2010-2011 ACC Preview

#10: Georgia Tech

Games against 2010 NCAA Tournament teams: 10
Best non-conference game: Nov. 26 vs. UTEP (in Atlantic City)

Projected Starting Five:
F - Kammeon Holsey (Freshman)
F - Brian Oliver (Sophomore)
G - Glen Rice, Jr. (Sophomore)
G - Ufon Mdofia (Sophomore)
G - Iman Shumpert (Junior)

I like Paul Hewitt. He seems like a good guy, and he has proven to be a very strong recruiter. But the fact of the matter is he's not a very good coach. Hewitt's Georgia Tech teams have consistenly underachieved. He has had so many one-and-done players over the years who really don't help the program. If there was any year that the Yellow Jackets would succeed, it would have been last year, with Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal. But they couldn't even break .500 in the conference, and barely made it in the NCAA Tournament.

So what does that leave Georgia Tech with this year? Lawal and Favors are gone, as is Zach Peacock. They have some talented young guards, notably Ufon Mdofia and Iman Shumpert. But they literally have no frontcourt whatsoever. When I was putting together their starting five, I had no idea who to put in the post position. On their roster of 15 players, they have listed 11 guards, 2 forwards and 2 centers. Of the forwards and centers, three are freshman. And the fourth, Brian Oliver, is not a post man.

So I see the Yellow Jackets going with a very small lineup. It doesn't matter how good your guards are, if you can't defend other teams' interior players you are going to struggle. I see Georgia Tech's young team turning the ball over a lot, even more so than in previous years. And it will be an extremely difficult task for them to get back to the NCAA Tournament.

Taking a look at their schedule, we should find out a lot about Georgia Tech in the Legends Classic in Atlantic City, where they will play UTEP and either Michigan or Syracuse. From there on out, they have few non-conference tests. Fortunately for Georgia Tech, they only have one game against Duke and one against UNC. But I could easily see this being Paul Hewitt's last year in Atlanta.

2010-2011 ACC Preview

#11: Virginia

Games against 2010 NCAA Tournament teams: 11
Best non-conference game: Nov. 22 vs. Washington (in Maui)

Projected Starting Five:
C - Assane Sene (Junior)
F - Mike Scott (Senior)
F - James Johnson (Freshman)
G - Mustapha Farrakhan (Senior)
G - Sammy Zeglinski (Junior)

I fully expected to pick Virginia to finish last in the conference, until I saw Wake Forest's returning roster. The Cavaliers got off to a decent start last year in the first year under Tony Bennett, then fell apart at the end of the year. The Cavs lost 9 in a row to end the regular season and ended up benching their best player, Sylvan Landesberg. As expected, Landesberg went to the NBA. The Cavaliers then lost another good player, Jeff Jones, who decided to transfer. And a number of players graduated.

What that leaves Virginia with is one very solid player in Mike Scott. He is good for 20 points and 10 rebounds most nights. Their second best player, Sammy Zeglinski, is injured and will miss the first part of the year. Their other returning players, including Farrakhan and Sene, are really just role players. Virginia does bring in a bunch of freshman, who will be counted on to be impact players immediately.

What I will be looking for this year is to see whether Tony Bennett is able to establish his imprint on this program. His teams at Washington State were known for playing very tough defenses - usually the first to 60 won. That didn't really happen much at Virginia last year, probably because of the personnel that they had.

I will give the Cavaliers credit - they have put together a very challenging non-conference schedule, one of the few teams in the ACC to do so. Virginia will be representing the ACC in Maui this year, where they will have some stiff competition. They also travel to California to play Stanford, and host BCS foes Oregon, Iowa State and LSU. They will certainly take their lumps in November and December but could emerge ready to compete by the time conference play comes around.

2010-2011 ACC Preview

The calendar has turned to November and that means it's just about time for the basketball season to start. And for me that means putting together another ACC preview. The media came up with its predictions for the year, and now it's my turn. I will be counting down from #12 to my prediction as the #1 team in the conference. Before I list the #12 team, a few words about the preview.

