Atlantic Coast Change

As ACC teams prepare for another season, the league is preparing for a bi-coastal future. Which teams are included in that future is TBD. Plus: Insights from SoCon media days, Georgia grabs a 5-star, and much more.

Author

Mike Miller
October 26, 2023

Victor Wembanyama made his NBA debut last night. And you can bet that nearly every college player watched it. That’s how it goes when you’re basketball’s next big thing. But the funny thing is … many of the ACC’s best players think they could take Wemby in a game of 1-on-1.

You have to admire their confidence.

Let's get to Wednesday’s news.

1. ACC media days all about the future (and winning)

The ACC’s proud hoops tradition was on full display during its annual media day event on Wednesday. Commissioner Jim Phillips did the requisite laundry list of accomplishments for its rich history of winning.

But he had to discuss what’s next. Cal, Stanford and SMU arrive next year. That changes things.

“We are a national conference. We've been a regional conference. Two years ago would we have done this? Probably not, but times have changed, and you either get on the offensive or you don't,” Phillips said Wednesday.

“When this is all said and done, we'll have eight of the very best private institutions, 10 of the very best public institutions. We'll be in great markets. That's where I think the league is, and that's kind of what we talked about during the meetings. It's not pollyanna-ish. It just isn't.”

It certainly isn’t. Not when the league is, as Luke DeCock writes, quietly preparing for the departure of current members.

So let’s focus on hoops, shall we? Because if there was one clickable headline, it came from Kyle Filipowski.

Was this notable because it was plainly spoken? Or because it came from a Duke player (which inherently brings a touch of hubris)? Probably both.

And you know what? He’s right. Duke set that standard for itself a long time ago. It’d be shocking if it didn’t aim that high.

Here’s what else caught my attention from media day.

  • Rodney Rice announced his surprising departure from Virginia Tech on Tuesday. Hokies coach Mike Young fielded several questions about the move on Wednesday, but didn’t have much to add. “I’ve been doing it 38 years. Seen a lot of things come and go. Not a lot shocks me anymore,” Young said. “We’ve got plenty in that locker room to win a number of games.”

  • North Carolina’s “secret” scrimmage over the weekend against FAU provided some confidence for the Heels. “I was really surprised at how great we were on defense. That’s what really surprised me,” said Armando Bacot. “I thought we played great team defense, and when you play a team like FAU with four small guards and a 7-footer, those are tough games because they can all move around, they can all shoot. But the way we defended was very encouraging.”

  • Virginia coach Tony Bennett knows how Purdue and its coach, Matt Painter, feel after last season’s stunning loss to Fairleigh Dickinson. But he also knows it’ll get better for the Boilermakers. “It’s almost like it’s easy for me,” Bennett said. “We won it the next year, and you don’t know that’s going to happen — although he’s got a heck of a team. They’re special. They might, and that would be amazing if that happened, you know?”

  • The Hoos had their own NCAA tourney upset loss last season to Furman, which means senior Reece Beekman still hasn’t experienced a win in the Big Dance. Bennett’s confident that will change. “I’ve enjoyed watching him be thrust more into that leadership role. He did it quietly last year. Now, he’s having to do it a little more vocally. He has his own nature where he probably is good for today’s young player. He has a way to speak to them, but he commands their attention because he’s a good player and he has the experience.”

  • Pitt was a surprise ACC contender last season. Senior Ishmael Leggett thinks it’d be a mistake to underestimate the team again. “We've got a lot of gritty guys who would do anything to win. I think that first and foremost is something that every team needs — just a bunch of dogs. That's how I'd describe them — dogs.”

  • Isaiah Wong may be gone, but Wooga Poplar is ready for his time in the spotlight, says Miami coach Jim Larranaga. "He looks like a pro. He looks like a first-round draft choice. He's a great 3-point shooter. He's perhaps the best pull-up jump shooter in the country, off the catch or off the bounce. He's a passionate defender. He's in for a big year."

  • Syracuse’s sub-par last few seasons are a motivating factor for this year’s squad. Per Judah Mintz: “We're focused. We're angry. I'm angry. Just being deemed as a lower team, lower tier than what Syracuse is used to being. ... We want to get right back to where we were in the Big East.”

  • It wasn’t all basketball and sports on Wednesday. Duke coach Jon Scheyer, who played professionally in Israel and is Jewish, was asked about the Israel-Hamas war: “It’s been very heartbreaking to see. I did play in Israel. I have close friends and family that are over there right now. Our friend sent me a video yesterday of sirens going off when rockets were coming over. My heart breaks for the people in Israel—that have hostages, American lives that are taken, mourning loved ones. At the same time, my heart breaks for Palestinians, with the trauma that they’re facing and what they feel. It’s an incredibly tragic thing. I think we should all pray for peace, for freedom. I’m sure like many people here in our country, it’s heartbreaking."

THE ALMANAC, VOL. 2

Cram session

The bullet points from ACC media days merely whetted your appetite for more info on the ACC, right? Right. So here’s what you do. You buy The Almanac.

