ACC Archives - WPTF-AM

Surprising Duke meets No. 16 Virginia in ACC Championship Game amid CFP uncertainty

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game is set to be a surprising matchup between Duke and No. 16 Virginia. Both teams have defied expectations to compete for their first ACC championship. Virginia will almost certainly earn a spot in the College Football Playoff if they win. However, a victory by unranked Duke could complicate the CFP scenario. The Blue Devils, who won a five-team tiebreaker, face long odds but have shown resilience. Virginia coach Tony Elliott sees their success as a validation of the program’s progress. Both teams were blown out in their previous championship game appearances. Virginia beat Duke 34-17 on Nov. 15.… Continue Reading

Dixon delivers late as No. 16 North Carolina wins 67-64 at No. 18 Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Derek Dixon made a tiebreaking layup with 16 seconds remaining and scored five of North Carolina’s last six points to lift the No. 16 Tar Heels to a 67-64 win at No. 18 Kentucky. Dixon had nine points off the bench, and his 3-pointer with 53 seconds left helped give the Tar Heels their first road win this season. Henri Veesaar led North Carolina with 17 points, followed by Caleb Wilson with 15. Wilson shot 5 for 19 but added 12 rebounds and six assists. The Tar Heels made six 3s and limited the Wildcats to one on 13 attempts. Neither team led by more than six in a game that featured nine ties and 14 lead changes. Otega Oweh led Kentucky with 16 points.… Continue Reading

Evans’ late 3 helps No. 4 Duke top No. 15 Florida 67-66 in ACC/SEC Challenge

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Isaiah Evans hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 19.7 seconds left, and No. 4 Duke held on to beat No. 15 Florida 67-66 in the ACC/SEC Challenge. The slim sophomore was sitting at 0 for 7 from behind the arc when Florida’s Boogie Fland hit a 3 with 34.6 seconds left for a 66-64 lead. But Evans calmly sunk the shot that ultimately helped Duke stay unbeaten. Star freshman Cameron Boozer scored 29 points for the Blue Devils. Thomas Haugh scored 24 points for the Gators, the reigning national champions.… Continue Reading

The ACC is trying to spark men’s basketball. A better showing in the ACC/SEC Challenge would help

The ACC/SEC Challenge begins this week. It comes with the Southeastern Conference coming off a year with a record 14 bids to the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile the Atlantic Coast Conference has been grappling with how to jumpstart its tradition-rich sport amid a dwindling number of March Madness bids. That included dropping to just four tournament teams last year for its worst showing since 2013. ACC commissioner Jim Phillips has touted investments by league schools and efforts to improve scheduling to bolster postseason resumes. The key is winning marquee games like No. 4 Duke hosting reigning national champion Florida on Tuesday.… Continue Reading

Bill Belichick wins first ACC game as North Carolina rallies to defeat Syracuse 27-10

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Demon June accounted for two touchdowns and nearly 200 yards on offense, Gio Lopez threw for two scores, and Bill Belichick won his first Atlantic Coast Conference game when North Carolina came from behind to defeat Syracuse 27-10. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Tar Heels (3-5, 1-3 ACC), while the Orange (3-6, 1-5) lost for the fifth consecutive time. North Carolina lost its previous two games by a combined four points.… Continue Reading

Unbeaten and 8th-ranked Georgia Tech looks to dodge upset at NC State

No. 8 Georgia Tech is a front-runner in the race for spots in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. Staying on course will require the unbeaten Yellow Jackets to avoid a misstep at N.C. State on Saturday night. This is the sixth time in Georgia Tech history that the team is 8-0 and the first since 1966. In each of those previous five situations, the Yellow Jackets won the next game to reach 9-0. N.C. State has lost two in a row and four of its last five games. The defense has allowed 89 points in the past two games.… Continue Reading

No. 6 Duke keeps its frequent perch as favorite in ACC race featuring No. 11 Louisville, No. 25 UNC

Sixth-ranked Duke is the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball race. The Blue Devils open Jon Scheyer’s fourth season after a Final Four run. The 38-year-old Scheyer also became the first coach to twice win the ACC Tournament in his first three seasons. Duke lost all five starters but adds the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class. No. 11 Louisville is the top challenger in its rapid rise under Pat Kelsey. The ACC has four new coaches in Florida State’s Luke Loucks, Miami’s Jai Lucas, N.C. State’s Will Wade and Virginia’s Ryan Odom.… Continue Reading

No. 6 Duke picked to win ACC again; NC State’s Darrion Williams named Preseason Player of the Year

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The No. 6 ranked Duke Blue Devils have been picked to repeat as Atlantic Coast Conference champions, despite losing Cooper Flagg and four other players to the NBA draft. Duke received 34 of 49 first-place votes from the media panel. Louisville, which lost to Duke in last season’s ACC championship game, received the other 15 first-place votes and was selected to finish second. N.C. State’s Darrion Williams has been named the conference’s Preseason Player of the Year. Williams was also named first-team All-ACC, along with Duke’s Cameron Boozer, who was named Preseason Rookie of the Year.… Continue Reading

No. 16 Notre Dame pulls away from NC State in second half for fourth consecutive win

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — C.J. Carr passed for 342 yards and two touchdowns and No. 16 Notre Dame pulled away from N.C. State in the second half for a 36-7 victory. Carr connected on 19 of 31 passes, including TD tosses of 18 yards to K.K. Smith and 12 yards to Will Pauling in the third quarter. Jeremiyah Love rushed for 86 yards and two touchdowns for Notre Dame (4-2), which has won four in a row. The Fighting Irish outscored the Wolfpack 26-0 in the second half. C.J. Bailey connected with Terrell Anderson on a 45-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter for the Wolfpack (4-3).… Continue Reading

No. 3 Miami’s visit to No. 18 Florida State headlines ACC slate; Swinney vs. Belichick on undercard

No. 3 Miami’s visit to No. 18 Florida State headlines the week ahead in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hurricanes are playing a third straight game against an instate opponent after beating South Florida and Florida. The Seminoles beat Alabama in Week 1 but are coming off a double-overtime loss at now-ranked Virginia. The schedule includes the 24th-ranked Cavaliers visiting unbeaten Louisville. Additionally, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and North Carolina’s Bill Belichick meet in a game between high-profile coaches leading struggling teams.… Continue Reading