How Low Can You Go?

When North Carolina scored 18 points in the first half against N.C. State, on the Tar Heels' home court no less, it matched the lowest scoring output for one period during Roy Williams' dozen seasons at Chapel Hill.

As it turns out, low as that 18-point output was, it was matched or surpassed - if that's the correct word - 20 times this year by ACC teams. Sixteen occasions came in league play, including Wednesday's 15-point first half by Wake Forest on its Joel Coliseum floor.

Wake's puny production came against Virginia, which has held five league opponents to 18 or fewer points in a half. The depths of suffocation were reached when Georgia Tech ventured to Charlottesville and eked out 12 second-half points in a loss. That followed 16 points by the Yellow Jackets in the first period.

In all, the Cavaliers, who lead the league in scoring defense (49.9 points per game allowed), have held all opponents, ACC and otherwise, under a point per minute in 17 of 54 halves they've played (31.5 percent).