With two games to play in the regular season, North Carolina’s Tyler Zeller has emerged as the clear favorite to win ACC Player of the Year honors. He already has been named the men’s basketball academic All-American of the Year by one organization.

In conference games only, Zeller is fourth in the league in scoring (17.6 points per game) and second in rebounding (9.8 rebounds per game). He also leads the ACC in offensive rebounds per game (3.9).

Zeller has been the most well-rounded and consistent of all the players who have emerged as player of the year candidates. Mike Scott, the senior forward at Virginia, will rightfully receive some attention for the award, but Virginia’s recent slide – the Cavaliers are 3-4 in their past seven games – hurts his cause.