Mid-Week Update
Let's start with the most exciting game of the week, in Charlottesville. Virginia Tech looked dead in the water, but managed to erase a 10 point deficit against UVA and win in overtime. This is a big road win for the Hokies, and the kind of game that can propel them to the top half of the league. While for Virginia, it's a bit of a reality check after the strong start.
The other game on Thursday saw Georgia Tech taking it to Wake Forest, blowing open the game in the second half. The Yellow Jackets have really played well in the last few weeks and appear to be one of the three best teams in the conference.
On Wednesday, Duke took care of a pesky Florida State team in Cameron. The game went about as expected. On Tuesday night, North Carolina got a big road win over NC State. The Wolfpack seemed to hit a wall partway through the second half and got steamrolled in the last 10 minutes of the game at home. It's looking more and more like the Duke-NC State game was a fluke. And for UNC, it was an important win to reassert them as still a force to be reckoned with.
Maryland got another blowout win over a lifeless Miami. They are now atop the ACC. And Boston College got a surprising win over Clemson, one in which they were up by a fair amount at halftime and held on. It's becoming more clear that Clemson is not as strong a team as it was in previous years.
It's an interesting weekend. Wake Forest is the only team that is idle. And three teams are playing non-conference games. I won't worry about dissecting Kentucky State at GT or NC Central at NC State -- both will be easy wins for the ACC squads.
Here are the other games:
Saturday:
Duke at Georgetown (1:00 p.m., CBS) - I will be at this great non-conference matchup in DC. Both teams have been very strong this year. I give Georgetown the slight edge at home, but Duke has been hitting their stride after the NC State loss and won't go quietly.
Florida State at BC (3:00 p.m., Raycom) - This is another opportunity for BC to get a home win. Florida State is the better team, but can they prove that? This one should be close.
Sunday:
Virginia Tech at Miami (1:00 p.m., Raycom) - Miami has been on a real slide lately. If they show up, they have a good shot at beating a road-weary Hokie team. But if they play like they have been recently, the Hokies should take it.
Maryland at Clemson (5:30 p.m., FSN) - This is the marquee conference game of the weekend. Maryland has been playing very well, but run into their toughest game in a while with the trip to Littlejohn. Clemson has to win this one, having lost three in a row.
Virginia at UNC (7:45 p.m., FSN) - The Cavaliers are reeling a bit after a tough loss to Virginia Tech. North Carolina got some mojo back in the win over NC State. Expect to see the trends continue here.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Weekend Recap
It was another busy weekend in the ACC. Let's start in Blacksburg, at the game I attended. The Hokies didn't have their best outing, especially in the second half, but managed to make the plays at the end of the game to beat Boston College. BC doesn't have the most talent but plays tough defense and can give people fits. It could have been a bad loss for the Hokies.
Virginia was exposed in a road loss to Wake Forest. The Cavaliers had a horrible shooting percentage, and only managed 15 points in the first half. It will be interesting to see if this game was a fluke or a sign of things to come. Maryland was able to blow out NC State, who returned to being not a very good team.
Duke had a very good road win at Clemson. It was a burst at the beginning of the second half, keyed by Nolan Smith, that proved the difference. Clemson did not get much offense at all outside of Trevor Booker, a bad sign for them. It certainly looks like Duke is the best team in the ACC.
On Sunday, Florida State got a hard-fought win over Georgia Tech, sweeping two games from them this year. The game was back and forth, but FSU was able to make the plays at the end to win. This could be big come March.
There are six conference games coming up this week. Here's a look at what you can expect:
Tuesday:
Clemson at Boston College (7:00 p.m., ESPN2) - This is the second time these teams will meet. BC has played better in its last two games but Clemson is definitely the better team. If Clemson can't win here, they will be on a three game slide.
Miami at Maryland (7:00 p.m., ESPNU) - The Canes have been struggling, while Maryland has been as hot as anyone. Miami needs a good performance here to just stay close with the Terps.
North Carolina at NC State (9:00 p.m., Raycom) - I'm interested to see how these two teams play. UNC is in desperate need of a win, but NC State is not going to lay down at home against their biggest rival.
Wednesday:
Florida State at Duke (9:00 p.m., ESPN) - The Noles have won two in a row but will be hard pressed to win at Duke. Florida State has played well in Cameron in recent years, so they might be able to keep it close.
