The Week Ahead
It wasn't a very strong slate of games this past weekend, and not much of note happened. Virginia did earn the best win of the weekend, holding on to a late lead and knocking off NC State by one on the road. The other games went pretty much according to form. So here's a look at what you can expect to see this week:
Tuesday:
Clemson at Virginia (7:00 p.m., ESPN2)
Virginia seems to be back to playing the kind of basketball they were playing before the Virginia Tech game. Clemson has had an easy last couple games and will be tested on the road. Expect a low-scoring affair.
North Carolina at Wake Forest (9:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Wake has not looked very competitive in their last couple games, and are in for a significant challenge here. The point spread didn't look that big for UNC's win over Georgia Tech, but they dominated that game and could have won by 30 if they wanted to. This one has the makings of a blowout.
Wednesday:
Georgia Tech at Florida State (7:00 p.m., FSN)
Florida State has been off a week and has a chance to keep their momentum going with a win against the Yellow Jackets. I don't see them having any problem in winning this one by double digits. Georgia Tech just is not good right now.
Maryland at Miami (8:00 p.m., ACC Network)
This could be the best game of the week. Maryland has played pretty well at home, but has yet to win on the road in conference. Miami took a long time to shake off Boston College but is playing better basketball. Expect a lot of up and down in this one.
NC State at Boston College (8:00 p.m., ACC Network)
NC State needs to shake off the disappointment of the last week and come ready to play in this one. Steve Donahue is getting his team to compete despite being extremely short on talent. BC can sneak up and win this game, but only if NC State doesn't bring a strong effort.
Thursday:
Duke at Virginia Tech (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Coach K was not happy with how Duke played down the stretch in their win against St. John's. You can expect them to come out motivated in this one. Virginia Tech has played very poorly in the first half in ACC play, and can't get behind by double digits in this one, or it will be over fast.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Weekend Preview
There wasn't a lot of drama in this week's ACC games. The only game that came down to the wire was a non-conference affair, BYU beating Virginia Tech by two. All of the top four won their games by double digits (UNC, Duke, UVA and FSU). This weekend's slate of games is not the strongest, but does have one very interesting Saturday night matchup.
Here's a look ahead (Florida State is off):
Saturday:
St. John's at Duke (12:00 p.m., ESPN)
Duke has been playing St. John's for several years now, with mixed success. Last year the Johnnies won a big game against Duke at home. They aren't the same team this year, though, playing with a lot of young players. Duke should be able to win this one by double digits.
Wake Forest at Clemson (12:00 p.m., ACC Network)
Wake has struggled to play with any consistency in ACC play. Clemson has had a week off after beating Georgia Tech at home. This game doesn't mean much other than positioning in the bottom half of the standings.
Virginia Tech at Maryland (2:30 p.m., ACC Network)
Maryland had a chance to beat their most hated rival on Wednesday, but ran out of steam against Duke. They have to avoid a letdown in this one against a Virginia Tech team that has been playing a little better but still has a lot of ground to make up after a bad conference start.
Virginia at NC State (8:00 p.m., ESPN2)
This is definitely the matchup of the weekend. Virginia needs to get back to playing solid basketball - they struggled most of the game against Boston College. NC State had a chance to score a big win against UNC but looked completely overmatched. If Virginia can win this one, they can establish themselves as the third best team in the conference.
Sunday:
Miami at Boston College (1:00 p.m., ACC Network)
Miami's schedule has gotten a lot easier since their tough start, and should be able to win a second road game this week. Boston College had an admirable effort for 35 minutes against Virginia but faded down the stretch. I can't imagine a lot of people will be at this game.
Georgia Tech at North Carolina (6:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Carolina has looked very strong in its last game and a half. They should have no trouble with the struggling Yellow Jackets, who are currently last in the standings. Brian Gregory may be a good coach, but right now he is having a hard time getting his guys to compete offensively.
There wasn't a lot of drama in this week's ACC games. The only game that came down to the wire was a non-conference affair, BYU beating Virginia Tech by two. All of the top four won their games by double digits (UNC, Duke, UVA and FSU). This weekend's slate of games is not the strongest, but does have one very interesting Saturday night matchup.
Here's a look ahead (Florida State is off):
Saturday:
St. John's at Duke (12:00 p.m., ESPN)
Duke has been playing St. John's for several years now, with mixed success. Last year the Johnnies won a big game against Duke at home. They aren't the same team this year, though, playing with a lot of young players. Duke should be able to win this one by double digits.
Wake Forest at Clemson (12:00 p.m., ACC Network)
Wake has struggled to play with any consistency in ACC play. Clemson has had a week off after beating Georgia Tech at home. This game doesn't mean much other than positioning in the bottom half of the standings.
Virginia Tech at Maryland (2:30 p.m., ACC Network)
Maryland had a chance to beat their most hated rival on Wednesday, but ran out of steam against Duke. They have to avoid a letdown in this one against a Virginia Tech team that has been playing a little better but still has a lot of ground to make up after a bad conference start.
Virginia at NC State (8:00 p.m., ESPN2)
This is definitely the matchup of the weekend. Virginia needs to get back to playing solid basketball - they struggled most of the game against Boston College. NC State had a chance to score a big win against UNC but looked completely overmatched. If Virginia can win this one, they can establish themselves as the third best team in the conference.
Sunday:
Miami at Boston College (1:00 p.m., ACC Network)
Miami's schedule has gotten a lot easier since their tough start, and should be able to win a second road game this week. Boston College had an admirable effort for 35 minutes against Virginia but faded down the stretch. I can't imagine a lot of people will be at this game.
Georgia Tech at North Carolina (6:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Carolina has looked very strong in its last game and a half. They should have no trouble with the struggling Yellow Jackets, who are currently last in the standings. Brian Gregory may be a good coach, but right now he is having a hard time getting his guys to compete offensively.
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Week Ahead
It was a good weekend to be the road team in the ACC. Out of the five conference games, only Clemson was able to hold serve at home. Obviously the biggest result was Florida State getting a Michael Snaer 3-pointer at the buzzer to win in Cameron, breaking Duke's long home winning streak. Duke did not look like the fourth-best team in the country. And Florida State is certainly playing with a lot more confidence than they had just a couple weeks ago. There was also a surprising result in Charlottesville, as Virginia Tech was able to completely shut down UVA's offense and win on the road. Coming off UVA's beatdown of Georgia Tech, it was hard to see that coming.
