College Basketball Countdown Player Ratings and Recap: Syracuse Orange, Virginia Cavaliers, Oklahoma Sooners, and Memphis Tigers

Here are player ratings and recaps from three games that took place the last couple days during ESPN's College Basketball Countdown. I will also be doing separate posts for last night's Kentucky-Duke game, and Kansas-Michigan State game. The game's included in this post are Virginia's upset 
at George Washington, Oklahoma at Memphis, and Syracuse's come from behind salvaging against St. Bonaventure.


The usual disclaimer: This year I am recapping games in a similar fashion that soccer matches are recapped. Following a game, each player receives a rating 1-10 based upon their performance. Over the course of time you can see how they are playing in stretches, and how the team overall is performing based upon the form of their players. I think this is an effective way to evaluate basketball games. Especially when, at the end of the season, it is not always the most talented team that wins, or the team that had the most victories during the season, but the team that is experiencing the greatest of run of form. 

Monday 11/16


6 Virginia @ George Washington

Virginia Cavaliers

C Mike Tobey 5

Tobey was great in the first half. He scored all of his 10 points. He consistently showed a left handed hook shot while posting up, which was impossible to guard due to his size, and even hit a 3pt shot. If just grading his first half than Tobey would have an eight or nine. However, he completely disappeared in the second half, failing to score a single point. His struggles were not limited to the offensive end in the latter half though, he was terrible on defense. He provided no bite under the basket for the Cavaliers. George Washington consistently drove the ball to the basket, and had no problems scoring, because Tobey was never a threat. How does a 7'0 center not record a single block playing 30 minutes? Tobey's performance underneath the basket is important because he is replacing Darion Atkins, who was named an All-ACC Defensive Team player last season. The lack of a rim protector lost this game for Virginia. Now, Tobey stayed foul trouble free, but again, that is because he never threatened shooters in the paint, and ultimately he did nothing in the second half despite playing most of it. In addition to his 10 points, Tobey also grabbed seven rebounds.

F Anthony Gill 5.5

Gill ended up playing only 23 minutes last night, because he was consistently in foul trouble. He picked up his second foul with more than 10 minutes to play in the first half, and ended the game with four fouls. Even when on the court Gill was not especially effective. He ended the game four for eight from the field, and hit three free throws, scoring 11 points total. He added five rebounds total. Gill needs to play more than just 23 minutes, and be a more dynamic player, on offense and defense, for this team to play up to their potential.

G Darius Thompson 3

Darius Thompson, the Tennessee transfer, played well in the opener. He scored 12, while rebounding six balls, and adding four assists. He also grabbed three steals. He was not nearly as effective against George Washington however. Thompson got into foul trouble early against GW, and that continued in the second half. He played 23 minutes (which was equal to the opener when he only fouled once), and scored only five points, with two rebounds, and an assist. Thompson only shot two for six from the field, and made one of four threes.

G Malcolm Brogdon 9.5

I made a note late in the first half. It was a comment that Brogdon was not taking charge late in the half with Virginia down. That note was erased in the second half. Brogdon led the charge down the stretch, and if the Cavaliers had gone on to win, he would have been the only reason why.. He was absent from my preseason All-ACC first team, but this game has caused me to rethink that assessment. Brogdon finished the game with 28 points on 9-18 shooting. He was also 9-10 from the free throw line, making making many free throws late in the game in clutch situations. Brogdon also picked up eight rebounds, and led his team with four assists. He also only turned the ball over once all game. There are only two reasons why Brogdon did not earn a perfect-10. 1) Virginia lost, and 2) he shot only one for five from three point range. Brogdon is at his best driving to the basket, that was on display in this game, but he needs to be an effective shooter from range as well. Virginia lacks shooters, which means the ones they have need to be reliable.

G London Perrantes 3

Perrantes had a very disappointing game. He scored five points, playing 33 minutes. He shot only two for eight from the field, 25%, and one for four from beyond the arc, also 25%. Perrantes also turned the ball over, a team high, three times, and assisted teammates on only two occasions. Futhermore, Perrantes has the reputation of being a lockdown defender, but he did not look like it this game, despite grabbing two steals.

F Isaiah Wilkins 3

Isaiah Wilkins was the first man off the bench for the Cavaliers. However, he did not make much of his opportunities. Wilkins scored zero points, and took only one shot. He also turned the ball over twice in fourteen minutes. He also was not an asset on defense. He got exposed when helping on defense, and was late rotating to players on switches. He also over committed defending on the perimeter, and was beaten off the dribble. He was not impressive.

G Devon Hall 4

Devon Hall led the bench in minutes played, 19. He shot only one for six, and missed all three of his three point attempts. He would often dribble into trouble in the lane, and miss layups in traffic. On the bright side, Hall was a good ball handler. He finished the game with two assists, and no turnovers.

F Evan Nolte 5

Nolte is not a player I am very high on. I skewered him in my ACC Preview. However, Nolte scored some in limited minutes. He shot two for three, and made one of his two 3pt attempts. He lead the bench with five points. Nolte probably would have played more, but he picked up four fouls in just seven minutes. Nolte gives the team the ability to ditch their usual three guard lineup, and insert a traditional small forward. It will be interesting to see how Thompson and Nolte's minutes will be distributed when neither gets into foul trouble.

G Marial Shayok 4

Shayok is supposed to be a potential shooter off the bench for Virginia. However, he was just one for three from the field, and missed his only three point shot. He was also not an asset on defense.

C Jack Salt N/A

Salt picked up one of Virginia's two blocks. He did not play enough to be rated this game. However, he should of. He exhibits an aggressiveness beneath the basket that Tobey lacks on defense. #FreeSalt

Team Rating: 5.10

Virginia will lose their top-ten ranking next week after losing to unranked George Washington. This game opened up many questions that the Cavaliers now need to answer. Who will be their secondary scorer next to Brogdon? Who will hit three point shots? Who will be the team's rim protector? Is Tobey capable of defending under the basket? Who will replace Anderson on both sides of the ball? Tobey and Gill have a lot of potential on the offensive end. However, Tobey is an abysmal low post defender despite his size, and Gil needs to avoid foul trouble. Meanwhile, the backcourt is full of a bunch of scrubs besides Malcolm Brogdon. Brogdon looks like one of the best players in the ACC, and as a result this team should be better than they showed in this game. However, he is leading an otherwise mediocre team, and I am beginning to question how high they can finish in the ACC.

Tuesday 11/17

8 Oklahoma @ Memphis

I considered not recapping this game. I was watching, that is, I had it on. However, I was not paying as close attention as I usually do when viewing games I go on to recap. I ultimately decided to include this game in this post though, because I didn't get a chance to preview the national landscape beyond the ACC, and these are both teams I like this season.

Oklahoma Sooners

F Ryan Spangler: 8

Spangler spent most of the game playing under the basket for Oklahoma, though he is only 6'8. The only players bigger than him, Khadeem Lattin and Jamuni McNeace, played only a combined 16 minutes. Despite his lack of size, Spangler is a gritty player down low. He finished the game with 11 points and 12 rebounds, including four rebounds on the offensive end. He was 5-10 shooting, missing both of his 3pt attempts. He also blocked two shocks. Somehow, despite playing down low, Spangler turned the ball over four times. Oklahoma as a team turned the ball over an astounding 19 times.

F Khadeem Lattin: N/A

Lattin started, but played only seven minutes. Due to the scrappy, back-and-forth nature of this game, I barely noticed he was not on the court, and didn't care about his absence.

G Isaiah Cousins: 6

Cousins is one of Oklahoma's trio of good guards. He played fairly well this game, making some clutch shots. However, there are definitely some areas for improvement. Cousins scored 13 points, shooting 5-13 from the field, and made three of his nine 3pt attempts. He finished the game with six assists, but also turned the ball over four times, again the team turned the ball over almost once every two minutes. Cousins also picked up four fouls.

G Buddy Hield: 9.5

Hield surprisingly returned for his senior season. In a time when more players than ever are leaving college early to enter the NBA, Hield is one of few players who came back to college despite knowing he would have been picked. As a result, he is one of the favorites to be College Basketball's best player this season. Buddy reinforced this idea during Oklahoma's opening game. Hield scored a game high 30 points. He shot 9-19, and made 50% of his 3pt attempts, 4-8. He also shot 8-10 from the free throw line, many of which came late in the game when the Sooners were closing out their win. He played best down the stretch with the game on the line. Hield also grabbed eight rebounds, had six assists, and three steals. I was particularly impressed with Hield's athleticism as he went up to challenge Memphis' bigs for rebounds. The only problem with Hield's performance was his four turnovers, which isn't surprising considering how many the team accumulated.

G Jordan Woodard: 8

Woodard played a little less than fellow starting guards, Hield and Cousins. That is because he was most often in foul trouble. He scored 15 points, in 30 minutes played. He shot 5-11 from the field, and 2-3 overall. He also finished the game with nine rebounds, and seven assists. Shockingly, he turned the ball over just once. Woodard is Oklahoma's point guard when he is on the floor with the other guards, leading the team in assists a year ago. He showed again this game that he is very good at running this offense.

C Jamuni McNeace: 2

McNeace is a redshirt freshman, who gives the team additional size. He was not effective this game. In only nine minutes, he turned the ball over three times, and fouled three times. He also scored three points, and grabbed two rebounds.

F Dante Buford: 7

Buford is another redshirt freshman. He played 23 minutes in this game, and often was the only forward beside Spangler. Buford made some good contributions on defense. He grabbed eight rebounds, blocked two shots, and also grabbed a steal. He also only fouled on one occasion all game, which may be his most impressive stat this game. Buford only scored five points, but was two for four, and made one of his two 3pt shots. Buford needs to be a bigger factor on the offensive end if he is going to be receiving 20 minutes or more, but he proved to be a good contributor despite being undersized at the four position—he is listed at 6'7 225lbs.

G Christian James: 5

James is a true freshman playing behind a veteran lineup of guards who will receive most of the minutes each game. However, he got in there against Memphis, and took some shots. He was 2-7 from the field, and one of two from three. He scored seven points total, making him the team's fifth leading scorer.

Team Rating: 7.2

This was a very difficult opening game for Oklahoma. Most teams opened their season against a Lehigh, or South Alabama, or Fairfield, etc. but, Oklahoma traveled to take on an underrated Memphis team on the road, and ended up defeating them, while coming from behind. Oklahoma's trio of guards proved to be more dangerous than they were a year ago thanks to the return of dominating shooting guard Buddy Hield, and Ryan Spangler is a nice big man. Damon Buford is also a nice addition to this team, and makes for a solid fifth player. The question I have for Oklahoma is size. How will they deal with bigger teams—I'm picturing Kansas with Ellis, and potentially, hopefully, Diallo, especially if Spangler gets into foul trouble? Also, there is limited depth to this Oklahoma team. Three players played 35 minutes or more, and a fourth played 30, and would have played more if he was not in foul trouble. The top four players on this Oklahoma team are great, and if judging them just on the strength of Spangler, Hield, Cousins, and Woodard, Oklahoma would be a top-five team. However, there is limited talent behind them. That said, I was more impressed with Oklahoma than I have been with fellow top-ten teams: Virginia and Iowa State.

Memphis

I'm going to make this brief. I do like Memphis, I think they're a little underrated considering the love SMU is getting. I would, of course, love them more if Austin Nichols did not transfer, coincidently to Virginia, I believe. But, they are still a highly talented team with some good incoming players.

F Shaq Goodwin: 7

Goodwin is a solid big man. He averaged 9.6 points and 7.1 rebounds last season. He is essential to the team on the defensive end. Against Oklahoma he grabbed seven rebounds, and blocked FIVE shots. He also scored only seven points on 2-7 shooting, and was additionally only 3-7 from the line.

F Dedric Lawson: 8

Freshman, Dedric Lawson, steps into the role previously occupied by Austin Nichols. Lawson, who was a top-50 recruit, is a long forward who can play facing the basket. He led Memphis with 22 points, but only shot 6 for 15, and one for five from three point range. Lawson went to the line an astonishing 15 times, and scored nine points from the stripe. Lawson's biggest effect on the game was rebounding, especially on the offensive boards. 10 of his 15 rebounds came on the offensive end. He grabbed a couple of steals, and blocked three shots. Lawson did turn the ball over a team high four times. Lawson is one of the most talented newcomers in the AAC, and should get better over the course of the season as he learns to be the team's go-to player.

G Markel Crawford: 6

Crawford played 22.7 minutes as a sophomore last season, but he joins the starting lineup this year. This game he scored 12 points, tied for second on the team, while shooting six of nine. He turned the ball over three times.

G Ricky Tarrant: 4

Tarrant is a graduate transfer from Alabama. He scored 13.1 points for the Crimson Tide last season. He has not been as successful thus far this year though. Tarrant shot only 2-10 from the field this game, scoring eight points, and went 1-6 in Memphis' opener against Southern Miss. He is shooting only 1-8 from three point range. This game he did lead Memphis in assists, five, and did not turn the ball over.

G Avery Woodson: 5.5

Woodson played the most minutes last season of any returning player. Against Oklahoma he shot 4-11, and 4-9 from the arc, scoring 12 points. He is a 3pt specialist shot 37.7% from that range last season, and little else.

F Trahson Burrell: 6

Burrell played big minutes off the bench for Memphis. He went 5-10, scoring 10 points, and grabbed six rebounds. Burrell is a versatile player, who could replace one of the guards when Memphis wants to play bigger, or play alongside Goodwin or Lawson.

F KJ Lawson: 4

Lawson is another freshman. He is Dedric's brother, although a year older (Dedric was a part of the 2016 class). KJ played 19 minutes this game, but was not as productive as Burrell. He scored six points on 2-10 shooting, while grabbing five rebounds, getting a couple steals, but also recorded three turnovers, and fouled four times. KJ gives the team another versatile forward off the bench, and should be a regular part of the rotation.

G Jeremiah Martin: 3

Finally, Jeremiah Martin came in as a reserve guard. He shot 0-3 from the field, and finished with only a single point. He did dish two assists though.

Team Rating: 5.0

Memphis put up a determined effort against Oklahoma, but ultimately, they shot too poorly to pull out the win. Memphis shot just 34.6% from the field, and 23.1% from 3pt range, furthermore, they shot 58.1% from the line, while taking 31 free shots there. Memphis stayed in the game exclusively due to their offensive rebounding, 23 of their 48 rebounds were offensive, and Oklahoma's 19 turnovers. Memphis has a lot of potential, they have a good recruiting class, and some veteran guards who should lead this team, but they need to make shots. Their ability to get second chance opportunities on the offensive glass will pester teams all year, but they need to take advantage of them. Dedric will be the star of this team due to his explosive ability and size, but it is the guards who will determine how well this team performs. They need to step up, and consistently deliver points.

Syracuse vs St. Bonaventure

Syracuse Orange[men]

C DaJuan Coleman: 3

The good news is Coleman managed to stay out of foul trouble. He fouled once all game. The bad news is he still only played 14 minutes. Coleman was not effective early in the game, and was quickly pulled in favor of Chinoso Obokoh—briefly, and ultimately Tyler Lydon who played under the basket most of the game. Syracuse did at least try to get their big men involved early. Their first two plays were designed to Coleman. However, Coleman's first shot was an awkward runner far from the basket, and he missed it badly. This likely led to him missing significant time. Coleman also did not look comfortable in the middle of the zone; he made a number of errors on the defensive end. He came out multiple times on ball handlers, or following a pass, and left a huge hole in the middle, which the Bonnies attacked. Coleman looked as though he did not trust the zone, which is a massive red flag when you're a Syracuse center. Coleman did come back in the second half, once Syracuse had taken the lead, and finished the game with four points, four rebounds, and a block. It is too bad Coleman sat a majority of the game. Syracuse was out rebounded 33 to 43, and Coleman's size, and rebounding ability would have been an asset in combating the rebounding discrepancy. Coleman rebounded a ball once every three and a half minutes he was on the court, which was a much better rate than any Syracuse player other than Tyler Roberson. Also, no St. Bonaventure player had a better rate than Coleman, and they out rebounded the Cuse by 10.

