Compare to Caulton Tudor's All-ACC picks
As a voting member of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association, here's what I turned in today for the postseason ACC awards.
There are a few places where Tudor and I disagree, most notably on the first team. I went with Boston College's Reggie Jackson over his selection, North Carolina's Tyler Zeller.
My logic on Jackson over Zeller: Jackson was an impact player this season, the biggest reason why the Eagles were surprisingly competitive under first-year head coach Steve Donahue. Zeller, while playing on a far better team, went through long stretches of the season where he wasn't taking control of games the way he's capable of doing. His improved play has gone hand-in-hand with post-mate John Henson's improvement, but for me, Henson is more of a game-changer than Zeller, who is certainly worthy of first-team selection but loses out on my ballot -- as does Maryland's Jordan Williams, also a contender for this spot.
Forwards Jerai Grant and Reggie Johnson make my ballot on the third team over Seth Curry and Kendall Marshall, Tudor's second-team picks. I just feel like someone needs to recognize the forwards who don't have big scoring numbers, and I have no doubt Curry and Marshall will receive plenty of support.
I went with Chris Singleton of Florida State over Henson for defensive player of the year. That's a coin flip, really, and many voters will probably chose Henson because Singleton missed the final five games of the ACC season with a broken foot. But if he'd missed five games in October, no one would be saying that, and Singleton is capable of guarding everyone from point guards to 7-foot centers. Henson is a dominant force in the lane, but Singleton's versatility swayed my vote.
ALL CONFERENCE
First team
Malcolm Delaney, VT
John Henson, UNC
Reggie Jackson, BC
Kyle Singler, Duke
Nolan Smith, Duke
Second team
Harrison Barnes, UNC
Iman Shumpert, GT
Chris Singleton, FSU
Jordan Williams, Maryland
Tyler Zeller, UNC
Third team
Jeff Allen, Virginia Tech
Jerai Grant, Clemson
Reggie Johnson, Miami
Tracy Smith, N.C. State
Demontez Stitt, Clemson
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Nolan Smith, Duke
COACH OF THE YEAR: Roy Williams, UNC
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Harrison Barnes, UNC
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Chris Singleton, FSU
ALL DEFENSE
Erick Green, VT
John Henson, UNC
Kyle Singler, Duke
Chris Singleton, FSU
Tyler Zeller, UNC
ALL ROOKIE
Harrison Barnes, UNC
C.J. Leslie, N.C. State
Kendall Marshall, UNC
Travis McKie, Wake Forest
Terrell Stoglin, Maryland
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at (919) 829-8947, @LukeDeCock on Twitter or
Comments
ACC Picks
Mon, 03/07/2011 - 12:16 — tarheelyankLuke spent too much time in the NHL, he doesn't know enough about the ACC. When Drew left and Marshall took over as PG the Heels became the team we all thought they were going to be. Zoeller is a much better player than Delany or Jackson.
Marshall's play on Sat nite negated the fine play of Smith and Curry. Duke has no inside game, the 2 Plums and Kelly won't make one good player added together. Singler plays hard and sweats good, but he takes too many bad shots and doesn't make enough even when he is on. Very over-rated player, disappeared in his teams last few games.
Honestly
Sun, 03/06/2011 - 17:52 — Heels20I have to disagree with leaving Marshall off at least third team. Arguably the most valuable player of the regular season champs and you leave him off? I just have to disagree with that. The reason he'll be getting love from others is because he deserves it...
Agreed
Sun, 03/06/2011 - 18:07 — mad_maxI probably would have made room for Marshall on the 2nd team. Possibly 1st team if he had been starting all year.
Seriously?
Sun, 03/06/2011 - 17:18 — bridgmanACC leader in assists and most assists in the country per 40 minutes does not even make your third team? And you write about sports for a living???? Maybe you should switch to children's books or something you are actually qualified for.
But
Sun, 03/06/2011 - 15:15 — gvillegatrUnlike breakwind, I see HB did more than enough to move ahead of Iman and Allen. Said he would and he did. You should have spent your rime more wisely, Break Wind !!
Embarrassed
Sun, 03/06/2011 - 15:13 — gvillegatrI think you were too embarrassed to give all these worthy Tar Heels the nod over others. Henson BY FAR should be DPOY and Reggie Jackson had his fair share of "no-shows" as well. Specifically here towards the end.