ACC Roundup – Pitt Loses Painfully, Cal With Honor

SB Nation

In Thursday’s ACC Action, Pitt fell at West Virginia in the 192nd Backyard Brawl, 71-49 and Cal lost to Kansas State, 99-96.

Pitt owned the first 15 minutes of the game before the Mountaineer seized control

and they never looked back after they did. WVU closed the half out with a 15-2 run. They followed that with a 12-0 run to open the second half and that was pretty much it. Pitt never got back into it.

Cameron Corhen had a 12 points and 10 rebounds. Omari Witherspoon had 11. No one else got to double figures and Pitt shot just 37.7 % and 25 % from behind the line.

WVU’s Harlan Obioha, a 7-0/280 lb. center, had 19 points on 8-9 from the floor.

Just not a good night for Pitt at all.

Cal lost at K-State to be sure, but after a 55-34 point first half, the Wildcats saw Cal roar back, outscoring Kansas State 62-44 in the second.

Chris Bell got hot and shot 7-9 from behind the line (9-13 overall) for 27 points and Dai Dai Ames racked up 25. It was a hell of a comeback and if it had started a bit earlier, they might have pulled it off. Even so, Cal leaves Manhattan knowing that they can compete with a Big 12 team and, most likely ACC teams as well. Great night for the Bears.

Justin Pippen, son of you-know-who, had one of his better college games with 14 points.

So two vastly different outcomes: in Morgantown, Pitt could not fight back. In Manhattan, the Bears showed they could compete at a high level, and not only that, deal with some real adversity and still fight back. You can see teams take on their coach’s personality and in this one, we’d have to say Cal took on the best aspects of Mark “Mad Dog” Madsen.

Well done.

On Friday, UNC is at home as NCCU continues its ACC tour. Having lost at NC State and Virginia, the Eagles will try again in Chapel Hill. It’s unlikely they’ll win here either, but LeVelle Moton is an excellent coach. Talent will out though, and UNC has more of that.

And down in Georgia, the Yellow Jackets take on Georgia, where freshman Jake Wilkins has been sensational so far.

Son of Bulldogs legend Dominique Wilkins, the younger Wilkins is also a Human Highlight Reel. Stuff like this is popping up on social media from Georgia’s star freshman. Like his dad, he wears #21.

Also a Bulldog: former Cal star Jeremiah Wilkinson, who did well last year in Berkeley. So far, he’s averaging 16.3 ppg in Athens while Wilkins is getting 14.3.

Just FYI, Georgia gets Florida State in the ACC/SEC Challenge in December.

Friday’s ACC Action