You’ll find extensive previews on every ACC team, predictions, All-League and POY awards, rosters, stats, and so much more. It’s the perfect way to fully prepare for the season (and see who might derail Duke).

2. Southern hospitality

When Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman wrapped up The Field of 68’s media day tour (8 leagues over 3 weeks), they picked a great one to close on: The Southern Conference. (Hey, if you’ve never been to Asheville, book a trip.)

SoCon power Furman was picked by both the coaches and the media to win the league, while Western Carolina’s Vonterius Woolbright was tabbed as the preseason POY (and a candidate for the All-Name team). And that might be a sign of what’s to come.

The Catamounts were tabbed as the sleeper team by league coaches when we did the Almanac preview, but they’ve started to accrue more attention. Coaches slotted them third, while the media picked them second.

But that’s the formal stuff.

The best part of media days are when guys get to answer fun questions to break up the onslaught of repetitive approaches. Stuff like:

I shouldn’t gloss over Furman. The Paladins have been among the best mid-major programs for the last few seasons, and finally broke through last March with a memorable win. How does Bob Richey’s team top something like that?

Still not enough? Then click the video below for the full four-hour interview session with key players and coaches from the SoCon.

And if you need more on the SoCon and its teams for 2023-24, spend $19.99 and dive into the Almanac. Better than dropping that money on Halloween candy.

3. Big Dawg on campus

On Wednesday, Georgia landed its biggest commitment in five years, beating out Alabama, Gonzaga and Texas for 5-star forward Asa Newell.

Not too shabby for Mike White’s program.

For those who forgot, the last 5-star Georgia player was Anthony Edwards, who ended up being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft (and is on the verge of a monster season).

More interesting? While Edwards repeatedly turned in eye-popping displays that season, it didn’t translate to much on-court success. The Bulldogs finished 16-16 and won just five SEC games.

Whether Newell has a similar stay is TBD. What is clear is that the 6-9, 210-pound power forward can hoop. The lefty is an explosive athlete who can finish at the rim, or above it. He’ll be a joy to watch in the open floor and on the end of alley-oops. He’s also a fine shooter, who scouts think need to be more physical to play inside. It’d be more interesting to see Newell on the wing if he can stretch a defense.

It’ll also be interesting to see who else White gets for the 2024 class. Newell is the first Georgia commit, which bodes well for enticing others to Athens.

In more 2024 recruiting news:

4. NCAA may tweak transfer rules, waiver guidelines

That’s a welcome headline to any player or team still awaiting a waiver for the 2023-24 season.

The NCAA announced Wednesday that the D-I Board of Directors wants staff and committees to review existing rules around transfers and waivers, and want to better consider student-athlete well-being and mental health. They’ve gotten so many requests — and plenty of attention, including from state officials — that it’ll almost certainly be adjusted …. for future seasons.

Here’s the key component:

If adopted during the 2023-24 academic year, any changes to the guidelines would apply for all student-athletes — including midyear transfers — seeking eligibility for the 2024-25 academic year following a second (or subsequent) transfer. The board emphasized that all student-athletes seeking waivers for immediate eligibility to compete in the same cohort should be evaluated under the same transfer waiver criteria, regardless of the timing of their transfer decision.

That doesn’t help players such as DeAndre Williams or Moussa Cisse, who are still awaiting word about this season, or players who filed appeals after their waiver ruling was ruled on, such as RaeQuan Battle.

At least theoretically. Put enough public pressure on the NCAA and things may shift.

5. Where are all the wings?

So. The folks behind the Julius Erving Award watch list have had better days.

It’s not that this list is bad — any list of college basketball’s best small forwards that includes Baylor Scheierman, Tucker DeVries, Tyler Burton, Tyler Wahl, Mark Mitchell and Justin Edwards is off to a good start — is that it just feels off. (And certainly could’ve used Devin Carter since he wasn’t on the Jerry West list.)

Anton Watson? Not a wing. Arthur Kaluma? Not a wing (no matter what he’s trying to do to prepare for the pros). I suppose Harrison Ingram can play on the wing, but he’ll likely see a lot of time at power forward for UNC. And two of the freshmen on this list, Coen Carr and Johnny Furphy, might not start for their teams.

But mostly, it’s striking to compare this list to the college guards (let alone the lists that are coming that feature big men). College isn’t the place for wings. They’re off to the NBA as quickly as possible. And any team that features an elite player at the three (Andre Jackson or Christian Braun) has a leg up on every other team with title aspirations.

Whomever emerges as the elite wing on this list will be a team to watch in March.

Plain English

After just two seasons as a head coach, Kim English steps into quite the role at Providence. Few schools have a more rabid fan base — and they’ve become accustomed to winning under Ed Cooley. Does English expect any kind of adjustment? Or does having two All-league players like Devin Carter and Bryce Hopkins make things easier?

Links as you bid adieu to the McFlurry spoon.

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