Mike Gminski's Blog

It is only May, but there have already been dramatic shifts in the ACC coaching ranks. At no time in the history of the ACC have 3 coaching changes taken place in one off season. That came to an end this spring as Clemson, Boston College and Wake Forest will all have new coaches patrolling the sidelines. Include Tony Bennett at UVA last year and a thrid of the league has had a change of head coach. Let’s take a look at each of the school’s selections.

Boston College- Al Skinner did a great job at BC, getting to the NCAA’s 7 times and making the Eagles a factor when they entered the ACC. He arrived at BC before AD Gene DeFillipo and the two were polar opposites as far as their personalities were concerned- Skinner more laid back and hands off, DeFilippo full of energy. Even with succes, Skinner’s brand of basketball was not exciting and attendance at the Conte Forum waned. DeFillipo came to the conclusion he needed an infussion of energy and made a change.
In comes Steve Donahue from Cornell. He had a great run there, winning three straight Ivy League titles and getting them to the sweet 16 last year. They also had regular season wins vs. Wisconsin and Temple en route to a 29 win season. His teams are not wide open but they do score alot, take care of the ball and shoot the three very well. This will be a departure from Skinner’s style and should be more entertaining. It will be interesting to see, with the quality of athlete he can now recruit, how Donahue fairs against ACC competition.

Clemson- Oliver Purnell’s departure from Clemson caught alot of people by surprise. His hiring at Depaul came quickly and he never even gave Clemson a chance to retain him. He had incredible success with the Tigers, with four straight 20 win seasons and 3 straight NCAA berths but his success in March was limited. At the end of the day, carping about his lack of post season success along with DePaul emptying the fault lead to his departure.

Enter Brad Brownell. He has had a quick rise through the ranks, taking over for Jerry Wainright at UNC Wilmington, getting the Seahawks to the NCAA’s twice. Next stop was Wright St., where he won 20 games all four years and won the Horizon league in 2007. Brownell’s teams are tough-minded on defense but will not press full court like Purnell’s squads. He reminds people in Clemson of their football coach, Dabo Swinney- a can do, no nonsense coach. He is a proven winner, but this is his highest profile job in the toughest conference yet. His mission is to make the Tiger’s a factor in March.

Wake Forest- A lack of post season succes also lead to Dino Gaudio’s departure. His regular season record over three years was outstanding, but his teams always wilted as the season went along. Even an NCAA win against Texas this year could not save his job in AD Ron Wellman’s eyes. I disagreed with this move when I heard of it. I have the utmost respect for Wellman but I thought Gaudio did a marvelous job after Skip Prosser’s death and, on the surface, should have gotten another year. Ther must have been something going on behind the scene that precipitated this move.

Gaudio’s replacement is the most curious hire of the three. Jeff Bzdelick, a Pat Riley disciple with a mostly NBA pedigree, comes over after stints at Air Force and Colorado. His record on the collegiate level is marginal, at best, and his teams have had very little success in the post season.He is a devotee of the Princeton offense and prefers to play a matchup zone. I have always said that guys are either pro coaches or college coaches. Wellman is betting alot that Bzdelick can come in and make Wake a factor in March.

It is interesting to note that none of the hires are marquis names. None of the AD’s tried to win the press conference with coaching stars. Looking back, Jim Valvano, Bobby Cremins and Mike Krzyzewski weren’t household names at the time of their hiring, but all went on to become icons. These three schools are hoping for the same thing with this new group.

I just got back from vacation and, franlky, it has taken me that long to reflect on Duke’s national championship season. I remember broadcasting their first game of the year versus UNC-G and having Coach K tell me this was a very good team, not a great team. I was anxious to see this new edition practice and play and was disappointed that Mason Plumlee had broken his wrist the day before. I wondered if that was an omen for things to come. Fortunately, it was just a bump in the road to a championship.

All through the year, Mike would repeat the mantra that they are not a great team, but the caveat was that they were a team of great character. This could not have been more on the mark. This was one of his most veteran teams and the internal leadership was outstanding. Brian Zoubek was healthy for the first time, Lance Thomas was the soul of the defense, and Jon Scheyer was blossoming into an All-american guard. Scheyer, along with Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler, would be dubbed the Big Threeand would carry the weight offensively. Fortunately, all three would remain healthy despite playing heavy minutes. The defense was just as stingy but not as extended. Finally, Hall of Fame Coach K made some key adjustments during the year that made a huge difference.