Thursday:
Virginia Tech at Virginia (7:00 p.m., CSN) - The battle of Virginia features two teams that have been surprises so far this year. The Hokies have the more realistic NCAA Tourney shot, and a road win would be big.
Wake Forest at Georgia Tech (7:00 p.m., FSN) - Wake has been playing well recently, and should give Georgia Tech a good test. The Jackets need to win a game like this if they want to be taken seriously as a contender in the ACC.
It was another busy weekend in the ACC. Let's start in Blacksburg, at the game I attended. The Hokies didn't have their best outing, especially in the second half, but managed to make the plays at the end of the game to beat Boston College. BC doesn't have the most talent but plays tough defense and can give people fits. It could have been a bad loss for the Hokies.
Virginia was exposed in a road loss to Wake Forest. The Cavaliers had a horrible shooting percentage, and only managed 15 points in the first half. It will be interesting to see if this game was a fluke or a sign of things to come. Maryland was able to blow out NC State, who returned to being not a very good team.
Duke had a very good road win at Clemson. It was a burst at the beginning of the second half, keyed by Nolan Smith, that proved the difference. Clemson did not get much offense at all outside of Trevor Booker, a bad sign for them. It certainly looks like Duke is the best team in the ACC.
On Sunday, Florida State got a hard-fought win over Georgia Tech, sweeping two games from them this year. The game was back and forth, but FSU was able to make the plays at the end to win. This could be big come March.
There are six conference games coming up this week. Here's a look at what you can expect:
Tuesday:
Clemson at Boston College (7:00 p.m., ESPN2) - This is the second time these teams will meet. BC has played better in its last two games but Clemson is definitely the better team. If Clemson can't win here, they will be on a three game slide.
Miami at Maryland (7:00 p.m., ESPNU) - The Canes have been struggling, while Maryland has been as hot as anyone. Miami needs a good performance here to just stay close with the Terps.
North Carolina at NC State (9:00 p.m., Raycom) - I'm interested to see how these two teams play. UNC is in desperate need of a win, but NC State is not going to lay down at home against their biggest rival.
Wednesday:
Florida State at Duke (9:00 p.m., ESPN) - The Noles have won two in a row but will be hard pressed to win at Duke. Florida State has played well in Cameron in recent years, so they might be able to keep it close.
Thursday:
Virginia Tech at Virginia (7:00 p.m., CSN) - The battle of Virginia features two teams that have been surprises so far this year. The Hokies have the more realistic NCAA Tourney shot, and a road win would be big.
Wake Forest at Georgia Tech (7:00 p.m., FSN) - Wake has been playing well recently, and should give Georgia Tech a good test. The Jackets need to win a game like this if they want to be taken seriously as a contender in the ACC.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Mid-Week Update
It certainly has been an interesting week in the ACC so far. The headline has to be both UNC and Duke losing on the same day. Let's start with Carolina. I give them a pass for losing at Clemson, because that is a tough place to play. Losing to Georgia Tech at home was a little more questionable. But coming off two straight losses and losing badly to Wake Forest at home? Something's not right here. Carolina has too much talent to be off to the start they are. In the Wake game, they shot 6-26 from the 3 point line. That is way too many 3 point attempts for that team. They appear to be in crisis mode right now and need something to turn it around.
For Duke, this was a head scratcher as well. NC State definitely put together its best effort of the year, and really dominated the game. Duke did not look like a top 10 team offensively or defensively. They need to get Kyle Singler going. I still think this is the best team in the ACC, but performances like this give other teams hope.
On Tuesday, there were two close games. Georgia Tech was able to edge Clemson, getting the benefit of a late foul call to go up by 2. Both teams looked very sloppy down the stretch, not looking like top 25 teams. And Miami had an inexcusable home loss to Boston College. The Canes were up by 17 and looked like they just stopped playing. This was a good confidence builder for the Eagles, and for Miami their surprise start has come to a grinding halt.
One other note: Virginia needed a last second shot by Sylven Landesberg to beat UNC Wilmington at home. Wilmington is one of the worst teams in the CAA, a team Virginia should have beat easily. So was this a letdown or a sign of things to come?
Ok, time to look ahead to the weekend.
Saturday:
BC at Virginia Tech (1:30 p.m., Raycom) - BC did have a nice second half performance against Miami, but I don't think the Hokies will lose this one at home. BC's only chance is to keep it a low scoring game.
