After you are done reading this column, you'll probably get the sense that I'm really down on the Atlantic Coast Conference, and it's basketball product this season. It's no secret in national media circles that the conference isn't as strong as we are accustomed to, or as strong as it's perception. But for me, it's still the only conference where I can sit down and watch any two teams play and be content. So keep that in your mind as you move further down the screen.
When I looked at defensive stats across the ACC, it appeared as if folks were getting after it on D, and that was the cause for the lower scoring tilts. Only a young Wake Forest team is giving up more than 75 ppg on the year, and eight out of the 12 league members are surrendering less than 68 ppg in conference action. But the more I thought about what I've watched, and the more I compared individual defensive statistics to that of other players nationally - I realized the ACC is just offensively challenged. No one is playing superb defense, rather being the beneficiary of missed shots and sloppy play. Anyone watch FSU-Clemson this past weekend?
That being said, there are always a handful of players who are standing out for their defensive prowess; some of whom will help you across the board and some of whom are nice weekend additions if your league has daily roster moves. We'll start with the usual suspects, and move along to some "defensive specialists" who are relative unknowns.
Chris Singleton, F, Florida State
Singleton is the only ACC player in the top ten in both steals (2.1) and blocks (1.8). He's as close to a five category player as the conference has to offer, and is a regular in columns here. That said, his averages across the board have fallen tremendously in league play, so much so that he's only blocked eight shots in seven contests - three of which came in the opener against Clemson in December. He also hasn't scored in double-figures in three straight, suggesting he's hitting a wall. The overall numbers are there, so wait this one out.
John Henson, F, North Carolina
Whether you love or hate the Heels, it's hard to argue there being a more exciting player than Henson in the ACC. On the year, he's leading the league with 3.1 blocks per game, and swatted seven this past Saturday for the second time this year. If anyone is aware of a site that tracks shots altered, I'd love to see a number on Henson. Blessed with crazy long arms, the slender 210 pound forward can alter the game without ever touching the ball.
Iman Shumpert, G, Georiga Tech
If Shumpert could block shots, we'd have the leagues best fantasy player. Leading the league in steals at 2.75, he is also stuffing box scores across the board. Don't believe me, ask Seth Greenberg and the VaTech Hokies who saw Shumpert come three steals from a quadruple-double. Shumpert's appetite for thefts is so great that he's only had four games all year with less than two steals.
And now from the shockingly defensive category:
Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee, F, Duke
For as much flack as I give Duke, and their (lack of) big men, I was surprised to see not one, but two Devils in the top ten in blocks. Lets chalk it up to 5-foot-10 guards being afraid of the patented Duke flop, er charge, and hoisting up floaters in the lane to save them from ridiculous foul calls. Zing! Plumlee is second only to Henson with 2.4 blocks during league play, while Kelly checks in seventh, swatting 1.9 shots in seven games. Plumlee's other contributions have tailed off significantly since coming out of the gates swinging, mostly due to Kyrie Irving's injured toe. But Kelly hasn't gotten enough positive ink on our site to date. Though yet to have a double-digit rebounding effort, the light bulb appears to have gone off for the sophomore during January. He had a career-high 20 points against Wake Forest, and has played over 30 minutes in each of his last three games. This is a guy on the upswing, and the defensive stats are gravy.
Larry Drew II, G, North Carolina
Before I'm labeled a homer...I have to say I had no idea Drew was picking pockets as decently as he is. There's nothing sexy about his 1.2 average, but he's providing a slight uptick since conference play kicked off, giving owners 1.7 steals in six games, good for sixth in the league. I'm as surprised to see this as I am that Drew responded well to being removed from the starting lineup in favor of Kendall Marshall. Drew has 12 assists, eight steals and just four turnovers in his last four games.
Sadly, that's all I have in the shocking category. If you are looking for guys who won't hurt you and give you some steals to boot, look at Demontez Stitt, Erick Green, Nolan Smith, Malcolm Delaney...you know, above average and good guards. And if you need blocks, any of the big ogers clogging up lanes will do. Assane Sene, Daniel Miller, and Carson Desrosiers will do if you missed out on Jerai Grant or Bernard James.