F Tyler Roberson: 5

Although Coleman stayed foul trouble free, Roberson did not. In fact, Roberson picked up his second foul before the 15 minute mark of the first half, and he eventually fouled out late in the game. Despite this Roberson ended up playing almost 30 minutes, and he led all players with 12 rebounds. Five of his rebounds were on offense too. Unfortunately though, Roberson was not effective on offense. He scored only six points, shooting two of five from the field, and two of five from the free throw line. Roberson needs to be a factor on offense for Syracuse to be competitive against good team. He has good offensive potential, because of his combination of size, strength, and athleticism, even though he is not very skilled. He has yet to show anything offensively this season.

F Malachi Richardson: 6

Richardson is proving to be a pretty consistent shooter for Syracuse. He scored 15 points this game (he scored 14 in the opener), shooting 5 for 11, though only 2 for 7 from 3pt range. Richardson only got two rebounds this game, struggling as the Orange did as a whole on the glass. However, he did show a good handle once again, and was better passing the ball, ending the game with three assists, and lowering his number of turnovers to two (from five). Richardson fell in love with the three early in the game, which lowered his shooting percentage beyond the arc. But, he did show glimpses of his all around offensive game, driving to the basket, and hitting pull up jumpers from mid range.

G Michael Gbinije: 8

This was a much better performance from Gbinije. He showed, particularly in the second half, why I thought he would be an All-ACC performer this season. He is incredible at driving to the basket, and making plays offensively. He took a variety of shots this game, taking threes when he needed too, but also scoring at the basket, and beating defenders off the dribble. This led to his shooting percentage rising. In total he scored a game high, 23 points, shoooting 8 for 14 from the field, and 3 for 7 from beyond the arc. He also recorded six assists, and lowered his number of turnovers to three this game.

G Trevor Cooney: 6

Cooney had mixed results this game. Throughout the first half, he was terrible. He took too many bad shots, often shooting threes early in the shot clock, and occasionally driving into traffic, when he did drive into traffic he threw the ball up for a difficult two. Yes, Cooney did end up with 18 points. However, he shot 4 of 12 from the field, and 2 of 8 from 3pt range. He piled points on at the end of the game at the free throw line, where he shot 8 of 11. Despite another mediocre game offensively, Cooney was great on defense, especially late in the game. Cooney stole the ball six times. At one point he stole the ball on two consecutive possessions, each time earning a trip to the charity stripe. Cooney was phenomenal helping Syracuse close out this game. However, he needs to become a better halfcourt-offense player.

F Tyler Lydon 6

Tyler Lydon was the only bench player to exceed seven minutes. He ended up playing 31, while Coleman sat on the bench most of the game. That means Lydon was usually positioned underneath the basket in Syracuse's 2-3 zone. This was not a position he looked comfortable in. He had trouble communicating with his wings, when he moved out of the middle. Lydon has a lot of great tools on the offensive side of the ball, which he showcased this game. He made both of his three point attempts. He also set up those threes by pump faking from the top of the key, and either dribbling forward and pulling up for a mid range jumper, driving all the way to the basket, or passing out to the wing. In total, Lydon scored 13 points, shooting 3-5, and making all five of his free throw attempts as well. Lydon also did well to avoid foul trouble, as he only fouled twice all game despite playing in the middle of the zone.

G Franklin Howard N/A

Howard came in and played more minutes than last game. He even picked up a couple of assists, but was not a significant contributor.

G Kaleb Joseph N/A

Despite showing some signs of improvement last game, Jospeh played only four minutes...and into the Boeheim doghouse he goes?

C Chinoso Obokoh N/A

Despite player exceptional defense, and Coleman playing limited minutes, Obokoh only played a single minute before being withdrawn.

Team Rating: 5.95

It was A Tale of Two Halves for Syracuse against St. Bonaventure. In the first half, they looked completely inept on offense. They too often settled for poor shots either in traffic, or outside early in the shot clock. Then they scored 50 points in the second; often utilizing ball penetrating to get the ball to the basket. Syracuse, Michael Gbinije, needs to focus on getting the ball inside, and driving to the basket. Whenever Gbinije decides to take the ball to the hoop, he does. Kaleb Joseph is also good at getting to the basket. This will open up the perimeter, and give Cooney and Richardson better opportunities. Syracuse all needs to rebound better. There is no excuse for allowing St. Bonaventure to out rebound you by 10; that is embarrassing. This may mean Syracuse places more of a commitment to DaJuan Coleman's playing time (unless they are limiting his minutes because he is still coming back from injury), as Coleman can be a terrific rebounder on both sides of the ball. The second half of this game was a step forward for Syracuse, but they still have a ways to go before they are ready for the ACC season. 

Tentative Schedule

• Tuesday night/Wednesday morning there will be a Player Ratings/Recap post for Tuesday Night's games: Kentucky vs Duke & Kansas vs Michigan State. 
• Friday night/Saturday morning there will be Player Ratings/Recap post for Friday Night's games: Wisconsin @ Georgetown and Duke vs VCU
• Saturday Night there will likely be a Player Ratings/Recap of Saturday Night's Elon @ Syracuse
• Sunday night/Monday morning will be my first Recap of the first week and a half of action. 
• Next Monday night/Tuesday morning will be Player Ratings/Recap of Monday night's action, which will include Wake Forest @ Indiana, LSU @ Marquette, Northwestern @ UNC, and UNLV @ UCLA. That'll be a big night. 

The rest of Thanksgiving week is very much up in the air, because I'll be traveling that week. There are some big games that week that I would like to cover, but I won't make any promises yet. Maybe I'll just do a weekly recap Sunday Night.

ACC Basketball Player Ratings: North Carolina and North Carolina State 11/15

This year I am recapping games in a similar fashion that soccer matches are recapped. Following a game, each player receives a rating 1-10 based upon their performance. Over the course of time you can see how they are playing in stretches, and how the team overall is performing based upon the form of their players. I think this is an effective way to evaluate basketball games. Especially when, at the end of the season, it is not always the most talented team that wins, or the team that had the most victories during the season, but the team that is experiencing the greatest of run of form. So, with no further introduction, here are two games featuring ACC teams from last night.

Team ratings include weighted values from each player based on playing time. 

Sunday 11/15

1 North Carolina 92 vs Fairfield 65

North Carolina Tarheels

C Kennedy Meeks: 8

Kennedy Meeks may not have been a huge threat on offense; he scored eight points, on 3-6 shooting, while making only two of five of his free throws. Meeks was howevr, a defensive stalwart. He finished the game with 12 total rebounds, which led all players this game. He also blocked two shots, and UNC only blocked three as a team. Meeks impressively stole the ball four times, leading to quick points for the Tarheels. Meeks is capable of offensive outbursts, evidenced by the 25 points he scored in the opener against Temple. In this game however, he was comfortable sitting back and playing strong defense. The Tarheels are blessed with multiple scorers down low though.

Kennedy Meeks' Side Whiskers: 0

I feel like Jameis Winston also tries to pull off this 70's look. It's not working. Stop trying to bring it back.

F Brice Johnson: 7.5

Johnson is clearly the best player on this team when he is on the court. He does a good job scoring in the low post, and frequently draws fouls on the inside. He finished this game with 16 points, shooting 4-8 from the field, and scoring another eight points from free throws off of 10 opportunities. Johnson also grabbed 10 rebounds, including three on the offensive end. The problem for Johnson is staying on the court. He ended the game with four personal fouls, and picked up his fourth with more than ten minutes remaining in the second half. North Carolina needs Johnson to stay on the court, especially against strong opponents. On this occasion, Brice Johnson only played 21 minutes.

F Theo Pinson: 8

Theo Pinson has played well thus far this season. He scored double digits for the first time this game. He only shot 2-5 from the field, but was six for eight from the free throw line, allowing him to score 11 points. Pinson may never lead UNC in scoring this season, but he contributes in a variety of ways. Pinson picked up five rebounds, all defensive this game, and is averaging seven on the season. Pinson is often positioned along the perimeter on offense, and he will also place himself just above the free throw line, from both positions he passes the ball really well, and has been able to find teammates, either in the low post, or cutting towards the basket. He dished out eight assists last night, which led the team. Pinson also played above average defense.

F Justin Jackson: 5

Justin Jackson scored 11 points on five for nine shooting. However, he is still not living up to expectations on offense. North Carolina needs Jackson to step up and be a prolific scorer especially from three point range, since they lack shooters, but he missed all three of his attempts from deep this game. He also only made one of four free throw attempts. Additionally, despite playing 23 minutes, Jackson grabbed no rebounds.

G Joel Berry: 6

Joel Berry got the start at point guard this game. He scored 15 points on six for sixteen shooting, making three of his eight three point attempts. Berry, along with Nate Britt, have thus far answered the call as far as shooting from distance goes. Berry is shooting 50% of his shots behind the arc through two games, and has been aggressive in pulling the trigger. Berry did however, turn the ball over three times last night, and only had four assists.

G Nate Britt: 10

Nate Britt has been stepping up on offense in Marcus Paige's absence. He scored 17 last night, and is averaging 16 points through two games. Last night he was six of nine from the field, and was an excellent four of six from three point range. He also ended the game with five assists, while only turning the ball over twice. Britt has been coming off of the bench, instead of starting, but it is no matter, as he is still receiving starters' minutes. Britt's early season success should win him more time at shooting guard when Marcus Paige returns from injury. North Carolina occasionally showed a three-guard attack this game with Berry, Britt, and Kenny Williams all on the floor at the same time. This foreshadows a future lineup involving Berry, Britt, and Marcus Paige, which would be a lethal combination based on the way Berry and Britt have begun the season.

F Isaiah Hicks: 8

Hicks was a great asset coming off the bench, playing 18 minutes. He scored eight points on a perfect four of four shooting. He also added five rebounds, and played good defense inside when Brice Johnson was out of the game. Hicks will need to be a solid contributor due to Johnson and Meeks' penchant for foul trouble, and he is proving capable of the task.

F Joel James: 3

James is a solid defender in the low post, but offers nothing offensively. He was 0 for two from the field, and missed all three of his free throw attempts. He rebounded the ball three times, including twice on offense, but also turned the ball over twice. James' playing time is directly linked to Meeks and Johnson's foul accumulation. The less James is needed the better.

F Luke Maye: N/A

Maye did not play enough to be rated. He scored two points, and grabbed a rebound. Interestingly, UNC has been using him to guard out on the perimeter.

G Kenny Williams: N/A

Williams didn't play enough minutes to be rated this game. He scored four points on 2-3 shooting. The freshman came into the season known for his ability to shoot from distance, but he has yet to make a three this season. If Williams has played sparingly this early in the season without Paige, than he likely will not be a major factor this season.

Team Rating: 7.0

North Carolina is the best team I have seen so far, which shouldn't be a shock considering they are ranked the best team in the nation. Their depth is impressive, and they do not need a go-to scorer due to several players' ability to impose their will on offense. North Carolina plays very up tempo, which sometimes hurts them on defense, as players do not always get back. Their frontcourt players also get into foul trouble far too quickly. Brice Johnson can be the best player in the ACC, but he needs to play more than just 21 minutes a game. Still, North Carolina has looked very good, especially on the offensive end, due to guards Berry and Britt who have stepped up with increased playing time through two games. This team will only get better when Marcus Paige recovers from his hand injury.

North Carolina State 88 vs South Alabama 70

North Carolina State Wolfpack

F Leenard Freeman: 5

Freeman started, and received the most playing time of the three big men. Freeman's greatest strength is on the defensive glass, and pulled down eleven defensive rebounds in this game—thirteen overall. Other than that, this was not a great night for Freeman, and his rebounding numbers benefited from South Alabama missing 50 shots. In fact, despite playing more minutes than either Abu or Anya,, Freeman was the least effective big man for the Wolfpack. He shot only two of five all night, scoring a total of five points. He also turned the ball over three times, and picked up four fouls. Also, although Freeman is a steady defender inside, he is less dynamic on defense than his counterparts.

F Abdul-Malik Abu: 6

Abu only played 20 minutes this game, but looked when he was on the floor. He scored more points than both Freeman, and Anya, ending the game with 14 points. Abu shot 5-9 last night, and proved to be an assertive scorer. He looked to establish his jump shot, from up to 18' out, but was not effective doing so. Instead he was much more successful down low, and showed off some good post moves, and finishing ability around the rim. Abu was most effective when on the floor alongside Anya. They fed each other in the low post on several occasions, earning assists, and were a dynamic force on defense. Abu's minutes were limited because he was often in foul trouble, and ended the game with four fouls. He also finished the game with six rebounds.

F Caleb Martin: 9

Martin, the slightly young, was far-and-away the most impressive player for the NC State last night. He was great from the offensive end shooting 7-10, and 4-6 from three point range. He scored 19 points total, and has established himself as a consistent scorer through the Wolfpack's first two games, he has averaged 20 ppg, while maintaining shooting percentages of over 50%. One of the big questions for North Carolina State entering the season was who would step up on offense in the absence of Trevor Lacey and Ralston Turner, and it appears Martin is answering the call. Martin also added six rebounds; although because he plays so far away from the basket, Martin is not an asset picking up offensive rebounds. Martin also suffers because he does not play great perimeter defense. He too easily allows players to get past him on their way to the basketball. That is the greatest area of weakness in Martin's game.

G Maverick Rowan: 6

Rowan is a freshman wing who is starting in the absence of injured shooting guard, Terry Henderson, who will be out till, probably, the ACC season. Rowan gives NC State another good shooter alongside Martin. He shot 5-10 from the field, and 2-6 overall, scoring 15 points. Rowan is now averaging 15.5 ppg, but is only 3-14 from the three point arc early this season. Rowan is not an asset yet beyond his scoring numbers. He is not a big rebounder, finishing the game with one. More importantly, he, like Martin, is not a great perimeter defender. Rowan is not even a decent one. He was consistently allowing South Alabama players by him in this game. He picked up fouls quickly himself, and finished the game with four. Worst of all due to the atrocious perimeter defending by NC State, South Alabama often put pressure on the Wolfpack's big men, which caused them to pick up fouls quickly. In fact, NC State's three big men combined to pick up 13 fouls, or 4.33 fouls a piece.

G Cat Barber: 6

Cat Barber runs this team, and despite being outscored by Caleb Martin in each of their first two games, Barber's play will ultimately decide how well this team performs. Barber was not great shooting the ball once again. He finished the game just 3-11, and 0-1 from three point range, thus far this season he is shooting only 40.1%, and 26.1% from three. However, he did get to the FT line often, taking 12 shots from the line, and making eleven. He was able to get so many free points, because of this attacking style of offense. Barber almost finished the night with a triple-double. He rebounded the ball twelve times, mostly on the defensive end, and dished out eight assists. Barber was another member of NC State's bad perimeter defense, although he was slightly better there than Rowan and Martin. Barber is by far the most important player on this team, and needs to be a more efficient scorer. He has played all but one minute for the Wolfpack through two games.

C BeeJay Anya: 8

BeeJay Anya came off the bench, and ended up playing 25 minutes. Anya was a member of the All-ACC defensive team last season, and is one of the favorites to be Defensive Player of the Year this season. He backed up his reputation, playing ferocious defense, and ending the game with five blocks. He also added five rebounds and eight points, shooting 3-4 from the field, but only 2-6 from the free throw line. Anya has more offensive upside than Lennard Freeman. He is a good finisher around the rim, a good athlete for his size, but he needs to improve at the charity stripe as he continue to receive opportunities from there. Anya also earned three assists in this game. Anya ended up fouling out; he was consistently harassed by ball handlers getting inside due to poor perimeter defense.

