ACC Roundup - Three Games For New Year’s Eve
And more on the Leonard Hamilton lawsuit
In Tuesday’s ACC Action, NC State visits Virginia, Wake Forest goes up to Syracuse ahead of the snow and Notre Dame jets down to Georgia Tech.
State is still working on its identity after last year’s tremendous postseason run. The backcourt has the potential to be solid but they’ve had a tough time replacing DJ Burns.
Virginia, however, has had to replace Tony Bennett, and that hasn’t been easy. Virginia’s pokey offense didn’t matter when the sticky defense kept the other team’s O suppressed. Those 49-34 scores were ugly but effective.
Now though, the other teams are scoring with much more ease and Virginia’s offense is still weak.
State’s defense, at its best, can be pretty savage so we’ll take the Pack here. We should remember that the last time these teams played, Michael O’Connell hit a thrilling basket to keep State’s season alive.
Until Syracuse gets JJ Starling back, we’re going to have a hard time favoring them in most ACC games. He’s just such a critical player for them.
Jaquan Carlos has done his best to step up but he’s just not as talented as Starling.
Chris Bell, the self-described best shooter in the ACC, is currently hitting 22 percent of his three point attempts and 37.9 percent overall.
Wake Forest has issues too but the Deacs are better balanced, deeper and healthier than Syracuse is. It’s a home game for the ‘Cuse and the Dome is a big advantage but we like Wake Forest here.
Like Syracuse, Notre Dame is missing its best weapon, in the person of Markus Burton.
He’s almost certainly out Tuesday, and while the Irish, currently 7-5, have struggled without him, they’re probably doing better than Syracuse is without Starling.
Sophomore big man Tae Davis has come along nicely this season, averaging 15.8 ppg vs. 9.2 last season. In his last five games, he’s scored 17, 14, 15, 20 and 24 points.
Braeden Shrewsberry still needs to develop the rest of his game, but he’s a highly dangerous three point shooter and a great complement to Burton when he’s available.
Georgia Tech has some talent, notably Baye Ndongo, who may be a first-round draft pick in June, but like most of his teammates, Ndongo is erratic.
We thought last season that Naithan George showed some stones but he’s been erratic as a sophomore. He’s still dangerous but he’s got work to do. Jaeden Mustaf is coming on fast as a freshman.
Our hunch is that this game is going to be won on defense and if that’s so, we’d bet (not literally but you get the idea) on Notre Dame.
Micah Shrewsberry has worked for some great defensive coaches in his career. His counterpart at Georgia Tech, Damon Stoudamire, has had his share too. He played for Lute Olson, who was an outstanding defensive coach, and like Shrewsberry, worked for Brad Stevens.
We just think Shrewsberry is better on that end than Stoudamire is, so we’ll take the Irish here.
The story of the day Monday was that six of Leonard Hamilton’s former players are suing him for not honoring NIL promises.
Apparently they’ll go to court with text messages from Hamilton and between Hamilton, the players and Will Cowen, who helps run FSU’s NIL collective.
In the papers filed, the players call Hamilton “despicable.”
There are four counts in the suit, according to Tomahawk Nation: “breach of contract, promissory estoppel (the recovery of promised damages), fraudulent misrepresentation and inducement, and negligent misrepresentations.”
There are some interesting details in this link, so we recommend you check it out.
If the stench sticks to Hamilton, it’s hard to see how he survives. First, he’s hit a rough patch at the end of his career. Second, he’s 76. And third, if his players sue him and then shame him in court as looks very likely, we can’t see how he continues as Florida State’s coach.
- Previewing Virginia basketball’s matchup with NC State
- NC State at Virginia: 3 thoughts, a bold prediction and more
- NC State Launches the ACC Season on the Road Against Virginia
- Balanced NC State takes aim at Virginia’s stingy defense
- Syracuse men’s basketball: what to watch for vs Wake Forest
- How to watch Syracuse basketball in ACC clash with Wake Forest on New Year’s Eve
- Syracuse still chasing signature win as Wake Forest visits
- Wake Forest Basketball vs. Syracuse Preview
- Notre Dame looks to extend winning trend vs. Georgia Tech
- Notre Dame plays Georgia Tech following Davis’ 24-point outing
- Six former Florida State basketball players sue coach Leonard Hamilton over failed NIL compensation
- FSU Responds To Lawsuit Filed Against Basketball Coach Leonard Hamilton
- Six former FSU basketball players sue coach Leonard Hamilton, alleging unpaid NIL compensation
- Leonard Hamilton being sued by ex-players over missed NIL payments, one being a former Wildcat
- Florida State athletics releases statement on NIL lawsuit against Leonard Hamilton
- FSU Responds To Lawsuit Filed Against Basketball Coach Leonard Hamilton