ACC Breakdown: Syracuse’s rough week vaults Virginia to top of conference

A single week of college basketball can alter any team’s season, especially when it’s a top-ranked squad. A single moment in a big game can trump a quietly impressive season, and that moment only gains impact when it comes from a Hall of Fame coach for a No. 1 team.

Syracuse was undefeated and sat atop the Top 25 polls for the past three weeks, but the Orange were stunned Wednesday at home by Boston College, then secured back-to-back losses with a 66-60 defeat Saturday at Duke.

Given the losses, Syracuse slipped in the rankings to No. 4, but such a dip only means that the ACC isn’t as top-heavy as it seemed just a week ago.

While more conference games have increasingly come down to the wire, two of the season’s most exciting games have been between Syracuse and Duke.

The first matchup in Syracuse on Feb. 1 was defined by high scoring, a buzzer beater and overtime. The second, on Saturday, was defined by Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim’s berserk court-storming following a questionable charge call on Orange forward C.J. Fair.

With 10.8 seconds left and his team down 60-58, Fair drove past Duke’s Tyler Thornton along the baseline underneath Syracuse’s basket. Seeing his teammate in trouble, Duke’s Rodney Hood slid into Fair’s projected path to the hoop, hoping to draw an offensive foul.

Hood was knocked to the ground on Fair’s way to a made layup.

Standing within an arm’s length of the collision, official Tony Greene blew his whistle and ruled that Hood’s feet had come to a halt before Fair’s feet left the floor, and a charge ensued. Boeheim responded by tearing off his coat, stomping on the floor and rushing after Greene in rage. Greene issued a double technical on Boeheim, resulting in ejection, which was Boeheim’s first in 1,260 career games.

“I just thought that was the worst call of the year,” Boeheim told reporters after the loss. “I just hate to see the game decided by that call.”

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said that he thought Hood had his feet set and that the officials correctly called it a charge.

Boeheim then spurred laughter when he half-jokingly explained his intentions for rushing onto the court and after Greene.

“I wanted to see if I still had it in me to go out there, and I did,” he said. “I thought I was quick. I stayed down, and I didn’t get injured, so all those things are good.”

Boeheim said that he thinks his actions will resonate with fans for years to come.

“People will remember this one for 30 years because the old coach went out there a little bit, got excited, so they’ll always remember me for something,” he said. “I think fans will remember Jim Boeheim here after that.”

Oddly enough, though, his facetious statement carries a bit of truth. Boeheim could become more remembered for his ejection than Virginia head coach Tony Bennett could for his team’s historical season.

The Cavaliers have moved into an outright lead in the ACC, but seem to have gone unnoticed in doing so.

Here are The Pitt News’ updated power rankings.

Virginia (23-5, 14-1 ACC)

The Cavaliers have jumped not only to a conference lead, but they now lead the country in scoring defense (55.3 points per game) as well. They blew out Notre Dame over the weekend, and they have to survive on the road tonight against Miami in order to set up the ACC’s potential regular-season title game at Syracuse on Saturday.

Syracuse (26-2, 13-2 ACC)

The Orange continue to struggle, but picked up a close win at Maryland on Monday. Orange reserve center Baye Moussa Keita has returned from a knee injury, a boost for forward Jerami Grant and center Rakeem Christmas, who has struggled to stay out of foul trouble. Syracuse has the week off to prepare for its showdown against Virginia.

Duke (22-6, 11-4 ACC)

A poor start to conference play will restrict the Blue Devils from flirting with a late race for ACC supremacy. They could be swept by North Carolina next Saturday, but have to travel to Wake Forest on Wednesday first.

North Carolina (20-7, 10-4 ACC)

The Tar Heels were the ACC’s hottest team in the month of February, but they will close out the season with a rough stretch of games. They travel to North Carolina State tonight and to Virginia Tech and Duke next week. They host Notre Dame in between.

Pitt (20-7, 8-6 ACC)

Pitt has lost three straight and 5-of-7. Mike DeCourcy of Sporting News suggested that Pitt’s late-game losses have come because they lack a secondary scoring threat to Lamar Patterson. 

“By in large, they’re pretty much in a situation where they kind of have to grind those last few minutes and hope to get enough opportunities,” DeCourcy said. “I think if [Patterson] has some help, he could certainly get them through some late situations against quality teams.”

Clemson (17-9, 8-6 ACC)

There’s a good chance that the Tigers will be on a five-game winning streak heading into their regular-season finale against Pitt. They host Maryland and Miami next week and will probably have to win out before being considered a bubble team.

Florida State (16-11, 7-8 ACC)

The Seminoles are among ESPN’s first four out of the NCAA Tournament right now because of early season wins against Virginia Commonwealth and Massachusetts alongside an overtime loss to No. 16 Michigan and a one-point loss to No. 1 Florida. They will need to win each game remaining, including a season finale against Syracuse at home next week.

North Carolina State (17-10, 7-7 ACC)

The Wolfpack host North Carolina at 8 p.m. Forward T.J. Warren still leads all ACC scorers with 23.3 points per game.

Maryland (15-12, 7-8 ACC)

Against Syracuse on Monday, the Terrapins couldn’t convert on a handful of late opportunities. With 49 seconds remaining, Maryland’s Jake Layman missed a layup that would have tied the game; with nine seconds remaining, Keita blocked Terrapins guard Nick Faust’s go-ahead layup attempt; and finally, as time expired, Terrapins guard Seth Allen heaved a running 30-footer that rimmed out. Maryland lost 57-55 and plays next at Clemson on Sunday.

Miami (14-13, 5-9 ACC)

The Hurricanes might have a tough time transforming their two-game winning streak into three in a row, as Miami travels to play Virginia tonight at 7.

Notre Dame (14-14, 5-10 ACC)

The Irish have lost two in a row and will host an equally unimpressive Georgia Tech team tonight at 7.

Wake Forest (14-13, 4-10 ACC)

The Demon Deacons have dropped seven straight, but they return home for three games, including a matchup against Duke next Wednesday.

Georgia Tech (13-14, 4-10 ACC)

The Yellow Jackets travel to Notre Dame, Florida State and Syracuse before returning home to play Virginia Tech to close out a poor season.

Boston College (7-20, 3-11 ACC)

The Eagles pulled off the upset of the season at Syracuse on Wednesday. They then traveled to Miami and lost by 27.

Virginia Tech (9-17, 2-12 ACC)

No favorable opportunities remain for the Hokies to pull themselves out of last place. They play at Duke and home against North Carolina and then travel to Maryland and Georgia Tech to close out the season.