Atlantic Coast Conference Notebook
Digging Deep
As January comes to a close, the college basketball season approaches the two-thirds mark of the regular season. Some teams are streaking toward the tournament; others are limping toward the off-season. Players and coaches have a right to become weary when they dress for two, sometimes three games each week.
Although no single remedy is out there, one antidote to mid-season fatigue is team depth. Come tournament time, teams typically stick with their most reliable performers, who suck up the pain of playing two games in three days for the opportunity to win a championship. But certainly during the regular season, the most consistent teams will have reserves on the bench who can contribute and occasionally dominate.
So let’s grade the depth of the ACC teams.
Clemson Tigers: B+
The Tigers are proof that a good bench does not equal a good record. Clemson occupies the ACC’s basement despite relying on its bench more than any other team. The Tigers’ top four reserves average 17.9 minutes per game, which is more than the top reserves of any other team in the conference. And the backup Tigers are effective, scoring 22.2 points per game. Coach Oliver Purnell frequently rotates in guard Vernon Hamilton and forwards Akin Akingbala, James Mays and Sam Perry. Hamilton has started several games as Purnell tweaks the lineup to find a winning combination.
The problem for the Tigers is that they lack depth on the perimeter. When Hamilton doesn’t start, Purnell has three forwards in the starting lineup. Although Hamilton is a great defensive player, among the conference leaders in steals per game, he is not a consistent threat from three-point range. That limits Purnell’s options if the starting guards struggle. Because Clemson’s bench is unbalanced in favor of the frontcourt, the solid statistics only earn the Tigers a B+.
Duke Blue Devils: C
Nobody will feel sorry for Duke when the Blue Devils’ starting lineup includes J.J. Redick, Daniel Ewing, Shelden Williams, Sean Dockery and Shavlik Randolph. But coach Mike Krzyzewski doesn’t have much else in the cupboard. Forwards DeMarcus Nelson and Lee Melchionni are the only Blue Devils who average more than 10 minutes per game off the bench. The top four reserves collectively provide only 13.9 minutes of relief per game for the starters.
Despite the lack of depth, coach K manages his team well. Nelson and Melchionni are good scorers, averaging about seven points per game. Nelson is an athletic forward, averaging 5.1 rebounds per game, which is critical when Krzyzewski rests Williams or Randolph. Duke’s lack of depth has not been an issue, yet. But once Duke plays a series of tough, energy-draining conference games, look for Duke to come out flat because the starters are fatigued.
Florida State Seminoles: A
Coach Leonard Hamilton has constructed a deep team that features a combination of shooters and big men on the bench. Forwards Al Thornton, Diego Romero and Anthony Richardson all have big game potential, and freshman guards Isaiah Swann and Jason Rich promise to become starters in a year or two. Florida State is the only ACC team to regularly go five deep on the bench. The secondary lineup averages a conference best 30.4 points and 15.1 rebounds per game.
Hamilton’s problem, however, has been finding a winning rotation. With so many weapons, it’s hard to uncover the proper rotation. Fortunately for Hamilton, this team is young and will only improve as the players mesh in practice.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: B
The Yellow Jackets reached the Final Four last season primarily because coach Paul Hewitt mastered the rotation of 10 players. This season, Hewitt has another deep team with four good bench players. An injury to starting guard B.J. Elder has increased the playing time of guard Anthony Morrow and forwards Ra’Sean Dickey, Theodis Tarver and Anthony McHenry. But none of them can score as proficiently as Elder.
The biggest difference between this season and last season was Hewitt could use guard Will Bynum and forward Isma’il Muhammad off the bench. Both are good starters this year, but the current reserves lack Bynum’s offensive firepower or Muhammad’s athleticism. McHenry logs the most minutes because he’s a great defensive player, but he only averages 4.8 points per game. Morrow is emerging as an important contributor because he shoots better than 38 percent from three-point range.