I think coming into the year most people will say this will be a down year for the ACC. And it's hard for me to argue with that, looking at the talent that was lost and the rosters for the teams. Once you get past the first few teams, the league is as wide open as any year I've seen it. One of the things I look at going into the year is how many games each team plays against NCAA Tournament teams from the year before. Last year, each team played at least 10 such games, with some much more than that. This year, some teams only have 8 games against NCAA Tourney teams. That's mostly a function of the fact that only 6 ACC teams made the tournament last year. And I'm a bit disappointed with some of the non-conference schedules. Many teams are not playing very challenging slates at all.

With that being said, let's start the list with who I predict will be the last place finisher.

#12: Wake Forest

Games against 2010 NCAA Tournament teams: 11
Best non-conference game: Dec. 18 at Xavier

Projected Starting Five:
C - Ty Walker (Junior)
F - Travis McKie (Freshman)
F - Ari Stewart (Sophomore)
G - C.J. Harris (Sophomore)
G - Gary Clark (Senior)

There really is no sugar-coating: Wake Forest is in for a rough year. The Deacons made the NCAA Tournament last year with a squad of talented players, getting to the second round. Then it was goodbye to Coach Dino Gaudio. And goodbye to Al-Farouq Aminu, among others. That leaves new Coach Jeff Bzdelik to try to impart a new system with a virtually bare cupboard.

The Demon Deacons do not have many players with real significant game experience. Here are the pieces that return from last year: Senior Gary Clark scored 3.2 points per game last year. Guard C.J. Harris scored 9.9 points per game last year as a freshman. Ari Stewart scored 7.3 points per game last year. And that's it. No one else had significant playing time in 2009-2010. The Deacons have very few weapons in the frontcourt, and will miss the point guard leadership of Ish Smith.

The bottom line is I just don't know where the scoring is going to come from with Wake. Harris is going to be a solid player but he's not a scoring machine. They have to hope their incoming freshman will be able to play immediately for them to do anything this year. They do have a fairly easy early season schedule. But we should learn a lot at the NIT Season Tip-Off event in MSG on Thanksgiving week.

Season Recap: Wake Forest

2009-2010
Wake Forest: 20-11 (9-7 ACC)

Most ACC teams you could pretty easily categorize in the year being either a success or a failure. With Wake Forest, I don't think that's as clearcut. They came in with pretty high expectations, coming off their best year in quite a while. The Deacs did a decent job to start the season. They did suffer back-to-back losses to William and Mary, and at Purdue. But they came back with a very solid road win at Gonzaga, the start of a 7 game winning streak.

Just like they did last year, Wake started out the conference slate pretty strong. At one point they were up to 8-3 in ACC play. The big key for them in this part of the season was Ish Smith. He was relegated to a backup role the previous year, playing behind Jeff Teague. But once Teague left, that gave the spotlight back to Smith, and he really shined. He and Al-Farouq Aminu turned into a very solid combination.

Unfortunately for Wake, just like the previous year, the wheels came off a bit in the latter part of the season. They went 1-4 in their last five conference games, including a home loss to North Carolina. Then they got blown out in the first round of the ACC Tournament by 12 seed Miami. They were able to put things back together for one game, though. Wake knocked off Texas in the first round of the NCAAs in a very entertaining game that went into overtime. Their season ended with a blowout loss to Kentucky.

Best Win: 81-80 (OT) over Texas (3/18)

There really weren't a lot of expectations for Wake coming into the NCAA Tournament, having lost 5 of 6. And they were facing a Texas team that was one of the most talented teams in the country, once having been ranked #1. Wake played very well, though, and despite blowing a lead late in regulation was able to win this one in overtime. It was a big boost for a team that got embarrassed in the first round of the NCAAs the year before.

Worst Loss: 83-62 to Miami (3/11)

Wake looked absolutely terrible in this ACC Tournament game, getting blown out from the start by a team that was a lot less talented. They couldn't get anything going, and were one of many high seeds to make an early exit from this bizarre ACC Tournament week.

