Friday saw the ACC continue flexing its March muscle as the conference was a Kihei Clarke pass from starting the NCAA tournament 5-1. The conference still moved to 4-2 this year and 18-7 so far in the last two years.
Pittsburgh and Miami were the ACC wins on Friday.
Pittsburgh faced a couple of rugged but offensively challenged teams in Mississippi State and Iowa State. The Panthers average over 75 points a game but are 2-0 scoring 60 and 59 in back-to-back rock fight games. They shot 39% against Mississippi State and 34% against Iowa State. It’s Pitts’s defense that has been suffocating. This is a good sign for Pitt. They are winning without playing the offense they are capable of. Pittsburgh hasn’t gotten loose shooting the ball yet, and I think that bodes well for them going forward. It’s just a matter of time, they have a great shooting game. Xavier will be tough, but that’s a winnable game for Pittsburgh to get to the Sweet 16.
Miami was a trendy 5/12 upset pick to a good Drake team. Miami trailed most of the game but relied on a stifling press late in the game that led to a 63-56 win. Miami won with 5 points from ACC Player of the year Isaiah Wong. I can promise you Wong isn’t scoring 5 or fewer points in his next game. The Canes found other ways to score like Nigel Pack putting up 21 points. Drake did a tremendous defensive job on Wong. It’s doubtful many other teams can match that, and the Canes still won. They’ll either face Indiana or Kent State for the right to go to the Sweet 16. Whoever it is better to be ready for Wong to return to form.
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1 ping
Dion says:
March 18, 2023 at 8:33 am (UTC -4)
Pitt and Duke are the only ACC schools to win both a Bowl game and a Tournament game this academic year. Miami didn’t even play a bowl game and the other bowl winners Louisville, Wake Forest, an Florida State didn’t even make the Tournament.