Atlantic Coast Conference Notebook
At the start of the season, how many of you thought Clemson would be the only remaining undefeated ACC team at this point? Be honest now.
The Tigers are 10-0 and have won six games by at least 20 points. Clemson’s largest halftime deficit has been one point against Monmouth in the second game of the season. Without question, the Tigers have dominated most opponents throughout the early stages of this season.
But those opponents are not fearsome squads with national title aspirations. The best win to date is a 74-53 win at South Carolina in the annual meeting to determine state bragging rights. Ranked No. 51 by blogger and RPI specialist Ken Pomeroy, South Carolina is the toughest Tiger victim. Clemson is 4-0 against teams ranked 51-100, but the Tigers have not played anyone ranked in the top 50. And five victories have come against the members of the RPI’s bottom third.
So the jury is out on Clemson. The Tigers have the look and feel of a team that is ready to contend in the ACC. Coach Oliver Purnell has built a deep team that has rotated 10 players into every game this season. No one averages 30 minutes per game, and nine players average at least 11 minutes. In addition to balanced playing time, Purnell’s Tigers mesh experience with youth, as one senior – Vernon Hamilton – joins two freshmen – Trevor Booker and David Potter – in a regular lineup filled with sophomores and juniors.
An unheralded guard in a conference filled with elite backcourt players, Hamilton is the senior leader of this team. He averages 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Although he is not a great shooter, Hamilton is the stabilizer in a backcourt filled with talent. Sophomore K.C. Rivers has developed into a phenomenal scorer, leading the team with 14.2 points per game and shooting better than 41 percent from three-point territory.
Booker has been a pleasant surprise for Clemson. He averages 9.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for the Tigers’ frontcourt, which looked shallow at the beginning of the season. With James Mays, Sam Perry, Booker and Potter, the Tigers have an effective frontcourt rotation that lets Purnell keep his big men fresh throughout the game.
For Clemson to finish in the top half of the ACC, however, the Tigers must improve at the free throw line. Despite playing with a guard-oriented lineup, the Tigers barely shoot 60 percent at the line. Those struggles will cost the Tigers two to three ACC games, which often come down to big shots in the final minutes. Clemson needs two or three players to emerge as go-to shooters in the clutch.
With such a balanced lineup and a lot of early-season confidence, Clemson fans have reason to be hopeful that the Tigers will finally return to the NCAA Tournament. Despite a gaudy 10-0 record, the Tigers still have room for improvement. Purnell and company must continue to adapt because the rest of the ACC teams will also be getting better as the season progresses.
ACC Player of the Week: Mike Jones, Maryland
Jones broke a school record for three-pointers, hitting nine long balls against Mount St. Mary’s in the Terrapins’ 51-point blowout. The epitome of a streak shooter, Jones now shoots 45.7 percent from three-point range for the season.
ACC Rookie of the Week: Brandan Wright, North Carolina
Wright continues to be a phenomenal freshman for coach Roy Williams. He scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 23 minutes against UNC-Asheville.
ACC Coach Watch: Al Skinner, Boston College
As winners of six consecutive games, the Eagles are on a roll right now. Boston College started slowly this season, but Skinner could guide the Eagles back into the discussion of this season’s elite teams if Boston College can knock off Kansas in Lawrence Dec. 23.
Team Reports
Virginia Cavaliers (6-1, 1-0)
Last week:
Win vs. Hampton, 91-69
The Cavaliers shook off the rust after taking nearly two weeks off for exams and clobbered Hampton 91-69. Virginia cruised despite the absence of coach Dave Leitao, who earned an ejection for arguing with the officials and receiving two technical fouls. The normally calm Leitao apologized after the game for letting emotions get the better of him. Fortunately for Leitao, Sean Singletary and company got the better of the Pirates. The junior point guard erupted for 27 points, largely thanks to 14 free throws. Junior Ryan Pettinella and sophomore Mamadi Diane each registered double-doubles. Pettinella scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Diane put up 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Next week:
Dec. 19 vs. Appalachian State
Boston College Eagles (6-2, 1-0)
Last week:
Win vs. Sacred Heart, 101-68
Boston College shot better than 58 percent from the field – including 80 percent in the first half – to torch Sacred Heart 101-68. The Eagles won their sixth consecutive game before heading to Lawrence, Kan., next weekend with some momentum. A road win against Kansas should propel the Eagles back into the Top 25. Based on Boston College’s performance vs. Sacred Heart, the Eagles belong there. Senior forward Jared Dudley led the Eagles with 20 points, and four other Eagles reach double figures in points. Sophomore guard Tyrese Rice hit four three-pointers, scoring 16 points. Rice also dished out six assists to help spark the team’s productivity.
