ACC Morning Linkfest 12/13/2014 with Game Sim Predictions - SCACCHoops.com

ACC Morning Linkfest 12/13/2014 with Game Sim Predictions

by WebMaster

Posted: 12/13/2014 7:51:52 AM


The ACC, and North Carolina specifically, have a light shining on them today as the Heels travel to Rupp Arena to take on #1 Kentucky.  I'll get to that game in a minute, but first FSU received some bad news as Aaron Thomas has been ruled ineligible for the remainder of the season.  Thomas had been leading the Seminoles in scoring with 14.8 points per game.  Leonard Hamilton declined to comment on the situation in the school's release.  The timing couldn't be worse for FSU as they open up conference play at Notre Dame tonight.  

Back to UNC/Kentucky, which should make for an interesting Saturday afternoon matchup.  Kentucky has struggled at home on occasion, most notably with Buffalo and Columbia, but I would expect the Wildcats to be a bit more motivated today.  Kentucky will be playing their first game without Alex Poythress who tore his ACL and will miss the remainder of the season.  Poythress was perhaps the only true small forward that Calipari had on his roster, leaving a minor advantage for UNC.  North Carolina, on the other hand, has several players that fill that role.  Will Roy Williams be able to find a way to take advantage? 

UNC's biggest task will be hitting the boards, particularly on the defensive end.  Kentucky is the top offensive rebounding team in the nation, grabbing 46% of their own misses.  On the other hand, the Heels haven't been a good defensive rebounding team.  UNC has allowed teams to rebound 36% of their own misses, good enough for 299th in the nation according to Pomeroy.  The Heels have it in them to be a good rebounding team though.  Look no further than the other end of the court where UNC is the 5th best offensive rebounding team in the nation.  Look for Roy Williams to send a couple more guys to the defensive glass and sacrifice some of the transition opportunities that they usually get.

In other ACC action, Notre Dame hosts FSU in the conference opener.  As I mentioned previously, the Noles will be once again playing withour Aaron Thomas.  Thomas missed a couple games earlier in the season due to dizziness, which should help FSU a bit tonight versus the Irish.  Without Thomas and Devon Booker, who is still out after foot surgery, the Seminoles will have their hands full with Jerian Grant. 

One thing that will be interesting to watch is how the two teams matchup against one another.  Notre Dame has been playing with a small lineup a bit more with Pat Connaughton playing the power forward position.  Can FSU's size be a factor or will Notre Dame's ball-handling and quickness take advantage of that spot?

Pitt is also in action hosting St. Bonaventure today. 

Check out links, previews, and more below to get you ready for a full day of college basketball.

NCAAGameSim.com Predictions

UNC at Kentucky - Kentucky wins 71-64 Sim the game here

St. Bonaventure at Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh wins 69-64 Sim the game here

FSU at Notre Dame - Notre Dame wins 74-69 Sim the game here

View more predictions at NCAAGameSim.com

 Team Conf Pct Overall Pct
 NC State  1-0  1.000  8-1  0.889
 Virginia  0-0  1.000  9-0  1.000
 Duke  0-0  1.000  8-0  1.000
 Louisville  0-0  1.000  8-0  1.000
 Miami  0-0  1.000  9-1  0.900
 Notre Dame  0-0  1.000  9-1  0.900
 Georgia Tech  0-0  1.000  6-2  0.750
 UNC  0-0  1.000  6-2  0.750
 Clemson  0-0  1.000  5-3  0.625
 Pittsburgh  0-0  1.000  5-3  0.625
 Boston College  0-0  1.000  5-3  0.625
 Syracuse  0-0  1.000  5-3  0.625
 FSU  0-0  1.000  4-4  0.500
 Virginia Tech  0-0  1.000  4-4  0.500
 Wake Forest  0-1  0.000  4-5  0.444

Links

Yesterday's Games

Matchup  
 Charleston Southern 50 @ NC State 86  Box

Today's Games

Time Matchup TV  
 12:00:00 PM  UNC @ Kentucky  CBS  Preview
 2:00:00 PM  St. Bonaventure @ Pittsburgh    Preview
 8:00:00 PM  FSU @ Notre Dame  ESPN2  Preview

 

 Injury Report 
Darryl Hicks (BC)
Out - knee surgery, is out indefinitely
Idy Diallo (BC)
Out - knee surgery, is out indefinitely
Lonnie Jackson (BC)
Out - strained calf, is out indefinitely
Aaron Thomas (FS)
Out - dizziness, is out indefinitely
Devon Bookert (FS)
Out - foot, is out indefinitely
Shaqquan Aaron (LO)
Out - eligibility, will be eligible to return on 12/20 against Western Kentucky
Ivan Cruz Uceda (MI)
Out - eligibility, will be eligible to return on 1/13 against Duke
Luke Davis (NC)
Out - right foot surgery, will miss at least 2-3 months
VJ Beachem (ND)
Out - torn plantar fascia, is out indefinitely
Cameron Johnson (PI)
Questionable - undisclosed, is questionable for Saturday's game against St. Bonaventure
Cameron Wright (PI)
Probable - foot, is probable for Saturday's game against St. Bonaventure
Durand Johnson (PI)
Suspended - disciplinary, will miss the entire season
DaJuan Coleman (SY)
Out - left knee surgery, is out indefinitely
Darion Atkins (VA)
Questionable - bruised lower back, is questionable for Thursday's game against Cleveland State
Daniel Green (WF)
Out - knee surgery, is out indefinitely


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