ACC Basketball: Analyzing each team's overall offense for 2020-21 season

ACC Basketball: Analyzing each team’s overall offense for 2020-21 season

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 10: Teammates Jordan Goldwire #14, Wendell Moore Jr. #0 and Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils react after a play against the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 10, 2020 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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CHAPEL HILL, NC – FEBRUARY 25: Devon Daniels #24 of North Carolina State University (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /

NC State Wolfpack

2019-20: 71.7 ppg in ACC play

NC State Basketball represents the largest improvement in offensive efficiency by jumping from eighth place last season, to fourth place for 2020-21. The reason is largely due to the return of DJ Funderburk (12.8 ppg) and Devon Daniels (12.7 ppg) who will both be returning to start for the Wolfpack this season.

While the loss of their starting backcourt in Markell Johnson (12.8 ppg) and CJ Bryce (13.3 ppg) will undoubtedly be felt, the remaining players will be able to compensate for the loss of scoring as will No. 67 on the 2020 RSCI, freshman point guard Cam Hayes.

Hayes can be everything Johnson was, especially with Funderburk still around to set screens and Braxton Beverly (7.1 ppg) extending the defense. At 6’1 Johnson used his quickness off the dribble to either get to the basket off a Funderburk screen or to get a larger defender off balance so he can attempt a three-pointer.

As the new starting point guard, the 6’3 Hayes will be just as effective off the dribble and can match Johnson’s 27 percent from beyond the arc. In order to keep senior Beverly Braxton (7.1) as a backup point guard and provide leadership off the bench, Daniels will move to the backcourt this season.

Daniels had almost similar three-point numbers as CJ Bryce last season and will be just as effective setting a stagger screen for Hayes with Funderburk, then open up on the wing as Funderburk rolls, thus giving Hayes two passing options if he does not take it to the rack himself.

As Coach Kevin Keats puts Daniels at his more natural spot, 6’7 ‘effort guy’ Jericole Hellems will get more than his 25.5 minutes last season to improve upon his 9.5 points while playing small forward with the majority of those points coming off the dribble into the paint, or to the perimeter after setting a screen fading

Manny Bates and DJ Funderburk only started eight games together, because Funderburk only started 15 on the season, but they will a lot more time together which will allow Coach Keats to have a high low to defeat zone defenses or to keep a post on the weak side for an easy pass after the guard comes off the screen from the other big man.