Summer Hoops Preview: Part II

CLEMSON

2007-08 record: 24-10, 10-6 ACC (third)

Postseason: NCAA Tournament (0-1), lost to Villanova 75-69 in the first round

Projected starting lineup: G Demontez Stitt, G K.C. Rivers, G Terrence Oglesby, F Raymond Sykes, F Trevor Booker

New additions: F Catalin Baciu, G Andre Young, G Tanner Smith, F Bryan Narcisse

Dave Telep's recruiting analysis: "Young is a winner. He's fast and he's a competitive kid. He's going to push Stitt to get better. ... Baciu has a good touch around the basket. He doesn't mind contact and he has a naturally good skill set. ...Smith's a shooter with a solid basketball mind and decent size. He'll find a way to contribute."

Outlook: Clemson came so close to overcoming the stigma of being Clemson last season. The Tigers almost won at Chapel Hill. They almost won the ACC title, reaching the championship game for only the second time and first since 1962. And they went into the NCAA Tournament as a No. 5 seed.

But close only counts in out-of-the-car paparazzi shots and Clemson basketball. After losing to UNC in the ACC title game — which was the third loss of the season to the Tar Heels but first in regulation — the Tigers went to Tampa for a first-round NCAA game with Villanova. The Tigers led by as many as 18 before, Clemson being Clemson, frittered the game away and lost 75-69.

It was a crushing end to a superb season for the Tigers, who won 24 games and made the tournament for the first time since 1998.

This team should learn from that unhappy ending. Coach Oliver Purnell will miss Cliff Hammonds and James Mays, two exceptional defenders who created easy transition points, but in K.C. Rivers, Trevor Booker and Demontez Stitt, the foundation is there for a return trip to the NCAA Tournament.

They're going to have manufacture more points in the halfcourt game without Mays' presence at the top of the fullcourt press. That means shooters Terrence Oglesby and David Potter will have to improve to help Rivers, who'll be the focus of opposing defenses.

Stitt's realer than Real Deal Holyfield. He had a coming-out party with 15 points and five assists in 19 minutes against Duke on Jan. 19. A knee injury slowed some of his freshman progress but he'll be ready to step into the leadership void left by Hammonds.

Stitt's the main reason I like Clemson to finish in front of both Miami and Virginia Tech — two talented, experienced teams.

MIAMI

2007-08 record: 23-11, 8-8 ACC (fifth)

Postseason: NCAA Tournament (1-1), lost to Texas 75-72 in the second round

Projected starting lineup: G Lance Hurdle, G Jack McClinton, F Brian Asbury, F Dwayne Collins, F Cyrus McGowan

New additions: F DeQuan Jones, F Reggie Johnson, F Cyrus McGowan

Dave Telep's recruiting analysis: "Jones might be best looking athlete in the entire ACC class. He plays above the rim and makes momentum changing athletic players. He's a terrific defender and has all the physical attributes. He gives them an ultra athletic wing who can run up and down the floor. ... Johnson has awesome feet, awesome hands and is nimble. He could win up being one of the bigger sleepers to come into the league by the backend of his career."

Outlook: Somehow picked to finish 12th (not by me), Miami rallied around low expectations, a great shooter (Jack McClinton) and a strong interior trio to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.

With four starters back, including McClinton — the best shooter in the ACC — it's easy to see why Miami could start the season ranked in the top 25. The Canes are going to be good, and when junior big Dwayne Collins asserts himself, even great for stretches, especially if freshman wing DeQuan Jones is as good as Telep predicts.

Miami tends to get in trouble on the defensive side of the ball. That will have to change if the Canes want to go further this season. Maybe Jones can help there.

The Canes will also have to deal with expectations. It's easy to play the "Us-against-The World" card when you're picked to finish last. The Canes might go off as high as third in the ACC this season.

The good news is James Dews developed last season as a consistent outside threat to keep defenses honest with McClinton. Dews' game should take the next step, which will make Miami a tough out for ACC foes and in March.

VIRGINIA TECH

2007-08 record: 21-14, 9-7 ACC (fourth)

Postseason: NIT (2-1) lost to Ole Miss 81-72 in the quarterfinals

Projected starting lineup: G Hank Thorns, G Malcolm Delaney, G A.D. Vassallo, F Jeff Allen, F Victor Davila

New additions: F Victor Davila, G Kendall Durant, F Gene Swindle

Dave Telep's recruiting analysis: "Davila is a competitor around the rim. A true power forward who can rebound and score around the basket. ... Durant is backup at both the 1 and 2. ... Swindle could redshirt."

Outlook: Without Zabian Dowdell and Jamon Gordon, I thought Virginia Tech would fall off the face of the Earth last season. Deron Washington and A.D. Vassallo wouldn't let them.

The Hokies won nine ACC games, another in the ACC Tournament and lost to UNC by two points in the semis. Whether VT belonged in the NCAA Tournament or not, and their record vs. the top 50 said no, is debatable. What isn't is they gave UNC a better game than anyone in the NCAA Tournament this side of Kansas.

The Hokies stayed afloat in 2008 because of both coach Seth Greenberg, whose team listens to and executes what he teaches them, and the ability of freshmen Malcolm Delaney and Jeff Allen to step into the starting lineup and contribute immediately.

That was expected of Allen, a power forward who took a one-year detour to prep school, but Delaney was a revelation, certainly by the end of the season. Greenberg takes a lot of heat for screwing up with Stephen Curry but in Delaney he found a legitimate All-ACC combo guard.

He's not the shooter Curry is — newsflash, there are only about five NBA guys who are — but he can stroke it and he's a strong defender. He should blossom as a scorer as a sophomore as he gets more touches with the absence of Washington.

Vassallo's a great scorer, too. He's a better rebounder than he gets credit for but he's not going to win any defensive awards. With his range, there are trades you make to keep him on the floor.

Allen will get some help inside from freshman Victor Davila and Greenberg's cadre of sophomores will all be a little stronger and wiser. Plus, they'll be hungry after what they perceived as being a snub from the NCAA Tournament selection committee.

It might be impossible to keep them out next March.