MBB: Week 2 of the ACC Schedule

[GTJT622]

Jan. 4-10

Mon. 7:00 ESPN: North Carolina (2-0) at Florida State (0-1)
*Noles need to avoid an 0-2 start and protect their home floor coming off a loss at Clemson as the Noles' next 2 games are on the road at Miami and at NC State...this is the 4th game in 8 days for the Tar Holes...UNC is favored by 3 in Vegas

Mon. 9:00 ESPN-2: Virginia (1-0) at Virginia Tech (1-0)
*Hokies surprised the Pack at home in overtime this past Saturday...crowd will be there early and loud for this in-state rivalry game...the French are laying 12.5 pts on the road...seems like way too many

Tue. 8:00 ACC Network: Clemson (1-1) at Syracuse (0-2)
*The Orange lost 2 road games last week (both by double digits) and return home in a game they need to avoid a potential 0-4 start with UNC at home in their next game...Clemson coming off a nice home win over FSU

Wed. 7:00 RSN: Georgia Tech (0-1) at Pitt (1-0)
*2nd straight road game for the Jackets to start the ACC schedule...2nd straight home game for the Panthers to start the ACC schedule

Wed. 7:00 ESPN-U: Duke (1-0) at Wake Forest (0-1)
*Wake played well on the road Sunday night in their loss at UofL...Duke looks to get 2 road wins out of the way early in the ACC schedule...always a great atmosphere at LJMC when the Dukies come to town

Thu. 7:00 ESPN-2: Louisville (1-0) at NC State (0-1)
*The Pack returns home after a disappointing overtime loss at Va Tech where they led most of the way...Cards coming off a home win

Thu. 7:00 RSN: Notre Dame (0-1) at Boston College (0-1)
*The Irish travel for the 2nd game in a row to open the ACC schedule coming off a loss in France...BC looks to avoid dropping 2 straight home games to open the ACC

Sat. 12:00 ACC Network: Virginia Tech at Duke
*The Hokies for some odd reason have always played Duke well since joining the ACC a little over a decade ago...home ACC opener for the Cameron Crazies

Sat. 2:00 ACC Network: Virginia at Georgia Tech
*Home ACC opener for the Jackets...last time these 2 teams met, Tech scored an embarrassing 28 pts

Sat. 4:00 RSN: Pittsburgh at Notre Dame
*First road ACC game for Pitt...first home ACC game for the defending ACC champs

Sat. 5:00 ESPN-2: Florida State at Miami
*Battle of the Sunshine State ACC-style features 2 teams with NCAAT aspirations

Sat. 8:00 ESPN: North Carolina at Syracuse
*Prime time battle on the WWL...the Carrier Dome likely gets near 40K fannies in for this game...Jim Boeheim returns from his NCAA-mandated suspension

Sun. 12:00 RSN: Louisville at Clemson
*Clemson returns home for a Sunday matinee where they are 1-0 on the season so far

Sun. 8:00 ESPN-U: NC State at Wake Forest
*The Deacs play on the ACC's Sunday prime time ESPN-U game of the week for the 2nd week in a row...always a fun game when these two Big 4 programs meet up...it is possible both of these teams could be 0-2 heading into this game

 

[GTJT622]

Brice Johnson of UNC goes for 39 pts and 23 boards. One of only 3 D1A players to go for that line or more in the last 20 years. Pretty amazing performance. And, Marcus Paige throws in 30 himself. FSU's Leonard Hamilton - a defensive minded coach - likely didn't get any sleep at all last night as the Tar Holes put up 106 on them (and didn't need overtime to get it). Now, the Noles (0-2 in the ACC) must travel to #12 Miami, travel to NC State, host #4 Virginia (more on them in a second), and then travel to #16 Louisville. Whoa! The only takeaway maybe is that last night's performance by the Holes in Tally perhaps sheds a little light on how well our guys played their game for 35 minutes this past Saturday. Maybe.

The Hokies upset the French last night and Buzz gets his bunch to 2-0 in the ACC having defended their home court over the Pack and then last night again. I put Tech's chances at beating the French this upcoming Saturday afternoon as pretty slim to start with, but now we get a rested and perhaps angry bunch with additional motivation as well. Having said that, they've lost on GW's home court and again on the Hokies' home court. We have a chance.

But, for now, the focus is on Pitt, who as expected crept into the top 25 in yesterday's weekly AP polls debuting at #24 (#21 in the USA Today/ESPN poll). 6 ACC teams are in this week's top 25. Home teams are now 9-2 in the ACC with the Hokies defense of its home court last night and the Holes big win at Tally.

