ACCelerating to tipoff

It’s the rare day without a recruiting headline for the Fof68 Daily, something I didn’t expect given it’s the live period for fall. But don’t get used to it. Thursdays will be filled with recruiting updates and news.

Even better? The ACC schedule release means just about every schedule (non-conference and conference) is out. The season is so close.

STARTING FIVE

1. UNC-Duke (obvs). But what else is on ACC schedule?

This is a safe space, right? We can be honest? When the ACC announced its conference schedule on Tuesday, I immediately circled two dates: Feb. 4 and March 4.

Yes, those are when Duke and North Carolina play each other. I’m basic. Sue me. After last year’s epic games it’s hard to think about anything else. But let’s give it a shot.

The ACC opens conference play on Dec. 2 (not the first time it has started the first week of December; still jarring to see), and each team plays 20 league games, 150 in all. It’s not a home-and-home schedule (too many teams), but there are more than a few notable matchups besides the Devils and the Heels.

Best single day: Feb. 25

This’ll showcase the ACC’s highs and lows. Sure, some CBB Sickos will watch Louisville at Georgia Tech, but most will be glued to Florida State at Miami, Virginia at North Carolina or Virginia Tech at Duke. Those should be the league’s six best teams. Not a dud among them.

Upset alert: Jan. 21

Conference road games aren’t gimmes. That makes this Saturday an interesting one with Florida State at Pitt, Virginia at Wake Forest, Syracuse at Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech at Clemson. We might see two of the four hold court for momentous wins. Also nice? Miami is at Duke and NC State is at UNC.

On their Heels?

North Carolina’s the favorite to win the ACC title (more on that below). If the Heels do, they’ll have earned it. They only play Virginia Tech and Florida State once, but both are road games. They get the Hoos twice. And their final six games — Miami, at NC State and Notre Dame, home against Virginia, at FSU and home against Duke — is an NCAA tourney-worthy slate. Hmmm. Preparation?

Easing in Jon Scheyer

Look, I’m not saying Duke opening conference play with BC at home, then at Wake Forest is a cakewalk. But following it with FSU at home, then trips to NC State, BC, home against Pitt and at Clemson is about as favorable of a way to open a conference slate as it gets. (The Devils also only play likely bottom-dwellers Georgia Tech and Louisville once, so there’s that.)

The nastiest four-game stretch

Notre Dame should finish in the top half of the league. But I don’t envy their run from Feb. 11 to Feb. 22. Home against Virginia Tech, at Duke and Virginia, then home against North Carolina? Just brutal.

Syracuse’s final push

For the Orange to avoid consecutive NCAA Tournament misses, their final five games will be huge. They host Duke (which hasn’t lost at Cuse since 2017), then close with games at Clemson, at Pitt and home against Georgia Tech and Wake Forest. That’s a Q1 opportunity and four winnable games.

(Full schedule available here.)

2. A peek at the prettiest preview around

It’s just a dozen days until The Almanac: The Year of the Big finally drops into inboxes around the country. (Once Sept. 27 hits that “HOOPS” promo code won’t save you any money, so order now.) We’ve promoted the hell out of this thing, so it’s time for a more substantial view of the best college basketball preview for 2022-23.

Feast your eyes, hoops fans. This isn’t just gobs of text. This is expert analysis combined with first-class graphic design.

Each spread tells a story.

The writers involved from The Field of 68, Three Man Weave and Heat Check CBB aren’t just spitting stats or basic jargon. They set the stage, showcase exclusive details gathered from interviews from all 363 teams and focus on what matters. It’s insight derived from years of covering college hoops and knowing details that a casual fan wouldn’t. To give a sense of its extensive approach, the excerpts here are only half of the written preview.

And again, The Almanac looks tremendous.

It’s also more than just content for each team. The Almanac dives into the details — and goes big picture with features on the transfer portal winners and losers, coaches on the rise (and feeling the heat), breakout players, freshmen to watch, the 100 best players, a preseason bracket, and more.

