Mid-Week Update
Probably the most significant game of the week so far, in terms of the top of the standings, was Maryland coming from behind to beat Clemson. The Terps found themselves in a hole at home early, but were able to come back and win.
Florida State went on the road and took it right to UNC, making 3 pointer after 3 pointer in the first half. The Tar Heels were in a huge hole, and were able to dig themselves somewhat out, but in the end it was another bad loss in a season of bad losses. Speaking of bad losses, the Hokies had one in Chestnut Hill. Boston College took it to Tech from the start, and ended up winning by 20. Not a good effort from the Hokies.
Miami was able to break open a close game at the half to top Virginia. The Cavaliers' free fall in the standings continues. And Duke won a non-conference game somewhat comfortably, over Tulsa.
There are some big games this weekend. Let's take a look:
Saturday:
Boston College at Georgia Tech (12:00 p.m., FSN) - The Yellow Jackets need to win this one at home to make sure they are on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. BC has been playing better in their last couple games.
North Carolina at Wake Forest (2:00 p.m., CBS) - Another bad CBS matchup. UNC has not been very competitive lately, and with Wake Forest coming off a bad loss to NC State, they will be fired up to beat the Tar Heels.
Maryland at Virginia Tech (4:00 p.m., Raycom) - The game of the weekend is in Blacksburg, where the Hokies desperately need to get the bad taste out of their mouths from the BC game. I think they will come fired up against a hot Maryland team.
NC State at Miami (4:00 p.m., Raycom) - Two teams at the bottom of the standings will be fighting it out in Coral Gables. I'll go with the home team here.
Sunday:
Clemson at Florida State (5:30 p.m., FSN) - Another good game, between two teams that will want to win this one to put them firmly in the NCAA field. FSU should be favored at home.
Duke at Virginia (7:45 p.m., FSN) - The Cavaliers will hope a home game against the hated Blue Devils will get them fired up and playing better. Not sure if that will happen.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Weekend Recap
Duke now has a firm hold on first place in the ACC, thanks to their win last night over Virginia Tech. The Hokies held it together pretty well, better than most teams at Cameron, but Duke was able to hit some clutch shots down the stretch to get the win. Both teams shot a poor percentage, but rebounding was the difference, as Brian Zoubek was able to pull down 16 boards.
The most exciting finish of the weekend (and probably the season) was Maryland's buzzer-beater over Georgia Tech. Cliff Tucker made a contested 3 as time expired to give the Terps the win. The lead changed hands several times in the final minute. This has to be a devastating loss for Georgia Tech, which finally played well on the road, but still couldn't win. Derrick Favors had his breakout game for the Yellow Jackets.
Boston College beat North Carolina in a pretty meaningless game. NC State got a pretty surprising home win against Wake Forest. The Deacons did not bounce back well from their disappointing loss in Blacksburg, only scoring 54 points against a bad Wolfpack defense. You have to wonder if Wake is starting to have a slide like they did last year. And Clemson picked up an easy win at home against Virginia. This is now three blowout losses in a row for the Cavaliers.
Here's what's ahead this week in the ACC:
Tuesday:
Virginia at Miami (7:00 p.m., FSN) - This game doesn't have a whole lot of meaning, except from a pride standpoint. Virginia wants to stop this bad momentum they have, while Miami will look to get another nice home win.
Wednesday:
Florida State at North Carolina (7:00 p.m., ESPN) - This is an interesting game for the Seminoles. They can really help their NCAA Tournament position with a road win here. With the talent they have, you can't count out the Tar Heels though.
Virginia Tech at Boston College (7:00 p.m., ESPNU) - This is another one where the road team could use a win over an inferior home opponent. Tech is better than BC, but you have to worry about a letdown after the emotional Duke game.
Clemson at Maryland (9:00 p.m., Raycom) - The best game of the week from a matchup standpoint. Maryland has been tough to beat at home, but lost a pretty ugly game at Clemson earlier this year.
Thursday:
Tulsa at Duke (7:00 p.m., ESPN2) - This is an odd matchup for this time of year. Tulsa traditionally has had good teams but I don't expect them to hang close in Cameron.
Duke now has a firm hold on first place in the ACC, thanks to their win last night over Virginia Tech. The Hokies held it together pretty well, better than most teams at Cameron, but Duke was able to hit some clutch shots down the stretch to get the win. Both teams shot a poor percentage, but rebounding was the difference, as Brian Zoubek was able to pull down 16 boards.
The most exciting finish of the weekend (and probably the season) was Maryland's buzzer-beater over Georgia Tech. Cliff Tucker made a contested 3 as time expired to give the Terps the win. The lead changed hands several times in the final minute. This has to be a devastating loss for Georgia Tech, which finally played well on the road, but still couldn't win. Derrick Favors had his breakout game for the Yellow Jackets.
