As the 56th ACC mens basketball tournament gets under way, heres a breakdown of the teams participating:
No. 1 North Carolina (27-3, 13-3)
The Tar Heels are favored to win their third straight ACC championship. They're scoring 91 points a game, nine more than second-place Wake Forest. But point guard Ty Lawson's jammed big toe is a big concern. Lawson told reporters Tuesday that the toe is swollen and he can barely walk on it. If he canft play, or is severely limited, UNC becomes very beatable.
Best player, Tyler Hansbrough: The 6-9 senior, who leads the ACC in scoring (21.1), is 52 points shy of J.J. Redickfs ACC scoring record (2,769 career points). Hansbroughfs extended range has made him almost impossible to stop.
When he knocks down the midrange jumper, it makes it that much tougher, Georgia Tech forward Alade Aminu said.
An 85 percent shooter from the foul line, Hansbrough is the NCAAs all-time leader in made free throws.
No. 2 Wake Forest (24-5, 11-5)
The Demon Deacons can beat anyone ?- they've knocked off North Carolina, Duke and Florida State. With big men Al-Farouq Aminu, James Johnson and Chas McFarland, the Deacons can defend and score in the paint, and guard Jeff Teague is one of the most dynamic scorers in the league. While they've had a tough time on the road, the Deacons have also won their past four.
They've put a lineup on the floor with tremendous size, and that has made them a much more difficult team to deal with, Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said.
Best player, Jeff Teague: An All-ACC second-team pick and one of the most improved players in the league, Teague can score from 3-point range, in the paint and from the free-throw line. The 6-2 sophomore guards quickness and all-around play have drawn him favorable comparisons to former Wake great Chris Paul.
I thought there were times last year Teague was playing great, but then he'd fatigue and then he'd get out of the game,h Tech coach Paul Hewitt said. Now he is not getting tired at all.
No. 3 Duke (25-6, 11-5)
The Blue Devils have as good a chance as any team now that freshman guard Elliott Williams is a starter. When coach Mike Krzyzewski put Williams in the starting lineup, it sparked a five-game win streak that lasted until Sundayfs loss at North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
Its made us a better basketball team, Krzyzewski said, citing Williams' on-ball defense and Jon Scheyers improved shooting in his new role. We didnt realize how big an impact it was going to make. Its had a huge impact.
Best player, Kyle Singler: The 6-8 sophomore averages 16.5 points, just behind teammate Gerald Henderson, and a team-high 7.7 rebounds. He is Dukes second-best 3-point shooter (36.7 percent).
gHefs more agile than most e4s,f h Florida Statefs Hamilton said. gHefs a very intelligent player who seems to take advantage of all the little things, getting tip-ins, putbacks, drawing fouls. If you back off, he hits a three. Or hefll cut behind for an easy basket. Hefs a talented youngster whofs extremely smart, and thatfs a real lethal combination.h
No. 4 Florida State (23-8, 10-6)
ACC coach of the year Leonard Hamilton will return the Seminoles to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998. Itfs just the second time in 16 years that Florida State has been above .500 in league play.
The Seminoles keep it low-scoring with long possessions and fierce pressure defense. Solomon Alabi, a member of the conference all-freshman and all-defensive teams, leads the ACC in blocked shots.
Best player, Toney Douglas: The 6-2 guard from Jonesboro was a strong candidate for ACC player of the year. The league defensive player of the year and first-team All-ACC memberfs shot-contesting ability is a major reason why the Seminoles led the ACC in field goal percentage defense.
gHefs the best guy on the ball that wefve played against, and Ifve seen in the country,h Dukefs Krzyzewski said. gToneyfs terrific. Hefs going to play basketball for a long time.h
No. 5 Clemson (23-7, 9-7)
The last ?- and only ?- time that Clemson has had back-to-back winning seasons in the ACC before last year and this year? Try 1966-67. The Tigers started the season 16-0 and delivered one of the more impressive victories of the season, a 74-47 defeat of Duke.
Clemson defends full court, forces turnovers and can knock down threes, as Georgia Tech has learned well in two losses this season. The Tigers are on a slide, having lost three of their past four.
Best player, Trevor Booker: The 6-7 junior is a terror in the paint, leading the ACC in rebounds and field-goal percentage and ranking second in blocks. Booker was an all-tournament team pick a year ago when he led the Tigers to the championship game.
gWhen youfve got to guard a kid under the basket whofs strong and physical and plays with a lot of energy and check him out to the 3-point line, too, he becomes a real tough cover,h Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio said.
No. 6 Boston College (21-10, 9-7)
The mercurial Eagles appear to be headed for their seventh NCAA tournament in nine years. The Eagles mixed in wins over North Carolina, Duke and Florida State with losses to Harvard and N.C. State.
Boston College, which can be expected to slow the game down against Virginia, has lost its past three away from Chestnut Hill.
gItfs obviously been a very interesting year for everyone involved, so therefs no reason to think that the tournamentfs not going to be the same,h Boston College coach Al Skinner said.
