ACC Basketball: Duke struggles without Zion, UNC and Virginia tied at top

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 05: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils watches his team during the second half of their game at against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 05, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 71-70. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images /

3. Leonard Hamilton pushing for ACC Coach of the Year

The Florida State Seminoles had this season’s biggest turn around in conference play, going from ninth in 2017-18 to fourth this year. Their overtime victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies on Tuesday night earned them a double-bye in the ACC Conference Tournament as the fourth place finisher in this year’s standings.

Don’t be surprised if head coach Leonard Hamilton takes home this year’s ACC Coach of the Year award after the job he’s done with this group. He’s suffered some roster turnover and then some to turn in a 12-5 record in league action in 2018-19. They’ve still got a game left on the schedule, but they won’t be an easy team to face come conference tournament time.

They’re one of the deepest teams in the conference and despite a 1-4 start in league play, they managed to turn things around and look to turn it into an ACC Conference Tournament Championship on the backend. The Seminoles are 11-1 in their last 12 ACC games, food for thought when thinking about the ACC Conference Tournament.