CBS Sports published one of the many, many preseason rankings we are going to see this offseason. Simultaneously, Evan Miya released his final transfer class ranking.
Ranking the ACC: (preseason team rank by CBS Sports, transfer class rank by Evan Miya)
- Duke – Tier 1: National title contender / (Xfer class rank #16)
- Louisville – Tier 2: Top 25-caliber club / (Xfer class rank #1)
- Virginia – Tier 2: Top 25-caliber club / (Xfer class rank #94)
- Miami – Tier 2: Top 25-caliber club / (Xfer class rank #4)
- UNC – Tier 2: Top 25-caliber club / (Xfer class rank #22)
- Va Tech – Tier 3: Tournament team / (Xfer class rank #59)
- NC State – Tier 4: The bubble / (Xfer class rank #33)
- Clemson – Tier 4: The bubble / (Xfer class rank #61)
- FSU – Tier 4: The bubble / (Xfer class rank #28)
- SMU – Tier 4: The bubble / (Xfer class rank #42)
- Syracuse – Tier 4: The bubble / (Xfer class rank #37)
- Boston College – Tier 5: The Basement / (Xfer class rank #74)
- Pitt – Tier 5: The Basement / (Xfer class rank #26)
- Stanford – Tier 5: The Basement / (Xfer class rank #168)
- Notre Dame – Tier 5: The Basement / (Xfer class rank #50)
- California – Tier 5: The Basement / (Xfer class rank #69)
- Ga Tech – Tier 5: The Basement / (Xfer class rank #53)
- Wake Forest – Tier 5: The Basement / (Xfer class rank #89)
CBS Sports classifies the Wolfpack as:
“Tier 4 – Bubble, even with a 76-team field: A Big Dance appearance is in the range of potential outcomes, but the NIT, the Crown (or worse) looms if things fizzle.“
About the Wolfpack:
“The scoop: New coach Justin
Gainey has a heavy mid-major flavor with his first Wolfpack roster, but a lot of these additions look like good evaluations. NC State seems primed to lean heavily into a high rate of ball screens to weaponize Preston Edmead, Christian Hammond and Darius Adams, who all rated in the 79th percentile or higher in pick-and-roll efficiency a year ago. Then you toss in Paul McNeil (a professional net-shredder) and stretch 4, Eemeli Yalaho (40% from 3-point range on 4.0 attempts)? There should be space for these creators to, well, create. But it’s fair to wonder just how much rim pressure this group can generate. It could be an awful lot of jump-shot roulette, and there isn’t a ton of high-level athletes on this squad to dominate the offensive glass.
Gainey is a well-respected defensive coach who has the personnel to be OK. I’d expect NC State to try to funnel everything toward shot-swatting big man Kyle Evans and hope one of the best shot-blockers in the nation can keep doing his thing. But again, the lack of springy athletes is going to rear its ugly head once or twice.
NC State will be competent. Nothing more, nothing less.“
How’d CBS do? (“Competent???”)
NOTE: There is no mention of Robert Jurkovic, so this was probably written prior to his commitment being announced. He is a very important addition and will have an impact.
I think we’ll see a similar “too early” assessment level repeated until the games start. From a positive perspective, NC State is the highest ranked team not predicted to be solidly in the tournament. That’s a tip of the hat to Coach Gainey and the staff for their resumes and for their recruiting prowess. From the opposite perspective, at least according to this prediction, we’re probably sweating Selection Sunday again.
There are too many questions to be answered to provide any confidence in any predicted finish. (The same could be said for a lot of teams) Here are some of them:
- #1 – How’s Coach Gainey going to do in his first head coaching job?
- He has assembled a strong looking staff, will they produce?
- The roster is heavily mid-major focused. Will they produce as well in the ACC?
- On paper the players look strong offensively but not as strong defensively. Will Coach Gainey be able to get them playing ACC level defense?
- Is the staff going to bring in more size? Please!
- Players: Will Darius Adams recover his shooting touch now that his hand has had a season to recover?
- Players: Will Zymicah ’slim’ Wilkins contribute this season?
- Players: Will “the best player in the country that doesn’t score” (RJ Keene) contribute offensively?
- Players: Supplemental to that question on RJ, how often will we hear the phrase “glue guy” this season? (preseason over/under is 114)
- Players: Will Robert Jurkovic adapt quickly to American style ball? How’s his hands?
Let’s revisit these questions in six months.
