2015 ACC Tournament Preview by The Herald Sun

2015 ACC Tournament Preview Duke, UNC look to reclaim crown

GROWING through

PAINS

Duke’s Quinn Cook leads talented young Blue Devils. See story on page 4. The Herald-Sun | Bernard Thomas

BIGGER and BETTER Meeks boosts UNC’s productive interior attack. See story on page 3.

The Herald-Sun | Christine T. Nguyen

ACC Tournament Bracket Page 2 Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Clash Titans

Barber emerging for Wolfpack Page 5

Page ACC2

THE HERALD-SUN | DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

2015 NE W YOR K LIF E ACC TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND

SECOND ROUND

QUARTERFINALS

SEMIFINALS

CHAMPIONSHIP

TUESDAY, MARCH 10

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11

THURSDAY, MARCH 12

FRIDAY, MARCH 13

SATURDAY, MARCH 14

#1 VIRGINIA

GAME 7 NOON

#8 CLEMSON

ESPN/ACCN

GAME 3 NOON ESPN/ACCN

GAME 11 7:00 PM

#9 FLORIDA STATE

ESPN OR ESPN2/ACCN

#4 LOUISVILLE

#12 BOSTON COLLEGE

GAME 8 2:00 PM*

GAME 1 1:00 PM ESPN2/ACCN

ESPN/ACCN

GAME 4 2:00 PM*

#13 GEORGIA TECH

ESPN/ACCN

CHAMPIONSHIP 8:30 PM

#5 NORTH CAROLINA

ESPN/ACCN

ACC CHAMPION

#2 DUKE

GAME 9 7:00 PM

#7 NC STATE

ESPN/ACCN

GAME 5 7:00 PM ESPN2/ACCN

GAME 12 9:00 PM*

#10 PITTSBURGH #11 WAKE FOREST

ESPN OR ESPN2/ACCN

#3 NOTRE DAME

GAME 2 3:00 PM

GAME 10 9:00 PM*

ESPN2/ACCN

GAME 6 9:00 PM*

#14 VIRGINIA TECH

ESPN/ACCN

ESPN2/ACCN

The tournament will be carried by ESPN, ESPN2, and ACCNetwork (ACCN). All games will also be available on WatchESPN and theACC.com. Seeds available by Saturday, March 7th.

#6 MIAMI

*Denotes approximate time

| @ACC MBB | #ACCTOURNEY

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5Tuesday, March 10, 2015

THE HERALD-SUN | DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

PAGE ACC3

University of North Carolina

MEEKS & MILD

UNC forward Kennedy Meeks routinely scores in double figures as he adjusts to his new body BY JOHN McCANN

UNC Schedule

JMCCANN@HERALDSUN.COM; 919-419-6601

CHAPEL HILL — The next time it snows, pay attention to how slowly you drive before gradually getting more and more comfor table until eventually trusting your vehicle to handle the less-familiar terrain. That’s sor t of what Nor th Carolina big man Kennedy Meeks is going through with his new body. Meeks didn’t gain the so-called Fr eshman Fifteen. He went through a sophomore shred and shed 20 pounds. The young man is 6 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 270 pounds. He actually showed up from Charlotte weighing 317 pounds, so, really, we’re talking about a kid who entered his second season of college basketball having lost nearly 50 pounds since high s c h o o l, w h i c h h i g hlights some other numbers: In Februar y, Meeks had blocked 35 shots during the regular season by the time N.C. State ar rived in the Dean E. Smith Center to play UNC. Ther e still was a good bit of basketball left to play, yet Meeks already was beyond the 27 shots he rejected last season. The weight loss had helped — Meeks wasn’t getting to those shots last season, UNC coach Roy Williams said. “But his explosiveness has got to be with the ball ar ound the basket,” Williams said. “The lift has been there because he doesn’t have the weight.” Yet Meeks has to get it between his ears that now he can do more with less weight, that he can move around defenders and not solely rely on leaning into them for better looks at the basket, Williams said. Meeks star ted as a UNC freshman and averaged 7.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in 34 games. He will enter the 2015 Atlantic Coast C o n f e r e n c e To u r n a ment averaging 12 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Meeks said his time with UNC strength-and-conditioning coordinator Jonas Sahratian is paying off, although more work is required to go from being just all right to dynamite — explosive. “I feel like I’ve got a long way to go with that,” Meeks said. “It’s mental and physical. To know I can jump now a lot better than I could, mentally knowing it’s there.” Williams needs Meeks to hur r y up and get done with test driving the sleeker version of himself. Of course, the coach could have used that during regular-season matchups against the Jahlil Okafors and Rakeem Christmases and Montrezl Har rells of the ACC. But a more explosive Meeks in time for the ACC Tour nament would work.

North Carolina 2014-15 schedule Nov. 14........................N.C. Central....................................W,76-60 Nov. 16......................Robert Morris............................... W,103-59 Nov. 22........................at Davidson....................................W,90-72 Nov. 26............................ * Butler...........................................L,66-74 Nov. 27........................ * #22 UCLA.....................................W,78-56 Nov. 28.......................* #18 Florida...................................W,75-64 Dec. 3.................................. Iowa..............................................L,55-60 Dec.7...........................East Carolina................................ W,108-64 Dec.13.........................at Kentucky......................................L,70-84 Dec.16.................at UNC-Greensboro............................W,79-56 Dec. 20....................... $ Ohio State....................................W,82-74 Dec. 27...........................Alabama.......................................W,89-58 Dec. 30.................... William & Mary.................................W,86-64 Jan. 3............................ at Clemson.....................................W,74-50 Jan. 5........................... Notre Dame......................................L,70-71 Jan. 10............................Louisville.......................................W,72-71 Jan. 14.........................at N.C. State....................................W,81-79 Jan. 18........................Virginia Tech...................................W,68-53 Jan. 21......................at Wake Forest.................................W,87-71 Jan. 24........................Florida State...................................W,78-74 Jan. 26............................Syracuse.......................................W,93-83 Jan. 31.........................at Louisville.............................L,68-78(OT) Feb. 2............................... Virginia...........................................L,64-75 Feb. 7.....................at Boston College.............................W, 79-68 Feb. 14.......................at Pittsburgh.....................................L,76-89 Feb. 18............................at Duke.................................L,90-92(OT) Feb. 21.......................Georgia Tech...................................W,89-60 Feb. 24.......................... N.C. State.........................................L,46-58 Feb. 28...........................at Miami.......................................W,73-64 Mar. 3.......................at Georgia Tech................................W,81-49 Mar. 7..................................Duke............................................L, 77-84

*Battle 4 Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas $CBS Sports Classic, Chicago, Ill.