 

[GTJT622]

FWIW, Syracuse is 5 pt favorites at home tonight against the Orangenecks.

 

[BornAJacket]

So GT's defense did a better job against UNC than FSU, but FSU had a better offense. I wonder if that is predictable for GT's game against FSU

Va Tech has started the ACC well. But they have both been home wins. 8-2 for the home teams now? Duke and UNC getting the road wins.

 

[GTJT622]

9-2 for home teams so far. Home teams went 8-1 this past weekend with Louisville finishing off Wake Sunday night at the KFC Yum! Center. Split 1-1 last night, though the Hokies showed once again getting a W at the Cassell is never easy. The 12.5 pt spread when released I knew was ridiculously high and it led to a nice ticket cashing for me last evening (thanks Hokies!).

 

[BornAJacket]

Yes, forgot the late Sunday game. 9-2 is almost 82% home winning % Not sure the historic number is that high, but it seems like it is.

 

[GTJT622]

Syracuse is "only" a 5 pt favorite tonight at home against the Kitty Cats. I say "only" because a team normally gets anywhere from 2 to 6 pts from the linesmaker for a home game. 2 would be more for a GT...6 or more would be for a Duke. Take away 3 or 4 pts for the home court advantage built in at the Carrier Dome and the linesmaker's power ratings have the game tonight pretty close to even if played on a neutral court.

The Hokies may get their doors blown off at CIS this upcoming Saturday when they take the road in the ACC for the first time and the Hitler Youth get a home ACC game for the first time this season. But, I'll give Buzz Williams credit. His team has looked pretty darn competitive and good so far in their first 2 games...this after getting wiped out by WVU at the student-less Cassell in the afternoon just before NYD.

Getting Maryland transfer, Seth Allen, is a huge plus. They lost rising soph., Ahmed Hill from Augusta, who Tech wanted badly, back in August to leg surgery. If they had him right now, it would make them even stronger. Hill was a 4* recruit out of HS and started 30 games for them as a frosh while scoring 9 ppg. I believe Williams will go ahead and redshirt Hill. The Hokies just got another one that we wanted in Khadim Sy, 6'10" post out of Oak Hill Academy. This is on top of three 4* recruits Williams signed in this past recruiting class who are freshmen now. All three are in their top 7 scorers. Young team. Only 1 senior on the team and he only gets garbage minutes in blowouts.

 

[GTJT622]

FWIW, latest Bracktology projections posted yesterday, Jan. 4, by Joe Lunardi at espn.com... http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology/_/iteration/188

• 8 ACC teams in...Wake in first four out
• UNC (2-seed), UVA (2) though likely to fall with their loss last night, Miami (4), Duke (4), Louisville (4), Pitt (6), Notre Dame (8), FSU (9)
• 2 of Tech's 4 losses came to Villanova (projected 3-seed) and UNC (2-seed, though they looked like a 1-seed last night)
• Other 2 losses to Cesspool (not in NCAAT projection) and ETSU (currently 8-6 overall and 1-0 in the SoCon) don't look too good at the moment...though, the Cesspool is a decent team - perhaps good - and ETSU should battle Mercer and Chattavegas for the SoCon entry to the NCAAT...so, by March those 2 losses might not look quite as bad

So, Tech's start to the ACC schedule includes:
at UNC (2-seed)
at Pitt (6-seed)
vs France (2-seed)
at ND (8-seed)
vs Va Tech (now 2-0 in the ACC)
vs Louisville (4-seed)

Va Tech raised their bar with the hiring of Buzz Williams. The rest of the ACC appears to be passing GT by. We need a win Wednesday or Saturday in the biggest of ways.

 

[BornAJacket]

I am not sure about Virginia being a 2 seed. I think the new rules have hit them harder than others. They cannot play defense like they did last year and may lose more games than many thought they would this year.

 

[GTJT622]

Ring up the Tigers! Hit a big 3 at the end of regulation to send the game to OT and then pulling it out in OT in the Carrier Dome by 1. Well done, Clemson! Syracuse Hoops is on a decline. Perhaps sharp decline. Boeheim returns from suspension Saturday night when the Cheaters come calling.

 

[GTJT622]

Point spreads for 2 Wednesday night ACC games FWIW...

GT +8 at Pitt
Duke -7.5 at Wake

I like the dogs to beat the spread, but neither to win the game outright.

 

[rschlee11]

Point spreads for 2 Wednesday night ACC games FWIW...

GT +8 at Pitt
Duke -7.5 at Wake

I like the dogs to beat the spread, but neither to win the game outright.