Virginia at Wake Forest (4:00 p.m., Raycom) - Wake is coming off a great performance in Chapel Hill. This is the first real big ACC road test for the Cavaliers.
NC State at Maryland (6:00 p.m., ESPN2) - I think the Wolfpack are bound for a letdown after their great performance against Duke. Maryland has been rolling lately.
Duke at Clemson (9:00 p.m., ESPN) - This is the Gameday game, and should be a great matchup. Clemson has already lost at Cameron, and Duke will be looking to put the NC State game out of their minds. If Duke loses this one they will already have 3 conference losses.
Sunday:
Georgia Tech at Florida State (12:00 p.m., Raycom) - This is another rematch of a game that FSU won in Atlanta. Georgia Tech is playing better than they were the first time, but really don't matchup well with the Noles.
It certainly has been an interesting week in the ACC so far. The headline has to be both UNC and Duke losing on the same day. Let's start with Carolina. I give them a pass for losing at Clemson, because that is a tough place to play. Losing to Georgia Tech at home was a little more questionable. But coming off two straight losses and losing badly to Wake Forest at home? Something's not right here. Carolina has too much talent to be off to the start they are. In the Wake game, they shot 6-26 from the 3 point line. That is way too many 3 point attempts for that team. They appear to be in crisis mode right now and need something to turn it around.
For Duke, this was a head scratcher as well. NC State definitely put together its best effort of the year, and really dominated the game. Duke did not look like a top 10 team offensively or defensively. They need to get Kyle Singler going. I still think this is the best team in the ACC, but performances like this give other teams hope.
On Tuesday, there were two close games. Georgia Tech was able to edge Clemson, getting the benefit of a late foul call to go up by 2. Both teams looked very sloppy down the stretch, not looking like top 25 teams. And Miami had an inexcusable home loss to Boston College. The Canes were up by 17 and looked like they just stopped playing. This was a good confidence builder for the Eagles, and for Miami their surprise start has come to a grinding halt.
One other note: Virginia needed a last second shot by Sylven Landesberg to beat UNC Wilmington at home. Wilmington is one of the worst teams in the CAA, a team Virginia should have beat easily. So was this a letdown or a sign of things to come?
Ok, time to look ahead to the weekend.
Saturday:
BC at Virginia Tech (1:30 p.m., Raycom) - BC did have a nice second half performance against Miami, but I don't think the Hokies will lose this one at home. BC's only chance is to keep it a low scoring game.
Virginia at Wake Forest (4:00 p.m., Raycom) - Wake is coming off a great performance in Chapel Hill. This is the first real big ACC road test for the Cavaliers.
NC State at Maryland (6:00 p.m., ESPN2) - I think the Wolfpack are bound for a letdown after their great performance against Duke. Maryland has been rolling lately.
Duke at Clemson (9:00 p.m., ESPN) - This is the Gameday game, and should be a great matchup. Clemson has already lost at Cameron, and Duke will be looking to put the NC State game out of their minds. If Duke loses this one they will already have 3 conference losses.
Sunday:
Georgia Tech at Florida State (12:00 p.m., Raycom) - This is another rematch of a game that FSU won in Atlanta. Georgia Tech is playing better than they were the first time, but really don't matchup well with the Noles.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Weekend Recap
For the second weekend in a row, the big story in the ACC was Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets played a solid first half in Chapel Hill, and then responded when UNC made a run to win. Georgia Tech certainly has the talent -- the question all along has been about using that talent. And right now they are doing a good job of that. For North Carolina, this is a bit of a head scratcher. In their last two games, turnovers have really come back to hurt them. And it seems like they suffer from a lack of leadership as well. They need to get it in gear, or they could be headed for a middle of the pack finish in the conference.
In other weekend action, Virginia continues to be a surprise. They handled Miami to stay undefeated in conference play. The Hurricanes had a horrible week, not competitive in either game against the Virginia schools. Clemson held on to beat NC State, a road win they needed to have. The Pack have shown some fight in the last two games but are still 1-3 with two home losses in conference.
Maryland beat up on a listless Boston College team on the road. BC really looks bad at the moment, seeming disinterested against the Terps. Florida State got a solid home win over Virginia Tech. The defense of the Seminoles returned to really frustrate the Hokies in a low-scoring game. And Duke got a good effort from their big men to beat Wake Forest, proving once again it's tough to win in Cameron.
