AND SO IT BEGINS: YOU CAN'T FALL OFF THE FLOOR

Mike Shanahan arrives at a press conference to be introduced as the new head coach of the Washington Redskins on January 6, 2010 in Ashburn, Virginia. Shanahan replaces former head coach Jim Zorn who was released January 4 following a 4-12 season.

(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images North America)

HUMP NIGHT HOOPS

The non-conference portion of the season in winding down…and, evidently, that scares Jon "Crazy Face" Sheyer (r).

NO. 5 DUKE 86, Iowa State (Cyclones, 27,943 students, Ames, IA) 65 – Scheyer celebrated a homecoming with 31 points and No. 5 Duke pulled away in the second half to beat Iowa State.

The Blue Devils (13-1, 1-0) won their seventh straight game behind a balanced attack, a defense that forced 18 turnovers and aggressive rebounding in the game at the United Center.

Scheyer, a prep star in suburban Northbrook, Ill., shot 10 of 19 and had four 3-pointers to lead Duke, which also got 20 points from Nolan Smith and 15 points from Kyle Singler.

To read more, click here.

N.C. STATE 87, Holy Cross (Crusaders, 2,817 students, Worcester, MA) 70 – N.C. State used its defense and three-point shooting to pull away from visiting Holy Cross Wednesday night at the RBC Center.

The Wolfpack (11-4 overall, 0-1 in the ACC) held a slim 33-31 lead at intermission, as the Crusaders outrebounded the Pack 23-16 and made five of eight 3-point shots in the opening 20 minutes.

Sidney Lowe never feared that his team would have any lingering effects from Sunday's disappointing loss to Florida, even though it did not get off to a good start against the Crusaders.

To read more, click here.

“I DON’T KNOW WHY, BUT SOMETIMES I JUST FEEL LIKE A GIRL…”

Jeez, Kyle, not a good look, bro.

You know, the dude's from Oregon.

The book/movie Twilight is based in Oregon...

Vampire?

Hmmm...

A QUICK NOTE ON OUR RAPIDLY DEVOLVING CIVILIZATION…

This from the ACC Now with minor edits:

It was a quiet locker room after ninth-ranked North Carolina lost to College of Charleston 82-79 in overtime Monday night.

Not so quiet on Twitter, though. Here's a sampling of UNC players' tweets in the hours after the Tar Heels blew an 11-point lead in the final four minutes of regulation:

Freshman John Henson: Just made someone's college career relevant ... damn

Sophomore Justin Watts: On the way back to chapel hill .. Going to sleep as soon as I get back

Sophomore Ed Davis: Just got back to chapel hill. In this business u got to have a quick memory forget fast and move on

Senior Marcus Ginyard: Charleston police should have their hands full tonight

Walk-on Terrence Petree: Say what u want. I believe in my 15 brothers....

MISC INFORMATION: FOOTBALL

*In his last game as head coach, Bobby Bowden led the Florida State Seminoles to a 33-21 win over West Virginia in the Gator Bowl on New Year's Day. Bowden finished with a 389-129-4 record, making this his 33rd consecutive winning season. Bowden finished as major college football's second-winningest coach, second only to Penn State's Joe Paterno.

*Virginia Tech defeated Tennessee 37-14 in the Eat Mor Chikin Bowl. Despite an injury to his ankle, Ryan Williams had 117 on the ground while QB Tyrod Taylor threw for 209 yards. The Hokies earned their first back-to-back bowl wins and sixth consecutive ten win season. Texas is the only other team to do that.

*In his final college game, C.J. Spiller led the Clemson Tigers to a 21-13 victory over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl. Spiller finished his college career with 172 all-purpose yards and one touchdown for the Tigers. It was the first bowl win for the Klimpson since the Champs Sports Bowl in 2005.

MISC INFORMATION: MEN'S BASKETBALL

*The ACC is the top-ranked conference in the Sagarin Computer Rankings and the Pomeroy Ratings and ACC teams are 58-2 (.967) in games in which they shoot 50 percent or better from the floor.

*North Carolina has 1,995 all-time wins in its 100th year as a varsity program. To reach 2,000 as quickly as possible, the Heels would have to win their next five games against Virginia Tech, @Clemson, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and @ N.C. State.

*Virginia Tech's Malcolm Delaney leads the ACC in scoring (19.8) and is third in free throw percentage (.863) while Clemson's Trevor Booker leads all active ACC players in career rebounds (922), blocked shots (222) and double-doubles (28).

