Comments on: ACC Now Summer Hoops Preview

By: DeanForever

DeanForever — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:15:38 +0000

NEWS FLASH!

ESPN is reporting, for the second time in as many weeks, that Mike Krzyzewski will be caoching the US Olympic basketball team in 2012!!!!

Did anyone know?

“I’m beginning to detect your sarcasm.”

‘Good, because I’m laying it on pretty thick.”

David Spade, “Tommy Boy”

By: Heels Perspective

Heels Perspective — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:27:58 +0000

Thanks THF, saw the mention of Graves after my post.

^ Good point from AZ in that many of the guys in the ACC who gave us heartburn (except for Vasquez) have left the building as well. I’m referring to Rice, Douglas, Teague and McClinton.

Outside the league the matchup with MSU will be a lot of fun early on……

By: AZACCFan

AZACCFan — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:21:52 +0000

There is realy nothing new in any of these speculative reports. Because of the system and returning players, UNC should get off to a good start. It is going to be a question of who delivers and how they react to the pressures of competition.

A key point to this season is that lots of teams have lost key players. The level of experience in the league is way down, especially in back court play.

I hope that Williams and his staff will continue to emphasize that the vast majority of minutes played, starts, points/3 point shots, free throws, assists, rebounds and more have left the building! That will make the season exciting and unpredictable.

By: william

william — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:40:03 +0000

I may be the only one still using Windows 2000 because I prefer its general level of customization, but those italics really look terrible on my laptop–of course, it could just be me–remember Austin Powers in that movie when he is drinking the coffee?

I think this is going to be a really unpredictable season and probably a more fun one all around, even assuming that we don’t win it all. I just re-watched the UNC-Duke special from HBO and they remarked that UNC was now back on top of Duke, 4 titles to 3 after the 2005 championship, so we do have a little breathing space and it is now Duke’s chance for desperation, kind of how we felt in 2004 in general, or in 2005 during the 2nd half of the second Duke game.

If I were Roy, I would remind these guys just how quickly things can change. In mid-season 2005, Duke had beaten UNC 16 games out of 19. Since then, UNC has beaten Duke 7 out of 9, I believe and won two titles to Duke’s zero during that period.

Yes, that is how quickly things can change.

By: Jordan8027

Jordan8027 — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:28:55 +0000

I think graves could have a big year. he’s one guy i’ll be watching early on. we’ve typically been giving him a lot of minutes in the first few garbage games, but then he proves that he’s not ready to play big time ACC games so he gets shelved. but we’ve also had the luxury of having a crap ton of firepower. i think this year w/ more of a need for his shooting, he’ll get some big minutes. he’s an investment i’d like to see roy make and stay with all year in hopes it pays off for the stretch run. everyone knows he can shoot, but shooting in a game is entirely different.

if we’re thinking he’s going to be DG off the bench in 08, we’re wrong, but the kid’s got a body and a nice touch, so here’s hoping he’s learned his lesson after last year and is working his butt off this summer!

By: Tar Heel Fan

Tar Heel Fan — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:09:51 +0000

Click over and read the team capsule on the 2nd link. Giglio mentions Graves there:

3-point shooting. UNC lost 88.2 percent of the 3-point shooting off of last year’s title team, and the Heels are so thin on the perimeter, junior Will Graves, a reserve suspended midway through last season, will have the opportunity to shovel his way out of the doghouse and into the starting lineup, at least until Strickland finds his sea legs.

By: Heels Perspective

Heels Perspective — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:07:05 +0000

Jordan makes a good observation. I did notice that the article left out Will Graves as a guy the Heels could bring in to stretch potential zone defenses. I wonder if there was a reason to leave his name out? (Yes, I’m thinking like a State fan now, sorry).

By: Jordan8027

Jordan8027 — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:50:42 +0000

Any will graves sightings/updates? this year’s team should be FUN to watch. We all know we need to answer a lot of perimeter questions, but if you look at the guys who will be on the court, this team should be putting teams on lock down. That combined with the athleticism and ability to run the court of our bigs + john henson and this should be some fun up and down action. That doesn’t win you championships of course, but nonetheless fun.

For perimeter play, i’m hoping Will Graves’ game is still developing, to the point where he can come in and be an offensive threat from outside or slashing. we need all the outside potency we can get. past that, our outside shooting will boil down to larry, marcus, and strickland’s collective ability to knock down a high enough percentage to command respect from other teams to open up passing and driving lanes, which is where their collective bread and butter will be.

can’t wait!

By: DeanForever

DeanForever — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:21:04 +0000

Excellent insight. From all that I have both seen and read, Henson is not only a blue-chip talent, but he seems like a really good kid. I’m not 100% sold on him going pro after next season. Aside from injury, the other area in which he needs to improve upon (and others have wrote about this to no end) is his weight. He’s simply too thin. Maybe a year of getting busted up in the trenches of the ACC block battles will hasten the pace (for him putting on a little bulk).

Great recruit, no question. Oh, then there are four more!