The first subtle adjustment was to run more motion on offense. This allowed Kyle Singler to get better looks at his new position at small forward. Having played in the post his first two years, he was now forced to see the game from the outside in. The move to motion really freed him up and he immediately responded with a 30 point game.

The other key move was the insertion of Zoubek into the starting lineup. Brian was healthy for the first time in his career and made the most of this opportunity. He was a monster on both boards and on defense. He was a great screener and passer within the framework of the offense and his offensive rebounding gave Duke multiple second chance scoring looks.

It was amazing to watch this team grow during the year and equally amazing that, despite winning the ACC Tournament, few thought they deserved to be a number one seed or could even be a factor in the final four.What a credit to the coaching staff and this group that they went about their business without regard for what was being written about them. And in the end, after winning the fourth National Championship in the Coach K era, even he had to admit this was a great team! Truer words were never spoken.

I can’t tell you how different the Finals are from the semi’s!! When we were cruising through the 1978 tournament, we approached every game the same. It was a joy ride and we were the media darlings! We were young, brash and unafraid- until the Finals!! It was completely different. The air was heavier and the mood completely different! No player in this game tonight has been here before and it will be the same for them. The difference is that Coach K has been here 10 times before and Brad Stevens has not. Butler may break out early on adrelinine but that will end quickly. For the Bulldogs to win, they must compete on the defensive glass and Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack must be the best players on the floor. For Duke, if the big three is all on, this will be no contest. Their size will be an advantage and their depth will be a difference!! Watching this game always brings back great memories! It was a privilege to play in this game and I can’t wait to watch the game!!

Do not think for a minute that Butler is Cinderella! This has been a top ten team all year long and are capable of winning this weekend. The fact that they are located in Indy adds to the theater and also will give them a very vocal presence in the crowd. That being said, this is a very talented team. Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack could play for any program in the country. Hayward is a gifted scorer who can manufacture his own offense and Mack is a great floor general. This team defends like crazy, holding opponents to 59 ppg and 41% shooting. The big issue with Michigan St. will be the boards. Butler averages only 32 rpg and that could be an area of concern for Coach Brad Stevens. Stevens has been outstanding this year and the best outcome of all this notoriety is that he won’t get carded anymore at restaurants!!

This may be one of Tom Izzo’s best coaching job. This group was not on the same page early in the year and he basically had to lion tame them into form. They have had to overcome several major injuries: Losing Kalin Lucas to an achilles, Chris Allen has had arch trouble in his foot and Delvon Roe is playing on one leg. Through all that, Izzo has kept them rebounding and defending and they have been shooting the three much better. To that end, Durrell Summers will have to step up on the perimeter this weekend. Great things happen when the ball touches Draymond Green’s hands, so look for him to make the offense go in the half court. Raymar Morgan has made big plays at the end of games. To win this game , Sparty must not turn the ball over and they have to dominate the glass. The first team to 55 may win this game!!

This weekend is always very special for me as it brings back incredible memories of my team’s trip to the Finals in St. Louis in 1978. A career game from Goose Givens lead Kentucky to the title that night, but the memories and bonds that were forged that year on my team exist to this day.That Duke made it to the Final Four this year only heightens those feelings as I know how this group is feeling as they chase a championship.

The best match-up may be the Duke- West Virginia. Coach K has done an amazing job with this team. They are a good team with great character, a huge reason for their success. Their core is still defense and their perimeter is outstanding, but the frontline has been a huge part of Duke’s success. Brian Zoubek has been healthy and has made a difference. He is a great screener and passer in the offense and has been a monster on the offensive glass. Lance Thomas is the heart and soul of the defense and the Plumlee brothers have given them great energy off the bench. The big 3- Scheyer, Singler and Smith- must all play at a high level for Duke to win this weekend.

Bob Huggins has done an outstanding job in bringing his alma mater back to national prominence. They reflect his persona on the floor, especially on the defensive end of the floor. Since the start of the Big East tournament, teams have averaged 55.9 ppg- just phenomenal! Devin Ebanks has developed into a lockdown defender while scoring 12ppg. The best big shot player in the Final Four is Da’Sean Butler. Look for him to have the ball if the game is on the line. Joe Mazzulla has done a great job taking over point guard responsibilities for injured Tank Bryant. How he handles Duke pressure will be a big key for the Mountaineers. Every possession will be hard fought and the first team to 60 may win this game!!

I’ll look at the Butler/Michigan St. matchup tomorrow!