*Maryland's Greivis Vasquez leads all active ACC players in career assists (644) and points scored (1,749) while UNC’s Larry Drew leads the ACC in assists (6.4).

*Maryland's Vasquez has scored 20 or more points in five straight games and over that span is averaging 24.6 points, 6.6 assists and 6.4 rebounds while Wake Forest's Al-Farouq Aminu has had a double-double in five of his last six games and leads all ACC players with nine double-doubles on the season.

*NC State's Javier Gonzalez has made at least one 3-point field goal in an ACC-best 10 straight games and Duke's Jon "Crazy Face" Scheyer has scored 10 or more points in an ACC-best 25 straight games. Virginia's Sylven Landesberg has scored 10 or more points in 11 straight games and in 36 of 39 career games.

MISC INFORMATION: WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

*There are five ACC teams in the AP top 25 – UNC(7), Duke (9), FSU (13), Georgia Tech (20) and Virginia (21)

*The ACC owns an impressive 85-14 (86 percent) record when playing on home courts this season, and is 15-3 (83 percent) when playing on neutral courts.

*Boston College's Carolyn Swords earned her fourth consecutive double-double and league-leading seventh this season with 17 points and 12 rebounds in a 69-61 victory over Boston University on Jan. 3. The junior center currently leads the ACC in rebounds, averaging 10.4 per game, and field goal percentage with a mark of 66.4.

*Virginia's Monica Wright moved into second place on Virginia's all-time scoring list last week and is currently 45 points away from becoming the school's all-time leading scorer. The senior guard posted 19 points and tied a school-record with 10 steals to lead Virginia to its sixth-consecutive Cavalier Classic title last week.

(Editor's Note: We love this picture of UNC head coach Sylvia Hatchell - a gesture every fan and coach can relate to!)

STOP THE PRESSES: WRESTLING NEWS!!

*Buoyed by eight place-winners, Virginia led all ACC teams with a fifth-place finish in the Southern Scuffle, held Dec. 29-30 at Greensboro, N.C. The Cavaliers recorded 96.5 points, just one point outside of fourth place, held by No. 20 Edinboro. Fourth-ranked Chris Henrich notched UVa's top finish with a runner-up standing at 174 pounds. (Pictured is Mike Salopek who finished third in his division, T.A.H. owes his parents money. Just kidding.)

*Maryland scored a sixth-place finish in the Midlands Championships at Evanston, Ill., its best-ever finish in the prestigious tournament. Alex Krom won the individual championship at 141 pounds The Terps had three wrestlers place, as Steven Bell finished runner-up at 133 pounds and Hudson Taylor took fifth at 197 pounds.

*Three ACC teams remain among the Top 25 in the latest InterMat College rankings, with Maryland holding the No. 7 spot, Virginia at No. 18 and Virginia Tech at No. 24. Duke's Konrad Dudziak continues to hold the No. 1 ranking in the individual heavyweight division, while North Carolina's Scotton (157), Virginia's Henrich (174) and Maryland's Taylor (197) are all ranked fourth in their respective weight classes.

SUSPENDED: FOR BEING REALLY STUPID

We’re talkin’ Hall of Fame stupid, and then grossly and absurdly unrepentant. Down goes, Agent Zero.

Simply put, it was inevitable.

For an expanded take – MAYBE NOW GILBERT WILL UNDERSTAND – click here.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

NOT SCARED, GRAVITY IS MY FRIEND, GRAVITY IS MY FRIEND, GRAVITY IS MY FRIEND...Thomas Morgenstern of Austria takes 1st place during (trial round/final) for the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup event at the 58th Four Hills ski jumping tournament on January 6, 2010 in Bischofshofen, Austria.

(Photo by Philippe Montigny/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

THEY LIKE BIG BUTTS, AND THEY CANNOT LIE. Sumo wrestlers leave after performing 'Dohyo-iri' (ring purification ritual) at the Meiji Jingu Shrine on January 6, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan. It is the custom that Sumo Grand Champions celebrate the New Year by performing the ritual at the Meiji Jingu Shrine.

(Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images AsiaPac)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 3

FUTURE OUTERWEAR. Tennis player Andy Roddick of the USA picks out a Koala bear from the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary for a Koala mink coat he’s having custom made.

Just kidding, it was just a photo op shot on January 5, 2010 in Brisbane, Australia.


