Midseason All-ACC Awards

Posted: February 9, 2008
Updated: February 17, 2008

Now that every ACC team has played at least eight games of the 16-game conference schedule, it's a good time to hand out some midseason awards. The winners in the top three individual categories provide even more evidence of the Triangle as the center of the college basketball universe.

Coach of the Year

Mike Krzyzewski, Duke

It's never easy to remain undefeated in the ACC — since the beginning of the 16-game schedule in 1992, only one team has finished 16-0, and only three have gone 15-1 — and the Blue Devils' start (20-1, 8-0) included road wins against two of the better teams (North Carolina, Maryland) in the conference. Coach K has plenty of quality players on hand this season, but this is not a Duke team that can lean on a first-team All-American or two (think Dawkins, Ferry, Laettner, Hurley, Hill, Brand, Battier, Williams, Redick, etc.) to take the pressure off everyone else. It's a tough, hard-working, smart, unselfish, relentless bunch of players, and those characteristics reflect well on both them and their coaches.

Player of the Year

Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina

In terms of passion, energy, consistent effort and overall toughness, Hansbrough is one of the best players in ACC history. In terms of production, he's clearly the best in the conference this season, and his career numbers put him in some very impressive company. At the halfway point in 2007-08, he leads the league in 20-point games (16), double-doubles (13), scoring (22.1), rebounding (10.7), offensive rebounding (4.1), defensive rebounding (6.6) and free throw attempts (10.2 per game), and he is second in field goal percentage (54.2).

Rookie of the Year

J.J. Hickson, N.C. State

This is a much closer call, but Hickson edges out Wake Forest's James Johnson, Duke's Kyle Singler and Virginia Tech's Jeff Allen in an outstanding freshman class for the ACC. Hickson and Maryland senior James Gist are the only players in the conference who rank in the top 10 in scoring (15.3), rebounding (8.2), field goal percentage (60.6) and blocked shots (1.6). That's extremely efficient, two-way production. Hickson and Johnson are the only freshmen in the conference who serve as their teams' No. 1 options offensively, and that's a big burden to carry, especially for a rookie.

All-ACC First Team

Tyler Hansbrough, Jr., North Carolina
DeMarcus Nelson, Sr., Duke
Ty Lawson, So., North Carolina
Tyrese Rice, Jr., Boston College
Sean Singletary, Sr., Virginia

All-ACC Second Team

Greivis Vasquez, So., Maryland
Greg Paulus, Jr., Duke
James Gist, Sr., Maryland
K.C. Rivers, Jr., Clemson
Deron Washington, Sr., Virginia Tech

All-ACC Third Team

Gavin Grant, Sr., N.C. State
A.D. Vassallo, Jr., Virginia Tech
Jack McClinton, Jr., Miami
J.J. Hickson, Fr., N.C. State
Kyle Singler, Fr., Duke

8 Comments

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Singler should get Rookie of the Year, hands down. Yes, at times Hickson seems to be "the man" for the Wolfpack. But when you look at what Kyle does on a seemingly more talented Duke team that is having such success, his performance stands out. He could get lost in the wave of talent on the Duke team and yet he stands out on a regular basis. He doesn't HAVE to because other players are not stepping up, he just does.

fbguru
February 14, 2008 4:36 p.m.

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great stuff. thanks for reading. a few things:

(1) keep in mind that everything that happens from last weekend forward is irrelevant for purposes of the post. you can argue what a guy did this SEASON to that point, but you can't logically argue what he did Saturday or Sunday or going forward, because that was after my post. as I wrote, a lot of these are really close calls. all of our teams will change with more games, I would hope.

(2) i utilize statistics to some degree, but i've watched a lot of BB and take a lot into consideration. that includes some things ignored by some fans and voters -- especially defense, leadership and intangibles.

(3) as stated in the post, i give a lot of credit for those whose role is as a "main man" rather than a complementary player. the job description of the former is a LOT more difficult than the job description of the latter. to me, that's an important factor in the Singler/Hickson discussion. Hickson is the main man. Singler is complementary.

daveglenn2
February 11, 2008 4:05 p.m.

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Members of the media just do not like Vasquez for whatever reason. Hard for him to get recognized. I don't like a lot of his antics on the court, but the young man can play. First team, at this point. Subject to change.

Beach Music Forever
February 11, 2008 3:14 p.m.

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James Gist: 22 pts 13 rebs Win in Chapel Hill 26 pts vs Duke 30 pts 9 rebs vs. NC State

The man is dominating your state!! 2nd Team --- Think again!!!

crudya09
February 11, 2008 3:07 p.m.

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no way singeltary or rice should be first team in front of Vazquez...he has outplayed them both badly head to head and his numbers are better across the board AND his team wins more.

tonyracine
February 11, 2008 2:52 p.m.

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Lawson, Singletary, and Rice all 1st team over Vasquez? What ACC games have you been watching. General Greivis has abused all 3 in wins and is leading the league in assists. Give the Terps some love.

crudya09
February 11, 2008 2:49 p.m.

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Good post Allison. Glenn is basing it almost totally on stats. Hickson scores more, rebounds more. But Duke is in first place in the conference and State is nowhere to be seen. Appears that Singler is doing a better job. We will see.

Beach Music Forever
February 11, 2008 2:08 p.m.

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I'd have to disagree on the freshman of the year. I think Kyle Singler is a much better player, even if he isn't AS important/crucial to his team's success. I don't know what your criteria was though.