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This could be a turning point for Virginia basketball. The Cavs beat NC State on the road, but then again, the Wolfpack aren't that great this season. But to go into Clemson and knock off the Tigers 64-63, especially after being down 16 in the second half, is huge for the Cavaliers. Plus, J.R. Reynolds continued his hot play. One has to wonder if three huge games in a row is a fluke or if Reynolds is finally doing what everyone thought he could throughout his career.

Times Dispatch

Don't look now, but Duke is getting better. The Devils have won five in a row after beating Boston College 75-61. Of course, Thursday night at Virginia will be a test. The Cavs are very good at home.

ESPN.com

Here's something I didn't expect to be writing on Jan. 28 - Virginia Tech is in first place in the ACC. After the Hokies beat Georgia Tech Sunday and BC fell to Duke, Virginia Tech took over first in the conference. Not bad for a team that lost to Western Michigan and Marshall earlier this season.

Times Dispatch

AJC

In women's basketball, North Carolina beat Maryland behind Ivory Latta's 32 points. Maryland, the defending national champion, has now lost to Duke and Carolina.

Fox Sports

North Carolina State, Clemson, Georgia Tech and Florida State also won in women's hoops Sunday.

TheACC.com

Carolina rolls, FSU knocks off Wake

How impressive was Carolina yesterday? Even without Brandan Wright and Marcus Ginyard, the Tar Heels went into Arizona, ranked No. 17 in the country, and destroyed the Wildcats 92-64. A lot of questions have been answered with the improved play of Ty Lawson. There's still plenty of season left, but if Carolina continues playing like this the Heels could be scary good come March.

News and Observer story

Tucson Citizen story

Andy Katz's take

The only other ACC game yesterday featured Florida State squeaking by Wake Forest. Here's the story from the Tallahasse Democrat.

ACC officials admit to mistake

John Clougherty, the ACC's coordinator of basketball officials, made the following statement about a timing error at the end of the Clemson-Duke game Thursday night.

"The league acknowledges that a timing error was made in not starting the game clock at the correct time, when the ball was stolen by Clemson's Vernon Hamilton off the in-bounded pass from Duke's Josh McRoberts."

Following Hamilton's steal, the guard hit a jumper to tie the game at 66, but officials realized that the game clock didn't start until right before ball went through the basket. Then it continued to run, going from 5.0 seconds to 1.8 seconds. The clock should have started when Hamilton touched the ball and stopped after his shot was made.

Officials, after studying TV replays, decided that 4.4 seconds should have remained on the clock, but they didn't take into consideration that the clock never started when Hamilton stole the ball.

ESPN, which broadcast the game, looked at the replays also and determined that 2.4 seconds should have been left on the clock. But, with those two additional seconds put on the clock by ACC officials, Duke was able to get the ball down the court and score on a David-McClure layup as the buzzer sounded. Duke won 68-66.

"We came to this conclusion after completing a review of the game film as well as internal conversations with the crew of officials, both head coaches and conference office staff," said Clougherty. "At this point, as with most league officiating matters, this situation has been handled and resolved internally."

For his part, Clemson coach Oliver Purnell seems to be taking it all in stride, at least publicly.

"I spoke with John Clougherty of the ACC this morning and we discussed what took place at the end of the Duke game last night. He acknowledged that there was a timing error and the matter will be handled internally. I am satisfied with their review in this matter."

Then Purnell turned his attention to the Tigers' next game.

"We now need to put 100 percent of our focus on our game with
Virginia on Sunday and that is what we will do starting with today's practice," Purnell said Friday.

- Patrick Hite

ACC Nation (weekend of January 26)

Click here to listen

(Go to Download this week's show, complete show and click on ACC Nation (weekend of January 26) )

On ACC Nation this weekend, ESPN’s Andy Katz joins the guys to talk ACC hoops.

Patrick and Chris also chat with Mark Berman of the Roanoke Times about Virginia Tech basketball.

In Inside the Nation, the guys take a look at what NBA scouts think of some ACC players, and they’ll discuss the ACC football schedule on the Sound and the Fury.

That and more on ACC Nation

Click here to listen

Coach K haters unite

Washington's Gilbert Arenas sure can hold a grudge. Of course, I have no problem with the object of his bitterness.

Arenas is now a member of the "I hate Coach K and Duke" club, and, speaking as a card-carrying member of that group, I welcome all new members - the more the merrier.

Arenas is upset about being left off of the U.S. national team, and said he's score 84 or 85 points against Duke if he could go back to college. Of course, Duke is coached by Mike Krzyzewski, who also coached the national team.