NC State also had a very nice win on the road against Miami. They were actually in firm control in this game in the second half before getting a little out of control and letting Miami back into it.
Here's the schedule for the week ahead (Clemson is off):
Tuesday:
Miami at Georgia Tech (9:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Both of these teams have to be disappointed right now. Miami blew a chance to get a solid win and lost at home to NC State. Georgia Tech has been terrible offensively in its last two games. Miami is the only one with NCAA Tournament aspirations, so they need to win this one.
Wednesday:
BYU at Virginia Tech (7:00 p.m.)
Virginia Tech steps out of conference for this one. BYU isn't the same team it was a year ago, when it had The Jimmer, but is still a team with a good shot at the NCAAs. It might be natural for the Hokies to have a letdown in this one, but they need to win to build some momentum.
Florida State at Wake Forest (7:00 p.m., FSN)
Florida State is certainly riding high and will definitely be favored in this second straight game on Tobacco Road. Wake got a decent win on the road against BC, but still hasn't shown any consistency at all. If they can keep this one within single digits, that will be an accomplishment.
Duke at Maryland (9:00 p.m., ESPN)
This has been a great rivalry for at least the last 15 years, but probably doesn't quite have the luster this year. Duke is looking to rebound after a poor performance at home against Florida State. Maryland is coming off two straight road losses. This is the first really good home test for the Terps this year.
Thursday:
NC State at North Carolina (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
This has been a one-sided rivalry in recent years, especially in Chapel Hill. But if NC State can continue the way they've been playing, they have a decent shot. The Heels have been inconsistent in the last couple games, but I would think they'd have renewed focus after a week off.
Boston College at Virginia (9:00 p.m., ESPNU)
The Cavaliers have a chance to get back to feeling good about themselves with a home game against the ACC's worst team. BC's Coach Steve Donahue seems a bit concerned about the way his team has played in recent games, and seeing a snowball effect. I don't expect this game to help their mindset.
Final Thoughts:
I thought I had a pretty good handle on who the top four teams in the league were, in order. After Duke's loss to Florida State, I thought UVA was pretty firmly the second best team. Then they came out and looked completely lost on offense against Virginia Tech. A lot of people are putting Florida State up there. I still have some concerns about their offensive consistency - we'll see what happens when their hot streak cools off. So right now, I would put Duke back in that number two spot. I will not move North Carolina from the number one spot unless they go on some big losing streak.
The positive from this past week? It looks more likely that the ACC will get four teams in the league, and maybe even five if NC State continues to play well. I still think the magic number is 10. If you can get to 10 conference wins, you're in pretty good shape.
It was a good weekend to be the road team in the ACC. Out of the five conference games, only Clemson was able to hold serve at home. Obviously the biggest result was Florida State getting a Michael Snaer 3-pointer at the buzzer to win in Cameron, breaking Duke's long home winning streak. Duke did not look like the fourth-best team in the country. And Florida State is certainly playing with a lot more confidence than they had just a couple weeks ago. There was also a surprising result in Charlottesville, as Virginia Tech was able to completely shut down UVA's offense and win on the road. Coming off UVA's beatdown of Georgia Tech, it was hard to see that coming.
NC State also had a very nice win on the road against Miami. They were actually in firm control in this game in the second half before getting a little out of control and letting Miami back into it.
Here's the schedule for the week ahead (Clemson is off):
Tuesday:
Miami at Georgia Tech (9:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Both of these teams have to be disappointed right now. Miami blew a chance to get a solid win and lost at home to NC State. Georgia Tech has been terrible offensively in its last two games. Miami is the only one with NCAA Tournament aspirations, so they need to win this one.
Wednesday:
BYU at Virginia Tech (7:00 p.m.)
Virginia Tech steps out of conference for this one. BYU isn't the same team it was a year ago, when it had The Jimmer, but is still a team with a good shot at the NCAAs. It might be natural for the Hokies to have a letdown in this one, but they need to win to build some momentum.
Florida State at Wake Forest (7:00 p.m., FSN)
Florida State is certainly riding high and will definitely be favored in this second straight game on Tobacco Road. Wake got a decent win on the road against BC, but still hasn't shown any consistency at all. If they can keep this one within single digits, that will be an accomplishment.
Duke at Maryland (9:00 p.m., ESPN)
This has been a great rivalry for at least the last 15 years, but probably doesn't quite have the luster this year. Duke is looking to rebound after a poor performance at home against Florida State. Maryland is coming off two straight road losses. This is the first really good home test for the Terps this year.
Thursday:
NC State at North Carolina (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
This has been a one-sided rivalry in recent years, especially in Chapel Hill. But if NC State can continue the way they've been playing, they have a decent shot. The Heels have been inconsistent in the last couple games, but I would think they'd have renewed focus after a week off.
Boston College at Virginia (9:00 p.m., ESPNU)
The Cavaliers have a chance to get back to feeling good about themselves with a home game against the ACC's worst team. BC's Coach Steve Donahue seems a bit concerned about the way his team has played in recent games, and seeing a snowball effect. I don't expect this game to help their mindset.
Final Thoughts:
I thought I had a pretty good handle on who the top four teams in the league were, in order. After Duke's loss to Florida State, I thought UVA was pretty firmly the second best team. Then they came out and looked completely lost on offense against Virginia Tech. A lot of people are putting Florida State up there. I still have some concerns about their offensive consistency - we'll see what happens when their hot streak cools off. So right now, I would put Duke back in that number two spot. I will not move North Carolina from the number one spot unless they go on some big losing streak.
The positive from this past week? It looks more likely that the ACC will get four teams in the league, and maybe even five if NC State continues to play well. I still think the magic number is 10. If you can get to 10 conference wins, you're in pretty good shape.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Weekend Preview
This week we saw some separation start to build between the haves and the have-nots. For the most part, the games were not very competitive at all. Here are the margins of victory this week: 14, 3, 18, 14, 32, 14. North Carolina played okay basketball for one half and then got back to their full potential in the second half in blowing by Virginia Tech. If Harrison Barnes can play like he did in the second half, this team can beat anyone in the country. Virginia also had a very nice performance on the road at Georgia Tech. They methodically beat down the Yellow Jackets with their suffocating defense.
