Team Capsules (December 6, 2021)
ACC Team Capsules
Duke (7-1, 0-0)
AP Poll - 3rd
KenPom - 7th overall, 11th offensively, 14th defensively
Bracketology - 1 seed vs. Harvard/Norfolk State
Last 3 Games
at (21) Ohio State (L 66-71)
(1) Gonzaga (W 84-81)
(220) The Citadel (W 107-81)
Next 3 Games
Tues, 12/14 - (348) South Carolina State
Thurs, 12/16 - (168) Appalachian State
Sat, 12/18 - (158) Cleveland State
Interesting Statistic
Duke is 2nd in the country in turnover percentage…meaning, per 100 possessions, only one other team (Iowa) turns it over less frequently as Duke.
Notes and Thoughts
Duke picked up a HUGE win in Las Vegas over Gonzaga…but blew a 15+ point lead on the road against Ohio State. While the Blue Devils are still the clear best team in the ACC, the loss to Ohio State showed some weaknesses and took some shine off their aura. The Blue Devils have 3 cupcakes leading up to a 12/22 ACC opener against Virginia Tech. I can only imagine what 15 days of practice without games after a loss to Ohio State will look like for Duke.
North Carolina (6-2, 1-0)
AP Poll - 29th
KenPom - 29th overall, 9th offensively, 82nd defensively
Bracketology - 9 seed vs. Iowa
Last 3 Games
at (89) Georgia Tech (W 79-62)
(16) Michigan (W 72-51)
(272) UNC-Asheville (W 72-53)
Next 3 Games
Sat, Dec 11 vs. (270) Elon
Tues, Dec 14 vs. (115) Furman
Sat, Dec 18 vs. (8) UCLA (Neutral)
Interesting Statistic
UNC is simply not turning other teams over. Out of 358 teams, UNC ranks 349th in defensive turnover percentage.
Notes and Thoughts
UNC is starting to make some moves. After being slandered all season about how bad they were defensively, all of a sudden the Tar Heels have a top-20 win over Michigan and a road conference win at Georgia Tech…both games that were beatdowns. UNC takes on Elon next and has a tough non-conference game against Furman before taking on UCLA.
Virginia Tech (6-3, 0-1)
AP Poll - NR
KenPom - 33rd overall, 36th offensively, 42nd defensively
Bracketology - 8 seed vs. Marquette
Last 3 Games
(31) Xavier (L 58-59)
at (52) Maryland (W 62-58)
(59) Wake Forest (L 61-80)
Next 3 Games
Wed, 12/8 vs. (218) Cornell
Sun, 12/12 at (94) Dayton
Fri, 12/17 vs. (42) St. Bonaventure (NEUTRAL)
Interesting Statistic
Teams are only shooting 23.4% from 3 against the Hokies -good for 3rd in the country.
Notes and Thoughts
The Hokies were beloved by a lot of people before last week. They lost to short-handed Xavier, squeaked by Maryland, and got absolutely smoked by Wake Forest at HOME. The Hokies are about to have some more challenges, with Dayton on the road and St. Bonaventure on the horizon.
Florida State (5-3, 0-1)
AP Poll - NR
KenPom - 36th overall, 65th offensively, 27th defensively
Bracketology - 8 seed vs. Texas Tech
Last 3 Games
(154) Boston University (W 81-80)
at (2) Purdue (L 65-93)
(57) Syracuse (L 60-63)
Next 3 Games
Sun, 12/12 vs. (101) South Carolina (NEUTRAL)
Wed, 12/15 vs. (233) Lipscomb
Sat, 12/18 vs. (55) UCF (NEUTRAL)
Interesting Statistic
The Seminoles are opposite from UNC in forcing turnovers. At 25 turnovers forced per 100 possessions, the Seminoles have the 14th highest forced turnover rate in the country.
Notes and Thoughts
While the Seminoles got handled by Purdue, they did have some bright spots in that game. They still looked like a top team in the ACC. However, they then went and lost to Syracuse at home (first ACC home loss in 25 games) while only allowing Buddy Boeheim to score 6 points. Like most teams in the conference, expect a lot of ups and downs.
Louisville (6-2, 1-0)
AP Poll - NR
KenPom - 39th overall, 86th offensively, 19th defensively
Bracketology - 11 seed vs. USC (last four byes)
Last 3 Games
(52) Maryland (W 63-55) - NEUTRAL
at (23) Michigan State (L 64-73)
at (73) NC State (W 73-68)
Next 3 Games
Fri, 12/10 vs. (103) DePaul
Tues, 12/14 vs. (306) Southeastern Louisiana
Sat, 12/18 vs. (116) Western Kentucky
Interesting Statistic
The Cardinals currently are the 21st best defensive team against 2 point field goal attempts in the country.
