Player of the Week
Sam Hauser, SF/PF, #18 Virginia Cavaliers
A lot of these blogs focus on incredible stats and crucial victories, but the consistency of Sam Hauser is earning him this week’s player of the week. Every ACC team has had ups and downs and struggled to remain consistent, but Sam Hauser and the Cavaliers are the exception in this hectic ACC season. A tough loss early in the season to San Francisco and a brutal loss to the undisputed best team in America are the only setbacks for Tony Bennet’s squad and the play of Hauser is a major reason why.
With the exception of one game against William and Mary, Hauser has scored in double digits and had at least five rebounds in every game so far. Efficient shooting from everywhere on the floor also adds to his value as the star for the Cavs. There is a reason Tony Bennett has his team first in the ACC with an undefeated record. The answer is consistency, and it all starts with Sam Hauser.
Who’s Hot?
Garrison Brooks, PF/C, North Carolina Tar Heels
If there was one bright spot for the Tar Heels this week, it was the reemergence of Garrison Brooks in the two games against Syracuse and Florida State. Brooks reentered the starting lineup after three games coming off the bench and took advantage of his opportunities. He achieved a double-double against Syracuse while adding three steals and two blocks and followed it up with another 12 points and two steals against Florida State. His impact went far beyond the stat sheet and if these Carolina big men can all get hot at the same time rather than sporadically, they will be a lethal team in March.
Justin Champagnie, SF, Pittsburgh Panthers
Pitt’s star sophomore returned two weeks early from a knee injury and picked up right where he left off with a 24-point, 16 rebound performance with a steal and two blocks. The Panthers appreciate his contribution and waltzed their way to a 20-point victory against Syracuse to complete a regular season sweep of the Orange. Champagnie has been sensational for the Panthers and even one game is worthy of weekly recognition on a return from an injury that was supposed to keep him out of action for 6-8 weeks.
The star sophomore is averaging nearly 19 points and 13 rebounds in what has been one of the most staggering player developments in the nation this season. Jeff Capel’s squad has rarely escaped the very bottom of the pack in the ACC, but the emergence of Champagnie has the Panthers 3-1 in the conference and looking to make a statement against the Duke Blue Devils on Tuesday night.
Who’s Not?
Scottie Barnes, SG/SF, Florida State Seminoles
The top ranked freshman in the ACC is having a rough start to ACC play in his debut season. We all know Leonard Hamilton loves to rotate his guys, but it is worrisome that Barnes is still not playing to his potential for the Seminoles. He lost his starting job in their last game against North Carolina State and Rayquan Evans dropped 24 in his first opportunity to start in Barnes’ place.
Now, Barnes is battling an ankle injury that limited his minutes against the Wolfpack and held him out in the game against North Carolina on Saturday. The good news for Barnes is Patrick Williams, a Florida State standout last season, was drafted 4th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft despite never starting a game for the Seminoles. If Barnes is permanently removed from the starting lineup, Williams is a precedent who showed that all hope is not lost for sixth men at the college level.
Wabissa Bede, PG, #20 Virginia Tech Hokies
The Hokies are enjoying a fast start to the season and many would have anticipated Wabissa Bede would be the driving force behind it. This is unfortunately not the case. Bede is averaging a meager five points per game with only two rebounds and assists to go with it. He does not average a steal per game on the defensive end, either. Bede’s struggled have not hindered the Hokies, but it is reasonable to anticipate that they will in the future.
In five conference games so far, Bede’s season high is five points, and it came in a losing effort to the Clemson Tigers. The Hokies are not a team carried by incoming freshman recruits, so the reliance on players like Bede is evident if they are going to be successful. IF they want to make a run at the ACC title, Bede will need to play better, and it does not only have to come on the stat sheet.
Top 5 Home Atmospheres We Miss
5. Cassell Coliseum (Virginia Tech Hokies)
The home atmosphere in Blacksburg is just as relevant in basketball as it is in football and the fantastic start for the Hokies would only elevate their players to even loftier heights. Halfway through the 2018-19 season the Hokies posted a 53.2 overall win percentage since 2010. Their home win percentage was 15 percentage points better at 68.2% The home court advantage in Blacksburg is real and it would be awesome to see how invested their fans would be with their Hokies competing for a conference championship.
4. Carrier Dome (Syracuse Orange)
The Carrier Dome is the largest arena in the ACC and the home of one of the most storied basketball schools in the nation. The Orange may be struggling this season, but the Carrier Dome is still one of the most electrifying atmospheres in all of college basketball. Those fans must miss going to those games and we miss seeing all 33,000 of them there as well.
3. Dean Smith Center (North Carolina Tar Heels)
The Dean Smith Center has the third highest capacity in the ACC, but those fans make up for less quantity than the Carrier Dome with relentless passion and inspiration for the Tar Heels. It is hard to imagine the Tar Heels would be AS successful as they are under Roy Williams without the constant support from over 20,000 fans each and every game on their home floor.
2. Civic Center in Tallahassee (Florida State Seminoles)
The Florida State home atmosphere is not completely gone, but still dearly missed and not nearly the same as it could be. The Seminoles are 68-4 at home since 2016 and a lot of credit has to be given to the fans at the Civic Center. It is an absolutely electric atmosphere in Tallahassee with rowdy students and passionate alumni that rivals even the storied programs of Syracuse, North Carolina and Duke.
1. Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke Blue Devils)
There were plenty of teams who could have been featured on this list but only one was ever going to be ranked first and it is the Duke Blue Devils. Cameron Indoor Stadium is one of the most fearsome atmospheres in all of sports and the Cameron Crazies have to be dying to get back to Durham. It is extremely hard to believe that the Blue Devils would lose two nonconference games at home if there were screaming fans and students cheering on the Blue Devils. It is one of the best atmospheres a person can witness and clearly one of the best home-court advantages in all of sports considering their struggles without fans this year.