Boston College beat North Carolina in a pretty meaningless game. NC State got a pretty surprising home win against Wake Forest. The Deacons did not bounce back well from their disappointing loss in Blacksburg, only scoring 54 points against a bad Wolfpack defense. You have to wonder if Wake is starting to have a slide like they did last year. And Clemson picked up an easy win at home against Virginia. This is now three blowout losses in a row for the Cavaliers.
Here's what's ahead this week in the ACC:
Tuesday:
Virginia at Miami (7:00 p.m., FSN) - This game doesn't have a whole lot of meaning, except from a pride standpoint. Virginia wants to stop this bad momentum they have, while Miami will look to get another nice home win.
Wednesday:
Florida State at North Carolina (7:00 p.m., ESPN) - This is an interesting game for the Seminoles. They can really help their NCAA Tournament position with a road win here. With the talent they have, you can't count out the Tar Heels though.
Virginia Tech at Boston College (7:00 p.m., ESPNU) - This is another one where the road team could use a win over an inferior home opponent. Tech is better than BC, but you have to worry about a letdown after the emotional Duke game.
Clemson at Maryland (9:00 p.m., Raycom) - The best game of the week from a matchup standpoint. Maryland has been tough to beat at home, but lost a pretty ugly game at Clemson earlier this year.
Thursday:
Tulsa at Duke (7:00 p.m., ESPN2) - This is an odd matchup for this time of year. Tulsa traditionally has had good teams but I don't expect them to hang close in Cameron.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Mid-Week Update
The most notable game of the week was in Blacksburg, where the Hokies took another step towards a great season with a nice come from behind win over Wake Forest. The Deacons played very well for the first 30 minutes or so, and seemed to be in control, but like Tech has done all year, they were able to claw back and win a close game at the end.
It was a good week for Maryland and a bad one for Virginia. The Terps blew out the Cavaliers in their makeup game, and then came from behind in Raleigh to escape a bad loss against NC State. They really bounced back well from that loss in Durham. After their blowout loss to Maryland, the Cavaliers got blown out at home by Florida State. It seems like Virginia has run out of gas a bit, and it's going to be hard to find some wins in the rest of the schedule.
North Carolina continued their struggling play, at one point down by almost 30 points to Georgia Tech on the road. This was the kind of win the Yellow Jackets needed after a tough stretch. And Duke got a nice road win at Miami, after being down by 12 at halftime. The Devils hit their shot down the stretch.
Here's what's in store for the weekend:
Saturday:
North Carolina at Boston College (12:00 p.m., CBS) - This game is being televised by CBS. Yikes. Means virtually nothing to both teams.
Georgia Tech at Maryland (2:00 p.m., Raycom) - It will be interesting to see how Georgia Tech comes out in this game. At some point, they have to have some success on the road. A win at Maryland would be a good start.
Wake Forest at NC State (2:00 p.m., Raycom) - Despite the loss in Blacksburg, Wake has played good basketball lately. NC State has not.
Virginia at Clemson (4:00 p.m., FSN) - The Cavaliers have hit a rough patch and it will be tough for them to bounce back in Littlejohn. Clemson still has a little to prove to get off the bubble.
Sunday:
Virginia Tech at Duke (7:45 p.m., FSN) - This is a matchup between #1 and #2 in the conference. It will be interesting to see if the Hokies can stay with Duke. I don't expect them to win, but a close loss would be a moral victory.
The most notable game of the week was in Blacksburg, where the Hokies took another step towards a great season with a nice come from behind win over Wake Forest. The Deacons played very well for the first 30 minutes or so, and seemed to be in control, but like Tech has done all year, they were able to claw back and win a close game at the end.
It was a good week for Maryland and a bad one for Virginia. The Terps blew out the Cavaliers in their makeup game, and then came from behind in Raleigh to escape a bad loss against NC State. They really bounced back well from that loss in Durham. After their blowout loss to Maryland, the Cavaliers got blown out at home by Florida State. It seems like Virginia has run out of gas a bit, and it's going to be hard to find some wins in the rest of the schedule.
North Carolina continued their struggling play, at one point down by almost 30 points to Georgia Tech on the road. This was the kind of win the Yellow Jackets needed after a tough stretch. And Duke got a nice road win at Miami, after being down by 12 at halftime. The Devils hit their shot down the stretch.
Here's what's in store for the weekend:
Saturday:
North Carolina at Boston College (12:00 p.m., CBS) - This game is being televised by CBS. Yikes. Means virtually nothing to both teams.
Georgia Tech at Maryland (2:00 p.m., Raycom) - It will be interesting to see how Georgia Tech comes out in this game. At some point, they have to have some success on the road. A win at Maryland would be a good start.
Wake Forest at NC State (2:00 p.m., Raycom) - Despite the loss in Blacksburg, Wake has played good basketball lately. NC State has not.
