Player of the Week
Isaiah Wong, No. 25 Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Wong wasn’t just the best player in the ACC this week, he had an argument for the best player in college basketball. The senior guard headlined a shootout victory over Cornell with 36 points and six assists and followed it up with 22 points and eight assists in a comeback win over NC State on Saturday.
16 of those points came in the second half against the Wolfpack, catapulting the Canes to 2-0 in the ACC and into the Top 25 of the AP Poll. After leading Miami on a Cinderella run to the Elite Eight last season, Wong looks ready to do it again, but this time nobody should be surprised if the budding superstar makes it there.
Who’s Hot?
Terquavion Smith, NC State Wolfpack
Smith matched up with the NCAA’s fourth-leading scorer, Sam Sessoms, on Tuesday night, but it was the leader of the Wolfpack who rose to the occasion with a game-high 33 points and seven assists. Although his team blew a 15-point lead to Miami on Saturday, Smith showcased his range and playmaking in an exhilarating duel in early December. His stock continues to soar with a first-round projection that isn’t going anywhere with his recent performances.
Jesse Edwards, Syracuse Orange
A three-game losing streak in November created panic in Syracuse, but a subsequent three-game winning streak, led by Edwards, has Jim Boeheim’s team back on track as Christmas break comes around. The senior big man is averaging 20 points and 11 rebounds over the past week, taking him to the team lead in both categories.
Who’s Not?
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
When Notre Dame knocked off No. 20 Michigan State in dominating fashion two weeks ago, it looked like the Irish were poised to compete in a conference that is underwhelming to start the season. Not so fast my friend.
Mike Brey’s squad hosted Syracuse, Boston University and Marquette the last three games and were lucky to squeak away with a lone victory over Boston. This stretch isn’t a season-ending setback, but it creates a sense of urgency that didn’t seem necessary when they took down the Spartans convincingly just four games ago.
Hunter Cattoor, No. 24 Virginia Tech Hokies
The Hokies are clicking on all cylinders to start the season, but the breakout star of the ACC Tournament couldn’t find his shot this week. Cattoor shot 1-9 from beyond the arc in wins over Dayton and Oklahoma State, but this team will need more from him as their schedule heats up in January.
Freshman of the Week
Dariq Whitehead, No. 12 Duke Blue Devils
Whitehead shined in his first start of the season this week, signaling what could be the start of a second-half surge for the highly touted recruit. The 6-7 wing looked much more comfortable Saturday night, and while the competition was lacking, it was still a terrific sign for the young forward. Circle this game to remember later in the season, because it could end up as the moment that jumpstarted Whitehead’s promising college and professional career.
Top 5 Contenders to win ACC
5. North Carolina Tar Heels
I didn’t expect the Heels to drop this far before the conference schedule heated up, but a miserable four-game losing streak took them out of the AP Poll altogether after starting the season ranked first. It took a few months for Hubert Davis to get last year’s team clicking and maybe he’ll do the same this year, but it’ll be too late for a conference championship push if it doesn’t happen soon.
4. No. 24 Virginia Tech Hokies
The Hokies already have the head-to-head tiebreaker over North Carolina and they have the perimeter shooting to show it wasn’t a fluke upset. The biggest problem for Mike Young and the Hokies is that they’ll face the top three contenders below twice each, giving them the toughest schedule of any team on this list.
3. No. 25 Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Look no further than the player at the top of this article to see why Miami is so high on this list. Wong is a legit player of the year candidate in the conference and the country and Tuesday’s test against No. 2 Virginia is an excellent opportunity for the Canes to jump out to an early conference lead.
2. No. 12 Duke Blue Devils
The young Blue Devils are still figuring things out, but fortunately their early conference schedule should allow them to win without being at their best. They won’t face a ranked ACC opponent until the end of January, at which point the Blue Devils won’t just be supremely talented but experienced as well.
1. No. 2 Virginia Cavaliers
I can’t bet against the Hoos anymore. I made that mistake before the season started and I’ve been forced to eat my words already. We’ll find out everything we need to know about the Cavaliers in the next two games, but if the start to the season is any indication, they’ll pass these tests from No. 5 Houston and No. 25 Miami with flying colors.