THE ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE THREAD

No. 21 Florida St tops Samford 76-68 on Mann's 19 points

Florida State will enter Atlantic Coast Conference play off to one of the best starts in school history.

The 21st-ranked Seminoles got a career-high 19 points from Terance Mann on Monday as they took control in the second half for a 76-68 victory over Samford.

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Kennard, No. 5 Duke top Tennessee St 65-55 in Giles' debut

Duke finally had all the players that made the Blue Devils the top-ranked team in the preseason -- except that, for most of the night, they didn't play like it.

Luke Kennard scored 24 points and No. 5 Duke beat Tennessee State 65-55 on Monday in the college debut of touted freshman Harry Giles.

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No. 10 Louisville outlasts No. 6 Kentucky 73-70

Scoreless in two previous rivalry games, the point guard Louisville calls "Q" regrouped to be the Cardinals' X-factor against Kentucky.

Quentin Snider scored a career-high 22 points, including a key drive with 1:44 remaining, and Jaylen Johnson and Donovan Mitchell combined for four points in the final 16 seconds to help No. 10 Louisville hold off No. 6 Kentucky 73-70 on Wednesday night in the 50th battle for Bluegrass bragging rights.

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No. 5 Duke beats Elon 72-61 in final game before ACC play

Duke's Grayson Allen sat at his locker, his head hanging and voice barely registering much louder than a whisper. He couldn't explain to a crowd of reporters huddled around him why he had tripped an opponent during a game for the third time in a year.

"I mean, I don't plan on doing it again," Allen said as he fought back tears. "I made another mistake. I have to try to be better again, just like I tried to be better from last year."

Allen's trip of Elon guard Steven Santa Ana overshadowed the fifth-ranked Blue Devils' 72-61 victory over the Phoenix on Wednesday night, an incident that led to a technical foul and was described by Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski as "unacceptable."

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400915326

 

Blossomgame's 15 helps Clemson to 62-60 win over S. Carolina

A victory outside the ACC that will catch the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee's attention is rare for Clemson. To get it over the Tigers' bitter in-state rival is even better.

Jaron Blossomgame had 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead Clemson to a 62-60 victory over No. 22 South Carolina in a game Wednesday night where neither team led by more than four points.

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No. 12 Virginia uses big second half, holds off Cal 56-52

Tony Bennett wanted to see his Virginia team come through in a close game when not everything went right. Across the country right before Christmas and the start of conference play, California provided the perfect test while trying to protect a school-record home winning streak.

Isaiah Wilkins scored a tiebreaking three-point play with 1:02 remaining, Mamadi Diakite added a key basket in the final minute, and the 12th-ranked Cavaliers held off Cal 56-52 on Wednesday night to snap the Golden Bears' school-record 27-game home winning streak.


http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400915329

 

Meeks leads No. 8 UNC past Northern Iowa, 85-42

Once Kennedy Meeks got going for No. 8 North Carolina, nothing could stop him. Northern Iowa certainly couldn't.

Meeks scored 10 of his 18 points during the Tar Heels' dominant second half, leading them past the Panthers 85-42 on Wednesday night.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400915328

 

Josh Okogie scores 26 as Yellow Jackets upset No. 9 North Carolina

Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner says he has the nation's least experienced roster.

He knows almost nobody thought his team would beat North Carolina so early into his first season.

"I'm really happy that this will give us some pep in our step, some momentum for the fan base," Pastner said. "They know this is a rebuild, but hopefully they can see the big picture down the road of what we want to do."

Josh Okogie scored 26 points, Ben Lammers had 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Georgia Tech pulled off a major upset with a 75-63 victory over No. 9 North Carolina on Saturday in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400915350

 

Mitchell helps No. 6 Louisville get past No. 16 Indiana

Louisville coach Rick Pitino delivered a clear message to Donovan Mitchell and Deng Adel earlier this week.

Play like stars or suffer the consequences.

After benching Mitchell on Saturday and threatening Adel with the same fate if he didn't change his ways, both responded to Pitino's plea. Mitchell scored a career-high 25 points, Adel added 17, the lockdown defense returned and No. 6 Louisville pulled away from No. 16 Indiana 77-62.


http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400914976

 

Bibbs lifts Hokies to 89-75 upset of No. 5 Duke

Virginia Tech entered Atlantic Coast Conference play with a sparkling record and several quality wins to its credit, but the Hokies hadn't faced a ranked foe all season.

That test came Saturday -- and they passed rather easily.