Here's the story

- Patrick Hite

ACC football schedule

The ACC released is football schedule. The team-by-team schedule is below. A few things that are worthy of attention:

Boston College plays three conference games to start the season;

Duke will be 0-12 once again;

One would think Carolina should get a win to start off the Butch-Davis era, considering they play Division I-AA (or is that NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision team) James Madison;

Wake Forest will have a tough time going undefeated in the non-conference portion of its schedule with Nebraska coming to town (although I'm not saying the Deacons can't be the Huskers)

Boston College
Sept. 1 Wake Forest
Sept. 8 NC State
Sept. 15 at Georgia Tech
Sept. 22 Army
Sept. 29 Massachusetts
Oct. 6 Bowling Green
Oct. 13 at Notre Dame
Oct. 20 Open
Oct. 25 at Virginia Tech (Thursday)
Nov. 3 Florida State
Nov. 10 at Maryland
Nov. 17 at Clemson
Nov. 24 Miami

Clemson
Sept. 3 Florida State (Monday)
Sept. 8 Louisiana Monroe
Sept. 15 Furman
Sept. 22 at NC State
Sept. 29 at Georgia Tech
Oct. 6 Virginia Tech
Oct. 13 Open
Oct. 20 Central Michigan
Oct. 27 at Maryland
Nov. 3 at Duke
Nov. 10 Wake Forest
Nov. 17 Boston College
Nov. 24 at South Carolina

Duke
Sept. 1 Connecticut
Sept.8 at Virginia
Sept. 15 at Northwestern
Sept. 22 at Navy
Sept. 29 at Miami
Oct. 6 Wake Forest
Oct. 13 Virginia Tech
Oct. 20 Open
Oct. 27 at Florida State
Nov. 3 Clemson
Nov. 10 Georgia Tech
Nov. 17 at Notre Dame
Nov. 24 at North Carolina

Florida State
Sept. 3 at Clemson (Monday)
Sept. 8 UAB
Sept. 15 at Colorado
Sept. 22 Open
Sept. 29 Alabama (Jacksonville)
Oct. 6 NC State
Oct. 11 at Wake Forest (Thursday)
Oct. 20 Miami
Oct. 27 Duke
Nov. 3 at Boston College
Nov. 10 at Virginia Tech
Nov. 17 Maryland
Nov. 24 at Florida

Georgia Tech
Sept. 1 at Notre Dame
Sept. 8 Samford
Sept. 15 Boston College
Sept. 22 at Virginia
Sept. 29 Clemson
Oct. 6 at Maryland
Oct. 13 at Miami
Oct. 20 Army
Oct. 27 Open
Nov. 1 Virginia Tech (Thursday)
Nov. 10 at Duke
Nov. 17 North Carolina
Nov. 24 Georgia

Maryland
Sept. 1 Villanova
Sept. 8 at Florida International
Sept. 13 West Virginia (Thursday)
Sept. 22 at Wake Forest
Sept. 29 at Rutgers
Oct. 6 Georgia Tech
Oct. 13 Open
Oct. 20 Virginia
Oct. 27 Clemson
Nov. 3 at North Carolina
Nov. 10 Boston College
Nov. 17 at Florida State
Nov. 24 at NC State

Miami
Sept. 1 Marshall
Sept. 8 at Oklahoma
Sept. 15 Florida International
Sept. 20 Texas A&M (Thursday)
Sept. 29 Duke
Oct. 6 at North Carolina
Oct. 13 Georgia Tech
Oct. 20 at Florida State
Oct. 27 Open
Nov. 3 NC State
Nov. 10 Virginia
Nov. 17 at Virginia Tech
Nov. 24 at Boston College

North Carolina
Sept. 1 James Madison
Sept. 8 at East Carolina
Sept. 15 Virginia
Sept. 22 at South Florida
Sept. 29 at Virginia Tech
Oct. 6 Miami
Oct. 13 South Carolina
Oct. 20 Open
Oct. 27 at Wake Forest
Nov. 3 Maryland
Nov. 10 at NC State
Nov. 17 at Georgia Tech
Nov. 24 Duke

NC State
Sept. 1 Central Florida
Sept. 8 at Boston College
Sept. 15 Wofford
Sept. 22 Clemson
Sept. 29 Louisville (or Sept. 27)
Oct. 6 at Florida State
Oct. 13 Open
Oct. 20 at East Carolina
Oct. 27 Virginia
Nov. 3 at Miami
Nov. 10 North Carolina
Nov. 17 at Wake Forest
Nov. 24 Maryland

Virginia
Sept. 1 at Wyoming
Sept. 8 Duke
Sept. 15 at North Carolina
Sept. 22 Georgia Tech
Sept. 29 Pittsburgh
Oct. 6 at Middle Tennessee State
Oct. 13 Connecticut
Oct. 20 at Maryland
Oct. 27 at NC State
Nov. 3 Wake Forest
Nov. 10 at Miami
Nov. 17 Open
Nov. 24 Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech
Sept. 1 East Carolina
Sept. 8 at LSU
Sept. 15 Ohio University
Sept. 22 William & Mary
Sept. 29 North Carolina
Oct. 6 at Clemson
Oct. 13 at Duke
Oct. 20 Open
Oct. 25 Boston College (Thursday)
Nov. 1 at Georgia Tech (Thursday)
Nov. 10 Florida State
Nov. 17 Miami
Nov. 24 at Virginia

Wake Forest
Sept. 1 at Boston College
Sept. 8 Nebraska
Sept. 15 Army
Sept. 22 Maryland
Sept. 29 Open
Oct. 6 at Duke
Oct. 11 Florida State (Thursday)
Oct. 20 at Navy
Oct. 27 North Carolina
Nov. 3 at Virginia
Nov. 10 at Clemson
Nov. 17 NC State
Nov. 24 at Vanderbilt

Labor Day Bowden Bowl

I find this interesting. Last year FSU played Miami on Labor Day and the Hurricanes' coach was fired after the season. This year the Seminoles play Clemson on Labor Day ... I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

Patrick

Clemson press release:

Clemson will open its 2007 football schedule against Florida State on Labor Day Night (September 3, 2007) in a game that will be televised nationally on ESPN. This will be the first time Clemson has played a regular season game on a Monday night since 1982 when the Tigers opened the season at Georgia in a nationally televised game on ABC.