Postseason Play:

As explained above, Wake did not have a long or impressive stay in the ACC Tournament. They got a berth in an 8/9 game in the NCAAs against Texas, and were able to win in overtime. Then, the Deacons had to face a very tough Kentucky squad, and were never really in the game. They lost by 30 points.

What's Ahead:

You have to say that any good feelings Wake fans had at the end of the year have since been erased. In a somewhat surprising move, Wake dumped Coach Dino Gaudio after three seasons in which he made 2 NCAA Tournament appearances. In place of him, they brought in Jeff Bzdelik, an interesting hire. He has spent most of his recent time out west, coaching the Denver Nuggets in the NBA, and then Colorado. At Colorado, his record was 36-58 (ouch!).

What Bzdelik inherits is a team that is losing a lot. Aminu is leaving for the NBA Draft, along with his 15.8 points per game. Second leading scorer Ish Smith is graduating. As are big man Chas McFarland, L.D. Williams and David Weaver. That represents four of their top six scorers from this past year. Wake will have some decent players, like Ari Stewart and C.J. Harris back, but it will probably be a down year in Winston-Salem next year.

Season Recap: Virginia Tech

2009-2010
Virginia Tech: 25-9 (10-6 ACC)

How successful Virginia Tech was this past season probably depends on your point of view. If you look at the results, it has to be a success. The Hokies were not picked very highly coming into the season. But they were able to get off to a good start. They won road games at Iowa and Penn State, and beat Seton Hall on a neutral court to run out to a 12-1 record. They really didn't slow down much once conference play begun. At one point, Tech won 5 straight conference games, finishing with 10 conference wins and in fourth place.

Tech's success was largely due to their Big Three: Malcolm Delaney, Jeff Allen and Dorenzo Hudson. Hudson especially really stepped up his game this year, finishing with 15.2 points per game. Those three players combined to score 47 points per game, second in the league to Duke's Big Three. Where Tech fans will be disappointed is that they seemingly did everything except make it to the NCAA Tournament. Most people point to their weak out-of-conference schedule as the biggest factor. So for a third year in a row, they had to settle for a high seed in the NIT.

Best Win: 88-82 at Georgia Tech (3/6)

The Hokies were coming into this game squarely on the bubble, having in their last road game been embarrassed against BC. But they came into this game on a mission, and with both teams lighting up the scoreboard were able to lead most of the way. At the time, this looked like a huge road win that would vault them into the NCAA field.

Worst Loss: 70-65 to Miami (3/12)

The good feelings obviously didn't carry into their next game, which was a very disappointing loss to Miami in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. The Hokies seemed to be out of rhythm most of the game, and caught a Miami team that was peaking at that time. This set into motion a three day stretch where Tech went from a virtual lock to on the bubble to out of the NCAA Tournament.

Postseason Play:

As detailed above, Virginia Tech was another of the high seeds to not have a long stay in the ACC Tournament. That ended up sending them to the NIT. They had a decent run in the NIT, but were disappointed to once again not make it to Madison Square Garden. Tech started out with a pretty easy 20 point win over overmatched Quinnipiac. They then got one of their best wins of the year with a come from behind 2 point victory over UConn. They fell in the quarterfinals, though, to Rhode Island, losing at home by 7.

What's Ahead:

The Hokies definitely come into the year as one of the favorites in the conference. The biggest thing for them was Malcolm Delaney's decision to return for his senior season. He will lead a squad that is really not losing much: 2 seniors who had a combined 2.2 points per game last season. They will probably count more on last year's freshman class, which showed some promise. There will be two keys to next season: can the Hokies win some games against top level talent in the non-conference? They have a much more difficult schedule on tap, which should help them get NCAA consideration. And can they perform when they are the hunted? The last time they came in with high expectations, they had a disastrous year.

