This Week in the ACC - 11/24-11/30

[pfrduke]

This week was a bit of a mixed bag. Miami and Duke had by far the most successful weeks, following mid-week wins over power conference opponents with weekend conference tournament championships. FSU and Clemson had the worst go of it, with the Noles ending the week at 1-3 and Clemson doing Clemson things en route to losing two games to Big South opponents. Several other ACC squads fell from the ranks of the unbeaten.

This week gives the conference more chances for marquee wins and tournament victories. UNC has a very tough field ahead of it in Atlantis - a win would be impressive. Pitt has its work cut out for it in Maui, while Virginia looks to have a much easier go of things in the Barclays. Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech round out the tourney participants - neither is a favorite in their field but each has a shot at winning.

Here's what's on tap for the holiday week:

Monday starts with Clemson finishing off the Paradise Jam with the 5th place game and finishes with Pitt taking on Chaminade in Maui.

[93]Clemson vs. [82]LSU (4:00)
[3]Louisville hosts [293]Savannah State (7:00)
[107]Wake Forest hosts [319]Nicholls State (7:00)
[43]Pittsburgh vs. [NR]Chaminade in Lahaina (9:00)

Tuesday gives Miami a quick rematch against a Charlotte team it beat by about 20 to win the Charleston Classic. Pitt has second round action in Maui, Virginia Tech gets the Cancun Challenge started, and a few other teams host some Thanksgiving appetizers.

[6]Virginia hosts [331]Tennessee State (ESPN3, 7:00)
[20]Syracuse hosts [288]Loyola (MD) (ESPN3, 7:00)
[175]Virginia Tech vs. [67]Northern Iowa in Cancun (CBSSN, 7:00)
[81]Florida State hosts [334]Citadel (ESPN3, 7:00)
[19]Miami at [88]Charlotte (9:00)
[43]Pittsburgh v. [23]San Diego State/[51]Brigham Young (TBD)

Wednesday is finals in Cancun and Maui, plus opening round action in the Bahamas and all the rest of Tobacco Road hosting pre-Thanksgiving games.

[15]North Carolina vs. [53]Butler in Atlantis (12:00, ESPN2)
[2]Duke hosts [312]Furman (5:00, ESPNU)
[3]Louisville hosts [99]Cleveland State (7:00, ESPN3)
[44]Notre Dame hosts [351]Grambling (7:00, ESPN3)
[107]Wake Forest hosts [266]Mount St. Mary's (7:00, ESPN3)
[64]NC State hosts [50]Richmond (7:00, ESPN3)
[43]Pittsburgh vs. TBD - the prize here is Arizona
[175]Virginia Tech vs. [101]Northwestern/[248]Miami (OH) (TBD, CBSSN)

Thursday means Happy Thanksgiving! UNC and Georgia Tech celebrate by playing basketball (and Kennedy Meeks also celebrates by eating a Turducken)

[89]Georgia Tech vs. [115]Marquette in Orlando (8:30, ESPN2)
[15]North Carolina vs. [17]UCLA/[28]Oklahoma in Atlantis (TBD)

Friday has 9 ACC games for you to enjoy during leftovers.

[81]Florida State hosts [191]Charleston Southern (6:00, ESPN3)
[20]Syracuse hosts [145]Holy Cross (7:00, ESPN3)
[93]Clemson hosts [179]High Point (7:00, ESPN3)
[19]Miami hosts [291]South Alabama (7:00, ESPN3)
[64]North Carolina State hosts [75]Boise State (7:00, ESPN3)
[107]Wake Forest hosts [297]Delaware State (7:00, ESPN3)
[6]Virginia vs. [100]La Salle in Brooklyn (9:30)
[15]North Carolina v. TBD in Atlantis
[89]Georgia Tech v. [14]Michigan State/[199]Rider in Orlando (TBD)

Saturday crowns a champion in Brooklyn.

