Recruits lift Cavaliers' hoops hope
Brighter days ahead with Landesberg, Brandenburg, Sene
Friday, Feb 29, 2008 - 12:07 AM

VIRGINIA AT MIAMI
Tomorrow:2 p.m.

By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
At the University of Virginia, seniors Sean Singletary, Adrian Joseph, Ryan Pettinella and Tunji Soroye are in the twilight of their college basketball careers.

U.Va.'s next generation still is in high school -- in Queens, N.Y., St. Louis and South Kent, Conn. But third-year coach Dave Leitao's recruits for 2008-09 are giving Virginia fans, understandably anxious about the imminent departure of Singletary in particular, reason for optimism.

Three players signed with U.Va. in November: 6-5, 200-pound Sylven Landesberg, 6-11, 230-pound John Brandenburg and 7-0, 225-pound Assane Sene. Each has advanced his game significantly in 2007-08.

Landesberg is considered the jewel of the class. A senior at Holy Cross High in Queens, he's been showered with honors recently. Landesberg was named a McDonald's All-American and, for the second straight season, was selected player of the year in New York's famed Catholic High Schools' Athletic Association.

"Every part of my game has gotten better," said Landesberg, who'll lead Holy Cross into its New York City quarterfinal tonight. "I'm faster, I'm stronger, I'm jumping higher."

Singletary, who's expected to make the all-ACC first team for the third straight year, has run the Cavaliers' offense for the past four seasons, and he'll leave a huge void at point guard. One option for Leitao might be Landesberg.

He shoots well enough to play on the wing -- Landesberg has scored more than 2,000 points in three varsity seasons -- but handles the ball well enough to run the point, too.

Landesberg said he'll be happy to do whatever Leitao "asks me to do, whatever that may be. I like having the ball in my hands, but I can find other ways to contribute."

Will Brandenburg and Sene become the dominant big men long missing at U.Va.? Probably not next season, but their potential intrigued recruiters from across the country last year.

Brandenburg, who chose U.Va. over Stanford, attends DeSmet Jesuit outside St. Louis. His senior season ended Wednesday night. His scoring average of 13.3 points was modest, but keep in mind that DeSmet averaged an equally modest 49.6 points. For a team that won 15 of its final 19 games, Brandenburg averaged 7.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots.

Ankle and back injuries marred his junior season, and Brandenburg battled a bad back early this season, too. But his production rose steadily as his health improved.

"His confidence is at an all-time high," DeSmet coach Bob Steiner said. "His level of play is at an all-time high."

Brandenburg, who won't turn 18 until late April, has struggled at times to deal with the scrutiny that comes with standing so tall.

"He's under a microscope every second of every day," Steiner said. "Everybody's always saying, 'John should do this, John should do that,' and that's a hard thing to handle."

This season, Brandenburg was able to "sort of block out all that constant scrutiny," Steiner said, "and then he started to spend extra time in the gym. That's been the difference. Not that he wasn't committed before, but it's a different level of commitment. He's really been hungry for success, and he's carried us."

Sene, who picked Virginia over Connecticut and Syracuse, didn't arrive in the United States from his native Senegal until last March. He's a force on the boards and on defense, but on offense he remains raw.

"It's really his first season of big-time basketball, and considering the lack of experience and coaching he came in with, he's done very well," said Owen Finberg, Sene's coach at South Kent School. "It took him a while to get adjusted, but since the new year he's played particularly well."

In South Kent's quarterfinal win Wednesday in the New England Prepatory Athletic Council playoffs, Sene had 10 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. He missed the final four regular-season games with a knee injury.

For the season, he's averaging about 6 points, 10 boards and 3 blocks.

"We're very much a perimeter-oriented team," Finberg said. "With the nature of our offense, he doesn't get a lot of touches."

Even so, Finberg said, "I think his potential is limitness. He's got a special talent for getting up and down the court, and he's nimble and quick around the basketball."

 

Life imitates art for UVa's Inglot
By Whitelaw Reid / wreid@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
February 29, 2008

When Hollywood called on Dominic Inglot to be in the 2004 movie “Wimbledon,” they saw a guy who could be an ideal stunt double for actor Paul Bettany.

Inglot, one of the top junior players, certainly had the talent needed to shoot the tennis scenes. He was roughly the same size as Bettany. And, like Bettany, he just so happened to be a fair-haired Englishman.

But the film’s producers probably had no idea how dead-on with their casting they really were.

In the movie, Bettany’s character pulls off a series of come-from-behind, pressure-packed, barely realistic victories.

Well, those kinds of performances just happen to be Inglot’s calling card. The Virginia junior lives for Hollywood moments.

“He deals with tough situations better than anybody I’ve ever coached,” said UVa coach Brian Boland, whose undefeated team takes on fifth-ranked Texas tonight at the Boar’s Head Sports Club. “That is something that has really developed over the last couple of years.

“He’s one of the toughest competitors you’ll ever see.”

On Jan. 25, the Cavaliers trailed Illinois 3-2. Inglot was down in the third set of his match, 5-3, and his opponent was serving for the match.

