THE ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE THREAD

North Carolina rolls past Wake Forest 95-57

Eighth-ranked North Carolina responded to its first loss in a month by pouncing on an overmatched opponent and rolling to its biggest margin of victory ever in an Atlantic Coast Conference road game.

Cameron Johnson scored 27 points and fueled the Tar Heels' game-opening run of 18 straight points in Saturday's 95-57 win at Wake Forest. The 38-point margin of victory was a school record, surpassing the previous highs of 34 points in league road games at Virginia and Virginia Tech during the 2004-05 season.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082735

 

Blackshear's 29 power No. 22 Virginia Tech by Pitt 70-64

Kerry Blackshear Jr. was mid-answer when the sight of a couple of Virginia Tech teammates recording his postgame interview with phone in hand became a bit too intrusive.

"I'm panicking, boy," Blackshear said. "You've got to get that off me."

It was the first time all day the junior forward looked rattled. Blackshear poured in a season-high 29 points during a near flawless performance to lead the 22nd-ranked Hokies to a 70-64 victory over slumping Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082758

 

Koumadje leads No. 17 Florida State past Georgia Tech 69-47

Christ Koumadje and No. 17 Florida State featured a balanced scoring approach. Georgia Tech could barely score -- again.

Koumadje had 10 points and 12 rebounds as the Seminoles tied a school record with their seventh straight ACC win, 69-47 Saturday.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082712

 

No. 16 Louisville almost blows late lead, holds off Clemson 56-55

Five days after watching a 23-point second-half lead disappear, No. 16 Louisville found itself on the brink of another calamity on Saturday.

The Cardinals beat Clemson 56-55, but they led by seven with 17 seconds remaining, and the Tigers had two chances in the final seconds to walk off the court with a win.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082663

 

Guy's 23 lift No. 3 Virginia past No. 20 Hokies, 64-58

Kyle Guy scored 23 points and it was his big first half that gave No. 3 Virginia a chance to get things right in the second half.

Thanks to Guy's 17 first-half points and some uncharacteristically poor shooting by No. 20 Virginia Tech, the Cavaliers overcame a sloppy start and outlasted the Hokies 64-58 on Monday night, sweeping the season series from their state rivals.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082759

 

Kabengele leads No. 16 Florida State to 77-64 win at Clemson

Trent Forrest said Florida State entered the season hoping to make history. The 16th-ranked Seminoles certainly did that at Clemson.

Mfiondu Kabengele had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Florida State set a program record with its eighth consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference victory in a 77-64 win over the Tigers on Tuesday night.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082664

 

With Zion injured, No. 8 UNC routs No. 1 Duke 88-72

Zion Williamson blew out his shoe, and then No. 8 North Carolina blew out top-ranked Duke.

Luke Maye took full advantage of a freak injury to the freshman sensation, finishing with 30 points and 15 rebounds to help the Tar Heels rout Duke 88-72 on Wednesday night.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082689

 

Syracuse beats No. 18 Louisville 69-49

Syracuse desperately needed a game like this and slumping Louisville obliged.

Elijah Hughes scored 18 points and Oshae Brissett had 16 to lead four players in double figures as the Orange beat the 18th-ranked Cardinals 69-49 on Wednesday night.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082798

 

Hunter rallies No. 3 Virginia past No. 18 Louisville 64-52

De'Andre Hunter was hungry to do his part.

The hard part was waiting nearly 9 1/2 minutes on the bench with two fouls. Once Hunter returned, he couldn't miss and all was right for No. 3 Virginia on Saturday as it rallied from a double-digit halftime deficit against No. 18 Louisville.

Hunter scored 19 of his career-high 26 points after halftime, and the Cavaliers recovered from a 12-point hole to win 64-52. Virginia won its fourth straight game and kept at least a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference lead. Louisville has lost five of its last seven.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082776

 

Jim Boeheim returns to Syracuse bench after fatal accident

When it was over and the last of the deafening cheers of the record Carrier Dome crowd had stopped, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim forgot about basketball for a poignant moment.

