ACC Men's Basketball Preview

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Notre Dame is set to begin its ACC schedule tomorrow when the Irish host Georgia Tech.

Before tomorrow's matchup, Blue & Gold Illustrated takes a quick look at each of Notre Dame's 14 ACC opponents.

Below are quick snippets of each team's top players, review of their 2017-2018 season so far and when they square off against Notre Dame.

Top Players: G Ky Bowman (16.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 5.4 RPG), G Jerome Robinson (16.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.2 APG), G Jordan Chatman (14.3 PPG), F Deontae Hawkins (12.4 PPG, 9.1 RPG), F Nik Popovic (9.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG)

Season To Date: Boston College has already proven how dangerous they can be this season taking down then-No. 1 Duke earlier this month (89-84). The trio of Bowman (30), Robinson (24) and Chatman (22) combined for 76 of the team’s 89 points.

The Eagles backcourt will give most teams all they can handle during ACC play, but the 6-foot-8 Hawkins and Popovic also provide some solid scoring in the frontcourt. This seems to be the year that Boston College will get out of the cellar of the ACC.

Matchup(s) against Notre Dame: Feb. 6 (South Bend), Feb. 17 (Chestnut Hill)

Top Players: G Marcquise Reed (14.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.2 APG), F Donte Grantham (14.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG), G Shelton Mitchell (12.6 PPG, 4.5 APG), G Gabe DeVoe (11.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG), F Elijah Thomas (11.3 PPG, 8.3 PPG)

Season To Date: Clemson enters ACC play on a 7-0 winning streak including wins over then-No. 22 Florida and a South Carolina program that made the Final Four last season. The Tigers also took down Ohio State in late November.

Last season, Clemson finished 6-12 in the ACC after going 10-2 during its non-conference schedule including a win over No. 22 South Carolina. Brad Brownell’s group will aim to reverse that fortune and secure an above .500 league record.

Matchup(s) against Notre Dame: Jan. 20 (Clemson)

Top Players: F Marvin Bagley III (21.1 PPG, 10.9 RPG), G Grayson Allen (17.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 4.3 APG), F Wendell Carter Jr. (13.7 PPG, 8.4 RPG), G Gary Trent Jr. (13.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG), G Trevon Duval (11.7 PPG, 6.8 APG)

Season To Date: Duke was rolled through its non-conference schedule before falling to Boston College in its early ACC opener against Boston College. The Blue Devils are arguably the most talented team in college basketball and boasts wins over then-No. 2 Michigan State and then-No. 7 Florida.

It’s going to take a team’s best shot to knock off the Blue Devils during ACC play. Duke ranks second in points (94.2) and rebounds (44.7) and first in assists (20.8). Mike Krzyzewski’s group is well-balanced with a strong frontcourt and backcourt.

Matchup(s) against Notre Dame: Jan. 29 (Durham)

Top Players: G Terance Mann (15.1 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.0 APG), F Phil Cofer (13.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG), G Braian Angola (11.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.3 APG), G CJ Walker (9.7 PPG, 3.0 APG), F Mfiondu Kabengele (9.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG)

Season To Date: After losing its three top scorers off a team that finished last 26-9 overall and 12-6 in the ACC, Florida State was expected to take a little bit of a step back as it tried to replace some of its production.

But, the Seminoles are off to a good start including a win over then No. 5 Florida. Duke awaits Florida State, so Leonard Hamilton’s group will be tested right out of the gate.

Matchup(s) against Notre Dame: Feb. 10 (South Bend)

Top Players: G Josh Okogie (18.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG), G Tadric Jackson (15.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG), G Jose Alvarado (13.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG), F Ben Lammers (13.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG), G Curtis Haywood II (8.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.5 APG)

Season To Date: Georgia Tech has lost five of its last seven heading into its ACC opener against Notre Dame including losses to Grambling State, Wofford and Wright State.

The Yellow Jackets though have dealt with suspensions and injuries including Okogie and Jackson. That has resulted in the team averaging just 67.2 points per game (No. 309), but the team’s defense has been strong allowing 64.8 (No. 39). Teams will aim to take Okogie and Lammers each night to limit Josh Pastner’s unit.

Matchup(s) against Notre Dame: Dec. 30 (South Bend), Jan. 10 (Georgia Tech)

Top Players: F Deng Adel (15.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG), G Quentin Snider (11.8 PPG, 3.9 APG), F Ray Spalding (10.8 PPG, 9.7 RPG), F V.J. King (9.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG), F Anas Mahmoud (8.4 PPG, 6.7 RPG)

Season To Date: Oh, what to say about Louisville. The Cardinals are down Rick Pitino and star freshman forward Brian Bowen due to the FBI investigation into college basketball recruiting. Nonetheless, Louisville is off to a rocky start to a degree as the Cardinals have lost to arguably the top three teams on its non-conference schedule: Purdue (66-57), Seton Hall (79-77) and Kentucky (90-61).

David Padgett and the Cardinals will have their hands full in ACC play, but still have plenty of talent to cause damage.

Matchup(s) against Notre Dame: Jan. 16 (South Bend)

Top Players: F Dewan Huell (13.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG), G Dejan Vasiljevic (11.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG), G Bruce Brown Jr. (11.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 4.5 APG), G Ja’Quan Newton (10.1 PPG, 2.9 APG), G Lonnie Walker IV (8.5 PPG)

Season To Date: Miami was one of the last few unbeaten teams in college basketball before falling to a solid New Mexico State team in Hawaii. The Hurricanes bounced back with a close win over Middle Tennessee State. Jim Larranaga’s group has a signature win over then-No. 12 Minnesota on the road in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge.

Like Notre Dame, Miami was a team that some felt could cause some noise in the ACC this season.

