Dr. Quads Examines Day One of the ACC Tourney

The 2026 ACC Tournament got started in a big way yesterday inside the Spectrum Center, in uptown Charlotte, with three games kicking off the oldest conference tournament of any power conference. 15 teams made their way to the Queen City, with the hopes of winning the grandest conference tournament in college basketball, and in the process securing themselves a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Speaking of the Big Dance, there are also a handful of teams on the bubble for this year’s field, with those teams needing to make some sort of a run this week to improve their chances of having their name called during Sunday’s selection show. A few of those teams were in action yesterday, and unfortunately didn’t get the result that they wanted, or needed. 

Game #1 – Stanford vs Pittsburgh: 

• The Cardinal arrived as one of the teams, looking to add wins to their resume and secure a spot in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Instead, they were upset in the first game of the tournament, setting the tone for what could be a wild and unpredictable week at the ACC Tournament. Damarco Minor hit a putback shot with less than a second left to play, to give Pitt the decisive 64-63 edge. Pitt was able to win the game, despite Stanford shooting 48% from the field and 40% from behind the arc, on 8 makes. Rebounding proved to be the difference in the game, as Pitt was +13 on the glass, 41-28, grabbing a whopping 20 offensive rebounds, and converting them into 25 second-chance points. Barry Dunning Jr led Pittsburg in scoring with 16 points, on an efficient 7-10 shooting, as he was one of four Panthers to score in double figures.  

Game #2 – SMU vs Syracuse: 

• SMU, like Stanford, entered the ACC Tournament on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament, and couldn’t afford a bad loss, or else their Big Dance hopes would be in danger. They avoided that yesterday, getting past Syracuse 86-69, to advance to the Second Round of the tournament. It was a 39-38 game at the half, but they blew the game open in the second half, behind a 13-0 run, on their way to outscoring the Orange, 47-31. All 5 Mustang starters scored in double figures, led by veteran guard Boopie Miller, who scored a game-high 25 points, on 9-15 shooting, including 5-9 from behind the arc. As for Syracuse, you have to wonder if Red Autry has coached his last game for the program, following another disappointing season, resulting in not making the NCAA Tournament. 

Game #3 – Virginia Tech vs Wake Forest: 

• The best game of the night came at the end of the day, as Wake Forest upset Virginia Tech 95-89, to end the Hokies’ dream of going to the Big Dance,7 Demon Deacons scored in double figures, on a night where they shot 51% from the field, behind 18 points from Myles Colvin. Colvin scored the first 5 points of the overtime session, and Wake Forest would never look back. Virginia Tech closed to make it 86-85 game, but a three-point play by Sebastian Akins, all but ended the game. The Demon Deacons have advanced to take on Clemson in the Second Round. 

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