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• Boston College’s Olivier Hanlan leads ACC rookies in scoring with an average of 14.5 points per game. Rasheed Sulaimon trails him with 11.9 points per game, but that will rise after his career-high, 27-point performance Sunday. Hanlan scored 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
“There’s not another freshman that I’d rather have on my team than Rasheed,” Mason Plumlee said. “And that’s easy.”
Sulaimon has grown on the defensive side of the ball as well, drawing Florida State’s Michael Snaer and Virginia Tech’s Erick Green in recent games. Coach Mike Krzyzewski sees Sulaimon developing into one of the best on-ball defenders in the country.
“He should be a great defender,” Krzyzewski said. “This kid’s got it. God gave him long arms and 6-3 or 6-4 (height) and quickness, but it’s a process.”
• Plumlee scored 19 points on 11-of-15 shooting an added 15 rebounds, a new high during ACC play. Plumlee also had four assists against five turnovers, two steals and a block.
“Mason has been the most important player to any team in our league this year,” Krzyzewski said. “I think he’s been the best payer in our conference.”
Plumlee is certainly a contender for the ACC Player of the Year award, just as Sulaimon could win ACC Rookie of the year. Both face stiff competition, especially Plumlee, who would have to beat out Miami point guard Shane Larkin and Virginia Tech’s Erick Green, the nation’s leading scorer.
Laura Keeley
