Even at a slower point of the basketball schedule — during exams, prior to full conference chaos — things are still hectic. In an effort to sort things out, here are this week’s ACC Basketball Power Rankings.
No. 1 Louisville
Prior to the start of the season, one of the biggest question marks in the ACC centered on the point guard position at Louisville: who would replace Christen Cunningham? For most of the season, that’s been Darius Perry, with contributions from Fresh Kimble; however, it’s worth keeping an eye on David Johnson.
The freshman guard has played just 47 minutes this season, but he has great size and athletic bounce. Johnson had turnover issues against Eastern Kentucky, but he handles the ball confidently, and he as the ability to collapse a defense with a strong drive.
In the second half against EKU, Chris Mack ran with a lineup of Johnson, Ryan McMahon, Jordan Nwora, Dwayne Sutton and Malik Williams. (Williams is playing excellent basketball at the moment, by the way.) In the span of 2.5 minutes (+6), that five-man unit scored 10 points on four possessions (2-of-3 3PA).
Johnson has the potential to be a game-changer for the Cardinals. Louisville has serious talent in the frontcourt, but — with the exception of Dwayne Sutton — those guys are mostly finishers. That’s especially true of Nwora and Steven Enoch.
Jordan Nwora is a great player, obviously, but he struggles when tasked with creating his own shot (or for others). Louisville runs good half-court offense that helps to generate efficient looks; transition offense plays a role here, too. However, at the risk of getting too far ahead, if Johnson can generate open shots simply off of his dribble, then he becomes an important ceiling-raiser for Louisville.
No. 2 Duke
So far this season, Vernon Carey Jr. has been an absolute bull for Duke. The freshman big, who ranks 12th nationally in defensive rebound rate (30.3 percent), is one of three players in the country with a usage rate of 30 percent and an offensive rebound rate of 12 percent.
In the half court, Duke targets VCJ as much as possible — usually 1-5 pick-and-roll with Tre Jones or high-low action from a horns set.
Carey is built to run opponents over in the post, but there’s more to his interior offense. VCJ has quick feet and catches the ball ready to do damage. Carey can play above the rim, too, but if he’s able to drop that right shoulder, it’s all over.
Carey is also drawing fouls at an insane rate. According to KenPom, VCJ (76 FTA) draws 8.9 fouls per 40 minutes, which ranks No. 1 nationally. That’s a larger rate than other recent Duke post talents, too: Jahlil Okafor (5.3), Marvin Bagley (5.6) and Zion Williamson (5.9).
No. 3 Virginia
Mamadi Diakite is in some excellent company when it comes to blocking shots and shooting from the perimeter. Diakite is one of six players in the country — along with Obi Toppin and Kaleb Wesson, fellow NBA prospects — shooting above 40 percent on 3-pointers (minimum 20 3PA), with a block rate of five percent, too.
No. 4 Florida State
Devin Vassell continues to solidify his status as one of the top 3-and-D prospects for the 2020 NBA Draft class. Vassell (12.4 points per game) is one of only three players in the country shooting over 40 percent on 3-pointers (13-of-29 3PA), with a steal rate of three percent and a block rate of three percent.
No. 5 NC State
Even before his late-game heroics in the road win over UNC Greensboro, Markell Johnson had things going for NC State. Johnson got downhill against a tough Spartans defense, knifing into the paint (4-of-5 FGA at the rim) and creating efficient offense.
The game winner from Markell Johnson. pic.twitter.com/Fph7fsKBjm
— Technician Sports (@TechSports) December 15, 2019
When the hesitation move (one of Johnson’s favorites) is humming and he’s finishing through contract, you know Johnson is feeling good. The win over UNC Greensboro marked the second straight game that Johnson got loose out of NC State’s screen-roll action — both in the Piedmont Triad.
The Wolfpack can function with a more play-making equity on offense this season, thanks to CJ Bryce, Jericole Hellems and Devon Daniels. However, Johnson is still top dog for NC State’s offense: 25.6 percent usage rate, 32.8 percent assist rate, both tops on the roster, by a lot. And when Johnson plays to his full potential, he has the ability to generate a good look every time down the floor.