Here's a look ahead at the weekend (North Carolina is off):
Saturday:
Maryland at Temple (11:00 a.m., ESPNU)
This is the rare 11:00 a.m. game, and a tough non-conference matchup for the Terps. Their offense has been playing pretty well but they had a tough time stopping Florida State. Temple is tough to beat at home, with a win over Duke earlier this year.
Wake Forest at Boston College (12:00 p.m., ACC Network)
Yuck. That's all I have to say about this game. In all seriousness, though, this will be a big accomplishment for whoever wins. Wake will already exceed their ACC win total from last year if they can win on the road. If BC wins, they will have three conference wins - a big accomplishment for this team.
Georgia Tech at Clemson (2:30 p.m., ACC Network)
Georgia Tech had a terrible offensive performance against Virginia, shooting 1-15 from three. Clemson played a little better than I thought they would at Miami, but still lost. Neither one of these teams is going very far this year.
Florida State at Duke (4:00 p.m., ESPN)
This is the most publicized of the matchups this weekend. Florida State comes in hot. Duke comes off a very solid offensive performance against Wake. Florida State has a history of playing well in Cameron. I can buy into Florida State being a top half team in the ACC, but I don't think they have enough offense to win this game.
Sunday:
NC State at Miami (12:00 p.m., ESPNU)
To me this is the most intriguing matchup of the weekend. NC State has played very solidly since losing at home to Georgia Tech. Miami has a lot of talent and is very close to being 2-1 in conference. I tend to favor the Wolfpack in this one - I expect CJ Leslie to have a good game.
Virginia Tech at Virginia (6:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Virginia Tech played its best conference game against North Carolina but still came up short. They will need another effort like that to have a chance against Virginia. The Cavaliers are playing very solidly right now, and are playing their way into a very good seed in the NCAA Tournament.
This week we saw some separation start to build between the haves and the have-nots. For the most part, the games were not very competitive at all. Here are the margins of victory this week: 14, 3, 18, 14, 32, 14. North Carolina played okay basketball for one half and then got back to their full potential in the second half in blowing by Virginia Tech. If Harrison Barnes can play like he did in the second half, this team can beat anyone in the country. Virginia also had a very nice performance on the road at Georgia Tech. They methodically beat down the Yellow Jackets with their suffocating defense.
Here's a look ahead at the weekend (North Carolina is off):
Saturday:
Maryland at Temple (11:00 a.m., ESPNU)
This is the rare 11:00 a.m. game, and a tough non-conference matchup for the Terps. Their offense has been playing pretty well but they had a tough time stopping Florida State. Temple is tough to beat at home, with a win over Duke earlier this year.
Wake Forest at Boston College (12:00 p.m., ACC Network)
Yuck. That's all I have to say about this game. In all seriousness, though, this will be a big accomplishment for whoever wins. Wake will already exceed their ACC win total from last year if they can win on the road. If BC wins, they will have three conference wins - a big accomplishment for this team.
Georgia Tech at Clemson (2:30 p.m., ACC Network)
Georgia Tech had a terrible offensive performance against Virginia, shooting 1-15 from three. Clemson played a little better than I thought they would at Miami, but still lost. Neither one of these teams is going very far this year.
Florida State at Duke (4:00 p.m., ESPN)
This is the most publicized of the matchups this weekend. Florida State comes in hot. Duke comes off a very solid offensive performance against Wake. Florida State has a history of playing well in Cameron. I can buy into Florida State being a top half team in the ACC, but I don't think they have enough offense to win this game.
Sunday:
NC State at Miami (12:00 p.m., ESPNU)
To me this is the most intriguing matchup of the weekend. NC State has played very solidly since losing at home to Georgia Tech. Miami has a lot of talent and is very close to being 2-1 in conference. I tend to favor the Wolfpack in this one - I expect CJ Leslie to have a good game.
Virginia Tech at Virginia (6:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Virginia Tech played its best conference game against North Carolina but still came up short. They will need another effort like that to have a chance against Virginia. The Cavaliers are playing very solidly right now, and are playing their way into a very good seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Monday, January 16, 2012
The Week Ahead
Another weekend of games is over, with some big headlines. This weekend saw both of the top two teams in the ACC go on the road, with very different results. You won't see a more bizarre outcome than what happened in Tallahassee on Saturday. Florida State jumped on UNC from the get-go and really took it to them in the second half. I tend to think this is more of a fluke game than anything, as I haven't seen anything else this season to indicate that either FSU is that good or UNC is that bad. Duke, on the other hand, came out and won a game they were supposed to on the road at Clemson. The Tigers made it tough at the end but Duke used a huge 3 by Andre Dawkins and some offensive rebounds to close it out.
Here's the slate of games for this week:
Tuesday:
Maryland at Florida State (9:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Florida State has a chance to build on their momentum from Saturday with a third straight win. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see them struggle in this game, a natural letdown. But they should still have enough to beat the Terps. Maryland is quietly doing what they need to do to stay in the NCAA Tournament hunt, but they need a marquee win.
Wednesday:
Clemson at Miami (7:00 p.m., FSN)
Miami has had a week off after their loss to UNC and should be able to get their first conference win here. Clemson has shown flashes that they can be a solid team but they haven't shown the ability to play well on the road.
Thursday:
Wake Forest at Duke (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Wake looked like the Wake of last year in their horrible performance at home against NC State on Saturday. Now they have to go to Cameron. I think they'll play a little better but Duke should still be able to win this one by 20.
BC at NC State (8:00 p.m., ACC Network)
Not many people thought BC would be sitting at 2-1 in conference at this point, so you have to give them credit. They will be hard pressed to get a win in this one, though, unless NC State lays another egg defensively like they did against Georgia Tech.
Virginia at Georgia Tech (8:00 p.m., ACC Network)
Georgia Tech struggled offensively in their game with Maryland yesterday, and will probably have a tough time against Virginia's defense. This is an interesting game for the Cavaliers, and one they need to win if they want to be taken seriously as a contender on the national scene.