Justin Bibbs scored 18 points to lead Virginia Tech to an 89-75 upset of No. 5 Duke in the ACC opener for both teams.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400915347

 

Bacon leads No. 20 Seminoles past No. 12 Virginia, 60-58

For all Dwayne Bacon had done to give No. 20 Florida State a chance of winning at Virginia, he went into the game's final seconds feeling responsible for giving the Seminoles a chance to lose by being out of position when Kyle Guy hit a go-ahead 3-pointer for the Cavaliers with 8.8 seconds left.

Lucky for the Seminoles, on a career night for the sophomore, he converted his one chance to make amends, hitting the game-winning 3-pointer with 4 seconds left as the Seminoles handed the 12th-ranked Cavaliers just their second loss in their last 37 ACC home games, 60-58 on Saturday.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400915351

 

Vasturia's 3 lifts No. 24 Notre Dame by Pitt 78-77 in OT

Notre Dame senior guard Steve Vasturia spent the better part of two hours trying and failing -- to stay out of foul trouble against Pittsburgh. Trying -- and failing -- to get into an offensive rhythm. Trying -- and failing -- to help the 24th-ranked Irish shake the energized Panthers.

Until the end, that is.

Then Vasturia did what coach Mike Brey expects his co-captain to do whenever the stakes are raised. He stayed calm. He didn't panic. And he made big shot after big shot, including the one that gave the Irish another high-wire victory over Pitt. Vasturia's 3-pointer from the wing with 2.5 seconds left in overtime lifted Notre Dame to a 78-77 victory in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both schools.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400915349

 

Berry's career night leads No. 14 North Carolina

Joel Berry II was angry with his play in North Carolina's loss to Georgia Tech last Saturday. He made up for that with a career night at Clemson.

Berry had career highs with 31 points and seven 3-pointers as the 14th-ranked Tar Heels bounced back from their Atlantic Coast Conference opening loss with an 89-86 overtime victory Tuesday night.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400915354

 

No. 8 Duke beats BC 93-82 in Capel's debut as acting coach

No. 8 Duke lost its Hall of Fame coach earlier in the week, its most experienced player in the first half and most of its huge lead in the second.

Freshman Jayson Tatum and acting head coach Jeff Capel made sure the Blue Devils wouldn't lose the game, too.

Tatum matched a season high with 22 points, scoring nine in the final 4½ minutes, and Duke held on to beat Boston College 93-82 on Saturday in Capel's season debut as Mike Krzyzewski's temporary replacement.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400915362

 

Mitchell, No. 9 Louisville pull away from Georgia Tech

When Donovan Mitchell scored 13 of his 20 points in the second half Saturday to lead No. 9 Louisville to a 65-50 victory over Georgia Tech, it didn't come as a surprise. For the Cardinals to make nine 3-pointers was a shock.

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No. 12 Florida State rolls to 93-78 win over No. 21 Va. Tech

After getting off to a slow start in Atlantic Coast Conference play last season, Florida State is off to its best start in school history.

The 12th-ranked Seminoles defeated No. 21 Virginia Tech 93-78 on Saturday for their 11th straight win. It also marks the first time since joining the ACC in 1991 that they have won their first three conference games.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400915363

 

Beachem, Farrell lead No. 23 Notre Dame past Clemson

After Notre Dame point guard Matt Farrell committed four turnovers in the first half Saturday against Clemson, he heard about it from an unhappy coach Mike Brey.

Farrell responded by scoring 12 of his 15 points in the second half, including a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left, to go with seven assists as No. 23 Notre Dame held off Clemson 75-70 to remain undefeated in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400915365

 

No. 20 Fighting Irish rally late to beat Miami 67-62

The Fighting Irish were at their best down the stretch once again, which is why they're still unbeaten in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

V.J. Beachem sank the go-ahead basket and made the clinching steal as No. 20 Notre Dame rallied from a four-point deficit in the final 2 1/2 minutes to beat Miami 67-62 on Thursday night.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400915374

 

Brown's 30 helps Miami beat No. 9 North Carolina 77-62

North Carolina coach Roy Williams' team trailed by double figures in the second half against Miami when there was a scramble for a rebound.

Like the game, it wasn't much of a contest.

"The ball was lying on the floor, and we didn't have anybody dive for it," Williams said. "They got it and made a 3. That was a big play."

So it went for the No. 9-ranked Tar Heels, who were outhustled and outscored by Miami. Freshman Bruce Brown needed only 11 shots to score a career-high 30 points, and the Hurricanes deployed a swarming zone defense Saturday to upset the Tar Heels 77-62, ending their seven-game winning streak.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400915406

 

Andrew White, John Gillon lead Syracuse past No. 6 FSU

All of a sudden, Syracuse is showing signs of emerging from its struggles this season.

Andrew White scored 24 points, John Gillon had 21 points and matched his career high with 11 assists, and Syracuse upset No. 6 Florida State 82-72 on Saturday.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400915405