Virginia at Clemson (4:00 p.m., FSN) - The Cavaliers have hit a rough patch and it will be tough for them to bounce back in Littlejohn. Clemson still has a little to prove to get off the bubble.
Sunday:
Virginia Tech at Duke (7:45 p.m., FSN) - This is a matchup between #1 and #2 in the conference. It will be interesting to see if the Hokies can stay with Duke. I don't expect them to win, but a close loss would be a moral victory.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Weekend Recap
Another weekend is in the books, with some compelling games. Let's start with the marquee game of the week, Duke beating up on Maryland. The Terps didn't seem ready to play in this one. They did not play sound defense and couldn't hit shots, a bad combination that let Duke get out to a fairly substantial lead. This has to be a disheartening performance for Maryland.
I was on press row for the best game of the weekend, Virginia Tech winning in the final minute at home over rival Virginia. The first half was not pretty, with very little offense. Things opened up a bit in the second half, and Jeff Allen made some huge plays down the stretch to give the Hokies the victory.
Wake Forest got a nice win at home over Georgia Tech. The game was close most of the way, but the Deacons had a big run at the end of the game to win by double digits. Georgia Tech's road woes continue. Clemson got a badly-needed win over Miami in another game that was close most of the way.
Florida State broke open a tight game in the second half and cruised over Boston College. The Eagles only managed 47 points against the Seminoles' tough defense. And Carolina beat NC State in a game that looked like it was between two struggling teams.
This week has an interesting quirk, with extra games for Virginia and Maryland since their game was postponed last week. Here's what's on tap:
Monday:
Virginia at Maryland (8:00 p.m.) - This rescheduled game comes at a time where both teams are coming off disappointing losses. I would think Maryland would bounce back and win at home, but Virginia always seems to play them tough.
Tuesday:
Wake Forest at Virginia Tech (7:00 p.m., ESPN2) - This has shaped up to be a huge game between two teams near the top of the standings. If Tech can hold serve at home, they will really boost their NCAA Tournament chances.
North Carolina at Georgia Tech (9:00 p.m., Raycom) - Carolina has to have gotten some good feelings back with their win over NC State, but heading to Atlanta will be a much more difficult chore. Georgia Tech should win comfortably.
Wednesday:
Duke at Miami (7:00 p.m., ESPN) - Miami has had some good wins at home, but can they pull one off against the top team in the conference? I have to believe Duke will be too much for the Canes.
Florida State at Virginia (7:00 p.m., ESPNU) - A tough task for UVA to come off short rest back to Charlottesville and play a Florida State team that needs wins. I have a feeling this will be a big game for the Seminoles' NCAA Tournament hopes.
Maryland at NC State (9:00 p.m., FSN) - This could be a trap game for Maryland, coming off the game against Virginia. They are certainly better than NC State though, and should win on the road.
Another weekend is in the books, with some compelling games. Let's start with the marquee game of the week, Duke beating up on Maryland. The Terps didn't seem ready to play in this one. They did not play sound defense and couldn't hit shots, a bad combination that let Duke get out to a fairly substantial lead. This has to be a disheartening performance for Maryland.
I was on press row for the best game of the weekend, Virginia Tech winning in the final minute at home over rival Virginia. The first half was not pretty, with very little offense. Things opened up a bit in the second half, and Jeff Allen made some huge plays down the stretch to give the Hokies the victory.
Wake Forest got a nice win at home over Georgia Tech. The game was close most of the way, but the Deacons had a big run at the end of the game to win by double digits. Georgia Tech's road woes continue. Clemson got a badly-needed win over Miami in another game that was close most of the way.
Florida State broke open a tight game in the second half and cruised over Boston College. The Eagles only managed 47 points against the Seminoles' tough defense. And Carolina beat NC State in a game that looked like it was between two struggling teams.
This week has an interesting quirk, with extra games for Virginia and Maryland since their game was postponed last week. Here's what's on tap:
Monday:
Virginia at Maryland (8:00 p.m.) - This rescheduled game comes at a time where both teams are coming off disappointing losses. I would think Maryland would bounce back and win at home, but Virginia always seems to play them tough.
Tuesday:
Wake Forest at Virginia Tech (7:00 p.m., ESPN2) - This has shaped up to be a huge game between two teams near the top of the standings. If Tech can hold serve at home, they will really boost their NCAA Tournament chances.
North Carolina at Georgia Tech (9:00 p.m., Raycom) - Carolina has to have gotten some good feelings back with their win over NC State, but heading to Atlanta will be a much more difficult chore. Georgia Tech should win comfortably.
Wednesday:
Duke at Miami (7:00 p.m., ESPN) - Miami has had some good wins at home, but can they pull one off against the top team in the conference? I have to believe Duke will be too much for the Canes.
Florida State at Virginia (7:00 p.m., ESPNU) - A tough task for UVA to come off short rest back to Charlottesville and play a Florida State team that needs wins. I have a feeling this will be a big game for the Seminoles' NCAA Tournament hopes.
