With 2023 coming to a close, the college basketball fanbase has got its first taste of the ACC for the 2023-2024 season. There have been plenty of teams and players within the conference that have performed well along with being disappointing to start the campaign. Here is how the start of the campaign has shaped up around the conference.
Best Player: PJ Hall (Clemson)
Hall and Clemson have been one of the biggest surprises as the season is now in full swing. The center was on the verge of declaring for the NBA Draft a season ago, but opted to return to Clemson for his senior year. The decision so far has paid dividends as he is looking like a superstar and been an X-factor for the Tigers. The Spartanburg, South Carolina, native has poured it on and has been averaging 22.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 2 steals at the conclusion of the year. A proven two-way playmaker, Hall has looked impressive through the first stretch.
Best Team: Clemson Tigers
Paired with Hall being the best player, the Tigers have looked unstoppable to start the season. While their play may be a surprise to some, it was never in question for the orange and white as it has dominated the first portion of the season. Being just short of making March Madness last season, Clemson is out on a revenge tour and its 11-1 record and first place spot showcases the talent the squad has. The No. 16 team in the nations has netted impressive wins over units such as Alabama, Memphis and South Carolina and look to keep it rolling.
Disappointing Player: Baba Miller (Florida State)
Miller is a tremendous athlete who was on the radar of NBA scouts a season ago. He was receiving some draft hype coming out of his freshman season due to the incredible upside in the flashes that he had shown. Still considered to be a raw prospect for the league, Miller decided to return to Florida State for his sophomore season. While the numbers have gone up slightly, the uber-athletic forward still has a lot to prove. Through the first group of games he averaged just 7.5 points and 4.9 rebounds. His efficiency from 3-point range and the foul line has not been great either as he posts a 32.3% clip from downtown and 42.9% rate from the charity stripe.
Disappointing Team: Louisville Cardinals
The Cardinals have been at the bottom of not only the ACC in recent years, but at the bottom of Power 5 conference squads. With the departure of Rick Pitino, the program has struggled to get back to the “Blue Blood” status it has maintained for so long and the culture around the team’s historic success. The squad was 5-7 at the end of the 2023, and was last place in the conference. They hold really bad losses to squads such as Coppin State, Arkansas State and Chattanooga. While Skyy Clark has been terrific, he hasn’t been enough to keep Louisville out of its pitiful state.
Top 3 NBA Draft Prospects
1. Wooga Poplar (Miami)
Poplar returned to Coral Gables with an expanded role in store, and has delivered. One of the best shooters in the country, the guard is able to pour in shots at a moments notice. He is averaging 16.2 points per game while boasting a ridiculous 50% mark from 3-point range.
2. Carlton Carrington (Pitt)
“Bub” has been one of the biggest surprises and risers with his play. The guard has proven to be an all-around threat and is a weapon on the offensive end. The 3-level scorer is averaging 14.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game becoming a bonafide playmaker.
3. Kyle Filipowski (Duke)
Deciding to return to Duke for his sophomore campaign, Filipowski has been nothing short of dominant in year two. The center has been averaging 18 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2 blocks per game as he headlines this talented Blue Devil squad. The 7-footer is looking like a lock for a lottery pick.
ame.