North Carolina ran into Kentucky at a bad time, even by Kentucky’s standards.
Notre Dame ripped Florida State in the conference opener for both teams.
Cameron Wright made his first start of the season for Pittsburgh.
That, plus a look ahead to Sunday’s games, in the ACC night in review.
North Carolina
Specifically, North Carolina’s defense, since Kentucky shot 56.3 percent from the floor in an 84-70 victory at Rupp Arena.
Now, Kentucky (11-0) is obliterating most teams it encounters, so the margin says more about Kentucky than it does North Carolina. And the Wildcats were sluggish Wednesday against Columbia before scratching out a victory, which means coach John Calipari was no doubt especially cranky the last few days.
So North Carolina (6-3) losing in Lexington? Not really a big deal. The Tar Heels struggling so much on defense, even against the ultra-capable Wildcats? That’s just one more slice of evidence to suggest North Carolina still has a ways to go.
Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish opened league play at home with an 83-63 defeat of Florida State, precisely the sort of emphatic result a team with legitimate NCAA tournament aspirations should secure against a wounded opponent.
Zach Auguste had 26 points and Jerian Grant and Demetrius Jackson both scored 18 points for Notre Dame (10-1), which won its ACC opener for the second consecutive year.
The Irish took advantage of the depleted Seminoles (4-5), who announced Friday that leading scorer Aaron Thomas was ineligible for the rest of the season. Montay Brandon led Florida State with 14 points (on 6 of 16 shooting), while none of the Seminoles’ forwards scored more than eight points.
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Minutes played by Pittsburgh guard Cameron Wright in his first start of the season. Wright, who missed the Panthers’ first seven games, had one point and three steals as Pittsburgh (6-3) slipped past St. Bonaventure 58-54 on Saturday.
Binghamton at Boston College (1, ESPN3): The Eagles (5-3) look to extend their winning streak to four as the woeful Bearcats (1-10) pay a visit to Chestnut Hill.
Alabama AM at Virginia Tech (3, ESPN3): Buzz Williams’Hokies (4-4) come off a week-long break to take on Alabama AM (1-5), which has lost to its five Division I opponents by an average of 20.2 points.
Auburn at Clemson (4, ESPN3): The ACC’s Tigers (5-3) seek their third victory over an SEC school in as many tries this season as Auburn (3-4) and coach Bruce Pearl come to Death Valley.
Louisiana Tech at Syracuse (4, ESPNU): The well-regarded Bulldogs (7-2) of Conference USA figure to provide a stern test for the Orange (5-3), which has lost back-to-back games.
Wofford at N.C. State (4, YES): Defending Southern Conference champion Wofford (7-2) wraps up N.C. State’s weekend at Reynolds Coliseum in a game that long-term should provide a bit of an RPI boost for the Wolfpack (8-1).
UNC Wilmington at Louisville (6, ESPNU): Rick Pitino and the Cardinals (8-0) face former Louisville assistant Kevin Keatts, who is now in his first season as the head coach of the Seahawks (3-2).
Samford at Wake Forest (6, ESPN3): The Demon Deacons (4-5) return from a week-plus layoff to face Samford (3-7) at Joel Coliseum.
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