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ACC Basketball questions: Biggest surprise, Player of the Year picks

By Tristan Freeman

Dec 6, 2022; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Kihei Clark (0) reacts with Cavaliers guard Isaac McKneely (11) after their game against the James Madison Dukes at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2022; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Kihei Clark (0) reacts with Cavaliers guard Isaac McKneely (11) after their game against the James Madison Dukes at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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ACC Basketball Notre Dame Fighting Irish Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
ACC Basketball Notre Dame Fighting Irish Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Which team has been the biggest disappointment so far?

Heiser

I’ll take Florida State. I thought Leonard Hamilton would bounce back after a disappointing campaign riddled with injuries, but it appears the Seminoles are going to miss the NCAA Tournament yet again. One of the biggest issues of late has been their defense. In each of the five years from 2017-21, FSU registered a top-40 defense per KenPom. In 2022, they finished outside the top 100. The 2022-23 Seminoles currently sit at 198th in the country for defense. Yikes.

Glasscox

Notre Dame starting the ACC season 0-4 has to be the biggest disappointment, especially when you look at the competition. With losses to Syracuse, Florida State, and Boston College it’s a fair question to ask what has gone wrong thus far in South Bend. They start 4 seniors and a consensus top-25 recruit in JJ Starling, making their struggles even more head-scratching. Notre Dame was ranked 6th in the ACC preseason and had March Madness aspirations, they better get hot quickly if they want to even make the NIT at this point.

McCormick

Notre Dame edges out North Carolina as the biggest disappointment so far this season. The Irish returned three starters and brought in five-star guard JJ Starling, but outside of their big home win over Michigan State, nothing really else has gone their way.  The Irish need to find some answers on the defensive end of the court or it’s going to get even uglier the rest of the way.