Notes and Thoughts
Louisville “kind of” gets a break in their next few games. After taking down Maryland, losing to Michigan State, and then beating NC State in a conference opener…the Cardinals have a schedule that is favorable, but not necessarily guaranteed. DePaul and Western Kentucky are almost top 100 teams.
Virginia (6-3, 1-0)
AP Poll - NR
KenPom - 49th overall, 80th offensively, 50th defensively
Bracketology - “Next Four Out”
Last 3 Games
(309) Lehigh (W 61-43)
(22) Iowa (L 74-75)
(193) Pittsburgh (W 57-56)
Next 3 Games
Tues, 12/7 at (174) James Madison
Sat, 12/18 vs. (323) Fairleigh Dickinson
Wed, 12/22 vs. (51) Clemson
Interesting Statistic
UVA has typically had an elite defense. This year, their defense is currently ranked 50th in the country.
Notes and Thoughts
UVA almost had a 20+ point comeback from Iowa and looked like they were turning the corner. So, we all assumed they’d be just fine against Pittsburgh. But, man, they needed the favors of the basketball gods to pull off a win against lowly Pittsburgh. The Cavaliers have a deceivingly challenging game at James Madison, a cupcake game against Fairleigh Dickinson, and then host the Clemson Tigers right before Christmas.
Notre Dame (3-4, 0-1)
AP Poll - NR
KenPom - 50th overall, 25th offensively, 115th defensively
Bracketology - OUT
Last 3 Games
(63) Texas A&M (L 67-73)
at (18) Illinois (L 72-82)
at (113) Boston College (L 57-73)
Next 3 Games
Sat, 12/11 vs. (17) Kentucky
Sat, 12/18 vs. (30) Indiana (NEUTRAL)
Mon, 12/20 vs. (318) Western Michigan
Interesting Statistic
Notre Dame ranks 355th in the country in 3-point defense.
Notes and Thoughts
Notre Dame is a pretty confusing team so far this season. The Irish had a lot of good hype going into the season, but they’ve been struggling as of late with losses to Texas A&M, Illinois, and a really rough one against Boston College. Guess what? Things aren’t getting any easier as they are hosting Kentucky and then playing Indiana in their next two matchups. Hopefully with some time with Coach Brey in practice, the Irish will get on board.
Clemson (5-4, 0-1)
AP Poll - NR
KenPom - 51st overall, 49th offensively, 73rd defensively
Bracketology - OUT
Last 3 Games
(345) Charleston Southern (W 91-59)
at (100) Rutgers (L 64-74)
at (95) Miami (L 75-80)
Next 3 Games
Sat, 12/11 vs. (69) Drake - NEUTRAL
Tues, 12/14 vs. (123) Miami OH
Sat, 12/18 vs. (101) South Carolina
Interesting Statistic
Something pretty much out of their control…but only one team in the country has teams shooting better at the free throw line than Clemson (that team is Green Bay). Teams are shooting at an astounding 80.9 percent from the foul line against the Tigers.
Notes and Thoughts
Clemson is another team that is slowly sliding. They’ve lost two rough road games against Rutgers and Miami. They play a top-75 team in Drake this weekend, a Miami (OH) team that beat Pitt earlier this year, and an almost top-100 team in South Carolina in their next 3 games. These are all games the Tigers SHOULD win…but we will learn a lot about them in the process.
Syracuse (5-3, 1-0)
AP Poll - NR
KenPom - 57th overall, 17th offensively, 156th defensively
Bracketology - OUT
Last 3 Games
(14) Auburn (L 68-89)
(30) Indiana (W 112-110)
at (36) Florida State (W 63-60)
Next 3 Games
Tues, 12/7 vs. (6) Villanova - NEUTRAL
Sat, 12/11 at (117) Georgetown
Sat, 12/18 vs. (309) Lehigh
Interesting Statistic
Syracuse has the 17th best offense…and the 156th best defense…in the country.
Notes and Thoughts
Do Syracuse fans ever relax? They are just all over the place all the time. They were pounded by Auburn, beat Indiana in double overtime, and then snapped Florida State’s 25 game home ACC win streak. And now they have Villanova in Madison Square Garden followed by a road game at rival Georgetown. The Orange are still trying to find themselves defensively.
Wake Forest (8-1, 1-0)
AP Poll - NR
KenPom - 59th overall, 58th offensively, 74th defensively
Bracketology - NA
Last 3 Games
(15) LSU (L 61-75)
(37) Northwestern (W 77-73, OT)
at (33) Virginia Tech (W 80-61)
Next 3 Games
Sat, 12/11 vs. (332) USC Upstate
Tues, 12/14 vs. (242) VMI
Fri, 12/17 vs. (230) Charlotte
Interesting Statistic
The Demon Deacons are shooting at a high clip this year. They currently have the 11th best effective field goal percentage in the country.