“Our backs were against the wall,” Boland recalled, “[but] he broke back and wound up winning 7-6 in the third.”

Virginia went on to a 4-3 victory.

Then, 13 days ago in Seattle, Inglot’s resiliency was on display again when UVa captured its first-ever National Indoor title. Virginia was down 3-1 to UCLA and Inglot trailed 2-0 in his final set before coming back to win, 7-6. The 6-foot-4 Inglot closed his match out with an ace.

“Luckily, I don’t know why, but I really like pressure situations,” said Inglot, who speaks with a thick English accent. “I feel that’s what sport is all about - that you can come through in clutch situations and your teammates can rely on you.”

But according to Inglot, No. 1 Virginia (13-0) wouldn’t have been able to win in Seattle if it wasn’t for uncanny team camaraderie.

“I don’t think we would have gotten through it if we weren’t a team because it was just little things like us cheering each other on between points…it came down to so many tight matches,” Inglot said. “When it comes down to the pressure situations, that [camaraderie] really helps.”

Inglot is one of the team’s biggest cheerleaders. The London native, who has always been a big soccer fan - his favorite team is Arsenal FC - can get a little zany at times.

“I just like to be one of those fans that says weird things from the bleachers,” said Inglot, smiling. “I just try and fire up the crowd a little.

“[In soccer], taunting opponents and ripping the refs is expected. It’s not bad form. It’s expected. When I came out to a soccer match here, people were like, ‘You can’t do that! There are kids here.’”

On the court, the colorful Inglot has always had strong fundamentals. But within the last year, Boland says he has done a great job of “tightening” his game up and making better decisions.

Coincidentally, that was pretty much what Bettany’s movie character was able to do as he made his unexpected run to the Wimbledon championship.

Inglot, who attended the actual tournament on numerous occasions as a kid, was on set with Bettany - and fellow stars Kirsten Dunst and Sam Neill - for about two months.

The movie was filmed at the All England Club before shifting to a studio in London where “Batman” and “Harry Potter” were also being filmed. “I got to see the new Batmobile before anybody else did!” Inglot said.

For the filming of Wimbledon, Inglot used a two-handed backhand (he normally uses a one-hander) because that is what Bettany used. Bettany, according to Inglot, had only learned to play about six months before.

“We had to do a lot of scenes together, so I had to look at how he played to make my strokes look like his,” Inglot said. “I even went as far as to shave my legs because he doesn’t have hairy legs, so I had to shave [mine].”

Inglot’s face is never shown in the movie, but he says he can tell which scenes he is in. The film actually used some old home movies of Inglot - as part of a flashback sequence - that his parents had shot of him when he was 12.

As one might expect, Inglot’s connection with “Wimbledon” has brought him some campus fame. Recently, he was tracked down by a fraternity pledge who needed his picture taken with Inglot while holding a copy of the film’s DVD.

“I was like, ‘Uh, that’s a little weird,’” Inglot said.

One of the questions Inglot is often asked about is his relationship with the female starlet Dunst. Inglot joked that he never asked for her phone number.

“She was seeing Jake Gyllenhall at the time,” said Inglot, trying to keep a straight face. “I didn’t want to step on his toes.”

Inglot’s teammates claim that he sometimes puts his “chick flick” stardom to good use.

“He breaks that line out with the ladies all the time,” said sophomore Houston Barrick.

“That is so much [nonsense],” laughed Inglot. “I honestly do not break it out, but if they happen to break it out, I won’t hesitate to talk about it.”

Aces

Texas (10-1) is coming off a 6-1 win at No. 19 Michigan on Friday. ... Today’s match versus the Longhorns is scheduled to be played indoors at the Boyd Tinsley Courts at the Boar’s Head Sports Club at 6 p.m. However, if the weather forecast improves, play could be moved to the Snyder Tennis Center and begin at 2 p.m. Visit virginiasports.com for the latest time and venue information. … Virginia hosts No. 9 Baylor (9-3) on Saturday.

 

Poutier shuts down Coppin State
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
February 29, 2008

It was tough to tell from glancing at the scoreboard, but Virginia coach Brian O’Connor managed to rave about the noticeable improvements his third opponent of the season had made in a year.

Coppin State’s baseball team, after going winless in 44 games last year, fielded a deeper and more competitive team. The Eagles, who boasted just 11 players last year, made only one error.

They were not, however, able to solve Virginia pitcher Robert Poutier during the 27-1 rout.

The right-hander fanned 11 batters in five innings of work and picked up his first win since 2006.

"Pout looked really good," O’Connor said. "No matter who he was facing, he looked really good.

"He was down in the zone and throwing with good velocity."

Poutier, a redshirt junior, was the sixth different starter that Virginia (6-0) has employed this season and could continue to push for valuable work.

That was not an option the past two years as Poutier battled severe back pain.

"We are still going to see how he feels [today]," O’Connor said "He still has to manage it … but he has learned how to manage it."