UNC Roster

No.....Player........................Position....Height... Weight..... Year 0.........Nate Britt........................G...............6-1...........170............ So. 1.........Theo Pinson................F/G.............6-6...........195..............Fr. 2.........Joel Berry II....................G...............6-0...........195..............Fr. 3.........Kennedy Meeks..........F...............6-9...........270............ So. 4.........Luke Davis......................G...............6-0...........178..............Sr. 5.........Marcus Paige................G...............6-1...........175.............. Jr. 11......Brice Johnson...............F...............6-9...........228.............. Jr. For results, in Tokoto.......................F...............6-6...........200.............. Jr. The Herald-Sun | Christine T.advertise Nguyen 13......J.P. North Carolina’s Kennedy Meeks (3) goes up against North Carolina State’s BeeJay 14......Desmond Hubert.......F............. 6-10.........225..............Sr. www.heraldsun.com Anya (21) on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015 at the Smith Center. 21......Jackson Simmons......F...............6-7. ..........225..............Sr. 22......Isaiah Hicks....................F...............6-8...........230............ So. There is something bodies in ways similar coach Mark Gottfried 24......Sasha Seymore............F...............6-6...........220..............Sr. t o W i l l i a m s ’ t h e o r y to athletes retur ning a n d a r r i v e d a t t h e 25......Justin Coleman............G...............6-2...........180.............. Jr. about Meeks needing from injuries, Dale said. D e a n D o m e a v e r a g - 42......Joel James......................F............. 6-10.........280.............. Jr. here43......Spenser Dalton............G...............6-3...........205.............. Jr. to understand that he Success manufactures ing 4.8advertise points and 4.1 is not a 300-pounder moxie, Dale said. rebounds919-419-6704 in 18.7 min44...... Justin Jackson...........F/G . ..........6-8...........193..............Fr. anymore, Duke Univer“Sometimes, though, utes per game. But that 45...... Stilman White..............G...............6-0...........170............ So. sity sports psychologist you have to redefine 919-419-6630 RoyCall Williams — head coach

For results

Greg Dale said. “Twenty pounds is a good bit of weight. It’s a totally dif ferent feel for him,” Dale said. “As an athlete, confidence comes from having success at something.” That NCSU-UNC game when Meeks deposited 12 points was his 21st time scoring in double figures this season. He also had 14 r ebounds against the Wolfpack, which earned his eighth double-double this season. Meeks had two doubledoubles as a freshman. Some of that is experience. A lot of it is confidence. Athletes who’ve lost weight need to have confidence in their new

what success is,” Dale said. “You can’t always be about the way it used to be. You have to readjust what success is so that you can actually have that. “Sometimes, guys aren’t as confident, because you can’t play the way you did before, per haps. Maybe you have to be a little more athletic now and do things dif ferently, and he hasn’t figured out how to do that,” Dale said. “When you’re not confident, you tend to be more passive.” NCSU for ward BeeJay Anya — now, if anybody is a basketball big man, it’s him — has looked confident. He’s not a starter for NCSU

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THE HERALD-SUN | DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Duke University

Maturing through loss helped Cook, Duke grow

BY STEVE WISEMAN

swiseman@heraldsun.com; 919-419-6671

DURHAM – Sorrow and woe filled Duke’s locker room at PNC Arena last March 21 as the Blue Devils came to grips with a stunning end to their basketball season. Mercer handed Duke a 78-71 defeat, the second time in three seasons the Blue Devils had exited the NCAA Tour nament without winning a game. Quinn Cook, having seen his junior season come to an abrupt end, knew the pain of both of those losses. A few hours later, in Peoria, Illinois, Jahlil Okafor would take the cour t at Car ver Arena to lead his team, Chicago’s Whitney Young High School, in an Illinois Class 4A state tournament semifinal. He scored 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds that night, helping send Whitney Young into the next day’s championship game where it would claim a state title. In between, fr om the depths of Duke’s depression to the joy of Whitey Young’s celebration, the seeds for what has become a stellar Duke season were laid in a simple text message. “After that Mercer loss, he texted saying get ready for next year,” Okafor said. “Ever since that loss, he’s been devoted to this team. It’s proven this year.” Cook has proven to be as solid a senior leader and clutch player as the Duke coaching staff could have hoped. He’s converted to a new role, shooting more than passing, and has been a motivating, unifying force on a freshman dominated team that seeks ACC and NCAA tournament championships beginning this week in Greensboro. “He’s grown from a kid into a man,” Duke associate head coach Jef f Capel said. “He’s become a man this year. It been really amazing to watch him grow.” Cook had plenty of room for growth. He’s the first to admit that. As a sophomore in the 2012-13 season, Cook was the star ting point guard on a senior dominated Duke team that reached the NCAA Tour nament’s elite eight. He started 34 of

