With the season getting started around the nation, it's time to start talking seriously about college basketball.  Living in the heart of ACC country, I'm starting with a preview of that conference first.  This article will give projected starting lineups (with last season's player stats in parentheses), each team's strengths and weaknesses, and a few notes on each team's outlook for the coming year.  I have listed the teams in order according to my prediction of what the season-ending conference standings will look like.

1.  North Carolina  (31-7 in '06-'07, 11-5 ACC [tied for 1^st])

Starters Lost (2)

B. Wright (14.7 pts, 6.2 reb), R. Terry (9.7 pts, 5.4 reb)

Projected Starters

PG:  T. Lawson, 5-11 So. (10.2 pts, 5.6 assists, 2.9 reb)

SG:  W. Ellington, 6-4 So. (11.7 pts, 2.1 assists, 2.9 reb)

SF:  M. Ginyard, 6-5 Jr. (4.1 pts, 3.2 reb)

PF:  D. Thompson, 6-8 So. (4.7 pts, 2.4 reb)

F/C:  T. Hansbrough, 6-9 Jr. (18.4 pts, 7.9 reb)

Key Reserves

D. Green, 6-5 Jr. (5.2 pts, 2.8 reb); A. Stephenson, 6-9 So. (2.1 pts, 2.2 reb); B. Frasor, 6-3 Jr. (2.4 pts, 1.6 assist)

Strengths:  Psycho-T!  Nobody in the conference has a big man that's even on the same planet as Hansbrough.  Also, Lawson and Ellington had solid freshman seasons last year, with the potential to get even better the more time they spend under Coach Williams.

Weaknesses:  The loss of Brandan Wright (NBA) and Reyshawn Terry (graduation) from last year's team presents a significant challenge for Carolina, who has no obvious replacement at either position.  Additionally, the Heels must improve their shooting from 3-point range to keep their opponents from double and triple-teaming Hansbrough.

2007-08 Outlook:  The best team in the league without question, and a virtual lock for a #1 seed in both the conference and NCAA tournaments.  However, in order for the Heels to capture a national championship, Ginyard and/or Green must come close to Terry's production and Thompson/Stephenson must equal Wright's.  Otherwise, the Heels could actually take a step back this season.  I'd rank UCLA and Tennessee ahead of UNC right now, but the Heels have the potential to win it all if a couple of players emerge to help Hansbrough in the frontcourt.

2.  North Carolina State  (20-16 in '06-'07, 5-11 ACC [tied for 10^th])

Starters Lost (1)

E. Atsur (11.3 pts, 4.2 assists)

Projected Starters

PG:  F. Degand, 6-4 So. (transfer from Iowa State)

SG:  C. Fells, 6-5 Jr. (10.9 pts, 3.8 reb)

SF:  G. Grant, 6-8 Sr. (14.7 pts, 5.3 reb, 3.8 assists)

PF:  B. Costner, 6-9 Jr. (16.8 pts, 7.3 reb)

C:   B. McCauley, 6-9 Jr. (14.4 pts, 5.3 reb)

Key Reserves 

J.J. Hickson, 6-9 Fr.; D. Horner, 6-8 So. (4.6 pts, 2.3 reb); M. Johnson, 6-5 So. (transfer from Tenn.)

Strengths:  Frontcourt scoring.  The Wolfpack has a lot of firepower returning in Grant, Costner, and McCauley.  Plus, State gets their most heralded recruit since Julius Hodge in J.J. Hickson, who would be starting for most teams.

Weaknesses:  Point guard.  This team really struggled last year when Atsur was injured.  Now, with Atsur lost to graduation, Coach Lowe has to find a replacement who can feed the ball to all the returning talent.

2007-08 Outlook:  Maybe it's overly bold for me to predict a jump from 10^th in the conference last year to 2^nd this season, but if one of the transfers can handle the job at the point, this team has a chance to be special.

3.  Clemson  (25-11 in '06-'07, 7-9 ACC [tied for 8^th])

Starters Lost (1)

V. Hamilton (12.3 pts, 3.4 ast, 3.2 reb)

Projected Starters

PG: C. Hammonds, 6-3 Sr. (11.6 pts, 4.1 ast, 3.2 reb)

SG:  KC Rivers, 6-5 Jr. (14.0 pts, 4.5 reb, 1.8 ast)

G/F:  S. Perry, 6-5 Sr. (3.6 pts, 2.7 reb, 1.0 ast)

PF:  T. Booker, 6-7 So. (10.4 pts, 6.4 reb, 2.2 blk)

F/C:  J. Mays, 6-9 Sr. (12.2 pts, 6.4 reb, 2.7 ast)

Key Reserves

J. Powell, 6-7 Jr. (2.6 pts, 1.4 reb);  D. Potter, 6-6 So. (2.5 pts, 1.3 reb); R. Sykes, 6-9 Jr. (2.1 pts, 1.9 reb)

Strengths:  Experience.  With four returning double-digit scorers, Clemson has all the ingredients necessary for a stellar season this year.  Mays, who played his high school ball right down the street from my house, wisely decided not to hire an agent this spring and was able to withdraw from the NBA draft and come back for his senior season.

Weaknesses:  Focus.  For whatever reason, Clemson has a long history of failing to pay attention to the details.  This lack of focus was apparent last year in their late season swoon and continued free throw problems. 

2007-08 Outlook:  If everybody stays healthy, the Tigers have no excuse for not finishing this season in the top third of the ACC and heading to the Big Dance in March.  They have experience at every position and good size coming off the bench.  Mays can't come back again next year, so they have to make the most out of this opportunity.

4.  Duke  (22-11 in '06-'07, 8-8 ACC [tied for 6^th])

Starters Lost (1)

J. McRoberts (13.0 pts, 7.9 reb, 3.5 assists, 2.5 blk)

Projected Starters

PG:  G. Paulus, 6-1 Jr. (11.8 pts, 3.8 ast, 1.2 stl)

SG:  D. Nelson, 6-3 Sr. (14.1 pts, 5.4 reb, 2.0 ast)

G/F:  J. Scheyer, 6-5 So. (12.2 pts, 3.3 reb, 1.8 ast)

PF:  K. Singler, 6-8 Fr.

C:   B. Zoubek, 7-1 So. (3.1 pts, 2.2 reb)

Key Reserves

G. Henderson, 6-4 So. (6.8 pts, 2.9 reb); D. McClure, 6-6 Jr. (4.2 pts, 4.9 reb); L. Thomas, 6-8 So. (4.0 pts, 2.5 reb)

Strengths:  Depth.  It's been a while since you could say that about Duke, but they have a lot of productive players on the roster this season.  Add freshmen Nolan Smith and Taylor King, and Martynas Pocius, to the group listed above and Coach K should have a lot of fresh legs to rely this year.

Weaknesses:  Size.  There are no proven frontcourt players on the roster, so we're likely to see a lot of gimmicky small-ball lineups for the Devils this season.

2007-08 Outlook:  Is it possible for Duke to be under-rated?  Probably not, but if N.C. State fails to find a point guard to run their offense, and Clemson falls apart like last year, Duke could finish as high as 2^nd in the conference.  If Singler isn't ready, they could end up closer to their 6^th place finish of last year.