ACC Way Too Early Power Rankings: Part I
Posted by Brad Jenkins (@bradjenk) on April 7th, 2016After a pair of impressive performances in the NCAA Tournament over the last two years, how will the ACC measure up next season? Based on what we know to this point, it looks like 2016-17 could be another very strong year for the league. Some roster adjustments — transfers and the like — will naturally occur between now and October; and a new NCAA policy allowing college players until May 25 to declare for the NBA Draft is likely to impact a few rosters as well. Today we list our bottom five teams heading into next season; tomorrow we will reveal our top 10. To get started, here is how the 15 ACC teams finished this season, ranked in order of their final KenPom rating.
Most of this season’s lowest-rated teams are projected as improved next year, while several schools near the top may drop off slightly. That means we should once again expect a logjam in the middle of the league standings. The following predictions assume the return of the following players who have declared for the NBA Draft but will more than likely be back.
- Jaron Blossomgame, Clemson
- Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Florida State
- Chinanu Onuaku, Louisville
- Abdul-Malik Abu, N.C. State
On to the 2016-17 way too early power rankings:
11) Clemson
Brad Brownell’s hopes for a return to the Big Dance may depend on whether Jaron Blossomgame returns to Clemson.
(AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
- Key Losses: Jordan Roper, Landry Nnoko
- Key Additions: Marquise Reed (RS-Transfer), Shelton Mitchell (RS-Transfer), Elijah Thomas (RS-Transfer)
- Nutshell: Blossomgame’s choice to stay or leave is probably the most impactful offseason decision among all 15 ACC teams. His return, along with an expected influx of transfer talent, could propel the Tigers into the NCAA Tournament picture. However, the loss of the all-ACC first teamer might drop Brad Brownell’s squad out of any postseason contention next season. He’s that important.
12) N.C. State
- Key Losses: Anthony ‘Cat’ Barber (NBA), Caleb Martin (Transfer), Cody Martin (Transfer)
- Key Additions: Dennis Smith, Terry Henderson (RS-Injury), Torin Dorn (RS-Transfer)
- Nutshell: Mark Gottfried is looking at a huge deficiency in his roster right now, so expect the Wolfpack to be aggressive in the graduate transfer market. The talented Smith will take over for Barber, running the show, but hopefully he will not have to shoulder as much of the offensive load. Henderson and Dorn should be an upgrade in wing talent. Abu’s return and expected improvement could make N.C. State a threat to get back to the Big Dance after a very disappointing season.
13) Wake Forest
Year Three for Danny Manning’s Wake Program Will Be Interesting (USA Today Images)
- Key Losses: Devin Thomas, Codi Miller-McIntyre, Cornelius Hudson (Dismissed)
- Key Additions: Brandon Childress
- Nutshell: Danny Manning will head into his third ACC campaign still trying to turn things around after the dark days of the Jeff Bzdelik era. Things don’t look much brighter in the near future, however, as Wake loses two of its top three scorers and the incoming recruiting class is not highly rated. Bryant Crawford showed great potential as a freshman, but some other youngsters will have to make vast improvements immediately for the Deacons to take a leap in the standings.
14) Georgia Tech
- Key Losses: Marcus Georges-Hunt, Adam Smith, Nick Jacobs, Charles Mitchell, James White
- Key Additions: Romello White, Sylvester Ogbonda (RS)
- Nutshell: As of now, Georgia Tech is still looking for Brian Gregory’s replacement. The good news is that the Yellow Jackets are currently the only Power Five conference school with a job opening, so they should have their pick of the best coaching candidates available. Whoever takes the job will face an immediate rebuilding project — Georgia Tech loses its top four scorers and three rebounders from this year’s squad.
15) Boston College
- Key Losses: Eli Carter, Dennis Clifford
- Key Additions: Ty Graves, John Carlos Reyes (RS-Injury)
- Nutshell: How can the Eagles possibly be any worse than they were this season? First, they lose two players who combined to use 54.8 percent of the team’s offensive possessions. Second, the talent level will look more like a middle-pack MAC school — where Jim Christian coached prior to coming to Boston College. Granted, the six sophomores that were thrown to the wolves as rookies are bound to show some improvement, but this program still looks several years away from fielding a competitive team in the ACC.