Maryland at NC State (9:00 p.m., FSN) - This could be a trap game for Maryland, coming off the game against Virginia. They are certainly better than NC State though, and should win on the road.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Mid-Week Update
It was another week of exciting games in the ACC. First, we start with a game that wasn't played. Because of a snowstorm, the game between Virginia and Maryland was postponed. It will be made up on Monday.
Obviously the marquee game of the week was Duke and Carolina. In a low scoring game, the Tar Heels were able to keep it close thanks to some cold shooting from Duke. But in the end, Duke made key baskets and UNC couldn't do anything to stop the run. It's pretty obvious that Roy Williams is very frustrated with his team. I wonder if they've even packed it in this season.
The only other game that was real close was Miami getting a last second win over Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets continue to struggle on the road, and are hurting their NCAA seeding chances. Wake Forest got a win in a surprisingly high scoring game against Boston College. The Eagles did a decent job staying with Wake on the road. The Deacons are one of the hottest teams in the conference.
Another one of the hottest teams: Virginia Tech. They took the crowd and NC State right out of the game early and never let up in a big 20 point road win. That now puts them at 6-3 in conference with two home games coming up. Clemson took care of Florida State, by 10 at home. It was a very sloppy, low-scoring game in the first half. The offenses opened it up a bit more in the second.
Here's what you can expect this weekend:
Saturday:
Miami at Clemson (12:00 p.m., FSN) - Miami has played a little better in their last few games, and may give Clemson a tough battle here. But I would expect Clemson to win at home.
Maryland at Duke (1:00 p.m., CBS) - This is the game to watch this weekend between the top 2 teams in the conference. Duke will be coming off an emotional win over UNC, and Maryland has had a week to prepare. But winning in Cameron will be tough for the Terps.
NC State at North Carolina (4:00 p.m., ESPN) - I bet ESPN wishes it can swap this game for something else. These two teams have been dreadful recently, and this game could be for who avoids finishing in last.
Georgia Tech at Wake Forest (8:00 p.m., Raycom) - A good matchup here. Georgia Tech blew out Wake at home a couple weeks ago. But they have not played well on the road this year. An important game for both teams.
Virginia at Virginia Tech (8:00 p.m., Raycom) - I'll be in Blacksburg for this rivalry game. Last time, UVA blew a late lead and lost to Tech in overtime. I would favor the Hokies in this one, although the Cavaliers are unpredictable.
Sunday:
Boston College at Florida State (7:30 p.m., FSN) - This isn't the typical strong Sunday Night Hoops game. Both teams need a win. I think Florida State's NCAA hopes are on the downward trend.
It was another week of exciting games in the ACC. First, we start with a game that wasn't played. Because of a snowstorm, the game between Virginia and Maryland was postponed. It will be made up on Monday.
Obviously the marquee game of the week was Duke and Carolina. In a low scoring game, the Tar Heels were able to keep it close thanks to some cold shooting from Duke. But in the end, Duke made key baskets and UNC couldn't do anything to stop the run. It's pretty obvious that Roy Williams is very frustrated with his team. I wonder if they've even packed it in this season.
The only other game that was real close was Miami getting a last second win over Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets continue to struggle on the road, and are hurting their NCAA seeding chances. Wake Forest got a win in a surprisingly high scoring game against Boston College. The Eagles did a decent job staying with Wake on the road. The Deacons are one of the hottest teams in the conference.
Another one of the hottest teams: Virginia Tech. They took the crowd and NC State right out of the game early and never let up in a big 20 point road win. That now puts them at 6-3 in conference with two home games coming up. Clemson took care of Florida State, by 10 at home. It was a very sloppy, low-scoring game in the first half. The offenses opened it up a bit more in the second.
Here's what you can expect this weekend:
Saturday:
Miami at Clemson (12:00 p.m., FSN) - Miami has played a little better in their last few games, and may give Clemson a tough battle here. But I would expect Clemson to win at home.
Maryland at Duke (1:00 p.m., CBS) - This is the game to watch this weekend between the top 2 teams in the conference. Duke will be coming off an emotional win over UNC, and Maryland has had a week to prepare. But winning in Cameron will be tough for the Terps.
NC State at North Carolina (4:00 p.m., ESPN) - I bet ESPN wishes it can swap this game for something else. These two teams have been dreadful recently, and this game could be for who avoids finishing in last.
Georgia Tech at Wake Forest (8:00 p.m., Raycom) - A good matchup here. Georgia Tech blew out Wake at home a couple weeks ago. But they have not played well on the road this year. An important game for both teams.
Virginia at Virginia Tech (8:00 p.m., Raycom) - I'll be in Blacksburg for this rivalry game. Last time, UVA blew a late lead and lost to Tech in overtime. I would favor the Hokies in this one, although the Cavaliers are unpredictable.