Notes and Thoughts
Okay, okay. I was hard on Wake Forest and their disgustingly cupcake schedule. However, the Demon Deacons have been impressive as of late. They earned 2 top-50 wins against Northwestern and darling Virginia Tech. They return to the cupcake slate for the next few weeks before conference play kicks up. I’m interested in seeing how Wake Forest looks as the season progresses.
N.C. State (6-2, 0-1)
AP Poll - NR
KenPom - 73rd overall, 54th offensively, 101st defensively
Bracketology - NA
Last 3 Games
(86) Louisiana Tech (W 90-81)
(103) Nebraska (W 104-100, 4OT)
(39) Louisville (L 68-73)
Next 3 Games
Thurs, 12/9 vs. (353) Bethune Cookman
Sun, 12/12 vs. (2) Purdue - NEUTRAL
Fri, 12/17 vs. (61) Richmond - NEUTRAL
Interesting Statistic
The Wolfpack are in the top ten in the country in steal percentage. Over 100 possessions, they are average 6.3 steals.
Notes and Thoughts
The Wolfpack had a crazy win over Nebraska, but followed it up with a loss to Louisville. Things don’t get too much easier for State as they soon face juggernaut Purdue and top-75 Richmond (both on neutral sites)
Georgia Tech (5-3, 0-1)
AP Poll - NR
KenPom - 88th overall, 85th offensively, 91st defensively
Bracketology - NA
Last 3 Games
(214) Georgia Southern (W 61-59)
(27) Wisconsin (L 66-70)
(29) UNC (L 62-79)
Next 3 Games
Sat, 12/11 vs. (15) LSU - NEUTRAL
Sat, 12/18 vs. (11) USC - NEUTRAL
Tues, 12/21 vs. (126) Georgia State
Interesting Statistic
The Yellow Jackets are shooting it well from 3 at 40.3 percent. That ranks 19th in the entire country.
Notes and Thoughts
Boy, oh boy, it’s about to get real for the Yellow Jackets. After tough losses to Wisconsin and UNC, they face two top-15 teams in LSU and USC on neutral sites. They follow THAT game by the Georgia State Championship game against Georgia State.
Miami (6-3, 1-0)
AP Poll - NR
KenPom - 95th overall, 56th offensively, 152nd defensively
Bracketology - OUT
Last 3 Games
(9) Alabama (L 64-96)
at (91) Penn State (W 63-58)
(51) Clemson (W 80-75)
Next 3 Games
Wed, 12/18 vs. (233) Lipscomb
Sun, 12/12 vs. (219) Fordham
Mon, 12/20 vs. (238) Stetson
Interesting Statistic
Miami is 335th in the country at defending the 3. They are 254th offensively from 3. Not a good mix.
Notes and Thoughts
I wish Miami wasn’t going into cupcake mode (games against Lipscomb, Fordham, Stetson), after getting some quality wins against Penn State and Clemson. They seem to be finding themselves.
Boston College (6-3, 1-0)
AP Poll - NR
KenPom - 113th overall, 121st offensively, 104th defensively
Bracketology - OUT
Last 3 Games
(344) Columbia (W 73-60)
(235) South Florida (W 64-49)
(50) Notre Dame (W 73-57)
Next 3 Games
Sat, 12/11 at (89) Saint Louis
Mon, 12/13 vs. (312) Albany
Wed, 12/22 at (59) Wake Forest
Interesting Statistic
The Eagles are great at keeping teams off the offensive glass - ranking in at 13th in the country.
Notes and Thoughts
I think Boston College is going to be tough as the season progresses…even though they’re ranked low on KenPom right now. They need to have a great next few weeks with games against Saint Louis and Wake Forest. I will be tuning into the Wake-BC game.
Pittsburgh (2-6, 0-1)
AP Poll - NR
KenPom - 192nd overall, 219th offensively, 166th defensively
Bracketology - OUT
Last 3 Games
(198) UMBC (L 52-68)
(90) Minnesota (L 53-54)
at (49) UVA (L 56-57)
Next 3 Games
Thurs, 12/9 vs. (132) Colgate
Sun, 12/12 vs. (143) Monmouth
Sat, 12/18 at (68) St. John’s
Interesting Statistic
A few teams that currently rank ahead of Pitt - Cal State Fullerton, Montana, New Hampshire, Northern Colorado, Bowling Green (and more)
Notes and Thoughts
Sigh. Pittsburgh. They are two possessions away from two big wins and some big-time movement in the rankings. I do believe they will steal a few wins as the season goes forward.