2024 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament Opening Round Recap (3-12-24)

By: Joe Dillard Jr.

Headline Photo Credit: Andy Hancock-ACC 

Introduction

As we kick off the Men’s 2024 ACC Tournament we look forward to great competition and games that have great meaning for the right to be tournament champs and the NCAA tournament berths.  The first day is the bottom six seeds and although they are at the bottom these teams have much to fight for.  With #12 Notre Dame versus #13 Georgia Tech, #10 North Carolina State versus #15 Louisville, and #11 Boston College versus #14 Miami where the winner will advance to the 3 seeds with first-round byes, #5 Wake Forest, #6 Clemson, and #7 Syracuse.

Headliner:

All three top seeds advance on the first day of the ACC Tourney

Recaps

Game 1

In game one welcomed newcomer Damon Stoudamire and the young #13 Georgia Tech Yellowjackets who seemed to show their youth as the game started tied 4-4 right after that the #12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish went on a 13 to 1 run which was hard to overcome in a tournament setting or will exhaust your team trying to come back. Down 10 at the half 45-35, that’s exactly what Georgia Tech did which was fight back and make this a game with freshmen Baye Ndongo and Nathan George who each had 20 points but just waited too late to bring the intensity necessary to compete the full 40 minutes. With both teams leaning on freshmen, it was Markus Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry of the fighting Irish who would not be shy in the big lights as they each went off from behind the arc combining for 8 threes on 14 attempts.  Burton with 21 points added 8 assists along with 5 rebounds while the coach’s son Braeden, is not on the court because of that but instead for his instincts, I.Q., and pure shot release.  He finished with 23 points leading the team and added two clutch free throws to seal the deal 84-80. Notre Dame advances to the second day to face #5 Wake Forest in game 5 at 2:30 pm on Wednesday. The Irish won the only matchup in the season in South Bend 70-65. 

Game 2 

In the middle matchup of the first day #10 North Carolina State took on #15 Louisville in what would be filled with high-scoring action as the two teams combined for 91 points in the first half with Louisville jumping out to a 12-point lead early in the half however the Wolfpack stormed back and continued to show their dominance getting to the line and staying aggressive during the game.  They closed the gap to 1 with a 46-45 halftime score.  In the second half, they continued to apply pressure to Louisville as they had 16 turnovers to State 9. Sophomore Skky Clark had an NBA audition as he was as efficient and deadly as one could be.  Clark, who averaged 12 ppg. During the season, poured in 36 points on 12-of-17 from the field burying 7 of his 9 three-pointers, and never sat down for a minute of the game. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield touched every line on the stat sheet with 17 points, a block, 2 steals, 4 assists, and 7 rebounds while showing his efficiency as well shooting 6-of-10 from the field hitting his only three-pointer and going 4-4 from the free throw line.  Speaking of free throw line North Carolina attempted 40 free throws converting on 33 of them.  Although Louisville went 11-11, they still ended up -22 from the foul line alone.  Senior Casey Morsell must have had home cooking as the Fort Washington, Maryland native went 13-13 from the foul line leading the wolfpack with 25 points as 4 other wolfpack reached double figures proved to be too much for Louisville and Skky Clark’s great performance with a 94-85 victory.  The wolfpack will advance to play #7 Syracuse as the Orangemen won both games this season and will try for the third time to beat North Carolina State.  This will be game 6 on day 2 and the first of the afternoon session and will tip off at 7 pm. 

Game 3 

In the final game of day one of the tournament we have two teams moving in different directions as #11 Boston College faces #14 Miami who was in the tournament title game just last season and found themselves one seed away from the bottom of the conference. For Boston College, it seemed like they smelled blood from the jump as they came out. After a couple of missed opportunities early, the game was tied 7 apiece when the Eagles started to fly.  Quentin Post hit a three to take the lead 10-7 and both the Eagles and Post would catch fire.  They went on a 23-6 run over the next 7 minutes and would not look back.  Post led the way with 30 points and 13 rebounds, just having a great start to the tournament. Miami went 7-29 from behind the arc and struggled to find rhythm as both veterans from last season’s run Norchad Omier and Nijel Pack had 18 points apiece. Donald Hand Jr. had 7 points and 5 rebounds off the bench in 17 minutes. The Landstown high school Virginia native and son of ACC legend Donald Hand from Virginia has made great improvement this season and looks poised to have a breakout game that will be key if they want to continue advancing. Boston College handled Miami 81-65 to advance and play #6 Clemson in game 7 at 9:30 pm where Clemson won 89-78 at home. 

Ways To early All-Tourney Team watch

Markus Burton Notre Dame 21 points and 8 assists

Jayden Taylor N.C. State 18 points 8 rebounds 3 assists 4 steals

Casey Morsell N.C. State 25 points 13-13 FT

Quinton Post Boston College 30 points 13 rebounds 

Skky Clark Louisville 36 points 7-9 3-pointers

ACC Coach of the tourney

Kevin Keatts N.C. State 12-point deficit comeback