F Cody Martin: 6

Martin's role off the bench will grow in Henderson's absence over the next month and a half. Martin, played nearly half the game on this occasion, 19 minutes. He scored eight points total, going 3-5 from the field, and 2-2 from the free throw line. Martin does not have the same offensive ability as his brother, Caleb, and lacks the ability to shoot from outside. However, Cody was the best of NC State's perimeter defenders in this game. Their best defensive lineup came when Cody played alongside his brother and Barber on the outside.

Team Rating: 6.75

North Carolina came back strong after being upset in their first game. I was more pessimistic regarding the Wolfpack's hopes this season than anyone, declaring them the ACC's tenth best team in my ACC preview. However, in this game NC State showed glimpses of being better than that. They are a well set up team. Most of the scoring will come from the perimeter in the form of Barber, Caleb Martin, and Maverick Rowan (and Terry Henderson when he returns from injury), while the inside is staunch defensively with some offensive potential. However, questions remain unanswered. North Carolina State's perimeter defense was very bad, against South Alabama; they too easily allow defenders to get past them, and attack the basket. This directly caused NC State's bigs to all get into foul trouble early, and throughout the game. This is an area that needs to be corrected, or they will be vulnerable against any higher level competition. That said, this game was a step in the right direction offensively, as Caleb Martin continues to establish himself as a secondary scorer to Cat Barber. But, Barber needs to be a more efficient shooter in future games. 

Statistics courtesy of ESPN.com

College Basketball Opening Night Player Ratings: Syracuse Orange, and Iowa State Cyclones

This year I am recapping games in a similar fashion that soccer matches are recapped. Following a game, each player receives a rating 1-10 based upon their performance. Over the course of time you can see how they are playing in stretches, and how the team overall is performing based upon the form of their players. I think this is an effective way to evaluate basketball games. Especially when, at the end of the season, it is not always the most talented team that wins, or the team that had the most victories during the season, but the team that is experiencing the greatest of run of form. So, with no further introduction, here is the first batch of player ratings from Opening Night. 7 Iowa State vs Colorado, and Lehigh @ Syracuse were the two games I watched. I did not create player ratings for Lehigh and Colorado, because I don't find them interesting.

Friday 11/13/2005

Syracuse 57 Lehigh 47

Syacuse Orange[men]

C DaJuan Coleman 2

After missing the last 22 months due to injury, Coleman started tonight, and played—13 minutes. Coleman picked up two quick fouls in the first, and sat the rest of the half. He played more in the second; Coleman even managed to score an easy two the one time Syracuse was able to move the ball around effectively. However, this game has to be a major disappointment for Coleman. In the second half, Coleman had his limited minutes because Obokoh and Lydon simply proved to be better interior defenders. Syracuse needs Coleman to play, because he is one of two players capable of scoring the ball in the post, and the Orange[men] desperately need to add that layer to their attack.

F Tyler Roberson 4

Roberson only played 21 minutes, despite picking up zero fouls. He finished the fame 0-3 from the field, scoring zero point. He did however, grab five rebounds, and even dished out a pair of assists. Syracuse, Boeheim, gave up on Roberson way too early in this game, taking him out of the game did not improve the team. Roberson and Coleman were not able to get things going on the offensive end, but they were hardly given a chance; they combined to take five shots. The guards were either unable to give them the ball, or too busy shooting early in the shot clock. Removing Roberson from the game, especially when Coleman is already out for fouls, completely eliminates any threat in the low post on offense. It also removes Syracuse's best rebounder. Lehigh rebounded only two less balls than Syracuse, and grabbed 11 offensive rebounds. Roberson would especially have been helpful offensive rebounding due to his athleticism, and willingness to crash the glass. This quality was needed in this game when Syracuse's offense was reduced to hoisting three point shots. But, alas, Roberson was stuck on the bench twiddling his thumbs. Roberson needs to play 30 minutes a game. His 4 rating in this game has less to do with him, and more to do with the manner in which he was utilized. Rant Over.

F Malachi Richardson 6

Malachi Richardson had a mixed debut, but ultimately he was one of the few positive contributors. The headlines will say Richardson led Syracuse to victory, and leave it at that, but it is far from that simple, or positive sounding. Richardson scored 14 points, but shot only 5-12 (42%) from the field, although he shot better from 3pt range, 4-9. Richardson was good on the defensive end. He used his length to his advantage on the wing, leading the team with three steals. He also grabbed six rebounds. However, Richardson turned the ball over five times as well. He showed a pretty good handle, and controlled the ball well, but he had a real problem passing the ball, often making extremely poor choices. #FreshmanMistakes. Overall it was a good game from the four-star freshman, and he was one of the few exciting players this game.

G Michael Gbinije 5

Gbinije led the team in points with 16. That does not make his performance impressive. He shot 5-13 (39%), and was only 2-9 from three. Gbinije started at point guard for Syracuse, but finished the game with only two assists. Meanwhile, he turned the ball over four times. Gbinije was at his best last season—and again in this game, when he is slashing into the lane, or driving in with the ball towards the basket. He is a good finisher while driving, and this also opens up other players, like Roberson and Coleman for easy stuffs, or Cooney and Richardson for open threes. In this game, Gbinije and Cooney chose to stay outside the arc until one of them threw up a three. That kind of offense does not work. Gbinije could be a great player this year, but he cannot abandon what made him effective last season. Syracuse will benefit from him driving to the basket, and occasionally shooting from outside.

G Trevor Cooney 4

Cooney also scored in double figures, 13, but that does not mean his performance was good this game. He shot 4-13 (31%), and 3-9 from three. On the bright side, His 33.3% from three this game was better than his 30.9% from a year ago. Hooray the little things! Cooney also turned the ball over four times. He and Gbinije need to spread the ball around more. They are not going to be effective if they play the way they did tonight.

C Chinoso Obokoh 7

Obokoh ended up with 15 minutes played in this game. He was very effective on the defensive end. One of the big questions surrounding Syracuse this season was who would replace Rakeem Christmas, on both the offensive and defensive end, and although the still do not have an answer on offense, Obokoh proved to be a very good rim protector, and defensive specialist. He finished the game with four blocks (in 15 minutes!).

F Tyler Lydon 6

Lydon played starter's minutes, 28, in place of Coleman and Roberson, and saw time both in the middle of the zone, and on the wing opposite Richardson. Lydon proved to be a very good defender in both spots. He blocked two shots, and also stole three balls, tying Richardson for the team lead. Lydon was also great at grabbing rebounds, 11, using his length exceptionally well. Interestingly, Lydon was thought to be an immediate asset on offense, because he is a good outside shooter. However, in this game he scored only four points, shooting 1-4, and 0-3 from three. He struggled offensively, but did everything else well. The prospect of Lydon putting both aspects of his game together is very exciting though.

G Kaleb Joseph 6

Kaleb Joseph struggled last season, which earned him a spot on the bench the latter half of his freshman season, and he will defer to Cooney and Gbinije to start this season. However, Joseph was one of the bright spots this game, and should have been played more than 14 minutes, based upon the flow of the game. Jospeh scored eight points—again, in just 14 minutes, on 2-3 shooting, all his shots were from 3pt range, and he also went 2-2 from the free throw line. He also had one assist, one steal, and most importantly, did not turn the ball over. Joseph was the best player when he was on the court, and he should have played more in the second half.

G Franklin Howard N/A

Howard came in for four minutes in the first half. He did not play long enough to discuss.

Team Rating: 4.89

Syracuse got the win. But, they looked terrible tonight. This game showed just how valuable Rakeem Christmas was to this team last year. Without him, Syracuse had no scoring presence in the low post. That will have to change if Syracuse wants to improve. Instead, Syracuse relied way too heavily on the three pointer. They took 34 threes, which means 65% of their shots came from beyond the arc. Luckily, they did not shoot too horribly from there, 32.4%, but that is not a viable way to score consistently. Syracuse's offense was extremely unbalance—and not just because two thirds of their attempts came from deep, but because three players: Richardson, Cooney, and Gbinije were responsible for 75% of Syracuse's shots! Syracuse needs to spread the ball around more on offense, and their key players need to be more selective taking shots. The key will be Gbinije driving to hoop. His ability to penetrate will upon up the rest of the offense. Playing Kaleb Joseph more could also lead to a more balanced offense. Joseph would be the primary ball handler, which would take the ball out of the hands of the three main culprits in what became a downtown bonanza. Syracuse also needs to commit to Tyler Roberson playing consistent minutes for them. He is an essential piece on offense, and they need to get him the ball in areas where he can score. When Roberson was on the floor, you often saw him playing just above the free throw line, where Christmas liked to receive the ball last year. So, you could see Syracuse was attempting to run a play for him there, but they quit on him too easily. On the defensive side, the zone was very good. The advantage to playing Gbinije and Cooney at the top of the zone is their length, and their ability to create steals. Richardson and Lydon have also adapted to the zone quickly, and their tailor-made to be successful pieces on defense. Obokoh was the key piece as the rim protector in the center of the zone. He was exceptional against Lehigh. However, Obokoh still has zero upside on offense. So, it is still important that Coleman stays on the court, and finds an offensive rhythm. In all, Syracuse got the win, but they did look strong doing so. They need to adapt, and play better offensively, otherwise they will get destroyed during the ACC season.


7 Iowa State 68 Colorado 62

Iowa State Cyclones

F Jameel McKay: 6

McKay finished the game with eight points, and 10 rebounds, nearly a double-double. Despite those solid numbers, McKay played only 26 minutes because he was often in foul trouble; he finished with four fouls. He also turned the ball over three times, and was 0-3 at the foul line. McKay played much better in the second half than he did the first, when his defense also suffered.

F Georges Niang: 7

Niang scored 17 points, shooting 7-14 from the field. However, Niang did not look like an All-American level of player. This could have been a showcase game for Niang. But, despite finishing with a nice point total, he missed several easy shots that would have allowed him to break 20. His defense was also lazy at times, and ended the game with four fouls as well. Niang only had four rebounds all game, as well. Niang did show off his solid handle of the ball. He did a nice job driving into the lane, and getting himself to hit high percentage shots, but missed, as previously mentioned, a few easy ones. Niang only turned the ball over once though, which is great considering how often he dribbles the ball.

F Abdel Nader: 6

Nader finished the game with 14 points and six rebounds, shooting 6-13. However, Nader missed both of his attempted threes, badly. He also picked up four fouls; yep, all three forwards had four fouls by the end of the game. Nader did not play well on defense either for much of the game. He failed to pressure George King when he was behind the arc, and was responsible for three uncontested three pointers made. Nader did a play better in the second half defensively, he got a couple blocks, and grabbed a couple steals, which led to easy points on the other end.

G Nazareth Mitrou-Long: 6

Mitrou-Long started the game fast. However, he cooled down halfway through the first, and remained that way through the second half as well. Mitrou-Long finished with 13 points, shooting a stellar 5-9, and 2-5 from three. However, he also turned the ball over five times. He did show poise in transition, and on fast breaks though. Mittrou-Long proved he can be a good scorer for this team, but he needs to show a more complete game.

G Monte Morris: 7

Morris looked like the Cyclones' best player. Sure, he only shot 42% from the field, and was 0-1 from three, but he was the clear leader of this team. The Cyclones were most dangerous when Morris had the ball in his hans. He showed an incredible ability to drive to the basket, where he could either finish in traffic, or open things up inside for other players. He is a good ball handler, turning the ball over just twice in 36 minutes. He finished the game with four assists. Morris was also an asset on defense, and finished the game with three steals, and five rebounds.

G Matt Thomas: 3

Matt Thomas was the first man off the bench, and the most utilized reserve, playing 24 minutes. He finished the game with only four points, shooting 2-7 from the field, and missing both of his 3pt attempts. The two shots he did make came from uncontested lay ups. He grabbed five rebounds, but was not a great asset on defense; Iowa State was forced to play small when he was in the lineup.

G Hallice Cooke: 6

Hallice Cook only played 13 minutes. But, he displayed some promise. He has a good handle, and tallied two assists in his limited time on the court. He also grabbed a steal and three rebounds. Cooke was the better of the two reserves, and Iowa State would be more interesting with him playing alongside Morris and Mitrou-Long when one of the bigs have to sit.

Team Rating: 6.05

Iowa State was not able to put away Colorado until the final minute of the game. They did not shoot particularly well, 2-10 from 3pt range, 53.3% from the FT line, despite shooting 44.6% overall. They fouled way too much, each of the forwards picked up four fouls, and that will be a struggle for Iowa State all season. It especially hurt them, because they do not have a deep bench. They also lack size after the three starters; Matt Thomas was the tallest player to come off the bench, and he's 6'4. The absence of frontcourt depth is the biggest concern for the Cyclones. Once McKay leaves the court, they have to play small, and move Niang up to play against opposing centers; he is not the same kind of defender, and rim protector that McKay is. Based on this performance, Iowa State did not look like the seventh best team in the country. They are not a top ten team for me.

2015 ACC Basketball Preview

ACC BASKETBALL PREVIEW

THE COLLEGE BASKETBALL SEASON IS FINALLY UPON US! With it comes months of exhilarating entertainment. Virginia has dominated the ACC for the past two seasons. However, that has not translated into postseason success. Duke, on the other hand, is the NCAA's defending champion, winning the title last season led by a trio of dominating freshman. Unfortunately for Duke, those three freshman left for the NBA, and they now have to retool. There are teams looking to spring to the top of the league after mild success last season: Miami. Teams trying to return to the top of the conference after a disappointing season: North Carolina. Teams trying to patch their rosters after losing important pieces: Notre Dame and Louisville. Teams that experienced a rare mediocre season last season, and will try to return to the NCAA tournament: Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and North Carolina State? Who will survive the gauntlet of the regular, and ACC season with the best chance at postseason glory? The following is an in depth look at each ACC team, examining each position, and their potential outlook this season.

Rank. School. Proj. Conference Record. (Last Year's Conference Record)

Tier 5: The Cellar

15. BOSTON COLLEGE 2-16 (4-14)

Frontcourt:

7'1” senior, Dennis Clifford, received the most minutes, 25.3, last season of any BC returning player. He will look to improve upon his 6.9 scoring average this year. He is the team's returning leader in rebounds, and will also lead the team on defense, in the post. It is imperative that he stays out of foul trouble. He fouled out on six occasions last season. Boston College will often employ a four-guard lineup but, Clifford will be spelled by Idy Diallo. He is a big-bodied center, who missed his freshman season, a year ago, with an injury. Diallo may be leaned on at times if Clifford gets in foul trouble. J.C. Reyes is a 6'9 3* freshman. He gives the Eagles some more size, and could carve out 10 minutes a game for rebounding purposes.

Backcourt:

Boston College graduated the four guards/wing players who played the most minutes last season. There are huge shoes to fill in the backcourt. None bigger, than those of Olivier Hanlan. Hanlan scored 19.5 points/game last season and added 4.2 assists/game.

After Clifford, the leading returning player in minutes is Garland Owens. He played a whopping 16.6 minutes/game a season ago. The 6'5 junior wing will likely be called upon to start this season. He was not an offensive threat a season ago. He averaged only 3.4 points/game, and scored only .2 points/minute he was on the court (for reference, Olivier Hanlan scored .52 points/minute). Owens is not a threat from outside. He shot just 23.1% from 3pt range last season. Despite his low 3pt %, he shot a stellar (for a wing) 51.0% from the field. Owens has a big opportunity to breakout this season, especially as one of the few veteran players on a young team.