Some of the ACC schools will be stepping out of conference this week. Virginia, Virginia Tech and Maryland each have home games they should win with ease. Here are the conference games:
Tuesday:
Clemson at Georgia Tech (7:00 p.m., ESPN2) - This is a very good matchup between two teams that are playing well right now. The big question will be how Georgia Tech handles the Clemson press.
BC at Miami (9:00 p.m., FSN) - Boston College needs some sort of spark or their season will turn south in a hurry. Miami is hungry after two straight embarrassing performances.
Wednesday:
Wake Forest at UNC (7:00 p.m., ESPN) - What a tough stretch for Wake, with back to back games on Tobacco Road. UNC will be upset after Saturday's performance, but are they really better than Wake?
Duke at NC State (9:00 p.m., Raycom) - The Wolfpack have had some home success in the past against Duke, but the difference in talent I think is too big here for a home upset.
For the second weekend in a row, the big story in the ACC was Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets played a solid first half in Chapel Hill, and then responded when UNC made a run to win. Georgia Tech certainly has the talent -- the question all along has been about using that talent. And right now they are doing a good job of that. For North Carolina, this is a bit of a head scratcher. In their last two games, turnovers have really come back to hurt them. And it seems like they suffer from a lack of leadership as well. They need to get it in gear, or they could be headed for a middle of the pack finish in the conference.
In other weekend action, Virginia continues to be a surprise. They handled Miami to stay undefeated in conference play. The Hurricanes had a horrible week, not competitive in either game against the Virginia schools. Clemson held on to beat NC State, a road win they needed to have. The Pack have shown some fight in the last two games but are still 1-3 with two home losses in conference.
Maryland beat up on a listless Boston College team on the road. BC really looks bad at the moment, seeming disinterested against the Terps. Florida State got a solid home win over Virginia Tech. The defense of the Seminoles returned to really frustrate the Hokies in a low-scoring game. And Duke got a good effort from their big men to beat Wake Forest, proving once again it's tough to win in Cameron.
Some of the ACC schools will be stepping out of conference this week. Virginia, Virginia Tech and Maryland each have home games they should win with ease. Here are the conference games:
Tuesday:
Clemson at Georgia Tech (7:00 p.m., ESPN2) - This is a very good matchup between two teams that are playing well right now. The big question will be how Georgia Tech handles the Clemson press.
BC at Miami (9:00 p.m., FSN) - Boston College needs some sort of spark or their season will turn south in a hurry. Miami is hungry after two straight embarrassing performances.
Wednesday:
Wake Forest at UNC (7:00 p.m., ESPN) - What a tough stretch for Wake, with back to back games on Tobacco Road. UNC will be upset after Saturday's performance, but are they really better than Wake?
Duke at NC State (9:00 p.m., Raycom) - The Wolfpack have had some home success in the past against Duke, but the difference in talent I think is too big here for a home upset.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Mid-Week Update
Parity has ruled the day thus far in the ACC this year. Every team has played either 2 or 3 conference games. The only team without a loss is Virginia. And every team has at least one win. The biggest story from the weekday games was probably Clemson's handling of North Carolina. The Heels' young players looked very flustered, and could not hold on to the ball. Clemson raced out to a big lead that it never came close to relinquishing.
In other ACC action, Virginia got a nice home win over Georgia Tech. Tony Bennett seems to have already made an impact. Virginia Tech exploded in the first half against Miami, up by as many as 35 points before coasting to an easy win. Duke had little trouble with Boston College.
On Tuesday, NC State got a very surprising road win over FSU. Scott Wood was lighting up the scoreboard for the Pack, but FSU really should not have lost this game. And Wake Forest got a good overtime win over Maryland, with the key bucket coming from Ish Smith. He always seems to deliver in the clutch.
Here's what to look for this weekend:
Saturday:
Clemson at NC State (12:00 p.m., Raycom) - Clemson is coming off an emotional high, and has to be on guard for a letdown. They are better than State but this one could be close.
Georgia Tech at UNC (2:00 p.m., ESPN) - Both teams need a good bounceback performance here. I expect this to be an up-and-down game with a lot of turnovers. UNC should win at home.
