Just-For-Fun Midseason All-ACC

Posted: February 2, 2007
Updated: February 5, 2007

With nine ACC basketball teams at or beyond the midway point of the 16-game conference schedule, and with the other three teams set to reach that mark this weekend, now is a good time for some just-for-fun midseason All-ACC nominations.

The envelope, please:

Coach of the Year

Seth Greenberg, Virginia Tech

Other viable candidates: Al Skinner (Boston College), Dave Leitao (Virginia), Oliver Purnell (Clemson).

Comment: This is a wide-open race. Every time you pick your favorite, he loses a game or two. As a rule of thumb, voters (including this one) for the actual award in March will look for the biggest overachiever, or someone who helps his team overcome a lot of adversity. Anything can happen here.

Player of the Year

Jared Dudley, Sr., Boston College

First-Team All-ACC

Jared Dudley, Sr., Boston College
Tyler Hansbrough, So., North Carolina
Al Thornton, Sr., Florida State
Sean Singletary, Jr., Virginia
Zabian Dowdell, Sr., Virginia Tech

Second-Team All-ACC

J.R. Reynolds, Sr., Virginia
Josh McRoberts, So., Duke
James Mays, Jr., Clemson
Tyrese Rice, So., Boston College
Ben McCauley, So., N.C. State

Third-Team All-ACC

DeMarcus Nelson, Jr., Duke
Sean Marshall, Sr., Boston College
Brandan Wright, Fr., North Carolina
Kyle Visser, Sr., Wake Forest
(any suggestions?)

Other viable candidates: Jamon Gordon, Sr., Virginia Tech; Brandon Costner, Fr., N.C. State; James Gist, Jr., Maryland; D.J. Strawberry, Sr., Maryland; Ty Lawson, Fr., North Carolina; K.C. Rivers, So., Clemson; Thaddeus Young, Fr., Georgia Tech; Jack McClinton, So., Miami; Toney Douglas, So., Florida State; Jason Rich, Jr., Florida State.

Comment: My top five isn't likely to change — Reynolds has by far the best shot of making the leap from the second team — but everything else is up for grabs. Regarding POY: Dudley ranks first in the ACC in minutes per game (38.4), first in rebounding (8.7), second in scoring (18.9), fourth in field goal percentage (56.6), seventh in free throw percentage (76.6) and 10th in steals (1.5). If he had enough attempts, he also would lead the conference in three-point percentage (46.8 on 22-47). Nobody in the ACC does more positive things for his team. Also: McCauley may not get as much support from others, but he's one of those guys whose value extends far beyond his mere statistics, which are pretty good.

Rookie of the Year

Brandan Wright, North Carolina

First-Team All-Rookie

Brandan Wright, North Carolina
Brandon Costner, N.C. State
Ty Lawson, North Carolina
Thaddeus Young, Georgia Tech
Wayne Ellington, North Carolina

Second-Team All-Rookie

Jon Scheyer, Duke
Javaris Crittenton, Georgia Tech
Trevor Booker, Clemson
Ish Smith, Wake Forest
Shamari Spears, Boston College

Other viable candidates: Eric Hayes, Maryland; Greivis Vasquez, Maryland; Dwayne Collins, Miami; Jamie Skeen, Wake Forest; L.D. Williams, Wake Forest.

Comment: The ROY vote likely will come down to Wright, Costner and Lawson, and there's still time for someone from the second team to jump onto the first team. Nobody can beat Costner's pure numbers, but Wright is a more efficient and more consistent two-way player. Extrapolating his numbers to Costner's much heavier playing time, Wright would be averaging almost 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Wow.

15 Comments

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That's a fair point (fatigue), Papa. It's a tough balance. You want to reward those who are performing well in an extraordinary amount of minutes (e.g. Dudley, Costner), but you don't want to penalize those (e.g. Wright) who are playing a lot fewer minutes — and doing so very well — simply because they play on an extremely deep and talented team that blows out many opponents and thus doesn't need them for nearly as much time on the floor.

daveglenn2
February 6, 2007 9:52 a.m.

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DG - Wright may be more efficient than Costner, but toward the end of the game he's probably a lot fresher too. Would he be as efficient as Cosner with the extended playing time? Would Costner be more efficient with a little more rest?

PS - how much do you think the win Saturday will help NCSU recruiting? I notice that a linebacker the football team has been recruiting attended the NCSU - UNC game while on his official visit, and then promptly commited to the Wolfpack. I'm sure that's not the primary reason he commited, but from his quotes it didn't sound like it hurt any either!

- Papa

Michael Kenyon
February 5, 2007 11:56 a.m.

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I think Roy and K are done for coach of the year, if for no other reason than the high expectations they started with. Nobody (other than State fans) had any expectations for Sid and the seven dwarves. Picked for last place, I think that _IF_ NC State finishes in the top half of the ACC, that Sid should be in contention for coach of the year. Not a lock by any means, but depending on how the other teams do, he should be considered.

I think Costner is an excellent choice for unfilled third team spot.

I think McCauley should be picked as vocalist of the year. My favorite picture from Saturday's game is one of McCauley letting loose with a yell, and a very confused looking UNC player staring at him {:*)

Michael Kenyon
February 5, 2007 11:46 a.m.

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Costner probably would be my other pick for the third team right now as well. His overall numbers are awesome for a freshman, and his rebounding in particular has been outstanding.

daveglenn2
February 5, 2007 10:54 a.m.

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How about Brandon Costner for 3rd team all ACC?

hball57
February 5, 2007 9:41 a.m.

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Any of the three Triangle coaches would need a GREAT second half to even get serious consideration for the ACC coach of the year award. Right now, they're not viable candidates, and Al Skinner (BC), Seth Greenberg (VT) and Dave Leitao (UVa) deserve most of the attention. These things can change quickly, of course, so we'll see....

daveglenn2
February 5, 2007 9:31 a.m.

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ok, can someone please tell me why in the world is everyone saying that sidney low should be coach of the year?and i dont even think roy should be coach of the year because we allknew he was going to have a good year. i really think that coach k should be considered because he lost so much fire power but yet still be in the top 10.

romeopm
February 4, 2007 10:59 p.m.

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Oh, if NC State ends up in the top half of the final standings, I think Sidney will be a valid candidate for coach of the year.

Michael Kenyon
February 4, 2007 5:43 p.m.

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I'm thinking McCauley needs to be bumped up to first team. Yesterday, when I invited my friends & neighbors to watch the game with me (Carolina fans all) I told them to keep an eye on McCauley because he was entertaining. I had the wonderful opportunity of reminding them of that several times during the game.

They kept asking why Carolina was shooting so poorly until I reminded them that it was only the second time all season that they'd seen defense.

I think McCauley's every-game hustle and 6 for 6 from the line bumps him to first team.

Michael Kenyon
February 4, 2007 5:41 p.m.

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At this point, neither Williams nor Lowe is a great candidate for ACC coach of the year. Even Greenberg (my actual selection at the midway point) is losing traction. Someone will rise out of the pack in the second half. POY and ROY are up in the air, too, although BC's Jared Dudley had yet another outstanding all-around game yesterday.

daveglenn2
February 4, 2007 10:00 a.m.

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