Maryland Terrapins: C+
A couple of weeks ago, the Terrapins had one of the better benches in the ACC, featuring guards D.J. Strawberry and Mike Jones and forwards James Gist and Wil Bowers. But Strawberry went down with a season-ending injury, reducing the Terps’ bench by one and taking away the team’s best defensive player. Strawberry had been averaging 2.1 steals and 1.7 blocks per game in only a little more than 20 minutes per game. He also was one of the few ball handlers coach Gary Williams can use to rest John Gilchrist.
Without Strawberry, Bowers will play a more important role as Williams can opt to go with a bigger lineup. He averages two points and 2.6 rebounds per game, but those numbers will increase. Jones is the wildcard on the bench because he can easily catch fire and score 20 points in a night. Williams and the Terps need more of those performances.
Miami Hurricanes: F
The lack of depth on Miami verges on embarrassing as only three players come off the bench for more than 10 minutes per game. These reserves collectively average 7.1 points per game. And none of these bench players can hit three pointers or shoot free throws. Forward Gary Hamilton is the most significant player, averaging 22.7 points per game and accounting for more than half of that point total with 4.6 points per game. He also averages 6.8 rebounds per game.
One of the major reasons for Miami’s lack of depth is the arrival of new coach Frank Haith. After Miami ditched Perry Clark, a handful of recruits and current players opted not to attend Miami under the Haith era. Considering the early success of Miami in the ACC, that could be their loss and not the school’s. With such a short bench, the Hurricanes can ill afford a bad night from their star guards, Guillermo Diaz and Robert Hite.
North Carolina Tar Heels: A
The Tar Heels earn an A because they have a balance of frontcourt and backcourt contributors to spell an already-talented starting lineup. Forward Marvin Williams is the only bench player in the ACC to average double figures in scoring. Coach Roy Williams also uses forward David Noel and guards Melvin Scott and Quentin Thomas. The group is good for 22 points per game.
Each bench player fills an area of need for the Tar Heels. Marvin Williams can play in the post to give Sean May a rest. Scott and Thomas offer support in the backcourt, and Noel is an athletic swingman. He plays a similar to Georgia Tech’s Isma’il Muhammad when he came off the bench for the Yellow Jackets last season.
North Carolina State Wolfpack: A
Injuries and illnesses have forced coach Herb Sendek to use more of his bench than he probably planned when the season started. As a result, forwards Andrew Brackman, Jordan Collins, Gavin Grant and Levi Watkins have played significant time and have rotated in and out of the starting lineup. Sendek may use Brackman as a starter even when point guard Tony Bethel recovers from a pesky illness. Brackman is averaging 9.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game for the Wolfpack.
As a group, the Wolfpack’s top reserves average 26.1 points per game, second best in the conference. Although all four are forwards, they fit Sendek’s offensive scheme, which features athletic shooters. All four shoot at least 30 percent from behind the arc. On any other team, the lack of a guard on the bench would doom the team to a lower grade. But on North Carolina State, this group is a perfect fit.
Virginia Cavaliers: D-
Like Maryland, the Cavaliers’ bench has decreased in value recently because of the loss of a player. Starting forward Jason Clark was declared academically ineligible and will not play for the rest of the season, forcing one of Virginia’s bench players – most likely Gary Forbes – into the starting lineup. The result is fewer good players for coach Pete Gillen to turn to on the bench. He’s limited to forwards Adrian Joseph and Jason Cain and guard T.J. Bannister. Those three average only 13.4 minutes and 10.7 points per game.
The Cavaliers’ lack of depth will hurt them more than Duke because, unlike the Blue Devils, Virginia’s starters are not talented enough to play for 30-35 minutes in several consecutive games. Look for Gillen to try to find alternative sources of production from sources further down the depth chart. For a coach on the hot seat, he doesn’t have many other choices.
Virginia Tech Hokies: D-
The Hokies only use three bench players regularly: guard Marquie Cooke forwards Wynton Witherspoon and Allen Calloway. Cooke is the most productive player, averaging only 4.5 points per game. The three combine for only 9.8 points per game. The Hokies’ bench is nearly identical to the Cavaliers’ situation. But Virginia Tech cannot thank injuries or academics for its situation.
