ACC Roundup - Florida State Impresses, Syracuse Loses To The Zags
Better wait and see on the ‘Cuse, at least for the moment
In Tuesday’s ACC Action, Gonzaga took care of Syracuse 76-57 and Florida State beat Colorado 77-71 in overtime.
It’s a big win for Florida State in general but even more so since Colorado is ranked #18.
Normally that’d be just kind of a nice win but this year it’s a bit more than that since last year, FSU basically fell off of a cliff, finishing 9-23.
The pandemic hit Florida State hard. In 2017-18, FSU finished 23-12 and made the Elite Eight, in 2018-19, the ‘Noles finished 29-8 and in 2019-20, when Covid hit, the Fightin’ Hammies managed 26-5.
Since then?
18-7, 17-14 and last year, 9-23.
So far this season, FSU is 4-1 so Colorado is a big deal. And this is pretty encouraging too: the ‘Noles scored the first nine points of overtime. That’s pretty emphatic.
Jamir Watkins continued his excellent recent play with 18 points and 11 boards. Jalen Warley had 19.
Baba Miller was disappointing with just five points and three rebounds in 26. minutes.
Very surprisingly, Darin Green played 40 minutes. Hamilton rarely uses a player that much.
Also, Hamilton’s defense performed well, forcing 20 turnovers.
Syracuse falls to 3-2 with Tuesday’s loss to Gonzaga in the Maui Classic.
That was no surprise really. Gonzaga is one of the better programs currently and Adrian Autry is trying to rebuild a program that had grown musty and stale. It’s going to take some time.
Syracuse didn’t shoot or rebound well and that’s tough to overcome, especially against a powerful offensive program like Gonzaga.
Syracuse shot 35.9 percent and just 12.5 percent on threes. Gonzaga was substantially better at 46.9 percent overall and 35 percent on threes.
And Gonzaga just hammered the Orange on the boards, 48-28 overall and 17-10 on the offensive boards.
Like Louisville’s Koron Davis, a star JUCO recruit who has yet to play, Syracuse’s Benny Williams has been in and out and against Syracuse, he was out. Autry offered no explanation for his absence, just as Louisville’s Kenny Payne will not say why Davis is not with the team.
On Wednesday, Feast Week continues as the ACC will see UNC take on Northern Iowa in the Battle 4 Atlantis, BC will face Colorado State in the Hall of Fame Classic, Virginia gets West By God Virginia in the Fort Myers Tip-Off, Georgia Tech squares off against Cincinnati, Notre Dame gets Maryland-Eastern Shore, Pitt gets a good test in Florida in the NIT Tip-Off and Syracuse will try to get an easy win against Chaminade.
Wednesday’s ACC Action
- UNI vs. UNC || 12:00 Noon || ESPN
- Boston College vs. Colorado State || 1:30 PM || CBSSN
- West Virginia vs. Virginia || 6:00 || FS1
- Georgia Tech vs. Cincinnati || 7:00 PM
- Maryland-Eastern Shore vs. Notre Dame || 7:00 PM || ESPN+/ACCNX
- Florida vs. Pitt || 9:30 PM || ESPN2
- Syracuse vs. Chaminade || 9:30 PM || ESPNU
- Seminoles knock off No. 18 Colorado 77-71 in OT to win Sunshine Slam championship
- Florida State tops No. 18 Colorado in OT to win Sunshine Slam
- RECAP: Florida State Upsets No. 18 Colorado in Overtime, Wins Sunshine Slam and Extends NCAA Record
- Men’s basketball notes: CU Buffs’ defense vanishes at halftime against FSU
- Florida State men’s basketball win Sunshine Slam championship over No. 18 Colorado
- Turnovers, defensive lapses doom No. 18 CU Buffs against Florida State
- Orange crushed: Gonzaga establishes interior presence, cruises by Syracuse 76-57 at Maui Invitational
- Dave Boling: Zags don’t pout after loss to Purdue, rise early for inspired win over Syracuse
- Gonzaga bounces back with 76-57 victory over Syracuse at Maui Invitational
- College basketball: Gonzaga sends Syracuse to another loss in Hawaii
- Gonzaga’s Mark Few breaks down first-year HC Adrian Autry’s start at Syracuse: ‘He’s doing a great job’
- Syracuse basketball coach Adrian Autry after Gonzaga loss: ‘We’ll figure it out’
- ON THE BENCH: Benny Williams doesn’t play in loss to Gonzaga
- How UNC basketball recruit Drake Powell went from unknown to unleashed as an elite player
- Battle 4 Atlantis schedule, bracket, prediction: Is UNC basketball the favorite?
- ACC men’s basketball leaders as of Nov. 19