Originally Posted by
gumbomoop
I've imported this from the Amile Jefferson thread. Lots of good talking points here.
Although I think this will be a slightly down year for the Heels, I don't disagree that they still have talent. On the basis of talent/experience/depth, however, the Heels may have a few more questions than Miami, Duke, NCSt. I'll be surprised, and of course disappointed, if UNC winds up #1 in ACC at end of season. I still have them preseason ACC #4. While I wouldn't say it would be crazy for anyone to claim that, on paper in terms of talent/experience/depth, they're #1, I would say it's a stretch. [I realize Wheat has not made such a prediction here.]
I disagreed with Wheat last year re Strickland's PG skills, who, IMO, will at best share the PG duties with Paige by ACC-time. I may be underestimating Strickland as a steady PG, or overestimating how quickly Paige will emerge. Strickland knows the system, but Paige is the more natural PG.
IIRC, Wheat earlier posted that James, not Johnson, was more likely to get substantial PT. But in this post, Johnson gets a bit more attention. I guess it will come down to which of Hubert, Johnson, and James picks up the system; and maybe which is the best matchup fit from game to game.
I agree that McAdoo will star. Also that Heels have to have some consistency with 3-bombs.
I also agree that Elite Eight is a fair "standard to shoot for," as long as that means for any team preseason top 12-15 nationally. That is, I just don't see the Heels as preseason top 6-8. Too many questions.
Within the ACC, NCSt and Miami especially should be "smelling blood" when they play both Duke and UNC, but especially UNC. UNC should hope it plays Canes only once this season.