Boston College's starting shooting guard this season will be Eli Carter. He is a graduate transfer player from Florida. He is the most likely player to lead Boston College in points this season. Last season with Florida, he scored 8.8 points/game playing 24.3 minutes a game; he also added 2 assists a game. Carter was not great from outside last season, shooting 30.5% from three. This certainly was not for a lack of trying though as he took five 3-pointers/game. Carter will be given every chance to improve those numbers this season though; he will lead the Eagles in minutes played, assuming his past injuries are behind him. Darryl Hicks is technically now a sophomore (according to Boston College's website). He was originally apart of their 2013 freshman class, but tore his ACL back in June of 2013, and has yet to play for the Eagles. He could potentially start at shooting guard, and move Carter to point will he would be a scoring combo guard. The wing players will be spelled by a pair of 3* freshman, AJ Turner, 6'6, and Matt Milon, 6'4. They will be looked upon to contribute right away.

Boston College will hand the ball, and likely the starting PG position to another 3* freshman, 6'3”, Jerome Robinson. He has a couple of skills that should help him in his starting role right way. He has a good head for the game and decision making for a player his age, and he can knock down a 3pt shot. Robinson's play is likely going to dictate how Boston College does this season, as a lot of responsibility rests on his shoulders. Eli Carter is likely the backup PG, but BC would prefer to keep him off the ball. So, there isn't really anyone to take Robinson's place if he struggles.

Newcomers:

Due to the many losses BC suffered from last season, they have a large freshman class. Jerome Robinson will be counted on to start right away. AJ Turner, JC Reyes, and either Matt Milon or Sammy Barnes-Thompkins will be rotation players from the get go. Darryl Hicks is a big x-factor for the Eagles. He has been with the program for a couple years, despite not playing, and could come in and start, which would take some pressure off the true freshman, especially Robinson, but there is very little information out there on Hicks, and his potential spot on this team.

Outlook:

Boston College lost the four players who received the most minutes during the 2014-15 season. Most significantly, they lost star Olivier Hanlan. There is no one near his talent level on this team. Robinson is an interesting addition, and could grow into a key player, but too much is going to be asked of him this year. This is practically a brand new Boston College team from the one that tipped off a year ago. This team will struggle to find an identity, and develop chemistry amongst both the new players, and those who's roles are growing. Boston College finished ACC play with only a 4-14 record a season ago, and that was with Olivier Hanlan. This team will find itself at the bottom of the ACC. Although, there is hope for the future as this big freshman class grows together.

Tier 4: Definitively Bottom Half

14. Clemson 4-14 (8-10)

Frontcourt:

Clemson's frontcourt will be centered by 6'10 Senior Landry Nnoko. Nnoko averaged 24.3 minutes/game last season. He averaged 7.6 points/game, 5.4 rebounds/game. His greatest contribution is on defense; he averaged 2 shot blocks/game last season. Nnoko will have to avoid foul trouble though as he fouled out five times last season, and averaged 3.2 fouls/game. Nnoko will be backed up by junior Sidy Djitte and JUCO transfer Legend Robertin.

Clemson's best player is 6'7 power forward Jaron Blossomgame. Last season his game really blossomed, improving his points per game from 4.9 as a Freshman to 13.1 as a Sophomore. Blossomgale also averaged 8.2 rebounds per game last season. He should be one of the ACC's best forwards and is key to Clemson's success.

Donte Gratham will be the team's starting small forward. He was a 4* recruit in 2014, and has good size, 6'8, for the position. Last season Grahtam averaged 8.8 points and 4.6 rebounds as a freshman, playing nearly 30 minutes/game. He will have to improve upon those numbers this year as he will be relied on more. It is important that Gratham improves his shooting; he shot only 27.9% from three and 37.2% overall.

Clemson has little depth at either forward position. 6'8 senior Josh Smith is the only other forward. He averaged 2.4 points, playing 9.5 minutes/game. Meanwhile, Austin Ajukwa, a 6'6 Junior swingman will likely see as many minutes playing at the 3 as he will at the 2—Ajukwa is now transferring.

Backcourt:

Clemson loses their entire starting backcourt from last season. Stepping in at shooting guard will be Jordan Roper. Roper, a 6'0 Senior, played just under 20 minutes a game last season. He averaged 6.5 points/game, shooting 30.4% from three, and 34% overall. He will need to take a step forward and improve upon those numbers this season. Playing behind Roper will be Austin Ajukwa and Sophomore Gabe DeVoe. Ajukwa averaged 3.1 points last season, while DeVoe averaged 2.3.

Two newcomers with contrasting styles will compete for the starting PG position. Avry Holmes is a 6'2 transfer from San Francisco. Two seasons ago he averaged 12.5 points in 31.7 minutes per game. He will be Clemson's best shooter. He shot 41.9% from three, and 83.7% from the free throw line. His ball handling will need to approve though. Holmes' assist to turnover ratio at San Francisco was 1.5:1.0. Ty Hudson is a true freshman who will battle Holmes for minutes. He is the 95^th best freshman according to Scout.com. They describe him as a quick ball handler, with plus potential on defense. However, he is not a shooter. It is possible Clemson often plays Holmes along with Hudson, because Hudson is the team's best ball handler, and Holmes is their best shooter.

Edit: Just saw that Austin Ajukwa is transferring. That is a huge blow to a team that was already hurting for depth!

Newcomers:

Point guards Ty Hudson and Avry Holmes are the two biggest additions. One of them will start, and the other will be a major contributor. Legend Robertin provides Clemson with depth in the paint.

Outlook:

Clemson finished eleventh in the ACC last season, tied with two other teams at 8-10. However, they lose their entire backcourt from last season. Jaron Blossomgame is their only proven scorer, and they only have one guy, Avry Holmes, who is a real threat from 3pt range. Most importantly, the ACC as a whole has gotten better this season, with most teams improving upon their squads last year, and Clemson has gotten a little worse. They do play good defense, and have good frontcourt size, but ultimately, they find themselves near the bottom of the league this season.

13. Virginia Tech 5-13 (2-16)

Frontcourt:

Virginia Tech is likely to play a three guard lineup this season. At their forward positions, VT will employ a quantity over quality approach. Satchell Pierce received the most minutes last season, among returning frontcourt players. He played 13.8 minutes last season, averaging 3.2 points/game and 2.4 rebounds/game. He gives the team some height, he's 7'0, but will not fill the boxscore, even though his minutes will increase this season. Pierce will split time with 6'11 JUCO transfer Johnny Hamilton. Hamilton averaged nine points, eight rebounds, and four blocks per game last season, playing for Jacksonville College. He could end up wresting most of the minutes away from Pierce at their position.

Virginia Tech has three candidates for the power forward position. Shane Henry, a 6'8 senior, returns from last year's squad. He only played 10.3 minutes/game, while also averaging 2.3 points and 2.7 rebounds. Zach LeDay is a junior transfer from South Florida. Two years ago he averaged 3.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, while playing 15 minutes per game. Finally, Kerry Blackshear is the freshman option. Scout.com's Rob Harrington describes the 6'8, 4*, youngster as a forward who understands how to play inside with toughness. He should be an asset to the team on the defensive boards, and blocking shots. He is also capable of getting out in transition and scoring. Blackshear could grow into one of the ACC's best power forwards in future seasons as he adds strength, and should be one of the team's better assets in the frontcourt this season.

Chris Clarke and Tyrone Outlaw are the only traditional small forwards on the team. Chris Clarke is potentially the team's best freshman—and it's a terrific class. Scout.com lists him as him at 81^st on their class of 2015 rankings. He is only 6'5, but plays bigger due to his athleticism and aggressiveness. He should be one of the first two players off the bench. He will be a high energy player, capable of playing good defense, and scoring in transition. Scout.com's Rob Harrington, describes Clarke's jump shooting as a weakness, and something he will need to improve if he wants to grow offensively. Tyrone Outlaw is another JUCO transfer; he averaged 21.8 points a game last season, and gives the team more depth.

Backcourt:

The Hokies return three players who averaged 30 or more minutes a game last season (as long as you round Justin Bibb's 29.8 min/game and Ahmed Hill's 29.6 min/game up). They also add a transfer junior who played thirty minutes a game for Maryland two years ago. Justin Bibb is the team's leading scorer among returning players. He averaged 11.4 points a game his freshman season. He is very good from outside, shooting 41.3% from three. He should lead the team in points this season. Maryland transfer, Seth Allen, should also start. Two seasons ago, he averaged 13.4 points/game, shooting 38% from three, and adding three assists. He will likely play shooting guard, though he is capable of spelling at point when needed. Ahmed Hill will compete with Allen for a starting position. Last season, Hill was a top-100 recruit. He scored 8.7 points/game, shooting 38.6% from three, although he only shot 39.9% from the field overall. He also added 3.7 rebounds/game though. He has good size for a shooting guard, he is 6'4. Boston College can turn to Hill when they want his size along with Justin Bibb, who is 6'5, and use Allen when they want better ball handling on the floor.

Jalen Hudson will back up the wings, along with the aforementioned Clarke and Outlaw. Hudson is another big shooting guard at 6'5. He averaged 6.9 points per game in only 16.7 minutes. Hudson is not a great perimeter shooter, 3pt percentage was just 28.3%, however his field goal percentage was 47.9% overall.

Devin Wilson led the team in minutes last season, as the team's starting point guard. He is pass first player; he averaged 4.2 assists/game, with an assist to turnover ratio of 2:0. Wilson only averaged 6.5 points/game, and shot just 29.6% from three. Devin Wilson gives the team a consistent, veteran ball handler. Behind Wilson, is 4* freshman, #63 in the nation according to Scout.com, Justin Robinson. Robinson is another true PG, with an advanced IQ for a freshman. He, like Wilson is not a great three point shooter. However, he gives the team another reliable ball handler, and has some nice upside.

Newcomers:

Virginia Tech added five players last season, and they add another five this season. The three freshmen, Kerry Blackshear, Justin Robinson, and Chris Clarke could all be stars in the next couple years for the Hokies, and will be important role players this year. The JUCO additions, Tyrone Outlaw and Johnny Hamilton provide depth, and Hamilton could end up with the lion's share of minutes at center.

Outlook:

Virginia Tech finished last in the ACC last season with a 2-16 record. They will improve upon that mark this season. However, it will probably be another season before they can make a push back towards the middle of the conference.. Virginia Tech's accumulated a good, young roster after two successful recruiting classes. They will be an intriguing team, and will likely surprise some good teams this year. However, they could really struggle in the frontcourt, and need to improve there.

12. Georgia Tech 5-13 (3-15)

Frontcourt:

The Yellow Jackets' best player is 6'5 small forward, Sr. Marcus Georges-Hunt. Last season Marcus led the team in points scored, averaging 13.6. He also chipped in 5.5 rebounds per game. Marcus did not shoot well from the three point arc, shooting 28.8% from there. However, he did shoot in the mid to low 30s his first two seasons. Despite his three point shooting percentage dipping, Georges-Hunt's field goal percentage grew to a career high 43.1%. Georges-Hunt is the star of this team, even though he is a little undersized at small forward.

Charles Mitchell is also a lock to start in the frontcourt. The 6'8, 269 lb Sr. is a traditional bang in the low post power forward. He averaged 9.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game a season ago, those numbers are very impressive considering he averaged only 22.1 minutes per game. Mitchell's numbers should rise this season as he takes a larger, starring role on this team in DeMarco Cox's absence. It also helps that he shoots 52.1% from the field. Mitchell is an absolute beast getting offensive rebounds. No returning ACC player grabbed more offensive boards than Mitchell.

Starting alongside Mitchell will likely be Alabama transfer, senior Nick Jacobs. Jacobs, like Mitchell, is a big bodied, 6'8 260 lb, power forward. Prior to transferring, Jacobs averaged 8.4 points and 3.5 rebounds for Alabama while playing 20 minutes a game. He, also like Mitchell, shoots above 50% from the field, 52%.

Georgia Tech has two players on their roster capable of serving as a traditional center. First is Ben Lammers, a 6'10 sophomore. Lammers played only 5.9 minutes a game last season though. The other is the team's only true freshman, 3* recruit Sylvester Ogbonda. They will give the Yellow Jackets a couple options if they want to play taller. Taller, not necessarily “bigger,” both Mitchell and Jacobs have heavier listed weights than Lammers and Ogbonda.

Quinton Stephens gives GT an experienced forward off the bench. The 6'9 junior played 18.9 minutes per game last season. He averaged 6.0 points, and 2.9 rebounds per game. He could serve as a backup at either forward position.

Backcourt:

Georgia Tech's backcourt is headlined by former Virginia Tech Hokie, Adam Smith. Despite playing for the Hokies just last season, Smith is eligible to play this season. Smith led the ACC in three point shooting last season, putting in 42.4% of his shots from three. He averaged 13.4 points a game in just under 30 minutes a game. Smith will start at two guard for Georgia Tech, and compete with Georges-Hunt for the team's scoring title. Backing Smith up will be former 4* recruit, Tadric Jackson. The sophomore had a disappointing freshman season. He averaged only 5.4 points/game while shooting 27.4% from the field, and 17.8% from three. Jackson has a lot of potential, and will be key for Georgia Tech's future. However, he needs to improve his shooting if he wants to receive more time on the court.

Georgia Tech's point guard is redshirt sophomore Travis Jorgenson. Jorgenson started last season, after an injury kept him out his first year. He played 21.7 minutes/game, but only averaged 3.7 points. Jorgenson shot just 31.1% from the field, and 30% from three. Jorgensen averaged 3.3 assists, while giving up 1.8. The Yellow Jackets have options at PG. Junior Josh Heath played almost as many minutes as Jorgenson last season, 19.5. He averaged 4.3 points/game, 2.7 assits/game, and 1.3 turnovers/game. So, for those of you paying attention, Heath scored more points, in less time, with a better assist to turnover ratio than Jorgenson. He also shot better from the field 41.2%, although worse from three, 23.1%. GT also has Jr. Corey Heyward who played 11.8 minutes/game last season, but he shot even worse than Jorgenson and Heath, which doesn't seem possible. His field goal percentage was 30.8%, and he shot 18.2% from three. No matter which of them wins the most minutes, the PG position will not be an area of strength for the team.

Newcomers:

The biggest addition to the team is shooting guard, Aaron Smith, a grad transfer from Virginia Tech. He will immediately start at shooting guard, and could lead the team in points this season. He gives the team something they lacked last season, an elite outside shooter. Another transfer, Nick Jacobs, will also likely start. Georgia Tech has one freshman, Sylvester Ogbonda, who gives the team a little more size. Finally, a third transfer, James White, is another 6'8 forward who gives the team additional depth in the frontcourt.

Outlook:

Georgia Tech has a great 1-2-3 in big man, Charles Mitchell, swingman, Marcus Georges-Hunt, and shooting guard, Adam Smith. Each of those player's could be starters on a team capable of making a tournament run. However, there is little to like on this team outside of that group. The team will struggle at point guard, and although the team has a lot of frontcourt depth, they lack elite athletes, and could struggle on defense with their lack of length. Georgia Tech's big three, the GTBT, are all senior's with experience playing in the ACC. They will guide the team to a better record this season, even with the loss of key cog, DeMarco Cox, and a poor freshman class.

Tier 3: Battling for a Berth

11. Wake Forest 8-10 (5-13)

Frontcourt:

Wake Forest returns three forwards who played more than 20 minutes a game last season, and only lose one frontcourt player who played more than fifteen minutes a game, Darius Leonard.

Devin Thomas will once again lead the unit. The 6'9 255lb senior is a stereotypical, old school power forward. He averaged 12.0 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 49.5% from the floor. He has been very consistent through his first three seasons, both scoring and rebounding, and has improved his points per game each year. Thomas will be one of the ACC's best power forwards, and could averaged a double-double this season.

