This Week in the ACC - 12/15-12/21

[pfrduke]

Last week went ok for the conference. Louisville looked impressive against Indiana (before looking less impressive against UNCW) and Clemson took down another SEC opponent (albeit not a very good one), but NC State got nipped by the Wofford Terriers and UNC, despite being the first team to even come within shouting distance of a point per possession against Kentucky, let alone exceed it, fell short because they couldn't defend. From a scheduling perspective, this week is more December doldrums, at least until an action packed Saturday. Let's see how it shapes up:

Monday

[2]Duke hosts [255]Elon (7:00, ESPNU)
[93]Georgia Tech hosts [310]Appalachian State (7:00, ESPN3)

Tuesday

[16]UNC at [279]UNC-Greensboro (7:00, ESPN2)

Wednesday

[52]Pittsburgh hosts [178]Manhattan (7:00)
[48]NC State hosts [88]Tennessee (7:00, ESPN2)
[120]Florida State hosts [157]North Florida (7:00, ESPN3)

Thursday has a matchup that's lost a little bit of its luster since the defending champs lost at home to Yale, but playing UConn in the northeast is never an easy task. Amida Brimah poses a good test for Okafor and Ryan Boatright will be the most difficult defender Tyus Jones has seen yet.

[3]Virginia hosts [116]Cleveland State (7:00, ESPNU)
[2]Duke vs. [36]Connecticut in Secaucus (8:00, ESPN)

Friday

[22]Miami hosts [149]Eastern Kentucky (7:00)
[112]Clemson at [40]South Carolina (7:00, SECN)

Saturday is filled with activity. UNC and Ohio State face off in Chicago in CBS's attempt at the Champions Classic (Kentucky, interestingly enough, shows up in both). Syracuse takes on a Villanova team that's been running over basically everyone it's played (save Michigan and Bucknell). Wake Forest has a tough test away from Winston when they square off against Florida in the Orange Bowl Classic. And NC State and Notre Dame both face major conference opponents in one-off events, taking on West Virginia and Purdue, respectively.

[5]Louisville at [125]Western Kentucky (12:00, Fox Sports 1)
[37]Syracuse at [6]Villanova (1:00, Fox)
[16]North Carolina vs. [14]Ohio State (1:00, CBS)
[173]Virginia Tech hosts [329]Citadel (1:00)
[120]Florida State vs. [155]South Florida at Sunrise (2:00)
[93]Georgia Tech hosts [71]Vanderbilt (2:00, ESPN3)
[52]Pittsburgh hosts [210]Oakland (4:00, ESPN3)
[128]Wake Forest vs. [15]Florida at Sunrise (5:00, FSN)
[34]Notre Dame vs. [49]Purdue (5:15, BTN)
[48]NC State vs. [31]West Virginia in Brooklyn (9:30, ESPN2)

Sunday

[3]Virginia hosts [26]Harvard (12:00, ESPNU)
[129]Boston College vs. [153]USC (4:00, ESPNU)

ACC Non-Conference Record: 101-33
ACC Record vs. BCS:* 21-17
America East: 4-0
American Athletic: 5-0
Atlantic Sun: 2-1
Atlantic Ten: 9-3
Big 12: 1-1
Big East: 1-5
Big South: 6-3
B1G Ten: 11-8
Big West: 0-1
Colonial: 4-1
Conference USA: 5-0
Horizon: 1-1
MAAC: 5-1
MAC: 2-0
MEAC: 11-1
Missouri Valley: 0-1
Mountain West: 3-1
Northeast: 4-0
Ohio Valley: 2-0
Pac-12: 2-1
Patriot: 4-0
SEC: 6-2
Southern: 4-1
Southland: 1-0
Summit: 1-0
Sun Belt: 1-1
SWAC: 4-0
WAC: 1-0
Non D-1: 1-0

*refers to Big XII, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12, and SEC. The AAC is just a completely mediocre basketball conference and crediting wins over the likes of Tulane and South Florida as wins over major conference caliber opponents is just silly. And yes, BCS is now a completely outdated reference derived from an entirely separate sport, but it's handy shorthand.

[Duvall]

Watching UNC - UNC-Greensboro. Baffled as to how UNC-G beat Presbyterian. Or anyone.

[jjasper0729]

Watching UNC - UNC-Greensboro. Baffled as to how UNC-G beat Presbyterian. Or anyone.

Agreed. To paraphrase Crash Davis, they couldn't hit water if they fell out of a flippin' boat.

Meeks is a big guy. even with the weight loss between last year and this year. The matchup with Jahlil will be interesting. though it seems if we can have decent defense on everyone but Paige, he may try to take over the game and when he does that, he doesn't have as good a game. Here's hoping the lights don't come on for the rest of the lineup when we play them or before.

[JasonEvans]

[34]Notre Dame vs. [49]Purdue (5:15, BTN)
[48]NC State vs. [31]West Virginia in Brooklyn (9:30, ESPN2)

These could be a pair of potentially really key games down the line when the ACC is jockeying for an extra NCAA tourney bid or two. Notre Dame, NCSU, Purdue, and WVa all figure to be something like bubble teams. It would be big for the ACC if we could take these.

[3]Virginia hosts [26]Harvard (12:00, ESPNU)

I am ordinarily a big ACC homer, but this is one time I'll be rooting against the conference. Harvard has precious few games to prove they can play with the big boys. This game may be a bit more than they can handle but I am really rooting for them to take out Arizona State in a week.

