Former UNC star slams ACC basketball compared to SEC: 'It's never a break'

Former UNC Tar Heels star forward Garrison Brooks is now playing college basketball at Mississippi State. With experience now both in the ACC and the SEC, Brooks believes that there is a big difference between the two.

Brooks compared the current SEC to how the ACC was in basketball during the 2018-2019 season. While making that comparison, he took a huge shot at the ACC.

“I’d compare the SEC to that right now,” Brooks said, via the News & Observer. “Of course, I don’t think we’ll have three No. 1 seeds, but it’s just the mere fact of you got some really good teams and the teams in the middle are like tournament teams. It’s never a break. It’s never like you can catch a breath against, say, for instance, from the ACC, a Boston College type.”

While Brooks was part of some good UNC teams, he was also part of two disappointing Tar Heels squads. During his freshman season, Brooks and UNC were a two seed in the NCAA Tournament, losing in the second round against Texas A&M. In 2019, they were a one seed and made it to the Sweet 16. The Tar Heels had a losing record in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, and UNC lost in the first round in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

This season, Brooks’ sentiment is backed up. The SEC is loaded, with a bunch of projected NCAA Tournament teams. There are four teams (Auburn, Kentucky, Tennessee, LSU) currently ranked in the SEC, compared to just one (Duke) in the ACC. The SEC has quality teams throughout the conference, and many other teams will likely make the tournament at season’s end.

Brooks played a big role for UNC

As a true freshman, Brooks played in 37 games with 16 starts for UNC. He averaged 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. The next season, he started all 36 games, scoring 7.9 points and grabbing 5.6 rebounds per game. Brooks broke out as a junior, averaging 16.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2 assists, 0.5 blocks and 0.5 steals per game. Last season, he averaged double figures again, also adding 6.9 rebounds per game.

Following the season, Brooks opted to transfer to Mississippi State. Through 20 games, all of which Brooks has started, he has played a big role for the Bulldogs. On the season, he is averaging 11 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Mississippi State is currently 13-7 on the season, while UNC is 15-6. While those records are fairly similar, the ACC is notably 4-16 against ranked teams so far this season.