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The number of low-scoring games by ACC teams and their opponents should tail off now that we’ve left the unevenly matched competition outside the ACC.
Well, not necessarily for Boston College, which posted five of its six sub-50 scoring outputs last year against league opponents, including a league-worst 40 in a defeat at Syracuse.
Still, there’s sign BC is on the upswing, however modestly. The Eagles’ lowest point production in the fall of 2015 was 45 points in a loss to Santa Clara. So far this year it was 54 in a defeat by Kansas State.
Last year at this juncture BC average 67.1 points in a dozen games, last in the ACC. This season after 13 nonconference games it averaged 73.0, better than Virginia and Georgia Tech. How well Jim Christian’s team can score within the league will be a telling measure.
Another result worth noting: When Louisville hosted Virginia on Dec. 28, it lost 61-53.
In fact, this year’s Cardinals are far more proficient defensively than offensively, at least so far. That’s evidenced by their middling rank among ACC teams in scoring (11th) and scoring margin (8th) through Dec. 30, compared to their top-shelf stature in scoring defense (3rd) and field goal percentage defense (2nd.)
Not surprisingly, UVa is better in both defensive categories, and throttled Louisville’s offense for the third time in a row. Not only that, but held the Cards some 20 points below their scoring average: to 47 and 46 in games last season, and to 53 this go-round.
In 2015, its debut ACC season, UL scored 47, its second-lowest total of the year, in a loss at Virginia. Then it triumphed in the regular-season finale 59-57 against a Cavalier squad that finished 30-4.
The teams meet again in Charlottesville on Feb. 6.
| LOW BALL Lowest Scoring Outputs by ACC Teams and Opponents In 2016-17 Season, Through Dec. 30 | ||
|---|---|---|
| ACC Low |
ACC Team v. Opponent | ACC Team W/L |
| 43 | Georgia Tech v. Georgia | L |
| 50 | Syracuse v. South Carolina | L |
| 50 | Syracuse v. Connecticut | L |
| 53 | Louisville v. Virginia | L |
| 54 | Boston College v. Kansas State | L |
| 55 | Pittsburgh v. Duquesne | L |
| 56 | Miami v. Iowa State | L |
| 56 | Miami v. Florida | L |
| 56 | Virginia v. California | W |
| 57 | Virginia v. West Virginia | L |
| 58 | Wake Forest v. Northwestern | L |
| Opp Low |
Opponent v. ACC Team | Score by ACC |
| 32 | St. Francis (NY) v. Virginia | 72 |
| 34 | Grambling State v. Virginia | 90 |
| 38 | Yale v. Virginia | 62 |
| 39 | Robert Morris v. Virginia | 79 |
| 42 | Northern Iowa v. No. Carolina | 85 |
| 43 | Coppin State v. Clemson | 85 |
| 43 | Western Carolina v. Miami | 92 |
| 45 | UNLV v. Duke | 94 |
| 46 | South Carolina St. v. Miami | 82 |
| 47 | Mercer v. Clemson | 90 |
| 47 | Evansville v. Louisville | 78 |
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