ACC Roundup – Hokies Dox The Tigers

Like Miami against UNC, Virginia Tech did Duke a solid.

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What is the story about?

In Wednesday’s ACC Action, Syracuse survived Cal in double-overtime 107-100, Stanford got by BC 70-64, Wake Forest took out Georgia Tech 83-67, and Virginia Tech upset Clemson 76-66. Even more impressively, this was a huge road win.

This game was nip and tuck for about 18 minutes before the Hokies pushed out in front on a Jailen Bedford three-point play to take a lead they’d never give up.

Virginia Tech shot 59% in the first half.

Ben Hammond carried the Hokies in the second half, scoring 17 points

after the break.

In the end, VT shot 52% against a very good defensive team. We could see this in Blacksburg, but punking Clemson at Clemson? That’s impressive.

This is going to be a huge résumé builder. They still have work to do, with home games against FSU, Wake Forest, and Boston College, and road games at Miami and UNC, but if they can do well, it’s hard to imagine them being kept out.

Syracuse isn’t going anywhere, but the Orange made it tougher for Cal to do so with a 107-100 double-overtime loss.

Nate Kingz had his best game for the ‘Cuse with 27 points, and seven players finished in double figures. William Kyle probably had his best game too with 15 points and 16 rebounds. Nathan George had a double-double too with 14 points and 10 assists.

Chris Bell, the former Syracuse star, had 18 points in his return, but shot just 25% overall hitting 4-8 on his threes. DaiDai Ames had 23 to pace the Bears. All five starters finished in double figures for Cal too.

Keep in mind that the Bears are without their best big man Lee Dort, out with an injury.

Incidentally, Syracuse AD John Wildhack is stepping down after a decade at his alma mater. As Pete Thamel points out, Syracuse now has no chancellor, no A.D., and a struggling basketball team.

There’s a certain level of discontent with basketball coach Adrian Autry, but it’s impossible to upgrade without someone to make that decision.

In other words, who would take the job without knowing a) who their boss will be and b) a clear NIL roadmap? So stay tuned on that.

Boston College gave Stanford a tough game, as you might expect, but the offensively challenged Eagles couldn’t close the deal, losing 70-64.

For whatever reason, Donald Hand just didn’t have it, playing only 10 minutes and scoring just 2 points on 1-4 shooting.

Boden Kapke scored 15 and pulled down 8 rebounds while Fred Payne continues to play well with 14 points on 7-18, though he was 0-6 on three-point attempts.

For Stanford, Ebuka Okorie had 22. His average has come down a bit, but he’s still having an amazing freshman season. Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson are 6-9. Okorie is killing it at 6-2.

Benny Gealer had 21 while Jeremy Dent-Smith added 11.

Wake Forest and Georgia Tech came into Wednesday’s game with both teams on a five-game losing streak, so something had to give. Wake broke their streak but GT’s rolls on.

Wake got hot in the second half and ripped off a 13-2 run in the first six minutes. Juke Harris led the way for the Deacs with 23 points.

Baye Ndongo had 14 points and 9 rebounds. It wasn’t an exciting game with a small crowd and a miserable first half, but at least neither team has given up.

No games until Saturday, when the highlights include Miami at NC State, where the Pack has likely had some brutal practices following the Louisville Disaster, and Clemson’s trip to Duke.

With the upset by the Hokies Wednesday, the Tigers are now a game behind Duke. It’s too early to know if Pat Ngongba will play, but he would obviously help.

ACC Standings