Duke Schedule

Duke 2014-15 schedule Nov. 14............................. Presbyterian...................... W, 113-44 Nov. 15..................................Fairfield........................... W, 109-59 Nov. 18......................... Michigan State#.....................W, 81-71 Nov. 21................................. Temple$.............................W, 75-54 Nov. 22................................Stanford$............................W, 70-59 Nov. 26.................................. Furman..............................W, 93-54 Nov. 30.....................................Army.................................W, 93-73 Dec. 3................................ at Wisconsin.........................W, 80-70 Dec. 15......................................Elon..................................W, 75-62 Dec. 18........................... Connecticut%.......................W, 66-56 Dec. 29................................... Toledo...............................W, 86-69 Dec. 31..................................Wofford..............................W, 84-55 Jan. 3.............................. Boston College......................W, 85-62 Jan. 7............................... at Wake Forest.......................W, 73-65 Jan. 11...............................at N.C. State............................L, 87-75 Jan. 13.....................................Miami..................................L, 90-74 Jan. 17...............................at Louisville..........................W, 63-52 Jan. 19................................ Pittsburgh...........................W, 79-65 Jan.25................................ at St. John’s..........................W, 77-68 Jan. 28............................at Notre Dame.........................L, 77-73 Jan. 31.................................at Virginia............................W, 69-63 Feb. 4................................Georgia Tech.........................W, 72-66 Feb. 7.................................Notre Dame..........................W, 90-60 Feb. 9..............................at Florida State.......................W, 73-70 Feb. 14...............................at Syracuse...........................W, 80-72 Feb. 18...........................North Carolina................W, 92-90 OT Feb. 21.................................Clemson.............................W, 78-56 Feb. 25...........................at Virginia Tech................W, 91-86 OT Feb. 28.................................Syracuse.............................W, 72-54 March 4............................Wake Forest..........................W, 94-51 March 7...................... at North Carolina....................W, 84-77 # — Champions Classic, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Ind. $ — Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y. % — Izod Center, East Rutherford, N.J.

Duke Roster

The Herald-Sun | File photo by Christine T. Nguyen

Duke’s Quinn Cook (2) reacts during the game against Toledo on Monday, Dec. 29, 2014 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. 36 games that season, Mercer from the Atlan- superstar fr eshman, playing an average of tic Sun Conference. even before his high 33.6 minutes an outing Cook’s play also rode school season was over, during Duke’s 30-6 cam- a r oller-coaster. He was the start. paign. star ted only 22 of the Cook’s bond with When seniors Mason 35 games and he played Capel grew stronger. Plumlee, Ryan Kelly and 29.8 minutes an outing, A former Duke captain Seth Curry moved on to four fewer minutes per himself, Capel returned professional basketball, game that his sopho- to Duke as an assistant Cook expected his lead- more year. Inconsistent following his dismissal ership role to naturally play was a factor in his as Oklahoma’s head grow the following sea- playing time. coach. son. “All summer I Capel’s first season Duke coach Mike couldn’t sleep some- with Duke was Cook’s K r z y z e w s k i n a m e d times thinking about my freshman year. The past seniors Tyler Thornton junior year and why I three seasons have been and Josh Hairston cap- struggled so bad,” Cook an unusual drought in tains, which isn’t sur- said. “My maturity was a Duke basketball as they prising. But sophomore big reason.” haven’t included any Rodney Hood, a transfer Krzyzewski, less than ACC regular-season or from Mississippi State a week after the season, tournament championwho had yet to play a said the team’s internal ships nor any Final Four game for the Blue Dev- leadership was lacking appearances. ils, was named the third and that he and the staff In shor t, Cook and captain. would focus on improv- Capel have failed to Now, looking back, ing that aspect for this put any new banners in Cook admits he didn’t season. Cameron Indoor Stadihandle that well. With one season left um. “I kind of took it per- at Duke, Cook vowed “Myself and Coach sonally last year,” Cook to make a difference in Capel we came here said. “Being an upper- that area even before together,” Cook said. “We classman and not being he was officially named haven’t won anything in named captain, I was a captain. The text mesimmatur e about the sage to Okafor, the 6-11 See cook/Page 11 whole situation. I kind of let things slide and left it up to Tyler and Rodney and Josh to say something. I made it an excuse.” Carrboro Recreation The result was an and Parks Department up-and-down 26-9 seaoffers a variety of programs. There is son for Duke. The Blue something for everyone! Devils made the ACC Tournament final, losing to V irginia, but were bounced out of the www.carrbororec.org NCAA Tournament by (919) 918-7364

Summe r 2015

Duke 2014-15 basketball roster No. Player.......................Position.Height....... Weight.......Year 2 Quinn Cook..................G........... 6-2...............185...............Sr. 3 Grayson Allen..............G........... 6-4...............195...............Fr. 5 Tyus Jones....................G........... 6-1...............190...............Fr. 12 Justise Winslow..........F............ 6-6...............225...............Fr. 13 Matt Jones....................G........... 6-5...............210............. So. 15 Jahlil Okafor.................C..........6-11..............270...............Fr. 21 Amile Jefferson...........F............ 6-9...............215............... Jr. 34 Sean Obi........................................ F..................6-9.............270 So. 40 Marshall Plumlee.......C........... 7-0...............255............... Jr. 42 Sean Kelly......................G........... 6-3...............195...............Sr. 45 Nick Pagliuca...............G........... 6-3...............195............. So. Mike Krzyzewski — head coach

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THE HERALD-SUN | DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

