16 for 16

The ACC kicked off the 2008-2009 season in full force this past weekend, playing (and winning) a total of 16 games over 4 days. What was most striking was a series of impressive performances by newcomers to the conference. With that in mind, let's take a quick trip around the other 11 schools in the conference and extend some warm welcomes.

Boston College - a warm welcome to Vermont transfer Joe Trapani. In two games, the sophomore forward has gone for totals of 33 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists, resulting in a 145.89 offensive rating while using almost 26% of BC's possessions.

Clemson - a warm welcome to Andre Young. The diminutive freshman guard has shown that he can take the reins from Demontez Stitt when necessary (and maybe even when not). While Clemson was winning the Charleston Classic, Young helped with a solid 5 pts and 2 assists per game in the 15 minutes he averaged. Non-newcomers Terrence Oglesby and David Potter helped too, hitting a combined 13 of 24 threes.

Florida State - a warm welcome to Chris Singleton. The 6'9" freshman got the starting nod and posted a 12 point, 17 rebound double-double (and every bit of it was necessary for the 'Noles to eke by Jacksonville).

Georgia Tech - a warm welcome to Iman Shumpert. The Jackets didn't ask the rookie point to do too much in his first game, but he helped out with 7 and 6 boards in just 18 minutes of action.

Maryland - a warm welcome to, well, Jin Soo Kim. Not a lot from the Terp newbies, but Kim did help with 5 in limited minutes. And a warm welcome back to Greivis Vazquez - 16 shots and 6 assists in just 29 minutes helped him use 27.5% of Maryland's possessions.

Miami - a warm welcome to Cyrus McGowan, who picked up a rebound every 90 seconds he was on the court, with 10 in just 15 minutes. Also, welcome back to Eddie Rios - his 17 with 4 assists and no misses from downtown may be the best stat line of his career.

NC State - a warm welcome to the 2006-2007 versions of Ben McCauley and Brandon Costner, who were MIA for much of last year. The duo combined for 36 and 11, and used 25 of State's 58 possessions.

North Carolina - a warm welcome to Edler Zelvis, the freshmen post duo with the unenviable task of filling in for an injured Hansbrough. Ed Davis had an even more prolific boards day than McGowan, gathering 14 in just 22 minutes. Tyler Zeller focused more on the offense, putting up 18 and getting to the line 10 times.

Virginia - a warm welcome to Sylvan Landesberg, who helped UVA stave off those Kentucky Wildcat upsetters from VMI. He took over for some guy named Singletary who's now on the Suns (and who was a wee bit popular with Cavs fans) and all he did was go for 28, 8, and 8 in 36 minutes in his first start.

Virginia Tech - a warm welcome to Victor Davila, who had 8 and 6 in just 18 minutes in VT's second game against Mt. St. Mary's. Yes, it's early, but it looks like he'll be the only freshman getting real playing time.

Wake Forest - a warm welcome to Al-Farouq Aminu. The much ballyhooed recruit showed there was plenty of bally to be hooed. He hit 9 of 10 from 2, and tossed in 10 boards and three blocks for good measure. Hat tip to Tony Woods as well, with 12 points in 22 minutes on 6 of 7 from the floor.

As for the Devils, a warm welcome to all three frosh, and a write-up on URI tomorrow.