No. 21 for defense. However, Maryland also has some concerning statistics to overcome. Despite having a guard-oriented lineup, the Terrapins are porous on the perimeter. Opponents get more than 30 percent of their scoring from behind the arc. And when they miss, they grab offensive rebounds nearly 36 percent of the time. When Memphis stomped Maryland in the NCAA Tournament last season, the Tigers hit 10 three-pointers and out-rebounded the Terrapins 33-23.

Maryland wasn’t the only ACC victim sniped down by long-distance sharpshooters in the last NCAA Tournament. Florida State lost in overtime largely because Wisconsin hit nine three-pointers. The Seminoles also committed 14 turnovers to the Badgers’ nine. Superstar point guard Toney Douglas single-handedly accounted for that differential by committing five turnovers. This season, the Seminoles are one of the worst teams in Division I in protecting the ball, averaging about 17 turnovers per game. Florida State tries to overcome that sloppiness with the No. 1 defense, based on efficiency. Although the Seminoles make it hard to score, they are vulnerable on the perimeter, allowing opponents to make about seven three-pointers per game. Opponents get 35.2 percent of their points from three-point territory. Frequent turnovers, a sluggish offense — ranked No. 105 in efficiency — and lackluster three-point defense are key ingredients in the recipe for a first-round NCAA Tournament upset.

Like its ACC brethren, Wake Forest gave up some untimely three-pointers in its major first-round upset to Cleveland State in last year’s NCAA Tournament. But the Demon Deacons lost mostly because they failed to play under control, committing 18 turnovers and forcing only six. All-ACC guard Jeff Teague ushered in the disaster with seven turnovers. Although the Demon Deacons’ offense has regressed this season — from No. 43 in efficiency last season to No. 88 this season — Wake Forest has tightened its three-point defense, with opponents managing only 23.7 percent of their points from behind the arc. Wake Forest’s tournament hopes this season will depend largely on the Demon Deacons’ ability to stop three-point shooters. And it also will rely on point guard Ish Smith controlling the tempo and limiting turnovers.

Clemson looks like a mirror image of Wake Forest, and the two won’t meet until the final game of the regular season March 7. The Tigers lost to Michigan in the first round of last year’s NCAA Tournament by giving up 10 three-pointers and struggling on offense. Unlike Wake Forest, which gave away the ball too often, the Tigers simply couldn’t hit shots. For a team ranked No. 16 in offensive efficiency, Clemson looked inept against Michigan and coach John Beilein’s 1-3-1 zone defense. The Tigers have work to do on offense this season and are ranked only No. 92 in efficiency. But they should be better prepared to handle a perimeter-oriented team because opponents get only 22.2 percent of their points from behind the arc, the 39th best rate in Division I. The Tigers play suffocating defense that forces turnovers, so Clemson figures to match up well against many teams defensively. The question the Tigers must answer is whether they can muster enough offense to get past one or two tournament opponents.

Of the ACC’s best teams based on RPI, Georgia Tech figures to be the lone newcomer to the NCAA Tournament. But Georgia Tech might face a familiar fate. The Yellow Jackets have a solid defense, ranked No. 8 in efficiency, but a mediocre offense, ranked No. 64. In addition, they give up a significant percentage of opponents’ points (29.5 percent) from behind the arc. And they turn the ball over more than 16 times per game. Point guard Iman Shumpert is guilty of playing carelessly too often, averaging 3.3 turnovers per game. For a young team with no NCAA Tournament experience, the Yellow Jackets could run into trouble in the first round if they play a fundamentally strong team that has been to the NCAA Tournament one or two consecutive years — think Cornell or Siena.

By the end of the season, the ACC could look back at the 2010 NCAA Tournament with a sense of deja vu. Duke could easily make a run to the Final Four, with only one or two other ACC teams making it past the first weekend of play and a couple of highly seeded teams going down in first-round upsets. Outside Duke and Maryland, all of the ACC’s powerhouses need to find a way to avoid offensive slumps — the kind of lackluster performances that can lead to March Madness melancholy.