Player of the Week:
Charlie Moore, PG, Miami Hurricanes
Moore led the ‘Canes into Cameron Indoor Stadium and helped his team walk out with a win thanks to his late-game heroics. He missed a chunk of time in the second half with foul trouble, but returned just in time to assist a go-ahead three-pointer with 2 minutes to go and convert a layup while being fouled with 33 seconds remaining.
The sixth-year senior finished with 18 points and a more impressive 7 steals in the huge upset win over the Blue Devils. He’s led the team in scoring over the past three games and despite the loss to Florida State on Tuesday, Moore hit a huge go-ahead three-pointer with seven seconds remaining. A controversial foul call on the next possession cost the Hurricanes the game, but their small ball lineup is hitting their stride at just the right time.
Who’s Hot?
Alondes Williams, SG, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Surprise, surprise. Alondes Williams is back on the list among the hottest players in the conference. The Oklahoma transfer is among the most improved players in the entire nation, and he is willing the Demon Deacons to a resurgent campaign. He often showcases his flashy passing to set up his teammates, but he is also a prolific scorer, averaging 20 points per game and coming off back-to-back 25-point outings.
Armando Bacot, C, North Carolina Tar Heels
There are few big men playing at the same level as Armando Bacot over the past few weeks. His latest showing against Virginia was potentially the best of his career as he amassed 29 points and 21 rebounds, both of which are career highs for the junior big man.
The ACC does not have a ton of tall, physical centers like Bacot, so we could see him continue to dominate in this fashion for the rest of conference play. This was his sixth consecutive double-double and the 11th of the season in just 15 games. The Richmond native could be on his way to a unanimous All-ACC First Team selection.
Who’s Not?
RJ Davis, PG, North Carolina Tar Heels
A Tar Heel who is not experiencing the same amount of success lately is the sophomore point guard from New York. It’s not so much a consistent struggle, as he’s played quite well recently, but his performance against Virginia was difficult to enjoy. Davis chucked up 10 shots on the evening, including five from the perimeter, and none of them were able to find the bottom of the net.
It’s always tough to score on the Cavaliers, but an 0-10 display is more than just about good defense. Much like his partner-in-crime in the backcourt, Caleb Love, Davis is enjoying a spectacular bounce-back campaign in his sophomore season and hopefully he will be able to get back to his sharpshooting ways in their next matchup against Georgia Tech this Saturday.
Trevor Keels, SG, #8 Duke Blue Devils
While his shooting performance was not quite as poor as Davis, Trevor Keels also found himself struggling to find the net in their loss to Miami on Saturday. The imposing shooting guard was starting to get back into a rhythm shooting the ball before it all came crashing down in a 2-11 performance against the Hurricanes.
Keels’ impact comes from more than just the offensive end. As a physical guard and a solid defender, he is extremely important to the Blue Devils success even if he is not shooting the ball particularly well. Amidst a shooting slump, it will be important for him to keep his head up and continue to make an impact on the defensive end, as it will be a sign of maturity and perseverance that will go a long way when scouts are compiling their reports this summer on the first-round hopeful.
Freshman of the Week:
AJ Griffin, SF, #8 Duke Blue Devils
The Blue Devils are still trying to find their best lineup and the more AJ Griffin plays, the more it seems like he is part of that best-five. Jon Scheyer felt this same way as interim head coach and plugged him into the starting five in their matchup with Wake Forest.
It was the team’s best performance since they knocked off #1 Gonzaga and Griffin playing 35 minutes cannot be a coincidence. He scored 22 points in the matchup on 8-11 shooting and his emergence as a star for the Devils could put them over the top as a national title contender.
Top 5 Coaches of the Season
1. Jim Larranaga, Miami (FL) Hurricanes
There is plenty of experience on the Hurricanes roster, but there was very little cohesiveness and chemistry heading into the season. This team limped through the first half of the season, but figured it out with nine straight wins before a tough loss in Tallahassee. Larranaga has this team poised for another NCAA Tournament without much size and without any preseason expectations.
2. Mike Krzyzewski, #8 Duke Blue Devils
Coach K is getting plenty of love on his farewell tour, but it’s not his best coaching job in his career. He was defeated at home by Larranaga, which places him just below the Miami head coach on this list. There’s always talent in Durham, but you have to acknowledge the bounce back season Krzyzewski is having after missing the tournament in 2021.
3. Steve Forbes, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
The Deacs are in a bit of a rut as I type this up, but Steve Forbes has this team competing in the ACC in 2022. Alondes Williams is the most improved player in the country and a legitimate candidate for ACC Player of the Year. Forbes must be commended for his work and he gets his deserved recognition here.
4. Mike Brey, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Brey was closer to the hot seat than the top five list before his season-changing win over Kentucky in mid-December. He’s masterful coaching of unheralded recruit Blake Wesley into a potential lottery selection and one of the best freshmen in the country has been remarkable.
5. Hubert Davis, North Carolina Tar Heels
Davis was left some rather large shoes to fill when Roy Williams retired following the 2020-21 season. Things could be going better, but they also could be going a heck of a lot worse. Caleb Love and RJ Davis are developing under his direction and the Heels would look really dangerous if they could put it all together against a top team.