ACC basketball: Virginia, FSU rising to top in 2020-21

We’re halfway via the 2020–21 faculty basketball frequent season, and convention play is effectively underway in each place in the nation. As teams jockey for location every in their very possess league standings and for NCAA tournament seeding, Sports actions Illustrated is checking in on the seven main conferences in men’s faculty hoops (American, ACC, Extensive 12, Extensive East, Extensive Ten, Pac-12 and SEC) this week to mediate where every stands and the plan it has fashioned up in contrast with preseason expectations.

We have already finished the American, Extensive East and Extensive 12; subsequent is the ACC.

Order of the convention

It’s varied. And positively no longer dominant. There is now not any ACC crew in essentially the most up-to-date AP top 10, and factual three are ranked at all (Virginia, Clemson and Virginia Tech), a designate that the league is underperforming to date on this chaotic season. Namely, Tobacco Avenue is no longer pulling its load—Duke and North Carolina are every outdoors the tip 25 at the an analogous time for essentially the most well-known time since December 1982. (The blueblood malaise is all over; Kentucky has a dropping epic and Kansas is three games within the serve of Baylor within the Extensive 12.) Then again, this must serene no longer be considered as a ravishing vogue: The Blue Devils got here into the season ranked ninth and the Tar Heels 16th; no one changed into looking ahead to banner seasons from these two. Given essentially the most most up-to-date ends within the league, Virginia and Florida Order might perchance well maybe very effectively be ready to separate themselves from a sprawling pack.

Greatest shock: Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech is 11–2 overall, 5–1 within the league, with wins over Villanova, Clemson and Duke. Apt about each person would give 2d-300 and sixty five days coach Mike Young the Coach of the Yr award at this level. The Hokies were picked to achieve 11th by the media within the preseason, coming off a 16–16 300 and sixty five days when they lost 11 of their closing 13 games. Nonetheless Young retooled the lineup with a few transfers added to the frontcourt in 6′ 9″, 235-pound Keve Aluma (from Wofford, Young’s prior conclude) and 6′ 7″, 230-pound Justyn Mutts (Delaware). Excellent 300 and sixty five days, Tech changed into 347th nationally in free throw price; this 300 and sixty five days it is 70th. “His crew has gotten grand greater since closing 300 and sixty five days,” says Wake Wooded space coach Steve Forbes, noting seriously the elevated muscle within the lineup. “He’s getting guys on the crew that care about successful and no longer about themselves.”

Greatest disappointment: Syracuse

Syracuse changed into picked to achieve sixth preseason but presently is in 10th location at 2–3 within the league, 7–4 overall. For the time being, the Orange is 1–4 in opposition to teams within the Ken Pomeroy top 90. And here’s the contaminated news: Every final opponent but one is ranked within the tip 90. A crew that changed into supposed to be constructed spherical its three-level shooters is making factual 32.2% from outdoors the arc, and no one is struggling more from deep than coach’s son Buddy Boeheim (29.4%, along with a 0-for-8 sport in opposition to Pittsburgh on Saturday). Syracuse hasn’t been a nationwide contender since 2014, which changed into additionally the closing time the Orange were seeded greater than eighth within the NCAA tournament. The program appears to be like adore it is fading into obsolescence in Jim Boeheim’s coaching twilight.

The unusual popular: Virginia

Virginia placed on opinion to be one of essentially the most dominant performances of the season Saturday, mauling a extraordinarily decent Clemson crew 85–50 and running its epic to 5–0 within the league. “Virginia might perchance well maybe be pleased overwhelmed Gonzaga Saturday,” says Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner. Capturing 15 for 27 from three and 19 for 29 from two isn’t going to occur every sport—but given the manner the Cavaliers guard, it doesn’t be pleased to. Senior 7-footer Jay Huff is taking part in essentially the most efficient ball of his profession, junior Kihei Clark is the heady level guard Tony Bennett continuously appears to be like to be pleased and Marquette switch Sam Hauser is the offensive distinction-maker Bennett well-known.

MORE: How High ACC Contenders Stack Up Nationally

The conclude challenger: Florida Order

FSU (8–2, 4–1) is the crew simplest equipped to instruct Virginia. Since dropping at Clemson on Dec. 29, the Seminoles be pleased dispatched North Carolina Order, North Carolina and Louisville with ease. Leonard Hamilton has a deep oldschool solid led by M.J. Walker (14.9 sides per sport), but additionally a touch of phenom superstar vitality in 6′ 9″ freshman level guard Scottie Barnes (11 sides, four rebounds, crew highs of three.7 assists and 1.6 steals). If Barnes raises his sport down the stretch, the Seminoles might perchance well maybe scoot a excellent distance. Circle Feb. 15 on the calendar; that’s when Virginia will technique to Tallahassee.

Gloomy horse: Clemson

As contaminated as Clemson appeared Saturday in opposition to Virginia, the Tigers (9–2, 3–2) are serene a top quality crew with a solid résumé up to this level—they’ve overwhelmed Purdue, Maryland, Alabama and Florida Order. They contemptible forward of Virginia in defensive efficiency, per Pomeroy, which might perchance perchance serve overcome some every so continually fickle shooting. The closing half of of the league time table fashions up very effectively: six dwelling games and three on the avenue, and the games away from Clemson are all winnable (Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Wake Wooded space).

NCAA tournament outlook

In 2021, the ACC has ceded convention supremacy to the Extensive Ten—but this league serene will populate a excellent percentage of the Extensive Dance bracket. How far they scoot might perchance maybe be the request. Virginia is trending unswerving into a top-16 seed and can switch up into competition for a No. 1 seed forward of all is stated and finished. Florida Order might perchance well maybe make a high seed as effectively. After that, quiz the ACC to do away with loads of center ground within the seedings. What number of technique to the Sweet 16 and beyond it will perchance be the measuring stick for the manner grand of a down 300 and sixty five days this is in a league that has attach 5 teams within the closing 5 Excellent Fours.