ACC Basketball News & Notes: League Play Tips Off After Historic Non-Conference Run

Read Time:3 Minute, 39 Second

This past Tuesday night, the Atlantic Coast Conference officially ushered in another season of league basketball. The conference concluded its non-conference slate with a dominant 176–55 (.762) record. With only three non-league games remaining on the schedule, the ACC is currently on pace for its best non-conference winning percentage since the 2018–19 season (165–47). This marks a significant step up from the 2024–25 season, where the league went 130–69 (.653). Notably, 38 of those victories came against Power-4 opponents—the second-most in the country and a nearly 100% increase from the 20 wins recorded against top-tier schools a year ago.

Polls and NET Rankings

Four teams were ranked in the national polls as league play commenced:

Duke: #6 (AP) / #5 (USA Today)
North Carolina: #12 (AP & USA Today)
Louisville: #16 (AP) / #13 (USA Today)
Virginia: #21 (AP & USA Today)

The Monday NET Rankings further reflect the league’s depth, with eight teams currently sitting in the Top 40. Duke leads the way at #3, followed by UNC at #15 and Louisville at #17. The conference has already secured 16 Quad 1 wins, with the Blue Devils tied for the national lead with four. Furthermore, ten different ACC teams have recorded at least one Quad 1 victory, a mark tied for the most of any conference in the country.

Statistical Leaders: Powerhouses on Both Ends

As the conference schedule ramps up, two teams have established clear identities:

Duke (The Defensive Standard): The Blue Devils are the ACC’s premier defensive unit, allowing just 62.5 points per game. They boast the league’s best scoring margin at +24.58 and rank #1 in field goal defense, holding opponents to a staggering .362 shooting percentage through 12 games.
Louisville (The Offensive Juggernaut): The Cardinals lead the league in scoring at 91.5 points per game. Their ball movement is equally impressive, ranking #2 in assists (19.0 per game). They are also the most lethal threat from deep, having sunk 151 three-pointers in 12 games—an average of 12.58 per contest.

Game Recap: Louisville Snaps Cal’s Streak

The California Golden Bears entered Tuesday night as the owners of the league’s best unbeaten streak, having won nine straight games. However, that run came to an end in their conference opener as Louisville secured a convincing 90–70 road victory.

All five starters for the Cardinals reached double figures, led by a standout 26-point performance from Ryan Cornwell. Despite the loss, Cal saw four players reach double digits, headlined by Chris Bell with 20 points. The Golden Bears remain the league’s most efficient team at the charity stripe, entering the game shooting 78% from the free-throw line.

Individual Player Spotlights

Cameron Boozer (Duke): The freshman sensation currently leads the ACC in scoring at 23.25 points per game. He is also sixth in the league in efficiency, shooting .567 (97-of-171) from the field.
Caleb Wilson (UNC): Wilson has established himself as the conference’s elite glass-cleaner, averaging 10.85 rebounds per game. He is also a primary scoring threat, ranking sixth in scoring (19.5 PPG) and seventh in field goal percentage (.554). Wilson is particularly dominant on the glass, leading the league in defensive rebounds with 7.52 per game.

Weekly Honors

ACC Player of the Week: B.J. Edwards (SMU) Edwards put on a historic performance on December 29 against Cal State Fullerton. He recorded his second triple-double of the season with 21 points, a career-high 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and 5 steals. He shot an efficient 8-of-10 from the field and 3-of-5 from deep. Edwards is now only the seventh player in ACC history to record two triple-doubles in a single season.

ACC Rookie of the Week: Ebuka Okorie (Stanford). Okorie continues his stellar debut season, leading the Cardinal to a win over Cal State Northridge on December 28 with a 30-point outburst. He became the first ACC player this year to record back-to-back 30-point games. Shooting 9-of-18 from the floor with four triples, Okorie has climbed to #3 in the nation in scoring with an average of 22.8 points per game.

Stay tuned for more updates as ACC league play continues to heat up next week.