Former ACC Coaches and NCAA Tournament Contenders

Strategic Insights -

As the college basketball season heats up, a pair of former ACC coaches are making noise in the NCAA tournament picture. Georgia Tech's Bobby Cremins and Clemson's Cliff Ellis are both looking to lead their teams to the big dance. Meanwhile, other contenders like Coastal Carolina and Louisville are also making a push for a spot in the tournament.

Key Takeaways:

  • Former Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins' College of Charleston team is a contender in the Southern Conference after knocking off North Carolina earlier in the season.
  • Former Clemson coach Cliff Ellis' Coastal Carolina team is a favorite in the Big South and could become his fourth team to make the NCAA tournament.
  • Ohio State's Evan Turner is a leading contender for national player of the year, along with Illinois' Demetri McCamey, who had a standout performance against Michigan State and Wisconsin.
  • Rick Pitino's Louisville Cardinals had a major resume boost with their win against Syracuse, but still face a tough week ahead with games against Purdue and Michigan State.
  • Gonzaga's Elias Harris and Marshall's Hassan Whiteside are two players who have flown under the radar but are having strong seasons.
  • Stanford senior Landry Fields has truly blossomed as a top-flight scorer this season and deserves more publicity.
  • New Mexico coach Steve Alford has been proud of his team's strong resume, which includes wins against California, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Dayton.

Statistics:

  • 1996: The last time Georgia Tech's Bobby Cremins' team made the NCAA tournament.
  • 2003: The last time Clemson's Cliff Ellis' team made the NCAA tournament.
  • 3: The number of games Ohio State has won in a row in the Big Ten.
  • 9: The number of points Demetri McCamey scored against Ohio State, his lowest total of the season.
  • 27: The proposed date for the rematch between New Mexico and BYU at Provo, Utah.

Sources:

  • "Cremins' team knocks off North Carolina" (no specific source)
  • "Ellis' Coastal Carolina team favored in Big South" (no specific source)
  • "Evan Turner leads Ohio State to 8-0 start" (AP)
  • "Pitino's Louisville team wins against Syracuse" (AP)
  • "Gonzaga's Harris, Marshall's Whiteside having strong seasons" (ESPN)
  • "Stanford's Fields flourishing as top scorer" (San Jose Mercury News)
  • "New Mexico's Alford proud of team's resume" (Albuquerque Journal)