Three nights earlier, the 74-year-old Hall of Fame coach had been involved in an accident that took the life of 51-year-old Jorge Jimenez, and that was foremost on his mind. Talking about a tough 75-65 loss to top-ranked Duke on Saturday night would have to wait.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082690

 

Johnson, Maye lead No. 8 UNC past No. 16 FSU, 77-59

No. 8 North Carolina convincingly beat both of the Atlantic Coast Conference's hottest teams over a four-day span.

In the process, the Tar Heels laid claim to that honor for themselves.

Cameron Johnson had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and North Carolina routed No. 16 Florida State 77-59 on Saturday.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082713

 

Blackshear powers No. 20 Virginia Tech past Notre Dame 67-59

Kerry Blackshear Jr. is so pivotal to Virginia Tech's success that coach Buzz Williams begins sweating foul trouble as soon as his junior star commits his first.

"He's just become so integral to literally everything we do on both ends," Williams said.

Blackshear had 22 points and 14 rebounds in the No. 20 Hokies' 67-59 victory over Notre Dame on Saturday.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082760

 

Vassell leads No. 18 Florida St.'s late run past Notre Dame

Florida State was sluggish for much of the night, showing signs of a team that was worn down by playing for the third time in seven days.

Coach Leonard Hamilton looked down the bench and found a rested freshman to pick up the Seminoles.

Devin Vassell scored 13 points, sparking Florida State's second-half charge with a dunk and a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions, and the 18th-ranked Seminoles held off Notre Dame 68-61 on Monday night.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082714

 

No. 20 Virginia Tech topples No. 3 Duke with Zion out

Ty Outlaw caught a pass from driving teammate Wabissa Bede, set himself and fired away with a tiebreaking 3-pointer.

The way No. 20 Virginia Tech executed Tuesday, even Zion Williamsonmight not have made a difference.

Outlaw hit his big shot with 1:28 left and the Hokies beat No. 3 Duke 77-72 on a night when Williamson, the Blue Devils' star freshman, watched in street clothes for the second straight game because of a sprained right knee.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082691

 

White's 34 helps No. 5 North Carolina beat Syracuse 93-85

The shots were falling again for North Carolina's Coby White.

The freshman point guard shook off four games of shooting struggles to score a season-high 34 points, helping the fifth-ranked Tar Heels pull away late to beat Syracuse 93-85 on Tuesday night and maintain their perch atop the Atlantic Coast Conference standings.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082799

 

Jerome, Hunter lead No. 2 Virginia's rout of Ga. Tech, 81-51

With a No. 2 ranking, one of the nation's top defenses and a culture of success, Virginia has lofty goals for this season.

The Cavaliers made their road a bit easier Wednesday night, beating Georgia Tech 81-51 to secure a double bye for the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, their first postseason stop on the way to what they hope will be a Final Four appearance in Minneapolis.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082777

 

After Williams falls and leaves, No. 5 UNC outlasts Clemson

After coach Roy Williams fell in front of North Carolina's bench and had to be helped off, assistant Steve Robinson didn't have much time to be concerned. Robinson and the Tar Heels had a game to finish.

No. 5 North Carolina survived a wild finish without Williams, holding on to beat Clemson 81-79.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082666

 

Barrett, Reddish lead No. 3 Duke past Miami, 87-57

Jack White took the pass from Tre Jones in the left corner, squared to the basket and launched a 3-pointer.

Unlike the previous 28 he shot, this one went in.

His slump is over, and now No. 3 Duke hopes its slide is, too.

The Blue Devils routed Miami 87-57 on Saturday behind 19 points and 10 rebounds from RJ Barrett and 19 points from fellow freshman Cameron Reddish.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082692

 

Guy's 17 lead No. 2 Virginia past Pittsburgh 73-49

With sore knees and another game Monday night, Kyle Guy was fine playing just 25 minutes.

He did more than enough with that action, hitting five 3-pointers and scoring 17 points as No. 2 Virginia beat Pittsburgh 73-49 on Saturday for the Panthers' 12th straight loss.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082778