Virginia Tech has started strong in conference play, and the Hokies’ starters play with enough energy to compete at home. The short bench hurts most on the road in hostile environments. Look for the Hokies to slide down the ACC standings as conference play progresses.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons: A
Guard Taron Downey would be a starter on nearly any other ACC team, but the tandem of Chris Paul and Justin Gray force Downey to come off the bench. That luxury gives coach Skip Prosser the ability to keep Paul and Gray fresh. Downey averages 8.6 points per game and can handle the ball well. In addition to Downey, Wake Forest uses guard Trent Strickland and forwards Chris Ellis and Kyle Visser off the bench. The four top reserves average 21.9 points per game, which is important for the high-scoring Demon Deacons.
One of the reasons Wake Forest is considered a title contender is because of the Demon Deacons’ bench. It appears to be a little bit overrated because Ellis and Visser are not matching their potential. But Strickland may be surpassing expectations as an infusion of energy off the bench. He averages 5.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in only 17 minutes per game.
Conclusion
Several ACC teams have good benches and are at the top of the conference, such as Wake Forest and North Carolina. Others, such as Clemson and Florida State, are at the bottom. A strong bench is only one tool in the box for coaches. But like any tool, if used improperly, it’s meaningless.
The success or struggles of a team cannot be entirely attributed to team depth. But a deep team has more resources available to win games as the season progresses. Watch throughout February to see if the more balanced Wolfpack pass by the Terrapins, Hurricanes and Hokies. Watch for Duke to lose a game or two because the starters just don’t seem to have the same energy to get up and down the floor. When injuries and ineligibility strike, teams with more reserves will weather the storm while others could sink.
Player of the Week
Shelden Williams, Duke
Williams dominated Miami and Florida State to average 20.5 points and 10 rebounds per game in two Duke victories. The combination of Williams and J.J. Redick makes Duke one of the most dangerous teams in the nation.
Rookie of the Week
Cheyenne Moore, Clemson
Moore had two good games for the Tigers last week, averaging 14.5 points and 3.5 rebounds even though Clemson lost to North Carolina and Virginia.
ACC Coach Watch
Paul Hewitt, Georgia Tech
Hewitt uproots Virginia’s Pete Gillen, who had been entrenched in this spot for a few weeks, because the Yellow Jackets are in the midst of a three-game nosedive, capped by an awful home loss to Virginia Tech. With games against Wake Forest, Duke and Maryland in the next two weeks, Hewitt must get the Yellow Jackets turned around. But don’t fret, Hewitt supporters: He’s not on the hot seat. That’s still reserved for Gillen.
Team Roundups
Duke Blue Devils (15-0, 5-0)
Yes, Duke is a great team and a national championship contender. But the Blue Devils’ 5-0 ACC record masks a weak schedule to start conference play. Those five opponents have a collective 9-20 record in conference play. Until Duke beats North Carolina, Wake Forest or Georgia Tech, the Blue Devils cannot be considered the bona fide ACC frontrunner. And as the schedule quirks stand, the Blue Devils will play all three teams in an eight-day stretch in early February.
In the meantime, Duke beat up Miami 92-83 and Florida State 88-56, both on the road. Junior forward Shelden Williams led Miami with 30 points and seven rebounds against Miami, and junior guard J.J. Redick scored 31 points to lead the Blue Devils’ blowout at Florida State. The Blue Devils torched the nets in both games, shooting better than 55 percent from the field. Redick hit 11 three pointers in the two games.
Duke warms up for the toughest stretch of the year with home games against Maryland Wednesday and Virginia Tech Sunday.
North Carolina Tar Heels (16-2, 5-1)
The Tar Heels pummeled a pair of ACC lightweights last week, beating Clemson 77-58 and Miami 87-67. In both games, North Carolina shot about 50 percent from the field and held opponents to about 35 percent. But the Tar Heels struggled against Clemson until the second half. Tied at halftime, North Carolina came out strong, outscoring the Tigers 50-31 in the second half. Junior swingman Rashad McCants led the Tar Heels with 23 points, and junior point guard Raymond Felton had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
North Carolina did not waste time against Miami, jumping out to a 40-26 halftime lead and cruising to the win. All five starters scored in double figures, and none played more than 27 minutes. Junior forward Sean May dominated the interior-challenged Hurricanes, scoring 17 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. North Carolina ripped apart Miami on the glass for a 44-30 rebounding edge.