Maryland at BC (4:00 p.m., Raycom) - The Terps have been playing better, and BC has not. The Eagles need a home win here or their season could start to spiral down fast.
Virginia Tech at Florida State (6:00 p.m., FSN) - The Hokies are really playing with a lot of confidence and will be looking to pull off a road win. The Seminoles are not a good matchup for them though.
Miami at Virginia (8:00 p.m., ESPNU) - The Cavaliers are atop the ACC and could continue that way after this game. Miami is better than Virginia but needs to prove it in a better performance than what they came up with in Blacksburg.
By the way, how great is it that the ACC game times lined up this way? They staggered the games so you could watch ACC action from Noon to 10 p.m.
Sunday:
Wake Forest at Duke (8:00 p.m., FSN) - Duke is tough to beat in Cameron, and I can see Wake really struggling in this one.
Parity has ruled the day thus far in the ACC this year. Every team has played either 2 or 3 conference games. The only team without a loss is Virginia. And every team has at least one win. The biggest story from the weekday games was probably Clemson's handling of North Carolina. The Heels' young players looked very flustered, and could not hold on to the ball. Clemson raced out to a big lead that it never came close to relinquishing.
In other ACC action, Virginia got a nice home win over Georgia Tech. Tony Bennett seems to have already made an impact. Virginia Tech exploded in the first half against Miami, up by as many as 35 points before coasting to an easy win. Duke had little trouble with Boston College.
On Tuesday, NC State got a very surprising road win over FSU. Scott Wood was lighting up the scoreboard for the Pack, but FSU really should not have lost this game. And Wake Forest got a good overtime win over Maryland, with the key bucket coming from Ish Smith. He always seems to deliver in the clutch.
Here's what to look for this weekend:
Saturday:
Clemson at NC State (12:00 p.m., Raycom) - Clemson is coming off an emotional high, and has to be on guard for a letdown. They are better than State but this one could be close.
Georgia Tech at UNC (2:00 p.m., ESPN) - Both teams need a good bounceback performance here. I expect this to be an up-and-down game with a lot of turnovers. UNC should win at home.
Maryland at BC (4:00 p.m., Raycom) - The Terps have been playing better, and BC has not. The Eagles need a home win here or their season could start to spiral down fast.
Virginia Tech at Florida State (6:00 p.m., FSN) - The Hokies are really playing with a lot of confidence and will be looking to pull off a road win. The Seminoles are not a good matchup for them though.
Miami at Virginia (8:00 p.m., ESPNU) - The Cavaliers are atop the ACC and could continue that way after this game. Miami is better than Virginia but needs to prove it in a better performance than what they came up with in Blacksburg.
By the way, how great is it that the ACC game times lined up this way? They staggered the games so you could watch ACC action from Noon to 10 p.m.
Sunday:
Wake Forest at Duke (8:00 p.m., FSN) - Duke is tough to beat in Cameron, and I can see Wake really struggling in this one.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Weekend Recap
The biggest story of the weekend in the ACC was Georgia Tech's rather surprising win over Duke. The Blue Devils had come in looking pretty much unbeatable, but did not put together a very good effort in Atlanta. Give Georgia Tech credit -- they needed a big home win and got it. They may finish in the top half of the ACC after all.
In other action, Virginia got a good road win over NC State. The clock is ticking big time for Sidney Lowe - the Wolfpack are reeling right now. Wake Forest came up just a bit short against Miami. The Hurricanes don't have as much talent as the Deacs but managed to scrap together enough offense to win. Clemson took care of Boston College pretty easily, a good bounceback for them.
In Sunday action, North Carolina got back to their winning ways over Virginia Tech. The Hokies looked good at halftime, but the Tar Heels picked up the intensity in the second half. I think they may struggle some on the road but should still finish 2nd in the league. And Maryland got a solid win over Florida State. The Terps finally looked like the team many expected them to be.
Conference play continues during the week, with six more ACC games. Here's what to expect:
Tuesday:
NC State at FSU (7:00 p.m., FSN) - What can you say here. I would be very surprised if NC State got a road win.
Maryland at Wake Forest (8:00 p.m., Raycom) - Should be a great matchup. Wake needs to win this one to keep pace with the other top teams in the conference.
Wednesday:
BC at Duke (7:00 p.m., ESPN) - Coming off a loss, I expect a mad Blue Devils team. Bad news for Boston College.
