Singletary gives Cavs chance
Not to say Sean Singletary's Monday withdrawal from the NBA draft makes the Cavaliers no-brainer No. 2s behind Roy Williams' North Carolina bunch. Far from it. Duke, Clemson and North Carolina State should be markedly improved from last season, when the Tar Heels and Cavaliers tied atop the conference standings. But Singletary's return at point guard, his scoring, ballhandling and outright fierceness put Virginia in the mix. And should No. 44 keep the Cavaliers among the conference's top two, he'll join No. 50 as an historic figure in program annals. Yes, the last and only time Virginia managed consecutive top-two ACC finishes was 1981-83, when Ralph Sampson led the Cavs to three regular-season titles, the latter two shared with North Carolina. Sampson also is the only Virginia player voted consensus first-team All-American, a distinction Singletary could earn as a senior. Much will hinge on his teammates. With J.R. Reynolds and Jason Cain graduated, the Cavaliers lose an all-conference shooting guard and their most productive post player, which will tempt defenders to smother Singletary. That's why I thought Singletary might ignore NBA scouts' tepid reviews and remain in the draft. If others don't become reliable scorers, he could struggle and damage his draft stock. First in line as possible revelations is junior swingman Mamadi Diane. Clearly the talent is there, but which Diane will fans see? The Diane who last season torched Maryland for 26 points and Arizona for 25? Or the Diane who scored two points in each of Virginia's last three road games before a scoreless clunker in the NCAA tournament loss to Tennessee? Senior Adrian Joseph, a streaky shooter with range, is another who needs to solve the consistency riddle. This 6-foot-7 rail turned refreshingly combative in the NCAAs, grabbing nine rebounds in two games and earning his first trips to the foul line since December. Incoming freshman Jeff Jones also could ease Singletary's perimeter scoring load. Moreover, rookie Sam Zeglinski and William and Mary transfer Calvin Baker could occasionally play the point, moving Singletary to the wing. But for all those uncertainties, the central question for Virginia revolves around the low post. Can the Cavaliers prosper with a committee of returnees Tunji Soroye, Laurynas Mikalauskas and Jerome Meyinsse? Is freshman Mike Scott capable of contributing immediately? Such issues would have vanished this spring had Virginia signed power forward Patrick Patterson, who opted instead for Kentucky. Such issues stand a much better chance of resolution with Singletary around to push, prod and lead. Singletary is the ACC's top returning scorer (19 points a game), a threat to shoot 3-pointers or drive headlong into the lane. He demands the ball when it matters most, witness his game-winner last season against Duke and his game-ending 3-point miss against Tennessee. Much can (will?) change - transfers, injuries, academic casualties - before November, but without Singletary, handicapping Virginia's ACC prospects would have been easy: pencil the Cavaliers among the lower tier with Wake Forest and Virginia Tech. With Singletary, it's much less clear. Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson make North Carolina the clear favorite and Final Four material, freshman Brandan Wright's exit to the NBA notwithstanding; Josh McRoberts' early departure from Duke is addition by subtraction - his sour demeanor will not be missed, while recruits such as Kyle Singler will be welcome; Clemson and N.C. State return darn near everyone from promising rosters. Elsewhere, Georgia Tech was poised to break through until freshmen Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittenton turned pro; Boston College has won at least 10 conference games each of the last five seasons (two ACC and three Big East) but loses ACC player of the year Jared Dudley and forward Sean Marshall; Virginia Tech could go from an all-senior (Zabian Dowdell and Jamon Gordon) to all-freshman (Hank Thorns and Malcolm Delaney or Dorenzo Hudson) backcourt; Maryland loses four seniors, including top scorers D.J. Strawberry and Mike Jones; Wake Forest and Miami return a majority of the ACC's worst teams, while Florida State must replace do-everything Al Thornton. Swiping a concept from the Charles Barkley-Dwyane Wade commercials, here's our fave five for next season: North Carolina, Duke, Virginia, Clemson and N.C. State. Mock at your leisure.
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