It's time to shout from the rafters -- FINALLY IT'S ACC TIME!! The teams are looking great (most of the time), stars are starting to emerge and everyone is chasing UNC and Duke. Seems like old times. The only bad thing about the conference is that horrible injury bug that has swept through like a plague. What are we, the Phoenix Suns?
All that means is that there is even less room for error this year and teams are going to have to grow up fast and adjust on the fly. Not necessarily the easiest things to do during conference play. Right now the ACC has 1 great team, 1 really good team, 2 pretty good teams and a bunch of others working out the kinks and finding their identity. So, in the coming weeks, expect plenty of upsets, plenty of great games, plenty of great individual performances and plenty of heart palpitations from me. I haven't seen everyone play enough to do a short break down of the teams, but after the first few games of the conference season, I will do a prediciton chart for the NCAA Tournament and give my thoughts on how each team is rounding out. Hopefully you will care! On to the Reports!!
Team of the Week: North Carolina
From that mighty comeback against a determined Clemson squad to the dunk heard round the world (and by world, I mean die hard ACC enthusiasts), the Heels are looking like a freight train headed into conference play. If Wayne "The Rain" Ellington and Danny Green keep knocking down threes and the rest of the guys step up on defense, it will be hard to derail Roy's Boys.
(Also, even though I hate Carolina, I would like to extend a heartfelt thought to UNC sophomore PF Alex Stephenson. We hope his father is doing well.)
Worst Team of the Week: Clemson
Poor Clemson. So close, so very, very close. Yet, you can't let home games in the ACC slip through your fingers like that. If there is a silver lining (and there never really is in a loss like that) it is the assurance that the Tigers are going to be a match-up nightmare for a lot of teams. Except Charlotte, who they inexplicably lost to a few days later. Talk about a let down. Oliver Purnell has a history of these letdowns with his club, so they need to toughen up for a very likely run at the Tournament.
Player of the Week:Wayne Ellington, UNC
A career high 36 (including the game winner) against Clemson. A stellar 19 against UNC-Asheville. He is turning into the long range threat the Heels were sorely lacking last year. And, if he understands that he can take over games when he is in the zone, it would be lights out for Tar Heel opponents. Really becoming an elite, all-around player. (Please don't tell him!!)
Games to Watch:
N.C. State at #1 UNC 1/12 (State NEEDS this game)
Florida State at Clemson 1/12 (Tigers need to bounce back strong)
Wake Forest at Maryland 1/15 (Two teams still trying to find themselves)
#7 Duke at Florida State 1/16 (Devils have a history of stumbles in Tallahassee)
All that means is that there is even less room for error this year and teams are going to have to grow up fast and adjust on the fly. Not necessarily the easiest things to do during conference play. Right now the ACC has 1 great team, 1 really good team, 2 pretty good teams and a bunch of others working out the kinks and finding their identity. So, in the coming weeks, expect plenty of upsets, plenty of great games, plenty of great individual performances and plenty of heart palpitations from me. I haven't seen everyone play enough to do a short break down of the teams, but after the first few games of the conference season, I will do a prediciton chart for the NCAA Tournament and give my thoughts on how each team is rounding out. Hopefully you will care! On to the Reports!!
Team of the Week: North Carolina
From that mighty comeback against a determined Clemson squad to the dunk heard round the world (and by world, I mean die hard ACC enthusiasts), the Heels are looking like a freight train headed into conference play. If Wayne "The Rain" Ellington and Danny Green keep knocking down threes and the rest of the guys step up on defense, it will be hard to derail Roy's Boys.
(Also, even though I hate Carolina, I would like to extend a heartfelt thought to UNC sophomore PF Alex Stephenson. We hope his father is doing well.)
Worst Team of the Week: Clemson
Poor Clemson. So close, so very, very close. Yet, you can't let home games in the ACC slip through your fingers like that. If there is a silver lining (and there never really is in a loss like that) it is the assurance that the Tigers are going to be a match-up nightmare for a lot of teams. Except Charlotte, who they inexplicably lost to a few days later. Talk about a let down. Oliver Purnell has a history of these letdowns with his club, so they need to toughen up for a very likely run at the Tournament.
Player of the Week:Wayne Ellington, UNC
A career high 36 (including the game winner) against Clemson. A stellar 19 against UNC-Asheville. He is turning into the long range threat the Heels were sorely lacking last year. And, if he understands that he can take over games when he is in the zone, it would be lights out for Tar Heel opponents. Really becoming an elite, all-around player. (Please don't tell him!!)
Games to Watch:
N.C. State at #1 UNC 1/12 (State NEEDS this game)
Florida State at Clemson 1/12 (Tigers need to bounce back strong)
Wake Forest at Maryland 1/15 (Two teams still trying to find themselves)
#7 Duke at Florida State 1/16 (Devils have a history of stumbles in Tallahassee)
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