Georgia Tech dispatched Georgia yet again. Brian Gregory is 4-0 against the leg humpers. That is last year's ACC #14 beating last year's SEC #2. This year's ACC pre-season #12 beating this year's SEC pre-season #5.
And as I've sadly said the last 4 years .... they beat UGAg.... mission accomplished, season over.
GT lost to a pitiful one-man Marquette team... and they're running some vintage Paul Hewitt grade clogged toilet offense and struggling mightily against Rider. I've never even heard of Rider. I don't know what conference they are in. I don't even know what state they are in.
ACC basketball is in the second of a three year project whereby the synergy from the old programs mix with the new programs brought in and then like a rising tide, brings many NCAA bids in most years 8-10 starting 4 years from now. However, the down side of this is that 2-3 programs will be perpetually down similar to how DePaul, Rutgers, and Providence were usually part of the bottom 5 teams in the Big East from 2007-08 through 2011-12.
Only thing that might adjust the above in terms of the synergy being developed and sustained are the possible retirements of Coach K and JAB.
And don't forget that Roy, Larranaga and Pitino are in their 60s now as well.
We're down 0-2 so far in the ACC-Big10 challenge and those were both ACC home games.
Nebraska over FSU
Rutgers over Clemson
The Noles and Tigers were probably the biggest underachievers in the ACC even before tonight so I expected the Nebraska win but a home loss to Rutgers is brutal, even for Clemson.
The Big 10 is up 6-2 with 6 games remaining. Very unlikely the ACC can win 5 of 6 tomorrow to even tie it at 7 each in the challenge. Only Miami and Louisville have won thus far with both picking up Top 25 wins tonight.
Miami is certainly the biggest positive surprise in the league so far. Overall the ACC has been underwhelming outside of the preseason top 4 picks and Miami.
Syracuse and Pitt were the preseason #5/6 picks. The Orange don't do moral victories but I saw some encouraging things in their loss in Ann Arbor. Pitt on the other hand.... they've now lost to Hawaii, been crushed by SDSU, and were basically blown out tonight by an IU team that lost to Eastern Washington. Pitt made the score more respectable at the end but were down 21 with five minutes remaining.
Louisville dominated Ohio St in the 1st half, holding them to 18 points. The Buckeyes controlled the 2nd half as UofL really needs to work on their offensive efficiency and FT shooting. The Cards performance was ugly after the half but I'll take the win.
Illinois fans are being very sportsmanlike and many are adamant that we're a top 10-15 team, at least. With most of the season yet to be played, I love that assessment. Miami's newcomers are some of the best in the country. DeAndre Barnett, Angel Rodriguez, Sheldon McClellan, all of 'em (missing very good big man ICU - Ivan Cruz Uceda 6'10" from España) ... AND our returners?? I am starting to think those Illini fans may be right.
Coach Larranaga is probably my favorite person on the planet. I got a high-five from him before the game, and afterwards he thanked the students for shattering the student crowd B-Ball record with more than 2,000 (300 more than previous record). Marketing helped that - free giveaways are a draw, today it was orange santa hats and t-shirts (I was lucky enough to get both). Coach L is universally loved by Miami fans, and -- you can say it now -- we're more of a basketball school than a football one it seems.
I know I keep harping on it but I think this could be the best team we've ever had at UM. Stars at every position. Can't wait to see how we fare the rest of the year. Very excited for this team. So so so proud of my CANES!!
(This post was last modified: 12-03-2014 12:49 AM by Ole Blue.)
(12-03-2014 12:06 AM)CollegeCard Wrote: Miami is certainly the biggest positive surprise in the league so far. Overall the ACC has been underwhelming outside of the preseason top 4 picks and Miami.
Two seasons ago, the Miami men's basketball team seemingly came out of nowhere to take the ACC — and nation — by storm.
The Hurricanes rose to No. 2 in the polls and reached the Sweet 16 … and then their entire veteran-laden group graduated.
The lesson? Don't bet against what Larranaga is building in Coral Gables.
Yet some didn't seem to learn. This preseason, Miami was picked by media to finish in the bottom half of the ACC.
While it's still early, that prediction seems a bit off. The Hurricanes are 8-0, with wins at Florida and against Illinois at home. Transfers Angel Rodriguez and Sheldon McClellan (together averaging 30.5 ppg) lead a cast of newcomers that has come together seemingly ahead of schedule.
As it turns out, that special season two years ago may not be just an anomaly; this looks to be, simply, a marriage between a great coach and program on the rise.
-- usatoday
Eventually teams are gonna learn to stop scheduling USC Upstate. They are only down 1 with under 5 minutes left in Atlanta. In front of virtually no one ... as the students, band, and fans are largely in Charlotte.
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Open Thread - 2014-15 Men's Basketball Season