Dinos Mitoglou was a pleasant surprise for Wake Forest last season. As a freshman Mitoglou averaged just under 10 points per game, while shooting 38.5% from three. He is a great asset to the Demon Deacons as a stretch four, opening up the inside for Devin Thomas. Mitoglou could see time at either forward position this season. Wake Forest will have the luxury of either starting three forwards, or playing big by moving Mitoglou to the three in favor of centers, Doral Moore or Andre Washington.

The final forward to play more than 20 minutes last season is Cornelius Hudson. Hudson, a 6'6 sophomore, averaged 7.5 points and 3.1 rebounds in 21.9 minutes a game last season. He is a shooter, but only shot 31.9% from three, and 35.8% overall. He will need to improve those numbers if he wants to increase his role this season. Hudson may be best utilized coming off the bench, where he could be inserted to play at either wing position. .

George McClinton, a long 6'7 sophomore, is another option at small forward. He is not the scorer that Hudson is, scoring only 3.4 points a game last season, albeit playing only 14.6 minutes a game, and does not shoot from outside. He does rebound at a higher clip though, and contributes more on the defensive end. McClinton gives the team a little more grit at the three.

The best option for Wake Forest may be, as previously alluded to, allowing Devin Thomas to play as a natural PF, moving Mitoglou to SF, and inserting 7' freshman Doral Moore into the middle. Scout.com assesses him as a 4* recruit, landing just outside their top 100. They say he can be a top shot blocker due to his size and long arms, and also say he has a nice skill set on offense with the ability to score inside and can knock down a mid range jumper. His body is not ready to bang in the post yet, but he could be a real asset on defense. He could also contribute on the offensive end as Mitoglou draws defenders outside, and Devin Thomas draws additional defenders in the post.

Senior Andre Washington will also get some minutes as a traditional center, but he only played 4.9 minutes a game last season. He will receive more playing time if it is determined Moore is too raw for the ACC, but if that is the case, expect Wake to go smaller with their lineup rather than giving Washington a significantly larger role.

Finally, John Collins is a 3* freshman forward. He will get some playing time this season, like Washington, and will be especially valuable if Moore isn't ready.

Backcourt:

Wake Forest returns a solid backcourt, led by star point guard, Codi Miller-McIntyre. The 6'3 senior, averaged 14.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game last season. Those numbers are comparable to those of NC State's, Trevor Lacey, who was an All-ACC second teamer last season (Miller-McIntyre was himself an honorable mention). Miller-McIntyre is not an elite shooter, he shot just 28.4% from three, but excels at putting the ball on the floor, and finishing on the drive.

Sophomore Mitchell Wilbekin will start opposite Miller-McIntyre. Wilbekin is a combo guard, who is capable of handling the ball when needed. He was Wake's best 3pt shooter last season at 38.6%. However, his field goal percentage was lower than that at 36.3%. Wilbekin needs to be more assertive offensively this season; he only took 6.2 shots a game last season, and averaged 7.2 points.

Both Miller-McIntyre and Mitchell Wilbekin will be spelled by freshman Bryant Crawford. Crawford is listed as Scout.com's 77^th best freshman. They describe him as a scoring point guard who uses his speed and athleticism to create opportunities on the offensive end. However, he needs to improve his jump shot. Crawford will get significant playing time this season as the main guard off the bench. Cornelius Hudson should also see some time at the two.

Newcomers:

This is a good freshman class for Wake Forest. They have two four star recruits: Crawford, who will get significant minutes off the bench, and Doral Moore, who has a very high upside, and could be a difference maker. John Collins is another nice addition, and gives the team additional size.

Outlook:

This is a better Wake Forest team than last season's. They have no significant loses, and have added a couple really nice pieces. They have a very solid core led by two above average and potential All-ACC performers in Devin Thomas and Cody Miller-McIntyre, and another two players, Mitoglou and Wilbekin who could become ACC average or better starters in their second year. Doral Moore is the x-factor for this team. If he comes into the league schedule ready to play significant minutes, he could be a difference maker for this team. They are set up nicely on offense with Miller-McIntyre driving inside, and Devin Thomas drawing players inside, allowing Mitoglou and Wilbekin to shoot. However, the Demon Deacons' defense will be a big question mark. The team finished last season as one of the worst teams defensively. If they can shore up their defense, they could be in position to be one of the ACC's biggest surprises.

10. North Carolina State 8-10 (10-8)

Frontcourt:

Last season, NC State utilized a forward by committee system. No forward on the team averaged even 20 minutes per game...which means, no forward played even half the game on average throughout the season. They return their top six forwards from a season ago. So, it will be interesting to see how minutes are distributed this year.

The forward who received the most minutes last season was 6'9 power forward Lennard Freeman. The junior averaged 3.6 points and 5.6 rebounds playing 19.5 minutes a game. Freeman shot 44.7% from the floor, and only scored .18 points/minute played. This does not indicate a large uptick in scoring for this coming season. Freeman is however, a proficient rebounder.

Next in minutes was 6'9 BeeJay Anya who averaged 19.4 minutes a game. Anya scored 4.5 points and 4.3 rebounds a game. Most importantly though, Anya led the ACC in blocked shots; he averaged 2.5 a game, and again, he did that while playing only 19.4 minutes a game. Anya also shot an impressive 61% from the floor, although he did so while taking less than three shots a game. So, do not expect him to suddenly become a double digit scorer either.

Splitting time at the top two forward spots with Freeman and Anya will be Abdul-Malik Abu. The 6'8 sophomore has more potential on offense than either Anya or Freeman, and could be poised to break out this season. Last year, Abu averaged 6.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in just 19.1 minutes a game. His minutes should increase this season, in fact, there is a good chance he plays more than Anya or Freeman. He has a good mid range jumper, and will receive more opportunities to score this season.

There are several options for the Wolfpack at small forward. The carryovers are twin sophomores Caleb and Cody Martin. Caleb Martin was the slightly higher touted recruit a year ago, Scout.com ranked him 66^th, while they ranked Cody 67^th. Caleb also received five more minutes than Cody their freshman season. So, he [Caleb] is the favorite to start to begin the season. Caleb Martin averaged 4.8 points with 2.9 rebounds per game, in 16.6 minutes last season. He is also the better 3pt shooter of the brothers. He shot 30.5% from three last season, but his reputation suggests that number will improve with more playing time. Cody Martin is a little more of an interior player, and does not shoot from outside. Last season he averaged 3.4 points and 2 rebounds per game. They're both limited to the small forward position due to their height, 6'6, and Caleb could even find minutes at the two if NC State wants to play big.

The dark horse in the battle for minutes at the three is reclassified freshman Maverick Rowan. Rowan is ranked 37^th among freshman according to Scout.com. Scout.com's Rob Harrington lists Rowan's jump shot as his primary strength, saying he “possesses outstanding range with a quick release.” Harrington also says Rowan is a “fine handler and passer who punishes defenders who close out to aggressively.” Rowan's weakness will be on the defensive end, because although he has great length for a wing, he lacks great athleticism. Rowan will play at both wing positions, and will play plenty alongside either Martin brother.

Backcourt: North Carolina State lost star guard Trevor Lacey this offseason. Lacey leaves a big void at shooting guard. He averaged 15.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game last season, forming one of the nation's best backcourts alongside Anthony “Cat” Barber. The Wolfpack also lose another 12.8 points from former guard Ralston Turner.

Filling in for Lacey will be West Virginia transfer Terry Henderson. Henderson averaged 11.7 points per game two seasons ago, and shot a solid 37.6% from three. In addition to serving as the starting shooting guard, Henderson will also back up the point guard due to NC State's lack of guard depth.

Anthony “Cat” Barber inherits the starring role from Lacey. Last season, Cat averaged 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He is capable of scoring from anywhere, and shot 38% from 3pt range. Barber's numbers will increase this season, being the focal point of the offense, and will be one of the ACC's best players. This Wolfpack team rests squarely on Barber's shoulders, and will go as far as he is able to take them.

Newcomers:

The Wolfpack's two biggest additions are transfer Terry Henderson, and 4* freshman, Maverick Rowan. Henderson will start at shooting guard, and will be expected to score alongside Barber. Rowan will be a big part of the rotation and will get minutes at both shooting guard and small forward. His ability to shoot will be valuable this season, and if he catches fire he could really elevate this team on offense. Shaun Kirk is a 3* freshman forward. He should see minutes this season as an athletic forward who can run the court, and make things happen in transition.

Outlook:

Make no mistake, NC State will not be as good as they were last season. Lacey and Turner are big loses, and NC State's replacements for them, namely Henderson, will not make up for their absence. However, Cat Barber is a star, and capable of taking over games. NC State could also be more dangerous from three with the arrival of Rowan and Henderson, and Caleb Martin receiving more minutes. There will also be more emphasis on the frontcourt, and Abu will be needed to step up offensively. This team is long, and should be good on the defensive end as well. NC State's biggest weakness will be a lack of offensive difference makers in the low post, and depth at guard. Small forwards Maverick Rowan and Caleb Martin are likely to be the primary backups in the backcourt, with Henderson shifting to point guard on the rare occasion Cat Barber heads to the bench.

9. Pittsburgh 9-9 (8-10)

Frontcourt:

Pitt played without a true center most of last season. However, this year they have added three players who will compete for minutes at the center position. Rafael Maia is one of two graduate transfer centers; he comes by way of Brown where he led the Ivy League in rebounds. In 30.1 minutes, Maia averaged 9.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, shooting 53.8% from the field. Maia is nursing an injured thumb, and may start the season slow, but will be a necessary contributor down low. The other graduate transfer center is Alonzo Nelson-Ododa. Nelson-Ododa is not the same scoring threat that Maia is down low, last season he averaged 6.6 points per game, while finishing the season with a 45.2% field goal percentage. Nelson-Ododa's greatest contribution to the team will instead be on the defensive end. He will be the team's best rim protector, and averaged 1.7 blocks a game last season. Both Maia and Nelson-Ododa are only 6-9, and are not “true centers.” However, the presence of either will allow Michael Young and Jamel Artis to shift down to their natural positions. Rozelle Nix is listed at 6'11 and 300 lbs, and ESPN lists him at 300 lbs. He is a big guy, who could be a useful asset on the inside. However, his conditioning is going to determine how many minutes he plays this season.

Michael Young is one of two frontcourt stars for the Panthers. He is a 6'9 235lb junior who saw most of his minutes at the five position last season, but should play more at power forward this year. Playing 31.7 minutes he averaged 13.4 points, and 7.3 rebounds a game last season. He shot an excellent 53% from the field, and was an All-ACC honorable mention. Young should be freed up this season since the Panthers will have more of an interior presence. Young can hit a shot from outside as well, but not consistently, he shot only 29.4% from three last season.

The other frontcourt star is 6'7 junior Jamel Artis. Like Young, Artis had to play out of position as an undersized stretch four, and should benefit from playing his more natural small forward position more often this season. Artis is a true inside-out player. He shot 39.4% from three point range, and his field goal percentage overall was 46.9%. Artis played 31.8 minutes a game last season, scoring 13.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Artis is a complete player and can be an All-ACC performer, especially if he is able to play a majority of his minutes at small forward, where he can use his physicality to dominate opponents.

When Jamel Artis sits or is forced up to power forward he will be backed up by 6'8 jr. Sheldon Jeter and 6'7 redshirt freshman, Cameron Johnson. Jeter averaged 14.3 minutes a game last season, but played much more often down the stretch. He played 22 minutes a game in Pitt's last eleven games. Jeter is an inconsistent scorer. He averaged only 4.7 points per game throughout the season, although that number increased to over eight points a game during the final eleven game stretch. Jeter's 3pt and field goal percentages are good. He shoots 37% from three, and 47.5% overall. So, it is possible Jeter is primed for a breakout season. Cameron Johnson played in Pittsburgh's first eight games before getting injured, and missing the remainder of the season. Johnson was actually utilized more than Jeter during that time. He played 14.4 minutes a games, averaging 4.5 points. He, like Jeter, is capable of knocking down a 3pt shot as well, he was 37% from beyond the arc last season.

Backcourt:

Pittsburgh returns senior point guard James Robinson. Robinson has played more than 30 minutes in each of the last two season. Last year, in 33.9 minutes, he averaged 8.9 points and 5.1 assists. He is a very steady ball handler, his assist to turnover ratio last season was a little above 3:1, which is a great number. Robinson is not a good shooter. He only shot 36.7% from the field, and 29.6% from three. He does however, shoot well from the free throw line, 83.3%. Robinson has nice size for a college point guard, 6'3, and contributes on the glass; he averaged 3.6 rebounds a game last season.

Pittsburgh will not have to use a backup point guard too often this season, but 4* freshman Damon Wilson will be groomed to take over next season. He is big for a PG, 6'5, and is also a good ball handler. Scout.com writes, he needs to work on shooting to become a more complete offensive player.

The only major loss Pittsburgh suffers from last season is that of starting shooting guard Cam Wright. The Panthers will have two options to replace him. The first is redshirt junior Chris Jones. The 6'6 swingman played starter's minutes last season, averaging 27.4 a game—he started at small forward behind Young and Artis—and as a result is the favorite to claim the job. He averaged 8.5 points per game, but only managed a FG% of 43.1%. He is alright from 3pt range, shooting 35.7% last season. Jones will compete with graduate transfer Sterling Smith. The 6'4 shooting guard played the last three years at Coppin St. Last year he scored 13.9 points per game and added 4.9 rebounds in 30.1 minutes. Obviously, Smith's numbers are a inflated due to the level of competition he faced. However, Smith is the better pure shooter on the team. Last season he shot 41.8% from three point range. Both Jones and Smith will play significant minutes. Jones has ACC experience, and started for the team much of last season. Smith, however, could be a potent scorer with his ability to shoot the three.

Newcomers:

Pittsburgh brings in several players to a team that only lost one major contributor to a year ago. Grad transfer Sterling Smith will have the biggest impact on the team this season as a valuable three point shooter. However, it could be fellow graduate transfer, big man Rafael Maia who starts for the team. A third grad transfer, Alonzo Nelson-Ododa and JUCO transfer Rozelle Nix will provide the team with depth in the low post. Meanwhile, freshman PG Damon Wilson will be an important piece for the future of this team, and will learn from, and backup James Robinson this year.

Outlook:

This is a better team than the one booted from the NIT's first round a season ago. Last year, Pittsburgh had to play small and stretch out defenses with three or four shooters, all of whom are 6'7 or shorter. The team was also one of the worst Pittsburgh team's defensively in recently memory. That is not how Pittsburgh wants to play. They want to play big and physical; they are an old school Big East team at heart. This season, they will be able to play bigger, shifting Young and Artis back down to their natural positions. They also have added depth in the frontcourt, and a couple quality forwards in Jeter and Cameron Johnson who have shown glimpses. The backcourt is essentially the same as last season. Pittsburgh has replaced Cam Wright with Chris Jones and Sterling Smith. That is a fair trade. Pittsburgh is better, and will be competing for an NCAA berth.

8. Syracuse 9-9 (9-9)

Frontcourt:

Syracuse loses it's two best frontcourt players, and possibly their two best players—period, from last season: Rakeem Christmas and Chris McCullough. Christmas played nearly 35 minutes per game, scoring a team high 17.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. Christmas' season is in the conversation of the best statistical season of any Syracuse big man in the program's history history. He was an All-ACC first team player. McCullough was injured early in league play, and afterwards decided to leave for the NBA this summer. While he was on the floor he played 28 minutes a game, averaging 9.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks. Between Christmas and McCullough, Syracuse has lost a lot of production down low, which will be difficult to replace.

