Fred Barakat, the former ACC associate commissioner who was ESPNU's analyst during Florida State's victory at N.C. State on Tuesday night, also is doing consulting work for both ESPN and UNC-Greensboro, helping them with scheduling issues and lining up games.
A couple of interesting pieces of news from Barakat, the consultant:
- ESPN is planning a new college basketball season kickoff event in Dublin, Ireland, with two doubleheaders involving four U.S. teams and most of the financial support coming from the Dublin Convention Bureau, says Barakat, adding that the games will be played over two days at the start of the basketball season.
- Looking to beef up its program, the UNC-Greensboro men's basketball team will play all of its games in Greensboro Coliseum, instead of tiny Fleming Gym, starting next season, Barakat says. At the same time, he's helping UNC-G to upgrade its nonconference schedule, including efforts to schedule two or three ACC teams. Other potential nonconference opponents for UNC-G: Richmond, East Carolina, Virginia Commonwealth, Charlotte and North Carolina A&T.
UNC-G, which enrolls about 17,000 students and went Division I in 1991, wants to develop stronger community interest in the program. "Obviously, I wouldn't be able to get an ACC team to come to play in Fleming Gym," Barakat says, referring to UNC-G's 1,833-seat facility. Greensboro Coliseum, site of future ACC tournaments, seats 23,500.
As an ESPNU announcer, Barakat is scheduled to work only four games this season, and he says he prefers a light schedule. He's not even sure he'll return to the microphone next season.
As a former player, coach and ACC officiating coordinator, he says he can bring a unique perspective to his analysis, or what he calls a "tripod of expertise," and offer an objective point of view without being critical.
Here's The Tripod on Florida State and N.C. State:
On FSU — "This is probably one of the best teams that I've seen come out of Florida State in the seven years that Leonard [Hamilton, coach] has been there. They're very, very young, but they are big. They are long, and they are athletic."
On NCSU — N.C. State has two very fine players in [Brandon] Costner and [Ben] McCauley. They are going to develop into a good team, too, as soon as they get that point-guard position solidified. Right now, I think they're playing point guard by committee. ... Until they get that point-guard position solidified, it's going to be difficult for them finishing close games."