PAGE ACC5

North Carolina State

NCSU’s Barber emerging for Wolfpack BY JOHN McCANN

JMCCANN@HERALDSUN.COM; 919-419-6601

CHAPEL HILL — Right after N.C. State beat North Carolina in Febr uar y, Cat Barber was getting chatted up for his role as the point man in the Wolfpack’s backcourt triumvirate. “Cat controlled the game,” UNC coach Roy Williams said. “Cat did a phenomenal job,” NCSU coach Mark Gottfried said. Barber led NCSU with 15 points and had four assists and four rebounds. He was a different player than he was in January when he had five points and four assists during a loss to UNC. “He’s lear ning the game,” NCSU leading scorer T revor Lacey said. Something has clicked for Barber, and his emergence could make NCSU dangerous during the ACC Tournament. The guard package of Lacey, Barber and Ralston T ur ner has been accounting for roughly 58 percent of NCSU’s offense. Barber is the point guard triggering Gottfried’s game plan. The sophomore from Newport News, Virginia, is in a nice flow right now, but it took some time for him to figure out how to translate what made him a McDonald’s All-American in high school into a solid set-up man in the Atlantic Coast Conference. “Sometimes, when you play a lot of young guys, they need time,” Gottfried said. “Guys need time to get better and develop and grow. We rely on a lot of young players, the guys that don’t have a lot of experience, and so I just think they’re getting better. They’re developing. You look at Cat Barber. You look at Cat from last year, finished the year playing pretty good, came in here this year [and] was good, but now he’s gone to another level. He’s playing at another level.” Barber said Gott fried has been in his ear about the team needing what he’s capable of bringing to the cour t. He said Gottfried’s words for him before the Wolfpack played the Tar Heels the last time had to do with him locking up preseason ACC player of the year Marcus Paige, who’s been a real thorn for NCSU. Paige, a preseason All-American, both took and made just one shot in the first half during that last NCSU-UNC game. He finished the contest with seven assists, but his seven points were under his team-leading 13.6 points per game. Williams wants the Tar Heels in transition during games, but Barber was disciplined enough to play under control and slow down the tempo. That’s saying something, because Barber is cat quick, and speed is one of

N.C. State Schedule N.C. State 2014-15 schedule Nov. 14............................. Jackson State........................W, 93-58 Nov. 17....................................Hofstra...............................W, 76-64 Nov. 20...............................Jacksonville..........................W, 79-43 Nov. 23............................. South Florida........................W, 68-65 Nov. 26.................................Richmond...........................W, 84-72 Nov. 26................................... Furman..............................W, 93-54 Nov. 28................................Boise State...........................W, 60-54 Dec. 2.................................... at Purdue............................. L, 66-61 Dec. 6..................................Wake Forest..........................W, 78-65 Dec. 12......................Charleston Southern................W, 86-50 Dec. 14...................................Wofford............................... L, 55-54 Dec. 17.................................Tennessee...........................W, 83-72 Dec. 20.............................West Virginia#........................ L, 83-69 Dec. 23............................ Louisiana Tech.......................W, 73-65 Dec. 30.................................Cincinnati.............................. L,76-60 Jan. 3.....................................Pittsburgh...........................W, 68-50 Jan. 7..................................... at Virginia............................. L, 61-51 Jan. 11.......................................Duke.................................W, 87-75 Jan. 14.............................North Carolina........................ L, 81-79 Jan. 17.............................at Florida State.......................W, 72-63 Jan. 22................................... at Miami.............................. L, 65-60 Jan.25.................................Notre Dame................... L, 81-78 OT Jan. 28................................... Clemson.............................. L, 68-57 Jan. 31............................ at Georgia Tech......................W, 81-80 Feb. 3............................... at Wake Forest........................ L, 88-84 Feb. 11....................................Virginia............................... L, 51-47 Feb. 14............................... at Louisville..........................W, 74-65 Feb. 21.............................. Virginia Tech.........................W, 69-53 Feb. 24..........................at North Carolina....................W, 58-46 Feb. 28.........................at Boston College..................... L, 79-63 March 3..............................at Clemson..........................W, 66-61 March 7................................ Syracuse.............................W, 71-57 # -- Madison Square Garden, New York

N.C. State Roster

The Herald-Sun | File photo by Christine T. Nguyen

N.C. State’s Anthony Barber (12) shoots over North Carolina’s Kennedy Meeks (3) on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015 at the Smith Center. N.C. State Center 58-46. the weapons he used to hur t teams in high school. “I’ve seen his highlights. He’d just blow past guys, layup here, make people fall there,” Lacey said. One of the lessons Barber had to learn in college was knowing

when to let off the gas and when to punch it, Lacey said. “In high school, it was just so easy for him. He never probably had to think the game,” Lacey said. “He’s understanding the game now. He’s not just out there using his speed.”

No. Player...........................Position.. Height....Weight... Year 0 Abdul-Mailk Abu...........F.............. 6-8............240...........Fr. 1 Trevor Lacey.................... G............. 6-3............208........... Jr. 3 Terry Henderson........... G............. 6-4............190........... Jr. 4 Chris Brickhouse............F.............. 6-5............210...........Fr. 5 Desmond Lee................. G............. 6-4............200...........Sr. 10 Lennard Freeman..........F.............. 6-8............250.........So. 12 Anthony Barber............. G............. 6-2............180.........So. 13 Chris Corchiani, Jr......... G............. 6-0............180...........Fr. 14 Caleb Martin....................F.............. 6-6............200...........Fr. 15 Cody Martin.....................F.............. 6-6............200...........Fr. 20 Patrick Wallace............... G............. 6-1............185.........So. 21 BeeJay Anya.....................F.............. 6-9............295.........So. 22 Ralston Turner................ G............. 6-5............205...........Sr. 25 Chase Cannon................ G............. 6-5............200........... Jr. 30 Staats Battle.................... G............. 6-6............203...........Sr. 32 Kyle Washington............F.............. 6-9............225.........So. Mark Gottfried - Head Coach

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THE HERALD-SUN | DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

DUKE Coach: Mike Krzyzewski 2014-15 record: 28-3 overall, 15-3 in ACC ACC Tournament seed: 2 NCAA Tournament status: Appear to have a No. 1 seed close to locked up. A win or two in Greensboro will ensure that. Good wins: Impressive road wins at Wisconsin, Louisville and Virginia and North Carolina. Bad losses: Back-toback losses to N.C. State and Miami cost Duke the ACC regular-season championship Player to watch: Freshman center Jahlil Okafor is the favorite to be the ACC player of the year and should claim a national player of the year honor or two. ACC Tournament outlook: Honestly, it wouldn’t hurt Duke to lose before reaching the Saturday night

