2005 ACC Basketball Preview

2005 ACC Preview

What’s the top conference in college basketball? Some might say the Big East. Others, like the Boston College Eagles, might reply the Atlantic Coast. Of course B.C. moved from the Big East to the ACC this year and, in many people’s eyes, it was not a step down or a lateral move. They moved up.

Even though the Big East has provided the NCAA Championship school the last two out of three years, there’s plenty of room for the argument that the ACC is more physical inside, offers a higher level of competition overall, and demands more from its players. However there’s no way to prove any of this, which is the reason it makes for great arguments and half-baked conclusions.

Here’s something to consider—Duke, Boston College, Wake Forest, Maryland, N.C. State, and North Carolina. That’s half of the teams in the ACC and they all have the potential to be competitive in the NCAA Tournament this year.

Everyone seems to agree that Duke is the leader of the pack and the team to beat. Last year’s National Champions the North Carolina Tar Heels have lost an entire team to the draft and graduation and are difficult to rate. Boston College looks extremely promising in its new conference and could give Duke a run for its money.

Maryland stumbled big time last season and seems determined to learn from its mistakes. N.C, State may be poised to make another giant leap but only if key players come through. Despite losing Chris Paul to the NBA Wake Forest will continue to punish rivals by running them into the court.

The fact is the Atlantic Coast Conference is entertaining, filled with talent, and exciting to watch. An additional element for the many southern teams will be a new route to travel-- to New England. It’s a lot further and colder than any other conference town they’ve been to before. Better bring the mittens and galoshes they will be needed.

All the teams are covered in depth below this conference preview where it says "2005 ACC team previews." For the official Atlantic Coast conference website click here.