Season Recap: Virginia

2009-2010
Virginia: 15-16 (5-11 ACC)

The season was a bit of a roller coaster for the Virginia Cavaliers. The general consensus coming into the season was that they would struggle, with one star player and not much else. And there were some growing pains. Virginia struggled a bit in the non-conference, losing four games. But they really turned the corner when they started ACC play. The Cavs went on an 8 game winning streak, starting the conference season 3-0. Much of the credit was given (rightly so) to new coach Tony Bennett, who instilled a different attitude. On the court, the catalyst was Mike Scott, who proved a more than adequate counterpart to Sylven Landesberg.

In February, things started to turn south. After their great start in conference, they lost 9 conference games in a row. They started 5-2 and ended up finishing 5-11 in the ACC. And of those 9 losses, only 2 were within single digits. One of the big reasons they struggled was the play of Sammy Zeglinski. The guard with seemingly unlimited range just couldn't hit a shot, and ended up finishing the season with a disappointing 8.9 PPG.

Best Win: 75-60 at UNC (1/31)

Some people thought coming into this game that UVA had come back down to earth, after two straight losses. But they came into Chapel Hill and really dominated from the get-go. They outhustled and outshot the Heels, and really embarrassed them in their own gym. This was probably the seminal moment in UNC's collapse. Unfortunately for UVA, it was a precursor to their own collapse.

Worst Loss: 76-71 to Virginia Tech (1/28)

In the game before their win over UNC, Virginia was in the driver's seat against their rival Hokies. They were up by 10 points at the under four timeout, only to see Tech come back and force overtime. In the overtime, the Hokies were in control. This was a devastating home loss for UVA and was really the first time in the conference season where they showed vulnerability.

Postseason Play:

UVA came into the ACC Tournament with no momentum and nothing to play for. But they were able to put together one of their better performances of the year, beating Boston College in the first round by six points. They then took on Duke, and were able to keep it somewhat close. But in the end, they only scored 46 points in an 11 point defeat. UVA finished the season with a losing record and did not get another postseason bid.

What's Ahead:

There is a lot of uncertainty facing this program now. At the end of the year, star player Landesberg got into some trouble, and ended up on the bench. And now he's headed to the NBA. That leaves a big offensive hole, as he was good for more than 17 points per game. Along with that, Jeff Jones decided to transfer. He was bringing in 7 points per game, and was coming on at the second half of the season. Tristan Spurlock also decided to transfer. He was a role player. UVA also loses Calvin Baker, Solomon Tat and Jerome Meyinsse to graduation.

That leaves them with about 29 points per game returning, with almost half of those coming from Mike Scott. UVA better hope that Zeglinski have a much better year and an incoming freshman class really perform, or they are in for a long 2010-2011 season.

Season Recap: NC State

2009-2010
NC State: 20-16 (5-11 ACC)

Out of all the teams in the ACC, I would say NC State had the least surprising year. They were predicted to be near the bottom of the conference, and that's where they finished. Sidney Lowe's team had another year where they had some decent wins but some head-shaking losses and a pretty good run in the ACC Tournament. The season started out fine: an 8-1 record with the only loss being to Northwestern, and a road win at Marquette thrown in.

Things started to unravel with an unlikely heave from Chandler Parsons of Florida to beat State in Raleigh in overtime. And once they got into the conference, the lack of talent did them in. State had a stretch where they lost 7 of 8, with the only win being over NC Central. They were a team that had some real trouble scoring at times. Tracy Smith turned into a very nice inside player, but they didn't have any consistent threat on the outside. At times, Javier Gonzalez would be great, and other times he would disappear. The Wolfpack ended up with only two players averaging double figures.

You have to wonder how much rope Lowe has left. He had another year in which he finished pretty strong, which made the fan base feel a bit more optimistic. The Wolfpack did win 3 of their last 4 conference games, then won 2 in the ACC Tournament and 1 in the NIT.

Best Win: 88-74 over Duke (1/20)

This was an easy choice. NC State came into the game with a 1-3 conference record, and the eventual National Champion coming in. But they played their most inspired game of the year, really controlling the game, and played really well on both sides of the floor. This was a head-scratcher, but State did rise up to their competition a few times. Three of their five conference wins were against teams who made the tournament.