Best player, Tyrese Rice: A bread-and-butter play for Boston College is to send four players to the baseline and let Rice create from the top of the key, but Rice has developed also as a playmaker. His scoring average dropped from his junior season, but the Eaglesf team average rose by 4.0 points.
gWe needed his ballhandling and assists, and thatfs why we were 9-7 in the league,h Skinner said. gI could just let him go and get numbers night in and night out. For the sake of the team, it was better for us this way.h
No. 7 Maryland (18-12, 7-9)
After dropping three of their past four, the Terrapins desperately need to make some noise in the tournament, as they face the possibility of two seasons in a row and four out of five without an NCAA tournament berth.
Maryland takes care of the ball and shoots free throws well, but lacks a strong force in the lane. The Terrapins have been outrebounded by their opponents for the season, the first time that has happened since 1993, Gary Williamsf fourth year as coach.
Best player, Greivis Vasquez: The 6-6 guard from Venezuela leads Maryland in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, minutes, 3-pointers made and free-throw percentage. Hefs had two of the best games of his career against the Wolfpack, a 33-point effort in a win this season and a 15-assist game in a win last year.
Greivis is a very unique, special player, Dukes Krzyzewski said.He has an impact on every phase on the offensive end because hes hard to guard and he can pass.
No. 8 Virginia Tech (17-13, 7-9)
The Hokies have lost six of seven and need to beat Miami and North Carolina to get serious NCAA tournament consideration. In their latest loss, 63-53 at Florida State, top scorers A.D. Vassallo and Malcolm Delaney shot a combined 8-for-27.
Im not sure were playing that poorly, but obviously were playing great teams, coach Seth Greenberg said, referring to his teams murderous stretch run against FSU (twice), Clemson, Duke and UNC.
Best player, Malcolm Delaney: It's hard to stay in front of the explosive sophomore. Opponents have to foul him, and thatfs why he's 10 free throws shy of the Hokies season record set by Bimbo Coles in 1986. Delaney, a 6-3 point guard, averages 18.2 points, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals.
We've empowered him to be aggressive and not be afraid to make mistakes, Greenberg said. You've got to empower guards in this league. If not, the league will devour you.
No. 9 Miami (18-11, 7-9)
The Hurricanes have won three of four following a three-game skid. Coach Frank Haith said his teams NCAA resume, which includes the second-toughest league schedule in the nation, looks pretty good if we just get a couple more wins. To get those wins, against Virginia Tech and North Carolina, Miami needs Jack McClinton (sprained knee) at close to 100 percent.
Best player, Jack McClinton: The senior guard ranked third in scoring (19.7) while earning first-team All-ACC honors. He led the conference with 90 made 3-pointers.
Hes always been able to penetrate, but now hes a better finisher at the basket, and thatfs made him doubly tough to guard, Haith said. I want him to use that more; people run at Jack because hes such a great 3-point shooter.
No. 10 N.C. State (16-13, 6-10)
The Wolfpack are one of the best shooting and passing teams in the league. Unfortunately, they are also one of the poorer defending teams in the ACC. The Wolfpack are playing better, though, having started 2-6 in conference play before finishing 4-4.
They have a coach who really knows how to exploit matchups,Virginia coach Dave Leitao said of Sidney Lowe, and they have a system where they have very good offensive players, though not just people who can shoot, although they have a number of those.
Best player, Brandon Costner: Versatility defines Costners game. He can play in the post but also took a team-high 114 3-pointers, making 41. A 6-9 forward, he was a third-team all-ACC player as a freshman.
Over the course of time, Costner has been an issue because he plays inside, he plays outside, he puts the ball on the floor, he rebounds, he passes the ball very well,Leitao said.
No. 11 Virginia (10-17, 4-12)
The Cavaliers finished last in the ACC in field-goal percentage (.418) and field-goal percentage defense (.438). They've won only nine conference games in the past two seasons. But they're entering the tournament on a high note thanks to senior swingman Mamadi Diane, who scored 23 in Virginia's 68-63 win over Maryland Saturday. Defensively, the Cavs also played well in their 3-2 zone.
They understand their responsibilities a little bit more as the weeks go by, Leitao said.
Best player, Sylven Landesberg: The 6-6 guard is the ACC rookie of the year after averaging 16.8 points and 6.0 rebounds.
He's just a confident player with good strength, said Boston Colleges Skinner, whose team faces Virginia in the first round. He can attack you in a number of different ways. If they spread the floor he can attack you off the dribble. If you stay off him, he can step back and hit the jumper.
No. 12 Georgia Tech (11-18, 2-14)
The second-best defensive team in coach Paul Hewitts nine-year tenure has been inept on the other end, averaging 71 points per game.
Offensively we just havent had enough firepower, particularly on the perimeter and at the foul line, Hewitt said.
Senior guard Lewis Clinch got hot late, averaging 23.8 over his last five games, but it didnt prevent a 1-4 finish. Tech needs huge efforts from Clinch and leading scorer Gani Lawal (15.0) to have a chance at extending its season.
Best player, Gani Lawal: One of the ACCfs most improved players, Lawal finished second in the conference in rebounding (9.4) and tied for sixth in blocks (1.6), right behind teammate Alade Aminu. He made the All-ACC third team. Lawal gives relentless effort and has developed a nice post-up bank shot. But in a sign the season took its toll, Lawal did not post double-digit rebounds in his last seven games.
[More at www.ajc.com]
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