Best 2016 Field Goal Accuracy Among ACC Regulars

We get it. Based on the official NCAA statistical measure – a minimum of five field goals made per game – there’s only one ACC player hitting better than 60 percent from the floor this season.

North Carolina’s Brice Johnson, a lock for first team All-ACC, made 61.8 percent of his field goal attempts through 30 games. Most recently, in a narrow home win over Syracuse, the senior had 14 points on 6 of 10 shooting.

Johnson has a knack for getting to the rim. When he’s near the basket it frequently appears the team on defense has forgotten the perpetual coaching admonition to "Box out!" Dunking the ball is a high-percentage shot.

The 6-10 forward is athletic enough to jump center, as often as not against taller players. He has a nice medium-range jump shot, either facing the basket or spinning and falling away. Further supporting his shooting accuracy, Johnson has never attempted a 3-pointer in college.

But, as usual, official stats leave out a covey of regulars who lack sufficient playing time to convert five field goals per game, or are otherwise employed in a role that de-emphasizes their offensive skills. Like Duke’s Marshall Plumlee.

The grad student is shooting .654 from the floor, best in the ACC.

The bulk of Plumlee’s repertoire is dunks and layups. He has a hook shot and a jumper, but those are rarely displayed. If Plumlee moves more than a few strides from the basket it’s to screen for a teammate, not to attempt a jumper.

Stationed at the low post, Plumlee leads Duke and is fourth in the ACC with 103 offensive rebounds, 3.43 per game.

Overall he’s hit just 85 shots in 30 outings, not enough to worry opponents. Also not enough to qualify for official ACC leadership.