Next week:
Dec. 23 at Kansas
Virginia Tech (7-3, 1-0)
Last week:
Win vs. Wake Forest, 63-60
Virginia Tech opened conference play last week with a hard-fought 63-60 win against Wake Forest. Despite shooting worse than 40 percent from the field, the Hokies found a way to win with tight defense toward the end of the game and timely turnovers. Coach Seth Greenberg preaches defense and precision on offense. So despite a lack of hot shooters, the Hokies never beat themselves, committing only nine turnovers. Guards Zabian Dowdell and A.D. Vassallo led the team with 14 points apiece. They became Virginia Tech’s clutch players at the end of the game after senior guard Jamon Gordon left the game with a knee injury.
Greenberg must hope that Gordon’s injury is not serious because this team does not have many alternatives to replace Gordon’s intangibles. Although he is in a terrible shooting slump – 27.8 percent from three-point territory and 30.8 percent from the free throw line – Gordon averages 4.3 assists and three steals per game. He makes the offense run smoothly and creates havoc on defense.
Next week:
Dec. 21 at Seton Hall
Dec. 23 vs. Campbell
Miami Hurricanes (7-4, 1-0)
Last week:
Loss vs. Mississippi State, 70-52
Win vs. Stetson, 89-64
Miami lived by the three in an 89-64 win vs. Stetson last week and died by the three in a 70-52 drubbing in Coral Gables at the hands of Mississippi State. With senior forward Anthony King out of the lineup until January with a wrist injury, the Hurricanes have few weapons in the frontcourt. Sophomore swingman Brian Asbury was productive against the Bulldogs, finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds, but Miami’s guards could not find the range against Mississippi State, hitting only four of 21 three-point attempts.
Against Stetson, a different undersized forward stepped up for coach Frank Haith. Sophomore forward Jimmy Graham was a force in the paint, grabbing 13 rebounds. Although Graham did not score a point, his efforts on defense limited the Hatters’ second chances. Miami did not need many second chances on offense, shooting 59 percent from the field and better than 50 percent from three-point range. Asbury had another big game with 18 points and six rebounds.
Next week:
Dec. 20 vs. Binghamton
Clemson Tigers (10-0, 0-0)
Last week:
No games
Clemson did not play this week. The students focused on exams this past week and will return to the hardwood against Georgia Southern and Western Carolina this week. Anything short of a 12-0 record for Christmas will be disappointing.
Next week:
Dec. 19 vs. Georgia Southern
Dec. 23 vs. Western Carolina
Duke Blue Devils (9-1, 0-0)
Last week:
No games
Like other ACC schools, the Blue Devils used this past week to take exams without the distraction of a game.
Next week:
Dec. 19 vs. Kent State
Dec. 21 vs. Gonzaga at Madison Square Garden
North Carolina Tar Heels (8-1, 0-0)
Last week:
Win vs. UNC-Asheville, 93-62
North Carolina coasted to an easy 93-62 victory against UNC-Asheville with an all-around dominant performance. Freshman forward Brandan Wright led the team with 21 points and nine rebounds. Freshman point guard Ty Lawson had eight assists to only one turnover, leading a balanced and persistent Tar Heel attack. The team held the Bulldogs to 33.9 percent shooting from the field. The overmatched UNC-Asheville squad allowed North Carolina to collect 18 more rebounds. Freshman Alex Stepheson made the most of his eight minutes on the court by scoring eight points and grabbing six rebounds. The Tar Heels will travel to Saint Louis this week, the team’s only road game during an 11-game stretch that spans from the week after Thanksgiving to the second week of 2007.