(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images AsiaPac)

TOUGH NIGHT IN GEORGIA

Georgia (Bull Dogs, 34,855 students, Athens, GA) 73, NO. 20 GEORGIA TECH 66 – Hey, when it rains it pours.

While the football team was getting roughed up in Miami, the hoopsters were losing to a Bulldog team that lost recently to Wofford.

Ouch.

Trey Thompkins (pictured) scored 20 points, Ricky McPhee hit two key baskets near the end and Georgia pulled off its first big win for new coach Mark Fox.

Georgia Tech (11-3) was trying to match its victory total from last season. Instead,the Yellow Jackets failed to break a long drought at Stegeman Coliseum, where they haven't won since Nov. 26, 1976.

To read more, click here.

VIRGINIA 72, Texas-Pan American (Broncs, 17,34 students, Edinburg, TX) 53 – Mike Scott (below) scored 22 points, Sylven Landesberg (left) had 20 and Virginia sent Texas-Pan American to its 10th consecutive loss.

The Cavaliers (8-4) led by as many as 21 in a sloppy second half and won their fourth in a row for the first time in two seasons. They will take the winning streak into their Atlantic Coast Conference opener at North Carolina State on Saturday afternoon.

Sammy Zeglinski added 13 points and six assists for the Cavaliers, who were 56.6 percent from the field and were 7-for-12 from 3-point territory. Zeglinski made three 3s.

To read more, click here.

BOSTON COLLEGE 89, NJIT (Highlanders, 5,576 students, Newark, NJ) 32 – Junior Rakim Sanders scored 21 points and classmate Joe Trapani netted 18 points to lead Boston College to an 89-32 win over NJIT before 2,169 fans in Conte Forum. Sophomore Reggie Jackson scored 15 points to round out BC's list of double-figure scorers.

The host Eagles jumped out to an early 7-2 lead and withstood an 8-0 NJIT run, before outscoring the visiting Highlanders 38-4 over the final 16 minutes of the first half. BC led 45-14 at the break.

After NJIT registered four consecutive field goals to claim a 10-7 lead with 16:02 remaining in the first half, BC held the visitors scoreless for five minutes while reeling off 16 straight points. Trapani scored eight points in the rally, which left BC with a 23-10 advantage.

To read more, click here.

IOWA’S DEFENSE SHUTS DOWN GEORGIA TECH

Last night, a check of the halftime stats revealed the Ramblin’ Wreck had, in fact, done just that – wrecked.

Georgia Tech had one first down, 46 total yards and no pass completions. It didn’t get much better in the second stanza as the Yellow Jackets finished the game with just 143 yards rushing and nine first downs.

As we say here at T.A.H. – GAME OVER.

The loss drops the ACC to 2-10 all time in BCS bowl games.

Suffice to say, No. 10 Iowa solved Georgie Tech's explosive triple option and Hawkeye’s Ricky Stanzi threw two early touchdown passes for a 24-14 victory Tuesday night in the Orange Bowl (brought to you by FedEx at Landshark Stadium).

The ninth-ranked Yellow Jackets averaged 35 points during the regular season and over 400 yards per game of total offense, but their only score in the first three quarters came on Jerrard Tarrant's 40-yard interception return.

The Yellow Jackets had only 14 three-and-outs during the regular season, fewest in the nation, but they failed to pick up a first down on their first four possessions.

The Hawkeyes (11-2) earned their first Bowl Championship Series bowl win, matched the school record for victories and could claim their highest final ranking since finishing No. 3 in 1960.

"We haven't played many games like that," coach Paul Johnson said. "We couldn't seem to get anything going. We couldn't hit a pass play, couldn't hit a big play."

The Yellow Jackets were first in the nation in time of possession, second in rushing and 11th in scoring. But they sputtered against an Iowa defense that held four bowl-bound teams to 10 points or less during the regular season.

The victory was a sweet one for the Iowa coach, who lost to Southern Cal 38-17 in the Hawkeyes' only other Orange Bowl appearance seven years ago.

For the box score and more, click here.

ACC BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Virginia Tech's Dorenzo Hudson has been named ACC Player of the Week and Wake Forest's C.J. Harris earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors.

Hudson scored a career-high 41 points, had five assists and three rebounds in Saturday's 103-94 overtime win over Big East foe Seton Hall. On the week, the Charlotte, N.C. junior averaged 26.0 points 4.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds as the Hokies ran their record to 12-1 with a pair of non-conference victories.

