ACC Roundup - BC Nearly Upsets UNC While Clemson Cruises Despite Issues

The Eagles are having some what-if moments after letting UNC off the hook.

In Saturday’s ACC Action, SMU got by NC State 63-57, Pitt eluded Syracuse 77-73, UNC outlasted BC in overtime 102-96, Clemson clawed Virginia Tech 72-57, Notre Dame knocked off Virginia 74-59, Stanford speared Florida State 78-71 and Cal survived Miami 98-94 in OT.

NC State started this game off brilliantly, putting immense pressure on the Mustangs and not letting them get settled into a groove.

But they did settle into a groove and the Wolfpack did not: State shot just 29.2 percent and 16.7 percent from behind the line.

SMU wasn’t blindingly hot, shooting 37.5 percent from deep and 43.4 percent overall.

Marcus Hill was the only one who shot well for State (7-15). As Kevin Keatts said afterwards, the defense is keeping State in games, but the offense is just not good enough to close the deal.

State couldn't stop Samet Yigitoglu, who finished with 20 points. They did stop Boopie Miller though: he shot just 2-8 for five points.

Pitt broke a four-game losing streak at Syracuse despite Eddie Lampkin’s huge night on the boards as the Colorado big man pulled down 23 rebounds including eight offensive.

Syracuse also hit 11 threes but it just wasn’t enough.

Pitt never ran away but the Panthers did build an eight point lead in the second half and then held on for the win. Jaland Lowe led the way for the Panthers with 22 points and three other starters finished in double digits.

Syracuse has lost three of their last four games.

Chapel Hill was very fortunate to survive Boston College. The Eagles went off from three point range, hitting 14-24 from deep and 36-66 overall. UNC overcame that by hitting 26-33 from the foul line to BC’s 10-14. Boston College had real trouble getting the ball in at the end of regulation which basically cost them the game, or at least a chance to get a shot off.

That was one of the few stretches of defensive concentration for UNC - they just weren’t solid on that end at all.

Good news for UNC as Jalen Washington scored 18 on 7-10 shooting. If he can get closer to that level that solves a lot of problems for the Heels. More good news: he went down with an ankle injury late in the game but says he’s fine.

After the game, coach Hubert Davis said this about his team’s desire: “This group has always found it. I think they have found it when they have needed it, and it’s needed at the jump ball [to start the game], and that’s something that’s just going to have to change.”

It’s getting kind of late for that to change.

Clemson got limited minutes and production from Chase Hunter, who was ill. And on top of that, Ian Schieffelin wasn’t very productive again, continuing his roller coaster season: he shot 2-6 and finished with six points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Didn’t matter.

Clemson led just about the entire game and was never really threatened. Virginia Tech cut the lead to six with about 10 minutes left, but then the Tigers pulled away again.

Chauncey Wiggins had 16 for the Tigers. Del Jones came off the bench for 13 and former Blue Devil Christian Reeves got four minutes and scored two points.

Virginia Tech shot poorly, hitting 36.8 percent long and 38 percent overall. Only Tobi Lawal hit double figures with 14.

Jaden Schutt, like Reeves a former Duke player, shot 2-6, finishing with four points.

Notre Dame took out Virginia but large parts of that game was pretty unwatchable.

Virginia has lost the discipline that characterized the Tony Bennett era. Remember when he used to talk about ball security and they would work for the good shots?

That’s pretty far in the rear view now.

Virginia couldn’t control Markus Burton, who racked up 21. Tae Davis had 16 and Braeden Shrewsberry had 13. Jacob Cofie had 17 for the ‘Hoos and Isaac McKneely had 14.

Former Blue Devil TJ Power got six minutes but didn't score.

We expected Stanford to beat Florida State but we thought Maxime Raynaud would be a problem.

Nope.

The problem was Oziyah Sellers shot 10-16 and finished with 27 points. Former Blue Devil Jaylen Blakes finished with 13 points and three assists.

Jamir Watkins led Florida State with 20 points. Malique Evan chipped in 16.

Poor Miami got really close to its first win since November and couldn't get over the hump.

Cal was still missing star player Andrej Stojakovic and the ‘Canes took it to the limit, with Matthew Cleveland putting it into OT with a three pointer.

They didn’t have enough to pull off the win though and Cal owned the overtime.

Jeremiah Wilkinson finished with 30 and DJ Campbell had 22. Cleveland finished with 30 to lead Miami.

No games until Monday when NC State visits Duke.

ACC Standings

• Freshman Yigitoglu’s 20 points help SMU hold off a late NC State rally for a 63-57 win
• ‘We’re not shooting the ball well at all’: Poor shooting costs NC State men’s basketball in 63-57 loss to SMU
• NC State 57 SMU 63: BY THE NUMBERS
• Freshman Yigitoglu’s 20 points help SMU hold off a late NC State rally for a 63-57 win
• 5 takeaways from Syracuse’s 77-73 loss to Pittsburgh
• Lowe’s 22 points help end Pitt skid by beating Syracuse 77-73
• Fizz Report Card: Syracuse Falters Late to Pittsburgh 77-73
• UNC men’s basketball scrapes by Boston College, 102-96, in overtime win
• UNC’s Jalen Washington ‘Completely Fine’ After Injury Scare
• UNC overcomes horrible defensive effort, survives to beat Boston College in overtime
• North Carolina Walks Tightrope, Escapes Boston College In Overtime
• Clemson wins 5th straight game, beats Virginia Tech 72-57 behind Wiggins’ 16 points
• Clemson Cruises by Virginia Tech for Fifth Straight Win
• Hokies rally not enough against Clemson in third consecutive ACC loss
• Jones, Wiggins step up in Clemson’s 72-57 win over Va. Tech
• Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball Drops Third Straight In 72-57 Loss To Clemson
• Hokies rally not enough against Clemson in third consecutive ACC loss
• Shooting woes continue as Virginia Tech falls to Clemson at home
• Sharp-shooting Notre Dame MBB wins at Virginia for first time
• Slumping UVA, Virginia Tech both are routed at home
• Five Takeaways From Virginia Basketball’s Blowout Loss to Notre Dame
• Sellers’ Career High Leads Stanford Over Florida State
• Florida State’s season on the brink after falling to Stanford
• FSU basketball struggles with consistency on offense in 78-71 defeat to Stanford
• Oziyah Sellers carries Stanford past Florida State
• Cal Tops Miami 98-94 in OT, Stretches Win Streak to Three Games
• Cal Men’s Basketball sends fans into cardiac arrest in win over Miami
• Instant Analysis/reaction: Cal narrowly avoids upset, defeats Miami 98-94