ACC Roundup - Syracuse Erupts
The Orange got a huge game from three guards
In Saturday’s ACC action, Syracuse smacked Georgia Tech 97-63, BC clipped Notre Dame 73-72 and NC State whipped Weak Forest 91-82.
Bad news/good news first: State’s Jericole Hellems, who has been pretty good so far, got into a scary collision at the end of the game when Wake’s massive Olivier Sarr fell on him.
He was taken off on a stretcher but is expected to be okay. He is in a concussion protocol so he might be out for a bit but should be okay.
Not sure you can say that about Wake.
The Deacs had 19 turnovers that State turned into 27 points, essentially neutralizing a career day from Brandon Childress, who had 30.
Wake gave up a lot of points on turnovers and three point shots.
With the loss, the Demon Deacons falls to 5-5 and 0-2 in the conference. And by the way, you may remember that State has struggled for seemingly forever at Wake Forest. That’s over, at least for now. Not a big deal for anyone else but progress for the Pack.
Syracuse came to Georgia Tech with three straight double-digit losses. That ended, thanks largely to Elijah Hughes, who had 26 in the first half (he finished with 33).
Tech tried to use a 1-3-1 that we expect Josh Pastner learned from Lute Olson when he was at Arizona. Olson used it for a while with 6-0 Kenny Lofton at the bottom and Lofton was so quick that he could shut off penetration from both corners on most plays. He later went on to a very successful baseball career.
Tech doesn’t have anyone like that and Syracuse didn’t have much trouble with Pastner’s version of the zone.
The Orange also nearly shut out Michael Devoe, who’s been really hot so far. He had just seven on 2-12.
About Hughes, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, perhaps intentionally, perhaps not, told ESPN “[t]hat was pretty good. He just got in the zone. He’s had days like that in practice. He hasn’t really had a game like that this year. I thought he was going to keep making them all.”
Buddy Boeheim wasn’t far behind with 26 and Joe Girard added 10.
That’s 69 points from three guards and if they can do that, they’ll be in any game.
Can this be right? Boston College hasn’t beaten Notre Dame since 2005? Back in the old Big East?
Well they did it Saturday. Boston College had a nice lead for a good bit of the game but the Irish cut into it late and with :13 left, Juwan Durham cut the lead to two.
Derryck Thornton missed at the line with :10 left and then Notre Dame was on the line down two. TJ Gibbs missed his first though before hitting his second to cut the lead to 73-72. The Irish then fouled but Jay Heath missed the front end and Dane Goodwin got one last three point attempt that missed.
Generally speaking, Notre Dame doesn’t make it easy on you. John Mooney had another big double-double with 16 points and 18 rebounds.
Two games on Sunday as Clemson ventures down to Florida State and the most intriguing game of the early ACC season sees UNC go up to Charlottesville where Virginia’s Pack Line awaits.
It’s really an interesting game because neither team can score. UNC’s main offensive weapon is Cole Anthony but there’s no reason to think he’ll do better against UVA’s devastating defense than most other teams have done, particularly without Armando Bacot, who was injured in the loss to Ohio State. He’s very likely to find Virginia’s defense a giant sponge that absorbs him at every turn.
And Virginia is missing Braxton Keys, which hurts their output too.
Just keep in mind that although it hasn’t happened since the early days of basketball, you only have to score one point to win.
Saturday’s Results
- Syracuse 97 Georgia Tech 63
- Boston College 73 Notre Dame 72
- NC State 91 Wake Forest 82
Sunday’s ACC Action
- Clemson @ Florida State || 2:00 || ACCN
- UNC @ Virginia || 4:00 || ACCN
- How Buddy Boeheim fed off Elijah Hughes to break out of slump
- Elijah Hughes on his career scoring night: ‘I was going unconscious’
- Fueled by Hughes, SU basketball found the fun at Georgia Tech (Ditota’s quick hits)
- Syracuse hammers Georgia Tech
- Early on, Georgia Tech’s Michael Devoe is scoring among the NCAA’s leaders
- Florida State ready to show progress in return to ACC play vs. Clemson
- Ed Hardin: N.C. State flips the script in Wake Forest’s Joel Coliseum
- Syracuse basketball subdues Georgia Tech for first ACC win
- Red-hot shooting powers Pack men’s basketball to first ACC win