HOOPS INSIDER INSIDE ONE OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL’S PREMIER CONFERENCES | COMPILED BY PATRICK STEVENS, SPECIAL TO GATEHOUSE MEDIA STORY OF THE WEEK RANKING THE LEAGUE * Duke, Notre Dame, Virginia win titles: Seven ACC teams entered the week undefeated, and three of them claimed 1. Duke (8-0): The Blue Devils looked vul- trophies last week as part of early season tournaments. Duke made it through the Motion Bracket of the PK80 nerable at times in all three of their PK80 Invitational unscathed, beating Portland State, Texas and Florida. Notre Dame rallied in the second half of the Maui Invitational games but ultimately snagged a Invitational final to take down Wichita State. And Virginia hammered Vanderbilt and Rhode Island in the Preseason tournament title. It might not be the last one NIT, then followed it up with a 49-37 suffocation of Wisconsin on the opening night of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. for a team littered with freshman stars. (Last week: 1) STOCK RISING STOCK FALLING 2. Notre Dame (6-0): There aren’t one-and- dones to be found on the Irish’s roster, just a Marvin Bagley III: The freshman N.C. State: It’s tough to pin too much lot of steady, savvy veteran players. Bonzie dominated the PK80 Invitational, on the Wolfpack after they opened Colson and Maui Invitational MVP Matt becoming the first player in Duke the Battle 4 Atlantis with a victory Farrell showed their mettle down the stretch against history to have consecutive games over then-No. 2 Arizona. Only the Wichita State. (LW: 5) with both 30 points and 15 rebounds. Wildcats lost their next two games These came against Texas and Florida in his seventh and N.C. State dropped games the following two days 3. Virginia (7-0): Any concern about the and eighth career games. Oh, and Bagley was sup- (against Northern Iowa and Tennessee). Then there’s inexperienced Cavaliers figuring things out posed to be a high school senior this year before his the bigger problem — the ACC combined for six losses on defense appear to be unfounded after yet late-summer decision to reclassify. His career is off the entire week, and doormat Pittsburgh accounted for another strong start in Charlottesville. (LW: 6) to a stellar start, and he was not oversold as a major two of them (North Carolina and Boston College each difference-maker when Duke landed him. Chances are, had one). So the Wolfpack gets this spot by default, 4. North Carolina (5-1): For all the times Roy this is the start of one the college basketball’s best even if they didn’t fall shy of expectations in the Williams has gotten the best of Tom Izzo one-and-done seasons. Bahamas. (most memorably in the 2009 NCAA title game), the Spartans were overdue to put a pounding on the Tar Heels. (LW: 2) WEEKEND SPOTLIGHT 5. Louisville (4-0): It’s tough to draw many conclusions about the Cardinals to this point. By this time next week, that will no longer be the case. (LW: 3) 6. Miami (5-0): The Hurricanes haven’t cre- ated many waves with their perfect start, and it could take some time for the back- court to fully jell. Still, Jim Larranaga’s team has handled its business in the early going. (LW: 4) 7. Florida State (5-0): A key early piece for the Seminoles has been veteran guard Braian Angola, who has provided some steady play as a key ball-handler. Tougher tests — including a trip to the O-Dome to face Florida on Monday — are on the horizon. (LW: 7) 8. Syracuse (6-0): Freshman Oshae Brissett has quickly emerged as an indispensable piece for the Orange, playing 40 minutes while rolling up a double-double against Maryland. (LW: 10) 9. Virginia Tech (5-1): The Hokies have a tricky test at Mississippi this weekend in a matchup of teams with potent offenses and questionable defenses. Expect plenty of points. (LW: 8) 10. Clemson (5-1): The last player to uncork a 26-point, 16-rebound game for Clemson before Elijah Thomas did it last week? Dale Davis, who pulled it off in the 1990 NCAA tournament against La Salle. (LW: 12) 11. N.C. State (5-2): Went 1-2 at the Battle 4 Atlantis, which was no surprise. Beat Louisville forward Deng Adel pulls down a rebound during the first half against Saint Francis Nov. 24 in Arizona, which was a surprise. Handed a ton Louisville, Ky. [TIMOTHY D. EASLEY/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS] of minutes to the recently cleared Braxton Beverly, which lands somewhere in the middle of the two. (LW: 9) Seton Hall at Louisville Weekend slate All times EST Sunday, 4 p.m. EST, KFC Yum Center, 12. Boston College (5-2): Clobbered at Provi- Time Game TV Louisville, Ky., ESPN2 dence in that annual series’ latest renewal, SATURDAY When fans recall great Big East rivalries which provides some cause to pause about Noon South Carolina St. at N.C. State RSN from yesteryear, this probably doesn’t make the Eagles. Nonetheless, this is still a better Noon Lehigh at VirginiaACCE the cut of the top 10 (or 50). But it sets up as team than the one that’s lingered at the bottom of the 2 p.m. Virginia Tech at MississippiSEC a fantastic game this season, as the veteran league the last two years. (LW: 11) 3:30 p.m. South Dakota at Duke ESPN2 Pirates (who have made the NCAA tourna- 4 p.m. Richmond at Wake Forest RSN ment the last two years) make the trip to 13. Georgia Tech (3-1): Tadric Jackson’s 5:30 p.m. Syracuse vs. Kansas (Miami) ESPN Louisville in interim coach David Padgett’s suspension is over the Yellow Jackets. Now, 7 p.m. Boston College at Hartford first high-profile game at home. The Cardi- they wait for Josh Okogie’s return and the 8 p.m. Miami vs. Princeton (Miami) ESPNU nals have shown signs of the defense that chance to realistically assess how good Josh SUNDAY defined them for much of former coach Rick Pastner’s second team in Atlanta can be. (LW: 13) 2 p.m. Tulane at North Carolina ESPN2 Pitino’s tenure, but the offense — especially 2 p.m. St. Francis Brook. at Notre DameACCE on the perimeter — has taken some time 14. Wake Forest (2-4): Edged UNC Greens- 3 p.m.UNC Asheville at Clemson ACCE to get going. Still, wing Deng Adel is off boro in their only game of the week. Defense 6 p.m. Tennessee at Georgia Tech ESPNU to an efficient start, and freshmen Darius remains a major concern for the Demon Perry and Jordan Nwora have impressed in Deacons, who get a disappointing Richmond reserve roles. A key for Louisville will be how forward Ray Spalding plays against a superb Seton Hall front- bunch at home this weekend. (LW: 14) court led by senior Angel Delgado. 15. Pittsburgh (2-4): Improved to 1-1 against the Patriot League with last week’s PLAYERS OF THE WEEK triumph over Lehigh. This is what qualifies as a good development for the rebuilding • F Marvin Bagley III, • F Bonzie Colson, Notre • F Luke Maye, North • C Elijah Thomas, Clem- Panthers. (LW: 15) Duke: Averaged 26.5 Dame: Helped the Irish Carolina: Averaged 17 son: Led the Tigers to a points and 13.3 rebounds sweep through the Maui points and 10.3 rebounds victory over Texas South- * Records through Nov. 27 to help the Blue Devils Invitational by averaging over four games as the Tar ern thanks to a 26-point, win four games in a span 20 points, 10 rebounds Heels beat Stanford, Port- 16-rebound, four-block of seven days. and 2.5 blocks over three land and Arkansas before outing against the games. falling to Michigan State. Tigers. 6x3 ad position.