No. 6 North Carolina
Through the first 10 games of the season, UNC has just two individual outings with an effective shooting rate above 50 percent: Notre Dame and Gardner Webb — both wins. Unfortunately, North Carolina has yet to put a game together with an effective shooting clip of at least 50 percent and a turnover rate under 20 percent.
As of right now, North Carolina ranks outside the top 300 nationally in effective shooting (44.1 eFG%), 3-point percentage (28.7 3P%, down from 36.2 3P% a season ago) and free throw percentage (63.2 FG%). The perimeter shooting of Coby White and Cameron Johnson — the best movement shooter in college hoops last season — is deeply missed.
Two-point and three-point percentages for all 32 teams when Roy Williams has been a head coach
🚨incomplete sample this season 🚨
*however*
😳2019-20 team is almost falling off the page bad 🧐
Tar Heels have made
📉44.6% from two
📉28.7% from three
📉63.2% from the foul line pic.twitter.com/ko49a8Rf6I— Dadgum Box Scores (@dadgumboxscores) December 16, 2019
UNC is also playing at a slightly slower pace, overall (16.1 seconds per offensive possession), and assisting on fewer of its made field goals: 54.3 percent. Finding some sort of scoring production on the offensive glass (37.5 percent rebound rate) is absolutely imperative at the moment.
No. 7 Virginia Tech
Last week, from the confines of The Cassell, Virginia Tech feasted on two lesser opponents: wins over Chattanooga and Gardner Webb. Landers Nolley was a major factor in the win over Gardner Webb: 18 points (five 3-pointers), nine rebounds and three assists.
Nolley has an effective shooting rate of 71.7 percent on catch-and-shoot attempts this season, which is sizzling. According to Synergy Sports, that’s fifth best in the ACC among players with at least 50 field goal attempts.
On the first offensive possession of the game against GW, Nolley received a juicy catch-and-shoot look off some roll/replace action from a horns set.
No. 8 Pittsburgh
With a high turnover rate (20.4 percent) and bricky perimeter shooting (0.80 points per spot-up possession), Pittsburgh’s offense has, unfortunately, slumped at times this season. However, this is one of my favorite half-court sets in the ACC this season. It’s used by the Panthers to get Xavier Johnson going to the rim.
After bringing the ball up the floor, Johnson drops it off to Trey McGowens and starts to run toward the baseline. Johnson runs off a baseline screen and then sprints into a DHO with Ryan Murphy, followed by a ball screen from Eric Hamilton (61 2P%).
As Hamilton rolls to the rim, Au’Diese Toney lifts up and replaces above the break. This is uptempo, side-to-side action (similar to Purdue’s speed pindowns) that loosens up the middle of the floor and puts Johnson (six assists per 40 minutes) in position to unlock a defense.
No. 9 Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s weekend win over UCLA was a classic Mike Brey-coached performance; the Irish turned the ball over just six times (nine percent turnover rate), assisted on 15 of 24 field goals (62.5 percent assist rate) and scored over 1.1 points per possession.
Freedom to play.#RunItBack pic.twitter.com/MqZPtC6YHD
— Notre Dame MBB (@NDmbb) December 15, 2019
Obviously, this isn’t a vintage UCLA team, but that’s still a nice non-conference win for Notre Dame.
No. 10 Syracuse
Syracuse suffered its worst defensive performance of the season against Georgetown. The Hoyas drained 11 3-pointers and attempted 31 free throws, which helped produce an offensive output of 1.22 points per possession.
Georgetown also crushed Syracuse on the glass: 14 offensive rebounds, good for an offensive rebound rate of nearly 37 percent.
No. 11 Boston College
Steffon Mitchell continues his work as one of the most diverse talents in the ACC. A rugged rebounder and defender, Mitchell is the only player in the conference with a defensive rebound rate of 18 percent, a block rate of three percent and a steal rate of three percent. He’s one of the primary reasons BCs defense ranks top 20 nationally in both steal rate and opponent turnover rate.
