For all of the success it has had, the ACC spent a lot of the yr being informed it was having a down yr and it had misplaced its place as one of many high convention in faculty basketball.
However the ACC is reminding everybody which convention claims essentially the most nationwide championships, and it may very well be including one other to the gathering with 4 of its groups advancing to the NCAA males’s event Candy 16, essentially the most of any convention.
It isn’t all that particular that North Carolina or Duke made it, nevertheless it’s the surprises of the ACC that makes it exceptional. NC State stays the one double-digit seed within the Candy 16, however Clemson had essentially the most spectacular street to the second weekend by beating Mountain West champion New Mexico and a high-powered Baylor group.
Clemson did not falter towards an offense that averages 80 factors a sport, blitzing the Bears with its personal excellent offensive efficiency whereas holding Baylor off for a majority of the night time. Even when Baylor awoke late and went on a run, the Tigers did not crack defensively and made its free throws to safe the win.
Regardless of beginning the season 11-1 with some spectacular wins, Clemson flew underneath the radar for many the season. Despite the fact that it went 11-9 in convention play, the Tigers have been ready keep comfortably within the event image, and it did not crack towards opponents most believed have been going to remove them. Clemson is the actual deal − in addition to is the ACC − and that is why the Tigers lead the winners and losers on the ultimate day of the boys’s event second spherical.
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WINNERS
Duke’s Jared McCain
Give Duke as a complete credit score for stomping James Madison, however Jared McCain deserves a particular shoutout for what he did towards the Dukes.
Coming into the event, James Madison gave up lower than six 3-pointers a sport because it was the most effective perimeter defenses within the nation. However McCain wasn’t phased as he knocked down eight 3-pointers and had 30 factors with 5 rebounds in what was an excellent day taking pictures the ball.
The freshman has proven some management up to now within the event after he led the group with 15-points within the first spherical win towards Vermont. The Blue Devils have veteran leaders on their group, but when freshman like McCain step up and have performances like this, then Duke may very well be on its solution to its first Remaining 4 underneath Jon Scheyer.
LOSERS
Baylor
Baylor has been a brilliant constant group ever because it went on its nationwide championship run, with it a high three seed in each event the previous three seasons. However Baylor has been a disappointment ever because it gained that title, because it didn’t dwell as much as its seeding and missed the Candy 16 for the third yr in a row.
The Bears had the most effective offenses within the nation, together with being a high 10 group in 3-point proportion. You could not inform on Sunday although with Baylor’s offense beginning off severely chilly, which included only one subject purpose made within the final seven minutes of the primary half. Baylor was capable of catch up, however then it wasn’t capable of make free throws to ever tie the sport towards Clemson. Baylor completed the day 21-for-54 (38.9%) from the sphere, 6-for-24 (25%) from 3-point land and 16-for-26 (61.5%) from the foul line.
Up to now three tournaments, Baylor has been eradicated by a No. 8 seed and No. 6 seed twice, and it is proving that it isn’t profitable video games it must be. Now, Baylor is beginning to appear to be the group it was often known as earlier than the title: one which retains on underachieving.
James Madison’s protection
The Dukes confirmed all season, and particularly within the first spherical win towards Wisconsin, how its protection had been the important thing to its 32-win season.
However it was nonexistent towards Duke on Saturday, because it bought uncovered early and sometimes towards Duke in a 93-55 loss, the biggest lack of the season for the Dukes.
Duke is an effective group offensively, however James Madison needed to like its possibilities given the nightmares it gave Wisconsin two days in the past. However the most effective 3-point defenses within the nation couldn’t cease Duke from drilling it past the arc. The Dukes have held opponents to 29.1% 3-point taking pictures this season, however the Blue Devils have been a 14-of-28 (50%). JMU solely gave up a mean of 5.9 3-pointers a sport, nevertheless it did not take lengthy for Duke to surpass that mark within the first half.
After Friday’s win, James Madison appeared that it was going to offer Duke a aggressive sport for the prospect at its first Candy 16 at school historical past. As a substitute, its exceptional season ends in a horrible defeat.