Matchup(s) against Notre Dame: Feb. 19 (South Bend)

Top Players: F Luke Maye (18.5 PPG, 10.5 RPG), G Joel Berry (17.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 3.3 APG), G Kenny Williams (12.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG), F Cameron Johnson (12.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG), G Theo Pinson (9.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.4 APG).

Season To Date: It’s been somewhat of an up-and-down season for the defending national champions. The Tar Heels ran into a buzz saw against Michigan State early in the season falling 63-45.

North Carolina bounced back taking down Michigan in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge and Tennessee before falling at home to Wofford (79-75). Berry remains a threat offensively while Maye and Williams have taken a step up in their production. Johnson, a Pittsburgh transfer, adds another scoring threat after returning from injury.

Defeating the Tar Heels will be no easy task for any ACC team.

Matchup(s) against Notre Dame: Jan. 13 (South Bend), Feb. 12 (Chapel Hill)

Top Players: G Allerik Freeman (15.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.7 APG), G Torin Dorn (14.0 PPG, 7.6 RPG), F Lennard Freeman (12.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG), F Omer Yurtseven (11.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG), G Braxton Beverly (9.9 PPG, 4.5 APG).

Season To Date: Kevin Keatts and the Wolfpack have had some ups and downs so far in 2017. The ups include a win over then-No. 2 Arizona (90-84), but the downs include a 3-3 stretch with a loss to UNC Greensboro (81-76) and Northern Iowa (64-60).

Growing pains were expected for NC State in year one of the Keatts era, but the team ranks No. 23 in the country averaging 86 points per game. The team did just lose starting guard Markell Johnson to suspension, so the team will have to replace his 8.7 points and 6.6 assists.

Matchup(s) against Notre Dame: Jan. 3 (South Bend), Feb. 3 (Raleigh)

Top Players: G Jared Wilson-Frame (12.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG), F Ryan Luther (12.7 PPG, 10.1 RPG), G Marcus Carr (11.8 PPG, 4.1 APG), G Shamiel Stevenson (9.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG), G Jonathan Milliagan (7.2 PPG)

Season To Date: Pittsburgh entered the season with 11 new faces on its roster including 10 who were able to play this season. The Panthers started off 1-4 before winning seven of its final eight non-conference games to enter ACC play 8-5. All seven wins games against mid-major programs with the lone loss being to rival West Virginia.

Kevin Stallings and his team will have their work cut out for them in ACC play especially with Luther still out with an injury. Luther, who is dealing with a stress fracture, has missed about two weeks of action and his status is still uncertain. The Panthers may wind up fighting to stay out of the cellar.

Matchup(s) against Notre Dame: Feb. 28 (South Bend)

Top Players: G Tyus Battle (20.1 PPG), F Oshae Brissett (15.2 PPG, 10.0 RPG), G Frank Howard (15.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 6.2 APG)

Season To Date: Like most Syracuse teams, this year’s version shines on the defensive end allowing 62.7 points (No. 22). The Orange have wins over former Big East counterparts Georgetown and Connecticut along with a win over Maryland.

Jim Boeheim’s group will look to bounce back against Virginia Tech in their ACC opener after falling to St. Bonaventure recently before taking down Eastern Michigan. Syracuse will need to get more from its players outside of the top trio of Battle, Brisett and Howard.

Matchup(s) against Notre Dame: Jan. 6 (Syracuse)

Top Players: G Kyle Guy (16.1 PPG), G Devon Hall (12.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.8 APG), G Ty Jerome (7.9 PPG, 2.6 APG), F Isaiah Wilkins (7.3 PPG, 6.9 RPG).

Season To Date: Virginia is still Virginia. The Cavaliers average 72.1 points per game (No. 236), but allow just 52.3 points which is the best mark in the country. Virginia may not score many points, but Tony Bennett’s group is efficient on that end of the court on top of being completely suffocating defensively.

Virginia doesn’t have a signature win and lost to the lone top 25 team they faced during their non-conference slate: then-No. 18 West Virginia (68-61).

Matchup(s) against Notre Dame: March 3 (Charlottesville)

Top Players: G Ahmed Hill (16.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG), G Justin Bibbs (15.0 PPG), F Kerry Blackshear Jr. (12.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG), G Nickeil Alexander-Walker (12.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG), G Justin Robinson (10.5 PPG, 5.7 APG), F Chris Clarke (8.9 PPG, 7.1 RPG)

Season To Date: Buzz Williams’ group is one of the top scoring teams in the nation so far this season putting up 91.3 points per contest to rank No. 6 in the country. The team is also 59th in defensive efficiency per kenpom.com.

The Hokies are still looking for that “signature win” but has defeated Washington (103-79), Iowa (79-55) and Ole Miss (83-80). Their first ACC test is in the opener against rival Virginia. Virginia Tech’s guard play will be key for their overall success in the league.

Matchup(s) against Notre Dame: Jan. 27 (South Bend)

Top Players: G Keyshawn Woods (16.0 PPG), G Bryant Crawford (15.3 PPG, 4.7 APG), F Doral Moore (10.5 PPG, 7.6 RPG), G Mitchell Wilbekin (9.4 PPG), G Brandon Childress (9.2 PPG, 3.5 APG)

Season To Date: It’s been a tough season for Danny Manning’s group so far. The Demon Deacons started the season 1-4 with losses to Georgia Southern (85-83), Liberty (79-66), Drake (77-74) and Houston (78-73).

Wake Forest may need to finish above .500 in the ACC or at least pick up a few key wins to make the NCAA Tournament. Danny Manning will count on his guard play to accomplish that goal.

Matchup(s) against Notre Dame: Feb. 24 (Winston-Salem)

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