No. 9 Duke picked up its greatest win of the season on Wednesday, handing No. 2 Auburn its first loss. That was the extent of the great for the ACC.
The Blue Devils emerged victorious 84-78 at Cameron Indoor Stadium, however their convention walked away from the ACC-SEC Challenge with a horrific 14-2 loss within the second yr of the occasion. The convention recorded just one win in every night time of play.
For some time, it seemed like Duke was on observe to be one other loss. The Blue Devils got here out flat, falling behind 13-2 to open the sport. Their defensive effort improved after a Jon Scheyer timeout, ending the primary half on a 41-23 run.
That double-digit lead narrowed to as little as two factors at occasions within the second half, however Auburn failed to shut the space. Despite dealing with an Auburn rotation dominated by upperclassmen, the distinction was a younger Duke crew taking part in cleaner basketball, with solely three turnovers the complete sport.
Cooper Flagg, projected to be the No. 1 general choose of the 2025 NBA Draft, led Duke in scoring with 22 factors plus 11 rebounds, 4 assists, three steals and two blocks, however simply as impactful was freshman Isaiah Evans. Rivals’ No. 14 general recruit of the Class of 2024 received his first actual minutes of the season and made essentially the most of them, scoring 18 factors off the bench on 6-of-9 capturing (6-of-8 from 3-point vary).
It was a much-needed win for Duke, who took losses to No. 4 Kentucky and No. 1 Kansas earlier within the season. With the ACC clearly not going to carry the status it has in earlier years, getting an enormous nonconference win will likely be big for the Blue Devils sticking among the many nationwide elite as convention play ensues.
Now let’s speak in regards to the different video games.
The ACC/SEC Challenge was a massacre for the ACC
The occasion was determined by the tip of the primary night time, wherein the SEC went 9-1. Oddly, the only loss was by No. 4 Kentucky towards unranked Clemson. Every different sport was a present of power for the SEC, or lack thereof for the ACC. All however two of the SEC’s wins have been by double digits.
The second night time started no higher for the ACC. No. 13 Florida blew out Virginia. No. 10 Alabama boat raced No. 20 UNC. Mississippi, recent off a 10-point loss to Butler, beat No. 18 Pittsburgh by 33 factors. Two extra losses adopted, after which Auburn-Duke.
The solely brilliant facet for the ACC: it is two wins have been over prime 5 groups.
Here’s the total scoreboard:
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South Carolina 73, Boston College 51
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Notre Dame 48, Georgia 69
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Arkansas 76, Miami 73
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Cal 93, Missouri 98
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Syracuse 70, No. 3 Tennessee 96
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No. 23 Ole Miss 86, Louisville 63
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Florida State 75, LSU 85
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Georgia Tech 61, Oklahoma 76
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Wake Forest 44, Texas A&M 57
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No. 4 Kentucky 66, Clemson 70
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Virginia 69, No. 13 Florida 87
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No. 10 Alabama 94, No. 20 UNC 79
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No. 18 Pittsburgh 57, Mississippi State 90
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Vanderbilt 80, Virginia Tech 64
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Texas 63, NC State 59
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No. 2 Auburn 78, No. 9 Duke 84
That’s not going to assist any ACC crew when Selection Sunday comes round.
The final yr or so has seen the ACC climate a number of challenges because it makes an attempt to maintain its convention collectively and stop the Big Ten and SEC from taking the Power Four to Power Two, having already shrunk the Power Five. These previous two days will not assist the notion one among faculty athletics’ most historic conferences is falling behind.
