ACC Roundup - Louisville Debuts With David Padgett

Six ACC games Sunday night and the most interesting was Louisville’s post-Pitino debut.

The Cards defeated George Mason 72-61 and confessed to a bit of nerves. Rick Pitino’s teams were rarely offensive powerhouses but he compensated with a powerful defense and occasional three point binges. Some continuity: Louisville shot 45.8% from deep and 40% overall, the sort of numbers you’d have seen under Pitino. Louisville got to the line 29 times and hit 20 of them.

We told you guys earlier to keep an eye on Miami’s D.J. Vasilvejic. He was 5-10 overall and 4-8 from three point range for 16 points - handy since Bruce Brown shot 1-10 and scored three points.

At some point this season that guy is going to explode.

BC had a romp! BC had a romp! BC had a romp!

Well come on, it’s been a while.

The Eagles won by 39, beating SC State 91-52. Freshman Steffon Mitchell had 21 points off the bench. And check this out: BC’s dynamic backcourt scored just 19. Nik Popovic had nine rebounds as did Deontae Hawkins. The Bulldogs only managed four assists.

Donte Grantham and Gabe DeVoe both had double-doubles to pace Clemson past NC A&T, 87-63. Clemson pulled down 45 rebounds and and had 48 points inside. Grantham and DeVoe had 17/12 and 13/10 points and rebounds.

Former A&T star Sam Hunt is now at NC State and doing well so far: he’s emerging as a dangerous three point shooter. New teammate Allerik Freeman calls him a “sniper.”’

So far State has seven guys averaging double figures and nine guys getting double digit minutes.

The Pack won 78-56 and forced 24 turnovers. So far it looks like Kevin Keatts is doing a solid job of introducing his system to the Pack.

Dugger Baucom has coached at two military academies now - VMI and the Citadel - and somewhat counterintuitively has introduced high-scoring offenses to both.

Virginia Tech scored 132 points to the Citadel’s 93 in what must have been a fun game to watch.

Duke’s Marvin Bagley is the breakout ACC freshman star so far but the Hokies Nickeil Alexander-Walker is right there with him: he put up 29 against the Citadel and is averaging 24 ppg.

Kerry Blackshear shot 9-11, not surprising for a big man against a military academy.

Monday night Notre Dame takes on Mt. St. Mary’s, Pitt gets Montana and Virginia hosts Austin Peay.

• 5 Takeaways from UM basketball opening weekend
• Zion Williamson Clemson update
• Pittsburgh vs. Montana: College basketball game preview
• Pittsburgh vs. Montana: College basketball game preview
• Boston College Men's Basketball vs. South Carolina State
• Florida State basketball: Season preview