[44]Notre Dame hosts [322]Chicago State (2:00, ESPN3)
[6]Virginia vs. [84]Vanderbilt/[128]Rutgers in Brooklyn (TBD)

Sunday gives us the final round in Orlando and Duke and Virginia Tech getting some warm up action before the ACC/B1G challenge next week.

[2]Duke hosts [166]Army (12:00, ESPNU)
[175]Virginia Tech hosts [287]Morgan State (3:00, ESPN3)
[89]Georgia Tech vs. TBD in Orlando - Kansas is the prize here

ACC Non-Conference Record: 45-14
ACC Record vs. BCS:* 9-5
America East: 2-0
American Athletic: 3-0
Atlantic Sun: 2-0
Atlantic Ten: 3-3
Big 12: 0-1
Big East: 0-2
Big South: 3-2
B1G Ten: 3-0
Big West: 0-1
Colonial: 3-1
Conference USA: 2-0
MAAC: 3-1
MAC: 1-0
MEAC: 8-0
Mountain West: 2-0
Northeast: 1-0
Ohio Valley: 1-0
Pac-12: 1-1
Patriot: 1-0
SEC: 2-1
Southern: 1-0
Summit: 1-0
Sun Belt: 0-1
SWAC: 2-0

*as last year, both the AAC and the Big East are being counted as among the BCS conferences. And yes, BCS is now a completely outdated reference derived from an entirely separate sport, but it's handy shorthand.

[Reilly]

Cool to see it all in one place. Thanks for the tremendous compilation.

Are the rankings from kenpom, sagarin, sports-reference, or something else?

Instead of using "BCS", does it work to list the conferences? Something like: ACC v. AAC/Big East/Big10/Big12/SEC/PAC12.

[devildeac]

This week was a bit of a mixed bag. Miami and Duke had by far the most successful weeks, following mid-week wins over power conference opponents with weekend conference tournament championships. FSU and Clemson had the worst go of it, with the Noles ending the week at 1-3 and Clemson doing Clemson things en route to losing two games to Big South opponents. Several other ACC squads fell from the ranks of the unbeaten.

This week gives the conference more chances for marquee wins and tournament victories. UNC has a very tough field ahead of it in Atlantis - a win would be impressive. Pitt has its work cut out for it in Maui, while Virginia looks to have a much easier go of things in the Barclays. Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech round out the tourney participants - neither is a favorite in their field but each has a shot at winning.

Here's what's on tap for the holiday week:

Monday starts with Clemson finishing off the Paradise Jam with the 5th place game and finishes with Pitt taking on Chaminade in Maui.

[93]Clemson vs. [82]LSU (4:00)
[3]Louisville hosts [293]Savannah State (7:00)
[107]Wake Forest hosts [319]Nicholls State (7:00)
[43]Pittsburgh vs. [NR]Chaminade in Lahaina (9:00)

Tuesday gives Miami a quick rematch against a Charlotte team it beat by about 20 to win the Charleston Classic. Pitt has second round action in Maui, Virginia Tech gets the Cancun Challenge started, and a few other teams host some Thanksgiving appetizers.

[6]Virginia hosts [331]Tennessee State (ESPN3, 7:00)
[20]Syracuse hosts [288]Loyola (MD) (ESPN3, 7:00)
[175]Virginia Tech vs. [67]Northern Iowa in Cancun (CBSSN, 7:00)
[81]Florida State hosts [334]Citadel (ESPN3, 7:00)
[19]Miami at [88]Charlotte (9:00)
[43]Pittsburgh v. [23]San Diego State/[51]Brigham Young (TBD)

Wednesday is finals in Cancun and Maui, plus opening round action in the Bahamas and all the rest of Tobacco Road hosting pre-Thanksgiving games.