No. 12 Wake Forest
While playing without Olivier Sarr (concussion protocol), Wake Forest still managed to come together for one of the (few) signature victories of the Danny Manning era. Hats off to the Demon Deacons, though. This was a strong offensive outing, led by Brandon Childress (22 points, 10-of-12 FTA) and Chaundee Brown (26 points, 7-of-8 FGA at the rim).
Wake's Chaundee Brown named the ACC player of the week.
Junior guard scored a career-high 26 points on 11-16 shooting, with 6 rebounds, in the Deacs' only game of the week — an 80-78 win over No. 23 Xavier on Saturday.
— Conor O'Neill (@ConorONeillWSJ) December 16, 2019
Overall, Wake Forest went 15-of-22 on attempts at the rim (68.2 FG%) and scored 1.06 points per possession. That may not seem like lighting the world on fire, but in terms of points per possession, this was Xavier’s worst game of the season.
No. 13 Georgia Tech
Winning at Kentucky is never easy, which is exactly what Georgia Tech found out on Saturday — a 67-53 loss at Rupp Arena. Going up against his former boss, John Calipari, Josh Paster’s club posted a turnover rate above 25 percent and shot under 28 percent on its 3-point attempts (5-of-18 3PA). As a result, the Yellow Jackets scored a measly 0.79 points per possession — for the second straight game.
Maxey on-ball defense pic.twitter.com/phQZskMfbU
— ☕️ (@SpainPnR) December 15, 2019
Tyrese Maxey was everywhere defensively for Kentucky — fighting over screens and making life miserable for Georgia Tech’s Michael Devoe (5 points, 0-of-5 3PA). The same could be said for Ashton Hagans: two steals and a hounding defensive effort.
Georgia Tech is a pretty good team; however, without Jose Alvarado, an offense that was already lacking verve simply doesn’t have enough play-making punch.
No. 14 Miami
Chris Lykes is the engine of Miami’s offense; however, DJ Vasiljevic has played a major role this season, too. Vasiljevic ranks inside the top 20 nationally in 3-point shooting (51.8 3P%, 56 3PA), effective shooting (70.2 eFG%) and true shooting (71.8 TS%).
Miami, once up 27, escapes with an 81-79 win at Illinois. 27 for Chris Lykes, 20 for DJ Vasiljevic.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) December 3, 2019
According to Synergy, Vasiljevic ranks 11th nationally in spot-up efficiency as well: 1.53 points per possession — just behind Louisville’s Ryan McMahon (1.57 points per possession).
No. 15 Clemson
Clemson scored a season-low 0.76 points per possession in its loss to South Carolina; the Tigers managed to shoot just 5-of-18 on 2-point attempts (27.8 2P%) while also turning the ball over 22 times — good for a turnover rate of 31 percent. Not great.
Gamecocks win it, 67-54.
We're back in LJC on Friday at 9pm as we host Jacksonville. pic.twitter.com/Fobk0sb4QO
— Clemson Basketball (@ClemsonMBB) December 16, 2019
Contributor Rankings
| David Glenn | Brian Geisinger | Josh Graham | Consensus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville | Louisville | Louisville | Louisville |
| 2 | Duke | Duke | Duke | Duke |
| 3 | Virginia | Virginia | Virginia | Virginia |
| 4 | Florida State | Florida State | Florida State | Florida State |
| 5 | NC State | NC State | NC State | NC State |
| 6 | UNC | UNC | Virginia Tech | UNC |
| 7 | Virginia Tech | Notre Dame | Pitt | Virginia Tech |
| 8 | Pitt | Virginia Tech | UNC | Pitt |
| 9 | Notre Dame | Syracuse | Boston College | Notre Dame |
| 10 | Syracuse | Pitt | Notre Dame | Syracuse |
| 11 | Boston College | Miami | Georgia Tech | Boston College |
| 12 | Wake Forest | Georgia Tech | Syracuse | Wake Forest |
| 13 | Miami | Wake Forest | Wake Forest | Georgia Tech |
| 14 | Georgia Tech | Clemson | Miami | Miami |
| 15 | Clemson | Boston College | Clemson | Clemson |