2/23/07

Well, the week's early ACC action gave us some pretty intriguing results. Let's jump right in:

Georgia Tech 75, Wake Forest 61 - The second time around, the Yellow Jackets trounced the Demon Deacons to keep their NCAA hopes alive. This game was crucial for Tech, and they played like it. The problem is, the reason this one was so important is because the next three are going to be very difficult. But for now, Tech is still hanging on.

Virginia Tech 79, Boston College 62 - Three games ago BC was 9-2 and in first place in the ACC. Now, it seems like they are doing everything they can to play themselves out of the tournament. Fortunately for them, it seems like they'll get in no matter what, but this isn't helping their seeding at all. Tech should also have the deal sealed, especially after this win. The losses to NC State aren't pretty, but they are forgivable when the Hokies' performances against higher tier competition is considered.

Miami 68, Virginia 60 - Whoa, this wasn't supposed to happen. The Cavaliers have to be smarting from this one. Once again, we're talking about a team that has probably already secured their spot in the tournament, but they'll want to make everyone forget about this loss as soon as possible.

Maryland 73, Florida State 55 - The Terps have picked the right time to go on a roll, although, since they have two freshman point guards, this probably isn't coincidence. At various points in the ACC season, Maryland has been 0-2, 1-4, 2-5, and 3-6, but a 4 game winning streak has put them over .500 for the first time all season. They need one more win to secure a .500 season, but at this point you pretty much have to consider the Terps, if not a lock for the tournament, certainly as close as they can be. FSU, on the other hand, is in big trouble. A 5 game losing streak is not something you want to suffer this late in the season. However, if they can pull out the last two against NC State and Miami - two of the wekest teams in the conference this year - and score a first round voctory in the ACC tournament, they would be right at 20 wins, which is the unofficial Magic Number when you're talking about ACC teams. The selectors, however, might be hesitant to put a team that went 7-9 in the ACC regular season in the brackets, however, unless they did serious damage in the conference tourney - that is, 2 or 3 wins, as opposed to just one. One thing is certain, though - they need to start winning now.

North Carolina 83, North Carolina State 64 - The Tar Heels made up for the earlier loss to the Wolfpack in a big way. UNC continues to be on track for an NCAA one seed, as two of the teams ranked ahead of them - Ohio State and Wisconsin - still have at least one and possibly 2 match-ups between them left. If they continue to play like this, they'll get that 1 seed, no problem.

Duke 71, Clemson 66 - Duke's 8th conference win locks up a spot in the NCAAs for the Blue Devils. The only question left for them is what seed can they take. With games against Maryland and Carolina upcoming, and then the ACC tournament, there is plenty of opportunity for them to make some upward movement.

Ok, this weekend there will be 5 intraconference ACC games (Duke will be playing St. John's out of conference and Wake Forest will have the weekend off). Starting on Saturday...

2/24, Noon - Miami (11-16, 4-9) @ Virginia Tech (19-8, 9-4) - The Hokies probably locked up a spot in the tournament with their win over BC, if they didn't have the spot locked up already. But the Hokies have been wildly inconsistent this season, beating teams like Carolina (twice!), but losing to teams like NC State (twice!). The last thing they want to do is put any doubts back into people's heads by losing to the Hurricanes. The Hokies won in Miami earlier this season, 92-85.

1:00 - North Carolina State (14-12, 4-9) @ Florida State (17-11, 5-9) - The Seminoles may have sealed their fate by losing to the Terps Wednesday night, but it's not quite throw-in-the-towel time in Talahassee. The Noles could benefit from a very weak bubble and a very strong RPI rating for the ACC and sneak in despite a regular season conference record that can be no better than 7-9. But any chance - ANY chance - they might have at an NCAA bid absolutely hinges on their being able to close out the regular season with victories over the Wolfpack and the Hurricanes. If they lose this game, they can start planning their NIT strategy. This is the only meeting between these two teams in the regular season.

Clemson (19-8, 5-8) @ Boston College (18-9, 9-5) - Like FSU, Clemson finds itself in a very precarious position heading into this weekend. Unlike the Seminoles, the Tigers should control their own destiny - if they win out, they'll have a 22-8, 8-8 record heading into the conference tournament that should be good enough to secure a berth. BC is already guaranteed a conference record of 9-7, but they seem to be stumbling at the wrong time. I would be shocked if they finished over .500 in ACC play and didn't make the tournament, but the smart thing to do would be to win here and remove all doubts. This is probably the game that has the most at stake for both teams involved. Clemson pounded BC at Littlejohn, 74-54.

3:30 - Georgia Tech (18-9, 6-7) @ Virginia (18-8, 9-4) - If the previous game isn't the one with the most at stake for both teams, then this one is. The Yellow Jackets find themselves still alive for a tourney bid, but all three of their final remaining games are doozies, and the need to win two fo them to get to 8-8 on the season. UVA, on the other hand, is coming off an embarassing loss at Miami, and needs to get that taste out of everyone's mouth in a hurry. These two games should be a heck of a lot of fun. This is the only scheduled match-up between these teams.

2/25, 5:30 - North Carolina (24-4, 10-3) @ Maryland (21-7, 7-6) - This might be the most intriguing match-up of the weekend. UNC is, with little doubt, the class of the ACC this year, but Maryland is arguably playing the best ball in the conference right now. During the 4 game winning streak, Maryland has outscored their opponents by 12, 15, 16, and 18 points. So, not only are they winning by a lot, but they are winning by increasingly large margins. But UNC is coming off an 19-point win of their own. Are the Terps, with their young guards, ready for prime time, and ready to lock up their NCAA bid? Is Carolina ready to move closer to locking up that #1 seed? We'll find out Sunday.