North Carolina at Virginia Tech (9:00 p.m., ESPN)
Virginia Tech is just a mess right now, and taking on an angry UNC team is not the prescription for getting healthy. I expect Zeller and Henson to have big games. Tech should play better than they have been but will probably still lose by double digits.
Final Thoughts:
A lot of people, including me, were pretty surprised by what went down in Tallahassee on Saturday. But it is a fact that teams get up for their games against UNC and Duke. They want to knock off the best. What was surprising about it is how UNC just didn't compete. Teams that have national championship aspirations don't lose by 30 points in any game. That being said, I still feel right now that the ACC is a three bid league. Yes, Florida State got a good resume building win. But all that does at this point is cancels out one or two of the bad losses. They still have to prove that they can be consistent, and at this point I don't see them doing better than 9-7 in conference.
Another weekend of games is over, with some big headlines. This weekend saw both of the top two teams in the ACC go on the road, with very different results. You won't see a more bizarre outcome than what happened in Tallahassee on Saturday. Florida State jumped on UNC from the get-go and really took it to them in the second half. I tend to think this is more of a fluke game than anything, as I haven't seen anything else this season to indicate that either FSU is that good or UNC is that bad. Duke, on the other hand, came out and won a game they were supposed to on the road at Clemson. The Tigers made it tough at the end but Duke used a huge 3 by Andre Dawkins and some offensive rebounds to close it out.
Here's the slate of games for this week:
Tuesday:
Maryland at Florida State (9:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Florida State has a chance to build on their momentum from Saturday with a third straight win. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see them struggle in this game, a natural letdown. But they should still have enough to beat the Terps. Maryland is quietly doing what they need to do to stay in the NCAA Tournament hunt, but they need a marquee win.
Wednesday:
Clemson at Miami (7:00 p.m., FSN)
Miami has had a week off after their loss to UNC and should be able to get their first conference win here. Clemson has shown flashes that they can be a solid team but they haven't shown the ability to play well on the road.
Thursday:
Wake Forest at Duke (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Wake looked like the Wake of last year in their horrible performance at home against NC State on Saturday. Now they have to go to Cameron. I think they'll play a little better but Duke should still be able to win this one by 20.
BC at NC State (8:00 p.m., ACC Network)
Not many people thought BC would be sitting at 2-1 in conference at this point, so you have to give them credit. They will be hard pressed to get a win in this one, though, unless NC State lays another egg defensively like they did against Georgia Tech.
Virginia at Georgia Tech (8:00 p.m., ACC Network)
Georgia Tech struggled offensively in their game with Maryland yesterday, and will probably have a tough time against Virginia's defense. This is an interesting game for the Cavaliers, and one they need to win if they want to be taken seriously as a contender on the national scene.
North Carolina at Virginia Tech (9:00 p.m., ESPN)
Virginia Tech is just a mess right now, and taking on an angry UNC team is not the prescription for getting healthy. I expect Zeller and Henson to have big games. Tech should play better than they have been but will probably still lose by double digits.
Final Thoughts:
A lot of people, including me, were pretty surprised by what went down in Tallahassee on Saturday. But it is a fact that teams get up for their games against UNC and Duke. They want to knock off the best. What was surprising about it is how UNC just didn't compete. Teams that have national championship aspirations don't lose by 30 points in any game. That being said, I still feel right now that the ACC is a three bid league. Yes, Florida State got a good resume building win. But all that does at this point is cancels out one or two of the bad losses. They still have to prove that they can be consistent, and at this point I don't see them doing better than 9-7 in conference.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
What's Wrong with the Hokies?
I think I had a similar post around this time last year. Things are dire indeed in Blacksburg. Saturday's game against Boston College was the first time in a while that I've had the impulse to throw everything in my apartment. It was just an absolute mess. If it had been a one game occurrence, okay, you write that off. But that is three straight games of total ineptitude. Yes, expectations weren't that high for this season with a bunch of new players. But it seems like the level of play has dropped off dramatically once we started ACC play.
I think one of the main problems is inconsistency. Not among the team as a whole, but the players. It's true, the team has four freshmen who are playing significant minutes. And you can probably add Cadarian Raines and Jarell Eddie to that mix, who have barely played in previous years. But it's not just them. Victor Davila and Dorenzo Hudson will have solid games and then have games where they completely disappear. Let's look at the freshmen:
That is not a lot of production. Which one of these players would you say is shooting with confidence right now? Maybe Barksdale. That's it. Yes, they are freshmen, but a lot of teams have a ton of young players. Just look at Boston College. They look like a team full of walk-ons, but have still been able to win two ACC games.
Obviously the stabilizing force in this team is Erick Green. He has scored in double figures in every game this year, and carried the team down the stretch against Florida State. But it's very easy to say if Green had played against BC the Hokies would have won. What evidence do you have to support that? Virginia Tech's offense against Wake and Florida State was terrible and Green played in those games. That's not to say that Green is not important. But you should be able to play without one of your players and still get guys to step up and contribute.
Coach Seth Greenberg in his post-game comments yesterday pointed out that all three losses in conference were close games - three losses by a total of nine points. It's not the score though, it's how you play the game. If you watched the team play, you could see that they just weren't competing and executing offensively like they should. And that is a bigger problem than losing by a few points.
So what's the solution? Many people are calling for a new coach. I can see the argument for that. I would just say that it is not a given that bringing in a new coach will solve your problems. Just look at what has happened at Wake Forest. There are examples on both sides. Take a look at what has happened in Charlottesville. Dave Leitao was a similarly demeanored coach to Seth who had some early success, recruited some very good players, but eventually frustrated the fanbase. They made a very smart hire, got a good coach in Tony Bennett, and have steadily improved. Can this happen in Blacksburg? Sure. But it's not a given.
I generally try to stay positive and upbeat about my team. I've been through some tough times with the program in my first couple years at Tech. But despite the youth, what's happened in the last few games is pretty unacceptable. And Seth knows that. It's up to him to get the guys to respond and play like they are capable of playing.