Poutier was given the ultimate compliment before the season, being voted as a team captain.

"I’ve always had a lot of respect for Poutier," O’Connor said. "He’s always put his teammates out in front. He’s the right kind of guy to have as a captain and leading this team. He is very unselfish.

"I hope he stays healthy and has a great year because he deserves is."

Three’s not a crowd

Virginia’s players will be in class today at noon as a game is played at Davenport Field.

Thanks to a creative scheduling measure, O’Connor set up a three-team, round-robin event that will include Cornell and Siena.

Trying to squeeze games into a compressed season, Virginia’s coaching staff knew that four games needed to be played the first two weekends of the season.

"It is something that I scheduled again for 2009, for two teams to come here and play," O’Connor said. "It is a good opportunity for us to play two different opponents and get our 56 games in because we take 10 days off for final exams.

"It’s an opportunity for these visiting teams to play us twice and play another opponent twice. It is good for our program but it is also good for them, too."

O’Connor said he would like to attract big-name programs for the event in the future, but it seems unlikely.

"Everybody wants to play at home or they want to play in a big tournament down South somewhere," he said. "To get a SEC opponent or a traditional power in college baseball, it just doesn’t happen. You can’t get those people because a lot of teams are opening up in their leagues the following weekend."

Virginia will play Siena today at 4 p.m. The Cavaliers will also play a doubleheader on Saturday, facing Cornell at noon and Siena at 3 p.m., and will close out the event at 3 p.m. on Sunday against Cornell.

 

Numbers don't lie; another small class likely
Transfer story omitted Minter
By Doug Doughty

Some of the most positive correspondence that I’ve received in recent days suggests that more than a few people are interested in numbers.

Roster numbers, that is.

Just as intriguing as Virginia Tech’s 31-member recruiting class is the fact that after signing 18 players earlier this month, UVa is looking at another 18-player class for 2009.

Actually, because there were only 14 scholarship seniors on the 2007 Virginia team and the Cavaliers were at the 85-scholarship limit, the math would suggest that 18 is an excessive number.

In reality, the Cavaliers last year had to count two players who were no longer in the program – Olu Hall and Kevin Crawford – because they participated in spring drills. There has been some talk of Crawford rejoining the team, but Hall is at Kansas State.

Here is a class-by-class rundown for 2008 as the Cavaliers prepare for spring practice:

FIFTH-YEAR SENIORS (7) – Jon Copper (walk-on), Scott Deke, Byron Glaspy, Andrew Pearman, Cedric Pearman, Clint Sintim, Zak Stair.

FOURTH-YEAR SENIORS (6) – Antonio Appleby, Aaron Clark, Maurice Covington, Alex Field, Eugene Monroe, John Phillips.

FOURTH-YEAR JUNIORS (11) – Will Barker, Mike Brown, Denzel Burrell, Darren Childs, Jason Fuller, Vic Hall, Rashawn Jackson, Kevin Ogletree, Mikell Simpson, Patrick Slebonick, Brandon Woods.

THIRD-YEAR JUNIOR (1) – Nate Collins.

THIRD-YEAR SOPHOMORES (15) – Rico Bell, John Bivens, B.J. Cabbell, Isaac Cain, Darnell Carter, John-Kevin Dolce, Sean Gottschalk, Raynard Horne, Matt Leemhuis, Mike Parker, Keith Payne, Jack Shields, Joe Torchia, Marc Verica, Trey Womack.

SECOND-YEAR SOPHOMORES (5) – Danny Aiken, Jared Detrick, Ras-I Dowling, Dontrelle Inman, Peter Lalich.

SECOND-YEAR FRESHMEN (19) – Mark Ambrose, Landon Bradley, Kris Burd, Matt Conrath, Billy Cuffee, Andrew Devlin, Terence Fells-Danzer, Jared Green, Chris Hinkebein, Nick Jenkins, Dom Joseph, Anthony Mihota, Max Milien, Lamar Milstead, Chase Minnifield, Corey Mosley, Zane Parr, Aaron Taliaferro, J’Courtney Williams.

FIRST-YEAR FRESHMEN (18) – Tory Allen, Javaris Brown, Steve Greer, Jimmy Howell, Cam Johnson, Torrey Mack, Rodney McCleod, Matt Mihalik, Austin Pasztor, Colter Phillips, Mike Price, Klinton Ruff, Billy Schaultz, Riko Smalls, Aaron VanKuiken, Ausar Walcott, Devin Wallace, Rod Wheeler.

Add it up and that’s 82 players on scholarship. Let’s say that Andrew Pearman, sent home from the Gator Bowl for a disciplinary matter, does not return. That puts the number at 81. Take away 13 seniors and it would leave 68 scholarship returnees.

In the unlikely event that nobody left, UVa would be able to sign 16 or 17 recruits in 2009. But, what of the four players placed on academic suspension after the fall semester – Jameel Sewell, Chris Cook, Darnell Carter and Chris Dalton? Head coach Al Groh indicated that all four have expressed a willingness to return in 2009.

And what if Crawford comes back? Add five more returnees to the 2009 roster and the scholarship number goes up to 73.

No wonder UVa hasn’t felt safe yet in offering a scholarship to walk-on wide receivers Staton Jobe and Cary Koch. Maybe they’ll get grants in the summer, once preseason practice starts, but not now.

Reality says that not all 68 (or 73) scholarship upperclassmen will be around in 2009. Academics reared their head this year and academics aren’t about to go away.

What strikes me is that Virginia has had a fair amount of attrition by its standards and is still having trouble staying under 85. How does Virginia Tech sign such large classes and do it?

Actually, Virginia has signed some large classes of its own, including 25 in 2005, 24 in 2006 and 24 in 2007. The 2006 class, remember, was the one where eight players signed or committed to UVa but never enrolled.

So, if you’re like me and think that Virginia should have more than 18 scholarships available in 2009, rest assured that the numbers don’t support it.

READER RON WAGNER from Hendersonville, N.C., writes to say that last week’s column on transfers who have enjoyed success at other programs did not include Donte Minter, currently averaging a team-high 14.6 points and 6.1 rebounds for Appalachian State (17-12).

Wagner says that Applachian State coach Houston Fancher has been quoting as saying Minter is "the best low-post scorer I've ever coached." Minter is shooting 60 percent from the field and 73.2 percent from the free-throw line, with 132 attempts.

Like former Cavalier teammate Gary Forbes, who is scoring more than 20 points per game at Massachusetts, Minter would have had to redshirt at UVa in 2005-2006 in order to be playing for the Cavaliers this season.

Minter underwent knee surgery in the summer of 2005, just after Dave Leitao had been named coach, and had not played in a game before Leitao revealed Dec. 23, 2005, that Minter would be returning.

“He was going through some things with regard to his personal life and regard to basketball,” Leitao said at the time. “He didn’t walk in the office one day and say, ‘I don’t want to do this any more,’ without us having conversations about it.”

The point of last week’s UVa Insider was not to accuse Virginia’s coaches of running off players. Players have gone elsewhere and enjoyed success over the course of five coaching regimes (Bill Gibson, Terry Holland, Jeff Jones, Pete Gillen and Leitao) and not all of them would have had the opportunity to return.

What I would say is that the coaches should remain patient and trust their original evaluations, because, even when the jury was out, their judgments turned out to be sound in the end.

VIRGINIA LOST a respected alumnus when Greensboro sportswriter Jeff Carlton died after a long battle with brain cancer. He was 36.

I first remember Carlton covering the Great Alaska Shootout in 1990 for the Cavalier Daily and wish I had gotten to know him better over the years.

Carlton covered the ACC for many years and I last remember seeing him at the 2007 men’s basketball tournament in Tampa, Fla., where he appeared with a shaved head only weeks after surgery.

Carlton always had a smile on his face and was usually party to any activity that would rile up his Greensboro colleague and fellow former Cavalier, Rob Daniels. We’ll miss him.
 

2008 Spring Preview - The ACC
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Feb 24, 2008
By Richard Cirminiello
- 2007 ACC Spring Analysis
- 2008 Early Lookaheads - ACC
- 2008 ACC Insider Spring Questions & Answers

Atlantic

Boston College Begins: March 25 Game: April 26
The early spring buzz ... It was common knowledge that Jeff Jagodzinski inherited a veteran team with a Heisman-caliber quarterback in 2007, but now that much of that group has graduated, the coach’s job gets a lot tougher. Not only has Matt Ryan left the Heights for the NFL, but so have last year’s top two rushers, best offensive lineman, and three Second Team All-ACC defensive players. The best news for the 2008 defense is that two potential all-leaguers, DT B.J. Raji and LB Brian Toal, will be coming off the shelf after sitting out all of last season.
The big spring question is ... Who fills Ryan’s shoes? Although he’ll have to officially earn the job first, senior Chris Crane enters spring as the heavy favorite to start the opener Aug. 30. Surprisingly quick at 6-4 and 236 pounds, he has a capable arm and the luxury of being Ryan’s understudy over the last two seasons. If Crane is going to get pushed hard, it’ll come from Codi Boek, a live-armed transfer from American River College.
The most important position to watch is ... Running back. This is Boston College, where they still like to occasionally pound the ball between a couple of massive tackles. Unfortunately, last season’s most productive rushers, Andre Callender and L.V. Whitworth, are gone, and Jeff Smith and A.J. Brooks are unlikely to suit up this year for physical and disciplinary reasons, respectively. Enter rookie Josh Haden, who’s already on campus, and has the breakaway speed and clear path to steal the job as a true freshman.
Spring attitude... After getting to the ACC title game and going 11-3 last season, Boston College is headed back to being a really solid eight or nine-win program that’s unbeatable in December bowl games. For the first time since 1996, neither Ryan nor Tom O’Brien is in Chestnut Hill, begging the question of where the leadership will come from in 2008. The schedule doesn’t get ornery until mid-October, so the new quarterback will have time to get acclimated in September against the likes of Kent State, Rhode Island, and UCF.

Clemson Begins: March 8 Game: April 12
The early spring buzz ... With eight starters returning to each side of the ball, Tommy Bowden’s biggest challenge this spring will be keeping his Tigers from losing focus or getting overconfident. Clemson is the early favorite to win the ACC, a target it’ll have to wear until the season begins. It shapes up as a pivotal year for Bowden, who hasn’t quite been able to nudge the program over the hump, failing to win ten games or qualify for a major bowl game in his nine years with the program. This is arguably his best team ever, and coming off one of his best recruiting classes ever, adding an extra layer of pressure for a coach that’s no stranger to must-win situations.
The big spring question is ... Is true freshman DaQuan Bowers already capable of replacing Phillip Merling at defensive end? One of the most heralded recruits to ever sign with Clemson, Bowers will participate this spring with an eye on the starting job opposite Ricky Sapp. A unique talent with the body of an upperclassman, those 15 practices in March and April will dramatically increase his chances of getting on the field in September. If Bowers is the real deal right away, he and Sapp will form a scary-good pass-rushing tandem that’ll make Tiger fans forget Merling ever left.
The most important position to watch is ... Offensive tackle. If there’s a weak link, it’s clearly along the offensive line, where tackles Barry Richardson and Christian Capote and All-ACC guard Chris McDuffie have graduated. The only way opponents are going to stop a Tiger offense that includes QB Cullen Harper, backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller, and WR Aaron Kelly is if the line fails to open holes or keep the other team out of the backfield.
Spring attitude... Clemson opens the season against Alabama in the Georgia Dome, so we’ll know very early whether the school is a championship contender or pretender. All of the pieces are in place for the Tigers to cop their first ACC title in 17 years, but they’ll first have to exorcise a few late-seasons demons by navigating a November schedule that includes trips to Atlantic Division rivals Boston College and Florida State.

Florida State Begins: March 17 Game: April 12
The early spring buzz ... After back-to-back 7-6 seasons, along with a lingering academic scandal, have the Seminoles reached rock bottom or are they still descending further? It’s a question the program will begin to answer in March, as it attempts to pick up the pieces and make a hopeful return back to glory. While the defense will again be the strength, the offense needs to take a giant step forward in Jimbo Fisher’s second season as offensive coordinator. Most of last year’s unit is back, but it managed to score just 23 points a game in 2007 and struggled big time to open up the running game.
The big spring question is ... Will anything change now that Fisher’s been named Bobby Bowden’s successor? Although it may not be perceptible to the naked eye, Fisher’s role and influence are going to increase as Bowden’s final days at the helm get closer. Already the pilot of the Seminole offense, he’s also become the most influential coach on the recruiting trail and is having more say on staff decisions. Fisher’s prominence is growing all the time in Tallahassee, but you’re not going to recognize it by watching this year’s Garnet and Gold game.
The most important position to watch is ... Defensive tackle. After Andre Fluellen graduated, the thinking was that Letroy Guion would take over and have a monster senior season. Guion had other plans, however, leaving early for the NFL and leaving the Noles shorthanded on the interior of the defensive line. It’s about time for Emmanuel Dunbar to begin fulfilling his expectations, and Justin Mincey to evolve into an every-down player.
Spring attitude... The ‘Noles will be without a slew of suspended players for the first three games, but opening with Western Carolina and Chattanooga softens the blow. Although the schedule pretty much guarantees a bowl game, to win a tough Atlantic Division, Florida State might need career years from sporadic QB Drew Weatherford and underrated RB Antone Smith.

Maryland Begins: March 25 Game: April 26
The early spring buzz ... It’s only been five years since the Terps were stringing together ten-win seasons; it just feels a whole lot longer. Maryland has hit an impasse under Ralph Friedgen, settling into the midsection of the ACC and stumbling repeatedly on offense. Friedgen hired James Franklin away from Kansas State to light a fire under a unit that hasn’t averaged more than 24 points a game since 2003. Franklin’s first order of business will be to make sense out of a muddled quarterback situation that includes junior Chris Turner, senior Jordan Steffy, and junior Josh Portis, the Florida transfer that hasn’t been able to get on the field the last two years.
The big spring question is ... Who takes over for the running back duo of Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball? The Terrapins’ best weapons a year ago are no longer in College Park, leaving a gaping hole in the backfield. For the Maryland offense to have any chance of being potent, it needs an element of balance and a threat of a power running game. A couple of sophomores, Morgan Green and Da’Rel Scott, will figure prominently in the Terps’ offensive plans after combining for just 17 carries last season.
The most important position to watch is ... Defensive tackle. The Terrapins were tenth in the ACC against the run last year, when they had veterans Dre Moore and Carlos Feliciano manning the interior of the line. Without the pair, or stud LB Erin Henderson, the Maryland defense is going to be very susceptible to opponents that commit to the run. It’ll have to be a big year for junior Travis Ivey, senior Dean Muhtadi, and this year’s recruits, or else the Terps are going to allow plenty of long and draining drives this fall.
Spring attitude... You never want to doubt Friedgen, who’s done his best work when the least is expected of his teams. Still, the Terps have the look of a middle-of-the-pack program that isn’t particularly sterling at any one unit; at least that’s before spring ball. The wide receivers, led by Darrius Heyward-Bey, could be dangerous, but even they’ll be neutralized if one of the quarterbacks doesn’t raise the level of his game.

NC State Begins: March 18 Game: April 19
The early spring buzz ... Second-year head coach Tom O’Brien desperately wants to establish a running game, especially with State’s uncertainty at quarterback. Although he expects to be loaded at running back with Jamelle Eugene, Andre Brown, and Toney Baker back in the fold, it won’t matter unless the Pack gets dramatically better on the offensive line. The unit got routinely blown off the ball in 2007, making Eugene’s three 100-yard days after Brown and Baker were injured all the more impressive. So dire is the situation on the line, O’Brien is strongly considering moving defensive tackles Ted Larsen and John Bedics to the other side of the ball in the spring.
The big spring question is ... Out of Daniel Evans and Harrison Beck, does NC State have a quarterback it can count on? O’Brien’s offenses are rarely built around the passing game, but it sure would help the entire attack if the quarterbacks played with more consistency. Evans, Beck, and Justin Burke combined to throw a league-high 23 interceptions a year ago, a huge reason why the Pack started the season 1-5. Don’t expect an epiphany out of either hurler in 2008, although it will help to get back TE Anthony Hill, who missed last season with a knee injury.
The most important position to watch is ... Linebacker. The Wolfpack was last in the ACC last year in run defense, and things won’t get any easier without starting linebackers Ernest Jones, James Martin, and LeRue Rumph, and all-league tackle DeMario Pressley. Nate Irving, Ray Michel, and John Ware earned significant playing time as underclassmen in 2007, making them the frontrunners to win starting jobs by the end of the spring session.
Spring attitude... O’Brien is too good of a coach not to turn things around in Raleigh, but don’t expect miracles this early in his tenure. The Wolfpack has a long way to go in this process, and it’ll show again in 2008. With the holes on defense and the offensive line, and the erratic play of the quarterbacks, NC State will be fortunate to match last year’s 5-7 record.

Wake Forest Begins: March 26 Game: April 19
The early spring buzz ... The return of head coach Jim Grobe, who once again turned away higher profile offers, guaranteeing a positive atmosphere for next month’s spring kickoff. The coach has been the undisputed architect of the best two-year run in school history, a run that shows no signs of stopping in 2008. Grobe and his staff’s knack for taking marginal high school linemen and molding them into producers will be tested this fall, as the Deacons lose three starters on the offensive line and two on defense. True to Wake’s recent formula of success, it’ll be led by a steady running game, the low-risk passing of Riley Skinner, and a vastly underrated back seven.
The big spring question is ... Who replaces Steve Justice at center? The most important of those three departing offensive linemen and one of the best ever to play in Winston-Salem, Justice’s presence on the Wake Forest offense will be sorely missed. A masher in the running game, he made his linemates better and the holes for Josh Adams, Micah Andrews, and Kenny Moore wider. Trey Bailey, the heady junior who learned from Justice the last couple of seasons, is poised to take over at the pivot.
The most important position to watch is ... Wide receiver. The Deacons will certainly run more than they’ll pass, but to avoid being predictable, they’ve got to uncover a few new receivers for Skinner. Gone are three of last year’s top four pass-catchers, including Moore, a do-everything All-ACC First Team selection. For Skinner to continue his development, a lot will be expected of Chip Brinkman, Jordan Williams, and Demir Boldin, and a new starting tight end must be developed.
Spring attitude... With so many starters returning and a favorable schedule that has Clemson and Boston College visiting Groves Stadium, Wake Forest has to be thinking big, like playing for the ACC championship for the second time in three years. And why not? The backfield returns intact and the defense should be just as opportunistic as last year, when it led the league with 35 takeaways. As long as the Deacons can solidify the offensive line and find a pass rushing replacement for DE Jeremy Thompson, Grobe will again be a very hot commodity at the end of the regular season.

Coastal

Duke Begins: March 19 Game: April 19
The early spring buzz ... The biggest star at Duke this spring hasn’t worn a helmet or pads in decades. By luring David Cutcliffe away from Tennessee, the Blue Devils have their best Xs and Os guy since Steve Spurrier was in Durham, and they get a coach who brings instant credibility to a floundering program. His task is obviously overwhelming, inheriting a team that’s won four games in four years and hasn’t beaten an ACC opponent since 2004, but the new staff is a step in the right direction. Cutcliffe has already begun paying dividends to Duke, beating out Pac-10 teams for Sean Renfree, his eventual franchise at quarterback.
The big spring question is ... How much of an impact will Cutcliffe have on a Duke offense that averaged 18 points a game in 2007? Cutcliffe has tutored both Manning brothers, but he doesn’t exactly have one of them to work with this year. QB Thaddeus Lewis and WR Eron Riley are nice building blocks for the new pro-style offense, provided Riley’s part in a fight last month doesn’t keep him off the field. The key for the Blue Devils will be to establish some semblance of a running attack after averaging just 64 yards a game on the ground last year.
The most important position to watch is ... Offensive line. The fact that it all starts up front was never more evident than with last year’s line, which allowed 45 sacks and never opened holes for Re’Quan Boyette. Three starters are back, led by massive RT Fred Roland, but Cutcliffe’s top priority this spring will be to find a new center and left guard and improve the overall depth in the trenches. Some of the youngsters, like tackles Robert Drum and Bryan Morgan, will get a chance for playing time early in their careers.
Spring attitude... There’s a whole new attitude permeating throughout the program, which often comes with the hiring of a new staff. Fundamentally, the Blue Devils will make a quantum leap from last season, even if it doesn’t show up in the final standings. Duke will take its first rebuilding steps under Cutcliffe in 2008, stunning one ACC opponent later this fall.

Georgia Tech Begins: March 24 Game: April 19
The early spring buzz ... By every possible measure, 2008 shapes up as a transition year for the Georgia Tech program, even if the new coaching staff is seeing it that way. With new head coach Paul Johnson comes the adoption of the option offense and the exit of defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta, who deftly turned the Yellow Jackets into a perennial nuisance for the rest of the ACC. As if all that upheaval isn’t unsettling enough, the defense loses three of last year’s four all-leaguers, and the special teams must replace Durant Brooks and Travis Bell, the best punter-kicker combo in the history of the program.
The big spring question is ... Who’ll be Johnson’s first quarterback in Atlanta? Well, one man it won’t be is last year’s starter Taylor Bennett, a bad fit for the offense who has decided to transfer. The two primary contenders are sophomore Josh Nesbitt and Auburn transfer Calvin Booker, both of whom possess the requisite athleticism to run the option attack. Nesbitt ran for 339 yards a year ago, flashing the burst and escapability that bode well for his future in Atlanta.
The most important position to watch is ... Linebacker. In Philip Wheeler and Gary Guyton, the Yellow Jackets will be without last year’s top two tacklers and two of the defense’s best run defenders. While Shane Bowen will be back to handle one of the starting jobs, the competition for the two openings will begin in the spring and last until the end of the summer. Tech is particularly excited about the future of sophomore Anthony Barnes, who backed up Bowen and had 29 tackles in his 2007 debut.
Spring attitude... With change occurring just about everywhere at Georgia Tech, the expectations for the upcoming season are understandably modest. Throw in September games at Boston College and Virginia Tech, and the Jackets could be out of the ACC title hunt before the leaves start turning colors. More than anything else, Johnson wants to establish his system in 2008, with an eye toward bigger and better things in 2009.

Miami Begins: February 26 Game: March 29
The early spring buzz ... Head coach Randy Shannon got a mulligan for going 5-7 in his first season, but the honeymoon is already over as he heads into year two. The Hurricanes need to develop a consistent playmaker at quarterback and revamp the defense, two areas that never let the program down during the glory days. Very few positions won’t be open to competition this spring, as Miami begins to infuse parts of its last two recruiting classes into the depth chart. Shannon built a fortress around the city of Miami in February, assembling one of the nation’s best hauls of young talent, but now he and his staff need to show they can coach as well as they recruit.
The big spring question is ... Is this Robert Marve’s first step toward locking down the quarterback opening? The job is clearly his to lose, but the redshirt freshman will get pushed in March by Jacory Harris and Cannon Smith, two of the gems of this year’s class. Almost all the way back from last July’s scary car accident, Marve has the athletic ability to keep defenses from getting too comfortable. No matter what happens next month, Shannon doesn’t plan to officially anoint his starter until the summer.
The most important position to watch is ... The offensive line. Well, specifically, the interior of the offensive line. The Hurricanes are in good shape at tackle, with Jason Fox handling the left side and seniors Reggie Youngblood and Chris Rutledge battling it out on the right side. There’ll be new starters, however, at center and both guard spots on a unit that didn’t get the job done a year ago. The most intriguing starter might be Shannon’s son Xavier, who has transferred from Florida International to lock horns with A.J. Trump at the pivot.
Spring attitude... Although this latest recruiting class has brought a spark back to the Miami program, it’s not likely to have a profound impact on the Hurricanes’ win total this year. Shannon’s going to get the ‘Canes back to the postseason, but with so much uncertainty on both sides of the ball and a rugged schedule, they’ll fall a little short of a Coastal Division crown.

North Carolina Begins: March 3 Game: April 5
The early spring buzz ... Butch Davis’ sleeping giant believes it’s ready to take another big step in its quest to be a perennial contender in the ACC. The Tar Heels played a ton of underclassmen in 2007, which is expected to pay off this year. After showing their immaturity in close games a year ago, Carolina is now experienced everywhere, including at quarterback, where sophomore T.J. Yates begins his second season as the starter. While Davis has turned away interest from other programs since the end of the season, defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano jumped to the Baltimore Ravens in February, forcing the Heels to hire Everett Withers.
The big spring question is ... Can the Tar Heels locate a running game? Carolina was brutal on the ground last year, a combination of poor blocking up front and an average stable of running backs. Last season’s top four rushers are back, but unless a line that returns four starters can keep the opposition out of the backfield, it won’t make a difference. The Heels are optimistic about the future of Greg Little, who ran for 243 yards and two scores in the final two games of 2007, despite being viewed as a receiver when he got to Chapel Hill.
The most important position to watch is ... Defensive line. While there’s plenty of excitement about the back seven, the front four is the site of this year’s two biggest losses. DE Hilee Taylor and DT Kentwan Balmer were a couple of All-ACC performers, whose next games will take place on Sundays. While Marvin Austin is expected to fill the gap on the inside, finding a replacement for Taylor’s 16 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. A couple of last year’s redshirt freshmen, Darrius Massenburg and Darius Powell, are being counted on to pick up the slack.
Spring attitude... Davis’ second spring is all about building on last season and getting better on offense, even though Yates will sit it out to rehab shoulder surgery. They’ll have to navigate a relatively tough schedule to do so, but the Heels are inching closer to winning six games and qualifying for a second-tier bowl game. A 13th game would instantly put the program’s rebuilding efforts into overdrive.

Virginia Begins: March 21 Game: April 12
The early spring buzz ... Virginia’s high academic standards are causing major headaches this off-season for Al Groh and the football program. A half-dozen players, including QB Jameel Sewell, DE Jeffrey Fitzgerald, and CB Chris Cook have uncertain futures in Charlottesville related to problems in the classroom. Most unsettling is the fact that these departures are occurring on a team that was already facing the possibility of having to rebuild in 2008 after going an unlikely 9-4 a year ago. If the Cavs have any hope of bucking the trend again this fall, they’ll have to spend this spring recapturing the close-game magic that led to an NCAA-record six wins by five points or less in 2007.
The big spring question is ... Who’s going to rush the passer? If Fitzgerald makes good on his promise to transfer, it’ll rob the Cavaliers of he and Chris Long, who combined for 21 sacks last season. That’ll leave the program with just two ends with meaningful experience, sophomore Sean Gottschalk and senior Alex Field. If opposing quarterbacks have all day to throw this season, an average Virginia secondary is going to get exposed on a weekly basis.
The most important position to watch is ... The offensive line. When First Team All-ACC lineman Branden Albert decided to declare for the NFL Draft, it meant Virginia would be without both of last year’s starting guards and its No. 1 center. One of the top priorities this spring will be to rebuild the interior of that line in order to support the running game and likely starting quarterback Peter Lalich. At 6-5 and 235 pounds, the sophomore is more of a pocket passer than the kind of quarterback Cav coaches want to be dodging non-stop pass rushes.
Spring attitude... The conventional wisdom is that Virginia overachieved last year with one great player, a solid kicking game, several close wins, and an average overall supporting cast. With Long and Albert headed to the NFL, the Cavaliers are taking huge hits on the defensive and offensive lines, respectively. Plus, this was supposed to be Sewell’s breakout year, rather than a season that may never materialize. With a schedule that begins with USC and ends with Virginia Tech, Virginia will be hard-pressed to win seven games in 2008

Virginia Tech Begins: March 26 Game: April 19
The early spring buzz ... The defending ACC champions will enter the upcoming season as one of the main favorites to win the Coastal Division, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t big holes to fill. The Hokies took a beating through graduation, losing their top receivers, three-quarters of the starting defensive line, All-ACC linebackers Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall, and steady PK Jud Dunlevy. No doubt there’s talent waiting in the wings, but Tech will have to find and develop it in a hurry this spring in order to win a third league title in just the past five seasons.
The big spring question is ... Will both quarterbacks again be featured prominently? Last season, Frank Beamer used freshman Tyrod Taylor and junior Sean Glennon extensively, often maximizing their complementary set of skills. However, with 11 games of experience now in the vault, the clock might be ticking before Taylor passes Glennon en route to the lion’s share of the snaps. Clearly the more dynamic of the two, he’s capable of obliterating the two-quarterback system by stepping up as a passer this spring.
The most important position to watch is ... Defensive line. If the Hokies hiccup in their attempt to replace DE Chris Ellis and tackles Barry Booker and Carlton Powell, the entire defense will feel the ripple effect. Tech was No. 5 nationally last year in run defense and sacks largely because of a front seven that opponents couldn’t handle man-to-man. Ends Jason Worilds and Nekos Brown, and tackles John Graves and Cordarrow Thompson will instantly have to fill in and become frontline producers.
Spring attitude... Regardless of the hurdles, Virginia Tech has gotten this ACC thing down to a science, winning the league or playing in the title game in three of the last four years. The upcoming season will bring challenges to both sides of the ball, but in a division that has no serious challenger, at least on paper going into the off-season, the program