Busting Brackets
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ACC Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview and predictions

By Bill McCarthy

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 07: Souvenir basketballs are displayed for sale at the New York Life 2017 ACC Tournament logo at center court at Barclays Center on March 7, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 07: Souvenir basketballs are displayed for sale at the New York Life 2017 ACC Tournament logo at center court at Barclays Center on March 7, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – MARCH 07: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals draws a foul from Mamadi Diakite #25 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on March 7, 2020 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – MARCH 07: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals draws a foul from Mamadi Diakite #25 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on March 7, 2020 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

Key players

Vernon Carey Jr. — Duke

2019-20 Stats: 17.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 57.7% FG%

Carey isn’t as athletic or heralded as past Duke one-and-dones like Zion Williamson and Marvin Bagley III, but the freshman center leads the ACC in field-goal percentage and player-efficiency rating. A strong rebounder who can finish in several ways at the rim, Carey registered 15 double-doubles and 10 games with at least 20 points and 10 boards this season.

Carey enters the tournament as a top-five finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award, given to the nation’s best center, and a top-10 semifinalist for the Naismith player of the year award. He was also named the ACC freshman of the year.

Jordan Nwora — Louisville

2019-20 Stats: 18 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, 40.2% 3P%

Nwora entered the season as the preseason favorite to win ACC player of the year after taking home the conference’s most improved player award last season. A high-IQ forward, Nwora scored nearly 17 points per game in conference play. The third-year star is at his best when he can spot up for open 3-point shots, where he’s shooting at around a 40% clip.

After testing the NBA waters, Nwora also improved his defense and became more capable of creating his own shot off the dribble. When Nwora is hot, Louisville is tough to beat. That’s why he’s one of five finalists for the Julius Erving award for college basketball’s top small forward.

Tre Jones — Duke

2019-20 Stats: 16.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 6.4 APG, 1.8 SPG

Carey might be Duke’s best player, but Jones is the Blue Devils’ most important piece. The sophomore captain and floor general is known for his pesky point-of-attack defense, but he has also morphed into an elite offensive talent and is Duke’s career leader in assist-to-turnover ratio.

Jones was named a top-10 semifinalist for defensive player of the year and a top-five finalist for the Bob Cousy award, given to the nation’s best point guard. He was also named the ACC player of the year and defensive player of the year. The Blue Devils are strongest when he’s getting out in transition and generating open-shot opportunities for his teammates.

John Mooney — Notre Dame

2019-20 Stats: 16.5 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 1.8 APG

A walking double-double, Mooney is leading the ACC in rebounding for the second straight season. The senior big man flies under the radar, but he is as dangerous in the low-post as any player in the country, due in large part to his positioning and quick hands.

With Notre Dame on the NCAA Tournament bubble, expect Mooney to be especially motivated this postseason. The Fighting Irish haven’t made the big dance since Mooney’s freshman year.

Mamadi Diakite — Virginia

2019-20 Stats: 13.7 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.3 BPG

One of the heroes from Virginia’s 2018-19 championship run, Diakite is the Cavaliers leading scorer and one of the top defenders in all of college basketball. The 6-foot-9-inch senior forward from Guinea was named a top-10 semifinalist for defensive player of the year after leading the ACC in defensive win shares and blocking 1.4 shots per game in conference play.

Trent Forrest — Florida State

2019-20 Stats: 11.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.9 SPG

Forrest is the emotional leader and most valuable player on a Florida State team that started the season unranked before climbing up the AP poll and the ACC standings. The senior point guard is a menace on defense, where he’s averaging 2.2 steals per game in conference play.

A key contributor for four seasons and a starter for two, Forrest is a major reason why Florida State has found so much recent success — including three NCAA Tournament appearances and two school records for regular-season ACC wins. The senior star isn’t afraid of the big moment, either. Last week, his late-game heroics downed Notre Dame on the road.

Markell Johnson — NC State

2019-20 Stats: 13 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.9 SPG

Johnson, a senior point guard, is one of the ACC’s most dynamic offensive threats and a star with big-time takeover potential. In NC State’s rout of Duke earlier this season, he shot 5 for 6 from beyond the arc and scored a season-high 28 points.

Johnson is leading the ACC in assists per game this season, and he has shot 34.6% from deep for his career. If NC State makes a run in the tournament, it’ll be because he catches fire.

Cole Anthony — North Carolina

2019-20 Stats: 19.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.4 SPG

In what’s been a down year for North Carolina, freshman point guard Cole Anthony has been putting up big scoring nights but shooting just 38.8% from the field. Despite his personal and team struggles, Anthony is still widely projected to be a lottery pick in the 2020 NBA draft. His explosiveness, body control and speed on the open floor make him a highlight machine.

Devin Vassell — Florida State

2019-20 Stats: 12.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 1 BPG, 41.5 3P%

Vassell, a 6-foot-6-inch sophomore guard, has seen his NBA draft stock soar in his second season with the Seminoles. After filling a 10-minute rotation role as a freshman, Vassell landed a starting role this season and now leads the Seminoles in both scoring and rebounding.

A potential lottery pick in the 2020 NBA draft, Vassell might be the best three-and-D prospect in all of college basketball, let alone the ACC. The sophomore averaged 1.4 steals and one block per game this season while shooting 41.5% from beyond the arc. When he and Forrest are both clicking, Florida State is as dangerous as any team in the country.

Aamir Simms — Clemson

2019-20 Stats: 13 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.6 APG

Clemson knocked off Duke, Florida State and Louisville this season in large part because of junior forward Aamir Simms, who averaged more than 14 points, six rebounds and five assists in those three contests. A strong athlete, Simms excels at finishing through contact. But he’s also a smart passer and decent 3-point shooter, so he can punish defenses in multiple ways.

Elijah Hughes — Syracuse

2019-20 Stats: 18.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.1 SPG

Hughes, a 6-foot-6-inch junior wing, enters the ACC Tournament as the ACC’s leading scorer. Always a capable spot-up shooter, Hughes has transformed into an all-around star who can beat defenders off the dribble and finish in a variety of ways. His breakout season has caught some NBA attention, and a solid ACC Tournament could further boost his draft stock.