Player of the Week
Judah Mintz (Syracuse)
Mintz was a highly touted prospect coming out of high school where he played for Oak Hill Academy. The 4-star committed to play for the Orange in March of 2022, and in his freshman year he was a solid contributor for Syracuse and was tasked with the decision of going pro. The guard decided to return for his sophomore year and has looked like a superstar to begin the season. A dominant performance against LSU on Nov. 28 where he recorded 33 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals was the start of something special for the sophomore. This past week, the 6-foot-4 phenom was the catalyst in propelling his team to a 2-0 tally. In a victory over Cornell, Mintz totaled 28 points and 4 rebounds. He didn’t stop there as in the next outing the guard garnered 25 points and 5 steals causing fits on both ends of the court. The Syracuse star has been incredible in year two having knocked down 14 of 32 three pointers so far, at a 44% clip.
Who’s Hot
Virginia Cavaliers
The Cavaliers have been rolling as of recent and have been for the entirety of the young season. Virginia posts a 8-1 record, which has them slotted in at the second spot in the standings. After opening up the season with a 4-0 record, the squad suffered a ranked win at hands of No. 23 Wisconsin. It then came roaring back as it defeated in-state opponent West Virginia and then beat No. 21 Texas A&M in a gritty contest 59-47. Those two performances were followed up by its first conference win of the campaign in a dethroning of Syracuse and then a 30-point win over NC Central. Riding a four-game win streak, Virginia looks to keep it rolling as conference play begins to heat up.
Ian Schieffelin (Clemson)
Clemson has been one of the biggest stories in the early stages of the campaign. The Tigers sit at 9-0, and have some of the best depth on its roster in the nation. This week’s impact player for orange and white was the talented forward Schieffelin. These past two games he has been on a tear and has been the X factor in getting Clemson over the top in close and intense affairs. Starting with an in-state showdown against rival South Carolina, Schieffelin put together a double-double where he matched his point and rebound totals with 12 each. He followed up that masterclass with another stellar performance against TCU with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.
Who’s Not
Florida State Seminoles
The Seminoles are third to last in the ACC with a 4-4 record. However, after a 4-1 start, the team from Tallahassee is on a three-game losing skid. After beating a strong Colorado team 77-71, it has been downhill since for Florida State as it looks to find its footing once again. The past two defeats were at the hands of Georgia and North Carolina. The Bulldogs just escaped with the win over the Seminoles by a score of 68-66. FSU then fell to the No. 9 Tar Heels 78-70 as it battled against a tough ranked opponent. After losing back-to-back tight matchups, the team had an in-state battle against USF. The game did not flow in the Seminoles favor as USF bested them 88-72. Of its four defeats, two were blowouts and two were close, but the unit will need to refine a few things to snap the losing streak.
Top 5 ACC Teams
1. Clemson Tigers
The Tigers are the only unbeaten team left in the conference and for good reason. A strong 9-0 start including wins over tough teams like Alabama, Pitt, South Carolina and TCU boast a solid resume for Clemson. The orange and white are headlined by its star PJ Hall who is paired with a very slept on backcourt in Joseph Girad III and Chase Hunter.
2. North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels tally a 7-2 total with two respectable losses to its name. UNC suffered a loss to a tough Villanova squad along with the defending NCAA Champions in UConn. A combination of veterans in RJ Davis and Armando Bacot paired with talented freshmen in Seth Trimble and Elliot Cadeau makes up for a very talented unit.
3. Virginia Cavliers
The Cavaliers boast an 8-1 record, which makes them good for second in the ACC. Led by Isaac McKneely and Reece Beckman, Virginia is back playing its typical grind it out style and tough defense, and succeeding at it.
4. Miami Hurricaines
Miami is back after its appearance in the Final Four a season ago and is looking solid. Jumping out to a 7-2 start, the Hurricanes are headlined by returning starters in Wooga Poplar and Norchad Omier who were big contributors in last season’s postseason run. Having been blown out by Colorado and No. 16 Kentucky, Miami will need to figure out how to deal with tougher opponents as the season plays on.
5. Duke Blue Devils
Despite the 6-3 record, it’s only a matter of time before the Blue Devils find their footing. Despite a bad loss to Georgia Tech, Duke’s only other losses were to top ranked Arizona and a very good Arkansas team. Led by veteran Jeremy Roach and top prospect Kyle Filipowski along with top freshmen in Jared McCain and Caleb Foster, the team from Cameron will be scary come postseason.