Don't overlook Yellow Jackets

CLEMSON -- In what many believe is a wide-open Atlantic Coast Conference race, might Georgia Tech be a contender?

The Yellow Jackets are coming off a win against No. 8 Duke and travel to No. 12 North Carolina on Saturday.

Georgia Tech is led by what might be the most imposing front line in the league. Yellow Jackets coach Paul Hewitt credits forward Gani Lawal's jump in production to better foul shooting as teams are not as quick to put Lawal (15.7 ppg) on the line. Heralded 6-10 freshman forward Derrick Favors leads ACC rookies in scoring (11.7 ppg) and rebounding (8.7 rpg).

Georgia Tech went 2-14 in ACC play last season.

Thumbs up

Greivis Vasquez

Maryland's do-it-all guard has scored at least 20 points in six straight games. Over the stretch Vasquez is averaging 24.2 points, 6.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game, making the case that he is the most versatile player in the conference.

Virginia

It may not last long, but under first-year coach Tony Bennett the Cavs are one of three undefeated teams in ACC play (1-0) joining North Carolina and Maryland. Sylven Landesberg has improved his outside shooting and UVA is turning the ball over an ACC-low 10.5 times per game.

The ACC

The conference might not produce a national-title winner again, but six of its 12 programs are ranked: No. 8 Duke, No. 12 UNC, No. 20 Georgia Tech, No. 23 Miami, No. 24 Clemson and No. 25 Florida State.

Thumbs down

N.C. State

The struggles continue in Raleigh. State is off to an 0-2 start and is the only ACC team averaging fewer than 70 points per game.

Boston College

Despite returning a veteran-laden team, the Eagles are just 10-6 overall and have already have lost to Maine, Harvard and Rhode Island. It doesn't get any easier as three of their next four games are on the road including a trip to Duke on Wednesday.

Kyle Singler

The Duke forward's numbers are down across the board. His shooting has fallen from 44 percent a year ago to 41 percent this season. His scoring is also down, 15.4 points per game down from 16.5 last year. He scored just nine points in Duke's loss to Georgia Tech on Saturday.

By the numbers

9 -- Wake sophomore Al-Farouq Aminu leads the ACC in rebounding and with nine double-doubles.

15.5 -- Clemson's all-time winning percentage against North Carolina. The Tigers are 0-54 at Chapel Hill, 4-33 at neutral sites and 15-35 at home.

20.2 -- Virginia Tech guard Malcolm Delaney's scoring average, tops in the ACC. Delaney returned from a sprained ankle to score 26 against UNC over the weekend.

He said it

Additional coverage
Clemson Tigers

"Maybe I overestimated where we were at the start of season. Now we are trying to go back and break it down. Not start all over, but reassess what we are trying to do." --Boston College coach Al Skinner on his Eagles' early-season struggles.

Trav's take

--The ACC might be more competitive, but don't be surprised to see North Carolina and Duke rising to the top again.

--Few ACC players are more enjoyable to watch than Malcolm Delaney, who is a threat to create and has great range on his jump shot.

--Underclassmen Ed Davis (UNC), Al-Farouq Aminu (Wake Forest) and Gani Lawal (Georgia Tech) all considered leaving early for the NBA, but all should be glad they stayed. The trio ranks 1-2-3 in the ACC in rebounding.

ACC Statistical Leaders

SCORING

1.Malcolm Delaney, VT 20.2

2.Jon Scheyer, Duke 20.1

3.Nolan Smith, Duke 17.8

4.Greivis Vasquez, Md. 17.6

5.Tracy Smith, N.C. State 17.6

REBOUNDING

1. Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake 11.6
2. Ed Davis, UNC 10.3
3. Gani Lawal, Ga. Tech 9.4
4. Tracy Smith, N.C. State 8.8
5. Derrick Favors, Ga. Tech 8.7

3-POINT SHOOTING

1. Nolan Smith, Duke .510
2. Sammy Zeglinski, Va. .508
3. Eric Hayes, Md. 472
4. Deividas Dulkys, FSU .457
5. James Dews, Miami .453

ASSISTS

1. Larry Drew II, UNC 6.3
2. Jon Scheyer, Duke 6.2
3. Greivis Vasquez, Md. 6.1
4. Ishmael Smith, Wake 5.9
5. Biko Paris, BC 5.4

Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/tiger_tracks.