Player of the Week:
Wendell Moore, SG/SF, #7 Duke Blue Devils
There are several stars on the Blue Devils roster, but none are playing as well as Wendell Moore over the last two games. The junior guard led the team in scoring as they managed to hold off Wake Forest and added 16 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists in a dominant win over Florida State on the weekend. Moore’s ability to attack the basket, create for others, combined with his vast improvement from the perimeter (40%) make him an elite wing who can take over the game in a secondary role next to Paolo Banchero.
Who’s Hot?
Keve Aluma, SF/PF, Virginia Tech Hokies
The Hokies are back on the bubble and a lot of this can be attributed to the stellar play late in the season by Aluma. A loss to North Carolina snapped a six-game win streak, but Aluma is now averaging nearly 20 points over the last four games and might be finding his three-point shot that has been non-existent this season.
Jayden Gardner, PF, Virginia Cavaliers
Gardner is another big man playing for a Virginia team who has his team back on the bubble thanks to recent success. The Cavs have won five of six and Gardner is hitting his stride after transferring from East Carolina this offseason.
He has scored in double-figures in his last 10 games and over his last 3 games he is averaging 22 points and 9 rebounds, leading the team in scoring in all those games.
Who’s Not?
Clemson Tigers
Brad Brownell and the Tigers enjoyed a historic season in 2020-21, earning a 7-seed in the NCAA Tournament before losing their first game to Rutgers, but are now tied for last place in the ACC thanks to a demoralizing six-game losing streak. The lone bright spot of the season is the incredible transformation of sophomore forward PJ Hall who improved from 3.5 PPG to 15.5 PPG in his second season at Clemson.
Jeremy Roach, PG, #7 Duke Blue Devils
While the Blue Devils are enjoying a mini win streak at the end of the season, their former five-star point guard was demoted to the bench once again. Trevor Keels is healthy once again, taking Roach’s spot in the starting rotation. The sophomore guard will need to be at his best for the closing stretch of the season if Duke wants to cut down the nets in April.
Freshman of the Week:
Blake Wesley, PG/SG, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The freshman guard was in a bit of a rough patch heading into the week, but he figured things out at just the right time for the Irish. His inconsistency from the perimeter is a major question mark, but he is 12-21 over his last three games, solidifying his team’s status in the NCAA Tournament. He is averaging 21 points, 3 assists and 2 steals per game over this three-game stretch making him our ACC Freshman of the Week.
Top Upcoming Bubble Games Remaining
#7 Duke Blue Devils @ Syracuse Orange, Saturday Feb. 26 at 6 P.M.
If the Orange are able to steal the game above, an even larger opportunity awaits them in Coach K’s last trip to the Carrier Dome. That place will certainly be rocking and if the Orange can get hot a few weeks earlier than usual, maybe they’ll snatch that last 11-seed and reach the second weekend for the second straight season.
Virginia Tech Hokies @ Miami Hurricanes, Saturday Feb. 26 at 3 P.M.
Both teams could desperately need a win here and this is a highly underrated game in an incredible Saturday slate. The Hokies are on the outside looking in, but could sneak into the tournament if they are able to win out and make a run in the conference tournament. This will be a must win on the road and should make for an intense late-season matchup.
North Carolina Tar Heels @ Duke Blue Devils, Saturday March 5 at 6 P.M.
Not that we ever need to hype up college basketball’s greatest rivalry, especially with it being Coach K’s final game at Cameron Indoor, but there are serious NCAA Tournament implications as well. The Tar Heels are far from a lock for the tournament, but a win in this game would do just that and significantly help with their seeding. As we’ve seen all season, the Blue Devils are vulnerable in their home arena, but it will still be a difficult task for Hubert Davis in his first trip in Durham.