ACC Tournament Day 2 takeaways: Virginia Tech's deflating season ends, Boston College keeps battling
No matter the year, the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament always delivers the goods. So far, this week in Washington, D.C., has been no different.
On Wednesday, the tournament's second round saw No. 9 seed Florida State knock off No. 8 seed Virginia Tech, No. 5 seed Wake Forest hold off No. 12 seed Wake Forest, No. 10 seed N.C. State smother No. 7 seed Syracuse and No. 11 seed Boston College do the same to No. 6 seed Clemson.
Here are four takeaways from the action, one from each game.
Virginia Tech in a precarious spot under Mike Young
There's no denying that Mike Young, five years into his tenure with the Hokies, is an elite X's and O's mind. His offenses feature a mix of flare screens, dribble handoffs and other concepts that make opponents' heads spin.
But that should translate into annual spots in the NCAA Tournament for Virginia Tech. Instead, the 18-14 Hokies will not hear their name called on Selection Sunday for the second straight year.
Sure, Virginia Tech won the 2022 ACC Tournament (a victory that served as its lone path into the big dance), but it is 0-2 in the NCAA Tournament and below .500 in conference play under Young. Heading into 2023-24, the 60-year-old's seat is warming up.
Boopie Miller is the key for Wake Forest
With so much burden placed on the shoulders of Hunter Sallis, Miller's 17 points on Wednesday could not have come at a better time.
The 6-foot guard, the team's second-leading scorer, shot 6-of-12 from the field in the Demon Deacons' 13-point win over the Fighting Irish, adding seven rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Wake Forest, at 20-12 (11-9 in the ACC) still has work to do to secure an at-large bid. In fact, Thursday's quarterfinal date (2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2) with fourth-seeded Pittsburgh is likely a loser leaves town game. Miller, whose quickness off the dribble and shot-making are traits worth beholding, may well be the guy to watch in the Demon Deacons' quest to advance.
Is N.C. State capable of making a run?
If you like unique, then N.C. State is the team for you. How else do you describe a team that runs much of its offense through a 270-pound (listed) lefty center in DJ Burns?
On Wednesday, the Wolfpack — perhaps playing to save head coach Kevin Keatts' job — pulled away in the second half against Syracuse, eventually winning by 18. N.C. State was spurred by 17 offensive rebounds and 30 points off turnovers.
Now, with its Thursday quarterfinal matchup against No. 2 seed Duke (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) looming, N.C. State's unconventional approach will be put to the test.
Earl Grant is building a foundation at Boston College
Friday will mark the three-year anniversary of Earl Grant's hiring at Boston College. And at this point, it's safe to say that the university made the right choice.
The Eagles, who have boosted their win total (from 13 to 16 to 19 and counting) under the 47-year-old, play smart, hard and tough. Those are traits that have defined Grant's teams ever since he took College of Charleston to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly two decades in 2017-18.
Boston College — which is now 5-2 in the ACC Tournament in Grant's three seasons at at the helm — may not be on its way to the big dance this year, and its season could end at the hands of No. 3 seed Virginia in Thursday's quarterfinal (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). But it won't go down without a fight.
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