[15]North Carolina vs. [53]Butler in Atlantis (12:00, ESPN2)
[2]Duke hosts [312]Furman (5:00, ESPNU)
[3]Louisville hosts [99]Cleveland State (7:00, ESPN3)
[44]Notre Dame hosts [351]Grambling (7:00, ESPN3)
[107]Wake Forest hosts [266]Mount St. Mary's (7:00, ESPN3)
[64]NC State hosts [50]Richmond (7:00, ESPN3)
[43]Pittsburgh vs. TBD - the prize here is Arizona
[175]Virginia Tech vs. [101]Northwestern/[248]Miami (OH) (TBD, CBSSN)

Thursday means Happy Thanksgiving! UNC and Georgia Tech celebrate by playing basketball (and Kennedy Meeks also celebrates by eating a Turducken)

[89]Georgia Tech vs. [115]Marquette in Orlando (8:30, ESPN2)
[15]North Carolina vs. [17]UCLA/[28]Oklahoma in Atlantis (TBD)

Friday has 9 ACC games for you to enjoy during leftovers.

[81]Florida State hosts [191]Charleston Southern (6:00, ESPN3)
[20]Syracuse hosts [145]Holy Cross (7:00, ESPN3)
[93]Clemson hosts [179]High Point (7:00, ESPN3)
[19]Miami hosts [291]South Alabama (7:00, ESPN3)
[64]North Carolina State hosts [75]Boise State (7:00, ESPN3)
[107]Wake Forest hosts [297]Delaware State (7:00, ESPN3)
[6]Virginia vs. [100]La Salle in Brooklyn (9:30)
[15]North Carolina v. TBD in Atlantis
[89]Georgia Tech v. [14]Michigan State/[199]Rider in Orlando (TBD)

Saturday crowns a champion in Brooklyn.

[44]Notre Dame hosts [322]Chicago State (2:00, ESPN3)
[6]Virginia vs. [84]Vanderbilt/[128]Rutgers in Brooklyn (TBD)

Sunday gives us the final round in Orlando and Duke and Virginia Tech getting some warm up action before the ACC/B1G challenge next week.

[2]Duke hosts [166]Army (12:00, ESPNU)
[175]Virginia Tech hosts [287]Morgan State (3:00, ESPN3)
[89]Georgia Tech vs. TBD in Orlando - Kansas is the prize here

ACC Non-Conference Record: 45-14
ACC Record vs. BCS:* 9-5
America East: 2-0
American Athletic: 3-0
Atlantic Sun: 2-0
Atlantic Ten: 3-3
Big 12: 0-1
Big East: 0-2
Big South: 3-2
B1G Ten: 3-0
Big West: 0-1
Colonial: 3-1
Conference USA: 2-0
MAAC: 3-1
MAC: 1-0
MEAC: 8-0
Mountain West: 2-0
Northeast: 1-0
Ohio Valley: 1-0
Pac-12: 1-1
Patriot: 1-0
SEC: 2-1
Southern: 1-0
Summit: 1-0
Sun Belt: 0-1
SWAC: 2-0

*as last year, both the AAC and the Big East are being counted as among the BCS conferences. And yes, BCS is now a completely outdated reference derived from an entirely separate sport, but it's handy shorthand.

Thanks again for this.

Go Butler!

[Duvall]

Uh-oh - Louisville looking to tie the "record" held by Duke (and others, I'm guessing) for fewest points allowed in a half.

ETA: Nope - Savannah State draws a shooting foul, and hits one of the FT. I knew they could do it.

[pfrduke]

Cool to see it all in one place. Thanks for the tremendous compilation.

Are the rankings from kenpom, sagarin, sports-reference, or something else?

Instead of using "BCS", does it work to list the conferences? Something like: ACC v. AAC/Big East/Big10/Big12/SEC/PAC12.