Worst Loss: 77-63 to UNC (1/26)

A week after the Duke game, the Wolfpack had a great chance to knock off their biggest rival at home, a team that was really struggling. But State had a dud performance, losing by 14. For all Carolina's struggles this year, they played well against NC State, sweeping the two games they played.

Postseason Play:

The postseason certainly could have gone much worse for NC State. They came into the ACC Tournament as an 11 seed. In the first round, they were able to win a close one against Clemson, by 2 points. Then they knocked out another NCAA Tournament bound team in Florida State by 6. They gave Georgia Tech a battle in the semis before losing by 3. Carrying that momentum, they were able to get a bid to the NIT. In the first round, State put together a nice performance to knock off South Florida on the road by 1. They had a tough time in the second round, though, losing by 20 to UAB in a game in which they only scored 52 points.

What's Ahead:

Like I said before, there is reason for optimism in Raleigh, but I'm not sure if that is justified as long as Lowe is still there. The Wolfpack have a decent nucleus coming back, led by Smith, who tested the draft waters but decided not to go pro. Gonzalez returns, along with young players with potential like Richard Howell and CJ Williams. State will lose Dennis Horner, the second leading scorer this past year, and Farnold Degand, who I always thought was more of a negative than a positive. Josh Davis and Julius Mays have decided to transfer.

State will also bring in a very strong recruiting class, led by C.J. Leslie. They will probably have the pieces to finish in the top half of the ACC next year. But will they be able to win with Lowe as coach? That remains to be seen.

Season Recap: North Carolina

2009-2010
North Carolina: 20-17 (5-11 ACC)

By their fans' standards, it was nothing short of a disastrous year in Chapel Hill. UNC was coming off another national championship, and was losing most of its best players. But the returning talent was equal to any other team in the league. They were even in some people's Top 5 in the preseason. And the season started out ok. They started out 7-1, with wins over Ohio State and Michigan State. But then things started to unravel. The tipping point was a loss at College of Charleston.

North Carolina's youth never really seemed to gel. They would get into stretches where they would just continue to turn the ball over and miss shots, and games would spiral out of control. They were especially vulnerable at home, going 3-5 in the conference. And at one point they lost 7 of 8 games. That is just not Tar Heel basketball. If you take a look at their five conference wins, two of those were against NC State and one was against Miami. They just did not get it done against top shelf competition in the conference.

The one bright spot of the season had to be how the Tar Heels played in the NIT. They honestly should not have even gotten a bid to this tournament, and could have gone out quietly. But they won four games in getting to the final in Madison Square Garden. Perhaps that's something to build on for next year.

Best Win: 89-82 over Michigan State (12/1)

This was back in the part of the season where the Heels were playing well. But still, beating a Final Four team like Michigan State was a big achievement. UNC built a big halftime lead and was able to hold on for the seven point win. It had to be a big confidence boost for the Heels, which did have a very tough non-conference schedule. Their next game, in fact, was a road game at Kentucky.

Worst Loss: 75-60 to UVA (1/31)

There were a lot of candidates for this slot, but I'm going to go with their home loss to UVA. They had lost three of four coming in to this game, but no one expected them to just get blown out at home by the Cavaliers. This was one of those games where the Heels just had no fire and things seemed to spiral out of control. This was also the start of that losing streak of 7 out of 8.

Postseason Play:

At first, it looked like the postseason would be short for UNC. They built a lead in their first round ACC Tournament game against Georgia Tech, only to see that disappear. They were lucky to get a bid to the NIT, but made the best of it. It started with a strange home win against William and Mary, in a game not played in the Dean Dome. Then they traveled on the road and beat Mississippi State by 2 and UAB by 5. UNC carried that momentum to New York, winning in overtime over Rhode Island before finally falling to Dayton by 11.

What's Ahead:

UNC probably has the most uncertainty of any team in the conference coming into next year. A lot of the pundits will have them ranked pretty high purely based on talent. Although they are losing a lot: Deon Thompson and Marcus Ginyard are graduating. Ed Davis is going pro. And David and Travis Wear have transferred out. So what's left? They still have solid guards in Larry Drew and Dexter Strickland. 3-point shooter Will Graves returns. As do solid big men Tyler Zeller and John Henson. That right there is a pretty good starting five. But it remains to be seen whether they can put it all together for a solid season.

