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ACC notebook: Louisville team concept helps Durr, Evans earn ACC accolades

By Steve Bittenbender

COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 30: Asia Durr #25 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts after a missed shot to win the semifinal game of the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Final Four at Nationwide Arena on March 30, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. Mississippi St. defeated Louisville 73-63 to advance to the national championship. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 30: Asia Durr #25 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts after a missed shot to win the semifinal game of the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Final Four at Nationwide Arena on March 30, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. Mississippi St. defeated Louisville 73-63 to advance to the national championship. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /
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TALLAHASSEE, FL – JANUARY 13: Amanda Butler women’s head coach Clemson Tigers discusses a call with a referee during an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) match-up with the Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles, Sunday, January 13, 2019, at Donald Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by David Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL – JANUARY 13: Amanda Butler women’s head coach Clemson Tigers discusses a call with a referee during an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) match-up with the Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles, Sunday, January 13, 2019, at Donald Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by David Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Notre Dame’s Turner, Clemson’s Butler also earn awards

The Blue Ribbon Panel and coaches also honored Georgia Tech freshman Elizabeth Balogun as the Rookie of the Year and Clemson’s Amanda Butler as the Coach of the Year.

Balogun, a 6-1 guard, led the Yellow Jackets in scoring and her 14.8 average was also the best by any ACC freshman this season.

In her first year with the Tigers, Butler turned the Tigers around from an 11-19 program that lost 15 of 16 ACC games last season to an 18-win team this season on the brink of postseason play for the first time since they made the WNIT in 2004. Clemson’s nine ACC regular-season wins were its most since 2002, the last time the team made the NCAA tournament.

"“I’m grateful to each and every person that brought me to this point, from our tremendous administration to my fantastic coaching staff to our dedicated players and the rest of the Clemson family,” said Butler. “I’m so humbled to have had all this support as we have journeyed through this incredible season.”"

The coaches also honored Brianna Turner of Notre Dame with the Defensive Player of the Year award, while Miami’s Emese Hof received Most Improved Player.

It’s the third time Turner earned the award from league coaches. The 6-3 senior forward averaged a league-best 2.7 blocks per game while adding 37 steals.

Hof, a 6-4 senior post player, averaged 14.3 points, an increase of more than five points from her junior average. Her 59.3 shooting percentage also ranked second in the league.

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