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ACC Roundup - Cole’s Back And It Didn’t Much Matter

The Tar Heels fell to BC at home which had to hurt

By JD King
NCAA Basketball: Boston College at North Carolina
Feb 1, 2020; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Cole Anthony (2) reacts in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center.
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

In Saturday’s ACC action, FSU got by Virginia Tech 74-63, Louisville smacked NC State 77-57, Notre Dame held off Georgia Tech 80-72, Wake Forest popped Clemson 44-56 and Boston College shocked UNC in Chapel Hill 71-70.

  • Sunday’s ACC Action
  • Miami @ Pitt || 12:00 || ACCN

Saturday’s Results

  • Florida State 74 Virginia Tech 63
  • Louisville 77 NC State 57
  • Duke 97 Syracuse 88
  • Notre Dame 80 Georgia Tech 72
  • Boston College 71 UNC 70
  • Wake Forest 56 Clemson 44

ACC Standings

We didn't get to watch the game on TV until the end but caught a good bit of it on the radio and the radio crew’s depression and irritation was abundantly clear, so you can imagine how the fans feel.

In his first game back, Cole Anthony appears to have helped as much as he hurt. He did score 26 points but he took 14 shots in 26 minutes, some of them forced. Garrison Brooks, who has been almost heroic as UNC’s woes mounted, only had 10 points. We don’t know how many were on offensive rebounds, but he had six of those so presumably some of his points were just his own hard work. The other players managed to find him during UNC’s slump even though he became a defensive focus. Not this time.

To make matters worse, Brandon Robinson played almost the entire game - then injured his ankle with :17 seconds left.

We admire the effort Brooks has put in but that’s true of Robinson too. He’s really come on during UNC’s struggles and keeps pushing even though he gets injured constantly.

Louisville was in control for most of the game against NC State but the Pack cut the lead to four with 11:17 to go.

Louisville just pushed it right back out again. Dick Vitale’s find, Ryan McMahon, who he recommended to former coach Rick Pitino, hit seven threes and had 23 points. Good thing since Jordan Nwora was just 3-13.

State shot just 32.8 percent but did force 18 turnovers. If they could have controlled McMahon, who knows?

Wake Forest wins are about as rare as UNC wins this season (had to say it) but the Demon Deacons held Clemson to just 44 points. Aamir Simms had 14 but Tevin Mack was held to just two after his 32 point outburst against Syracuse the other night.

There’s not a lot to say here. At times Simms and Mack have been spectacular, but this wasn’t one of them.

Virginia Tech competed but the Hokies fell to Florida State and the ruthless nature of the ACC has come home to the young Hokies, who have now lost four of the last five.

Devin Vassell was even hotter than McMahon - he hit 7-7 to McMahon’s 7-10, tying an ACC record - and was a killer for Virginia Tech. That record more or less belongs to FSU - the other guys who’ve done it are fellow ‘Noles Sam Cassell, James Collins and NC State’s Al Freeman.

Aside from that, Virginia Tech is a small athletic team and FSU is a large athletic team. That usually works out only one way.

John Mooney, aka Mr. Double Double, had 28 and 10 for Notre Dame to lead the Irish over Georgia Tech.

The Yellow Jackets had to play without Michael DeVoe, out with a foot injury, but point guard Jose Alvarado had 25.

Still, Georgia Tech kept pace until about 12:00 minutes left in the game when the Irish got some separation.

Notre Dame is building confidence, which is huge for them.

Only one game on Super Bowl Sunday as Pitt welcomes Miami to town for the ACC’s traditional warm up for the big event.

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