Syracuse's season will be in the hands...sorry, not hands—knees of 6'9 forward DaJuan Coleman, who was, once upon a time, the 19^th best freshman in the 2012 recruiting class. Coleman, coming off of knee surgery, will be counted on to start for Syracuse in the middle of their zone. If Coleman is healthy, he can be an enforcer in the low post, using his size, and strength to power his way to the basket on offense. He could also be one of the ACC's best rebounders. One of the biggest knocks on Coleman is his ability to defend the middle of Syracuse's zone. He is not a stereotypical Syracuse big, with long arms, and great rim protecting abilities. However, he is what they have. Coleman could be a surprise player in the ACC this season, averaging double digit points and eight or nine rebounds per game. However, if he goes down, or if he is limited to 20-25 minutes per game Syracuse will struggle in the middle.

Backing up Coleman will be 6'9 junior Chinoso Obokoh. Obokoh looks like a typical Syracuse center, long and lean. However, he has little experience, averaging just 6.8 minutes a game last season. Obokoh is a defense only player; he scored less than a point per game last year. Despite being a defense only player, Obokoh is not a specialist like Syracuse has had in year's past, think Baye Moussa-Keita, or Jeremy McNeil. So, the less he ends up playing, the better off Syracuse will be.

The best returning frontcourt player for Syracuse is junior Tyler Roberson. The 6'8 forward started alongside McCullough and Christmas early last season, before moving to power forward when McCullough went down. He will return to the power forward position this season. Last year, Roberson played 28.7 minutes per game, averaging 8.3 points and 7.6 rebounds. Roberson is an athletic forward, and is very good on the offensive boards. He will benefit from an increased role in the offense, and will become a go-to player. He has a better chance than Coleman to average a double-double this season.

Playing behind Roberson will be 6'9 freshman, Tyler Lydon. Lydon will play an important reserve role this season because Moustapha Diagne, an athletic forward who was supposed to come to Syracuse this season, was denied eligibility by the NCAA. Lydon, considered by scout.com as the 69^th best freshman, is a stretch four. Scout.com describes him as a good distance shooter, who will also be an asset in transition. His body is not ready to guard ACC bigs, but then again, Syracuse uses a zone. Lydon's length will be an asset on the wing, pressuring shooters, and creating traps along the baseline. Lydon is an interesting prospect for Syracuse due to his size and shooting ability, 3pt shooting was an area of weakness last season.

Finally, Malachai Richardson got the start at small forward in Syracuse's first exhibition game. He could also start on the bench, sliding Michael Gbinije to small forward. However, Syracuse's best starting lineup will be the one with the 6'6 freshman wing. Richardson is scout.com's 29^th best freshman entering this season. Scout.com describes Richardson's outside shot as “silky smooth,” and “effortless.” He is an all around scorer, who can also use his athleticism to drive to the basket when defenders try to cheat on the 3pt shot. Richardson's also an asset on defense, where his length and athleticism will help in the zone. He is also capable of moving to shooting guard, where he could pair with Michael Gbinije at the top of Syracuse's zone. It would be extremely difficult for opposing guards to get by that pairing.

Backcourt:

Syracuse will be led by two fifth-year senior guards. Trevor Cooney played 37.3 minutes per game last season. Due to his excessive usage, Cooney managed to score 13.4 points per game. However, he did not shoot well. His FG% was only 35.9%, and his 3pt percentage was only 30.9%, while taking more than 7.0 three pointers a game. Cooney needs to be a more efficient scorer this season. He has the potential to be one of the league's leading scorers if he does. Cooney is a good defender as well. Although, one of Syracuse's smaller guards, he's 6'4, he has active hands at the top of the zone, averaging 1.8 steals per game last season.

Michael Gbinije is going to be Syracuse's most important player this season. He is a 6'7 wing who will spend most of his minutes at point guard this season. Gbinije played 35.0 minutes a game last season, with 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Gbinije needs to cut down his turnovers now that he will be the team's primary ball carrier, he averaged 2.1 a game his junior season. The silent G-man could become Syracuse's leading scorer this season due to his ability to drive to the basket, and shoot from outside. His 39.2 3pt % led the team a season ago. It will also help that Syracuse has more players capable of shooting from outside this season, giving him more space to drive. Gbinije, like Cooney is a good defender. He will defend both on the wing, and up top. Either way his long arms, and quick hands will help him create steals. Last season, he averaged 1.9 a game.

Sophomore Kaleb Joseph is the only true point guard on the roster. He will likely have a reduced role coming off the bench this season than he did a year ago, when he played 27.3 minutes a game. Joseph scored 5.9 points, and averaged 2.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, but he also turned the ball over 2.3 times a game. Jospeh was not a good shooter last season, his field goal percentage was just 37.6% last season, shooting only 20% from 3pt range. Joseph does have a lot of potential as a driving point guard, though; he was a top-50 recruit just a season ago. Syracuse hopes a season on the bench will help him grow, or motivate him to make the most of his minutes. It is also likely that Kaleb Jospeh joins a popular club of Syracuse guards who are quickly pulled from games after a single mistake, and spend the remainder of the game seated beside Jim Boeheim.

Franklin Howard will be the other backup guard. The 6'5 freshman is capable of playing both guard positions. He is a third top-100 recruit for Syracuse this season, ranked 86^th by scout.com. They list his passing, versatility, and basketball IQ as strengths. He is also capable of hitting an outside shot, although he is not as great of a shooter as Richardson and Lydon.

Newcomers:

Syracuse will require significant contributions from their three freshman, as they lost their best player Christmas, a talented forward McCullough, and also two transferring role players: forward, BJ Johnson, and guard, Ron Patterson. Malachai Richardson will start for Syracuse this season. He could make an immediate impact on offense and defense, and could be a double digit scorer thanks to his shooting ability. Tyler Lydon will spell both forwards, while Howard will see some minutes behind Trevor Cooney.

Outlook:

This is a very different Syracuse team than the one that went .500 in the ACC last season. It is difficult to say that it is better or worse. Last season's team relied heavily it's big men. That production down low will not be duplicated this season. Instead, the focus of this team will be the backcourt. Cooney and Gbinije give the team two veteran guards who could score fifteen or more points a night. Syracuse will shoot much better from 3pt range as well. They have added shooters in freshman Malachai Richardson and Tyler Lydon, who will stretch opposing defenses. Syracuse will also rebound the ball well, and have two good forwards, who could also be double digits scorers, in DaJuan Coleman and Tyler Roberson. The biggest question for this team will be defending in the low post; they lack a true rim protector like they have relied on in recent years. They also lack frontcourt depth. There are very few players on the roster capable of defending in the paint, and they will have to play small at times, with 6'8 Roberson moving into the middle. This is an interesting Syracuse team, even if not a great one. They should finish league play around .500 again, and compete for a trip back to the NCAA tournament.

Tier 2: Definitely Dancing

7. Louisville 10-8 (12-6)

Frontcourt:

Chinanu Onuaku and Mangok Mathiang combined to start 35 games last season, but both failed to average 20 minutes a game. Both will have an increased role as they try to fill the void left by Montrezl Harrell. Onuaku and Mathiang put up similar numbers a year ago; they scored 3.0 and 2.6 points per game, 4.6 and 4.7 rebounds, and 1.2 and 1.4 blocks per game, respectively. Neither are going to light up the scoreboard this season, but they are good low post defenders, and rebounders. They have enough size, they're both a long 6'10, and athleticism to play the five and four together.

Onuaku and Mathiang will be backed up at the center position by 7'0 sophomores, Matz Stockman and Anas Mahmoud. Meanwhile, 6'9 sophomore Jaylen Johnson and top-50 recruit Raymond Spalding will come off the bench to play power forward. Stockman and Johnson were 4* recruits a season ago, but both averaged five minutes or less last year. Spalding has a ton of potential, but is still very raw, and he will likely play sparingly this season.

The small forward position will be occupied by 6'6 Drexler graduate transfer, Damion Lee. Last season, Lee finished fourth in points scored in Div. 1 basketball, averaging 21.4 points. He can score from anywhere, shooting 38.5% from three, but also driving to the basket, and getting to the free throw line. He averaged more than seven free throws a game, and shot 88.7% from there. Lee will be Louisville's leading scorer, and should see the lion's share of minutes at the three, occasionally sliding down to shooting guard.

Incoming freshman, 6'7 Deng Adel, will spell Damion Lee. He is ranked by scout.com as the 23^rd best freshman this season. They describe him as both a great shooter, capable of knocking down threes, and a great athlete, who uses his athleticism to get to the rim as well. His size and athleticism also make him a good rebounder, and he has the tools to play good defense as well. His toolset will make it difficult for Louisville to keep him off the court.

Backcourt:

Quentin Snider returns at point guard, he took the position over last year when Chris Jones was dismissed. Snider is Lousiville's returning leading scorer, averaging—an impressive, 4.1—points. However, upon entering the starting lineup, Snider scored double figures in five of Louisville's final eight games. Snider is not a shooter; his 3pt % was only 28.4%, with an overall field goal % of 34.9%. He will also need to be a steadier ball handler; his assist to turnover ratio was below 1.5:1. Snider will need to grow this season, because there is not a natural point guard behind him.

Two newcomers will fill in at shooting guard. The first is Cleveland State graduate transfer Trey Lewis. Lewis is an exceptional shooter. He shot 42.3% from three a season ago, and it is likely he starts for the team due to his experience and ability to score. Lewis will likely slide over to PG when Snider heads to the bench.

Although he may not be the starter, freshman Donovan Mitchell will have a significant role with the team. Mitchell is scout.com's 17^th best freshman coming into the season. They write, he likes to drive the ball straight to the rim utilizing his strength and athleticism. Also, he has improved his jump shot, making him a threat from outside as well. Mitchell is also capable of being a very good defender, thanks to his size and athleticism. He is an exciting two-way prospect who should aid the team right away.

Newcomers:

Lousiville will likely start two graduate transfers: Damion Lee and Trey Lewis, and the duo could lead Louisville in points this season. They will rely heavily on 5* freshmen Donovan Mitchell and Deng Adel. Two more freshman, 4* PF Raymond Spalding, and 3* SG Ryan McMahon should receive minutes, and Spalding has huge potential, but they will not be consistent rotation players.

Outlook:

This is a changed team from the one that nearly advanced to the Final Four a season ago. They have lost four players who played more than 30 minutes a game, and those same four players all scored in double figures. That is an enormous amount of production to lose. In fact, no team, but Duke, lost more than Louisville did this summer. Still, Louisville has reloaded with a fantastic recruiting class, which includes three top-50 players, and two graduate transfers with the ability to start right away. Louisville will play good defense, with a frontcourt loaded with size and athletes. Mathiang and Onuaku are both good rim protectors as well. Louisville will also be aided by a couple of really good 3pt shooters this season. Louisville will also start three players with limited offensive potential, however, Mathiang, Onuaku, and Snider.

6. Miami 11-7 (10-8)

Frontcourt:

Miami has one of the best returning big men in the ACC, 7'0 senior, Tonye Jekiri. Jekiri, who was second only to Rakeem Christmas in last year's Most Improved Player voting, can be a force on offense and defense. He scored 8.6 points a game last year, with a FG% of 50%. He was also the ACC's leading rebounder, averaging 9.9 a game, and he blocked 1.4 shots a game just for good measure. At the end of the season, Jekiri was voted to the ACC's All-Defense Team. Jekiri is a good all-around big man, who could lead the ACC in double-doubles this year. Jekiri averaged more than 30 minutes a game last season, but when he does have to sit he will be backed up by 3* freshman Ebuka Izundu.

Senior Ivan Cruz Uceda, and transfer jr. Kamari Murphy will compete for minutes at power forward. Uceda started six games for Miami a season ago. He is a stretch four, two thirds of his shots were 3 pointers last year, and he shot 33.9% from behind the arc. He averaged 17.1 minutes/game, 5.2 points/game, and 3.5 rebounds/game. He has good size at 6'10, and could shift up to defend centers when necessary, in addition to playing either forward position. Kamari Murphy is a more traditional power forward despite being smaller than Uceda, he is 6'8. Two seasons ago, playing for Oklahoma State, Murphy averaged 6.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 25.9 minutes a game. He also shot 53.6% from the field, and did not take a 3pt shot all season. The presence of Murphy and Uceda will allow Miami to tinker with their lineup up front. Murphy could get the start due to his rebounding, and reliable low post scoring, while Uceda comes off the bench where his versatility will be an asset.

6'6 junior guard, Davon Reed, will occupy the three position for Miami this season, but when they decide to play big they can turn to either Uceda or 3* freshman Anthony Lawrence.

Backcourt:

Miami's best player will once again be 6'5 senior, Sheldon McClellan. McClellan was an All-ACC honorable mention last year, averaging 33.6 minutes, 14.5 points, and 4.7 rebounds per game. He is a threat to lead the ACC in points scored this season; he finished eleventh a year ago, but only one of the players ahead of him also returns this season. McClellan is best driving to the basket, using his size and athleticism, but he can also hit a 3pt shot when needed. He shot 35.8% from three last season, and his overall field goal percentage was 48.4%. Sheldon also shoots well from the free throw line, 82.4%, and gets there often due to his aggressive offensive game.

Miami will be guided by their senior point guard, Angel Rodriguez. Rodriguez was Miami's second leading scorer last season; he averaged 11.9 points a game. Despite this, Rodriguez only shot 33.7% from the field, and 30.4% from three. He also received a lot of his points from the free throw line, taking almost five shots there each game. Rodriguez averaged 3.9 assists a game, but also turned the ball over 2.3 times a game. Rodriguez is undersized, 5'11, which may hurt him defensively, but he did average more steals per game than any other returning ACC player. Rodriguez is a solid point guard, but his scoring numbers from a year ago may be a little inflated. He is a good compliment to McClellan though.

Davon Reed is a 6'6 swingman who will play the three position for Miami this season. He is listed by both ESPN and the Huricanes website as a guard, so he is included in this preview as a backcourt player. Reed averaged 8.2 points a game last season, adding 4.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. Despite averaging less than double digit points a game, the junior is an efficient scorer; he shot 45.7% from three last season and 47.0% overall. Reed improved a lot between his freshman and sophomore season, he shot 10% better both from three and overall, and he will be looking to take the next step this season.

Two sophomores, and former 4* recruits, will serve as the backup guards. Both Ja'Quan Newton and James Palmer played less than 15 minutes a game last season (13.5 and 13.3 respectively), averaging less than 5 points. However, both should see more playing time with DeAndre Burnett and Manu Lecomte gone from last year's bench.

Newcomers:

The biggest addition to the team is graduate transfer forward Kamari Murphy. He is a solid addition to the frontcourt. Miami only has two freshman, Ebuka Izundu and Anthony Lawrence, who will also provide depth up front.

Outlook:

Miami is looking to take the next step towards the top of the ACC, after finishing above .500 last season. They return all the key members of last year's team, and added a nice piece in Kamari Murphy. Miami has a nice, balanced team. Sheldon McClellan will lead the team on offense, and the backcourt could feature two other double digit scorers in Angel Rodriguez and Davon Reed. The frontcourt will benefit from one of the league's best defenders and rebounders, Tony Jekiri, who will be joined this season by Murphy who will add toughness, and versatile forward, Uceda. Depth could be a problem for this team, as two unproven sophomores will need to play important minutes in the backcourt, and they have limited bodies down low. This team should once again finish above .500 in the league, but will not break into the ACC's top echelon.

5. Notre Dame 11-7 (14-4)

Frontcourt:

Notre Dame will lean heavily on tournament stand out Zach Auguste. The 6'10 senior should lead the team in points this year. He averaged 12.9 a game last season despite playing just 24.4 minutes, adding 6.5 rebounds. Auguste shot a phenomenal 61.9% from the field last season. So, with an increase in minutes and usage, Auguste should be one of the top scoring big men in the country.