"The Clemson-Florida State game is one of our most viewed telecasts, and eagerly anticipated match-ups each year," said Dave Brown, vice president, ESPN programming and acquisitions. "The popularity of our Labor Day primetime window is a natural fit for this game and we look forward to showcasing the Clemson-Florida State game to a national audience in an exclusive college football window."

Kickoff for the contest will be 8:00 PM.

"This will bring tremendous exposure to our program," said Head Coach Tommy Bowden. "The Clemson-Florida State game is always one of the most watched college games of the year and now it will be in a time slot on a holiday evening with no other college game broadcast at the same time.

Last year's Labor Day Night game between Florida State and Miami (FL) averaged 6,330,000 households, was the sixth most viewed regular season college football game on national television in 2006, ranked as ESPN's highest-rated college football game since 1994 with a 6.9 rating, and was the most viewed college football game in ESPN's history.

"As we saw last year when ESPN's College GameDay came to Clemson for the Georgia Tech game, this Labor Day evening game will be a great opportunity to showcase Clemson University," said Clemson Athletic Director Dr. Terry Don Phillips. "It will bring great exposure for the University as we strive to become a Top 20 national public university.”

The ACC has informed Dr. Phillips that Clemson will not have a Thursday Night game home or away during the 2007 season.

The Clemson vs. Florida State game will be the ninth meeting between Tigers Head Coach Tommy Bowden and his father, Florida State Hall of Fame Head Coach Bobby Bowden. Bobby has won five of the first eight, but Tommy has won three of the last four, including last year's game in Tallahassee, FL, a 27-20 Clemson victory on a one-yard touchdown run by James Davis with just eight seconds left.

The complete Clemson schedule for 2007 will be released at a later date.

Gailey to remain at Georgia Tech

Some might say this is bad news for Georgia Tech, but Chan Gailey is remaining at the school as its football coach. Below is the press release announcing Gailey's decision.

Patrick

Press release from Georgia Tech:

Chan Gailey, Georgia Tech's head football coach since 2002,announced Friday that he will remain at Tech.

"I'm excited about the future here at Georgia Tech," Gailey said at a Friday afternoon press conference. "We have 17 of the 22 returning starters from the bowl game. We've got a great recruiting class. We've got a (Coastal) Division title to defend. It was a great opportunity for me and an honor to visit with these people but, I'm excited about the future here at Georgia Tech and where we're headed and what we're going to do for the next few years."

Gailey had been under consideration by for the head coaching position of the Miami Dolphins, the organization from which he was hired by Georgia Tech on Dec. 29, 2001. He spent the 2000 and 2001 seasons as the Dolphins' offensive coordinator before becoming the 11th head coach in Tech history. During his time in Miami, Gailey developed a close relationship with owner Wayne Huzienga, leading him to interview for the head coaching position.

"I'd like to thank all the fans and all of the members of the Georgia Tech family that have been so patient through this whole process," said Gailey. "It didn't happen nearly as quickly as anyone had hoped but we are excited that we are now able to go on to the next full speed ahead. Everybody has been very supportive and I'm deeply appreciative."

Gailey led Tech to a 9-5 record, the ACC Coastal Division title and a berth in the Toyota Gator Bowl in 2006. The Jackets return 17 starters from last year's squad that earned the school's 10th consecutive bowl berth, led by ACC rushing leader Tashard Choice, all-conference defenders Philip Wheeler, Jamal Lewis and Adamm Oliver and all-America punter Durant Brooks.

The 55-year-old Gailey has led the Yellow Jackets to winning seasons and bowl games in each of his five seasons on the Flats, compiling a record of 37-27. He joins college football legend John Heisman as the only head coaches in school history who have never had a losing season. Gailey's 37 victories rank fourth among all Tech head coaches, behind Bobby Dodd (166/22 seasons), William Alexander (134/25 seasons), Heisman (102/16 seasons) and George O'Leary (53/7 seasons).

Tech has posted seven victories over nationally-ranked teams under Gailey, six of them coming on the road, including wins at No. 10 Virginia Tech, at No. 3 Miami and at No. 15 Auburn over the last two seasons.

Ten Yellow Jackets earned all-Atlantic Coast Conference recognition in 2006, led by ACC Player of the Year and unanimous first-team all-American Calvin Johnson. Tech had a total of 28 first or second-team all-ACC selections over Gailey's five years, as well as 21 Academic All-ACC student-athletes through the 2005 season.