It has been an incredibly hectic last couple of weeks for me during the most enjoyable time of the year- ACC and NCAA tournament play. I love having the ACC tournament in Greensboro. Having played in three straight championship games and winning two titles, it always brings back a lot of great memories for me. This year’s edition had a strange feel to it, the reason being Carolina’s sub-par year and first round exit from the tournament. They are the 800 pound gorilla as far as fan interest and passion goes and when they are gone, there is a different vibe to the event. That being said, all props to Duke and Coach K. They have now won 9 of the last 12 titles! That is an incredible run in this or any era. I just hope their fan base appreciates what he continues to accomplish in a Hall of Fame career.

After the tournament concluded, I drove home to watch the selection show on CBS and waited to hear my assignment for the weekend. The call came around 8:00pm and we were sent on our way to Spokane,Washington. Monday and Tuesday were spent prepping for my 8 teams in the region- Maryland,Houston,Michigan St., New Mexico St., Texas A&M,Utah St. Purdue and Siena.After 6 hours on the computer each day researching, it was off to Spokane. On Wednesday we bunkered down for a 6 hour production meeting, watching a little film of each team. Then, on Thursday, we went to the arena and watched all 8 teams practice.
Friday’s matchups all went chalk, with the higher seeds advancing in every game. This was the first time I have done four games in a row without a break. Believe it or not, it was easier to do that than having a break in between games 2 and 3. I was able to stay on form the whole time, rather than experiencing a let down and having to ramp my energy back up.
Sunday’s games were awesome. Maryland/Michigan St. was a classic. MSU really played well early and then held on despite a lot of adversity. It was a shame to see Kalin Lucas go down with an achilles injury. Delvon Roe was playing on one leg and Raymar Morgan lost a tooth. Despite all that, they held off a furious Maryland rally and won on Korie Lucious’ buzzer beater. I felt sorry for Greivis Vasquez, but what a magnificent career he has had at Maryland. Purdue then went into OT to beat Texas A&M. What a great coaching job Matt Painter has done with this team, despite losing Robbie Hummel. Chris Kramer is the most unique 6′3″ player I have seen. He is tough and defensive-minded, embodying what this team is all about. Duke will have a tough time with them in Houston.

It is hard to believe that it was 30 years ago that my Duke team won this title in 1980 against Maryland. A lot of great memories have come back being back here in Greensboro. I had the honor of playing in 3 straight title games, winning twice. Now I have the honor of calling the ACC Tournament for Raycom Sports.

What a stunning afternoon session today. Boston College has looked disjointed all year and was again today. Congrats to Tony Bennet and his first ACC tournament win! He did a great job holding his guys together. A terrific performance by Sammy Zeglinski- another in a long line of Polish success stories in the ACC!!

And yet another poor first round performance by Wake. They has several sub-par individual offensive performances and never could figure out Miami’s zone. This should help brighten up the spirits of Frank Haith and the Canes.Dino Gaudio might have some uneasy nights between now and selection Sunday.

What does this portend for the night session? The most intriguing game is the UNC/ G.Tech game. Tech must win this game to keep their tournament hopes alive. They did beat the Heels twice during the regular season, including a 17 point drubbing in Atlanta. Guard play will be critical so Udofia and Shumpert must be solid with the ball. It will be interesting to see if the Heels can muster any fight at all.

The last game, one I’m broadcasting, could be interesting. NC St. has played well down the stretch, winning 3 0f 4. They are using more sets and have been more patient. Javi Gonzalez and Farnold Degand must play well against Clemson’s press. The Tigers are a tired team and, therefore, must find some energy. A healthy and productive Demontez Stitt will be a huge key for Clemson. Let’s see if the upsets continue!!

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus- Wow! We are at the quarter pole and Virginia is undefeated and in 1st place in the ACC. Everyone who predicted that, raise your hand. Nobody in Charlottesville has their hand raised either! Great job by Tony Bennett and his staff- he has them playing hard-nosed defense and not looking at the bench when they make a mistake. They have a big test at Wake on Saturday- more on that later.

At least as surprising is a look at the bottom three- UNC,Miami, and Virginia Tech. We know about the talent drain at Carolina and the injuries and killer non-conference schedule, but 1-3?? Their guard play has been spotty but the most glaring weakness is their defense, last in the ACC, giving up 73 points per game. The defense can be improved but I’m not sure about the guard play and perimeter offense. At this point, Carolina is barely a bubble team with 3 of their next 4 on the road where they are 0-4. Miami has been the most disappointing team in the league to me. They got off to 16-1 start, built on a very easy schedule, but have hit the wall hard in league play. The loss to BC at home on Tuesday was one of the great head scratchers of the season so far. Miami was ahead by 16 in the second half to a team in disarray and still found a way to lose.3 of their next 4 are on the road as well where they are winless to date. Virginia Tech has only one win but have 5 of their next 8 at Cassell. Jeff Allen has to step up to get the Hokies rolling.