-Jason "I'm also eager to see UVA in a close game -- they haven't had a close game yet this year" Evans

[arnie]

These could be a pair of potentially really key games down the line when the ACC is jockeying for an extra NCAA tourney bid or two. Notre Dame, NCSU, Purdue, and WVa all figure to be something like bubble teams. It would be big for the ACC if we could take these.



I am ordinarily a big ACC homer, but this is one time I'll be rooting against the conference. Harvard has precious few games to prove they can play with the big boys. This game may be a bit more than they can handle but I am really rooting for them to take out Arizona State in a week.

-Jason "I'm also eager to see UVA in a close game -- they haven't had a close game yet this year" Evans

I'll be surprised if the Pack can beat WVU on a neutral. Gigilo of the N&O called State's loss to Wofford in Reynolds a " good loss". That would make losing to WVU a sensational loss.

[Henderson]

I am ordinarily a big ACC homer, but this is one time I'll be rooting against the conference. Harvard has precious few games to prove they can play with the big boys.

Right there with you, brother. I have trouble rooting against Tommy, and I like both what he's doing and what his success at Harvard means to CBB.

[Olympic Fan]

Gigilo of the N&O called State's loss to Wofford in Reynolds a " good loss". That would make losing to WVU a sensational loss.

I think Giglio is getting a little loose with his adjectives. NC State (No. 48 in Pomeroy) lost at home (and Reynolds has been a better homecourt edge than the RBC over the last 15 years) to a lower ranked team (Wofford is No. 75 in Pomeroy).

It's not a TERRIBLE loss -- even at home to a top 100 team ... but losing at home to a team that currently ranks outside the NCAA at large field is hardly a "good" loss.

When it comes to NCAA selection time, the Wofford loss will not be a killer, but it's more of a negative than a positive. Losing a close game to a top 10 team on the road -- THAT is a good loss.

I agree that a neutral court win over West Virginia could help a lot at selection time.

What they really need is a signature win. Of the ACC's three top 10 teams, two play at NC State.

I think to get in the field, State will really need to pull the upset when Duke visits Jan. 11 or Virginia visits Feb. 11.

[Duvall]

Have to hand it to the plucky teams from that SoCon splinter league out of Birmingham - they are willing to play anyone, even though they hardly ever have a chance to win. N.C. State leads Tennessee 39-27 at the half.

[tbyers11]

Not a good Friday for the ACC.
Miami lost at home to Eastern Ky 72-44. They were 14 point favorites according to KenPom. What happened?
Clemson were 9 point dogs @ Sourh Carolina but they got crushed 68-45. Yikes!

[pfrduke]

Not a good Friday for the ACC.
Miami lost at home to Eastern Ky 72-44. They were 14 point favorites according to KenPom. What happened?
Clemson were 9 point dogs @ Sourh Carolina but they got crushed 68-45. Yikes!

That's a really ugly loss for Miami - if they end up in the bubble neighborhood come tournament time, that one (even more than the loss to Green Bay) is going to end up with a big red circle around it. I assume Eastern Kentucky played zone, because otherwise I don't understand how they took 14 2-point attempts against 27 3s.

[CDu]

Oy! Outside of the top handful of teams, the ACC is looking like a bit of a punching bag right now. Thank goodness we are one of those handful of teams!

[Duvall]

Oy! Outside of the top handful of teams, the ACC is looking like a bit of a punching bag right now. Thank goodness we are one of those handful of teams!

Punching bag is a bit much given the results above, even after yesterday's two debacles. Today and tomorrow should be telling, with 12 ACC teams in action that aren't Duke.

[77devil]

Not a good Friday for the ACC.
Miami lost at home to Eastern Ky 72-44. They were 14 point favorites according to KenPom. What happened?
Clemson were 9 point dogs @ Sourh Carolina but they got crushed 68-45. Yikes!

The ACC decided to emphasize football.

[OldPhiKap]

At the risk of losing my breakfast -- Go Buckeyes!

[devildeac]

At the risk of losing my breakfast -- Go Buckeyes!

Somewhere in Ohio, Mike Corey just broke out into a huge grin and might have even hurt himself with a fist pump.

devil9f.gif

[Henderson]

The #12 Buckeyes are a 1 point underdog to the #24 heels on a neutral court 5 hours from Columbus. Hmm.

[devildeac]

The #12 Buckeyes are a 1 point underdog to the #24 heels on a neutral court 5 hours from Columbus. Hmm.

Maybe the odds makers are expecting good attendance by t*rh**l fans, something not common for upper level AFAM (and other) classes from 1993-2001.

[Henderson]

Maybe the odds makers are expecting good attendance by t*rh**l fans, something not common for upper level AFAM (and other) classes from 1993-2001.

2001? My, what a loving generous holiday spirit you are in!

I'd say the guys putting money on the line are showing some serious disrespect for OSU, or for the poll voters.

[Duvall]

The #12 Buckeyes are a 1 point underdog to the #24 heels on a neutral court 5 hours from Columbus. Hmm.

Ohio State is an empty 9-1 - no wins against top 100 opponents. One point underdog may be generous.

[devildeac]

2001? My, what a loving generous holiday spirit you are in!

I'd say the guys putting money on the line are showing some serious disrespect for OSU, or for the poll voters.

Ooops, typo/proof-reading alert. Not quite enough lukewarm coffee yet today. Good catch. I meant 1993-2011.