THE ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE THREAD

Savoy helps No. 17 Florida State beat Florida 81-60

Florida State reached the Elite Eight in March with a tenacious defense. The Seminoles opened the season with more of the same, frustrating their in-state rival from the opening tip.

P.J. Savoy scored 20 points with five 3-pointers, Trent Forrest added 13 points and five assists, and No. 17 Florida State opened with an 81-60 win over Florida on Tuesday night.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082695

 

Brissett scores 20, No. 16 Syracuse beats E Washington 66-34

With all five starters back, No. 16 Syracuse didn't figure to skip a beat defensively, and Eastern Washington found that out in a hurry.

Mixing in a full-court press with its normally stingy 2/3 zone, Syracuse shot just 39 percent from the field and 17 percent from 3 on Tuesday night and still nearly doubled up on the Eagles, beating them 66-34.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082781

 

Louisville escapes Nicholls State 85-72 in Mack's debut

Chris Mack would've preferred a smoother start to his Louisville coaching debut and seemed happy only about the outcome.

Little was pretty about the Cardinals' opener, but at least it ended successfully against Nicholls State.

Steven Enoch had 15 points including a pair of critical free throws with 1:57 remaining, Darius Perry added 14 points and the Cardinals thrived at the foul line to hold off the Colonels 85-72 on Thursday night in Mack's first game with the Cardinals.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082908

 

Burns' career night leads Irish over Chicago State 89-62

Elijah Burns knows his roles on the Notre Dame basketball team. Being the leading scorer hasn't been one of them.

"I'll do whatever my team needs me to do -- rebound, talk, defend," the 6-foot-8 senior reserve forward said after scoring a career-high 15 points to lead four players in double figures Thursday in an 89-62 victory over Chicago State. "I just want to win games."

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082821

 

Johnson, Little lead No. 8 North Carolina past Elon, 116-67

No. 8 North Carolina opened an in-state neighbor's arena by putting up some numbers that will be tough for other teams to surpass.

The Tar Heels routed Elon 116-67 on Friday night behind 21 points apiece from Cameron Johnson and freshman Nassir Little.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082854

 

No. 22 Clemson uses fast start to defeat NC Central 71-51

Clemson coach Brad Brownell has long considered David Skara one of the Tigers' top defenders. Skara is showing he can score, too.

Skara had 16 points and No. 22 Clemson opened a large early lead in cruising to a 71-51 victory over North Carolina Central on Friday night.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082643

 

No. 15 Virginia Tech tops Gardner-Webb 87-59 in opener

Isaiah Wilkins only found out on Monday that he would play rather than redshirt this season. The baby-faced 18-year-old freshman ended up playing a critical role in No. 15 Virginia Tech's season opener.

Wilkins, the 10th-youngest player in Division 1, scored 21 points as the Hokies fended off an early challenge from Gardner-Webb and went on to win 87-59 on Friday night.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082740

 

Battle, No. 16 Syracuse knock off Morehead State 84-70

Syracuse appeared to be on its way to an easy night before Morehead State rallied.

There was a lot to like for the Orange. And a little trouble, too.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082782

 

Mann leads No. 17 Florida State past Tulane, 80-69

Terance Mann's production under both baskets saved Florida State from being surprisingly upstaged by a Tulane freshman's remarkable debut.

Mann had 21 points and 10 rebounds, PJ Savoy added 14 points and No. 17 Florida State wore down a feisty and apparently improved Tulane squad, 80-69 on Sunday night.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082696

 

No. 5 Virginia easily takes care of George Washington, 76-57

Virginia guard Kyle Guy dribbled deep into the lane with his right hand, switched the ball to his left and tossed up a shot almost from behind his head while getting fouled as he drifted out of bounds beyond the baseline.

The ball somehow dropped through the netting, unbeknownst to Guy until he turned and met teammates congratulating him for the improbable field goal late in the first half Sunday afternoon against visiting George Washington.

“I definitely didn’t think it was even going to hit the rim,” Guy said. “It went in, and everyone went wild, I was like, ‘It really went in?’ The basketball gods were in my favor for that shot.”

The No. 5 Cavaliers produced a few other highlights in their 76-57 victory over GW that was all but secure by halftime. At that point, Guy had scored as many points as the Colonials combined on the way to finishing with 20 in addition to six rebounds and four assists.