Hudson's 41-point effort marked just the 10th time in school history that a Virginia Tech player scored at least 41 points and the first time since Bimbo Coles in 1990. In addition, he tied a school record by making 20 free throws (out of 21 attempts). In earning the league's rookie award for the fourth time this season, Harris averaged 11.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and shot 94.4 percent from the free throw line in Wake Forest's three wins last week.

In Wake Forest's 75-60 win at UNC Greensboro on Monday, the Winston-Salem, N.C., native scored 10 points, pulled down three rebounds and dished out two assists. In the Deacons' 74-68 overtime win over Richmond on Thursday, Harris had eight points and two rebounds.

Harris finished off the week with 15 points and three rebounds in Sunday's 96-92 double overtime win over Xavier on.

WOODS POSES FOR VANITY FAIR PHOTOS, FORGETS TO WEAR CLOTHES

Tiger Woods will be featured in the new Vanity Fair which hits newsstands this week. He is the subject of a photo essay shot by famous photographer Annie Leibovitz.

Sources tell T.A.H., when asked why he would pose for the magazine in various stages of undress, the Athlete of the Decade deadpanned, "To get chicks."

That said, it seemed an appropriate time to point out that the Tiger Media Model is now turned fully upside down.

Remember the days when the only thing worthy of reporting was how Tiger played in the (fill-in-th-blank) PGA or USGA tournament. Here's an example of how it used to go:

SOMEWHERE WARM & SUNNY. (AP) - The greatest golfer in the history of the known universe (and perhaps even out in some gassy rock laden unknown one way past Hubble telescope range), Tiger Woods shot an even par 72 yesterday in the Trojans Condom Open Invitational Match Play Rydher (sic) Cup.

Woods, who had a strawberry smoothie and a cup of half-caff coffee for breakfast (and, now we know, a cocktail waitress for dinner and a midnight snack) arrived at the course where he met with caddie Steve "I Don't Know S*** About S*** But Get That Effing Camera Out of My Man's Effing Face Or I’ll Bust Up Your’s" Williams for two hours of practice on the driving range followed by his usual forty-five minutes of perfection seeking, discipline building, image polishing putting on the practice green.

Tiger then proceeded to the first tee, where after his introduction and an appropriate welcome by the adoring throng of Tiger Fans and Tiger Wanna Bees, the Stanford grad then reached into his left pocket and removed a white golf tee with his left hand which was adorned by a Tag-Heuer quality time piece. (What are you made of?) ( Evidently, lots of testosterone!!)

Wearing his trademark first round "not-red" Monday through Saturday shirt, Woods then striped a three wood down the center of the 452 yard par three opening hole. A dodgy lie and a photographer snapping a picture 5,845 yards away in a public park behind a Pizza Hut caused Jack Nicklaus' nemesis to leave his approach shot (163 yards, sixty-degree wedge) just a wee bit short. Somewhere, a butterfly landed on a lily pad while a moose in Alaska simultaneously sneezed, causing the winner of 14 majors to miss the birdie put.

Tiger flinched.

Williams said something audibly profane to everyone within earshot (while thinking that although he had no idea about his boss’s extramarital escapades, he sure did wish he was in on it.)

On the second hole - blah, blah, blah.

Then, somewhere after the jump, maybe Page c28 somewhere near the bottom, the story would conclude as follows.

A.R. Stansbury IV and X.J. Chang both shot new course record 62s to share the lead, six strokes ahead of the nearest competitors we won't bother to name here but who aren't named Tiger Woods. Woods is tied for 19th.

Speaking of Woods, he produced the most wonderful eagle ever witnessed by this long-time golf correspondent on the par 5 14th when he hit a 524 yard approach shot to the ridiculously narrow and hopelessly slick needle-shaped green with a broken croquet mallet he borrowed from an intoxicated Englishman visiting from Sandown…

How things have changed.

Now everybody is dumping on him, even Vanity Fair.

To read more about Tiger from VF, click here.

*Items in italics may not be true.

LOCAL SEMINOLE IDENTIFIED AS FOURTH WHITE HOUSE PARTY CRASHER

According to the Washington Post's Reliable Source authors Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts:

Yet another uninvited guest made it into the White House state dinner made famous by gate-crashers Tareq and Michaele Salahi, the Secret Service announced Monday -- exposing more holes in the security perimeter around President Obama.