Georgia Tech at UVA (7:00 p.m.) - This is a big test for the Yellow Jackets. Can they continue the momentum from a big win with a road victory over an inferior team?
Miami at VT (7:00 p.m.) - These two teams always play interesting games. If Malcolm Delaney is healthy and effective the Hokies should win at home.
UNC at Clemson (9:00 p.m., ESPN) - Chapel Hill has been a house of horrors for Clemson. They are much better at Littlejohn, however. This should be the best ACC game of the week.
The biggest story of the weekend in the ACC was Georgia Tech's rather surprising win over Duke. The Blue Devils had come in looking pretty much unbeatable, but did not put together a very good effort in Atlanta. Give Georgia Tech credit -- they needed a big home win and got it. They may finish in the top half of the ACC after all.
In other action, Virginia got a good road win over NC State. The clock is ticking big time for Sidney Lowe - the Wolfpack are reeling right now. Wake Forest came up just a bit short against Miami. The Hurricanes don't have as much talent as the Deacs but managed to scrap together enough offense to win. Clemson took care of Boston College pretty easily, a good bounceback for them.
In Sunday action, North Carolina got back to their winning ways over Virginia Tech. The Hokies looked good at halftime, but the Tar Heels picked up the intensity in the second half. I think they may struggle some on the road but should still finish 2nd in the league. And Maryland got a solid win over Florida State. The Terps finally looked like the team many expected them to be.
Conference play continues during the week, with six more ACC games. Here's what to expect:
Tuesday:
NC State at FSU (7:00 p.m., FSN) - What can you say here. I would be very surprised if NC State got a road win.
Maryland at Wake Forest (8:00 p.m., Raycom) - Should be a great matchup. Wake needs to win this one to keep pace with the other top teams in the conference.
Wednesday:
BC at Duke (7:00 p.m., ESPN) - Coming off a loss, I expect a mad Blue Devils team. Bad news for Boston College.
Georgia Tech at UVA (7:00 p.m.) - This is a big test for the Yellow Jackets. Can they continue the momentum from a big win with a road victory over an inferior team?
Miami at VT (7:00 p.m.) - These two teams always play interesting games. If Malcolm Delaney is healthy and effective the Hokies should win at home.
UNC at Clemson (9:00 p.m., ESPN) - Chapel Hill has been a house of horrors for Clemson. They are much better at Littlejohn, however. This should be the best ACC game of the week.
Friday, January 08, 2010
Previewing the First Weekend of ACC Conference Games
After a long non-conference season it's finally here: ACC conference play. There's nothing better. First a quick look back to the week: not a lot of note. The only mild surprise was Georgia Tech losing on the road at Georgia, a place they have a hard time winning. I tend to forgive the Jackets a bit since it was a rivalry game but their margin for error is declining.
So now to the weekend: 6 big conference games. Here's what you can expect:
Saturday:
Virginia at NC State (12:00 pm, Raycom) - Whoever wins this game will have a leg up in the race for the cellar. Conference wins will be hard to come by for both. NC State needs to win at home.
Duke at Georgia Tech (2:00 pm, ESPN) - Duke has really been rolling, and appears likely to win this one on the road in Atlanta. Georgia Tech is staring at an 0-2 conference hole, with both of those losses at home, unless they can pull the upset.
BC at Clemson (4:00 pm, Raycom) - BC has had a rough stretch, and it will be tough to win a road game against a Clemson team who will be pissed off after being blown out at Duke. If BC can keep it close, they have a chance.
Wake Forest at Miami (6:00 pm, ESPNU) - This is a very interesting matchup. I like the way Wake has been playing, and Miami has been off to a great start. I have a feeling the more experienced Deacs pull out a road win.
Sunday:
Florida State at Maryland (5:30 pm, FSN) - The Terps have been disappointing so far, but have a chance to put together a good win over a Seminole team that has been playing great. Should be a low scoring affair.
Virginia Tech at UNC (7:45 pm, FSN) - The story in this one is injuries. No Marcus Ginyard, maybe no Will Graves for UNC. Maybe no Malcolm Delaney for VT. If Tech's young players can keep their composure they have a shot.
After a long non-conference season it's finally here: ACC conference play. There's nothing better. First a quick look back to the week: not a lot of note. The only mild surprise was Georgia Tech losing on the road at Georgia, a place they have a hard time winning. I tend to forgive the Jackets a bit since it was a rivalry game but their margin for error is declining.