I think I had a similar post around this time last year. Things are dire indeed in Blacksburg. Saturday's game against Boston College was the first time in a while that I've had the impulse to throw everything in my apartment. It was just an absolute mess. If it had been a one game occurrence, okay, you write that off. But that is three straight games of total ineptitude. Yes, expectations weren't that high for this season with a bunch of new players. But it seems like the level of play has dropped off dramatically once we started ACC play.
I think one of the main problems is inconsistency. Not among the team as a whole, but the players. It's true, the team has four freshmen who are playing significant minutes. And you can probably add Cadarian Raines and Jarell Eddie to that mix, who have barely played in previous years. But it's not just them. Victor Davila and Dorenzo Hudson will have solid games and then have games where they completely disappear. Let's look at the freshmen:
That is not a lot of production. Which one of these players would you say is shooting with confidence right now? Maybe Barksdale. That's it. Yes, they are freshmen, but a lot of teams have a ton of young players. Just look at Boston College. They look like a team full of walk-ons, but have still been able to win two ACC games.
Obviously the stabilizing force in this team is Erick Green. He has scored in double figures in every game this year, and carried the team down the stretch against Florida State. But it's very easy to say if Green had played against BC the Hokies would have won. What evidence do you have to support that? Virginia Tech's offense against Wake and Florida State was terrible and Green played in those games. That's not to say that Green is not important. But you should be able to play without one of your players and still get guys to step up and contribute.
Coach Seth Greenberg in his post-game comments yesterday pointed out that all three losses in conference were close games - three losses by a total of nine points. It's not the score though, it's how you play the game. If you watched the team play, you could see that they just weren't competing and executing offensively like they should. And that is a bigger problem than losing by a few points.
So what's the solution? Many people are calling for a new coach. I can see the argument for that. I would just say that it is not a given that bringing in a new coach will solve your problems. Just look at what has happened at Wake Forest. There are examples on both sides. Take a look at what has happened in Charlottesville. Dave Leitao was a similarly demeanored coach to Seth who had some early success, recruited some very good players, but eventually frustrated the fanbase. They made a very smart hire, got a good coach in Tony Bennett, and have steadily improved. Can this happen in Blacksburg? Sure. But it's not a given.
I generally try to stay positive and upbeat about my team. I've been through some tough times with the program in my first couple years at Tech. But despite the youth, what's happened in the last few games is pretty unacceptable. And Seth knows that. It's up to him to get the guys to respond and play like they are capable of playing.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Weekend Preview
The ACC continues to confound, and not in a good way. This week there was an excellent game between Duke and Virginia, and a whole lot of garbage. The top three teams continue to separate themselves, and it is looking more like whoever finishes fourth will finish there by default. Florida State and Virginia Tech played one of the worst games you will ever see - neither one of those teams look like they are going anywhere. NC State somehow lost at home to Georgia Tech in a game that wasn't even that close. And Clemson followed up their big win over Florida State by losing to hapless Boston College. The end of that game was a comedy of errors.
So moving on, here's a look at the games this weekend. Miami and Virginia have the weekend off.
Saturday:
NC State at Wake Forest (1:00 p.m., ACC Network)
NC State had a golden opportunity to get off to a really good start in conference, but ruined that with a home loss to Georgia Tech. Wake showed a little fight in a road loss at Maryland. NC State has more talent, but it wouldn't surprise me if they lost this game.
UNC at Florida State (2:00 p.m., ESPN)
This looked like a much more attractive matchup before the season started. Florida State just doesn't have enough offensive firepower to compete with the Heels. If they turn it over 20 times, like they have been, they could get blown out of the gym.
Virginia Tech at Boston College (3:00 p.m., FSN)
A couple weeks ago, this looked like an automatic win for Virginia Tech. They should still win, but they have to play better than they played last week at Wake Forest. Boston College is still inept but found a way to win a conference game, which some people thought wouldn't happen at all this year.
Sunday:
Georgia Tech at Maryland (4:00 p.m., ACC Network)
Georgia Tech has definitely shown an improvement in the last two games, and has a chance on the road at Maryland. The Terps were up and down in their win over Wake, and is still looking to find some consistency. This will probably be a competitive but ugly game.
Duke at Clemson (6:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Clemson played well at home last weekend, but erased all that good feeling with their performance last night in Chestnut Hill. Duke isn't quite playing like a top 10 team right now but I can't see them laying an egg and losing to Clemson. Coach K will have them ready to play.
Final Thoughts:
Right now it seems like the gap between North Carolina and Duke is larger than the gap between Duke and Virginia. The Cavaliers might lose a game they shouldn't, but they have a real shot at finishing with an ACC record like 12-4 or 11-5. Besides the top three, who has played two good games in a row? The closest candidate is probably Georgia Tech. And who would have thought that a couple weeks ago?
It's hard to not be doom and gloom about the ACC this year, but so far teams have not stepped up to the plate and advertised that they want to be considered for the NCAA Tournament. Let's hope that starts to happen in the next couple weeks.
The ACC continues to confound, and not in a good way. This week there was an excellent game between Duke and Virginia, and a whole lot of garbage. The top three teams continue to separate themselves, and it is looking more like whoever finishes fourth will finish there by default. Florida State and Virginia Tech played one of the worst games you will ever see - neither one of those teams look like they are going anywhere. NC State somehow lost at home to Georgia Tech in a game that wasn't even that close. And Clemson followed up their big win over Florida State by losing to hapless Boston College. The end of that game was a comedy of errors.
So moving on, here's a look at the games this weekend. Miami and Virginia have the weekend off.
Saturday:
NC State at Wake Forest (1:00 p.m., ACC Network)
NC State had a golden opportunity to get off to a really good start in conference, but ruined that with a home loss to Georgia Tech. Wake showed a little fight in a road loss at Maryland. NC State has more talent, but it wouldn't surprise me if they lost this game.
UNC at Florida State (2:00 p.m., ESPN)
This looked like a much more attractive matchup before the season started. Florida State just doesn't have enough offensive firepower to compete with the Heels. If they turn it over 20 times, like they have been, they could get blown out of the gym.