All Pomeroy. Re the conferences, it's a fair suggestion. I'm honestly torn about what to do with the AAC. It currently ranks as the 9th(!) strongest conference per Pomeroy and UConn, Cincinnati, and South Florida are the only schools that were in a BCS conference two years ago - the rest is the Conference USA programs that had good enough football programs to make the move, and Temple. I'm not sure that including them is the best reference point. For example, the ACC's three wins against AAC opponents are Temple, South Florida, and Tulane, none of which are currently ranked in the top 120 teams (Temple is highest at 121). Last year with Louisville and Rutgers (which is no great shakes) and fewer CUSA teams it at least felt more like half of the old Big East. But now I think I'm going to take it off of the power conference list.

[Reilly]

... I'm honestly torn about what to do with the AAC. It currently ranks as the 9th(!) strongest conference per Pomeroy ... I think I'm going to take it off of the power conference list.

Lefty had a good rant one time about "what is a mid-major?" and I agree with him. That is, there is no strict definition of it. Just as there is not one of a "power" conference. The formalist in me hates the not-strictly-defined terms.

In FBS, there are 128 teams -- all playing by the same rules, with the same number of scholarships. Yet there has always been an unofficial dividing line based on history and tradition between the Power 5 (ACC, SEC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12) and what is now the Group of Five (I think) and that unofficial line is now official-like with a New Year's Six bowl tie-in.

In hoops, so I guess something like the WAC is not a "power" conference, but those could be wins of tremendous quality over the years.

[johnb]

Okay, so this probably belongs elsewhere, but the article came out this week, and it doesn't merit a new thread.

Scout took a crack at its all century ACC team. I almost clicked elsewhere when I saw that they picked Hansblaugh as its player of the century, but I did go ahead and look at the rest of the selections.

K was the coach. The first team included JJ, Jay Williams, Battier, and Shelden. Best freshman was Jabari. Second team included Scheyer and Singler. So I guess we weren't entirely disrespected...

http://collegebasketball.scout.com/s...l-century-team

[sagegrouse]

Okay, so this probably belongs elsewhere, but the article came out this week, and it doesn't merit a new thread.

Scout took a crack at its all century ACC team. I almost clicked elsewhere when I saw that they picked Hansblaugh as its player of the century, but I did go ahead and look at the rest of the selections.

K was the coach. The first team included JJ, Jay Williams, Battier, and Shelden. Best freshman was Jabari. Second team included Scheyer and Singler. So I guess we weren't entirely disrespected...

http://collegebasketball.scout.com/s...l-century-team

Holy, moly! Four Devils on a five-man all-century team? In fact, the only player not from Duke or UNC was Juan Dixon. (Ty Lawson and Sean May were second team.) It seems like there must be some other deserving players.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Lunch break. Butler is giving UNC all they can handle.

[Wander]

Holy, moly! Four Devils on a five-man all-century team? In fact, the only player not from Duke or UNC was Juan Dixon. (Ty Lawson and Sean May were second team.) It seems like there must be some other deserving players.

Well, it seems to be heavily favored towards 4 year players. Which is completely fine, but it causes things like Jon Scheyer > Chris Paul that you wouldn't normally find on these lists (sorry Jumbo).

[sagegrouse]

Well, it seems to be heavily favored towards 4 year players. Which is completely fine, but it causes things like Jon Scheyer > Chris Paul that you wouldn't normally find on these lists (sorry Jumbo).

2000–01† 	Shane Battier* 	Duke 	
2000–01† 	Joseph Forte 	North Carolina 	
2001–02 	Juan Dixon 	Maryland 	
2002–03 	Josh Howard 	Wake Forest 	
2003–04 	Julius Hodge 	NC State 	
2004–05 	J. J. Redick 	Duke 	
2005–06 	J. J. Redick* (2) 	Duke 	
2006–07 	Jared Dudley 	Boston College 	
2007–08 	Tyler Hansbrough* 	North Carolina 	
2008–09 	Ty Lawson 	North Carolina 	
2009–10 	Greivis Vasquez 	Maryland 	
2010–11 	Nolan Smith 	Duke 	
2011–12 	Tyler Zeller 	North Carolina 	
2012–13† 	Erick Green‡ 	Virginia Tech 	
2012–13† 	Shane Larkin₮ 	Miami (FL) 	
2013–14 	T. J. Warren 	NC State

Hmmm... first-teamers who were not ACC POY: JWill (NPOY), Shelden.