Season Recap: Miami

2009-2010
Miami: 20-13 (4-12 ACC)

It was certainly an up and down year for the Miami Hurricanes. No one knew quite what to make of them early in the year. They came out looking very strong in the non-conference. The Canes started the season 15-1, with the only loss being a one point road defeat at BC. In that stretch, they managed wins against South Carolina and Minnesota. But from that point forward through the end of the regular season, they went 3-11. It started with blowout losses at Virginia Tech and UVA, and snowballed from there.

I knew Miami would be down after losing Jack McClinton. And I think one of the biggest factors in their disappointing season was the ineffectiveness of Dwayne Collins. He was primed to have a big year on the inside, but never really got it going, and ended up the season injured. The Canes were also very young and inexperienced, and I think that weighed on them as the losses piled up. Their performance on the road was certainly a factor. The Canes went 0-8 in conference on the road.

They did finish the season strong, though. Miami had a very good showing in the ACC Tournament as a 12 seed, beating Wake by 21 points and Virginia Tech by 5 before losing a close game to Duke.

Best Win: 83-62 over Wake Forest (3/11)

Miami came into this first round ACC Tournament game having lost 5 of 6. They were facing a team headed to the NCAA Tournament. But they didn't show any signs of intimidation, taking it to Wake from the opening tip. Miami held a pretty substantial lead at halftime and never looked back, sparking a nice ACC Tournament run.

Worst Loss: 79-75 to Boston College (1/19)

The Canes were coming off those two blowout losses to the Virginia schools, and were finally getting something going. They were up by 17 points at home in the second half, and somehow blew that lead to a not very good Boston College team. This had to be extremely demoralizing, and was a definite sign that this Miami team was not as good as its 15-1 start indicated.

Postseason Play:

As noted before, Miami had a nice run in the ACC Tournament. They played their best basketball of the year against three good teams, and certainly surprised a lot of people. The main theme of this year's ACC Tournament was parity, and Miami was the foremost example of the strength from top to bottom in the conference. The Canes must have been disappointed after posting a 20-13 record to not get any sort of invitation for a postseason tournament. I thought the NIT would have taken Miami.

What's Ahead:

The performance at the end of the year certainly leaves a lot of optimism in Coral Gables about next year. Miami definitely has talented players, but they were very young this past year. So it's not unreasonable to expect a fairly big improvement. They do lose some key players, including Collins, James Dews, Adrian Thomas and Cyrus McGowan. That represents the top two scorers from this year, as well as the number five scorer. But the rest of the team is freshmen and sophomores. I expect Durand Scott and Malcolm Grant to really have an impact next year. The question will be getting inside production. Miami needs guys like Reggie Johnson and Julian Gamble to step up and fill the void Collins is leaving. If they can, Miami has a chance to make it back to the NCAA Tournament.

Season Recap: Maryland

2009-2010
Maryland: 24-9 (13-3 ACC)

You'd have to say it was a pretty good year for the Maryland Terrapins. They came in with one of the best players in the country, Greivis Vasquez, as well as a good incoming freshman class. And they really did not disappoint. The Terps started out a little slowly, with a less than stellar showing in Maui. But they turned it up once they got into conference play, and really dominated the competition.

I don't think many people thought Maryland would lose only 3 ACC games. They were a very skilled offensive team, and really played just as well on the home and the road. In some games, the Terps completely dominated their competition. Obviously the main reason why was Vasquez. He has always had the ability to elevate his play when he needed to and win in the clutch. He wasn't alone, though. Eric Hayes and Landon Milbourne could be counted on for big scoring nights, and freshman Jordan Williams was a breakout star. All that under consideration, the stars were aligned for a special year.

Best Win: 79-72 over Duke (3/3)

A lot of people thought Duke was going to win this game, even up in College Park. But the Terps played a strong game, getting out to a big early lead and pulling it out down the stretch. This win enabled them to seize a first place tie they would not relinquish.