Virginia Tech at Boston College (3:00 p.m., FSN)
A couple weeks ago, this looked like an automatic win for Virginia Tech. They should still win, but they have to play better than they played last week at Wake Forest. Boston College is still inept but found a way to win a conference game, which some people thought wouldn't happen at all this year.
Sunday:
Georgia Tech at Maryland (4:00 p.m., ACC Network)
Georgia Tech has definitely shown an improvement in the last two games, and has a chance on the road at Maryland. The Terps were up and down in their win over Wake, and is still looking to find some consistency. This will probably be a competitive but ugly game.
Duke at Clemson (6:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Clemson played well at home last weekend, but erased all that good feeling with their performance last night in Chestnut Hill. Duke isn't quite playing like a top 10 team right now but I can't see them laying an egg and losing to Clemson. Coach K will have them ready to play.
Final Thoughts:
Right now it seems like the gap between North Carolina and Duke is larger than the gap between Duke and Virginia. The Cavaliers might lose a game they shouldn't, but they have a real shot at finishing with an ACC record like 12-4 or 11-5. Besides the top three, who has played two good games in a row? The closest candidate is probably Georgia Tech. And who would have thought that a couple weeks ago?
It's hard to not be doom and gloom about the ACC this year, but so far teams have not stepped up to the plate and advertised that they want to be considered for the NCAA Tournament. Let's hope that starts to happen in the next couple weeks.
Monday, January 09, 2012
The Week Ahead
My note at the end of the last blog proved true, as road teams found life very difficult in the ACC over the weekend. Home teams won in five of the six games. The only road team that won was Duke, and that game was much tighter than expected. These games really didn't do much to provide clarity as to who's good and who isn't, which isn't necessarily good for the league as a whole. It is looking more and more likely that this will be a three bid league. There's still time for things to change, though, starting with this week. Here's what's on tap:
Tuesday:
Florida State at Virginia Tech (7:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Both teams had very disappointing performances on Saturday. The Seminoles can't score, but will stay in games with their defense. Virginia Tech can hit outside shots, but don't have the size to match FSU down low. Both teams have NCAA Tournament aspirations, and the loser will really be behind the 8-ball.
Miami at North Carolina (9:00 p.m., ACC Network)
Miami had a very good chance at pulling off a good road win at UVA. Now they are staring a 0-2 start in conference in the face with a road trip to Chapel Hill. The Heels were a little underwhelming against Boston College and can't take Miami lightly.
Wednesday:
Wake Forest at Maryland (7:00 p.m., FSN)
Wake played well in a win against Virginia Tech, and will look to build some momentum on the road against Maryland. The Terps lost a close one to NC State, but you never really felt like they were going to win that game. If Maryland is going to make some strides, they need to win this game.
Georgia Tech at NC State (9:00 p.m., FSN)
The Wolfpack have a very friendly start to conference play, with home games against Maryland and Georgia Tech. They are still looking for that killer instinct and the ability to put teams away at the end. Georgia Tech played improved basketball against Duke but the Jackets are still a work in progress.
Thursday:
Clemson at Boston College (7:00 p.m., ESPN2)
For as poorly as Clemson was playing, they have a very good shot at starting 2-0. They had a nice win over Florida State, and get a road game against the conference's worst team. Boston College didn't play as poorly as I expected them to in Chapel Hill, but wins will be hard to come by this year.
Virginia at Duke (9:00 p.m., ESPN)
This is the best matchup of the week. Virginia added to their winning streak against Miami, and is playing with a lot of confidence right now. Duke is struggling to find its defensive identity a bit. That being said, it is always very difficult to win at Cameron. If Virginia can keep this in the 50s, they can win.
My note at the end of the last blog proved true, as road teams found life very difficult in the ACC over the weekend. Home teams won in five of the six games. The only road team that won was Duke, and that game was much tighter than expected. These games really didn't do much to provide clarity as to who's good and who isn't, which isn't necessarily good for the league as a whole. It is looking more and more likely that this will be a three bid league. There's still time for things to change, though, starting with this week. Here's what's on tap:
Tuesday:
Florida State at Virginia Tech (7:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Both teams had very disappointing performances on Saturday. The Seminoles can't score, but will stay in games with their defense. Virginia Tech can hit outside shots, but don't have the size to match FSU down low. Both teams have NCAA Tournament aspirations, and the loser will really be behind the 8-ball.
Miami at North Carolina (9:00 p.m., ACC Network)
Miami had a very good chance at pulling off a good road win at UVA. Now they are staring a 0-2 start in conference in the face with a road trip to Chapel Hill. The Heels were a little underwhelming against Boston College and can't take Miami lightly.
Wednesday:
Wake Forest at Maryland (7:00 p.m., FSN)
Wake played well in a win against Virginia Tech, and will look to build some momentum on the road against Maryland. The Terps lost a close one to NC State, but you never really felt like they were going to win that game. If Maryland is going to make some strides, they need to win this game.
Georgia Tech at NC State (9:00 p.m., FSN)
The Wolfpack have a very friendly start to conference play, with home games against Maryland and Georgia Tech. They are still looking for that killer instinct and the ability to put teams away at the end. Georgia Tech played improved basketball against Duke but the Jackets are still a work in progress.
Thursday:
Clemson at Boston College (7:00 p.m., ESPN2)
For as poorly as Clemson was playing, they have a very good shot at starting 2-0. They had a nice win over Florida State, and get a road game against the conference's worst team. Boston College didn't play as poorly as I expected them to in Chapel Hill, but wins will be hard to come by this year.
Virginia at Duke (9:00 p.m., ESPN)
This is the best matchup of the week. Virginia added to their winning streak against Miami, and is playing with a lot of confidence right now. Duke is struggling to find its defensive identity a bit. That being said, it is always very difficult to win at Cameron. If Virginia can keep this in the 50s, they can win.
Friday, January 06, 2012
Conference Games Start!
At long last, we are starting the slate of conference games in the ACC. All 12 teams play their first conference game this weekend. Here's a look ahead:
Saturday:
Duke at Georgia Tech (12:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Duke is coming off a tough (and a little surprising) loss on the road at Temple. They have way too much talent to lose to Georgia Tech though. The Yellow Jackets are a work in progress and were not competitive in a home game earlier this week against Alabama. I would expect Duke to win this one by about 20.
