ACC Roundup: Red Hot Louisville Takes On Syracuse
And Clemson visits the Yellow Jackets
Tuesday night’s ACC Action features Louisville at Syracuse and Clemson at Georgia Tech.
Louisville is really coming on. Since losing to Duke on December 8th, te Cardinals are 7-1 and the loss came at Kentucky. What’s more, most of the games have not just been wins but solid wins. UTEP and Western Kentucky were close, but they handled UNC, Virginia and Clemson before a tight game with Pitt on Saturday.
Since getting JJ Starling back on January 4th, Syracuse is 2-1. Adrian Autry is still tinkering with his lineup a bit but Starling is the key for the ‘Cuse. He gives them a focal point.
Still, we like Louisville here. The Cards have flaws, but Pat Kelsey has them playing with immense energy. Kelsey likes a three point attack and that has been erratic. However, Aussie Reyne Smith, who came with Kelsey from Charleston, has started to hit his groove lately and that no doubt has helped.
Georgia Tech is talented but erratic. We thought they’d lose at SMU, but by 22? And down 50-19 at the half?
Didn’t see that coming.
We’re a little disappointed in Baye Ndongo who we thought was ready to take off this year. He’s been moved away from the basket to an extent and no doubt that’s an adjustment.
Still, he had a burgeoning mean streak last season and that seems to be gone or at least on hiatus. He’s seemed almost timid at times, which is too bad.
We’re not sure what’s going on with Ian Schieffelin lately but he hasn’t been himself. He had just four points and four rebounds against Stanford. He bounced back against Cal with 21 and 10 and then had 10 and 10 against Louisville.
Then against FSU he finished with two points and two rebounds in 31 minutes.
He’s one of our favorite ACC players because he’s made himself into a tremendous college basketball player and there was no sign that was going to happen.
Despite his recent slump or whatever it is, Clemson is 4-1 in the last five games. We don’t see them losing this one.
*****
We didn't get to preview the Notre Dame-BC game last night but Notre Dame had a solid win, 78-60. Tae Davis and Markus Burton got 46 between them. Davis had 26 and Burton 20.
This is a bizarrely good sign: Notre Dame won despite Braeden Shrewsberry shooting 0-4 in 28 minutes.
If you haven’t seen it, check out today’s YouTube Gold for an absolutely stunning play by Davis.
Tuesday’s ACC Action
- Louisville @ Syracuse || 7:00 || ACCN
- Miami @ Duke || 9:00 || ESPN
- Clemson @ Syracuse || 9:00 || ESPN
- Syracuse Goes For Third Straight ACC Win Versus Louisville
- Syracuse men’s basketball: what to watch for vs Louisville
- Preview: Louisville Cardinals Men’s basketball vs. Syracuse Orange
- Beat writers agree Louisville will end Syracuse’s 2-game win streak
- Louisville out to keep win streak intact at Syracuse
- Georgia Tech next faces Clemson after rough week on the road
- Clemson takes on Georgia Tech after Hunter’s 25-point game
- Clemson basketball vs Georgia Tech score prediction: Latest news, injury updates