ACC Now podcast: Duke basketball court cases, league’s coaching changes, talent dip
By Steve Wiseman and
C.L. Brown
North Carolina coach Roy Williams confers with assistant coach Hubert Davis in the first half against NCCU on Saturday, December 12, 2020 at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Robert Willett
rwillett@newsobserver.com
The N&O’s Steve Wiseman and C.L. Brown discuss the lack of first-round talent in the ACC this season, coaching changes in the league, longtime coaches who could retire soon and the impact it’s had.
They also provide an update on the court cases involving Duke guard Michael Savarino, Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski’s grandson, and star freshman Paolo Banchero — the lone surefire lottery pick in the league this season — and preview the game between North Carolina and N.C. State. Longtime Tar Heels coach Roy Williams will be honored during Saturday’s rivalry matchup.
Duke’s Paolo Banchero (5) celebrates after pulling in the rebound while being fouled late in the second half of Duke’s 71-69 victory over Clemson at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, January 25, 2022. Clemson’s Hunter Tyson (5) is to the right. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Steve Wiseman was named Raleigh News & Observer and Durham Herald-Sun sports editor in May 2025. He covered Duke athletics, beginning in 2010, prior to his current assignment. In the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest, he placed in the top 10 in beat writing in 2019, 2021 and 2022, breaking news in 2019, event coverage in 2025 and explanatory writing in 2018. Before coming to Durham in 2010, Steve worked for The State (Columbia, SC), Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, S.C.), The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.), Charlotte Observer and Hickory (NC) Daily Record covering beats including the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, University of South Carolina athletics and the S.C. General Assembly. He’s won numerous state-level press association awards. Steve graduated from Illinois State University in 1989.
C.L. Brown covers the University of North Carolina for The News & Observer. Brown brings more than two decades of reporting experience including stints as the beat writer on Indiana University and the University of Louisville. After a long stay at the Louisville Courier-Journal, where he earned an APSE award, he’s had stops at ESPN.com, The Athletic and even tried his hand at running his own website, clbrownhoops.com.
