[Editor’s Note: The ACC is so nice, we’ve previewed it twice. Actually, we just messed up, but here is your first of two excellent ACC Previews, this one by BeingSven.]
Let’s start by saying this; This isn’t your father’s ACC.
No, sir. My father’s (Maryland ’66) ACC was a conference nationally recognized for decades as the best collegiate basketball had to offer; top-heavy with talent, ripe with history and guaranteed to be a factor in the NCAA tournament. In fact, over the past twenty years, the conference has had a least one participant in the Final Four (including six champions).
But just like the Roman Empire eventually fell from its perch atop civilization (more evil – Krzyzewski or Caligula?), so has the ACC. While still a talented collection of programs, the conference took a step towards mediocracy in 2005 when ACC commissioner John Swofford drastically altered Tobacco Road hoops forever by pushing expansion forward. Hungry for a piece of the ever-growing honey pot of football cash, the Tarheel tried to make the ACC into a football conference, and in the process, eliminated the home-and-away between each school that still played a part in making the conference basketball schedule so special.
So, two years after the expansion, we’ve got three programs that don’t belong, two divisions and a watered down conference. Congratulations, Mr. Swofford.
Not to say it’s all doom and gloom. The ACC sent seven teams to the Big Dance last year and few send a handful again this season. There will be some great b-ball played in-conference this year. The added teams actually make the ACC tournament a bit more exciting. And, there could be some real movement amongst the pack, making preseason picks & rankings look silly come Spring.
But, honestly, it’s Carolina who is likely head-and-shoulders above everybody else this campaign. So, after the jump(ball), a look at the predicted Order of Finish and then the individual programs…
Storming the Court 