Talk ACC Basketball with Bobby Cremins
TheACC.com would like to welcome Bobby Cremins to today's live chat. Let's get started.
Brandon, Taylors, SC
Can you give us your take on Sunday's Maryland-Duke game?
Bobby Cremins
Great game, two heavy weight teams. The difference was Maryland's front line. Baxter neutralized Boozer and Chris Wilcox did a lot of damage. Coach K will have a different type of game plan next time they meet. As Coach K said, Maryland deserved to win and they were sensational.
Scott
Do you think Maryland will hold on and win the ACC regular season title?
Bobby Cremins
I do. I think for them to be able to say they were the regular season champs would be special. Everybody predicted Duke and they have a chance to do something special and the Maryland players know it. There is still a lot of basketball left to be played.
Kim, Chapel Hill
Everyone knows you for your ever-present gold tie. I want to know, is there only one gold tie, or many?
Bobby Cremins
Many. I used to have a collection of about 25.
Mike, West Chester, PA
First off, as a GT alum, thanks for many great years! Which ACC team is best poised in the next year or two to take a run at unseeding Duke at the top?
Bobby Cremins
When you look at recruiting North Carolina and Georgia Tech stick out. Of course so does Duke. So far the best recruiting classes have been Duke, North Carolina and Georgia Tech. NC State with Hodge and Powell they could build a lot off of those two guys and Evtimov. They probably have the best young players in the league. Things change quickly once the NBA draft comes around.
Jose, Atlanta
What do you think of the NC State vs. Ga Tech match-up on Wednesday? What are the keys to the game for either team?
Bobby Cremins
I was impressed in Georgia Tech's road win against St. Louis. They are playing very well. However, for NC State this a key game for the battle for third place because Wake Forest has the tougher remaining schedule. A win for NC State against a team on the road that is playing well would really help State's chances for third place.
George, Salisbury, NC
Why do coaches sometimes not use available players on their bench? A good for instance is Scooter Sherrill (NC State) who up until recently didn't get much playing time even though he was a highly touted player going in.
Bobby Cremins
That's the part that fans can't see and that is practice. That means they are not playing great in practice, someone else is playing better. They have to sit and wait for their turn and when it comes they have to make the best of it like Scooter did. They always have to be ready in case someone gets injured or in foul trouble. Fans only see the games, they don't watch practice and a lot of playing time is determined in practice.
Chris, Raleigh, NC
Bobby, congrats on all the success you've had as a coach and your present success as analyst! Why do you think that N.C. State is continually being overlooked as a solid top 25 team, given it things go the way they should they would end up tied for 3rd in the ACC with Wake Forest at a 10-6 record or best case we would be in sole posession of 3rd with a solid 11-5 record? Hope to see you back on the court one day, Thanks!
Bobby Cremins
Good question. The blow out at Duke hurt them. But they are right on the verge of breaking into the top-25. The voters probably are waiting to make sure that they are for real. Personally, I feel they deserve the ranking and right now Herb Sendek is my coach of the year. I base that on the situation going into the season. I know Gary Williams and Mike (Krzyzewski) will get a lot of recognition nationally for their coaching this year as well.
BD, High Point
In your opinion, who are the five players in the ACC right now with the most upside for a potentially successful NBA career?
Bobby Cremins
A lot of coaches don't like to talk about this at this time of the year because players leaving early is definitely a problem. I will go along with my peers and hold off until the end of the NCAA Tournament. Obviously once again there will be some underclassmen thinking about coming out, but again that subject is better talked about after the season.
Josh, Richmond
The talk now is that Virginia is a bubble team, what can the Cavs do to help their chances of getting off the bubble?
Bobby Cremins
I still feel they are in great shape for the NCAA. They need Adam Hall back. The real positive thing right now for Virginia is the four freshmen are getting a lot of playing time. Once Hall gets back, they could be a very dangerous team. They cannot lose their confidence.
Gavin, Marietta, Georgia
Do you miss the daily rigors of coaching in the ACC?
Bobby Cremins
I do not miss the daily rigors. I sometimes miss the action and the challenge, but not the daily rigors.
Eric - Greenville, SC
How do you think the Clemson front court of Henderson and Hobbs will match-up with Maryland's front court on Wednesday?
Bobby Cremins
Clemson is catching Maryland at a good time, but Clemson has been inconsistent and Maryland's playing at a different level of basketball right now. They are going into Clemson with incredible confidence. They could be over confident, but the fact that if they win out they win the regular season tells me that I think Maryland is going to be ready to play. That will be an interesting game.
BD High Point
Coach, can you talk about Thursday's game between Duke and Wake and what some of the keys will be?
Bobby Cremins
Wake Forest needs Josh Howard back to beat Duke. They play great at home. Songaila is playing his best basketball, but I just don't know if they can beat Duke without Josh Howard. Without Josh Howard, I like Duke.
That is all the time Bobby Cremins has for us today. Be sure to join us again next Tuesday at 11 a.m. to talk ACC Basketball with Bobby Cremins.
