Player of the Week:
RJ Davis (North Carolina)
The seasoned veteran has been the catalyst for the Tar Heels being one of the top teams in the nation. Davis has been a scoring machine for UNC and this past week was no different. It started off against Virginia where he posted 12 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. He then put together a monstrous performance in a clash with Miami, as he netted 42 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. After a short team slump of late, the guard has pushed the Heels to three consecutive victories, as his group is picking up steam as the regular season comes to a close.
Who’s Hot
Clemson Tigers
After being somewhat of a surprise to open up the season with their stellar play, the Tigers have hung around and have proven to be a tough team to beat. The squad is currently fourth in the standings due to its 20-8 record. The orange and white has a 11-4 record when defending its home court along with a 10-7 conference showing. The unit is currently riding a three-game win streak with victories over Pitt, Florida State and Georgia Tech.
Hunter Sallis (Wake Forest)
Ever since transferring from Gonzaga, Sallis has separated himself as the X factor for an impressive Wake Forest squad. The Demon Deacons are currently fifth in the conference with an 18-10 record behind Sallis averaging 18.3 points per game along with 4.1 rebounds. The guard recently poured it on a big time victory over Duke. The squad knocked off the No. 10 Blue Devils and Sallis put together a tremendous outing in prime time. The junior tallied 29 points and 6 rebounds, including big time buckets in the clutch to aid his team to victory and a court storm in Winston Salem.
Who’s Not
Miami Hurricanes
The Hurricanes have made the list for back-to-back weeks and for good reason. Miami is currently riding a seven-game losing streak and are struggling severely. After a team that went to the Final Four a year ago, there were big expectations and the hype certainly hasn’t been met. Even with talented players like Wooga Poplar and Norchad Omier the Canes have struggled to get anything going in a disappointing season. The squad is currently 15-14 and third to last in the ACC.
Quinten Post (Boston College)
Post has been the best player for a Boston College team that has hovered around the middle of the pack in the conference for the entirety of the season. The big man is a terrific presence in the paint and makes his living carving out a role close to the basket. He has averaged 15.9 points per game on the season on a 50.7% clip from the field. His past matchup didn’t bode as favorably for the senior, as he recorded 6 points on 20% shooting en route to a loss against NC State.
Top 5 teams going into March
1. North Carolina Tar Heels
Led by veteran leaders in RJ Davis, Armando Bacot and talented transfer Harrison Ingram, UNC has been atop the conference and the country for most of the season and for good reason.
2. Duke Blue Devils
Much like its rival UNC, Duke has the veteran leadership in Jeremy Roach and Kyle Filipowski paired with young talent in Jared McCain. They also have deserved their top spot in the ACC and country for their elite performance.
3. Virginia Cavaliers
You can’t have March without Tony Bennet. Led by a typical Virginia defensive oriented team paired with Reece Beekman, the Cavaliers are for real.
4. Clemson Tigers
PJ Hall paired with a guard tandem of Chase Hunter and Joseph Girard make the Tigers a scary sight to see.
5. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
With one of the hottest guards in the country in Hunter Sallis and a big upset win over Duke that was not given its due recognition, nobody wants to face the rolling Demon Deacons.