ACC Roundup - Heels Peel Orange

UNC didn’t have much trouble with Syracuse Monday night, winning #800 for Roy Williams 85-68.

The Tar Heel front court just crushed Syracuse. The rebounding went to UNC, 44-20 and the bigs broke down this way:

• Kennedy Meeks: 15 points (7-10) and 12 rebounds
• Isaiah Hicks 20 points (8-13) and eight rebounds
• Justin Jackson: 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Tyler Lydon had a solid game for the ‘Cuse with 26 points (11-14) and seven rebounds but no one else shot well. And Tyler Roberson, who is as talented as anyone UNC has, seems content to finish his career as a bench player.

And really, that’s fine. No one says he has to have a burning passion for the game just because he is 6-8 and talented. For all most of us know he might harbor a dream of being the world’s greatest Scrabble player.

Hey, Rajon Rondo is deadly serious about Connect Four. Seriously. He won’t even let little kids win. It’s an absolute passion for the guy.

For fans, it’s a drag to see that kind of talent stagnate but it’s his talent and his life. He owes his team commitment but owes the rest of us nothing.

On Tuesday, only one game as State and Pitt, both struggling, square off in Raleigh.

Mark Gottfried has gone on record as being very unhappy with State’s defense. And Pitt just lost a beat-down to Louisville and has lost four of its last five games.

So has State, including that epic 51 point whipping in Chapel Hill.

Something has to give.

• After 800th win, Roy Williams remembers his start, and Buddy Baldwin
• What has gone wrong in NC State’s 1-4 ACC start
• UNC's Hicks on his aggressive play in win over Syracuse
• Wake Forest freshman Childress gaining confidence
• No. 9 UNC tops Syracuse 85-68 for Williams' 800th career win
• Stephen Schramm: Williams hits hard-earned milestone, thanks players that made it worth it
• On night when he leads North Carolina scoring, Isaiah Hicks is most proud of a stat column that's empty
• McFarling: Virginia Tech's NCAA chances hurt by garbage start, loss to Notre Dame
• Berry, Vasturia played ACC basketball players of the week
• U of L's Snider out with hip injury