ACC Roundup

Poor Clemson. The Tigers had a chance to make a real mark, to stake a Top 25 claim and to knock off a powerful team on the road. So what did Clemson do at Pitt?

Cratered.

The Tigers lost by 33, shooting just 32% from the game.

Worse, the defense, which has been stalwart, disappeared, allowing Pitt to shoot 56.3%.

Six-foot-nine Nigerian Talib Zanna dominated 6-10 Cameroonian Landry Nnoko, hitting 9-10 from the floor.

Folks around Pitt are becoming downright giddy. In this article, by the way, Ron Cook says Pitt's going to beat Duke.

Florida State dealt Notre Dame a tough blow, beating the Irish 76-74 and dropping the Irish to 11-8, making an NCAA bid a long shot.

The game was tied 74 all when Ian Miller hit a shot in the lane with four seconds left.

Georgia Tech added to BC's dreary season, knocking off the Eagles 68-60.

Tech had built a 19 point lead and lost 18 of that when BC roared back after whipping out a zone.  The snow may have worked to Tech's advantage: the box score lists just 1,789 brave fans.

For anyone other than Syracuse, Pitt, UVa, Clemson, FSU or Duke tomake the tournament now seems like a long shot, but at 12-6, Wake isn't out - yet.

The Deacs have to start winning away from home, and a trip to Virginia Tech Wednesday night is a golden chance to do it. The Deacs still have Syracuse twice, Duke and FS, all tough games. But Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Maryland, UNC, Clemson and BC are all winnable.  Twenty wins might not get Wake in the tournament, but it would net an NIT invite and represent definite progress.