ACC Daily Digest, Jan. 14: Duke hosts Syracuse, more Monday night hoops, QB Martell eyes 2 ACC programs

Fresh off the weekend, let’s take a look at what’s happening around the ACC on a busy Monday morning: hoops schedule (Duke hosts Syracuse), transfer quarterbacks and more.

 

Quick Turnaround

There are four ACC basketball teams in action Monday night — all of which played Saturday afternoon. Duke, fresh off a buzzer-beater win at Florida State, will host Syracuse, which lost at home to Georgia Tech. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh returns home after a loss at NC State and will host Florida State.

  • Syracuse at Duke, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Florida State at Pitt, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

 

Williamson, Johnson set to return; Walker won’t be suspended

After getting poked in the eye on a drive to the basket late in the first half against Florida State, Zion Williamson sat during the team’s second half comeback. Williamson is hopeful to return to the floor Monday against Syracuse, though.

NC State’s top point guard Markell Johnson also suffered an injury on a nasty fall while contesting a shot at the hoop against Pittsburgh. Johnson played just nine minutes in the game; he is, however, expected to play Tuesday night against Wake Forest — a road game in Winston-Salem.

Also for NC State: center Wyatt Walker, who was ejected two minutes into the game against Pittsburgh, will not be suspended. He’s available to play against Wake Forest, too.

 

Dent enrolls at FSU

One of the top defensive commitments in recent history for Florida State, 5-star cornerback Akeem Dent has enrolled at Florida State for the spring semester. Dent signed with FSU back in December, but there, recently, had been some concern of whether or not he would flip. Tomahawk Nation notes that Alabama was the primary concern.

 

Louisville, Miami in the mix for Ohio State transfer QB Tate Martell

Former 4-star recruit and Ohio State quarterback Tate Martell will transfer out from Columbus. According to a report from 247 Sports, Martell is considering three programs, including two ACC schools: Louisville, Miami and West Virginia.

Louisville and Miami both have new coaching staffs. Martell, in a reserve role, completed 83 percent of his pass attempts in 2018, and threw for 269 yards and a touchdown.

 

Racist taunt directed at Georgia Tech’s Jose Alvarado

According to Ken Sugiura of the AJC, a racist remark from the Syracuse crowd was directed at Georgia Tech point guard Jose Alvarado on Saturday. Alvarado is from Brooklyn (family members were in attendance), and in the win over Syracuse, he put up 19 points and three steals.

This has no place anywhere. The comment is incorrect, wrong and deeply problematic. Both schools declined comment after the game.

 

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