Unlike the Salahis, this newly revealed crasher got into the White House with the official delegation from Florida State University's Political Science Department. Many of the key details have not been officially released: how he came to be with the group of diplomats and how close he got to the president and first lady.

But a congressional source, who was granted anonymity to speak about the ongoing investigation into porous security at the White House, identified the man as T.A.H. guest writer and sometimes football columnist John Clark (see photo), a Warrenton, VA attorney whose firm is owed money by…drum roll, please…the Salahis.

The source saw Clark's name in official e-mails and documents pertaining to the Secret Service probe. Clark, age unknown (but that oxygen mask is not a good sign), did not respond Monday to repeated e-mails and phone messages, but on Tuesday he did notify T.A.H. that he "cried like a baby" at the end of the FSU/West Virginia Gator Bowl football game.

Allegedly, The Washington Post (hack newspaper) spoke with him last month regarding a comment he made to a blogger about the ridiculous manner in which his alma mater ended its relationship with the beloved Coach Dadgummit. In that particular brief exchange, he denied knowledge of anything to do with any state dinners.

The Secret Service released its statement following a report by Ronald Kessler, a journalist who writes for Newsmax.com (bogus news web site). Kessler reported that the agency discovered the fourth crasher after examining surveillance video of arriving guests and found one tuxedoed man wearing an oxygen mask who did not match any name on the guest list. (That's some quality detective work there!)

The White House declined to comment about the breach.

*Items in italics may not be true.

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO…

Hmmm…

Apropos to nothing whatsoever…

Fireworks explode around the Burj Dubai, the world's tallest tower, during the opening ceremony for the building in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

A Sikh youth breathes fire as he takes part in a procession from the Sri Akal Takhat at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India.

The procession took place on the eve of the 344th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh.

We've got nothing for you on that.
Cool pictures, you gotta admit.

(Narinder Nanu-AFP/Getty Images and Reuters)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

ANOTHER DUMB IDEA. Racing bicycles and vodka. Brilliant.

Kurt-Asle Arvesen of Norway attends the Team Sky Launch at Millbank Tower on January 4, 2010 in London, England.

(Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images Europe)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

SWEET VICTORY. College of Charleston's Jeremy Simmons celebrates with fans after Charleston defeated No. 9 University of North Carolina 82-79 in overtime Monday night.

(Photo by Mic Smith-AP Photos)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 3

WINNER OF THE “KEEP OUT BOWL.” Undefeated Boise State and undefeated T.C.U. were frozen out of the BCS Championship Game by the powers that be…

The Boise State Broncos mascot is picked up by Broncos fans in the first half of the Fiesta Bowl, against the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs. Boise State won 17-10, proving they were the best of the unwelcome. Plus they have Blue Elvis.

(Photo by Christian Petersen-Getty Images)

CREMINS, CHARLESTON UPSET NO. 9 TAR HEELS

Andrew Goudelock's long three-pointer tied the game with two seconds left in regulation, Donavan Monroe gave College of Charleston the lead for good with a three to start overtime as Bobby Cremins’ Cougars beat No. 9 North Carolina 82-79 on Monday night.

The Tar Heels (11-4) had trailed most of the game, but used a late run to take a 72-61 lead with four minutes remaining. That's when Goudelock and the Cougars (8-6) got going and the UNC offense ground to a near halt.

Goudelock scored the last 8 points in regulation, including the fadeaway triple from about 28 feet with 6'10" Ed Davis in his face to tie the game at 73 each.

Some games are difficult to figure out, some are easy.

Last year, the Tar Heels had trouble defending the three. In their few losses, an opposing guard lit them up for big numbers. This team is currently suffering from the same problem, but it lacks the leadership and firepower to overcome its defensive lapses.

A simple telling statistic is that Charleston outscored UNC from behind the three-point line 39-3. North Carolina outrebounded Charleston 56-36 and was 24 of 34 from the line and that is what kept them in the game. But, the Tar Heels shot 38 percent, were only 1 of 6 on three-pointers and forced just 10 turnovers. Game over.

Ol’ Roy was already miffed about the Heels being outscored 23-2 down the stretch in their last game against Albany, so this late fade was no doubt even more sour tasting.

Overrated North Carolina is 1-4 this season in games not played on their home court. They look more like a top 20 team on many occasions than a top 10 team. (That’s a horrible sentence, but you get the point.) This should come as no big shock for a team that lost 74.8% of its scoring and the overwhelming majority of its poise to the NBA after last seasons’ championship run.

