A Look At ACC WBB -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 How Are The Cards WBB Foes Doing So Far? 

With Louisville WBB and Volleyball not playing until Thursday, I thought today would be a good day to catch up on how some of our 14 ACC foes are doing so far this season in hoops. It is interesting to note that two schools are still undefeated (North Carolina 9-0 and Duke 8-0) and only one school is below .500 (Virginia 3-7). In all fairness, four conference gams have been played as well...so far, with NC State and Notre Dame at 1-0, Syracuse at 1-1 and Pitt and Clemson at 0-1. 

So, here we go:

NORTH CAROLINA 9-0

The Tar Heels are off to a fine start, playing a fairly rough pre-conference slate. Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby are leading UNC in scoring, a couple of sophomore guards for Courtney Banghart. It looks like all is well in the post-Janelle Bailey era

KEY WINS: Washington, VCU, Minnesota

KEY LOSSES: none

DUKE 8-0

Kara Lawson has her collection of returnees and transfer portal players (including Elizabeth Balogun and Nyah Green) doing some great things so far. Miela Goodchild and Vanessa DeJesus are the leading scorers. Former Card Balogun is averaging 8.5 in eight games and Green 4.0 in four games. Duke does have a tough one coming up  -- against #1 South Carolina. 

KEY WINS:  Dayton, Alabama, Iowa

KEY LOSSES: none

WAKE FOREST  9-1

Jen Hoover's Deacs are having an impressive pre-season. The Ivana Raca/Gina Conti era is over, but returning sophomore guard Jewel Spear is really lighting it up for the Winston-Salem school. Christina Morra is back also and having a good scoring/rebounding season. 

KEY WINS:  East Carolina, UNC Charlotte

KEY LOSS:  Nebraska

NC STATE 10-1

Wes Moore has the Wolfpack rolling and has faced a pretty tough slate preseason to get to 10-1. "Big Smile" Elissa Cunane leads the scoring, but Jakia Brown-Turner, Jada Boyd, Kayla Jones and Raina Perez are all over double figures as well. 

KEY WINS: Indiana, Maryland, Kansas State

KEY LOSS:  South Carolina

GEORGIA TECH 8-2

Nell Fortner has developed quite a strong team down in Hot 'lanta.and Nerea Hermosa, Eylia Love, Lotta-Maj Lahtinen, Digna Strutmane and Lorela Cubaj did beat the Paige "Buckets"-less U Conn Huskies. 

KEY WINS: UConn, Belmont, Georgia

KEY LOSSES: Purdue, Auburn 

NOTRE DAME 9-2

The Irish have impressed in the non-conference schedule and did thump Syracuse pretty handily early in the schedule at Syracuse. Familiar names Maddie Westbeld, Sonja Citron, Olivia Miles and Dara Mabrey are all in double figures for Coach Ivey. And...(darn-it)...they recently beat Purdue Fort Wayne and one of our favorite Crdinal Couple mascots --  Don the Mastadon.

KEY WINS:  Syracuse, Michigan State, Oregon State

KEY LOSSES:  UConn, Georgia

BOSTON COLLEGE 7-2

A bit of a surprise to me with the early success, but the Eagles do have veterans Taylor Soule, Cameron Swartz, Makaya Dickens and Marnelle Garraud back. It'll be interesting to see if their winning ways continue once ACC play begins. The non-conference slate hasn't been all that impressive.  

KEY WINS:  Penn State, Providence, Northeastern

KEY LOSSES: Boston University, VCU

So, there you have how the best eight (including Louisville) in the ACC, so far, are faring. Miami, Florida State, Pitt and Virginia Tech have three losses. Clemson is at 5-4, Syracuse at 7-4 and lackluster Virginia sits at 3-7.

Jared will have Cards Volleyball and WBB previews for you tomorrow. Louisville beings EKU into the KFC YUM! Center on Thursday and Volleyball is in the NCAA Tournament semifinals versus Wisconsin. 

paulie  

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