The holiday season is wrapping up, which means one thing: Uninterrupted conference play is finally upon us. Here’s the biggest matchups to watch as the ACC ramps up this weekend:
No. 17 North Carolina at Miami
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Miami (11-1) is the annual victim of a cowardly athletic department that doesn’t want to schedule Power 5 opponents in non-conference play. A near-flawless record would usually be a surefire catalyst for an AP Poll appearance, but the Hurricanes have two impressive wins at most. With that being said, it’s hard to get a good read on Miami’s potential. Last season, they finished non-conference play at 10-1 and then collapsed under the weight of competition, going 8-10 in the ACC.
The deciding factor as to whether or not Miami will repeat in disappointment is their new roster. The Cavinder twins, after initially electing to not use their final season of eligibility after graduating in 2023 (and their agent saying that they planned on pursuing new life in the WWE), are returning for one final ride. Michigan transfer Cameron Williams has added to the Canes’ arsenal with some impressive interior scoring. Not many claims can be made yet, but Sunday’s face-off with UNC should paint a reliable picture.
North Carolina (12-2) is dominating, but isn’t perfect. Senior forward Maria Gakdeng is somehow both the highlight of the team and its most disappointing facet. She’s shooting 73 percent (!!!) from the floor while averaging 10 points and six rebounds per game, which are both good for second on the team. However, she’s only shooting six shots per night. That’s absolutely inexcusable. In the Tar Heels’ six point loss to Georgia Tech, she scored 21 points on 9-for-11 shooting. If someone is shooting 82 percent in a game, you get them the ball. No questions asked.
UNC has only lost to Georgia Tech and UConn, and they’ve put up 20-point wins against some legit programs, so there should be no doubt about the Tar Heels’ resume. Lessons learned in non-conference play are now going to be put to the test, and the Hurricanes are no cake walk. Miami and North Carolina is the game to watch over the weekend.
Clemson at No. 22 NC State
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NC State (9-3) is riding a five-game win streak, but the trajectory of their season is still curving downwards. It definitely will be hard to replicate last season’s Final Four performance, but the Wolfpack are leaning on an experienced backcourt to make up for an entirely absent frontcourt. All five of the team’s top scorers are guards. Their highest-scoring post player is averaging four points per game. Mimi Collins and River Baldwin, their more-than-passable frontcourt from a season ago, both graduated. Boston College transfer Caitlin Weimar, the 6-foot-4 Patriot League Player of the Year, had surgery in late October and hasn’t been able to debut as the remedy to the Wolfpack’s biggest ailment.
NC State is trying to survive until they can find a solution at center, because it feels entirely impossible for them to win any kind of title without any frontcourt production. Luckily for them, Clemson (8-4) doesn’t boast much height or physicality.
Clemson’s losses don’t suggest much potential in ACC play. South Carolina (11-1) and Alabama (12-1) are tough teams to beat, but the Tigers only scored 45 and 39 points against them, respectively. That’s concerning. Statistically, Clemson has an upper-quartile defense, but they fail to force turnovers or block shots. They also are abysmal at getting to the free throw line. If the Tigers start playing more physical, they could salvage their poor start to the season and prove to be a respected team in the ACC. If not, expect NC State to look better than advertised.
Pitt at No. 13 Georgia Tech
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Georgia Tech is one of the most interesting teams in the country. They finished last season at an unremarkable 17-16 (7-11 in ACC play), but returned all six of their top scorers. They also added freshman guard Dani Carnegie, who’s leading the experienced roster in points while shooting 40 percent from 3. Georgia Tech is 13-0, one of only eight remaining undefeated teams and one of five teams with 13 or more wins. Analysts are slowly believing in the Yellow Jackets, or at least acknowledging that arguments against the team are based on hypotheticals. Wins against Mississippi State (12-1), UNC (12-2) and Nebraska (10-2) suggest that Georgia Tech aren’t bad-schedule merchants. Until they lose a game, they’ll keep climbing.
Pitt (8-6) won’t be Georgia Tech’s fiercest opponent, but every ACC matchup will test their hot streak. Texas transfer Khadijah Faye is a problem in the middle for the Panthers, and while she gives up two inches to Yellow Jacket 6-foot-6 center Ariadna Termis, she’ll still be matchup problem who demands more than single coverage. Faye is about the only bright spot on the Panthers, who haven’t yet beaten a Power 5 opponent, and have dropped games to some lowly mid-majors.
The matchup may not be the most competitive drawing of the weekend, but unfamiliar eyes to Georgia Tech’s dominance should tune in eventually.
Game information
Virginia (8-5, 0-1) vs. No. 3 Notre Dame (10-2, 1-0)
When: Sunday, Dec. 29 at 12 p.m. ET
Where: Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, IN
How to watch: ACC Network
Pittsburgh (8-6, 0-1) vs. No. 13 Georgia Tech (13-0, 1-0)
When: Sunday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. ET
Where: McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, GA
How to watch: ACC Extra
Louisville (7-5, 0-1) vs. Boston College (10-4, 1-0)
When: Sunday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. ET
Where: Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, MA
How to watch: ACC Network
No. 17 North Carolina (12-2, 0-1) vs. Miami (11-1, 1-0)
When: Sunday, Dec. 29 at 4 p.m. ET
Where: Watsco Center in Coral Gables, FL
How to watch: ACC Network
Clemson (8-4, 1-0) vs. No. 22 NC State (9-3, 1-0)
When: Sunday, Dec. 29 at 6 p.m. ET
Where: Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, NC
How to watch: ACC Network