Next week:
Dec. 19 vs. Florida Atlantic
Dec. 22 at Saint Louis
Florida State Seminoles (8-2, 0-0)
Last week:
No games
The Seminoles’ schedule is feast or famine at this time of year. After taking off last week for exams, Florida State will play three games in five days this week – the second such stretch scheduled by coach Leonard Hamilton.
Next week:
Dec. 18 vs. High Point
Dec. 21 vs. Coastal Carolina
Dec. 23 vs. St. Peter’s
Maryland Terrapins (10-2, 0-1)
Last week:
Win vs. Missouri-Kansas City, 101-50
The Terrapins played a nearly perfect game against Missouri-Kansas City, slamming the Kangaroos 101-50. Senior guard Mike Jones broke a school record by hitting nine three-pointers en route to 27 points. Maryland hit 17 three-pointers in the game. In contrast, the Kangaroos hit only 16 baskets from anywhere on the court. Freshman guard Greivis Vasquez was unimpressive in his first performance as a starter in terms of scoring, putting up a goose egg and not attempting a single shot. But he ran the offense efficiently, finishing with eight assists and only two turnovers. Coach Gary Williams sat senior forward Ekene Ibekwe to give Vasquez the opportunity to start. Ibekwe finished with seven rebounds but only four points and did not hit a shot from the field.
Next week:
Dec. 23 vs. American
North Carolina State Wolfpack (7-2, 0-1)
Last week:
Win vs. Mount St. Mary’s, 80-65
It’s beginning to sound like a broken record, but the Wolfpack’s lack of depth is downright scary. With senior guard Engin Atsur sidelined with a hamstring injury, North Carolina State played only six guys against Mount St. Mary’s. Coach Sidney Lowe’s team did not need more help to beat the Mountaineers because the defense held them to 38 percent shooting from the field. On offense, all six players reached double figures in scoring, led by sophomores Courtney Fells and Ben McCauely with 16 points. Lowe cannot be happy that the Mountaineers out-rebounded the Wolfpack by six.
The good news for Lowe is that Atsur could be available for North Carolina State when the Wolfpack host Alabama this week. North Carolina State has a good win against Michigan this season, but the game against an elite Crimson Tide squad will be a better measuring stick. Because the Wolfpack have such a thin lineup, Alabama should be able to grind down the Wolfpack. But if North Carolina State can keep the game close to the end, Wolfpack fans will have reason to believe that their team will compete with the ACC’s best throughout the conference season.
Next week:
Dec. 20 vs. Alabama
Dec. 23 at Cincinnati
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-3, 0-1)
Last week:
No games
The Yellow Jackets will return to action this week in hopes of ending a two-game losing streak. Georgia Tech should be able to dispatch Centenary, but the Yellow Jackets have a tough weekend match up with in-state rival Georgia, which just knocked off Gonzaga this past weekend.
Next week:
Dec. 18 vs. Centenary
Dec. 22 vs. Georgia
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-4, 0-1)
Last week:
Loss at DePaul, 78-63
Loss at Virginia Tech, 63-60
Based on last week’s results, the Demon Deacons are in for a long season. Freshman guard Ishmael Smith was entirely ineffective against Virginia Tech’s veteran backcourt. Smith fouled out in only 15 minutes, scoring four points, dishing out one assist and committing two turnovers. Without Smith running the show, Wake Forest’s offense appeared disjointed. Senior center Kyle Visser willed the team to a tight finish, leading all scorers in the game with 18 points. Visser has become a leader on this young team and finally gives a complete effort every game. He needs help from some of the freshmen and sophomores or else he’ll finish his career with as much as frustration as his mentor, Eric Williams, experienced last season.
At DePaul, Visser was once again the only reliable scorer, leading the team with 20 points. Freshman guard Anthony Gurley scored 14 points in only 14 minutes of play. But besides Visser and Gurley, the Demon Deacons shot 8-of-32 from the field. Wake Forest’s defense let the Blue Demons race out to a 20-point lead in the first half, and the Demon Deacons don’t have the offensive consistency to rally from such a large deficit. The Demon Deacons will have two more chances this week to pick up their first win in December.
Next week:
Dec. 19 vs. Gardner-Webb
Dec. 22 vs. Richmond
