College Basketball: ACC Player of the Year Week 14 Power Ranking
We are at the midway point of conference play in the college basketball season. Players are starting to play their way into different tiers of conversation. So I figured it to be a good time to go ahead and start putting out conference power rankings. So I am going to do that this week. Look across five or six different college basketball conferences throughout the week – one per day – and lay out the mid-conference season power ranking for each.
Today, we are talking ACC. So as we look across the college basketball landscape, here are my ACC Player of the Year power rankings from Week 14.
READ SEC Player of the Year Week 14 Power Rankings
1. G RJ Davis, UNC
The Buzz: RJ Davis has been on a tear this season, scoring in double figures in each of UNC’s last 19 games. In that span, Davis has gone for over 20 points 13 times. He is leading the ACC in scoring at 21.3 points per game, and he is shooting 41.1 percent from three on the season. Davis has only improved in conference play, averaging 21.5 points, shooting 42.9 percent from three, and dishing out 3.4 assists while maintaining a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio. UNC is in sole possession of first place in the league at 11-1 in conference play.
2. C Kyle Filipowski, Duke
The Buzz: Kyle Filipowski was getting first-round buzz during the off-season, but he opted to have double hip surgery and come back to Duke for his sophomore season. It has been clear, from day one, that what the Blue Devils did would revolve around the reigning ACC Freshman of the Year. Filipowski has answered the call already having seven double-doubles on the season. Interestingly enough, he has also added eight games with four or more assists. His analytics speak highly of him as well, as the only player in the ACC with a usage rate over 28, a Player Efficiency Rating above 27, and a Defensive Rating below 95. Also, has 3.6 win shares and an 11.0 box plus-minus.
3. F Norchad Omier, Miami
The Buzz: Despite the fluid play of the Miami team, Norchad Omier has remained a reliable force. Not only has he jumped his scoring from 13.1 to 17.6 per game, he is also second in the conference in rebounding (9.8) and shooting 37.1 percent from three. Omier has secured 12 double-doubles on the season. Much like others on this list, Omier’s analytics also tell a lot of the story. He is the only player in the ACC with a Player Efficiency Rating above 29 and a Defensive Rating below 96.
4. F PJ Hall, Clemson
The Buzz: PJ Hall has had an excellent four years at Clemson, but each season he seems to continue to get better. This year Hall has grown his scoring from 15.3 to 19.9 per game. He is also knocking down 1.4 threes per game, spreading the floor. Where his game has developed the most is with his rim protection, as he is second in the ACC with 1.9 blocks per game. And in conference play, Hall has continued his tough play averaging 19.3 points and beefing up his rebound numbers to 8.1 per game.
5. G Reece Beekman, Virginia
The Buzz: Virginia has won seven in a row and currently sits at No. 2 in the ACC standings. A large part of that has been the play of senior point guard Reece Beekman. During that stretch of games, Beekman is averaging 15.1 points, 6.7 assists, and 3.0 steals per game. A lot was expected of Beekman in his fourth year, coming off an ACC Defensive Player of the Year award, and he has seen fluid results. But fast-forward to right now, and Beekman is leading the league in assists and steals, and he has Virginia heading in an upward direction as the Wahoos enter the back half of conference play.
Other Players to Watch: G Hunter Sallis (Wake Forest), G Judah Mintz (Syracuse), F Blake Hinson (Pittsburgh), C Quinten Post (Boston College), G Sean Pedulla (Virginia Tech), F Ryan Dunn (Virginia), F Harrison Ingram (UNC), C Armando Bacot (UNC), G Jeremy Roach (Duke), G DJ Horne (NC State)