EVENTS
 Sportsman of the Year
 Heisman Trophy
 Swimsuit 2001

CNNSI.com GROUP
 Sports Illustrated
 Life of Reilly
 Television
 SI Women
 SI for Kids
 Press Room
 TBS/TNT Sports
 CNN Languages

COMMERCE
 SI Customer Service
 SI Media Kits
 Get into College
 Sports Memorabilia
 TeamStore

ACC overview

Duke leads group of veteran squads

By Tim Peeler, Special to CNNSI.com

Shane Battier averaged 17.4 points per game last season. Doug Pensinger /Allsport

Order of Finish 1. Duke 2. Maryland 3. North Carolina 4. Wake Forest 5. Virginia 6. N.C. State 7. Clemson 8. Georgia Tech 9. Florida State

Top storylines

After two seasons of only getting three teams invited to the NCAA Tournament, the ACC is looking to rebound in a big way this year by getting six teams into the tournament. One reason that could happen is the experience returning. The top six teams lost a total of four starters from last year, and the league returns seven of its top 10 scorers, eight of its top 10 assist leaders and nine of the top 10 rebounders. Another reason is that the league didn't lose any underclassmen to the NBA for the first time in five years. And, perhaps most importantly, the bottom three teams are not going to be good at all, giving the top six teams the opportunity to be heavily favored in six conference games before the season ever starts.

The league welcomes two new coaches: Paul Hewitt, who replaces Bobby Cremins at Georgia Tech; and Matt Doherty, who took over for Bill Guthridge at North Carolina after Roy Williams turned down his dream job. Doherty, a Williams protégé with only one year of head coaching experience at Notre Dame, might inject something besides tired blue blood into the famed Tar Heel program. Then again, he may flop.

How they will spend Selection Sunday
Relaxing	Sweating	Fishing
Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, Wake Forest	Virginia, N.C. State	Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State

Players to Watch

Top Three Frontcourt Players

Shane Battier, Duke • Could have easily been the ACC Player of the Year last season. Terence Morris, Maryland • Some thought his junior season, in which he finished in the top 10 in the ACC in six categories, was a disappointment, because he was overshadowed by teammates Lonny Baxter and Juan Dixon. Brendan Haywood, North Carolina • When he plays hard, he's nearly unstoppable; when he doesn't, he's hardly noticeable.

Top Three Backcourt Players

Jason Williams, Duke • He's not a pure point guard, which is one of the reason he wreaks pure havoc on opponents. Joseph Forte, North Carolina • He'll have more ball-handling responsibilities this year, but the sweet shooting guard is ready to carry the entire backcourt load while the Tar Heels break in a new point guard. Juan Dixon, Maryland • The biggest surprise of last year, Dixon earned first-team All-ACC honors as a sophomore.

Top Three Newcomers

Tony Stockman, Clemson • The Tigers desperately need backcourt players so Stockman, the Ohio high school Player of the Year, will get an immediate opportunity to display his flashy, aggressive style. Chris Duhon, Duke • He may well be the best new player in the league, one that will contribute from the outset, but he will also have to share time with veterans Mike Dunleavy and Nate James. Scooter Sherrill, N.C. State • The NCAA-hungry Wolfpack will have to find a way to fit this Parade All-America into its shooting guard-rich, point guard-poor lineup.

Coaches

Hot Coach

Mike Krzyzewski, Duke • Frankly, we're tired of writing about how great the Blue Devils are, but face it: ever since he picked himself up from back surgery, Krzyzewski and his team have steamrolled the ACC.

Coach on the Hot Seat

Herb Sendek, N.C. State • Sendek, in his fifth season, may have gotten an off-season contract extension, but if he takes the Wolfpack to its fifth consecutive NIT, the school may want to reconsider how it is spending its money.

Schedules

Toughest Schedule

Wake Forest • Duke, North Carolina and Wake Forest all put together killer slates, but the Demon Deacons have to go on the road to play Michigan, Temple and Cincinnati.

Quickest-Way-to-20-Wins Schedule

N.C. State • Say this for Sendek, who improved his schedule ever so slightly this year: He's not just playing a bunch of weak opponents to get into the NCAAs -- he's always played one of the league's patsiest schedules.

Mark Your Calendar

Kentucky at North Carolina, Dec. 2 • Kentucky freshman Jason Parker, who signed two letters of intent to play at North Carolina before he became a Wildcat in August, will undoubtedly get a chilly welcome when he makes his Chapel Hill debut. Kansas at Wake Forest, Dec. 7 • Roy Williams returns to his home state after turning down the chance to coach North Carolina, his alma mater; ticket sales have been particularly strong in Chapel Hill for this non-conference game. North Carolina at Duke/Duke at North Carolina, Feb. 1/March 4 • Duke has owned college basketball's best rivalry lately, winning six of the last seven games; can rookie Matt Doherty turn the tide against Mike Krzyzewski? Duke at Maryland/Maryland at Duke, Jan. 27/Feb. 27 • The Terps were the last ACC team to beat the Blue Devils, ending Duke's ACC-record home winning streak last January.

Tim Peeler covers the ACC for the Greensboro (N.C.) News & Record and will write a CNNSI.com conference insider this season.

Copyright © 2001 CNN/Sports Illustrated An AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines.