UNC, Duke co-favorites to win ACC

GREENSBORO, N.C. — In Tony Bennett’s office at John Paul Jones Arena, a poster from the movie “Rocky” is prominently displayed.
The first-year Virginia coach hopes his players see it whenever they walk in.
“I said, ‘I want you guys to embrace this mentality of being a fighter, of being an underdog-mentality program because we have to earn and gain some
respectability back,’” Bennett said. “That’s going to take some time, but that’s the mentality I want in the program.”
By now, Virginia players should certainly be able to relate to Rocky’s plight, sans the success.
Last season, UVa was picked by the media to finish 12th in the 12-school ACC. The Cavaliers ended up 11th, and replaced former coach Dave Leitao with Bennett at season’s end.
On Sunday afternoon at ACC Media Day, Virginia was predicted to finish 11th.
The Wahoos finished ahead of cellar-dweller N.C. State.
North Carolina and Duke finished tied for first. It was the first tie in the 41-year history of the poll.
Clemson was picked third.
Georgia Tech, buouyed by the return of Gani Lawal and the arrival of freshman phenom Derrick Favors, was fourth.
The Yellow Jackets were followed by Maryland, Wake Forest, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Boston College and Miami (10th).
Duke big man Kyle Singler was tabbed as ACC preseason player of the year, while Georgia Tech freshman Derrick Favors was picked “freshman of the year.”
Being selected to finish so poorly in the poll didn’t seem to faze Bennett.
“I mean, you can’t get too wrapped up in where they project you — good or bad,” Bennett said. “Hopefully you can use this as motivation for your players. I don’t know what program wouldn’t.
“But I’m not too concerned by [the poll]. It’s really not about that now. It’s about us establishing a program.”
At least one person at Media Day was convinced it’s not going to take Bennett long. Wake Forest guard Ishmael Smith spoke glowingly of Bennett and his style of defense. It just so happens to be the same system that the Demon Deacons employ. Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio picked it up from Bennett’s father, the former Wisconsin and Washington State coach.
“I think [the addition of Bennett] automatically makes them a great defensive team,” Smith said. “It does wonders.
“And they have good players. Sylven Landesberg is a heckuva player. I think they’ll be a really good team because it’s not like they were getting blown out last year. We had a tough [game in Charlottesville].”
Landesberg, last season’s ACC Freshman of the Year, had left by the time the media poll was released. But prior to that, he said he expected, like many, to see the usual suspects picked near the top of the league.
“You’ve got Carolina, Duke and I think Georgia Tech will do pretty good this year,” Landesberg said. “I haven’t seen much of [Favors], but from what I hear, he’s really good.”
Landesberg, who hails from New York, has set his expectations high for his team.
“The league lost a lot of players, and a lot of people left for the draft,” he said. “We could definitely compete with anybody.”
Coming off a 10-win season, Bennett seems realistic in his expectations.
“There’s just a building process that has to take place,” he said. “Do fans understand that, do media, do alumni? Not all.
“But you have to have a plan and you have to stick to it…my expectations are that it’s going to take three or four years to get your guys in place.”
Bennett said there was no point in blowing smoke right out of the gate.
“I’m not about hype,” he said. “The proof will be in the pudding. It’s more substance than style. What good does [hype] do?”
To that end, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, when asked about Bennett taking over for Leitao, said he is taking a wait-and-see approach.
“I think Tony Bennett did a great job at Washington State,” Krzyzewski said. “I have no idea how he’ll run his system, but I’ll find that out throughout the year.”
Dunks
Joining Singler on the All-ACC First Team were Greivis Vasquez of Maryland, Trevor Booker of Clemson, Malcolm Delaney of Virginia Tech and Ed Davis of North Carolina…Vasquez finished second in the voting to Singler for Player of the Year. Booker was third.