Blue Devil Country

ACC Overlooks Duke Basketball Sophomore in Player of the Week Battle

Duke basketball's Mark Mitchell sure appeared to put together an award-winning week, even if it wasn't in the ACC's eyes.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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By averaging 22.0 points and 10.0 rebounds while shooting 68.2 percent from the field in last week's defeats of Syracuse and Notre Dame, second-year Duke basketball forward Mark Mitchell demonstrated marked improvement from his previous string of relatively lackluster outings.

There's no denying that the 20-year-old has reemerged into a formidable force for the 11th-ranked Blue Devils (11-3, 2-1 ACC).

RELATED: Duke Enjoys Biggest Ranking Jump Among ACC Teams

Evidently, though, the ACC doesn't recognize Mitchell's individual performances from last week as one of the two best collections in the conference. No, this week's co-ACC Player of the Week winners, announced on Monday afternoon, are UNC graduate center Armando Bacot and Wake Forest sophomore guard Kevin "Boopie" Miller.

Bacot averaged 15.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks for now-No. 7 UNC in its wins at Pitt and Clemson. Meanwhile, in last week's victories over Boston College and Miami, Miller averaged 22.0 points, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals for still-unranked Wake Forest.

Mark Mitchell, who looked at least as deserving as them, isn't the first Blue Devil to get snubbed by the ACC this season.

Sharpshooting freshman guard Jared McCain averaged 21.0 points while going 11-for-21 from downtown across the recent three-game stretch that coincided with wins over then-No. 10 Baylor in Madison Square Garden, Queens in Durham, and Syracuse in Duke's ACC home opener.

Even so, no Blue Devils have been ACC Rookie of the Week yet.

Duke basketball's only individual recognition from the conference this go-round came on Dec. 18 when sophomore forward Kyle Filipowski was the sole recipient of the ACC Player of the Week distinction.

NEXT GAME: at unranked Pitt (10-5, 1-3 ACC), 9 p.m. ET Tuesday (ESPN)

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Duke's Jon Scheyer Puts Coach K's Early Record to Shame

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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