Sunday:
Boston College at Florida State (7:30 p.m., FSN) - This isn't the typical strong Sunday Night Hoops game. Both teams need a win. I think Florida State's NCAA hopes are on the downward trend.
Monday, February 08, 2010
Weekend Recap
After another week of ACC play, we're starting to see a top and bottom emerge, but there is still a logjam in the middle of the standings. Duke continues to lead the way, with a good road victory at Boston College. They were able to withstand a BC run at the end of the game to make it close. Wake Forest pulled off the other road win this weekend, beating Virginia in overtime. The Cavaliers have now lost two home games in overtime. They had a chance to tie, but an ill-advised shot by Will Sherrill cost them.
Virginia Tech survived a horrible shooting performance to beat Clemson at home, running their record to 5-3. Both teams shot 31 percent for the game, but the free throw line was the difference. Georgia Tech also got a home win, despite blowing a big lead late against NC State. Both coaches were very unhappy at the end of the game.
Florida State got a home win over Miami - no big surprise there. And Maryland was able to pull away from North Carolina, asserting themselves as the second best team in the conference. The Tar Heels have now lost 10 games this year.
The highlight of this coming week is the big rivalry game between Duke and Carolina. Here's the whole slate:
Tuesday:
Boston College at Wake Forest (7:00 p.m., FSN) - Wake is coming off a nice road win at Virginia, and will definitely be favored in this one. They can't lose this game if they want to stay on the NCAA track.
Wednesday:
Florida State at Clemson (7:00 p.m., ESPN2) - A good matchup here between two teams who need a win. These are two teams that have had trouble scoring, so expect a game in the 50s.
Georgia Tech at Miami (7:00 p.m.) - The Yellow Jackets had probably their toughest week of the year, and Paul Hewitt is not happy. They could dip even lower if they don't win in Miami.
Virginia at Maryland (7:00 p.m., ESPNU) - Virginia has been unpredictable this year, so I'm not going to count them out against Maryland. But it will be tough to win in College Park.
Duke at North Carolina (9:00 p.m., Raycom) - This is probably the least-hyped matchup of these teams in several years. Will the Tar Heels be able to rise up and beat their hated rival? I'm betting no.
Virginia Tech at NC State (9:00 p.m., ESPNU) - Raleigh has been a house of horrors for Tech since they joined the ACC. A road win here would really be big for the Hokies.
After another week of ACC play, we're starting to see a top and bottom emerge, but there is still a logjam in the middle of the standings. Duke continues to lead the way, with a good road victory at Boston College. They were able to withstand a BC run at the end of the game to make it close. Wake Forest pulled off the other road win this weekend, beating Virginia in overtime. The Cavaliers have now lost two home games in overtime. They had a chance to tie, but an ill-advised shot by Will Sherrill cost them.
Virginia Tech survived a horrible shooting performance to beat Clemson at home, running their record to 5-3. Both teams shot 31 percent for the game, but the free throw line was the difference. Georgia Tech also got a home win, despite blowing a big lead late against NC State. Both coaches were very unhappy at the end of the game.
Florida State got a home win over Miami - no big surprise there. And Maryland was able to pull away from North Carolina, asserting themselves as the second best team in the conference. The Tar Heels have now lost 10 games this year.
The highlight of this coming week is the big rivalry game between Duke and Carolina. Here's the whole slate:
Tuesday:
Boston College at Wake Forest (7:00 p.m., FSN) - Wake is coming off a nice road win at Virginia, and will definitely be favored in this one. They can't lose this game if they want to stay on the NCAA track.
Wednesday:
Florida State at Clemson (7:00 p.m., ESPN2) - A good matchup here between two teams who need a win. These are two teams that have had trouble scoring, so expect a game in the 50s.
Georgia Tech at Miami (7:00 p.m.) - The Yellow Jackets had probably their toughest week of the year, and Paul Hewitt is not happy. They could dip even lower if they don't win in Miami.
Virginia at Maryland (7:00 p.m., ESPNU) - Virginia has been unpredictable this year, so I'm not going to count them out against Maryland. But it will be tough to win in College Park.
Duke at North Carolina (9:00 p.m., Raycom) - This is probably the least-hyped matchup of these teams in several years. Will the Tar Heels be able to rise up and beat their hated rival? I'm betting no.
Virginia Tech at NC State (9:00 p.m., ESPNU) - Raleigh has been a house of horrors for Tech since they joined the ACC. A road win here would really be big for the Hokies.
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Weekend Preview
There's starting to be some separation in the standings in the ACC, with the top 3 teams all winning this week. Let's start in Durham, where Duke bounced back from the Georgetown loss with a resounding win over Georgia Tech. I was a bit surprised by the margin, but Georgia Tech did have some foul trouble.
