1. Scott Wood may be the X factor for NC State this season. Wood is averaging just over eleven points per game, but hitting 45% behind the three point line opens the floor for CJ Leslie and Rodney Purvis to operate. NC State leads the nation in field goal percentage and Woods effectiveness behind the arc is allowing the slashers from NC State more driving lanes to the basket. If Wood continues his sharp shooting ways the Wolfpack will be a tough out for any opponent.
2. Boston College's Ryan Anderson may be the most improved player in the league. Anderson has increased his effectiveness in almost every category and the Eagles are going to need him in every game to have a chance of competing. Anderson lead Boston College in scoring at 16 points per game up from 11 last year, but more importantly the sophomore is hitting 53 percent of his shots as opposed to 43 as a freshman.
3. Luckily for Clemson we will not have to discuss the streak in Chapel Hill this season, but what we will have to discuss is their offense or lack there of. Clemson is averaging 65 points per game which is 250th in the country. The Tigers lost to Coastal Carolina this year which has four wins on the season and two of the teams they beat are not even linked by ESPN. When he Tigers and the Demon Deacons play it may be rated R and unsuitable for children.
4. Duke is ranked number one in the nation and deservedly so. The area to keep an eye on for the Blue Devils is rebounding because this is the one shortcoming that teams with big front courts may be able to take advantage of with Duke ranking 160th in the country with just over 35 boards per game. Mason Plumlee does a very good job on the backboard averaging over 11 rebounds per contest, but after him there is big dropoff to Ryan Kelly who likes to hang around the perimeter more than battle around the glass.
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| UNC Four Corners 1978 |
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