The Tar Heels play one game this week at Virginia Saturday.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (16-2, 4-1)
The Demon Deacons interrupted conference play with an out-of-ACC match up at Cincinnati. Wake Forest depended on junior center Eric Williams and sophomore guard Chris Paul to carry the team to a 74-70 win. Williams led all scores with 29 points, while Paul added 21 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Both teams played well, but the Demon Deacons received just enough support from Paul and Williams to sneak out of Cincinnati with a win.
Wake Forest returns to conference play at Georgia Tech Thursday and against Miami Saturday.
Virginia Tech Hokies (10-6, 3-2)
Two weeks ago, Virginia Tech hovered at .500 and appeared destined for the ACC’s basement. But two wins last week against North Carolina State and Georgia Tech will almost guarantee the Hokies avoid last place. They still may finish in the middle of the pack. But the Hokies must win by more than a point to convince this skeptic. The Hokies slipped past the Wolfpack 72-71 as Coleman Collins and Zabian Dowdell each scored 20 points. Senior forward Carlos Dixon led the Hokies with 21 points in a 70-69 win in Atlanta.
In both games, the Hokies allowed opponents to shoot 45 percent or better. They lost the rebound battle in both games, too. But they finished on top for total points, which is all it takes to grab a win.
Virginia Tech hosts rival Virginia Thursday before visiting Duke Sunday.
Miami Hurricanes (12-5, 3-3)
After losses to Duke and North Carolina last week, the Hurricanes seem to be the type of team capable of beating mediocre teams and an occasional good team but ill-suited to compete with the ACC’s elite. Miami lost to Duke 92-83 primarily because the Hurricanes could not stop Duke’s shooters. The Hurricanes allowed Duke to shoot better than 60 percent from the field, including 10-of-21 from three-point range. Sophomore guard Guillermo Diaz tried to match that torrid pace with 25 points, leading four Hurricanes in double figures. Sophomore forward Anthony King registered his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. He has one triple-double.
Miami’s offense faltered on the road at North Carolina in an 87-67 loss. The Hurricanes shot less than 36 percent from the field, and only Diaz reached double figures, scoring 30 points. Junior guard Robert Hite had a dismal game, going 2-of-15 from the field. In addition to the lack of offensive stability, Miami allowed the Tar Heels to dominate the boards, 44-30.
Miami will look to rebound from the two-game skid at home against Clemson Wednesday before traveling to Winston-Salem, N.C., to play Wake Forest Saturday.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11-5, 2-3)
The Yellow Jackets cannot wait for senior guard B.J. Elder to return to the starting lineup once his hamstring heals. Georgia Tech dropped its third consecutive ACC game last week, losing at home to Virginia Tech 70-69. Senior forward Isma’il Muhammad attacked the lane with five seconds remaining and drew a foul. But he missed both free throws, and freshman forward Ra’Sean Dickey missed an opportunity to score off an offensive rebound. The Yellow Jackets made only four three pointers as they lack perimeter weapons during Elder’s absence. The loss spoiled a 28-point effort by senior guard Will Bynum.
Georgia Tech plays a huge game against Wake Forest Sunday and goes to Maryland Sunday.
Maryland Terrapins (11-5, 2-3)
The Terrapins continued to remain mired in the middle of the ACC after splitting home games against Virginia and North Carolina State last week. Maryland shut down the Cavaliers in the second half to win 82-68. The Terps held Virginia to 34 percent shooting from the field. Junior forward Nik Caner-Medley continued to play well, scoring 26 points to register his third consecutive game with at least 20 points. Three other starters reached double figures as Maryland did not suffer from the loss of sophomore guard D.J. Strawberry, who will miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury.
