Boston College Upsets Syracuse, What This Means for the ACC and National Rankings

Before Wednesday night's game against Boston College, Syracuse sat atop the ACC and the top 25, but a massive upset loss is likely to change both.

Boston College is 7-19 overall and 3-10 in the ACC this year and headed virtually nowhere after the regular season. Syracuse won their fist 25 games this year and all of a sudden have to fight to reclaim the conference lead.

"It was an emotional game for us," BC coach Steve Donahue told reporters after the game, according to the Associated Press. "It's been incredible for these guys to persevere. We've played well in a lot of games."

Donahue had never won on the road against Syracuse in eight games, as BC outshot Syracuse in every way. BC registered a .429 field goal percentage and Syracuse finished with .323. BC made 11 of 22 three-pointers and Syracuse only attempted 12 and made just two. Syracuse attempted 24 free throws, but made 17, whereas BC made 9-10 from the line.

BC was also playing just after the Tuesday funeral of basketball media contact and sports information assistant Dick Kelley. He had served his position for several years and recently lost a two-year battle with ALS.

"The patch on our chests, toward the end of the game, it was like, 'We can't be denied. DK is looking down on us. He's got us,'" forward Ryan Anderson told reporters. "It's real emotional. It's really going to set in in a couple of hours."

Wichita State is now the only unbeaten team in Division I men's basketball after their defeat of Chicago Wednesday night. Since second-overall Florida also won Wednesday night, the Gators and Shockers, ranked third, could stand to move up one place. The loss will almost certainly knock Syracuse off the top spot, but it is unclear if Wichita State will move into second. Playing in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Shockers have not seen a single ranked opponent this year.

The loss also gives Virginia the edge in the ACC since they are 13-1 in conference play and Syracuse is now 12-1. Syracuse still has both Virginia and third-place ACC team Duke (5th overall) left to play this season.