Rush The Court

As part of our preseason coverage on the ACC microsite, we will be looking at ACC teams competing in early season tournaments in a three-part series . Today we present Part I, which includes an overview and a look at the 2KSports Classic, the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic and the Charleston Classic.

In these early season tournament previews we will present them in order of when the championship games will be played. To make it easier to find each team’s event we will include a table with all the teams in alphabetical order, with bold print to indicate the schools featured in that part of the series. All of these events are not constructed alike but there are two main types. The first type is the traditional eight-team tournament in which all teams play three games through winners’ and losers’ brackets. The second type is the newer popular model, usually with four well-known teams predetermined to play a semifinal and championship round at a neutral site after hosting two lower rated teams at home. The Preseason NIT is the lone tournament to stick with a traditional format with 16 teams competing in a winners’ bracket. Each preview will look at potential match-ups with links to the brackets, and a brief outlook on the ACC team’s chances. Note that N.C. State and Notre Dame will not be included in the analysis as they are playing in exempt events with all the match-ups predetermined.

Boston College – 2K Sports Classic

Date                     Time(ET) TV                         Location                  Opponent                Conf                  2012-13 W-L

Th-Nov 14               7:00 PM   ESPN3                      HOME                    Toledo                     MAC                        15-13

Su-Nov 17               8:00 PM   ESPNU                     HOME                    Florida Atlantic      ConfUSA                  14-18

Th-Nov 21               7:00 PM   ESPN2                     New York               Connecticut             AAC                         20-10

Fr-Nov 22                  TBD         ESPN 2/U               New York                Indiana                    Big Ten                    29-7

                                                                                                                or Washington            Pac 12                     18-16

And The Winner Is: Connecticut – With one of the finest backcourts in the nation and the motivation of being NCAA Tournament-eligible, look for the Huskies to come out on top in New York in a couple of close games.

Possible Surprise Team: Boston College – With all key players returning from last year, the Eagles will probably be ahead of rebuilding Indiana or Washington at this early stage of the season. They even have a decent shot at taking down UConn. Sophomore guards Olivier Hanlan and Joe Rahon won’t be easily overmatched, and Connecticut lacks an established inside scorer to punish the smallish frontcourt Boston College frequently uses.

ACC Outlook: As part of a much tougher non-conference slate in 2013-14, the Eagles are assured of facing two quality opponents in New York. A championship would be a good indication that Boston College may be ready to make a big leap in the ACC this year. Even a split would enhance this team’s chances of being thought of as an NCAA tournament-caliber team.

Virginia Tech – Coaches vs. Cancer Classic

  Date                     Time(ET)    TV                         Location                  Opponent                Conf                  2012-13 W-L

Sa-Nov 9                12:00 PM                                 HOME                     USC Upstate              Atl Sun                    16-17

Fr-Nov 15               7:00 PM                                   HOME                     Western Carolina    Southern                 14-19

Fr-Nov 22               9:30 PM   truTV                      Brooklyn                 Michigan St.              Big Ten                    27-9

Sa-Nov 23               TBD          truTV                      Brooklyn                 Oklahoma                  Big 12                      20-12

                                                                                                                or Seton Hall                 Big East                   15-18

And The Winner Is: Michigan State – The veteran Spartans should claim the title in dominant fashion.

Possible Surprise Team: Oklahoma – This is just a default choice. While still in rebuilding mode, at least the Sooners are regarded as a middle-of-the-pack Big 12 team. The other two teams in Brooklyn are predicted to be at or near the basement of their respective leagues.

ACC Outlook: Virginia Tech is going to have a tough time in Brooklyn. In fact winning both preliminary games at home is not a given for the Hokies. Watch out for the opener with USC Upstate, a veteran team that went 9-9 in the Atlantic Sun last year. At least the guaranteed match-up with Michigan St. will help the overall conference RPI.

Clemson – Charleston Classic

Date                     Time(ET)    TV                         Location                  Opponent                Conf                  2012-13 W-L

Th-Nov 21              7:30 PM   ESPN3                    Charleston               Temple                    AAC                         24-10

Fr-Nov 22                 TBD         ESPN 3/U              Charleston               Davidson                 Southern                 26-8

                                                                                                               Or Georgia                    SEC                          15-17

Su-Nov 2                   TBD         ESPN 2/3/U         Charleston               Massachusetts        Atl 10                      21-12

                                                                                                               Or Nebraska                 Big Ten                    15-18

                                                                                                               Or New Mexico            MtWest                   29-6

                                                                                                               Or UAB                         ConfUSA                  16-17

And The Winner Is: New Mexico – New head coach Craig Neal, a former ACC guard with Georgia Tech in the mid-1980s, inherits a veteran squad that is being picked in most 2013-14 preseason Top 25 polls .

Possible Surprise Team: Massachusetts – Led by senior point guard Chaz Williams, the veteran Minutemen like to play at a fast pace and may be able to use that to their advantage by wearing down opponents. If they play New Mexico on Friday, that game will tip less than 24 hours after the Lobos’ Thursday opener.

ACC Outlook: This is a deep field with mostly evenly matched teams, so Clemson has the opportunity to post some impressive wins. At first glance, with the tourney in South Carolina, it may appear that the Tigers will have a semi-home court advantage. But Charleston is 240 miles from Clemson and there is a home football game in Death Valley that weekend so there probably won’t be much of an edge for the home state Tigers.