State of North Carolina

This team has a decent chance at missing the NIT after being ranked #4 in the nation to start the year. I am surprised that more isn't being made of the job that Roy Williams is turning in this year. He was practically asleep on the sideline last Sunday as the Terps were putting a 21-point beatdown on the Heels. Speaking of 21-point (or more) ACC victories, there have been four thus far in the ACC; the Terps have three (NC State, Miami, and UNC; the fourth could have easily been at BC which ended up as a sixteen-point victory).

The only other is GT over Wake by 21 at GT.

The Heels don't play defense. Maryland hasn't played an ACC team that gave more open looks from distance in a long time.

Here is a breakdown of UNC's recent recruiting classes:

2008:
Zeller (ranked #7 in the nation)
Davis (#11)
Drew (#29)

2009:
Henson (#6)
Strickland (#27)
McDonald (#32)
Wear (#36)
Wear (#37)

This is next year's class thus far:
Barnes (#1)
Bullock (#16)
Marshall (#22)

McAdoo is already committed for 2011 (ranked #3); Hairston is #16.

For the Terps over the same timeframe:

2007: DuPree #65
2008: Mosley #40
2009: Nobody (I am not sure how Jordan Williams didn't make the top 100 list)
2010: Parker (SG, #40) and Stoglin (PG, #98)

If you think this is insignificant, check out the 2007 rankings. The top 50 is a very impressive list; the next 50 is not (yes, that includes Braxton DuPree).

1 - 5: Love, Gordon, Mayo, Singler, and Rose. Four lottery picks and a future first-rounder.

6 - 10: Nolan Smith, Austin Freeman, Beasley, Patterson, and Calathes. Still not sure how top in-state talent like Freeman and Beasley don't give College Park consideration. Patterson is projected at #9 in June.

11 - 15: Corey Fisher, Koufos, Aldrich, Hickson, and Stokes. Hickson is playing well in Cleveland. I still remember his drop-step dunk in a half-court set at MD three years ago; the type of dunk that you had to watch five times with TiVo right after it happened.

16 - 20: King, Greene, Blake Griffin, Lucas, and Moore. #1 pick in the draft at #18 overall. Moore has had a very solid career in West Lafayette. Taylor King couldn't cut it in Durham.

21 - 25: Harden, Lawal, Flynn, Anderson, and Jordan. Harden and Flynn were lottery picks. Jordan is playing on the Clips. Lawal and Anderson are projected in the mid first round in June.

26 - 30: Wright, Daye, Legion, Randolph, and Blair. Blair is starting for the Spurs; absolute steal in round 2 last year. Randolph will put up huge numbers once he escapes from Don Nelson.

31 - 35: Johnson, Pope, Alabi, Tucker, and Hillman. Nothing impressive other than Alabi.

36 - 40: Lucas, Robinson, Harris, Bayless, and Diebler. Bayless was the fourth pick in the draft two years ago. Kalin Lucas was Big Ten POY last year. Harris is a future first-rounder.

49: Evan Turner; projected at #2 in June.

Duke on Saturday. Keep this in mind; they lost by 14 at NC State. They only won by 3 at BC.

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