Worst Loss: 69-64 to Georgia Tech (3/12)

Maryland had a chance to really make a run in the ACC Tournament, but they were stopped even before they started. The Terps played really poorly in the first half of this quarterfinal game, and despite trying to make a furious comeback were unable to win. This may have hurt their seeding in the NCAAs.

Postseason Play:

The ACC Tournament was definitely a disappointment for Maryland. They went into the NCAAs as a 4 seed with a tough draw. They were able to put together a nice win over an up-tempo Houston team, 89-77. The real heartbreak came in the next game, though. Maryland took on 5 seed Michigan State. The Spartans outplayed Maryland for most of the game, but the Terps were able to stage a valiant comeback, even taking a late lead. But Michigan State was able to win with a 3 pointer at the buzzer, knocking Maryland out in the second round.

What's Ahead:

I talked earlier about how everything came together for a great season for Maryland. This really was the year to get something done, because I think they are due for a step backward. Maryland loses the heart and soul of their team, Vasquez. Also gone are Hayes and Milbourne. So Maryland will be losing its 3 top scorers. They still have a chance to have a good year with emerging talents in Williams and Sean Mosley. But some of these other guys will really have to pick up the slack if they want to make it back to the Big Dance.

Season Recap: Georgia Tech

2009-2010
Georgia Tech: 23-13 (7-9 ACC)

It was certainly an interesting year for Georgia Tech. Coming into the year, a lot of people had the Yellow Jackets ranked very highly, some even had them as a Final Four sleeper. That was due mostly to the presence of super freshman Derrick Favors. I was a little less enthusiastic about the Jackets, because as much as I like Paul Hewitt, he has proven to be a better recruiter than coach. And for the most part, I was right.

Georgia Tech had a decent out-of-conference season, although their schedule was not all that tough. Once they got into conference play, though, they struggled. They couldn't find ways to take advantage of Favors and Gani Lawal, and their big problem was turnovers. It would be very frustrating to be a Georgia Tech fan the way they are so loose with the ball. Many times, they would have unforced errors and look as if they had never practiced before. But they certainly had a lot of talent. And that came to play in March, as they made a nice run to the ACC Tournament final and won a game in the NCAAs.

Best Win: 69-64 over Maryland (3/12)

Georgia Tech was on the bubble coming into the NCAA Tournament. They were able to beat UNC, and then got a huge boost with this win over Maryland. In this game, they got out to a huge lead in the first half, only to see Maryland come all the way back. But in the end the Yellow Jackets were able to make enough plays to win.

Worst Loss: 73-66 to Georgia (1/5)

I know Georgia is Georgia Tech's biggest rival, but they were not a good team this year. And a team with the talent of Georgia Tech should not lose to them, even in Athens. This was one achilles heel for the Jackets this year: playing on the road. Georgia Tech went 3-8 on the road this year.

Postseason Play:

Without a doubt, the postseason was a success. Georgia Tech was able to beat UNC, Maryland and NC State in the ACC Tournament as a 7 seed, advancing to the final. They held their own against Duke before losing by 4. That put them squarely in the NCAA Tournament, where as a 10 seed they pulled off a mild upset in beating Oklahoma State, 64-59. They then had to face a very good Ohio State team, and lost that one 75-66.

What's Ahead:

Paul Hewitt has earned himself another year. But this next season could be a tough one. Derrick Favors has declared for the NBA Draft. Gani Lawal has done the same. They also lose Zach Peacock and D'Andre Bell. That represents 4 of the top 6 scorers. The Jackets have some talented guards coming back, including Imam Shumpert and Mfon Udofia. But who's going to play under the basket? The highest scoring big man left scored 1.3 points per game. Georgia Tech will likely take a step down and be hard pressed to make it back to the NCAAs.