Virginia Tech at Wake Forest (12:00 p.m., ACC Network)
The Hokies have been playing pretty well for the past month or so, and coming off a good road win at Oklahoma State. Wake has played a little better this year but just lost to Wofford at home (they were without their best player C.J. Harris though). If the Hokies are going to make a serious case for an NCAA Tournament bid this year, they need to win games like this.
Boston College at North Carolina (2:30 p.m., ACC Network)
I'm glad we're getting this game out of the way early. It doesn't get any more of a mismatch than this - the worst team on the road against the best team. Boston College is coming off a double overtime loss at home to a Rhode Island team that had previously won two games. UNC may win this one by 40 points.
Florida State at Clemson (4:00 p.m., ESPN2)
Two teams that have been a bit of a disappointment so far this year meet in Littlejohn. At this point, Florida State would have to be the favorite, even on the road. They still struggle to score at times, though. The Seminoles definitely need this game to build their team back up.
Miami at Virginia (6:00 p.m., ESPNU)
This is in my opinion the best matchup of the weekend. Miami is playing a little better since getting Reggie Johnson back. Virginia got a very nice road win at LSU and is looking like a solid #3 team in the conference. If Johnson can play well defensively on Mike Scott, Miami has a chance.
Sunday:
Maryland at NC State (6:00 p.m., ESPNU)
This is one of the biggest differences with the new ACC/ESPN television package - instead of the Sunday Night Hoops game on FSN, there will be a weekly 6 pm game on Sundays on ESPNU. They start out with an intriguing matchup. Maryland is at full strength with Alex Len and Pe'Shon Howard, but I still am not buying that they are a good team. NC State has more talent and needs to win this one at home.
One note - some of these road teams are favored. But it's been proven time and time again how difficult it is to win on the road. Just yesterday, we saw Purdue lose by 20 points at Penn State and Pittsburgh lose to DePaul. To me the difference between good teams and great teams is the ability to win on the road. What I will be interested to see as the year goes on is which teams can show the ability to win away from home - those will be the ones fighting for an NCAA Tournament berth.
At long last, we are starting the slate of conference games in the ACC. All 12 teams play their first conference game this weekend. Here's a look ahead:
Saturday:
Duke at Georgia Tech (12:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Duke is coming off a tough (and a little surprising) loss on the road at Temple. They have way too much talent to lose to Georgia Tech though. The Yellow Jackets are a work in progress and were not competitive in a home game earlier this week against Alabama. I would expect Duke to win this one by about 20.
Virginia Tech at Wake Forest (12:00 p.m., ACC Network)
The Hokies have been playing pretty well for the past month or so, and coming off a good road win at Oklahoma State. Wake has played a little better this year but just lost to Wofford at home (they were without their best player C.J. Harris though). If the Hokies are going to make a serious case for an NCAA Tournament bid this year, they need to win games like this.
Boston College at North Carolina (2:30 p.m., ACC Network)
I'm glad we're getting this game out of the way early. It doesn't get any more of a mismatch than this - the worst team on the road against the best team. Boston College is coming off a double overtime loss at home to a Rhode Island team that had previously won two games. UNC may win this one by 40 points.
Florida State at Clemson (4:00 p.m., ESPN2)
Two teams that have been a bit of a disappointment so far this year meet in Littlejohn. At this point, Florida State would have to be the favorite, even on the road. They still struggle to score at times, though. The Seminoles definitely need this game to build their team back up.
Miami at Virginia (6:00 p.m., ESPNU)
This is in my opinion the best matchup of the weekend. Miami is playing a little better since getting Reggie Johnson back. Virginia got a very nice road win at LSU and is looking like a solid #3 team in the conference. If Johnson can play well defensively on Mike Scott, Miami has a chance.
Sunday:
Maryland at NC State (6:00 p.m., ESPNU)
This is one of the biggest differences with the new ACC/ESPN television package - instead of the Sunday Night Hoops game on FSN, there will be a weekly 6 pm game on Sundays on ESPNU. They start out with an intriguing matchup. Maryland is at full strength with Alex Len and Pe'Shon Howard, but I still am not buying that they are a good team. NC State has more talent and needs to win this one at home.
One note - some of these road teams are favored. But it's been proven time and time again how difficult it is to win on the road. Just yesterday, we saw Purdue lose by 20 points at Penn State and Pittsburgh lose to DePaul. To me the difference between good teams and great teams is the ability to win on the road. What I will be interested to see as the year goes on is which teams can show the ability to win away from home - those will be the ones fighting for an NCAA Tournament berth.
Sunday, January 01, 2012
ACC Power Rankings
As we start the new year, it's a good time to look at how the teams are stacking up so far. Conference play gets started in just a few days, and we have seen enough games to get a feel for who's good and who's not. So here is how I see the ACC right now:
1. North Carolina (12-2)
North Carolina has as much talent as any team in the country. You get the feeling that they haven't quite gotten into the groove that they want to be in, but they are still blowing away people. Their one loss to Kentucky is completely understandable. The one to UNLV somewhat less so, but the Heels have won seven in a row.
2. Duke (12-1)
Duke has played very well against a brutal non-conference schedule. Their one loss was a bad performance against Ohio State, but other than that the Devils have really been on a roll. They already have wins against Michigan, Michigan State, Kansas and Washington.
3. Virginia (12-1)
After Duke and Carolina, there is a significant drop to number three. Virginia earns this spot with their play so far this year. They only have one loss, which wasn't a very good one, against TCU. And they haven't played the best schedule. But they have solid wins against Michigan and at Oregon and are the most consistent team besides the top two.
4. Virginia Tech (11-3)
The Hokies are playing better than expected so far, and their three losses are all against good teams (including #1 Syracuse). Oklahoma State isn't a great team, but there aren't many teams in the ACC that would win in Stillwater like the Hokies just did.
5. NC State (10-4)
The Wolfpack have definitely showed a lot of promise at times, but haven't been able to close the deal in home games against Syracuse and Indiana. Their other two losses are against Vanderbilt and at Stanford, not bad at all. They also have a very good neutral court win against Texas. Look out for State, which has a very favorable schedule to start - they could be 5-0 in conference.
