ACC team-by-team previews: Notre Dame, Duke battle for the top

Wake Forest

Projected finish: 12th

Last year’s record: 16-16, 6-10 ACC

Key Returners (last season’s stats)

G- Amber Campbell, 5’9, (Charleston, SC), SR- 13.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 34.0 MPG, only Deac to start all 33 games.

G/F- Destini Walker, 6’0, (Ossining, NY), R-SO- (‘15-’16 season) 4.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 17.2 MPG.

G- Kortni Simmons, 5’8, (Spotsylvania, VA), R-FR–  returning from foot injury.

G- Alex Sharp, 6’1, (Melbourne, AUS), SO- 7.4 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 33.4 MPG; ACC all freshman; gold medal in world university games.

F- Elisa Penna, 6’3, (Bergamo, ITALY), JR- 9.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 33.5 MPG.

Biggest losses (last season’s stats)

F- Milan Quinn, 6’1, (Charlotte, NC)

Newcomers

F- Raegyn Branch, 6’2, (Arlington, TN), R-FR– missed ‘16-17 due to injury.

F- Ivana Raca, 6’2, (Belgrade, Serbia), FR- two-time winner of Greek U18 Championship.

Head Coach

Jen Hoover, 6th Season

“We are looking to raise [the bar] to the next level. We can’t accept anything less on a day to day basis,” Hoover said.  “We want to be the next Wake Forest team to go to the NCAA tournament.”

Key non-conference games

Nov. 12– Seton Hall

Nov. 25- Minnesota

Nov. 30- @ Penn State

Outlook

Wake Forest has reached the WNIT two years in a row.  They are ready for the next step.

The Deacs have been plagued with the injury bug, but if healthy, this team is deep.

Wake Forest returns four of five starters.  Though true, the real excitement is the return of Kortni Simmons.  Simmons comes to the aid of Amber Campbell. “Me and Kortni have a great bond with each other. She gives me some leeway on the wing.” Campbell said. “She can be in charge and direct traffic.”

Known to be a rebounding team (see ex-Deacs Milan Quinn and active WNBA player Dearica Hamby), Hoover wants to focus on what they do best.

If Wake Forest can finish games and utilize their defensive strengths, they might just play in the main event come March.

Best case scenario:

Wake continues to surprise teams this year, as they did last year, beating teams like NC State.  They have a true point guard now, and Amber Campbell is playing her most comfortable game.  Their record reflects that. 

Worst Case Scenario:

Known to be plagued with player injuries, this year is no different. Wake struggles with numbers and can’t sustain muster up wins against deep-benched ACC opponents.

Pitt

Projected finish: 13th

Last year’s record: 13-17, 4-12 ACC 

Key Returners (last season’s stats)

F- Yacine Diop, 5’10, (Dakar, SENEGAL), R-JR- ’15-’16 season: 10.4 PPG, good for second leading scorer; missed last season due to injury.

G- Aysia Bugg, 5’7, (Chicago, IL), SR- 7.1 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 28.5 MPG.

F- Kauai Bradley, 6’0, (Chicago, IL), JR- 6.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 26.0 MPG.

F- Kalista Walters, 6’1, (Fleetwood, PA), JR- 7.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 23.4 MPG.

Biggest losses (last season’s stats)

F- Brenna Wise, 6’0, (Pittsburgh, PA)-transferred to Indiana; 14.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 29.5 MPG; leading scorer and rebounder.

C- Brandi Havrvey-Carr, 6’4, (Camden, NJ)- 9.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 22.0 MPG.

Newcomers

F- Danielle Garven, 6’1, (Toronto, ON), JR

Head Coach

Suzie McConnell-Serio, 5th season

“The biggest thing [is]  our team chemistry. Spending that much time together can make or break a team. It made us. There’s something very special about this team,” McConnell said. “I look forward to coming to practice. They compete, they fight, they take care of each other and theres a trust on the court that I haven’t seen in a long time with our team.”

Key non-conference games

Dec. 7 -@ West Virginia

Dec. 17- Penn State

Outlook

Last year, Pitt was plagued by injuries, while this year’s team is far deeper. Their summer international competition, in which they finished 3-0, also gave Pitt a clear vision of winning. 

Different players stepped up, including sophomore Alayna Gribble, who earned herself a starting spot in the summertime.

The return of Yacine Diop is also highly anticipated. Her coach said Diop “just makes things happen.”

Best case scenario:

Pitt capitalizes off the return of Diop and gets at least a .500 record.

Worst case scenario:

Diop, getting back into the groove, is not enough to steer this team to victory.

