It's 'Year of the Sophomore' in ACC

Posted: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 3:49 PM
Filed Under: Links roundups, ACC

Sophomores are stealing the show this season. Guys like Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin, Arizona State’s James Harden, Pitt’s DeJuan Blair, Kentucky’s Patrick Patterson and Syracuse’s Jonny Flynn have all been among the nation’s top players. In fact, it’s a pretty nice starting five.

So why would the ACC be any different?

North Carolina’s loaded with upperclassmen, but the rest of conference is relying upon its sophomores to lead the way into March.

Wake Forest’s dynamite duo of Jeff Teague (perhaps the conference’s best all-around player; he’s second in scoring, sixth in assists and second in steals) and James Johnson have led the Deacons to a 9-0 start and a No. 10 ranking in the AP poll.

Duke features an outstanding sophomore pair of its own in Kyle Singler (love him) and guard Nolan Smith, who’s replaced Greg Paulus as the Devils’ starting point guard, much to the rest of the conference’s chagrin.

But other guys like Georgia Tech’s Gani Lawal, Virginia Tech’s Jeff Allen and Clemson’s Terrence Oglesby are among the standouts figuring to make this the “Year of the Sophomore” in the ACC.

• Ah, who am I kidding? It’s the year of Tyler Hansbrough. He’s about to pass Phil Ford for the top spot on the UNC career scoring charts. The question is, what kind of shot will put him over the top?
• One coach who could sorely use a dynamic sophomore or two? N.C. State’s Sidney Lowe. It’s bad when you’re staring at a losing streak to Eastern Carolina.
• Wish I had a "Baddass" name...
• Arizona finally agreed to give freshman Jeff Withey a release. Kansas and Indiana are both interested in the 6-11 freshman. The Wildcats (7-2) are faring well without Lute Olson, but interim coach Russ Pennell doesn’t want the job full-time. He doesn’t think he can bring in big-time recruits.
• Tougher rebuilding job: Obama and the U.S. economy or his brother-in-law Craig Robinson at Oregon State?
• Ohio State’s David Lighty is the one guy left from the “Thad Five.” (For those trivia-minded fans out there, the rest were Greg Oden, Mike Conley, Daequan Cook and JC transfer Othello Hunter) He’s also the driving force behind the Buckeyes’ 6-0 start.
• UCLA’s getting ready for a cream-puff schedule before Pac-10 play begins.
• In case you hadn’t heard, that Curry guy has a younger brother, Seth. The 6-1 freshman – who’s averaging nearly 22 points a game – is making a name for himself at Liberty.
• Kentucky is looking for someone – anyone! – who can make a 3-pointer besides Jodie Meeks.
• And finally, what happens when you average more than 31 victories a season for the past four years yet only start 5-2? Talk circulates about “must-win games.” Yeesh. To his credit, Memphis coach John Calipari says that kind of talk is ridiculous.

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