Just laid $100 on us. Opened +9. I can see it dipping a litte more by tip off so I jumped on it early. We come out like we did Saturday I think we can pull off a W. MGH keep attaching the rim, Smith needs to continue to do his thing and knock down shots and keep Chuck on the court I think we'll be good.

 

[GTJT622]

Tech has led or tied every opponent in the 2nd half this year. We need to get off to another solid start on the road. Playing the 1st half line of near GT +4 to +4.5 is worth a look as well. If you have a live betting book, at halftime, playing against GT in the 2nd half line is also a pretty decent wager.

 

[GTJT622]

The O/U on the GT-Pitt game is 144. With Pitt averaging 85 ppg and Tech having scored 73 or more pts in 4 straight games and 7 of our last 8 games, I think a solid play on the OVER 144 for 2 units makes sense, FWIW.

 

[BornAJacket]

Clemson is looking better. I don't know what to think of Syracuse right now.

I agree over 144 seems the right play. If GT holds Pitt 10 points under the average, then GT would only need 69 points which is something they have done all year.

 

[rschlee11]

Clemson is looking better. I don't know what to think of Syracuse right now.

I agree over 144 seems the right play. If GT holds Pitt 10 points under the average, then GT would only need 69 points which is something they have done all year.

Line actually went up. GT +9 now.

 

[GTJT622]

Hokies are 2-0 in the ACC....without Ga Tech's best player. Things that make you go...hmmmm.

 

[BornAJacket]

Louisville at NC State should be a fun game to watch tonight.

 

[GTJT622]

Lines for tonight's ACC games...

Notre Dame -9/137.5 at BC
Louisville -6/136 at NC State

I'll take NC State +6 for 1 unit and UofL-NCSU over 136 for 3 units. Leaving the Catholic War alone.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Louisville at NC State should be a fun game to watch tonight.

Agreed.

On ESPN-2.

 

[BornAJacket]

NC State falls at home. 77-72

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article53630930.html

NCST was 7 of 16 from the FT line. Not a recipe for success. But Gottfried has the coach speak down.

“We’re not far off,” Gottfried said. “I like my team. We’re going to stay positive and keep working.”

 

[GTJT622]

Boy, Larranaga has 'em rolling down in south Florida. They rip the Noles by 13 at home this afternoon to move to 13-1/2-0. The bizarre loss at home to Northeastern by 1 back on Black Friday is the only thing perhaps standing between them being ranked #1 in the nation. The Canes' next game? They travel to Gay Paris Tuesday for a 7pm ESPN-U tip. First ACC road game for them.

FSU moves to 0-3. Next week they travel to NC State and then host France next weekend.

 

[GTJT622]

Non-ACC side note...

...the Bullsnots lose by 1 at Ole Miss tonight after leading most of the game. Foxy's guys move to 8-5 overall and 1-2 in the SEC.

 

[GTJT622]

With 14:29 left in the game, Clemson leads Louisville 39-29 at their home away from home this season. If the Kitties can hang on, they move to a surprising 3-1 in the ACC and will have reeled off their 3rd straight conference win. This after going 7-5 in the pre-ACC schedule.

 

[GTJT622]

Clemson gets it done. This week with today's result in the books, home teams have gone only 6-7 with one game remaining tonight (Pack at Deacs).

Side note, we still have to play both Clemson and Louisville twice each over the remainder of the season.

 

[GTJT622]

The Deacs are taking care of business at home over the Pack tonight. This loss moves NC State to 0-3 in the ACC. Huge home game coming up Wednesday night for them as they host FSU, also who is 0-3.

After that game, the Pack has to travel to UNC then to Pitt before hosting Duke (and then the Good Guys come to town). IOW, at best right now, they are staring a 1-6 start to the ACC schedule right in the face.

Wake moves to 1-2 and has winnable games coming up at Blacksburg and then hosting Syracuse (0-4 in the ACC).

 

[Buzzforlife]

This conference is unforgiving. Heard that in another place recently. Seems like I was watching Syracuse playing In the Final Four in Atlanta a few years ago. The Wolfpack has the leading scorer in the league, and a decent team. Wake looks better, VT looked good until Duke(the Devils do that to you)and even BC seems respectable for a halftime or two. Miami, FSU are no longer cellar dwellers. Louisville did win that title game I witnessed against Michigan. Duke, NC, Va. are tougher than a .50 cent steak. Even our beloved Jackets have an outside chance for 20 wins.

 

[BornAJacket]

How many free throws did Clemson shoot in their last game? 40+ wow

Clemson is 3-1 in conference play.