The ACC lost this year’s challenge to the SEC 9-7. The ACC had an opportunity to win the challenge before a second-day collapse. Still, it was far better than the 14-2 shellacking of last year, and having the results used against the league.
So, which ACC teams were winners and losers from the challenge?
Winners
Duke
Duke beat another NCAA-caliber team in Florida. It had some dicey moments, but Duke came through yet again, 67-66. They are building a number 1 seed resume.
North Carolina
The Heels went on the road and got an impressive win at Kentucky. The Heels now have wins against Kansas and Kentucky. Quality non-conference wins won’t be lacking this year.
Syracuse
Syracuse knocked off a very solid Tennessee team at home 62-60. Syracuse has been competitive against some good teams, but hasn’t been able to close the deal. They did against the Vols, and it may catapult the Orange the rest of the season.
Virginia
Virginia went on the road and just hammered Texas. It might have been the single most dominant performance by any ACC team. Virginia didn’t just look like an NCAA team; they looked like a top 4 seed.
Losers
Wake Forest
Wake Forest is talented enough to be in a position to beat Michigan and Texas Tech late in those games, but they were crushed at home by Oklahoma during the challenge. Wake Forest is again building a resume that’s just good enough to get left out of the NCAAs. It was probably the most disappointing performance of any ACC team.
Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech got the benefit of playing one of the worst SEC teams, Mississippi State, at home. It was barely competitive as the final 85-73 wasn’t as close as the score indicated. The Yellow Jackets may get better, but right now, simply put, they are just a very bad basketball team.
Florida State
Florida State followed up a 36-point loss to Texas A&M with a 34-point home loss to Georgia. The Noles gave up 202 points in the losses, and FSU looks like one of the ACC’s bottom-tier teams.
NC State
NC State was supposed to be one of the ACC’s better teams, and losing by 10 to Auburn on the road in a vacuum isn’t that bad, but the Wolfpack have lost 3 of their last 4, and they need to start winning some quality out-of-conference games if they want to make a run at the NCAA tournament.
