Would Devon Daniels have made 1st-team ALL-ACC? Was Hellems snubbed from 2nd-team? The stats say PROBABLY.

If you. missed it yesterday, ACC coaches and a select group of media voted on the ACC awards. Here is who they chose for All-ACC first and second teams.

What do you know?! No NC State players. That’s a surprise.  Do you want to know what’s an even bigger surprise? No NC State players on the ACC third team either.

In fact, if you want to find an NC State player, you have to go down to the All-ACC honorable mention list, where you’ll finally find Jericole Hellems as the guy getting the second lo last amount of votes for that category.

Now look, we aren’t delusional here. No NC State player had the stats to be on the first team, but I think there’s a case to be made for Jericole Hellems not only making Third-team All-ACC, but him making Second-team.

Let’s first talk about the case of ACC player of the year,  Moses Wright of GT. This was a guy who nobody was talking about as ACC player of the year just one month ago, but some great games down the stretch, and things changed. They likely also factored in that GT has won 6 straight behind Wright.

Now, let’s look at Hellems. He wasn’t even a featured scorer until Daniels went down. Suddenly, he’s thrust into the role of not just go-to scorer, but also team leader. Sure, the first few games didn’t go so well, but since then, Hellems has led NC State to 5 straight ACC wins (and 5 straight road wins). So not only is Hellems putting up the numbers needed to be on 2nd team, but if we’re taking into consideration how well. your team has done over that span, well, he’s got that going for him too.

Now onto the most important part. The stats.

Let’s take bias out of this. I’m going to show you a group of stats. You tell me which 5 players belong on the All-ACC First Team, which 5 belong on the All-ACC Second Team, and which 2 players you are going to leave off. \

Ready? Go.

Player 1 18 ppg, 8.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Player 2 18 ppg, 11 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Player 3 18 ppg, 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Player 4 17 ppg, 4.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists
Player 5 16.5 ppg, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists
Player 6 15.9 ppg, 8 rebounds, 2 assists
Player 7 15.2 ppg, 3.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists
Player 8 15.8 ppg, 6.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Player 9 13.2 ppg, 6.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Player 10 13.1 ppg, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Player 11 13.1 ppg, 6.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists
Player 12 13.1 ppg, 2.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists

Ok, you got your list?

Now, let’s take a look at who those players are.

Player 1 18 ppg, 8.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists – Moses Wright, GT
Player 2 18 ppg, 11 rebounds, 1.6 assists – Justin Champagnie, Pitt
Player 3 18 ppg, 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists – Matthew Hurt, Duke
Player 4 17 ppg, 4.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists – Carlick Jones, Louisville
Player 5 16.5 ppg, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists – Devon Daniels, NC State
Player 6 15.9 ppg, 8 rebounds, 2 assists – Keve Aluma, VT
Player 7 15.2 ppg, 3.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists – Jose Alvarado, GT
Player 8 15.8 ppg, 6.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists – Sam Hauser, UVA
Player 9 13.2 ppg, 6.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists – Aamir Simms, Clemson
Player 10 13.1 ppg, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists – Jericole Hellems, NC State
Player 11 13.1 ppg, 6.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists – Jay Huff, UVA
Player 12 13.1 ppg, 2.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists – MJ Walker, FSU

Now go back and see the votes these guys got. You think they nailed it? Or are there some questionable votes out there?

It’s arguable but had had Devon Daniels not gotten hurt and continued his output, you could make the case that he was a First-team All-ACC player. It’s obviously a moot point, but it’s something that should be taken into consideration when judging NC State and Kevin Keatts. No other team has lost a player as significant as Daniels, and despite that, NC State has reinvented themselves and is the hottest they’ve been all season.

Meanwhile, what’s up with Hellems? First off, statistically, Hellems is more productive than Jay Huff and MJ Walker, both of whom made 2nd team All-ACC. No love? Only 13 overall votes?

And hey, I’m not saying Hellems should be a lock for 2nd team, but the fact that he didn’t make 3rd team, given his stats and given his team’s late run just adds to my skepticism around the media members they give votes to.