In Sunday’s ACC action, Louisville topped Youngstown State 78-55, Florida State took out Florida 63-51, Virginia nearly doubled up on James Madison winning 65-34, Boston College took down South Florida 74-60, Wake Forest survived Columbia 65-63, Clemson pasted Colgate 81-68 and NC State knocked off Detroit 84-65.
It’s still early but Louisville is living up to the early hype. The Cardinals shot 53 percent against the Penguins in the first half and finished at 50.8 percent for the game. The Cards held Youngstown State 31.3 percent and 18.5 percent from deep. Coach Chris Mack was upset about rebounding - the Penguins won the boards 46-38 - but it didn't help them that much.
Given what we’ve seen so far we’d have to see the Cardinals as a Top Five team. They’re deserving.
How about this? FSU beat Florida for the sixth straight time. The ‘Noles held Florida to 14 of 50 shooting for 28 percent.
In his first big game for the the Gators, former Hokie Kerry Blackshear whiffed from the floor but hit 10-14 foul shots. True to precedent, he picked up four fouls himself.
In the first half the game was close but after halftime, FSU got some separation and maintained it. After losing to Pitt, this win was a surprise for a lot of people. The ‘Noles are young and a bit rough around the edges. So this was a great win for them and one to really build on.
Good news/bad news for JMU - the Dukes lost by 31. Good news: they matched Syracuse’s output against Virginia with 34. Bad news: they still lost by 31.
Virginia’s defense still reigns: JMU managed just 22.6 percent and was forced into 31 three point attempts, missing 23 of them.
Former Blue Devil Derryck Thornton is averaging 22.5 ppg for BC and the Eagles had a second win to start the season, beating South Florida by 12.
And consider this: BC has a shot - no guarantee but a shot - at coming into the Duke game on New’s Years Eve undefeated.
They’ll play High Point, Belmont (but Rick Byrd has retired), Eastern Washington, DePaul and St. Louis at home. They they go on the road to take on Richmond before returning home to take on Northwestern.
There’s a trip to Notre Dame to worry about but then it’s Albany, Central Connecticut and Cal at home before heading down to Durham. The non-conference schedule is pretty weak which is good and bad. Jim Christian needs to have a good year but weak scheduling can backfire when ACC play starts. Still, most BC fans would be very happy to come into Cameron with 10-13 wins and Thornton’s play is making up for the departed Ky Bowman rather nicely.
A win is a win but is anyone particularly happy with Wake’s two point win over...Columbia?
That’s still a win and it beats the hell out of a loss but it took a Randolph Childress shot which bounced around the rim before finally falling through with 0:01 left to secure the win - at home.
Still, it’s a win and these are games that Wake has choked away for several years now. It’s probably good they had to earn it. Now let’s see if the Deacs can build on it.
After losing to Virginia Tech in the opener, Clemson had to get better fast. The Tigers seem to have done that, winning the last two games against Presbyterian and now Colgate.
Admittedly that’s hardly Murderer’s Row, but the Tigers have been getting better.
And they had to earn this win because Colgate pushed them, tying the game at 62-62. Clemson closed out with a 19-6 run.
That’s a team that’s getting better and one where players are finding and accepting roles.
Transfer Tevin Mack had 17 points and nine rebounds.
Unbeknownst to a lot of people, Detroit Mercy has a great player: 6-1 guard Antoine Davis, son of coach Mike Davis, perhaps most famous for replacing Bob Knight at Indiana.
Young Green is a real offensive force, averaging 26.1 ppg last season.
He was just about on target, hitting State for 28 but it wasn’t enough as the Pack won 85-64.
Good news for the Pack: Markell Johnson is back after sitting out the Georgia Tech game with an ankle injury.
Braxton Beverly had a career high 23 to pace State. CJ Bryce added 19.
Only one game Sunday as Georgia Tech hosts Elon. That’s at 7:30 on ACCNX
- Good looks, good shooting by Beverly leads to career highs
- Beverly, Bryce lead Pack past Detroit Mercy for first win
- NC State’s Keatts talks about the victory over Detroit Mercy
- Johnson returns to lead NC State past Detroit Mercy 84-65
- Deacons survive, complete rally in final minute to beat Columbia on Childress’ rim-rattling winner
- N.C. State downs Detroit Mercy
- Seminoles sway: Gators’ losing streak to rivals continues
- PHOTOS: Virginia defeats James Madison
- Virginia cruises past JMU, improves to 2-0
- U.Va. clamps down defensively on JMU, paving way to 65-34 win in JPJ opener
- Derryck Thornton, Nik Popovic lead Boston College past South Florida
- Clemson Basketball All Smiles After Brush With Colgate
- FSU Basketball throws perfect shade after beating Florida