Clemson

Projected finish: 14th

Last year’s record: 15-16, 3-13 ACC

Key Returners (last season’s stats)

G-Aliyah Collier, 5’10 (Augusta, GA), JR- 10.0 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 25.5 MPG.

G-Danielle Edwards, 5’7, (Perry Hall, MD), JR- 9.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 32.3 MPG.

G- Francesca Tagliapietra, 5’9, (Carre, ITALY), R-JR- 5.4 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 21.0 PPG; returning from ACL injury in 2015.

Biggest losses (last season’s stats)

G- Nelly Perry, 5’10, (Camden, NJ), SR- 14.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 33.0 MPG; out due to shoulder injury.

Newcomers

C- Tylar Bennett, 6’4, (Redford, MI), FR- 90 scouts grade by ESPN

C-Jenise Strover, 6’1, (Phoenix, AZ), Fr-

Head Coach

Audra Smith, 5th season 

“I think we’ll be pretty good,” Smith said. “Because we are an older squad this year, we’ve had a lot of players step up and surprise me. I feel like we have a lot of depth on the perimeter so that we can pick up slack.”

Coach Smith put heavy emphasis on character translating to on-court play. “Rebounding: is all about heart and pride,” she said. “Once we saw adversity set in, we continued to fight.” She is placing more responsibility on the senior class, a luxury—the Tigers have not had a senior class in two years.

As far as team goals, Coach Smith said:. “Our team got a taste of winning…they were happy, but they were not satisfied [with the 15 wins]…That has motivated them and put them on a different level.”

Key non-conference games

Nov. 16 – South Carolina

Nov. 30- @Nebraska

Outlook

Last year, Clemson began the season 11-2, which is good for their best record through 13 games since 2003. The ACC campaign was another story.

Nelly Perry’s redshirt will deny the Tigers to be deprived their calming factor on the floor. Smith plans to replace her by committee. “Because we are an older squad this year, we’ve had a lot of players step up and surprise me. I feel like we have a lot of depth on the perimeter so that we can pick up slack from her.”

A point of emphasis in practice has been getting the ball to the post. Aliyah Collier will also be looked towards to protect the rim. Coach Smith half-jokingly dubbed her a post player at 5’9.

Best case scenario:

Clemson’s motivation comes from them being so close to a postseason bid last year. They capitalize on players embracing their roles with emphasis on improving their inside game. It pays off, and they hit the first .500 season under Smith.

Worst case scenario:

The loss of Nelly Perry impacts Clemson’s dynamic.  They aren’t able to compensate. They cannot pick up momentum after a non-conference schedule that damages their confidence.

Boston College

Projected finish: 15th

Last year’s record: 9-21, 2-14 ACC

Key Returners (last season’s stats)

F- Emma Guy, 6’3, (Penfield, NY), SO- 5.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 19.6 MPG.

F- Georgia Pineau, 6’1, (Victoria, AUS), SO- 7.5 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 27.1 MPG.

G- Taylor Ortlepp, 5’9, (Adelaide, AUS), SO- 7.3 PPG, 2.6 APG, 2.0 RPG, 24.5 MPG.

Biggest losses (last season’s stats)

C- Mariella Fasoula, 6’4, (Athens, GREECE)- 16.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 29.7 MPG

G- Kelly Hughes, 5’11, (Point Pleasant, NJ)- 11.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 35.4 MPG

Newcomers

G- Andie Anastos, 5’8, (Farmington Hills, MI), GR-former BC hockey player; captain two years; will add leadership.

G- Sydney Lowery, 5’10, (Shelton, CT), FR

G- Milan Bolden-Morris, 5’10, (Loxahatchee, FL), FR- Sun Sentinel All-Palm Beach 6A Player of the Year.

Head Coach

Erik Johnson, 6th season

Coach Erik Johnson is driving his program with one simple question: How do you flip 21 losses to 21 wins?

“We know the thing that held us back [last year] has everything to do with our toughness and our togetherness,” Johnson said. “We weren’t tough enough mentally and emotionally. 21 losses last year was not about talent; our culture needed to change.”

Key non-conference games

NOV. 19 -@ Minnesota 

Dec. 10- Seton Hall

Outlook

Boston College plans to utilize their newfound balance.  They want more ball movement overall this year and “more fire power on the perimeter.”

The sophomore class will be the driving force behind this team.

Best case scenario:

Coach Johnson’s methods of changing the culture of the team work and Boston College is able to secure a few ACC wins under the program’s belt. 

Worst case scenario:

The sophomore class doesn’t have enough court experience to carry the team to a significantly higher winning record. Boston College’s record does not improve.