Busting Brackets
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ACC Basketball: Early grades for each teams 2023 offseason moves

By Tristan Freeman

Mar 16, 2023; Orlando, FL, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer looks on during the first half against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2023; Orlando, FL, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer looks on during the first half against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports /
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ACC Basketball Georgetown Hoyas guard Primo Spears Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

12. Florida State Seminoles – Grade: C-

To recap, the 9-win Seminoles had lost three players (Caleb Mills, Matthew Cleveland, and Naheem McLeod), to the transfer portal and added three players. One was a role player forward Jamir Watkins from VCU, La Salle guard and former A-10 6th Man of the Year Josh Nickelberry, and Primo Spears, who averaged 16.0 ppg and 5.3 apg at Georgetown but hasn’t been a winning player at the D-I level yet.

Judging these groups on their own and the former group is better. And that’s without even knowing if Spears will be eligible for next season since he’s a 2-time waiver. Having Jaylan Gainey back from injury and NBA prospect Baba Miller for a full year will improve the frontcourt but now the backcourt, especially not knowing Spears’ status, is now a question.

11. Virginia Tech Hokies – Grade: C

The team was going to lose its best player Justyn Mutts no matter what but leading scorer Grant Basile opting to leave early to go pro hurts. The transfer departure of starting wing Darius Maddox to George Mason also stung. The good news is the backcourt duo of Sean Pedulla and Hunter Cattoor gives them a floor.

The ceiling will depend on the trio of newcomers to boost the frontcourt. Mekhi Long is a mini-version of Mutts, while Robbie Beran is a career 6.2 ppg scorer in four years at Northwestern. If former top-75 forward prospect Tyler Nickel can be a breakout star after leaving North Carolina, the grade for the Hokies will be higher.