Clearly, North Carolina can and does restock with tremendous raw talent, but it takes a while (and a few punches in the nose like last night) for these kids to realize they aren’t in high school any more where they dominated every night. Saying you understand how hard you have to play and how well you have to execute every night is one thing – learning to do it night after night in a tough environment clearly takes a little longer.

To read more, click here.

SEMINOLES CONTINUE TO ROLL

Deividas Dulkys scored 17 points and No. 18 Florida State coasted past Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Islander, 8,355 students, Corpus Christi, TX) 94-54 on Monday night.

The Seminoles (13-2) hit a season-high 12 3-pointers, led by Dulkys' five, to win their seventh straight game.

Florida State took a 16-2 lead over the Islanders (5-8) less than 4 minutes into the game. Dulkys had eight of those points, including his first two 3-pointers. Florida State hit eight of 12 from beyond the arc in the first half and held the Islanders to 29 percent shooting for the game.

To read more, click here.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

LOOK FAMILIAR? College of Charleston head coach Bobby Cremins reacts to a foul against his team in the second half. Cremins coached at Appalachian State before landing at Georgia Tech where he was the head man for 19 years (1981-2000).

Under Cremins, the Jackets reached the NCAA tournament 10 times and Final Four on one occasion. He has coached CofC since 2006.

(Photo by Robert Willet, Raleigh News & Observer)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

TRAVELLING? Jaryd Harris of Australia dribbles the ball with Saki Tshikoshi of Japan in defense during the Australia v Japan Unicycle Basketball game at the TSB Arena on January 3, 2010 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(Photo by Marty Melville/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 3

NICE UNIS. Auckland Aces during the HRV Twenty20 Cup match between the Northern Knights and the Auckland Aces at Blake Park on January 2, 2010 in Tauranga, New Zealand.

(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

NO. 7 DUKE MAKES AN EARLY STATEMENT

Last February, Clemson throttled duke 74-47. Evidently, the Blue Devils remembered that loss and were determined to do something about it.

“It's something that has stayed with us, obviously," Duke guard Jon “Crazy Face” Scheyer said.

While stressing defense that held Clemson to 12 first half points – not a misprint, that’s TWELVE, Scheyer and Nolan Smith each scored 22 points to help seventh-ranked Duke beat No. 21 Clemson 74-53 Sunday night, extending the Tigers' misery in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Kyle Singler added 16 points for the Blue Devils (12-1), who opened ACC play with a dominating defensive performance that shut down Trevor Booker and the Tigers from the start. Duke led by 18 at the break (30-12), avenging last year's lopsided loss while handing the Tigers their 13th straight defeat at college basketball's notoriously hostile arena.

Demontez Stitt scored 17 points to lead Clemson, which managed an 11-point run to start the second half and briefly get back in the game. But the Blue Devils remained in control thanks to their perimeter pressure.

To read more, click here.

SUNDAY ACC HOOPS

Florida (Gators, 49,679 students, Gainesville, FL) 62, N.C. STATE 61 OT – How many times have we said it? You have to make free throws, and late-game gimmes are particularly critical.

Florida's Chandler Parsons grabbed a missed free throw by N.C .State senior Farnold Degand with 2.6 seconds remaining, took two dribbles, and drained a desperation 75-foot heave to give the visiting Gators an improbable overtime victory Sunday afternoon at the RBC Center.

The Wolfpack (10-4) was in control throughout the overtime period, after junior Javi Gonzalez scored the first five points of the extra period. The Pack led 57-52 after Tracy Smith hit a free throw with less than a minute to play.

To read more, click here.

WAKE FOREST 96, Xavier (Musketeers, 6,500 students, Cincinnati, OH) 92 2OT - Senior Ishmael Smith scored a career-high 28 points, including nine in the two overtime periods, to lead Wake Forest to a victory over Xavier in the inaugural Skip Prosser Classic on Sunday at the Joel Coliseum.

Wake Forest needed extra time to decide the result for the second straight game. It marked the first back to back overtime contests for the Deacs since January 27 and 31, 2001. It was also the first double overtime game for Wake Forest since March 8, 2007, a 114-112 win against Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament.

Wake Forest placed four players in double figures, led by Smith's career high 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including 3-of-3 shooting from the three-point line. Smith also added a game-high nine assists, four rebounds and three blocks. Al-Farouq Aminu notched his ninth double-double of the season, scoring 26 points and bringing down 18 rebounds. Harris tallied 15 points and L.D. Williams added 10.

