ACC Breakdown: Buzzer beaters build buzz, keep Orange on top

Two miracle plays at the buzzer highlighted the past week of ACC basketball. In both plays, coaches called questionable timeouts at questionable times, which might have led to losses for their respective teams.

Wednesday, Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon and the Panthers held a one-point edge and were set to defend a full-court play with 4.4 seconds left against No. 1 Syracuse. Dixon called timeout following a pair of successful free throws by center Talib Zanna to make substitutions and to ensure his team defended the way he wanted.

Syracuse inbounded underneath Pitt’s basket. Point guard Tyler Ennis, Syracuse’s second option coming out of the timeout, gathered the pass and took four dribbles before sinking a 35-foot running jump shot to win.

Ennis told Syracuse reporters that Dixon’s timeout helped the undefeated Orange. 

“We kind of got to see what we have options-wise,” Ennis said.

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim agreed.

“That helped us because it gave us a chance to set up a second option,” Boeheim said.

The following night, Boston College head coach Steve Donahue and his team found themselves in a similar situation on the road against Georgia Tech.

Boston College guard Olivier Hanlan hit a jump shot with 3.4 seconds left, which put his Eagles up 71-70. Like Dixon, Donahue elected a timeout after the basket.

When play resumed, Georgia Tech’s Marcus-Georges Hunt received an inbound pass, dribbled three times, hit a 27-foot jumper with 0.1 seconds left and was fouled while releasing the shot, so the Yellow Jackets ended up winning 74-71.

“Our final play we did draw up at the timeout,” Georgia Tech head coach Brian Gregory told reporters after the game. “Simply because it is a play that we run, but we just changed up the spots.”

Both Syracuse and Georgia Tech were out of timeouts when their counterparts called a timeout. Regardless of whether the opposing coaches truly gave a gift by stopping play, fans of ACC teams have been treated with a thrilling conference season so far.

Here are The Pitt News’ updated ACC power rankings.

Syracuse (25-0, 12-0 ACC)

Half of the Orange’s conference games have been decided by a few late possessions, but Syracuse fans haven’t had reason to doubt their No. 1 Orange. Their team has a sure-shot weapon for pulling out late-game victories in Ennis. In the final five minutes of regulation in one-possession games and in overtime this season, Ennis has gone 14-of-14 from the free-throw line and 8-of-9 from the field while recording six assists and no turnovers. And, on potential game-tying or go-ahead situations, he is 4-of-4 from the field and 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. 

The Orange will reportedly sport throwback uniforms when they face Boston College tonight, a contest against one of the ACC’s basement-dwellers before one of this season’s biggest showdowns at Duke on Saturday.

Virginia (21-5, 12-1 ACC)

If our rankings were solely based off conference play, the Cavaliers would be in first place. Virginia owns the No. 1 scoring defense in the country — allowing just 55.6 points per game — and has yet to give up 70 points to an ACC opponent. The Cavs continue what is arguably the easiest ACC schedule when they host Notre Dame Saturday.

Duke (20-5, 9-3 ACC)

Last Saturday, it took a missed jump hook with 0.1 seconds left for Duke to hold on and beat longtime-ACC foe Maryland, 69-67, in the final scheduled meeting between the teams. The Blue Devils were unable to travel to play rival North Carolina last Wednesday because of inclement weather, and the game has been rescheduled for tomorrow.

North Carolina (18-7, 8-4 ACC)

Head coach Roy Williams picked up his 300th career win by topping Florida State, 81-75, Monday. The surging Tar Heels continue their four-games-in-eight-days stretch when they host Duke on Thursday at 9 p.m. and Wake Forest on Saturday.

Pitt (20-6, 8-5 ACC)

After losing at home to Syracuse and on the road against North Carolina, the Panthers are out of regular-season opportunities to collect a signature win. They have now lost six games to five teams (Syracuse twice) in statistician Ken Pomeroy’s poll of top 25 teams, and if the regular season ended today, Pitt would not receive a second round-bye in the ACC Conference Tournament. 

Yet history suggests that the Panthers are better off playing earlier in the week of their conference tournament. Pitt is 0-4 in its past four experiences receiving double buys in the Big East Tournament.

T-6 North Carolina State (16-9, 6-6 ACC) and Clemson (15-9, 6-6 ACC)

According to ESPN’s NCAA Tournament projections, Pitt is the last ACC team that will receive a bid, so it’s up to the Wolfpack and the Tigers to determine a potential sixth. Clemson has lost three straight and no longer has its projected at-large berth. North Carolina State was 14.9 seconds from knocking off unbeaten Syracuse on Saturday, but instead, the Wolfpack turned the ball over, and the Orange won a lead and the game — a 56-55 win — on a C.J. Fair layup. 

Wolfpack forward T.J. Warren’s scoring totals have increased during ACC play, and he now leads the ACC in scoring with 23.1 points per contest.

Florida State (15-11, 6-8 ACC)

The Seminoles have lost six of eight and have six off days before traveling to Pitt for a 6 p.m. game Sunday.

Maryland (14-12, 6-7 ACC)

The Terrapins are in the middle of a tough stretch. After losing to Virginia and Duke last week, they host Syracuse on Monday.

Notre Dame (14-12, 5-8 ACC)

The Irish mustered a two-overtime win against Clemson last week followed by a road win against Boston College on Sunday. They play Miami tonight.

Wake Forest (14-11, 4-8 ACC)

The Demon Deacons have lost five straight and will travel to face what could be a fatigued North Carolina team Saturday.

Georgia Tech (13-12, 4-8 ACC)

The Yellow Jackets close out the season with three road games before coming home to play Virginia Tech.

Miami (12-13, 3-9 ACC)

The Hurricanes host Notre Dame at 9 p.m.

Virginia Tech (9-15, 2-10 ACC)

The Hokies picked up a win against Miami on Saturday and have risen from last place to becoming tied for last place.

Boston College (6-19, 2-10 ACC)

The Eagles have struggled, but they remain a threat because Hanlan has remained consistent, scoring 18.2 points per game, which is good for third in the ACC.