The other big win was Maryland pulling one out on the road at Florida State. As expected, there wasn't a whole lot of offense in this game, but Maryland got a key charge at the end to win. The woes continue for North Carolina, who now see themselves on the wrong side of the bubble. They lost at Virginia Tech, with a tough slate of games coming up. This was a big win for the Hokies.
Virginia got a win at home over NC State. The Cavaliers looked listless in the first half, but the Wolfpack were even worse in the second half, only scoring 19 points. And Wake Forest got a home win over Miami. The Canes hung in there and kept it within single digits but lost in the end.
Here's a look ahead to this weekend's games:
Saturday:
Wake Forest at UVA (12:00 p.m., Raycom) - This is a good test for the Cavaliers. Two weeks ago they were blown out in Winston-Salem, and will be looking for revenge. I still think Wake is a better team than UVA but they need a road win like this to prove it.
Duke at Boston College (2:00 p.m., ESPN) - Duke has had some trouble up in Chestnut Hill in the past, but this isn't the same BC squad. BC has had a week to prepare, but I still think Duke is a far better team.
Clemson at Virginia Tech (4:00 p.m., Raycom) - This is an interesting game - Clemson has had a week off, where VT is coming off a short turnaround and an emotional win over Carolina. Under normal circumstances I would give Tech the edge at home.
NC State at Georgia Tech (4:00 p.m., Raycom) - A good cure for Georgia Tech's performance at Duke is a home game with NC State. It remains to be seen how much Sidney Lowe's squad has left.
Miami at Florida State (8:00 p.m., ESPNU) - The battle of Florida should go to the Seminoles. They are coming off a tough home loss to Maryland but are a better team than Miami.
Sunday:
North Carolina at Maryland (2:00 p.m., FSN) - This matchup looked a lot juicier in the offseason. But with UNC really struggling, it's going to be tough to scratch out a win up in College Park.
There's starting to be some separation in the standings in the ACC, with the top 3 teams all winning this week. Let's start in Durham, where Duke bounced back from the Georgetown loss with a resounding win over Georgia Tech. I was a bit surprised by the margin, but Georgia Tech did have some foul trouble.
The other big win was Maryland pulling one out on the road at Florida State. As expected, there wasn't a whole lot of offense in this game, but Maryland got a key charge at the end to win. The woes continue for North Carolina, who now see themselves on the wrong side of the bubble. They lost at Virginia Tech, with a tough slate of games coming up. This was a big win for the Hokies.
Virginia got a win at home over NC State. The Cavaliers looked listless in the first half, but the Wolfpack were even worse in the second half, only scoring 19 points. And Wake Forest got a home win over Miami. The Canes hung in there and kept it within single digits but lost in the end.
Here's a look ahead to this weekend's games:
Saturday:
Wake Forest at UVA (12:00 p.m., Raycom) - This is a good test for the Cavaliers. Two weeks ago they were blown out in Winston-Salem, and will be looking for revenge. I still think Wake is a better team than UVA but they need a road win like this to prove it.
Duke at Boston College (2:00 p.m., ESPN) - Duke has had some trouble up in Chestnut Hill in the past, but this isn't the same BC squad. BC has had a week to prepare, but I still think Duke is a far better team.
Clemson at Virginia Tech (4:00 p.m., Raycom) - This is an interesting game - Clemson has had a week off, where VT is coming off a short turnaround and an emotional win over Carolina. Under normal circumstances I would give Tech the edge at home.
NC State at Georgia Tech (4:00 p.m., Raycom) - A good cure for Georgia Tech's performance at Duke is a home game with NC State. It remains to be seen how much Sidney Lowe's squad has left.
Miami at Florida State (8:00 p.m., ESPNU) - The battle of Florida should go to the Seminoles. They are coming off a tough home loss to Maryland but are a better team than Miami.
Sunday:
North Carolina at Maryland (2:00 p.m., FSN) - This matchup looked a lot juicier in the offseason. But with UNC really struggling, it's going to be tough to scratch out a win up in College Park.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
ACC Progress Report
With most of the ACC teams having played close to half of their conference schedule, it's a good time to take stock of where each team is. Here is a look at each team, from top to bottom, through the conference games of January 31st.
1. Duke (17-4, 5-2) - Duke for the most part has performed up to expectation. They were expected to be one of the best teams in the conference, and have been. There is some cause for concern with their defensive performance in their recent games against NC State and Georgetown. But they should be on track to win the league and get a high seed for the NCAAs.
2. Maryland (14-6, 4-2) - For the way Maryland started the year, it is surprising to see them in this position. The Terps have looked as good as any team in the ACC, with some blowout wins. Their last performance, on the road at Clemson, was probably their worst, but could just be an aberration.
3. Virginia (13-6, 4-2) - The Cavaliers were certainly not expected to be in this spot in the standings. They started off the ACC slate with some solid wins, then dipped to two straight losses, but put together their best performance in a beatdown of UNC. Tony Bennett has done a great job with one of the least talented teams in the league.
