ACC Basketball News & Notes: First weekend of League Play in the Books

Last weekend saw the ACC give their non-league schedule a break, albeit for one week, to get the conference season underway. With a 20-game slate for all members, getting started a little earlier is a requirement. No worries though and teams will spend the rest of the month finishing those non-league games. All before conference play take over once the first of the year arrives. Here is how some of that first weekend went.

Florida State began league play with a carry-over home winning streak that was the second-longest in ACC history. The streak of 24 straight wins was on the line last Saturday vs Syracuse. Unfortunately for the Seminoles (0-1, 5-3), the streak has now run its course. That’s because Syracuse (1-0,5-3) ended it with a 63-60 win. For FSU, they now have a losing streak of two games that needs some attention. The Orange have now won two in a row thanks to their win in the ACC/Big10 Challenge against Indiana in double-overtime.

Syracuse is getting great guard play in the early stages of the season. Joseph Girard III is averaging 15 points a game so far in the young year. He is third in the league in assists with 4.38 a game, fourth in free throw percentage at 909 (20-22), and is second in both 3-point FG made with 27 for an average of 3.38, and in 3-point FG percentage at .529 (27-51). He is getting help from Buddy “buckets” Boeheim who is third in the league in scoring at 19 points a contest.

If there was a surprise to last weekend’s set of games, it might be the outcome that took place at Boston College (1-0, 6-3). They took care of business on opening night to the tune of a 73-57 win over Notre Dame (0-1, 3-4). The Eagles shot the ball well last Friday night shooting 49% from the field (27-55), and from 3-point land at 46% (6-13). They took care of the glass with a rebound margin of +11. BC received a double-double from James Karnik of 17 points and 13 boards. Boston College has already surpassed last year’s win total in conference play. In 2020 BC did not win a game in league action.

The Duke Blue Devils (0-0, 7-1) fell from the top spot in the poll last week thanks to a 71-66 loss at Ohio State in the challenge. The Blue Devils now sit at number three in the nation. Shooting the basketball can be directly related to the loss in Columbus, Ohio. They shot 38% from the field (25-65) and 28% from behind the arc at (4-14). However, if there’s one thing the Blue Devils are very good at, it’s points off turnovers. Through eight games, Duke is a +99 (152-53). They have been just as good in protecting the roc, committing only 18 turnovers in their last three games.

North Carolina (1-0, 6-2) got off to a good start winning on the road at Georgia Tech (0-1, 5-3) by a 79-62 score. The victory was led by a double-double from junior forward Armando Bacot of 15 points and 13 boards. This is the fifth double-double in the last eight games for Bacot and the 23rd of his career. Back in 2015-16, Brice Johnson was the last Tar Heel to do this. Bacot is tied for second in the league in rebounds with 9.88 a game, second in field goal percentage at .641 (50-78), fourth in both offensive rebounding at (2.88 a game) and in defensive rebounding at seven a night.

NC State has both the Player of the Week and the Freshman of the Week. The player is Dereon Seaborn as he averaged 25 points, 14 boards, and three assists in wins over Nebraska and Louisville last week. He posted career-highs in points with 39, and in rebounds with 19 in 56 minutes of game time in the 4-OT win. The 39 points are the most in the 23-year history of the challenge. He scored 33 of the 39 points in the second half and overtime periods. The rookie is Terquavion Smith as he averaged 13 points and 7.5 boards in those two games. He played 46 minutes vs the Cornhuskers, including every minute of all four overtimes finishing with nine points and 11 rebounds. In his first league game, Smith went for 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, and 3-of-5 from 3-point range.

Next week we will have more from the ACC.