ACC Basketball: 2021 Conference Tournament preview and predictions
Key players
Sam Hauser – Virginia Cavaliers
2020-21 stats: 15.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.7 apg
The Marquette transfer was impressive in his first year with the Cavaliers. Along with center Jay Huff, the 6’8 power forward provided most of the offensive production all season long, including reaching double figures in all but one ACC game. The First-Team All-ACC performer shot 44% from three-point range and averaged over 21 ppg in the last four games, including 24 to clinch the regular-season title.
Matthew Hurt – Duke Blue Devils
2020-21 stats: 18.7 ppg, 6.1 apg, 1.4 apg
With Jalen Johnson gone, Hurt has been under pressure to provide a big chunk of the daily offense for the Blue Devils, as he’s been surrounded by very inconsistent role players. The sophomore forward and ACC Most Improved Player has been in double figures in all but one game this season, including a career-high 37 points a couple of weeks ago against Louisville. For Duke to have a shot at making a run, they’ll need him to go for 20+ every night.
Justin Champagnie – Pittsburgh Panthers
2020-21 stats: 18.4 ppg. 11.1 rpg, 1.6 apg
The season has been a big struggle for the team but Champagnie has put up some of the best numbers all season. The first in program history with back-to-back 20-point and 20-rebound games, the 6’7 forward led the ACC in rebounding and reached double-figure scoring in every game played this season. Had the Panthers finished higher than 12th, he may have won ACC Player of the Year honors.
Moses Wright – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
2020-21 stats: 18.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.7 bpg
Wright’s season started off with 31 points and 19 rebounds in a triple-overtime loss to Georgia State. The Yellow Jackets’ postseason hopes were hanging on a thread ever since, until a six-game winning streak to end the regular season. In that stretch, Wright averaged 23.5 ppg and 10 rpg, including a 29-point and 14-rebound effort in a massive win over Duke. His late-season performance gave him ACC Player of the Year honors and a likely trip to the Big Dance.
Carlik Jones – Louisville Cardinals
2020-21 stats: 17.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.4 spg
The Radford grad transfer has been one of the top impact newcomers of the season, putting up huge numbers on a consistent basis on a team that was ravaged with injuries. He had 20+ points five different times in 18 games, including a season-high 25 to beat Duke a little while ago.