Replacing All-ACC third teamer, Pat Connaughton, will be 6'5 sophomore Bonzie Colson. Colson is a 6'5, 225 lb forward. Although short for a forward, Colson plays with toughness, and is a good rebounder. He shot an impressive 59.5% from the field last season, playing just over 12 minutes a game. He will not be much of a threat to shoot from three though, as he took only seven shots from deep a season ago, making one of them.

VJ Beachem is a 6'8 sophomore, and will get the start at the three for the Fighting Irish. Beachem is a very good shooter, his 3pt % last season was just a touch under 42%, which will help him improve upon his 5.6 scoring average from a season ago. His combination of size and shooting ability make him a breakout candidate.

Notre Dame has several players between 6'6 and 6'9 coming off the bench. Martinas Geben is the biggest of that group. He is listed at 6'9 255lbs. The sophomore played less than 10 minutes a game last season, but will receive more minutes this year as an important role player in the low post. Austin Burgett is a 6'9 senior. He also averaged less than 10 minutes a game last season, but will be used this year when Notre Dame wants to play bigger. Junior Austin Torres shot 68.6% from the field, but took only 35 shots all season. He can fill in at the three or four.

Two freshman forwards also join the fold. Matt Ryan is a 6'7 small forward who fits the Notre Dame mold—he can shoot the three (and yes, he's white, but you guessed that already). Ryan is the highest rated freshman on the team; Scout.com lists him as their 92^nd best recuit. Elijah Burns is a 6'9 power forward who may have a hard time finding consistent playing time behind the upperclassman this season. He could be a nice piece, capable of playing physical basketball in the future.

Backcourt:

With the graduation of Jerian Grant, Demetrius Jackson is poised to become the star of this Notre Dame team. Jackson has all the tools desired of a top flight point guard with great athleticism and polished shooting. He could prove to be the very best point guard in the ACC this year. Last season, Jackson averaged 12.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. His point and assist totals should grow this season now that he takes Grant's role—Jerian Grant averaged 16.5 points and 6.1 assists. Jackson is also an efficient scorer. His field goal percentage was 50.8%, and he shot 42.9% from 3pt range. Jackson only turned the ball over 1.5 times while playing 34.7 minutes a game last season, but that may increase a little since he will be Notre Dame's primary ball handler whenever on th court now.

Notre Dame returns another great player from last season's elite eight team, 6'5 junior, Steve Vasturia. Vasturia is a typical Notre Dame wing—yeah, that term again. He is a great shooter, making 41.1% of his 3pt attempts last year, shooting 49.1% from the field, and also making 86.4% of his free throws. Vasturia averaged 10.1 points a game last season, but he will have a chance to score more now that Connaughton is gone.

Vasturia will be backed up by 4* freshman, Rex Plfueger. The 6'6 wing is yet another shooter, who will also be an asset on defense. Plfueger will not be limited to backing up Vasturia, as Notre Dame could choose to play them alongside each other at the two and three positions.

Finally, Matt Farrell, not to be confused with Notre Dame and Charlotte Bobcat great, Matt Carroll, will play limited minutes backing up Jackson. The sophomore played less than five minutes a game last season.

Newcomers:

Notre Dame has a deceptively good recruiting class this year. Although they do not have a stand out star coming onto the roster, they add three good pieces who could all contribute this season, and two of which should have important roles. 4* wings Matt Ryan and Rex Plfueger add to Notre Dame's collection of shooters, and Ryan's presence will allow them to stretch defenses even further than usual. Elijah Burns may need some time, but he could be an important inside player when Zach Auguste leaves at the end of the season.

Outlook:

There is no denying that this Notre Dame team is worse off entering the season after losing their two best players: Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton. However, Notre Dame is better prepared than most teams to deal with their losses. They have three players who were very good last season, and are now ready to become stars, and the leaders of this team. Demetrius Jackson, Zach Auguste, and Steve Vasturia all played great in the NCAA tournament, and averaged double digit points during the season. Notre Dame also will be the best shooting team in the ACC. In addition to Jackson and Vasturia, great 3pt shooters in their own right, Notre Dame has VJ Beachem, who shot above 40% from three. As well as two freshman, Matt Ryan and Rex Plfueger, who are also great shooters. At any time Notre Dame can play four guys who shoot above 40% from three. No other team in the country, let alone the ACC, will have that luxury. The problem for Notre Dame will be depth. They have a lot of players who can be thrown into the frontcourt, but they played limited minutes last season, and have a lot to prove. Notre Dame should finish the season comfortably in the top half of the ACC, because they have three dynamic players, but will be a little behind the league's very best teams.

4. Florida State 12-6 (8-10)

Frontcourt:

Florida State has a stable of big men above 7'0 to compete for minutes at center. None have separated themselves from the others, so they should all rotate in. Michael Ojo, a 7'1 senior, started 21 games last season, but still only played 8.8 minutes/game. He averaged only 2.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. 7'3 Boris Bojanovsky is another senior. He played more minutes per game than Ojo, 16.4, averaging 5.1 points and 3.4 rebounds. He also blocked 1.3 shots. At that rate, if Bojanovsky had played 32 minutes a game, he would have led the ACC with 2.6 blocks per game. Florida State also added a 3* freshman center, Jean Marc Koumadje, who is the tallest of them all, standing at 7'4. He will probably need a year to get his body ready for regular playing time, but his size makes him an intriguing prospect.

6'8 sophomore, Phil Cofer, and 6'9 junior, Jarquez Smith, will split minutes at power forward. Last season, Cofer and Smith combined to score 13.1 points, and 7.4 rebounds a game. Cofer was a little more productive, and played more, 22.3 minutes per game. Jarquez Smith was a more highly touted recruit, 4* in 2013, and is bigger than Cofer, he played 17.8 minutes a game last season, and shot better from the field 50.3%, compared to Cofer's 45.6%. Smith is also one of the team's best shot blockers, averaging 1.1 blocks per game. Together, Cofer and Smith form a pretty reliable tandem at power forward.

Florida State has several tall, and athletic wings who could be classified as either guards or forwards, and will see time at the three this season. Montay Brandon, a 6'8 senior, will start at the hybrid position. He is a big player, 6'8 and 225 lbs, who plays like a guard, and likes the ball in his hands. Last season he played 34.6 minutes a game, scoring 11.8 points, and also adding 5.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. Brandon is not an outside shooter, 23.8% from outside last year, but shoots 54.1% from the field, and should be bigger than most of the players trying to guard him. Behind Brandon is 6'7 freshman swingman Dwayne Bacon. Scout.com lists Bacon as their 19^th best freshman this season. He is the best athlete in the freshman class, and his strength and explosiveness will make him extremely hard to contain when he is attacking. Bacon can also keep defenses honest by dropping a shot from outside on occasion. Due to his length and athletic ability Bacon could become a phenomenal defender as well. Bacon may not start, but he will be a dynamic player off the bench, and he gives the team the option of playing small with him, Brandon, Bookert, and Rathan-Mayes all on the floor at the same time.

Backcourt:

Florida State will be led by the ACC's leading scorer (among returning players), redshirt sophomore, Xavier Rathan-Mayes. He played 34.7 minutes a game last season, averaging 14.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Rathan-Mayes can do a little bit of everything for Florida State, and is a special player on offense. However, there are some concerns. Rathan-Mayes took 5.3 3pt shots per game last season, but was only 28.1% from that range. As a result his overall field goal percentage was just 41.6%. Rathan-Mayes had a high assist total, tied for sixth in the ACC last season, but also turned the ball over 3.4 times a game. He will have to work on his ball handling, and decision making this season.

Devin Bookert will start alongside Rathan-Mayes. Bookert is capable of playing the point for Florida State, but will defer to Rathan-Mayes when they are on the court together. Bookert, a 6'3 senior, is Florida State's best shooter, and their only consistent threat from deep. He shot 39.3% from three last season, while shooting just 37.4% from the field (so, he shot better from three than he did inside the arc). Bookert is also a good free throw shooter, shooting just above 80% from the line. Playing 35.1 minutes last season, Bookert scored 10.1 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.

Rathan-Mayes and Bookert have several options behind them. Sophomore Robbie Berwick only played 10.9 minutes a game last season, but is one of the teams' few players capable of shooting from outside. JUCO transfer, Benji Bell can play either guard position, and was a NJCAA Div I All-American last season. More intriguingly, Florida State will have two 4* freshman coming off the bench. Malik Beasley is a 6'4 shooting guard who Scout.com ranks as their 57^th best freshman. He is an athletic guard who likes to use his physical gifts to get to the basket and attack. He is not however, a shooter at this stage of his career. Terance Mann is the other 4* freshman, he is 6'5, and another great athlete. Scout.com describes him as a “power swingman” with great ability on the defensive end, and grabbing rebounds.

Newcomers:

Florida State boasts one of the best recruiting classes this season, which should give them a big boost this season. Dwayne Bacon is the gem of the class. He's a top-20 recruit, with elite level athleticism. Malik Beasley and Terrance Mann should also find time this season as good athletes with contrasting strengths. Florida State also brings in 7'4 center Koumadje, who could see more playing time next season when the 7'0 seniors clear out, and JUCO guard Benji Bell, who provides additional depth.

Outlook:

Florida State could be one of the biggest movers in the ACC this season. They disappointedly finished below .500 a year ago, but should surge this season, returning three players who averaged 35 minutes last season. Florida State also adds three great freshman who will make an impact immediately. Especially Dwayne Bacon, who could challenge for Freshman of the Year, if he receives enough minutes. The team could struggle shooting from outside, and they could also struggle on the defensive end with a lot of unproven defenders. However, there is enough size, and athleticism on this team to be a great defensive team as well. There is a possibility that this is an all-or-nothing season for Florida State. There is a lot of explosiveness on this team, but both Xavier Rathan-Mayes, and Dwayne Bacon could leave for the NBA at the season's end. They will also lose starting guards Bookert and Brandon, and centers Ojo and Bojanovsky to graduation. So, there is a lot of pressure on this team to succeed right now. Florida State could be one of the big surprises of the season; they have the ability to take off on teams, with the depth to never let off the gas pedal. They will be one of the most exciting teams in the conference, and will finish near the top.

3. Virginia 13-5 (16-2)

Frontcourt:

Mike Tobey, a 7'0 senior, will step into the starting lineup this season after averaging 17.1 minutes a game last season. In those limited minutes, Tobey scored 6.9 points per game with a field goal percentage of 51.4%. He scored .4 points per minute, and at that rate would score double figures if he played only 25 minutes. Tobey also added 5.1 rebounds a game.

Virginia's most important frontcourt player will be senior, and a third team All-ACC performer last season, Anthony Gill. The 6'8 forward played 25.3 minutes a game last season. He averaged 11.6 points last year, adding 6.5 rebounds. He shot 58.2% from the floor. Gill was leaned on last season when Justin Anderson was injured, and that will be the case again this year now that he is gone. Luckily, Gill responded well with the opportunity last year.

The biggest question mark on this Virginia team is going to be who will replace Justin Anderson. The most likely answer is 6'8 senior Evan Nolte, who became the starter when Anderson was injured last year. Nolte, who averaged 17.9 minutes played, scored only 3.1 points per game last season. He also only shot 35.4% from the field, and 27.6% from three, while taking 76 threes. Nolte does give the team added size, and they are a defensive minded team, but he offers little upside offensively.

Virginia has plenty of depth at both the center and power forward positions. Sophomore Isaiah Wilkins is an undersized, 6'7, power forward, who only played 9.4 minutes a game last season. He was a 4* recruit last year though, and should see more playing time this season. Redshirt freshman Jack Salt gives the team more size behind Tobey, and true freshman, Jarred Rueter, is a 6'8 power forward.

The most interesting player on Virginia’s bench is potentially 6'9 freshman, Mamadi Diakite. Diakite just committed to Virginia in August, and was initially apart of the 2016 recruiting class. However, he has since enrolled, and will be a part of the team this season. Diakite, now reclassified, is listed by Scout.com as the nation's 46^th best freshman. Diakite is a good athlete for his size, who can rebound, and block shots. He has the ability to defend all three frontcourt positions. Diakite will likely need time to develop his offensive game, and build mass on his slender body—he is listed at 6'9, and 195 lbs. However, Diakite has huge potential, and will be able to help out defensively right away.

Backcourt:

The backcourt is the strength of this Virginia team. Senior Malcolm Brogdon is the only returning member of last year's All-ACC First Team. The 6'5 shooting guard played 32.5 minutes a game last season, he scored a team high 14.0 points per game, and added 3.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. Brogdon will have an even bigger load on his shoulders this season now that Virginia's second leading scorer, Justin Anderson is gone. Brogdon is a prolific scorer, but could stand to improve his efficiency. He shot only 42.2% from the field, and 34.4% from three. He is however, great from the free throw line, 87.9%. Brogdon is an elite defender, and was the only guard to be named to the All-ACC Defensive Team last season.

Virgina's starting point guard will again be junior, London Perrantes. He will be the key to the Caveliers' season. Perrantes has proven to be one of the most reliable ball handlers in the conference. Last season he averaged 4.6 assists per game, and only turned the ball over 1.5 times a game. His 3.0 assist to turnover ratio was third in the conference, behind James Robinson (Pitt) and Jerian Grant (ND). Perrantes has not been a good scorer for Virgnia though. He averaged only 6.4 points per game, despite playing over 33 minutes on average. He shot only 35.4% from the field, and 31.6% from three. He needs to become a more assertive player on offense this season.

6'5 sophomore wing, Marial Shayok, should be the first player off the bench for Virgina. He can play at either shooting guard or small forward, and will likely find most of his minutes spelling Evan Nolte this year. Shayok is one of the few decent 3pt shooters on this team; he shot 38% from deep last season. As a result, he will be given the opportunity to improve upon the 3.8 points per game he posted last season.

The point guard position will be spelled by sophomore, Devon Hall, who played just over 10.6 minutes a game last season, and Tennessee transfer, Darius Thompson.

Newcomers:

Virginia has three freshman this year, all 6'8 and above. Mamadi Diakite is the highest touted freshman. He has huge potential, but just reclassified, and will need time to develop his offense. Jarred Reuter and Jack Salt, who redshirted last season, provide added depth down low. Darius Thompson sat last year after transferring. He will provide depth behind Perrantes and Hall.

Outlook:

Virginia has won the ACC regular season each of the last two seasons. That streak will however, come to an end this year. Presumably, Virginia is a team that is more about the system than any individual player, and they return Malcolm Brogdon, one of the best players in the ACC. Virginia will also once again be a very good defensive team, but there are a lot of questions on this team as well. But, Justin Anderson leaves a huge hole at small forward. Not only did Anderson score 12.2 points per game, he also was an outstanding 3pt shooter. He shot 45.2% from three. No one on this team is even close to his level as a shooter. Anderson was also a great, and versatile defender. He was the glue that made Virginia so great, and even though they survived for a time without him last season, they will miss him all season this year. The replacements for Anderson will be Evan Nolte, and Marial Shayok, which will make the small forward position a position of weakness this year. Virginia will still be a good team, but others in the ACC will move past them this season.