So now to the weekend: 6 big conference games. Here's what you can expect:
Saturday:
Virginia at NC State (12:00 pm, Raycom) - Whoever wins this game will have a leg up in the race for the cellar. Conference wins will be hard to come by for both. NC State needs to win at home.
Duke at Georgia Tech (2:00 pm, ESPN) - Duke has really been rolling, and appears likely to win this one on the road in Atlanta. Georgia Tech is staring at an 0-2 conference hole, with both of those losses at home, unless they can pull the upset.
BC at Clemson (4:00 pm, Raycom) - BC has had a rough stretch, and it will be tough to win a road game against a Clemson team who will be pissed off after being blown out at Duke. If BC can keep it close, they have a chance.
Wake Forest at Miami (6:00 pm, ESPNU) - This is a very interesting matchup. I like the way Wake has been playing, and Miami has been off to a great start. I have a feeling the more experienced Deacs pull out a road win.
Sunday:
Florida State at Maryland (5:30 pm, FSN) - The Terps have been disappointing so far, but have a chance to put together a good win over a Seminole team that has been playing great. Should be a low scoring affair.
Virginia Tech at UNC (7:45 pm, FSN) - The story in this one is injuries. No Marcus Ginyard, maybe no Will Graves for UNC. Maybe no Malcolm Delaney for VT. If Tech's young players can keep their composure they have a shot.
Monday, January 04, 2010
Weekend Recap
A lot to talk about from this past weekend. Let's start down in Mexico, where on Saturday night, the Hokies got a huge win in overtime over Seton Hall. Tech really showed a lot of grit and determination in a win without their best player, Malcolm Delaney. I think this team has the most chemistry since Seth Greenberg came to VT, and could finish as high as 3rd or 4th in the ACC.
The heartbreaker of the weekend goes to NC State, who lost on a 3/4 court shot to Florida at home in overtime. State had the game won in the last minute, but missed some free throws. You could tell the players and coaches looked totally stunned at the end of this game. This is another tough loss for the Wolfpack, and we'll see if they can respond.
Boston College somehow lost a game at home to Maine, scoring fewer than 20 points in the second half. After starting the season strong, the Eagles have faltered recently and look more and more like they'll end up in the bottom half of the league.
Wake had a solid double overtime win over Xavier. I think Wake is actually better off without Jeff Teague, as Ish Smith is a better playmaker and clutch performer at the point. And Duke looked solid defensively in beating up on Clemson. The Tigers have to be embarrassed with their first half offensive performance.
Just a few minutes ago (at the time of this posting), UNC lost an overtime game to Bobby Cremins' Charleston Cougars. Frankly, UNC gave this game away. They were up late in regulation, let Charleston come back and tie, and looked a bit shell-shocked in regulation. This is really a game the Tar Heels should not lose, although they get somewhat of a pass because Graves and Ginyard were out.
This week marks the first real week of conference play. I'll look ahead to the weekend later in the week. During the week, look to a few games, including Georgia Tech at Georgia. The Jackets should win but who knows what will happen in this rivalry game. Duke travels to Chicago to take on a decent Iowa State team. And watch out for Holy Cross at NC State. The Pack might be reeling after the buzzer-beater.
A lot to talk about from this past weekend. Let's start down in Mexico, where on Saturday night, the Hokies got a huge win in overtime over Seton Hall. Tech really showed a lot of grit and determination in a win without their best player, Malcolm Delaney. I think this team has the most chemistry since Seth Greenberg came to VT, and could finish as high as 3rd or 4th in the ACC.
The heartbreaker of the weekend goes to NC State, who lost on a 3/4 court shot to Florida at home in overtime. State had the game won in the last minute, but missed some free throws. You could tell the players and coaches looked totally stunned at the end of this game. This is another tough loss for the Wolfpack, and we'll see if they can respond.
Boston College somehow lost a game at home to Maine, scoring fewer than 20 points in the second half. After starting the season strong, the Eagles have faltered recently and look more and more like they'll end up in the bottom half of the league.
Wake had a solid double overtime win over Xavier. I think Wake is actually better off without Jeff Teague, as Ish Smith is a better playmaker and clutch performer at the point. And Duke looked solid defensively in beating up on Clemson. The Tigers have to be embarrassed with their first half offensive performance.