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

virginia

The Herald-Sun | Christine T. Nguyen

Duke’s Jahlil Okafor (15) reacts after dunking during the game against Toledo on Monday, Dec. 29, 2014 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. championship game so the short-handed Blue Devils could get some rest. That said, this team is focused on winning a

championship. A trophy and banner are available with three wins in Greensboro. — Steve Wiseman

Coach: Tony Bennett 2014-15 record: 28-2 overall, 16-2 in ACC ACC Tournament seed: 1 NCAA Tournament status: Ranked No.2 in the country, the Cavaliers are almost certain to be a No. 1 seed when the bracket comes out on Sunday night. Good wins: So many, but at UNC, at Notre Dame and at VCU stand out. Bad loss: Well, there are only two -- At home to Duke on Jan. 31 and last Saturday at Louisville. Player to watch: The athletic Justin Anderson, a solid scorer and lockdown defender, was headed toward being a first-team All-ACC pick before breaking his hand in early February. His status for the ACC Tournament is questionable following last weeks appendectomy. ACC Tournament outlook: With Anderson out and London

The Herald-Sun | File photo by Bernard Thomas

Virginia’s Justin Anderson (1) scores two above North Carolina’s Joel James (42) and Justin Jackson (44) at UNC. Perranates (broken nose) banged up, Virginia kept winning anyway. Their play against highlevel competition in

Greensboro will offer a clue on how the Cavaliers will do in the NCAA Tournament. -- Steve Wiseman

notre dame Coach: Mike Brey 2014-15 record: 26-5 overall, 14-4 in ACC ACC Tournament seed: 3 NCAA Tournament status: An ACC Tournament title might earn the Fighting Irish a No. 2 seed in the Big Dance Good wins: That road win at UNC was nice as was the home win over Duke. Bad losses: That home loss to Syracuse — not so nice Player to watch: Guard Jerian Grant (6-5, 205) might be the best player in the league not named

Jahlil Okafor. His experience is why the Irish have had such a strong season. ACC Tournament outlook: Grant and Pat Connaughton are terrific senior leaders who have propelled Notre Dame back to the NCAA Tournament after missing the field last season. Both are heady playmakers who thrive in the clutch. The Irish have the kind of backcourt built for strong performances this week in Greensboro and in the ensuing NCAA Tournament. — John McCann

The Herald-Sun | File photo by Christine T. Nguyen

Notre Dame’s Jerian Grant (22) and North Carolina’s Nate Britt (0) battle for a loose ball on Monday, Jan. 5, 2015 at the Smith Center.

Louisville

The Herald-Sun | File photo by Christine T. Nguyen

Louisville’s Montrezl Harrell (24) dunks over North Carolina’s Nate Britt (0) on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015 at the Smith Center.

Coach: Rick Pitino 2014-15 record: 24-7 overall, 12-6 in the ACC ACC Tournament seed: 4 NCAA Tournament status: Solidly in the field but needs wins this weekend for a better seed. Good wins: The home wins over Ohio State, UNC and Virginia. Bad losses: Getting beat at home by N.C. State, Duke and Syracuse caused the Cards to tumble in the AP poll Player to watch: Montrezl Harrell, a preseason AP All-

American, returns to his home state for the ACC Tournament. The 6-8 Tarboro native needs a big weekend to keep the Cardinals around. ACC Tournament outlook: Louisville is still adjusting to the loss of guard Chris Jones, its best (only?) perimeter threat who was kicked off the team last month. Harrell can dominate in the paint, but Cardinals need Terry Rozier and Wayne Blackshear to come up big for a deep ACC Tournament run. — Steve Wiseman

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THE HERALD-SUN | DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

PAGE ACC7

Pittsburgh

North Carolina

The Herald-Sun | File photo by Bernard Thomas

North Carolina’s Marcus Paige is wrestling with Jihad Wright for a loose ball in an earlier game. Coach: Roy Williams 2014-15 record: 21-10 overall, 11-7 in ACC ACC Tournament seed: 5 NCAA Tournament status: The Tar Heels will dance; just a matter of where Good wins: Early season victories over nationally ranked UCLA, Florida and Ohio State before beating Top 25 Louisville Bad losses: NCSU

came in the Dean Dome and took one Player to watch: Point guard Marcus Paige (6-1, 175) hasn’t played like the ACC preseason player of the year and won’t even make first team all-ACC. But he has the potential to get hot on the perimeter and make things miserable for UNC’s foes. ACC Tournament outlook: UNC’s perimeter scoring is

unreliable since Paige is averaging just 13.2 points per game. He averaged 17.5 last season. Instead, the Tar Heels have a strong interior game they could ride to Saturday night’s championship game. Brice Johnson (12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds) and Kennedy Meeks (12.4 points, 7.6 rebounds) are both 6-9 and reliable interior scorers. — John McCann

The Herald-Sun | Bernard Thomas

Duke’s Amile Jefferson battle Pittsburg’s Cameron Wight and Jamel Artis for a rebound. Coach: Jamie Dixon 2014-15 record: 19-13 overall, 8-10 in ACC ACC Tournament seed: 10 NCAA Tournament status: Pitt’s on the Big Dance bubble. Good wins: Pitt beat UNC and Syracuse Bad losses: Dropping games to Clemson,

Florida State and Wake Forest did Pitt no favors Player to watch: Forward Jamel Artis (6-7, 220) has been giving the Panthers almost 14 points per game. ACC Tournament outlook: Not many teams in the league take care of the basketball as well as Pittsburgh and the

