Vote in The News & Observer college athlete of the week poll (12.26.21)

Right now, Duke has the best men’s basketball team in the ACC. And it’s not close.

With three wins in five days — all by 25 or more points — over nonconference foes, there were plenty of players who turned in impressive performances for the No. 2-ranked Blue Devils (11-1).

Meanwhile, in women’s basketball, No. 2-ranked N.C. State fell to No. 17 Georgia in overtime before rolling to a 27-point win over Virginia in its ACC home opener Sunday.

While the Wolfpack (11-2) may still be the best women’s basketball team in the league, North Carolina is 10-0 on the season and 1-0 in ACC play after its come-from-behind win over Boston College Sunday.

Over the course of the week — from Monday, Dec. 13 through Sunday, Dec. 19 — contributions from athletes on all three Triangle teams stood out.

Here are the nominees for The News & Observer’s college athlete of the week.

Readers can vote as often as they want until Sunday at noon when poll closes.

Wendell Moore Jr., Duke men’s basketball

Moore was consistent throughout Duke’s three-game week as the team wrapped up nonconference play.

In the Blue Devils’ 92-67 win over Appalachian State the junior guard scored 21 points – knocking down 8 of 11 shots (72.7%) from the field, including 4 of 4 from beyond the arc. In addition to leading all Duke scorers in the game, Moore’s six assists tied a team high. The team captain also grabbed five rebounds in the win.

Two days later he finished with 12 points (5 of 9), five assists, three rebounds and a steal in the Blue Devils’ 87-56 win over Elon.

Moore started the week by scoring 11 points (4 of 6) in Duke’s 103-62 win over South Carolina State.

Elissa Cunane, N.C. State women’s basketball

Cunane tied her season-high in points with 20 in N.C. State’s overtime loss to Georgia. Sitting with two early fouls the senior center scored 18 of her 20 points in the second half, making 8 of 14 (57%) from the field in the game. She added five rebounds and a block in 29 minutes of action.

Cunane followed up her team-leading scoring output against the Bulldogs with a team-best 17 points (6 of 10) in the Wolfpack’s 82-55 win over Virginia. She again shined in the second half, scoring 13 of her points in the final two quarters. Cunane also had a team-leading six rebounds in the winning effort.

Carlie Littlefield, North Carolina women’s basketball

Littlefield had a team-leading and season-high 22 points in the Tar Heels’ come-from-behind win, 76-73, over Boston College in their ACC opener Sunday.

Trailing 60-47 at the start of the fourth quarter, the graduate transfer from Princeton knocked down six free throws in the final seven minutes to cut into the Eagles’ lead. In the final two minutes she added to that, scoring five in a row – with a three-point play and a layup – to cut Boston College’s lead to one with 1:05 remaining.

Trevor Keels, Duke men’s basketball

Keels finished Duke’s three-game week with a team-leading 19 points in the Blue Devils’ win over Elon. He made 8 of 13 (61.5%) from the field and had three steals.

It was the freshman guard’s third double-digit scoring output of the week. He had 14 points, three rebounds, three assists and a block in the Blue Devils’ win over SC State.

Keels followed up that showing with 11 points, five assists and three rebounds in the team’s win over App State.

Shooting 50% or better in all three games, the week marked the first time since Duke’s Nov. 16 win over Gardner-Webb, 92-52, where he made at least half of his shots from the field.

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This story was originally published December 20, 2021 at 7:00 AM.