To read more, click here.

MIAMI 86, Pepperdine (Waves, 3,153 students, Malibu, CA) 63 - James Dews scored 21 points and sank five 3-pointers to lead Miami to its sixth straight win with a victory over Pepperdine on Sunday.

The Hurricanes (14-1) never trailed and used a double-digit scoring run in both halves to pull away in their first visit to Pepperdine (4-12) since December 1969.

Adrian Thomas, who scored 15 points on a career-high five 3-pointers off the bench, began and ended a 10-0 run with 3-pointers to help Miami to a 21-10 lead with 12 minutes to go in the first half. The Hurricanes led 45-36 at halftime.

To read more, click here.

MARYLAND 97, U.N.C. Greensboro (Spartans, 14,792 students, Greensboro, NC) 63
Greivis Vasquez had 24 points and Landon Milbourne added 22 to help Maryland run away from UNC Greensboro on Sunday.

Adrian Bowie and Dino Gregory each finished with 11 points for the Terrapins (9-4), who made nine of their first 10 shots and were never threatened.

Maryland shot 54.5 percent for the game (36-for-66) and put it away with a 21-7 spurt to open the second half. That run put the Terps up 73-41, and the Spartans (2-11) couldn't recover.

To read more, click here.

PICTURE(S) OF THE DAY

YOU’RE FIRED. No, you’re fired. Hey, The Danny fired both of you...

Former Washington Redskin coaches during the now ever-depressing Snyder Era Jim Zorn and Norv Turner shake hands mid-field after the Chargers 23-20 win over the Redskins during their NFL game on January 3, 2010 at Quolcomm Stadium in San Diego, California.

The Redskins fired Zorn Monday morning. They fired Turner a bunch of Monday mornings ago.

(Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

SATURDAY ACC HOOPS

GEORGIA TECH 76, Charlotte (49ers, 24,700 students, Charlotte, NC) - Gani Lawal had 29 points and rescued Georgia Tech from a late collapse as the Yellow Jackets overcame 31 points from Derrio Green in a victory over Charlotte on Saturday night.

After squandering a 15-point second-half lead, Lawal hit several key free throws and had a big block in the final minute and Georgia Tech (11-2) recovered to win its third straight.

Green hit seven 3-pointers in his career-best night for the 49ers (10-3), who trailed by 12 with 8 minutes left before a 17-4 run put them ahead 66-65 with 2:38 left.

To read more, click here.

VIRGINIA TECH 103, Seton Hall (Pirates, 5,245 students, South Orange, NJ ) 94 OT - Dorenzo Hudson (#5) shattered his career high with 41 points in Virginia Tech’s overtime victory over Seton Hall in Cancun, Mexico on Saturday night.

Hudson’s 41 points is the most by a Hokie since Bimbo Coles scored 42 points in a game in 1990. The Hokies played the game without the ACC’s leading scorer, Malcolm Delaney, who missed the game after spraining his left ankle in the Hokies’ win over Longwood on Wednesday.

To read more, click here.

Maine (Black Bears, 12,100 students, Orono, ME ) 52, BOSTON COLLEGE 51 - Junior Joe Trapani scored 17 points to lead Boston College in a loss to Maine before 4,116 fans in Conte Forum. (Are they sure this was ACC basketball? Maine? 4,116 fans? It’s all so unfamiliar…)

Boston College took a 50-42 lead on a Tyler Roche three-point field goal with 6:01 to play, but could muster only one free throw the rest of the way.

Maine (7-5) scored eight straight points to even the score with 1:46 remaining. After BC junior Josh Southern sank one free throw with 1:19 to play, Maine scored the game's final two points on two Sean McNally free throws with 1:10 to play.

To read more, click here.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

FROZEN HOG. A bundled up Arkansas fan watches the Razorbacks play East Carolina in the first quarter of the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010, in Memphis, Tenn.

(AP Photo)

ADIOS, COACH DADGUMMIT

If there was any doubt about what a first class guy Bobby Bowden is, the press conference following the Seminoles victory over West Virginia confirmed his status as not only one of the greatest coaches of all time, but also one of the most stand up guys as well.

The people at FSU who forced Bowden out on thier terms, not his, should be ashamed of themselves.

To see Bowden's post game interview, click here and then click on the video link.