Panthers are also one of the top teams in the country in assists at 16 per game. Despite that, Pitt has so many ugly losses that it will take at least two, and perhaps three or four, ACC Tournament wins to get back into serious NCAA Tournament. —John McCann

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Coach: Jim Larranaga 2014-15 record: 20-11 overall, 10-8 in ACC ACC Tournament seed: 6 NCAA Tournament status: Fighting for one of the final at-large bids available Good wins: Handing Duke a 90-74 beat down at Cameron Indoor Stadium was majestic

The Herald-Sun | Bernard Thomas

For results

Duke’s Amile Jefferson battle Miami’s Angel Rodriguez (L) for a loose ball. Bad losses: Eastern Kentucky at home is the real stinker, followed closely by Green Bay also at home. Player to watch: Angel Rodriguez is a tough, sharpshooting guard who makes the Hurricanes go. ACC Tournament outlook: When Miami is at its best,

Rodriguez is bombing in 3-pointers and using his quickness to drive into the lane and create scoring opportunities for his teammates. That’s not happened consistently enough this season and that’s why the Hurricanes need to win a few this week to make the Big Dance. — Steve Wiseman

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Clemson’s Jaron Blossomgame (5) shoots over Virginia Tech’s Christian Beyer (22) during an NCAA college basketball game , Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015 in Clemson, S.C.

North Carolina’s Brice Johnson battle Florida State’s Xavier Rathan-Mayes for a loose ball at UNC.

Coach: Brad Brownell 2014-15 record: 16-14 overall, 8-10 in ACC ACC Tournament seed: 8 NCAA Tournament status: Plenty of room for Clemson in the National Invitation Tournament Good wins: Took care of business against Pitt, Syracuse and NCSU Bad losses: Dropping

Coach: Leonard Hamilton 2014-15 record: 16-15 overall, 8-10 in ACC ACC Tournament seed: 9 NCAA Tournament status: Haven’t been a factor on this line since winning ACC in 2012 Good wins: Beating Miami, Florida, Central Florida and South Florida

one to Florida State didn’t help Player to watch: Forward Jaron Blossomgame (6-7, 215) has been Clemson’s best scorer ACC Tournament outlook: Clemson was on the fringe of NCAA Tournament bubble talk a month ago. But the Tigers, and their

struggling offense, lost five of their next seven games to tumble below .500 in ACC play and out of the running for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. Clemson, averaging just 62 points a game, may bave to win a couple games in Greensboro just to make the NIT. — John McCann

The Herald-Sun | Bernard Thomas

Tournament Call the CirculationACCDepartment outlook: The Seminoles at 919-419-6900 are a mediocre team (as evidenced by their or 1-800-672-0061 record) but can be fun

make local alums happy at least. Bad losses: Consecutive home losses to Northeastern, Providence and Massachusetts send FSU’s season off the rails in November Player to watch: Freshman guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes is a volume scorer with a capital `v’.

to watch when RathanMayes gets going. The guy scored 30 points in four minutes a few weeks back at Miami. FSU could be good for an upset or two in Greensboro. — Steve Wiseman

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beating UNC, NCSU lost at lowly Boston College Player to watch: NCSU is good when point guard Cat Barber (6-2, 180) is good. He can score himself and create scoring opportunities for others with dribble drives. ACC Tournament outlook: Look out if NCSU’s backcourt trio of Barber, Trevor Lacey and Ralston Turner are on

themselves in position to make the NCAA Tournament field. Their perimeter shooting led NCSU to wins over Duke, UNC and Louisville. A good week of shooting in Greensboro could get NCSU to the semifinals and improve their NCAA Tournament seed. — John McCann

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N.C. State’s Anthony Barber (12) goes up for a basket past North Carolina’s Nate Britt (0) on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015 at the Smith Center.

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wake Forest

PAGE ACC9

Boston College

Coach: Danny Manning 2014-15 record: 13-18 overall, 5-13 in ACC ACC Tournament seed: 11 NCAA Tournament status: Too soon in the Manning regime for this, but there’s hope. Good wins: Taking care of N.C. State and Miami at home Bad losses: Delaware State and Georgia Tech were unsightly. Player to watch: Devin Thomas always has potential for a big night scoring and rebounding. ACC Tournament outlook: Even with only two games in the tournament’s opening day, Wake Forest couldn’t avoid inclusion. At least the Deacs are the highest seed of the bunch. AP Photo | Chuck Burton Look for Manning to Wake Forest’s Devin Thomas, center, drives past be coaching on day Pittsburgh’s Chris Jones, left, and Michael Young, two, but that’s it. right, during the first half of an NCAA college bas-

ketball game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Sunday,

-- Steve Wiseman March 1, 2015.

Coach: Jim Christian 2014-15 record: 12-18 overall, 4-14 in ACC ACC Tournament seed: 12 NCAA Tournament status: No chance for the Big Dance without an ACC Tournament title Good wins: Knocked off NCSU Bad losses: Not that kind of conversation for the Eagles. Their ninegame losing streak in ACC play was the stuff of nightmares. Player to watch: Olivier Hanlan (6-4, 190) can fill it up from the guard spot. He’s a first-team all-ACC talent playing on one of the league’s worst teams. ACC Tournament outlook: Opposing teams eat up Boston College on the backboards which makes it difficult for the Eagles to compete. With Hanlan, Boston College has the potential to survive Tuesday’s opening day of play but it’s hard to imagine Christian coaching his team any farther in his first ACC Tournament. — John McCann

AP Photo | Keith Srakocic

Boston College’s Olivier Hanlan (21) plays in an NCAA college basketball game between Pittsburgh and Boston College on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015, in Pittsburgh.

