ACC Roundup - Heels Lose, Virginia Wins, Barely

We’ve never been overly wowed by Shaka Smart and his havoc defense. Basically once you get past it and get in the half-court, there’s not really a Plan B.

Well it worked well enough against UNC as the Longhorns won 92-89 and only a brilliant game by freshman Coby White kept it from being much worse.

White hit for 33 including seven three pointers. That’s a great night for anyone but especially for a freshman on an experienced team.

Afterwards, Roy Williams told his team that it was soft, a criticism his UNC teams have heard over the years from Williams and others.

Luke Maye gets huge props for making himself into a tremendous player, but hard work can only take him so far and quick, athletic teams give him fits. It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last.

Incidentally, Seventh Woods was out for this game with a concussion.

As we've said from time to time, schools like Dayton are not to be taken lightly. They expect to be good and to compete and they usually do.

The Flyers pushed Virginia hard and De’Andre Hunter was the difference. He had 23 points, five of his six boards were offensive, and he was a tough matchup for Dayton.

The Flyers shot 55% in the second half, presumably not what Tony Bennett had in mind.

Freshman Kihei Clark is just 5-9 but grabbed five rebounds meaning he outrebounded everyone but 6-9 Hunter and 6-8 Brandon Key.

Beating UAB doesn’t mean what it once did but FSU is 4-0 and movin’ on up. UAB managed just 32.8% and was just 2-14 from three point range.

Christ Koumadje had one of his better games with 12 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. HIs backup, Mfiondu Kabengele finished with 10 points and three boards. Total it up and that’s 22 points, 12 boards and three blocks. That’s pretty solid.

Chris Lykes had another solid game for Miami as the 5-7 pocket rocket scored 18 on 5-7 from the floor and 7-8 from the line. It’s very early and he hasn’t gotten the attention he deserves, but the kid is having a great season: 18 is his low so far.

Did we mention he’s 5-7?

On Friday, some really good games. Virginia plays Wisconsin in the Battle 4 Atlantis championship. It’ll be slow and ugly TV but if you like defense and effort, compelling. And we hear that Ethan Happe is having a great season for the Badgers.

In a game to wake up the ghosts, UNC and UCLA will play in Vegas. The Bruins are coming off a trip to the woodshed with Michigan State and UNC just lost to Texas.

Dean vs. Wooden this ain’t but a chance for both teams to make up for unfortunate losses.

Miami gets Fresno State which is one of those regional teams you have to look out for. The Bulldogs aren’t generally great but it’s a school with a basketball identity.

FSU and LSU should be a ton of fun. That’s worth watching or should be.

Wojo takes his Marquette squad against Louisville in the NIT Season Tip-Off. Louisville will be favored but Marquette, though just 3-2, has shown some guts this season.

Wake Forest hosts Houston Baptist, which should be an easy win, but not as easy as Georgia Tech’s scheduling Prairie View A&M.

Seriously?

Tech went from ECU to something called UT Rio Grande Valley to Prairie View? Clearly this could be a challenging season but for God’s sake, why not a Furman or Wofford? Those would not be easy games but Tech could win them and people would have a reason to at least come out. Who in their right mind would suffer through ECU, UT Rio Grande Valley and Prairie View? As Ross Perot used to say, that’s just pitiful.

• No. 7 UNC hoping it will have learned from its mistakes when it plays No. 17 UCLA on Friday
• North Carolina loses first game of season to Texas 92-89
• Florida State dominates UAB in AdvoCare Invitational opener
• Pitt fans have a lot be be thankful for
• Marquette Battles Louisville Friday Night In NIT Season Tip-Off
• Marquette Battles Louisville Friday Night In NIT Season Tip-Off
• Virginia’s Braxton Key just doesn’t give up
• Virginia outlasts Dayton to reach Battle 4 Atlantis final
• Fourth-ranked Cavs advance to title game in Battle 4 Atlantis
• Frank Howard returns to SU, reveals he had ankle surgery
• Boeheim on Tim Green’s fight against ALS: ‘He’s one of our guys’