I believe the ACC is the most storied basketball conference in NCAA history. Over the years, some of college basketball’s most epic battles have occurred during ACC play. Some of my most exciting memories, along with my toughest battles, during my career came during ACC play.
On any given night during ACC play any team from top to bottom has a good chance of victory. ACC teams have some of the best home court advantages in college basketball. The fans for every team are very passionate and, rightfully so, they believe they are just as important as the players while fighting for victory.
When we would beat a team early in the season and have to play them at their home later that year, the fans definitely let you know that you’re not welcome. Man, on the road in this scenario the fans would be ruthless! If a team beat us earlier in the season and we played them in C’ville, our fans definitely would bring it too – but we do it with class and dignity!
Of course in such a great league, there are great coaches so the teams are always prepared. ACC scouting reports are very detailed. We usually got them a few days before the game. Being a disciplined student of the game myself, I would be watching video from guys throughout their whole career. I didn’t wait for the scouting report. I made sure I knew my matchup and the key players’ strength and weaknesses to a T. I left nothing to chance. Scouting reports are very underrated, though. If you are truly a dedicated player, the scouting report is almost like an open book exam. It would be foolish not to take advantage of it.
Coach Dave Leitao and coach Rob Lanier were master minds when it came to scouting. They would always have intricate and detailed schemes that gave us a great chance at victory. As a coach, you can give your team the blueprint but if the players fail to go out there under the big lights and execute, however, then it’s tough to get a victory. In practice we would break down each player’s strengths and weaknesses. We also would break down their plays offensively. Here we are able to get each player’s tendencies within those plays. The scouting report and practices go hand in hand!
During the shoot-around on game day, we went over and walked through the opponent’s tendencies and plays. The shoot-around is to get your blood flowing and minds working – it’s channeling the players’ energy to be prepared for the game that day. It’s just a brief refresher course on the opponent.
Playing teams twice adds to those scouting report details. I don’t think a team can take plays or moves away from a player, but they can get the ball out of your hands with different schemes. When I was playing, teams would double team or trap me to get the ball out of my hands. I would always try to split the double and make a play for my team.
Looking back, the only team I felt every year had the best scouting report on me was Clemson. My junior and senior year, they would press us full court. I would be totally worn out by half time because I would break the press by myself. My junior year, we were able to squeak out an epic win and one of my most memorable hard fault victories of my career. My senior year, they beat the stew out of us at home!
Virginia faces a second round scouting report and payback-minded fans at Wake Forest. I didn’t think Lawrence Joel Coliseum was a tough place to play, but the Demon Deacons always gave us match-up problems. That’s true in some ways for this year’s Hoos too, particularly with Justin Anderson out. They will need to stay disciplined because of that.
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I remembered that Clemson game. Best comeback game I ever watched.. anybody have a link to watch the replay online?