ACC Roundup - BC Breaks Out

Any way you look at it, 664 days is a long time.

That’s how long it was between ACC victories for Boston College. The Eagles broke that long losing streak - smashed it - against Syracuse.

How bad was it?

BC hit 61.5% - from three point range (and a mere 57.1% overall). Star Jerome Robinson was 9-12 for 22 points - but he wasn’t the star on Sunday.

That fell to his fellow North Carolinian Ky Bowman (Robinson is from Raleigh, Bowman from Havelock, population app. 21,000).

Bowman, who originally committed to play football for UNC, was insane. He shot 11-17 and 7-8 from deep, which makes us ask: where the hell were Wake Forest and NC State - leave alone UNC? Could he have gotten past Duke admissions?

It’s hard to believe everyone missed on this guy, and we’re not raving about one hot shooting night.

He’s athletic, he’s smart and he had one assist which was worthy of Magic Johnson himself.

It’s too early to say he’s going to be great but he was great against Syracuse. Like chills down your spine great.

And let’s stipulate that, as a team, BC was superb. There were some stunning passes, gorgeous fast breaks and this group really hung together. We don’t know if they can keep it up, but at a minimum, at long last, there is hope on Chestnut Hill.

Needless to say it wasn’t a fun day for the Orange, least of all Jim Boeheim.

In his post-game comments, Boeheim, as always the dour Dutchman but this time not at all combative with the press, bemoaned his team’s defense. Moreover, he said that it was a long shot that it was going to get much better.

It was almost shocking to see him so resigned. But it’s not just him. Check out the Syracuse stories linked below. People are in shock. It’s been a lifetime since Syracuse was this bad. We wouldn’t rule out an improvement by the Orange, but Boeheim seems deeply shaken.

Things may not get better anytime soon. Every other ACC school - well, other than the recent expansion schools anyway - knows what happens when weakness is sensed.

Duke found out in 1995. UNC found out in 2002. Everyone piles on. Everyone kicks you when you’re down.

We don’t think this was the case as much when Syracuse was in the Big East because even when you were down you could count on beating 3-4 teams.

This year? This conference?

Forget it.

Just look at the standings. Winless: #5 Duke, #6Louisville, #9 UNC, NC State, Pitt, Syracuse and Wake Forest. On top: FSU, Virginia tech, Notre Dame, Clemson, Miami, Georgia Tech and Boston College.

At .500: #12 Virginia.

Things get interesting again on Tuesday as UNC visits Clemson, where the Tar Heels will meet a confident and sturdy bunch of Tigers, and BC visits Winston-Salem.

As you probably know, the Demon Deacons have struggled to finish games, losing several since last season they had control of and really should have won. Guard Keyshawn Woods had this to say: “It’s the same thing that happened last year with us,” Woods told the Winston-Salem Journal. “We’d be up and lose it at the end because we can’t be disciplined enough, so it’s been a pattern for us here at Wake Forest for the past two years. The coaching staff can’t do anything about it — the Xs and Os are fine. Us as a team are going to have to fix this problem if we want to be a contender here in the ACC.”

Surely correct.

• SU suffers embarrassing loss at Boston College
• Jim Boeheim's search for a productive lineup: 'I don't think it matters who we play'
• Jim Boeheim can't explain why zone defense is failing Syracuse basketball
• Watch Jim Boeheim's news conference after Syracuse basketball loss at Boston College
• FOR THE FIRST TIME, SU GETS ITS TURN AT THE BOTTOM
• Boston College 96 - Syracuse 81: Eagles bury Orange
• Another poor effort continues disastrous outlook
• Fans react to Syracuse starting 0-1 in ACC play
• Can the ACC repeat its success from last season?
• Tough questions, no easy answers for NC State after Miami loss