Tier 1: Challenging for a Championship

2. Duke 14-4 (15-3)

Frontcourt:

Duke has four big men who will rotate at the four and five this season; Duke could also choose to play small, and play one big man surrounding by four wings. Interestingly, in each of Duke's last two exhibition games, senior Marshall Plumlee has started at center, and played at least 20 minutes. Plumlee played only 9.6 minutes a game last season, averaging only 2.3 points and 2.4 rebounds. He is the tallest player on the team, and a co-captain. Plumlee took only 42 shots total last season, averaging just 1.1 shot per game, so his exceptional 76.2 FG% is inflated by a small sample size. Still, Plumlee is a big target in the post, and could rack up points and rebounds if he plays enough his season. Since, Duke is extremely deep at center and power forward, even if Plumlee gets the start, he will unlikely average 20 minutes played per game, especially with the other players all possessing much higher upside.

Amile Jefferson is one of two players who averaged more than 20 minutes a game last season. Jefferson is a great contributor, and team player, who often defers to others to make the team better. Last season, he averaged only 6.4 points, while averaging 5.7 rebounds, but is capable of more. His field goal percentage was 63.1% (he took three times more shots than Plumlee, so his field goal % I more predictive, even though it is lower). Jefferson will need to be more assertive on offense this season now that Jahlil Okafor, an exceptional low post scorer, is gone. Jefferson is a good offensive rebounder, defender, and is Duke's other co-captain. Duke will benefit from giving Jefferson more minutes this season.

Along with seniors Jefferson and Plumlee, Duke brings two newcomers into the fold. Sean Obi is a big, 6'9 270 lbs, transfer sophomore. He averaged 11.4 points and 9.3 rebounds a game two seasons, while playing for Rice. His field goal % was 59.1. Sean Obi, in addition to his physical presence and size, brings proven scoring in the low post, and rebounding. He could prove to be an underrated addition.

Duke has a six man freshman class, which includes four top-25 players. Chase Jeter is a 6'10 big man who can play either center or power forward. Jeter is listed by Scout.com as the 15^th best freshman in the country. It would be ridiculous to ask Jeter to make up the production lost when Okafor left for the NBA. He is not nearly as polished on the offensive end, and his body is far from NBA ready. He will need to fill out, and add strength to his frame before he can become a physically imposing player in the pot. However, Jeter does a lot of things well, can rebound, and will be solid on defense. Jeter also possesses a higher upside than any of the other three players he will compete for minutes with.

Duke's best player this season will be a freshman once again this season. Brandon Ingram, a 6'9 wing-forward. Scout.com lists as their third best recruit, surged up recruiting lists this past summer after dominating exhibition games like the McDonald's All-American game. Ingram has a diverse offensive game. He can hit a jumper, and use his size to finish inside. He is also an asset on defense due to his length. Ingram will be a mismatch against anyone guarding him. Duke could choose to play him at the four this season, like they did with Winslow last year. Ingram is rail thin, and needs to put on a lot of weight, but has the highest upside of any player in the conference. Duke will go as far as he takes them this season.

Freshmen Anonio Vrankovic and Justin Robinson will have a tough time cracking the rotation this season due to the quality of talent ahead of them, and one or both could redshirt.

Backcourt:

Grayson Allen, who broke out during the NCAA Championship game last season, will be one of the focal points of the team this year. He is the only remaining member of Duke's 2014 recruiting class, as Okafor, Justice Winslow, and Tyus Jones all left for the NBA following the title run. Despite only playing 9.2 minutes/game last season, Allen was highly touted coming into his freshman year, as a top-25 recruit. Allen has a lot of offensive tools. He is a fine shooter, though not great, shooting 34.6% from three last season, and 42.5% overall. However, he is a good athlete and ball handler, which allows him to aggressively attack the basket. Allen will battle Ingram to be Duke's leading scorer this year.

Duke's other starting guard could be one of three players, two of which, are incoming 5* freshman. Luke Kennard has long been apart of Duke's 2015 class. He is a shooting guard in the Duke mold—a three point sharpshooter, with good ball handling, and good basketball instincts (oh yeah, and he's white, but don't need me to tell you that). Kennard is an elite level shooter, capable of scoring in bunches. He is also a good ball handler, enough so that Duke may not start a natural point guard, allowing Kennard, and Grayson to share that responsibility. The other 5* freshman is a true point guard. Derryk Thornton was initially going to be a part of the 2016 class, but was convinced to reclassify once Tyus Jones left for the NBA. Thornton was initially thought to become the starting point guard, but he has started neither of the last two exhibition games. Scout.com lists Thornton as their 11^th best freshman. They note that his biggest strengths are his basketball IQ, decision making, and they say he is one of the nation's best defenders. That is not to say that he isn't capable of scoring. He is a good mid range shooter, who can also get to the basket, and will occasionally knock down a shot from deep. Duke's best lineup could feature Thornton, Kennard, and Allen, with Ingram slotting beside only one big man.

Junior Matt Jones was a big part of Duke's team last season; in fact, he became a starter. He played 21.5 minutes per game, or more than twice as much as Grayson Allen. However, he could see his minutes reduced with Allen's emergence, as well as a deep freshman class. That said, Jones could also retain his starting position, due to a solid all-around game. He can shoot, making 37.6% of his threes last season, scoring 6.0 points/game, and also plays good defense.

Newcomers:

Forced with the task to replace four starters from a National Championship winning team, Duke brings in an enormous class. Jeter, Kennard, Ingram, and Thorton are all 5* freshman who will be essential to a repeat effort. All have immense potential, and it will be interesting to see how Coach K utilizes them. They also have Sean Obi who is proven low post defender, and two more freshman who will have to wait their turn.

Outlook:

Duke lost more from a season ago than any other team in the conference. However, they also bring in a freshman class that rivals the best of Kentucky's recruiting classes. Duke will once again be a highly talented team, with potential star players at every position. However, it will take some time for them to find their place in this team, and for the coaching staff to discover the best lineup. Duke's season will also be dependent upon the development of both Chase Jeter, and Brandon Ingram, especially Ingram. Neither of whom are as polished as their counterpart from a season ago, Jahlil Okafor and Justice Winslow. Ingram could be the best player in the ACC this season, or he could struggle to find success due to his undeveloped game, and thin frame. Duke is the deepest team in the ACC, and even if Ingram and/or others struggle, they will challenge for the ACC title.

1. North Carolina 14-4 (11-7)

Frontcourt:

North Carolina has an army of versatile forwards who can be slotted at multiple positions. Kennedy Meeks will serve as the man in the middle for the Tarheels. The 6'9, 265 lb junior could be the second best “center” in the conference, behind Notre Dame's Zach Auguste. Last season, Meeks averaged 11.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks, playing only 23.3 minutes per game. He scored .489 points/minute, which is an extremely high rate, only teammate Brice Johnson had a higher rate among conference starters last season. Meeks has good size, and can block shots, but he still needs to improve his defense.

Brice Johnson, a 6'9 senior, is going to be one of the leaders of this team, especially with Marcus Paige missing time early. He was the team's second leading scorer, behind Paige, last season with 12.9 points a game. He shoots a high rate with a field goal percentage of 56.6% each of the last two years, but is not a threat to step outside and shoot. He has not taken a 3pt shot in his collegiate career. Johnson also averaged 7.8 rebounds, which led the team, and added 1.1 blocks a game. Like Meeks, Johnson could still stand to improve on defense, and needs to avoid getting in foul trouble. He averaged 2.9 fouls/game last season. Johnson's playing time will be dependent upon his ability to stay out of foul trouble; North Carolina would benefit from Johnson seeing 30 minutes or more a game. Last season, Brice Johnson was a Third Team All-ACC performer last year, but this year will be one of the conference's best players.

JP Tokoto's surprise decision to leave North Carolina for the NBA, he was ultimately taken with late in the second round, leaves a hole at small forward. That position will likely be filled by 6'6 sophomore, Theo Pinson. Pinson was a top-20 recruit just a year ago, and could be the ACC's most improved player. Pinson missed fourteen games last year after breaking his foot. So, he played only 12.5 minutes a game, while averaging 2.8 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He did not shoot well; he was 26.9% from three, and 36.8% from the field. Pinson is potentially a very good defender, which was an area of weakness for North Carolina last season. Instead of starting, North Carolina could choose to play smaller, and have Pinson come off the bench. He would still see a big increase in minutes this season. Despite the poor freshman campaign, Pinson was a top-20 recruit last season, and seems poised for a breakout. He has played starter's minutes, and shot well in exhibition games this season. Pinson has a very good chance to be the ACC's most improved player—although Duke's Grayson Allen will compete with him for that honor.

Justin Jackson, is a 6'8 sophomore swingman, he started at the two position last season, and will likely start there again, although he could shift up to small forward. Regardless of where he plays, Jackson will be discussed in the frontcourt section of this preview, which means North Carolina is likely to start four forwards this season. Jackson is the highest rated recruit from last season to stay in college. So, justifiably, he is the best sophomore in the nation. Jackson averaged 10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game last season in 26.7 minutes. He was a fair shooter overall last year. His field goal percentage was 47.7%, but he shot just 30.4% from three. If he can be a more consistent shooter from deep this year, then he could be an unstoppable scorer due to his length, and all around offensive game, as he is a threat to drive, and pass the ball as well.

Isaiah Hicks is an underrated junior despite being a top-20 recruit just two seasons ago. He played only 14.8 minutes per game last year, but should see an increase to those this year as he can fill in at several positions due to his length and athleticism. Hicks is an explosive player, capable of scoring in spurts coming off the bench. His field goal percentage was 54.4% last season, while averaging 6.6 points/game. Hicks will have to control himself on defense. He accumulated 2.5 fouls/game, while playing less than fifteen minutes. So, he fouls someone every six minutes played.

Joel James is a big, 6'10 and 280 lbs, senior who will provide interior grit down low. He played only 10.1 minutes a game last season, and he does not provide much upside off the bench. However, he is a necessary member of the rotation because of Meeks and Johnson's propensity of getting into foul trouble.

North Carolina adds two freshman this season, one of whom is 6'7 3* forward, Luke Maye. Maye is an undersized power forward, who will have a hard time finding playing time this season with all of North Carolina's depth.

Backcourt:

It may seem North Carolina's “backcourt” players are less relevant since this preview has allocated four starting positions to their frontcourt, and only one to it's backcourt. However, the lone starting guard is North Carolina's leader, and still best player, Marcus Paige. Yes, the 6'1 senior is going to miss at least a month with a hand injury. However, he should be back by the time conference play begins, at the latest. Paige isn't just North Carolina's best player, but he is one of the best players in the conference. He was the only player to average above 30 minutes, 33.2, for North Carolina last season. He averaged 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Paige is a good ball handler, and passer. He turned the ball over only 1.9 times a game, despite being North Carolina's primary ball handler, making his assist to turnover ratio above 2.5:1. Paige is also a great shooter. He has increased his 3pt % each of his first three seasons with the Tarheels, and last season he shot 39.5% from that range.

Filling in for Paige while he is out will be junior, Nate Britt, and sophomore, Joel Berry. Britt received a couple more minutes than Berry last season. He averaged 15.3 minutes, 5.5 points, and 1.5 assists per game. Britt improved his 3pt shot, shooting 36.6% from behind the arc last season. Berry was another member of North Carolina's incredible 2014 recruiting class; he was a top-50 recruit last year. Berry played 13.2 minutes/game, averaging 4.2 points and 1.5 assists. Berry also shot 35.4% from three. While playing on the court together, it was Berry who more regularly played the point guard position, and it would seem he is the heir apparent once Marcus Paige graduates. It is unclear which of the two will get the starting nod early in the season. They both played in North Carolina's most recent exhibition game, because Justin Jackson also missed the game. Whomever starts, both will receive ample playing time.

North Carolina's second freshman is 4* shooting guard, Kenny Williams. Williams is a talented 3pt shooter, and should find playing this time this season as one of the Tarheels' best scorers off the bench.

Newcomers:

Kenny Williams gives North Carolina another 3pt shooter, which fills a hole for them. Maye likely will not play much this season. However, he could develop into a nice role player.

Outlook:

North Carolina is one of the early favorites to become NCAA champion this season, and will begin the season ranked #1. North Carolina returns everyone, but JP Tokoto, from last years team, and there is a lot room for growth for the sophomore class, specifically Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson. Meeks and Johnson, meanwhile, form the most formidable scoring tandem in the low post, and Marcus Paige is one of the league's best players. Yes, Paige is injured, and will be out some time, but this may be a blessing in disguise. Paige's injury will force young players like Theo Pinson, Joel Berry, and Kenny Williams to receive more playing time early in the season, which will pay dividends later on. Plus, Paige isn't going to miss any ACC games. Will there be early season struggles? Probably, but it doesn't matter. There are a couple of question marks, to be sure. The team needs to improve on defense, and the big men need to stay out of foul trouble. However, North Carolina has huge potential on defense due to their size and athleticism; the young players just need to mature. They also have a lot of unproven perimeter shooters. JP Tokoto was their second best 3pt shooter last season, while players, like Justin Jackson disappointed from outside. This could be a struggle for North Carolina, but again, there is a lot of offensive potential, and newcomer Kenny Williams shoots well from three. This North Carolina team will never struggle to score.

 Conference Summary:

The ACC should be more competitive this season than last. The teams that finished 1-4 in the conference last season, Virginia, Duke, Notre Dame, and Louisville, have all lost significant pieces to their roster, and are likely worse than they were a year ago. Meanwhile, many teams in the middle of the conference have gotten better, Miami, Florida State, Pittsburgh, and potentially Syracuse. So, the conference should be less top heavy, and more balanced this coming season, which makes for some very exciting basketball. The basement of the conference, Boston College, is really bad. However, some of last year's bottom feeders are much improved, and could make steady gains this season: Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, and Wake Forest. Clemson and North Carolina State will end the season extremely disappointed after performing well last year. Florida State [though it pains me to admit it] will be one of the most improved teams, not just in the conference, but in the country. They will legitimately challenge Duke, North Carolina, and Virginia for a conference title. At the top of the league, Duke and North Carolina are two of the five best teams in the country. It will be extremely interesting to see those two battle throughout the season. North Carolina will not benefit from a big recruiting class, but instead will be led by a core of sophomores who chose to stay in school. They also have enough veteran presences to solidify the team, both in the frontcourt, Brice Johnson, and backcourt, Marcus Paige. Duke instead will once again rely on their freshman. After loosing their three best players, all freshman, from a championship team, they bring in a huge recruiting class with four top-25 players. So, they too have the talent to win another championship. The ACC is a more balanced league this year, however the teams at the top are still just as potent as ever.

All-ACC First Team:

F Zach Auguste ND

G Marcus Paige UNC

G Sheldon McClellan MIA

G Anthony “Cat” Barber NCS

G Demetrius Jackson ND

All-ACC Second Team:

F Kennedy Meeks UNC

F Brandon Ingram Duke

F Brice Johnson UNC

G Malcolm Brogdon UVA

G Grayson Allen Duke

All-ACC Third Team:

F Devin Thomas Wake

F Anthony Gill UVA

F Justin Jackson UNC

G Michael Gbinije SU

G Xavier Rathan-Mayes FSU

All-ACC Honorable Mention:

F Jaron Blossomgame Clem

F Montay Brandon FSU

G Devin Bookert FSU

F Marcus Georges-Hunt GT

C Tonye Jekiri MIA

F Michael Young Pitt

F Jamel Artis Pitt

F Tyler Roberson SU

G London Perrantes UVA

G Codi Miller-McIntyre Wake

All-ACC Freshman First Team:

C Chase Jeter Duke

F Brandon Ingram Duke

F Malachai Richardson SU

G Luke Kennard Duke

G Donovan Mitchell L'ville

All-ACC Freshman Second Team:

F Dwayne Bacon FSU

F Deng Adel L'ville

F Chris Clarke VT

G Maverick Rowan NCS

G Derryk Thornton Duke

Thanks to ESPN.com for statistics, and Scout.com, specifically Evan Daniels and Rob Harrington, for basketball recruiting and freshman scouting reports. They do a great job there.