Just a few minutes ago (at the time of this posting), UNC lost an overtime game to Bobby Cremins' Charleston Cougars. Frankly, UNC gave this game away. They were up late in regulation, let Charleston come back and tie, and looked a bit shell-shocked in regulation. This is really a game the Tar Heels should not lose, although they get somewhat of a pass because Graves and Ginyard were out.
This week marks the first real week of conference play. I'll look ahead to the weekend later in the week. During the week, look to a few games, including Georgia Tech at Georgia. The Jackets should win but who knows what will happen in this rivalry game. Duke travels to Chicago to take on a decent Iowa State team. And watch out for Holy Cross at NC State. The Pack might be reeling after the buzzer-beater.
Friday, January 01, 2010
Mid-Week Update
It's been an interesting week so far in the ACC. And with about a week left until conference play really gets going, there are a lot of big games coming up this weekend. First, a quick look back at this past week's games:
The only game an ACC team lost this week was Maryland losing at home to William and Mary. The Tribe has had a very good year, so losing to them isn't a disaster, but the Terps found themselves significantly behind in the second half, at home. They have got to be the biggest disappointment of the year so far in the ACC and need to get it together. In other action, Wake Forest got a solid win in overtime in a back and forth game over Richmond. The Spiders had already beaten Florida on the road. And Virginia got a good home win over UAB. I don't think the Cavs were favored in that game, and this is the biggest win of the year for them so far.
The other game that got my attention was Clemson only winning by 3 points at home against South Carolina State. The Tigers don't seem to be quite as strong in the early going this year.
So what's on tap for this first weekend of 2010? Here are the big games:
Saturday:
Georgia Tech at Charlotte (7:00 p.m.) - The Jackets should win this one but Charlotte has a good record thus far this year and will be at home.
Seton Hall vs. Virginia Tech in Cancun (7:30 p.m.) - The Hokies have been rolling, but Malcolm Delaney's injury has to be a serious concern. He will not play in this game, making the Pirates the favorites.
Sunday:
Florida at NC State (3:00 p.m.) - I love this matchup. Florida overachieved at the start but has cooled recently. The Wolfpack need a statement win like this.
Xavier at Wake Forest (5:30 p.m.) - Coming off a tough win over Richmond, Xavier presents a really tough home test. The Deacs should be slightly favored in this one.
Clemson at Duke (7:45 p.m.) - It's always fun when these two teams get together. Duke has looked unstoppable recently. If Clemson can keep it close in the first half, they have a chance at the upset.
It's been an interesting week so far in the ACC. And with about a week left until conference play really gets going, there are a lot of big games coming up this weekend. First, a quick look back at this past week's games:
The only game an ACC team lost this week was Maryland losing at home to William and Mary. The Tribe has had a very good year, so losing to them isn't a disaster, but the Terps found themselves significantly behind in the second half, at home. They have got to be the biggest disappointment of the year so far in the ACC and need to get it together. In other action, Wake Forest got a solid win in overtime in a back and forth game over Richmond. The Spiders had already beaten Florida on the road. And Virginia got a good home win over UAB. I don't think the Cavs were favored in that game, and this is the biggest win of the year for them so far.
The other game that got my attention was Clemson only winning by 3 points at home against South Carolina State. The Tigers don't seem to be quite as strong in the early going this year.
So what's on tap for this first weekend of 2010? Here are the big games:
Saturday:
Georgia Tech at Charlotte (7:00 p.m.) - The Jackets should win this one but Charlotte has a good record thus far this year and will be at home.
Seton Hall vs. Virginia Tech in Cancun (7:30 p.m.) - The Hokies have been rolling, but Malcolm Delaney's injury has to be a serious concern. He will not play in this game, making the Pirates the favorites.
Sunday:
Florida at NC State (3:00 p.m.) - I love this matchup. Florida overachieved at the start but has cooled recently. The Wolfpack need a statement win like this.
Xavier at Wake Forest (5:30 p.m.) - Coming off a tough win over Richmond, Xavier presents a really tough home test. The Deacs should be slightly favored in this one.
Clemson at Duke (7:45 p.m.) - It's always fun when these two teams get together. Duke has looked unstoppable recently. If Clemson can keep it close in the first half, they have a chance at the upset.
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