[OldPhiKap]

Cheaters never win, and winners never cheat. Nice win by Butler. Way to box out and shoot free throws, heels.

[Olympic Fan]

Part of me wants to celebrate the loss by the cheating no-class, university (wonder if they trash the locker room in the Bahamas?). Plus, it will be fun to see who Ol' Roy throws under the bus.

But the part of me that is an ACC fan hates seeing this. It was great having four of the top eight teams in the polls.

Oh well, Miami is climbing.

[Duvall]

Wow, it's almost like all those gaudy stats UNC compiled against tomato cans were basically meaningless. Funny, that.

[AncientPsychicT]

Part of me wants to celebrate the loss by the cheating no-class, university (wonder if they trash the locker room in the Bahamas?). Plus, it will be fun to see who Ol' Roy throws under the bus.

But the part of me that is an ACC fan hates seeing this. It was great having four of the top eight teams in the polls.

Oh well, Miami is climbing.

3 of the top 7 is good enough for me. GTHC!

9F! 9F! 9F!

[devildeac]

Part of me wants to celebrate the loss by the cheating no-class, university (wonder if they trash the locker room in the Bahamas?). Plus, it will be fun to see who Ol' Roy throws under the bus.

But the part of me that is an ACC fan hates seeing this. It was great having four of the top eight teams in the polls.

Oh well, Miami is climbing.

Reducing that number to 3 next week (or any week) is fine with me, as long as the team departing is the cheaters.

[jv001]

Part of me wants to celebrate the loss by the cheating no-class, university (wonder if they trash the locker room in the Bahamas?). Plus, it will be fun to see who Ol' Roy throws under the bus.

But the part of me that is an ACC fan hates seeing this. It was great having four of the top eight teams in the polls.

Oh well, Miami is climbing.

Since my hating anything unc trumps rooting for the ACC, I'm glad they lost and my Thanksgiving is going to be that much better for it. GoDuke!

[jv001]

I can't wait for Wheat to tell us about Carolina's great front court and how they gave up so many offensive rebounds. GoDuke!

[Olympic Fan]

Great win for Wojo at Marquette.

A Marquette team that lost at home to Omaha and had to rally to beat NJIT in overtime (at home), just beat undefeated Georgia Tech in Orlando ... helped a bit my a mindless play by Georges-Hunt. Marquette is up three with under five seconds left when Georges-Hunt drives and hits a short scoop shot with 1.6 seconds left. The replay showed two wide-open shooters posted at the three-point line, but he ignored them and got the meaningless two. That essentially ended the game, although Marquette hit a free throw to make the final 72-70.

Also following UAB-Florida -- the winner gets UNC tomorrow. The Heels could end up playing two ranked teams in the loser's bracket (UCLA and Florida).

[devildeac]

Great win for Wojo at Marquette.

A Marquette team that lost at home to Omaha and had to rally to beat NJIT in overtime (at home), just beat undefeated Georgia Tech in Orlando ... helped a bit my a mindless play by Georges-Hunt. Marquette is up three with under five seconds left when Georges-Hunt drives and hits a short scoop shot with 1.6 seconds left. The replay showed two wide-open shooters posted at the three-point line, but he ignored them and got the meaningless two. That essentially ended the game, although Marquette hit a free throw to make the final 72-70.

Also following UAB-Florida -- the winner gets UNC tomorrow. The Heels could end up playing two ranked teams in the loser's bracket (UCLA and Florida).

Now that's great grammatical organization with h**ls and loser's bracket in the same sentence.