Louisville basketball: Post NBA Draft deadline ACC power rankings
By Jacob Lane
15. Boston College
Departing: Ky Bowman, Jordan Chatman
Notable returnees: Nik Popovic, Wynston Tabbs
Newcomers: Calvin Felder, Julian Rishwain
The opportunity for Boston College to make the NCAA Tournament behind star guards Ky Bowman and Jerome Robinson has come and gone, and now Jim Christian will be entering what could likely be his final season as the head coach in Chestnut Hill.
It’s crazy to believe the Golden Eagles were never able to finish higher than 10th with two of the best guards in the ACC, but now with one already playing in the NBA and one soon to follow, BC will be left with Nik Popovic and Wynston Tabbs as their best players. Not a good recipe in the ACC.
I wouldn’t be shocked to see Boston College finish with two wins or less in the conference, which will put them dead last. It’s going to be a long, long, long season in Boston. But hey, at least there’s AJ Dillon!
14. Virginia Tech
Departing: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Justin Robinson, Kerry Blackshear, Jr., Ahmed Hill, Ty Outlaw
Notable Returnees: Wabisa Bede, Landers Nolley
Newcomers: Jalen Cone, Branden Johnson (Grad transfer – Alabama State)
Gone is Buzz Williams and his dynamic quartet of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Justin Robinson, Kerry Blackshear, Jr., and Ahmed Hill who have all left for the NBA, transferred, or graduated, and in is former Wofford head coach Mike Young, who will be tasked with one hell of a cleanup job.
After 19 seasons and a 299-241 record at Wofford, Young will take over a program that will be in the midst of a complete rebuild after losing their top five scorers from a 26 win season. After initially losing promising players Landers Nolley III and Wabissa Bede to transfer, Young was able to re-recruit them both back to the program while also landing 2019 four-star guard Jalen Cone, giving Young some nice young pieces for his first season.
Young is a very good head coach and proved that just about every year at Wofford, but his transition to the ACC will be tough and the Hokies will no doubt struggle in 2019-2020.
13. Wake Forest
Departing: Jaylen Hoard, Torry Johnson,
Notable Returnees: Brandon Childress, Chaundee Brown, Sharone Wright, Jr.
Newcomers: Andrien White (Transfer – Charlotte)
Danny Manning hasn’t been able to catch a break during his time as head coach of the Demon Deacons, and that trend will continue into the 2019-2020 season.
After landing a top 25 class in 2018, headlined by Jaylen Hoard, Manning looked to be on the verge of getting things back on track, but after going 11-20 overall, Hoard decided he’d had enough of college leaving for the NBA. That left a rather promising roster for 2019-2020 to start over.
While Manning has some nice pieces returning in Brandon Childress and Chaundee Brown, and will also bring in experienced guard Andrien White from UNC Charlotte, there’s not enough there to be an NCAA Tournament team which likely will spell the end of the Danny Manning era.
12. Clemson
Departing: Marcquise Reed, Elijah Thomas, Shelton Mitchell, David Skara, Javan White (Transfer -UMKC)
Notable Returnees: Aamir Simms, Clyde Trapp
Newcomers: Curran Scott (Grad transfer – Tulsa), Al-Amir Dawes
Clemson, much like Virginia Tech, has been decimated by players graduating, losing three of their four top scorers from a disappointing season where they missed the NCAA Tournament.
Without Marcquise Reed, Shelton Mitchell, and Elijah Thomas, the Tigers could be on the verge of moving back into the ACC basement.
Aamir Simms and Clyde Trapp will have to grow up fast and graduate transfer Curran Scott will provide some leadership as will UNC Asheville transfer, Jonathan Behre, assuming he’s healthy, but the rest of the roster will be a big-time question mark for Brad Brownell.
11. Pittsburgh
Departing: Jared Wilson-Frame, Sidy N’Dirm, Khameron Davis (Transfer – Weber State)
Notable Returnees: Xavier Johnson, Trey McGowens, Au’Diese Toney
Newcomers: Gerald Drumgoole, Karim Coulibaly
Pittsburgh struggled last year in their first season under Jeff Capel, although they did knock off Louisville and Florida State early in ACC play before tailing off. But it wasn’t hard to see that with time, the Panthers had the tools to one day get back to national prominence.
Those tools come in the form of two freshman guards, Xavier Johnson and Trey McGowens, both of whom will be back for the 2019-2020 season and should take a big step forward.
Getting out of the basement of the ACC is going to take more time, but behind Johnson and McGowens the Panthers will get closer to looking like the old Pitt teams rather than what we saw under Kevin Malone.