Georgia Tech

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech’s Adam Smith (3) drives around North Carolina’s Brice Johnson (11) on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015 at the Smith Center. The Herald-Sun | File photo by Christine T. Nguyen

Coach: Buzz Williams 2014-15 record: 10-21 overall, 2-16 in the For results, advertise in ACC ACC Tournament seed: For 14results advertise here NCAA Tournament 919-419-6704 status: No chance for the Big Dance without an ACC Tournament title Good wins: That win over Pittsburgh wasn’t bad Classified advertising Bad losses: Williams’ gets the job done

first season in Blacksburg is pockmarked with these, like losing to Radford and Appalachian www.heraldsun.com State. Player to watch: Have Adam Smitha (6-1, 170) is story idea? nearly a guard averaging Call 919-419-6630 14 points per game who is known to go on To report scoring binges at times. an error ACC Tournament Call 919-419-6630 or email outlook: The Hokies corrections@heraldsun.com just won’t rebound the

basketball and are one of the worst rebounding teams in the country. They also struggle to score, averaging just 65 points. Williams has a young team that has taken many lumps this season. One more loss in Greensboro, likely on Tuesday, will send the Hokies into the offseason. —Steve Wisemann

The Herald-Sun | File photo by Bernard Thomas

Georgia Tech’s Marcus Georges-Hunt (3) and Duke’s Amile Jefferson (21) battle for a loose ball. Coach: Brian Gregory 2014-15 record: 12-18 overall, 3-15 in ACC ACC Tournament seed: 13 NCAA Tournament status: Not happening and that could cost Gregory his job Good wins: A 20-point win at Miami when the Hurricanes were ranked No. 23. Bad losses: A loss

each to fellow ACC Tournament Opening Day participants Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and Boston College. Oh, and South Carolina-Upstate in December. Player to watch: With leading scorer Marques Georges-Hunt injured, Charles Mitchell is the Yellow Jackets’ top player with a 9.6 scoring average along with 6.9 rebounds

per game. ACC Tournament outlook: Georgia Tech has played nearly everyone tough in ACC play, losing twice in overtime, once in double overtime as well as seven other losses by five points or less. But, while they might be a tough out, in the end the Yellow Jackets just head out. — Steve Wiseman

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Tuesday, March 10, 2015

The Herald-Sun | File photo by Bernard Thomas

Sportscaster Dick Vitale jokes with a Duke cheerleader and the Cameron Crazies before the game against Georgia Tech in February.

Dickie V says:

ACC awesome, baby! BY JOHN McCANN

JMCCANN@HERALDSUN.COM; 919-419-6601

CHAPEL HILL — The heft Notre Dame and Louisville brought to the Atlantic Coast Conference positioned the league to remove any doubt about where the best college basketball is played. The ACC has five teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 25. So does the Big 12 Conference. “Some people would make an argument this year, as well, for the Big 12. I think the Big 12 has been the dynamite league, as well,” ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale said. The Big 12 has Kansas, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Baylor and West Virginia in the AP Top 25. Nationally ranked in

the ACC are Virginia, Duke, Notr e Dame, Louisville and Nor th Carolina. ”Pittsburgh can never be taken lightly,” Vitale said The Panthers joined the ACC in 2013. “I mean, they shot 64 percent against the Tar Heels at home, and they really ran into a buzz saw when they met Virginia with that great defense,” Vitale said. Notre Dame also joined the ACC in 2013. Louisville ar rived in 2014. “The league has got quality. There’s no doubt about it,” Vitale said. “It’s a league where you’ve got to come lace ’em up, come to play and be ready to per form ever y night. But if you’re not, you’re going home with an L.” Duke and UNC rou-

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tinely are regarded as the best of the ACC. This season, freshman center Jahlil Okafor is a big part of what Duke coach Mike Kr zyzewski wants to do, but the Blue Devils’ backcourt of Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook gives the team perimeter scoring that provides the sort of balance that UNC has not been getting, Vitale said. What UNC coach Roy Williams has gotten out of the Tar Heels’ interior isn’t bad, Vitale said. But preseason AllAmerica point guard Marcus Paige hasn’t been himself. “He’s ever ybody’s All-American, including mine. He’s had some really good moments,” Vitale said. “He’d be the first to tell you that he doesn’t feel that he has played to the level he

expected to play on a consistent basis. I happen to like Marcus. I think he’s terrific. But they need that kind of scoring.” Freshman Justin Jackson star ts in the backcour t with Paige. Jackson, like Paige has shot the ball well — he just hasn’t shot it well consistently. “The 3-point shot really has been a dilemma [for UNC],” Vitale said. “It’s ver y difficult today to win big without some good 3-point shooting. “But they’re still a talented basketball team, a team that when they play well, they’re capable of beating anyone. But they’re a little bit up and down.”

Between calling college basketball games like he sees them, V itale found time to write “It’s Awesome B a b y, ” a v a i l a b l e i n bookstores and at amazon.com. “It’s really about my life,” V itale said. “It really shares my 75 years, my good times, my bad times: Getting fired in the pros. Losing my eye as a kid. You know, we all have some ups and downs. I don’t think anybody goes through life so smooth. You have some bumps and bruises, and I try to share them.” Autographed copies of the book are available at dickvitaleonline. com. Vitale said whatever profit there is from

sales of his book will go toward fighting pediatric cancer, just a way to give back, a nod toward the altruism of his parents. “They were uneducated, but they had a doctorate of love,” Vitale said. Vitale said his mom and dad instilled in him that the one thing he could not do was believe he could not do something. And he said his folks taught him that if he was nice to people, then people would be nice to him. “And, man, people have been good to me,” Vitale said. “I’m in 12 hall of fames. I’ve been ver y blessed, ver y lucky, 36 years with ESPN.”

