Busting Brackets
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ACC Basketball: Duke clear ahead, Pitt dead last in latest power rankings

By Tristan Freeman

Nov 26, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Trevor Keels (1) applauds as Duke Blue Devils forward Wendell Moore Jr. (0) is named Most Valuable Player of the Continental Tire Challenge after the Blue Devils defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 84-81 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Trevor Keels (1) applauds as Duke Blue Devils forward Wendell Moore Jr. (0) is named Most Valuable Player of the Continental Tire Challenge after the Blue Devils defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 84-81 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan State’s Max Christie Louisville’s Noah Locke 211201 Msu Lville 010a
Michigan State’s Max Christie Louisville’s Noah Locke 211201 Msu Lville 010a /

5-2. . Cardinals . 7. team. 438.

Welcome back head coach Chris Mack, just coming off a 6-game suspension to start the season due to the shenanigans involving former assistant Dino Gaudio from the offseason. Nothing much happened while he was gone, including anyone from the roster emerging as a go-to player.

The Cardinals certainly had a lot of depth on paper to start the season thanks to a number of transfers and so far, former Florida Gator Noah Locke is the lone double-digit scorer on the season, averaging 11.1 ppg. They’re fairly strong in the frontcourt collectively, with the return of center Mark Williams (8.3 ppg and 9.6 rpg), Jae’lyn Withers, and Samuell Williams, as well as Miami stretch forward Matt Cross in the rotation.

The issue has been at point guard, with the team going with a group effort to replace Carlik Jones. Marshall transfer Jarrod West (6.9 ppg and 3.4 apg) has been getting the starts, while Western Carolina/Colorado transfer Mason Faulkner backing him up. With El Ellis also getting minutes and Dre Davis currently looking like the top perimeter option next to Locke, there is a lot to sort out with a roster featuring a lot of solid players but no true stars.

Losing at Michigan State on the road and at Furman in overtime is nothing to be ashamed of, while wins over Mississippi State and Maryland are solid but not signature resume-builders at the moment. This is a team whose depth will be helpful throughout the year but having just one double-digit scorer will get them exposed against better teams.

But who will step up? That was the question in the preseason and so far, that hasn’t been answered as league play starts.