ACC Roundup: An Interesting Sunday

2 hours ago7 min read

The ACC delivered a classic Sunday of hoops chaos, a four-game split that gave us everything from statement wins to heartbreakers that’ll sting until the next tip-off. Let’s start in Coral Gables, where Miami, looking miles better than last season's train wreck, ran headfirst into Florida's buzzsaw frontcourt.The Gators’ Alex Condon and Reuben Chinyelu weren't just good; they were dominant, combining for 35 points on a ridiculously efficient 73% shooting. It was a masterclass in interior punishment.On the other side, Miami's big man Ernest Udeh was a non-factor with just 3 points, and while Malik Reneau dropped 22, he needed 23 shots to get there. That’s the kind of inefficient volume scoring that loses you games against elite competition.It felt like Florida just squeezed the life out of the ‘Canes, a python-like constriction that exposed a glaring need for more reliable inside talent if Miami wants to dance in March. This was a tough learning experience, the kind that either forges a team or breaks it.Meanwhile, in a game that felt ripped from a March Madness highlight reel, Notre Dame suffered a brutal 64-63 loss to Ohio State. The Irish were *this close*, leading with a mere 13 seconds on the clock.Then came 7-foot Christoph Tilly, driving the lane for a bucket that flipped the script and handed the Buckeyes a win they almost certainly would have choked away last season. The silver lining for Notre Dame? They were in a position to win a gritty road game, a scenario that was pure fantasy a year ago.They owned the paint and forced Ohio State into a miserable 38% shooting night. The fact they were even competitive despite their own star, Markus Burton, going an ice-cold 3-14 from the field speaks volumes about this team's improved depth and resilience.Carson Towt’s 12 rebounds were a huge part of that, showing this isn't a one-man show anymore. Over in Winston-Salem, Wake Forest shook off a sluggish first half against UMass Lowell, turning a narrow 48-38 halftime lead into a 109-75 demolition.This was the Juke Harris show, with the guard pouring in 21 points, but the real story was Omaha Biliew finally having his breakout moment, a perfect 4-4 from the field and 3-3 from deep for 13 points. When you add 14 team steals and a blistering 13 three-pointers, you have the recipe for the kind of second-half explosion that separates good teams from great ones.Finally, Virginia Tech got a serious test from Charlotte, a game that was tight deep into the final minutes. It was a one-point game with under ten to play and still just a two-point affair inside the four-minute mark.In those clutch moments, you need a hero, and former Blue Devil Jaden Schutt answered the call, draining a massive three when Charlotte had cut the lead to 68-66. He finished with 12 points (and four fouls, because nothing comes easy), while Jailen Bedford’s 21 and Tobi Lawal’s 18 provided the consistent scoring punch.It wasn't a pretty win, but grinding out these kinds of tough, ugly games is exactly how a team matures. Charlotte brought a fight few expected, and the Hokies showed they could handle it.The action doesn't stop, with a Monday night slate featuring NC State hosting a always-tough VCU, Pitt welcoming Bucknell, and Clemson facing North Alabama in the friendly confines of Littlejohn Coliseum. The ACC narrative is already being written, one possession at a time.

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