The 2018-19 college basketball season saw Virginia take home the national championship, marking the third time in the past five seasons an ACC team has finished March Madness on top. Andy Katz takes a look at five players who can help bring the trophy back to the ACC once again in the 2019-20 college basketball season.
AAC: Andy Katz on 5 players who can impact AAC play in 2019-20
1. Cole Anthony, 6-3, Fr., North Carolina
Anthony is replacing Coby White and Nassir Little. He’s the star of the Tar Heels. He will be the point, the playmaker and the scorer. He will be a candidate for national honors. And he will be the most important player on the Tar Heels and thus in the ACC. If he delivers, as expected, then the Tar Heels should be in the thick of the ACC title chase. The surrounding pieces are in place for another Roy Williams run. To dismiss Williams because he’s not overloaded with experience would be a mistake.
2. Tre Jones, 6-2, So., Duke
Jones decided to hang back and groom the next crop of Duke freshmen. Jones was the top on the ball defender last season and he returns to be the stopper for the Blue Devils. His numbers — 9.4 points, 3.8 boards, 5.4 assists and 1.5 turnovers a game — should all rise, well except for the turnovers. He was steady for Coach K and now that he has gone through one season he will be even more valuable.
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3. Steven Enoch, 6-10, Sr., Louisville
The easy answer here is to pick Jordan Nwora as the most important player from Louisville. But Enoch can be a game changer. He averaged 9.4 points and 5.2 boards in just 19 minutes a game. He will have to log more and continue to be a rim protector (blocking more shots would help although he alters plenty). If Enoch is a force inside then the Cardinals can have a difference maker in the chase for the ACC title.
4. Tomas Woldetensae, 6-5, Jr., Virginia
This could come as a surprise but the Cavaliers desperately needed to replace the shooting of Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy. The hope is that the Ottumwa (Iowa) Indian Hills Community College transfer will deliver. The Italian native averaged 17.3 points a game last season. He can shoot it in rhythm, handle the ball and get to the basket. Virginia has Braxton Key back and adds Casey Morsell to the perimeter to take feeds from point guard Kihei Clark. But if Woldetensae is a scorer in the teens and a top defender, then he could be a reason the Cavs are in the thick of the ACC championship.
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5. Trent Forrest, 6-4, Sr., Florida State
Forrest is one of the few members of the Seminoles returning who made a major contribution. Gone are Mfiondu Kabengele, Terance Mann and Christ Koumadje. Forrest’s numbers of 9.3 points, 4.5 rebound and 3.7 assists should all rise. Forrest will be counted on to lead Florida State to its usual place — in the NCAA tournament after being likely under-valued and under-appreciated during the regular season.
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