Can I show you to your seats? Congrats to Sidney Lowe and the red jacket for the Wolfpack’s win against Duke. I thought that Tracy Smith would struggle against taller front lines but he was terrific. It was also impressive to watch Javi Gonzalez pull out of his funk and play with confidence. I look forward to being at RBC next Tuesday when the Tar heels come to town!

Games this weekend- Virginia @ Wake- 4:00pm – This will be a tough test for the Cav’s. They must battle Wake’s size advantage on the boards. Mike Scott must be a man in the post- his production will be a key. Virginia’s point guards must also keep Ish Smith under control-no easy task. Smith is playing with a lot of confidence. This is clearly his team and he is the engine that drives Wake. Wake is really tough when freshmen C.J. Harris and Ari Stewart are making shots. If they are making 3’s, Virginia will be hard pressed to match Wake’s offense. The best matchup may be L.D. Williams against Sylven Landesberg.This game is all about tempo- Wake wants it in the 80’s, Virginia in the high 60’s.

Sunday- Noon- Georgia Tech @ Florida St. – Yes, Noon! Lots of coffee for the G-man!! This is a rematch of a game in December when FSU went to Tech and got a win. This will be a battle of two BIG teams that are very good defensively. The first game’s score was 66-59…in overtime!! Look for another low scoring game. Chris Singleton may be the best defender in the ACC. He’s in the top five in blocks and steals- a rare feat! FSU does not have a dominant scorer but are much more balanced. The big difference is a healthy Iman Shumpert for Tech. He missed the first game but is back and playing at a very high level- witness his 30 point effort in the win at Carolina. Tech has beaten 3 ranked teams in their last 4 games. They are playing as well as anyone in the conference. They will be looking for revenge on the road!

A look back- It was interesting to talk to Roy Williams on Sunday about his team.
You could hear the frustration in his voice in post game press conferences when he
discussed their performance. He told me his frustration comes from his squad making
the same mistakes over and over. He has had to do alot more teaching with this group
and they are having a tough time retaining information. He vows to keep working and
teaching until the light comes on. They were impressive in the second half of their
game against Virginia Tech. Larry Drew was solid at the point and he and Will Graves
gave them good 3 point production. Ed Davis is a star and continues to solidify his
position as first team All-ACC.Marcus Ginyard proved his worth as a lock down
defender when he cooled off Malcolm Delaney in the second half. Delaney was
spectacular in the first half, scoring 20 points ,but  he could manage only  6 after
the half. Dorenzo Hudson had 14 but was only 7-22 from the field. Jeff Allen was
disappointing, scoring only 4 points on 2-5 shooting. He has to produce more
offense, especially against the upper echelon teams, for Tech to compete.

My first Raycom game turned out to be Tony Bennet's first ACC win when Virginia
traveled to Raleigh and beat the Wolfpack. It is going to take Bennet a while to
change the culture at UVA and he is first working on getting his team tough-minded
on defense. They were terrific in the second half, with Sylven Landesberg leading
the way with 23 points. He has an incredible knack for scoring in the lane and
getting to the line. Mike Scott is a big key. When he produces, it gives UVA a post
presence and takes pressure off their perimeter. Sammy Zeglinski has proven to me he
is a legitimate ACC guard, probably a little bit better off the ball as a scorer.
This team will win some games this year that it shouldn't because of Bennet's
abilities.The Boo's were very evident as the Wolfpack fans were very disappointed in
the final result...and then...

There's no "D" in Seminole! NC St. goes to Tallahassee and beats the 'Noles on
Tuesday- scoring 88 points in the process! I have to wonder about FSU's defensive
numbers. In their last two games against ACC comp, both losses, they have given up
77 to Maryland and 88 to they Pack.They have an RPI of 60 but their strength of
schedule is 219. FSU came into those two games allowing 59 points a game. Was that
number built on weak competition? We will see how it holds up during the rest of
conference play. Kudos to Scott Wood and his career high 31 points. The Pack hit 11
3's and outscored FSU at the line by 4. What a turnaround from Saturday! It's going
to be a crazy year.