6. Florida State (8-5)
It's tough to figure out where to put the Seminoles. They have definitely been disappointing, with very lethargic offense at times. They only managed 10 points in the first half at home against Princeton, a game they lost in triple OT. Beyond that, the losses aren't bad - Harvard, Michigan State, UConn, Florida. But something is definitely off right now.
7. Miami (8-4)
Miami is definitely better off with Reggie Johnson in the lineup, giving them a threat down low. They don't really have any bad losses so far - losing to Ole Miss, Purdue, Memphis and West Virginia. Miami could be a top shelf team in the ACC by the end of things, but they are still a work in progress right now.
8. Maryland (9-3)
Like Miami, the Terps benefit from a big man coming to the team partway through the year. Alex Len will definitely help Maryland. But beyond him and Terrell Stoglin, there isn't much. Losses are to Illinois, Alabama and Iona. They have also struggled to put away lesser opponents like Radford and FIU. Maryland will struggle this year.
9. Clemson (7-6)
For me, Clemson is the biggest disappointment so far this year. They played very poorly in Hawaii, losing to UTEP and Hawaii and needing overtime to beat Southern Illinois. The Tigers have also lost at home to South Carolina, Coastal Carolina and College of Charleston and on the road at Arizona. After making the tournament last year, they are nowhere close right now.
10. Georgia Tech (7-6)
Georgia Tech is in rebuilding mode in the first year under Brian Gregory. They had a very disappointing loss at Fordham in their last game. The Jackets have also lost to St. Joe's, LSU, Northwestern, Tulane and Mercer. They also have a couple good wins against Georgia and VCU. Don't expect much from Georgia Tech this year.
11. Wake Forest (9-4)
I give Wake credit - they haven't played as poorly this year as last. But they still aren't any good. The losses have been to Dayton, Arizona State, Richmond and Seton Hall. They have two wins against big six conference teams (Nebraska and Texas Tech). They also struggled to beat Yale in their last game at home. I'd still be surprised if they win more than four conference games this year.
12. Boston College (5-8)
Boston College is unspeakably bad. They will not get to double digit wins this year. Here are their losses: Holy Cross, UMass, Saint Louis, New Mexico, Penn State, Boston U, Providence, Harvard. Six of those losses are by double digits. Enough said.
As we start the new year, it's a good time to look at how the teams are stacking up so far. Conference play gets started in just a few days, and we have seen enough games to get a feel for who's good and who's not. So here is how I see the ACC right now:
1. North Carolina (12-2)
North Carolina has as much talent as any team in the country. You get the feeling that they haven't quite gotten into the groove that they want to be in, but they are still blowing away people. Their one loss to Kentucky is completely understandable. The one to UNLV somewhat less so, but the Heels have won seven in a row.
2. Duke (12-1)
Duke has played very well against a brutal non-conference schedule. Their one loss was a bad performance against Ohio State, but other than that the Devils have really been on a roll. They already have wins against Michigan, Michigan State, Kansas and Washington.
3. Virginia (12-1)
After Duke and Carolina, there is a significant drop to number three. Virginia earns this spot with their play so far this year. They only have one loss, which wasn't a very good one, against TCU. And they haven't played the best schedule. But they have solid wins against Michigan and at Oregon and are the most consistent team besides the top two.
4. Virginia Tech (11-3)
The Hokies are playing better than expected so far, and their three losses are all against good teams (including #1 Syracuse). Oklahoma State isn't a great team, but there aren't many teams in the ACC that would win in Stillwater like the Hokies just did.
5. NC State (10-4)
The Wolfpack have definitely showed a lot of promise at times, but haven't been able to close the deal in home games against Syracuse and Indiana. Their other two losses are against Vanderbilt and at Stanford, not bad at all. They also have a very good neutral court win against Texas. Look out for State, which has a very favorable schedule to start - they could be 5-0 in conference.
6. Florida State (8-5)
It's tough to figure out where to put the Seminoles. They have definitely been disappointing, with very lethargic offense at times. They only managed 10 points in the first half at home against Princeton, a game they lost in triple OT. Beyond that, the losses aren't bad - Harvard, Michigan State, UConn, Florida. But something is definitely off right now.
7. Miami (8-4)
Miami is definitely better off with Reggie Johnson in the lineup, giving them a threat down low. They don't really have any bad losses so far - losing to Ole Miss, Purdue, Memphis and West Virginia. Miami could be a top shelf team in the ACC by the end of things, but they are still a work in progress right now.
8. Maryland (9-3)
Like Miami, the Terps benefit from a big man coming to the team partway through the year. Alex Len will definitely help Maryland. But beyond him and Terrell Stoglin, there isn't much. Losses are to Illinois, Alabama and Iona. They have also struggled to put away lesser opponents like Radford and FIU. Maryland will struggle this year.
9. Clemson (7-6)
For me, Clemson is the biggest disappointment so far this year. They played very poorly in Hawaii, losing to UTEP and Hawaii and needing overtime to beat Southern Illinois. The Tigers have also lost at home to South Carolina, Coastal Carolina and College of Charleston and on the road at Arizona. After making the tournament last year, they are nowhere close right now.
10. Georgia Tech (7-6)
Georgia Tech is in rebuilding mode in the first year under Brian Gregory. They had a very disappointing loss at Fordham in their last game. The Jackets have also lost to St. Joe's, LSU, Northwestern, Tulane and Mercer. They also have a couple good wins against Georgia and VCU. Don't expect much from Georgia Tech this year.
11. Wake Forest (9-4)
I give Wake credit - they haven't played as poorly this year as last. But they still aren't any good. The losses have been to Dayton, Arizona State, Richmond and Seton Hall. They have two wins against big six conference teams (Nebraska and Texas Tech). They also struggled to beat Yale in their last game at home. I'd still be surprised if they win more than four conference games this year.
12. Boston College (5-8)
Boston College is unspeakably bad. They will not get to double digit wins this year. Here are their losses: Holy Cross, UMass, Saint Louis, New Mexico, Penn State, Boston U, Providence, Harvard. Six of those losses are by double digits. Enough said.
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