Maryland missed Strawberry’s defensive fortitude, however, against North Carolina State. The Wolfpack torched Maryland, 85-69, by shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and 46 percent from three-point range. Maryland again had four players reach double figures, led by Caner-Medley’s 15 points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds.
Maryland plays two of the ACC’s elite this week, starting at Duke Wednesday and at home against Georgia Tech Sunday.
North Carolina State Wolfpack (12-6, 2-3)
The Wolfpack appeared halfway toward disaster when North Carolina State lost at Virginia Tech. In the suddenly top-heavy ACC, teams like the Wolfpack cannot afford to lose to less powerful teams, such as the Hokies. Senior guard Julius Hodge scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the loss. Freshman forward Andrew Brackman also registered a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. One of the nation’s best free-throw shooting teams last year, North Carolina State struggled from the line, hitting only 15-of-26 attempts.
North Carolina State delayed a crisis, however, by shooting the Terrapins out of their home. The Wolfpack shot better than 48 percent from the field, including 46 percent from three-point range. The team’s 12 three pointers fueled an 85-69 whooping. North Carolina State led by 26 at halftime and cruised to the easy win. Hodge had another double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Point guard Tony Bethel played two minutes in returning from an illness that has kept him out of the lineup since December.
The Wolfpack look to build a winning streak with games against Florida State Wednesday and at Clemson Saturday.
Florida State Seminoles (10-9, 2-4)
Florida State’s lone game in the past week was against Duke, an 88-56 annihilation at home. The Seminoles could not provide an encore presentation of an upset against a top 10 opponent after Florida State knocked off Wake Forest earlier last week. The Blue Devils stymied Florida State’s offense, holding the Seminoles to 33 percent shooting from the floor. Sophomore guard Von Wafer, who was the star against the Demon Deacons, scored only 10 points, which was still second highest on the team. Freshman guard Isaiah Swann led the Seminoles with 13 points.
Florida State goes on the road this week to North Carolina State Wednesday.
Virginia Cavaliers (10-6, 1-5)
The Cavaliers finally picked up a conference win against Clemson last week, 81-79, after letting a winnable game at Maryland slip away 82-68. Against the Terrapins, Virginia went into halftime leading 41-40 but couldn’t hit any shots in the second half, shooting a meager 34 percent from the field for the game. The dynamic duo of Elton Brown and Devin Smith accounted for 35 points and 20 rebounds, which was more than half of the team’s totals. Virginia clearly missed the defensive presence of Jason Clark, who is done for the season because he is academically ineligible. He could have helped slow down Maryland’s Nik Caner-Medley, who scored 26 points.
Virginia avoided an 0-6 conference start by slipping past Clemson in Charlottesville, Va. Smith had 22 points, leading four Cavaliers in double figures. Freshman guard Sean Singletary looked good running the point, dishing out seven assists. The Cavaliers played nearly flawlessly, committing only six turnovers.
Virginia desperately needs two wins this week at Virginia Tech Thursday and at home against North Carolina Saturday. A win against North Carolina may propel the Cavaliers back into the NCAA Tournament discussion.
Clemson Tigers (10-8, 1-5)
The Tigers dropped to last place last week by virtue of two losses to North Carolina and Virginia. The Tigers played well in both games and were tied with the Tar Heels at halftime. But Clemson never found the shooting touch against North Carolina, shooting only 33 percent from the floor. Freshman forward Cheyenne Moore and senior forward Sharrod Ford each score 14 points, the only Tigers to reach double figures.
The offense was more effective against Virginia in an 81-79 loss. It spoiled senior forward Olu Babalola’s 22-point outburst. The Tigers shot 41 percent from the field but allowed the Cavaliers to shoot 57 percent. The Tigers seem to be stuck in a cycle in which they either play good offense or good defense, but rarely both in the same game. Sometimes, they alternate between halves in a game. For Clemson to climb out of the cellar, the Tigers must put together a complete effort.
The Tigers will look to start a mid-season resurgence in Miami Wednesday and at home against North Carolina State Saturday.
