clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

ACC Roundup - The Empire(s) Strike Back

The traditional ruled the ACC Saturday

By JD King
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: JAN 25 NC State at Georgia Tech
Jose Alvarado was sensational against NC State Saturday
Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In Saturday’s ACC action, Boston College got Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech got NC State, Clemson lost at Louisville, Pitt fell at Syracuse, Florida State nipped Notre Dame and UNC clobbered Miami to break the losing streak and finally push Roy Williams past Dean Smith in win totals.

Sunday’s ACC Action

Virginia @ Wake Forest || 12:00 || ACCN

Saturday’s ACC Results

  • Florida State 85 Notre Dame 84
  • Louisville 80 Clemson 62
  • UNC 94 Miami 71
  • Syracuse 69 Pitt 61
  • Boston College 61 Virginia Tech 56
  • Georgia Tech 64 NC State 58

ACC Standings

And it was easy - but for a reason. UNC beat Miami 91-74 but the ‘Canes played without Kameron McGusty and Chris Lykes. McGusty has had bask spasms and Lykes has an injury that has been called both a groin injury and a hip flexor.

Whatever it is, Miami had little chance without those two.

Add to that a career night by Brandon Robinson, who had 29, and it was a lost night for he Hurricanes.

Not that UNC cares or should. A win is a win and they needed one. Armando Bacot stepped up in this one too with 19 point and 15 boards.

All the traditional powers won Saturday. Louisville ripped off a 20-0 run early in their game against Clemson and coasted to an 82-60 victory. Aamir Simms, who looked like Superman lately, had just four points for the Tigers. Only Clyde Trapp hit double figures for Clemson with 11.

We didn't expect Notre Dame to push FSU on the road but they surely did, losing just 85-84. The Irish had a chance to win with 2.6 left on the clock but Florida State defended very well and Dane Goodwin could only manage a desperation heave. The look on Leonard Hamilton’s face at this point in the game was...well, he hardly ever changes expressions but he was clearly worried.

Wyatt Wilkes had a career high 19. John Mooney’s double-double streak was snapped as the big guy was held to 19 points and just five boards.

FSU has won 10 straight but nearly gave this one away: the Irish rallied from nine down with 6:15 left to nearly steal a road win.

Syracuse’s Big Three combined for 38 but Marek Dolejaz managed 17 to help lead Syracuse past Pitt 69-61.

Pitt struggled with the zone, shooting just 38.9 percent overall and hitting just 5-21 from range for 23.8 percent.

Even so they cut the lead down to three a couple of times but just couldn't get over the hump.

Pitt plays at Duke on Tuesday.

Remember what we’ve said about Jose Alvarado? How there’s nothing more dangerous than an experienced point guard?

Well the junior is not showing up on NBA Draft boards but Kevin Keatts probably wishes he would: Alvarado picked up two late steals to seal the deal for the Yellow Jackets. State didn’t have Manny Bates and Pat Andree but Tech won without leading scorer Michael DeVoe.

Is it us or are injuries more common this season?

Alvarado finished with eight steals, tying Kenny Anderson’s 29-year old record.

Virginia Tech has been so impressive we tend to forget they’re small and young and it showed against Boston College as the Hokies had 14 turnovers and just 11 assists.

Jarius Hamilton had an impressive game, hitting 23 including some key shots late.

Nik Popovic is back for BC after back problems but the big guy only played eight minutes and had just two points and one rebound.

Only one game Sunday as Virginia travels to Wake Forest.

One sad note: former ACC Commissioner Gene Corrigan (Duke ‘52) has died. A Duke Lacrosse player, he led the ACC from 1987 to 1996 and helped add FSU to the league. He was 91.

More From Duke Basketball Report