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THE HERALD-SUN | DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

PAGE ACC11

ACC Highlights

The Herald-Sun | Bernard Thomas

Virginia’s Justin Anderson (1) scores two above North Duke’s Matt Jones (13) battle Notre Dame’s Bonzie Duke’s Tyus Jones battle UNC’s Isaiah Hicks for a shot. Colson (35) for a shot. Carolina’s Joel James (42) and Justin Jackson (44)

Cook From page 4

our three years together.” Cook met with Krzyzewski last spring and was determined to not have any regrets by the time his senior season ended. Capel and Krzyzewski were gone from campus most of last summer with USA Basketball. Krzyzewski was head coach for Team USA’s gold medal win in Basketball’s World Cup in Spain. Capel also helped coach that team. Back in Durham, Cook took the lead in helping the four new f r e s h m e n – O k a f o r, Tyus Jones, Justise Winslow and Grayson Allen – feel comfor table on Duke’s campus. They for med bonds on the practice court and away from basketball. Okafor, a preseason all-American and national player of the year candidate, felt a particularly touching bond with Cook. Both players had parents who died when they were children – Cook’s father, Okafor’s mother. “He’s been amazing to me,” Okafor said. “We ar e ver y similar with our stories growing up. We were able to connect right away. I love Quinn to death.” Cook kept in touch with Kr zyzewski and Capel while they were overseas. He gave repor ts on how the team was coming together.

“I was letting him know what was going on and what we were doing,” Cook said. “I wanted to always be on the same page as the coaches.” Cook said the freshmen were receptive to the plan and that made a big difference, too. “These young guys have helped me as much as I’v e helped them,” Cook said. “It’s been great.” As Duke has piled up wins this season, Cook slid seamlessly from his old point guard spot into more of a scoring roll. He defer r ed to T yus Jones at point guard, allowing the freshman to become a main playmaker. Cook is averaging 15.9 points per game and has star ted ever y Duke game. He’s playing 36 minutes a game and, as Duke’s bench has shor tened due to player depar tures, he’s regularly played entire games without a break. “I’m not saying he’s Bobby Hurley as far as the type of player, but Hurley never got tired,” Krzyzewski said. “Quinn doesn’t get tired. Quinn is in unbelievable shape. He works at it, but there’s something in it.” Something else is working in Cook’s favor as well. Former Duke star Nolan Smith is as close as a blood brother to Cook. They’ve grown up together in the Washington, DC area. Cook ar rived one season after Smith’s career ended with him winning the ACC player of the year award. A

first-round pick of the Por tland Trail Blazers, Smith remained in Durham for the first half of that season while the NBA worked through a labor lockout that erased par t of the season. N o w, w i t h C o o k a senior, Smith is back in Durham. A tor n ACL, suf fered while playing overseas, has him on the shelf recuperating. He’s doing so in Durham, allowing him to attend Duke’s games and help mentor Cook. “It’s just sur real,” Cook said. “God works in mysterious ways. He was here for the star t of my career and he’s here for the end of it. It’s been a blessing to have my God brother here with me as I close my career out. “He’s in my ear. He’s won an ACC championship. He’s been the ACC player of the year. He knows what coach wants from his leaders. He’s always in my ear helping me out. I’m just blessed to have him here right now.” Now that March has ar rived, Cook is ready to fulfill his ultimate goal of helping Duke win a championship. He wants to hang a banner. “At Duke,” Cook said, “you can be All-American, you can be a topfive pick or the No.1 pick, but when it comes down to it, I feel as though the really important guys who are held up as the standard, they won championships. They have something to show in that gym.”

Meeks From page 3

guy showed up to play UNC having blocked 70 shots. Anya swatted six more that night against the Tar Heels. He’s explosive. And Anya, a sophomore like Meeks, also has lost a lot of weight since coming to college. Anya is 6 feet 9, too, but he weighs 295 pounds, and that’s after dropping almost 60 pounds. So the physical conundr um here is that Anya both has lost more weight and is bigger than Meeks yet, if blocked shots are a barometer, is playing more explosively. Lennard Freeman started at one of the for ward spots for NCSU the last time the Wolfpack played the Tar Heels. But he was in foul trouble. That gave Anya more playing time, and he was a handful. “BeeJay, when he’s on the floor, he’s that x-factor,” NCSU leading scor er T r evor Lacey said. “When he’s on the court, we know he’s behind us, so we’ll pressure the ball a little more, tr y to get in the passing lanes a little more. We know if we get beat, just contain him, and Beejay’s gonna either change the shot or block it.” “Beejay changed

the game inside,” Gottfried said. “Blocked shots. He was a presence.” “He was just being a space eater,” UNC for ward Brice Johnson said. Anya, with his big frame, was being explosive. “Ever y muscle contraction is not just a muscular phenomenon; it’s a neuromuscular phenomenon,” said Greg McElveen, the director of the Duke Spor ts Performance Program. “Muscles cannot work any faster than the rate at which they get neural stimuli.” It’s muscle memory. “When a muscle or group of muscles is accustomed to a peak rate of contraction, even if the mass that those muscles are accelerating gets lighter, that does not mean that the muscles will work faster, that is, until the ner ves are taught to work faster,” McElveen said. “For example, at a given point in their training, sprint athletes can only tur n their feet over just so fast on a track. To get their ner ves to make their muscles contract more rapidly, they get up in a captain’s chair in a weight room, where their upper body holds their body up in the air while they accelerate their feet more rapidly in the air than can be done

on the floor. Once they have taught the ner ves to stimulate the muscles mor e rapidly, it is then that the sprinter gets faster For onresults, the advertise track. in The same would be tr ue in basketball. The player would need to do drills that teach the ner ves to fir e more rapidly. Then advertise here that combination of 919-419-6704 a lighter mass and more rapid neural firing will accomplish the power for speed of play or explosiveness.” In Meeks’ favor is that his body is prepar ed towar d that end, toward training for explosiveness, McElveen said. Classified advertising “The player who has come downward gets the job done closer to ideal weight can put off fatigue for longer, since there is less919-419-6910 mass to carr y,” McElveen said.

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Tuesday, March 10, 2015

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