My next Raycom game is Saturday, back in Raleigh, when Clemson visits NC St.for a
noon game. The Tiger's have a HUGE game Wednesday at home against Carolina. It will
be interesting to see if their press can get into UNC's guards. They are always a
little more active in their press at Littlejohn.The Pack should have some of their
confidence restored after that big win vs. FSU. Javi Gonzalez and Farnold Degand
will be a big key against Clemson's pressure.Shooting the three, especially Wood and
Dennis Horner, will also be a bonus.  The Tiger's must create room for Booker to
operate in the paint. Teams are really crowding him and forcing him more on the
perimeter.

Then it is over to Durham for the Wake-Duke matchup on Sunday night! Should be a
great matchup.Ish Smith is turning into one of the best clutch scorers in the
league- Duke is going to have to deal with his speed and quickness. Best matchup-
Kyle Singler vs. Al-Farouq Aminu! Can't wait for the weekend!

A Look Back- Last week was very hectic but enjoyable. Duke/Long Beach St.on Tuesday-
It was great to catch up with Dan Monson, head coach at LBS. I met him a number of
years ago when he was at Gonzaga and my Duke teammate,Bob Bender 'was at Washington.
Monson has challenged his team this year with the 3rd strongest schedule in America,
playing the likes of Duke, Kentucky,West Virginia, Notre Dame,UCLA,Clemson and
Texas.They were competitive in most of those game and should do well in the Big
West.Duke hit a ton of threes and have been very impressive on the offensive end
most nights this year.Kyle Singler is adjusting to his new role on the perimeter and
the backcourt of Scheyer and Smith have proved hard to stop.

New Year's in Greensboro- It was fun to work the NC St./UNC-G game and visit the
Coliseum. The vibe is completely different from the ACC tournament but they have
done a great job configuring the inside to meet UNC-G's needs.By curtaining off the
upper deck, it becomes a much more intimate atmosphere. Kudo's to Dick Stewart and
the people around the program for making that move a reality. They,too, have a very
demanding schedule, playing 6 ACC schools. Mike Dement is going to have to make sure
his team is mentally ok heading into Southern Conference play as they got drilled in
most of their non-conference games.

Georgia Tech @ Charlotte on Saturday- this was the first time I have called a game
at Halton Arena. What a great atmosphere! SID Tom Whitestone and his staff do a
fantastic job with their game presentation. If you have never been to a game there,
you should definitely check it out! Took my son Noah to practice the day before and
Bobby Lutz could not have been more gracious. I really like him as a person and a
coach and hope he stays long term. The 49ers almost pulled off the upset as Derrio
Green was spectacular. The A-10 is a very strong,deep league this year and
conference play should be challenging.Tech is one of the most physical teams I've
seen. Favors,Lawal and Peacock are a very formidable trio in the paint. Can't wait
to see the Duke game @ Tech this Saturday-should be a war!!

Back to Cameron- My week ended back at Duke on Sunday when they beat the Clemson
Tigers. The game was flat out ugly in the first half but both teams settled down in
the second half. The big three of Singler,Scheyer and Smith carried the day- they
are the only trio from one team all in the top 10 in scoring! It was neat as Duke
honored the 1960 ACC Championship team- Duke's first title! That was Vic Bubas'
first year at Duke after being an assistant to Everett Case at State. Bubas went on
to be one of the great coaches in the ACC over his 10 years at Duke, winning 76% of
his games and going to 3 Final Fours.

A Look Ahead- I do my first work for Raycom this year when I call the Virginia/NC
St. game in Raleigh at noon this Saturday. Virginia has the league's only new coach
in Tony Bennett.Bennett was a teammate of mine when I was at the end of my career
with the Hornets. Tony was one of those guys who was born to coach, following in the
footsteps of his dad, Dick.Tony did a terrific job at Washington St. His teams were
always known for their deliberate offense and stingy defense. He has brought that
same style to Charlottesville. His team is scoring 70 a game but only yielding 59
points per game on 42% shooting. Sylven Landesberg has picked up where he left off
last year, averaging 16 a game and showing a great knack for going to the FT line.
He will be a tough matchup.Sammy Zeglinski has been a surprise, averaging in double
figures and proving to be a reliable threat from 3. The Wolfpack must recover from a
devasting loss to Florida on Sunday by a 75 foot bomb at the end of OT. That is the
type of loss that can take a team's soul away. Sidney Lowe will have to do some
damage contol on his team's psyche! The Pack have been shooting the ball well from
the perimeter lately, most noteably Scott Wood and Dennis Horner.Javi Gonzalez has
also grown into a very good point guard who can also score. The big key for the Pack
will be creating tempo and easy scoring opportunities against Virginia.