Busting Brackets
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Duke Basketball: 3 takeaways from Duke’s home victory over Wofford

By Matthew Travis

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 22: The Duke Blue Devils mascot performs during the game against the North Dakota State Bison in the second half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 22: The Duke Blue Devils mascot performs during the game against the North Dakota State Bison in the second half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 05: Vernon Carey Jr. #1 of the Duke Blue Devils (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 05: Vernon Carey Jr. #1 of the Duke Blue Devils (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

3. Vernon Carey jr. might be the Best Player in the ACC

Vernon Carey jr. has arguably been the best player in the ACC so far this season and on Thursday night he continued to prove just that. With both Cassius Stanley and Tre Jones missing time over the past month, Duke has needed someone to step up and lead the team.

So far Vernon Carey jr. has been that guy. Thursday night was Carey’s eighth double-double of the season as he went for 20 points and 10 rebounds. This was also the sixth time Carey went for at least 20 points, further proving that he should be in the conversation for the ACC’s best player.

With the recent news that UNC’s Cole Anthony would be out at least four to six weeks, this opens up the conversation even more for the ACC Player of the Year Award and there is absolutely no reason Carey shouldn’t be in that conversation.

Carey is a top-five player in the ACC in four categories so far this season, points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage. He is the only player in the ACC to appear in three or more of the categories which just goes to show you how impressive ha has been.

Coming into the season no one expected him to even be in the conversation with players such as Cole Anthony, Jordan Nwora and Mamadi Diakite playing in the conference.

However, if Carey isn’t at the forefront of the conversation for the ACC Player of the Year Award come March, I would be very surprised.

Obviously, with ACC play getting into full swing in about two weeks we will be able to find out if he is capable of putting these numbers up against top opponents, but you should expect him to potentially get even better.

Carey had 26 points and 11 rebounds against Michigan State which was one of Duke’s biggest games of the season so far. This means that he is capable of putting up big numbers against big opponents and for that reason, I wouldn’t expect him to slow down at all against better competition.

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