Read more https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...re-george-washington-/?utm_term=.f71bb7499890

 

Williamson, No. 4 Duke pull away from Army, 94-72

Duke got something from Army that it didn't against Kentucky: A test.

The fourth-ranked Blue Devils pulled away to beat the Black Knights 94-72 on Sunday behind 27 points and 16 rebounds from Zion Williamson.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082670

 

No. 7 North Carolina beats Stanford 90-72 in 1st home game

Kenny Williams spent two games missing shot after shot in an unusually cold stretch for No. 7 North Carolina's senior starting guard and top defensive player.

He tried not to get too frustrated and kept believing the next ones were sure to fall -- until they finally did against Stanford on Monday night.

Williams scored 12 points after starting the season by missing his first 10 shots, and UNC dominated the first half to beat Stanford 90-72 in its home opener.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082855

 

- Zion Williamson tossed up an alley-oop lob for RJ Barrett, and on the next trip downcourt, Barrett returned the favor by setting up a dunk for Williamson.

For these high-flying Blue Devils, that No. 1 ranking sure seems to fit.

Williamson scored 21 points, Barrett added 20 and Duke routed Eastern Michigan 84-46 on Wednesday night in its first game this season as the nation's top-ranked team.

Read m0re http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082671

 

Reed's 26 points help No. 19 Clemson beat Bearkats 74-59

Clemson coach Brad Brownell knows he has something many other programs don't -- a highly experienced backcourt to call on when things get tight.

Marcquise Reed had a season-high 26 points and point guard Shelton Mitchell 13 as the 19th-ranked Tigers used a second-half surge to put away pesky Sam Houston State 74-59 on Wednesday night.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082644

 

De'Andre Hunter wasn't the focus of Coppin State's defense on Friday night, so the sophomore forward showed the overmatched Eagles the error of their ways.

Hunter scored 20 points in just 15 1/2 minutes, and No. 4 Virginia opened with a 21-5 run and beat Coppin State 97-40 on Friday night.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082764

 

No. 16 Virginia Tech tops Northeastern in Charleston Classic

No. 16 Virginia Tech accomplished something it hadn't in coach Buzz Williams' five seasons -- reaching an in-season tournament championship game.

If the Hokies are as locked-in defensively Sunday as in beating Northeastern 88-60 at the Charleston Classic on Friday, they could also leave with Williams' first tournament title.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401096901

 

No. 7 North Carolina beats Tennessee Tech 108-58

The ball came Seventh Woods' way in transition and he didn't hesitate.

The North Carolina junior immediately flipped the ball behind his back to Cameron Johnson for a corner 3-pointer, one of several blowout-producing baskets for the seventh-ranked Tar Heels after halftime in Friday night's 108-58 win against Tennessee Tech.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082856

 

No. 16 Virginia Tech rallies past No. 23 Purdue

Justin Robinson saw his Virginia Tech teammate Ahmed Hill coming off the floor after a disappointing first half.

"We're going to need you to win," Robinson told him.

Hill certainly listened and was instrumental in the 16th-ranked Hokies' first in-season tournament title in coach Buzz Williams' five seasons with an 89-83 victory over No. 23 Purdue at the Charleston Classic on Sunday night.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401096906

 

Little, Johnson lead No. 7 UNC past Saint Francis 101-76

Once seventh-ranked North Carolina started taking care of the basketball, the Tar Heels had no trouble taking care of Saint Francis of Pennsylvania.

Cameron Johnson scored 20 points, freshman Nassir Little added 19 and North Carolina beat Saint Francis 101-76 on Monday night in the on-campus round of the Las Vegas Invitational.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082857

 

No. 1 Duke rout San Diego State to open Maui Invitational

Zion Williamson poked the ball free with a clear path to the basket, the crowd rising in anticipation before he even reached midcourt.

The voices in the Lahaina Civic Center rising with Duke's rim-wrecking freshman, Williamson launched through the air, head well above the rim as he threw down a windmill dunk and roars echoed off their ceiling.

Duke's soaring-and-scoring show hit paradise and it's showing no sign of slowing down.

The top-ranked Blue Devils breezed through their Maui Invitational opener on Monday, blowing out San Diego State 90-64 to remain undefeated on the Valley Isle.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401082335