4. Florida State (16-5, 4-3) - The Seminoles have been pretty steady, winning both at home and on the road. A sweep of Georgia Tech should really help them come March. They aren't quite on the same level they were last year, but are solidly in the top half of the league.
5. Georgia Tech (16-5, 4-3) - The Yellow Jackets have looked like the second best team in the league at times this year. They have improved throughout the season and have proved they can beat anyone. I expect them to finish higher than 5th when the conference season is over.
6. Wake Forest (14-5, 4-3) - Wake has had a solid, if unspectacular year. They have some good wins to their credit, and basically have won the games they have supposed to, and lost the games they have supposed to. They seem on track for a 9-7 or so finish.
7. Clemson (16-6, 4-4) - The Tigers have struggled at times this year, and it seems clear they don't have the offensive firepower they did last year. They still have a chance at a strong finish in the league, but need to win some road games to do so.
8. Virginia Tech (16-4, 3-3) - The Hokies have put together a great record, but don't have a lot of respect nationally because they haven't beaten anyone good. A win in Charlottesville was a good step, but it remains to be seen whether this team can do enough to improve on their current position.
9. Boston College (12-10, 3-5) - It's been a rocky year for BC. They have some head-scratching home losses, but have also beaten Clemson and won at Miami. They really miss Tyrese Rice, and at this point would be fortunate to finish over .500.
10. North Carolina (13-8, 2-4) - It's stunning to see Carolina in this position in the conference. In their four conference losses, the Tar Heels have lost at Clemson by 19, at home to Wake by 13, and at home to Virginia by 15. The other was a 2 point loss to Georgia Tech when they were down big. They have talent but seemingly no chemistry, and are staring at an NIT appearance.
11. Miami (16-5, 2-5) - The Hurricanes have come back down to earth after their perfect non-conference season. They just don't have the talent to compete with the top teams in the league, or the fanbase to make their home gym a tough environment. It will be a struggle the rest of the way.
12. NC State (14-8, 2-5) - The Wolfpack have a great home win over Duke, but not much else to show for their season. They seem to get up for certain games and play well, but come out completely flat in others. Like Miami, they don't have the talent to finish well in this league.
At this point, trying to predict which teams will make the NCAA Tournament is pretty tough. The only real lock is Duke, and there are so many teams in the middle that could each make a case for inclusion. Hopefully, the next couple weeks will create a clearer picture of how things will shake out.
With most of the ACC teams having played close to half of their conference schedule, it's a good time to take stock of where each team is. Here is a look at each team, from top to bottom, through the conference games of January 31st.
1. Duke (17-4, 5-2) - Duke for the most part has performed up to expectation. They were expected to be one of the best teams in the conference, and have been. There is some cause for concern with their defensive performance in their recent games against NC State and Georgetown. But they should be on track to win the league and get a high seed for the NCAAs.
2. Maryland (14-6, 4-2) - For the way Maryland started the year, it is surprising to see them in this position. The Terps have looked as good as any team in the ACC, with some blowout wins. Their last performance, on the road at Clemson, was probably their worst, but could just be an aberration.
3. Virginia (13-6, 4-2) - The Cavaliers were certainly not expected to be in this spot in the standings. They started off the ACC slate with some solid wins, then dipped to two straight losses, but put together their best performance in a beatdown of UNC. Tony Bennett has done a great job with one of the least talented teams in the league.
4. Florida State (16-5, 4-3) - The Seminoles have been pretty steady, winning both at home and on the road. A sweep of Georgia Tech should really help them come March. They aren't quite on the same level they were last year, but are solidly in the top half of the league.
5. Georgia Tech (16-5, 4-3) - The Yellow Jackets have looked like the second best team in the league at times this year. They have improved throughout the season and have proved they can beat anyone. I expect them to finish higher than 5th when the conference season is over.
6. Wake Forest (14-5, 4-3) - Wake has had a solid, if unspectacular year. They have some good wins to their credit, and basically have won the games they have supposed to, and lost the games they have supposed to. They seem on track for a 9-7 or so finish.
7. Clemson (16-6, 4-4) - The Tigers have struggled at times this year, and it seems clear they don't have the offensive firepower they did last year. They still have a chance at a strong finish in the league, but need to win some road games to do so.
8. Virginia Tech (16-4, 3-3) - The Hokies have put together a great record, but don't have a lot of respect nationally because they haven't beaten anyone good. A win in Charlottesville was a good step, but it remains to be seen whether this team can do enough to improve on their current position.
9. Boston College (12-10, 3-5) - It's been a rocky year for BC. They have some head-scratching home losses, but have also beaten Clemson and won at Miami. They really miss Tyrese Rice, and at this point would be fortunate to finish over .500.