This isn’t the last time we’ll excerpt content from The Almanac. But it is one of the last days when you can get it for just $15.99. So don’t wait.

3. The fan engagement gamble

We’re now years into legal wagering (depending on which U.S. state you live in), so it’s not a surprise to see a story like this from the Washington Post that examines its impact thus far.

I’m not here to dismiss any concerns about gambling problems. That’s a real concern, and the Post’s story details why sports betting could be a trickier one to navigate than casino games or cards. The Field of 68 also doesn’t shy away from betting as core content, mostly because we think it’s a fun, compelling part of being a fan.

Which makes this article from Matt Brown over at Extra Points a more interesting approach. What if sports betting actually decreases engagement?

Citing a study from Xavier University, Brown writes about how the emotional low of losing a sports bet (often on a team or a sport where the bettor has significant knowledge) can negatively affect how fans watch or read about their teams. Not ideal if you’re a broadcaster or a school.

4. Not-so-happy feet

There’s nothing like a nagging foot injury to derail a season. (Just ask LJ Cryer.) Here’s hoping Michigan State and Pitt don’t deal with the same issue.

The Spartans announced that Jaden Akins, a 6-4 combo guard entering his sophomore season, won’t play again until late October. He averaged 3.4 points and 2.4 rebounds after appearing in all 36 games last season. Akins should contend for a starting spot, provided there aren’t any lingering effects.

Akins wasn’t alone Tuesday. Pitt announced junior forward William Jeffress will miss six weeks due to a left foot injury, but that’s all load management.

“Will suffered a foot injury last week and evaluations by our medical staff determined the need to shut him down for a few weeks,” coach Jeff Capel said in a release. “Will was having a strong fall and we are excited about his continued development. This injury is a minor setback, but we anticipate that he will make a full recovery and be ready to return to the court in October.”

5. When NIL is a team sport

College football is in full swing. So is NIL season. But in a good way.

This story from Andy Wittry at On3.com details how many college football stars are crushing it in NIL, but they’re doing what exactly what any good coach would hope. They’re getting teammates involved. For example:

• Ohio State QB CJ Stroud gave each teammate a $500 gift card for a new suit before their opener vs. Notre Dame.

• USC QB Caleb Williams handed out Beats headphones after he inked a deal with the company. (Even the men’s and women’s hoops teams got a pair.)

• When Michigan defensive tackle DJ Turner II nears a deal, he usually asks if teammates also can benefit.

Instead of dividing locker rooms, NIL is doing the opposite.

Also, NIL Collectives can even do much, much more than swag. Maybe at some point, they won’t have to rely on NIL Collectives…

THE FAST BREAK

Links as you look forward to dusting your kids, nephews, nieces — hell, anyone really — once Goldeneye 007 is released on the Nintendo Switch.

• The America East also released its schedule on Tuesday.

• Indiana will host its first-ever Pro Day on Oct. 7, just hours ahead of its Midnight Madness festivities.

• Elijah Gertrude, a 4-star guard out of N.J., will announce his college destination today at 4 p.m.

• Winners & Losers from the A-10 conference schedule (via A10Talk).

• The official job description for the NCAA President.

Thanks for reading The Field of 68 Daily! Share it with a friend!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

One-stop shop to search, ID and book your golf trip

Search through 40+ golf resort partners to find the perfect location for your next golf trip, based on pricing, location, weather, social options, resort details, golf course details, lodging accommodations and more. Learn more!

ALSO BROUGHT TO YOU BY

2.6 million people wake up to this newsletter

There's a reason over millions start their day with Morning Brew — the daily email that delivers the latest news from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. Business news doesn't have to be dry and dense...make your mornings more enjoyable, for free. Check it out!

To sponsor a future Field of 68 Daily newsletter, please connect with us here. For article ideas, newsletter feedback, tips and more, shoot us a note at [email protected].