Tuesday, January 06, 2004

ACC notes...

... from the Richmond Times Dispatch, including this about the Jackets:

WELCOME ADDITION: Junior point guard Will Bynum, a transfer from Arizona, became eligible last month to play for Georgia Tech (12-1). The 5-11 Bynum has averaged 7.8 points, 3.7 assists and 20.7 minutes in six games with the Yellow Jackets.

"Offensively, I think he's great, and he's going to get better," Jackets coach Paul Hewitt said. "Defensively, he's still got some work to do."

BREAKOUT YEAR: Junior-college transfer Jamar Smith backed up starters Ryan Randle and Tahj Holden in the post at Maryland last season, posting modest averages of 5.9 points and 3.9 rebounds.

Check out Smith now. The 6-9, 240-pound senior is the only ACC player averaging more than 10 rebounds - Smith is at 11.1 - and is the Terrapins' second-leading scorer (14.5 ppg).

"I didn't really expect it," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "But he saw the opportunity he was going to get this year, and he really worked hard over the summer."