10. North Carolina (13-8, 2-4) - It's stunning to see Carolina in this position in the conference. In their four conference losses, the Tar Heels have lost at Clemson by 19, at home to Wake by 13, and at home to Virginia by 15. The other was a 2 point loss to Georgia Tech when they were down big. They have talent but seemingly no chemistry, and are staring at an NIT appearance.
11. Miami (16-5, 2-5) - The Hurricanes have come back down to earth after their perfect non-conference season. They just don't have the talent to compete with the top teams in the league, or the fanbase to make their home gym a tough environment. It will be a struggle the rest of the way.
12. NC State (14-8, 2-5) - The Wolfpack have a great home win over Duke, but not much else to show for their season. They seem to get up for certain games and play well, but come out completely flat in others. Like Miami, they don't have the talent to finish well in this league.
At this point, trying to predict which teams will make the NCAA Tournament is pretty tough. The only real lock is Duke, and there are so many teams in the middle that could each make a case for inclusion. Hopefully, the next couple weeks will create a clearer picture of how things will shake out.
Monday, February 01, 2010
Weekend Recap
Another weekend is in the books, and there continues to be parity throughout the ACC. In the marquee game of the weekend, Georgetown played a complete game and really dominated Duke at home. The Hoyas shot a ridiculous percentage, and were very efficient inside and outside. Duke continues to rely too heavily on the 3 point shot, going 9-29 in a losing cause.
The surprise of the weekend was Virginia's big win in Chapel Hill over North Carolina. The Cavaliers played a solid game here, and the Heels looked as bad as they've looked all year. Roy Williams had some pretty pessimistic things to say after the game. We'll see where Carolina goes from here.
In other action, Florida State got a solid road win over Boston College in a close game. Miami held on after building a big first half lead against Virginia Tech. And Clemson beat Maryland in a very sloppy, low-scoring game that was marred by turnovers.
I'll take a closer look at each team at this point in the ACC season tomorrow. But first, here are a look at the weekday games ahead.
Tuesday:
Miami at Wake Forest (7:00 p.m., ESPN2) - Wake has a chance to build another win against an inconsistent Miami squad that has not performed well on the road. Miami won the first game in this series in Coral Gables.
Wednesday:
NC State at Virginia (7:00 p.m., ESPNU) - In another rematch, Virginia looks to sweep NC State, with this one coming at home. The Cavaliers are back on the winning track after losing two straight.
Thursday:
Georgia Tech at Duke (7:00 p.m., ESPN2) - Another rematch here and the best game of the week. Georgia Tech is coming in with a lot of confidence but playing well and winning in Cameron will be a tall order.
Maryland at Florida State (9:00 p.m., Raycom) - Another good matchup, with two teams that have been playing well. The Terps are in a tough stretch, but could steal a road win here.
North Carolina at Virginia Tech (9:00 p.m., Raycom) - Who knows which Tar Heels team will show up here after their performance against UVA. The Hokies need to win this game to be taken seriously as a NCAA Tournament contender.
Another weekend is in the books, and there continues to be parity throughout the ACC. In the marquee game of the weekend, Georgetown played a complete game and really dominated Duke at home. The Hoyas shot a ridiculous percentage, and were very efficient inside and outside. Duke continues to rely too heavily on the 3 point shot, going 9-29 in a losing cause.
The surprise of the weekend was Virginia's big win in Chapel Hill over North Carolina. The Cavaliers played a solid game here, and the Heels looked as bad as they've looked all year. Roy Williams had some pretty pessimistic things to say after the game. We'll see where Carolina goes from here.
In other action, Florida State got a solid road win over Boston College in a close game. Miami held on after building a big first half lead against Virginia Tech. And Clemson beat Maryland in a very sloppy, low-scoring game that was marred by turnovers.
I'll take a closer look at each team at this point in the ACC season tomorrow. But first, here are a look at the weekday games ahead.
Tuesday:
Miami at Wake Forest (7:00 p.m., ESPN2) - Wake has a chance to build another win against an inconsistent Miami squad that has not performed well on the road. Miami won the first game in this series in Coral Gables.
Wednesday:
NC State at Virginia (7:00 p.m., ESPNU) - In another rematch, Virginia looks to sweep NC State, with this one coming at home. The Cavaliers are back on the winning track after losing two straight.
Thursday:
Georgia Tech at Duke (7:00 p.m., ESPN2) - Another rematch here and the best game of the week. Georgia Tech is coming in with a lot of confidence but playing well and winning in Cameron will be a tall order.
Maryland at Florida State (9:00 p.m., Raycom) - Another good matchup, with two teams that have been playing well. The Terps are in a tough stretch, but could steal a road win here.
North Carolina at Virginia Tech (9:00 p.m., Raycom) - Who knows which Tar Heels team will show up here after their performance against UVA. The Hokies need to win this game to be taken seriously as a NCAA Tournament contender.
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