Barry Jacobs On Three Point Specialists

Counting the three recently imported programs from the Big East, 26 ACC-related regulars (300 minutes or more played) attempted the majority of their shots from 3-point range last season. Sixteen of those players return in 2013-14.

Most prominent by his absence is N.C. State's Scott Wood, second in the ACC with 236 of his 289 field goal tries in 2013 coming from afar (81.7 percent). Wood was the only perpetual starter among the league's 10 most devoted shooters from beyond the arc.

Next-best was Virginia's Paul Jesperson, who started 33 of 35 games for the Cavs. Jesperson was ninth most-dependent on threes among ACC players at 68.4 percent of his attempts. He too is gone. Wood graduated. Jesperson transferred to Northern Iowa.

Wake Forest's Chas Fischer and FSU's Terry Whisnant, another pair partial to 3-pointers in 2013, likewise took their talents elsewhere. Fischer landed at Brigham Young, Whisnant at East Carolina.

Barring extraordinary circumstances, which did not apply in these cases, all transfers must sit out a year under an NCAA rule meant to restrict player movement. Or, rather, meant to protect schools from poaching by opposing coaches.

No returnees among last season's most persistent bombardiers were ACC leaders in 3-point tries or percentage, and escaped notice by all but the most astute observers. The ACC individual leader in dependence on threes, Virginia Tech's Will Johnston, was ninth on his team in minutes played. Presumably that's not a testament to his all-around game.

One newcomer whose 3-point shooting probably didn't escape attention from Big East fans and opposing coaches: Trevor Cooney, who shot threes frequently (71.9 percent of his field goal tries) but not well (.267) for Syracuse.