ACC Roundup - Miami Basketball Triumphs, Clemson Takes A Dive

Back in the day, ABC used introduce The Wide World Of Sports with "the thrill of victory...and the agony of defeat."

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So it was in Monday night ACC hoops.

Miami had a memorable upset over Florida, roaring back from a 15-point deficit and winning on a falling-down three by transfer Angel Rodriguez.

Actually, Rodriguez was superb and with this statement game gives the 'Canes a fiery leader. Can he do it more than once? Maybe, maybe not. His team will follow him anywhere after this game though.

Fellow transfer Sheldon McClellan finished with nine on 4-10 from the floor. Grad student transfer Joe Thomas played 10 minutes and produced nothing - a straight goose egg across the stat sheet.

As for Clemson...losing to Winthrop is bound to be deflating. The Tigers had 16 turnovers and shot poorly, just 48% overall and only 3-13 from three point range (23.1%). And the Tigers might have won had they just hit their free throws: Clemson gave up 16 potential points and shot just 59%.

The usually stalwart defense worked reasonably well against the shot but Winthrop had just six turnovers.

Bad sign: Clemson really only used two guys off the bench. Against Winthrop.

Closer to home, State got past Winthrop, 76-64. Ralston Turner put up a career best 24 for the Pack, including five treys.

State started Lennard Freeman and Kyle Washington, opting to bring Beejay Anya off the bench. He picked up four fouls in nine minutes.

The points came from the backcourt, as Turner, Trevor Lacey and Cat Barber combined for 55 points.

When was the last time you read about a Wake Forest game and read that the Deacs played great defense?

Didn't happen under Jeff Bzdelik; Dino Gaudio wasn't famous for it and Skip Prosser's teams weren't celebrated for D either. You might have to go back to the Dave Odom era for that.

Danny Manning got it in his second game. This was Wake's biggest road win since 2008.

So how much progress? We'll get a better idea

Wednesday when the Deacs play Arkansas.

Here's a stat that'll make you look twice: Wake held Tulane to 05.0% from the three point line - 1-20. Manning's bunch also forced 16 turnovers.

Louisville went up 50-20 at the half and that was pretty much the game vs. Jacksonville State. The Gamecocks played chicken in the second half and managed just 19.

Given Louisville's trademark defensive intensity, that's not a fair joke. A lot of teams get worn out by that defense.

Tarboro's Montrezl Harrell finished with 15 points and seven boards.

As the Syracuse investigation continues, Syracuse.com reports that much of it centers on an internship program at a local YMCA and one employee who had "exceptional access" to S.U. basketball players..and also had access to $350,000 which allegedly was taken from the Y.

Whenever you read a sentence like this one: It is unclear if any of those funds were given to athletes - that's like a placemarker or a bit of foreshadowing. The paper expects to return to it later.