Season Recap: Florida State

2009-2010
Florida State: 22-10 (10-6 ACC)

I think this was a bit of a validating year for Florida State. For years you could count on them to finish somewhere around 8-8 in the conference, have a couple good wins at home, and just miss out on the NCAA Tournament (basically what Virginia Tech is now). In 08-09 they had a breakout year, thanks largely to star Toney Douglas, making it to the NCAAs. This year without Douglas I thought there might be a bit of a drop-off. But the Noles held it together, with a very solid year and another NCAA bid.

The key for Florida State this past year was defense. They had as much size as anyone in the ACC, and were very tough to score inside against. Solomon Alabi had a nice sophomore season, and was the leader of the team. But it wasn't just one guy getting it done. They had six players average between 8 and 12 points per game. The other thing you could count on Florida State for was consistency. They didn't have any glaringly bad losses or any spectacular wins. They just played solidly from start to finish.

Best Win: 57-56 over Marquette in Orlando (11/29)

Florida State made an early-season statement, winning the Old Spice Classic. In the final, they knocked off a strong Marquette team by one point. This ranks as their best non-conference win by a mile.

Worst Loss: 58-52 to NC State (3/12)

It's bad enough that Florida State lost at home to NC State fairly early in the conference season. But it happened again in the ACC Tournament! The Wolfpack seemed to have the Noles' number this year, winning in a high scoring game and a low scoring game.

Postseason Play:

Much like Clemson, Florida State struggled once they got into postseason play. After losing to NC State in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament, they got a 9 seed and played against Gonzaga in the NCAAs. Gonzaga really had control of that game, and ended up beating the Noles, 67-60. It goes down as a second straight first round loss for FSU.

What's Ahead:

The Seminoles will go into next season as one of the favorites in the conference. Their only senior of any significance is Ryan Reid. Players like Alabi and Chris Singleton will be in their third years. And look for guard Michael Snaer to have a breakout season. It's clear that in the last couple years under Leonard Hamilton, the Seminoles have elevated their program to the next level. What remains to be seen is whether they can take another step to become a top 20 team.

Season Recap: Duke

2009-2010
National Champions
Duke: 35-5 (13-3 ACC)

What can you say about Duke this year? They had a great run in March and won the National Championship in thrilling fashion over Butler. This was Duke's first championship since 2001, and first Final Four appearance since 2004.

This was not the Duke team I figured would win a title. But they were a bit of a different Duke team, especially with the focus on size and rebounding. Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas were every bit as valuable as the Big Three. That being said, I think the main reason why Duke had so much success was that they had three people who could really shoot the ball. All they needed was two of the three to have a good game to win.

The Blue Devils were absolutely dominant at home this year. They did not lose a game, and their closest win was a 9 point victory over St. John's. They did have a few slip-ups on the road, but were at their best when it counted, in the NCAA Tournament.

Best Win: 78-71 over Baylor (3/28)

Duke hadn't really been that tested in the NCAA Tournament until this Elite 8 game. They played a tough Baylor team that was very long and athletic and could shoot it. But Duke didn't back down, turning a close game in their favor late. A lot of people were picking Baylor in this one, and this was the biggest hurdle for Duke until the championship game.

Worst Loss: 88-74 to NC State (1/20)

This is an easy choice if you look at their other four losses: Wisconsin, Georgia Tech, Georgetown and Maryland. All of those teams made the NCAAs. This loss was a bit of a head scratcher at the time, but NC State had an amazing shooting night and just caught Duke on an off-night.

Postseason Play:

The postseason couldn't have gone better for Duke. They breezed through the ACC Tournament, with a fairly easy road that included games against a 9, 12 and 7 seeds. And once in they got into the NCAAs, they turned it up a notch. Duke beat great teams like Purdue, Baylor and West Virginia. And they were able to hold on against a very tough Butler squad in the final game.

What's Ahead:

Many people are putting Duke right back in the Top 5 for next year. They certainly should be the favorites to win the ACC again. The big question mark is whether Kyle Singler will come back for his senior year. We know the Blue Devils will lose Jon Scheyer, Zoubek and Thomas. They will still have Nolan Smith, plus they will add Seth Curry and a great recruiting class. If Andre Dawkins can develop into a dangerous shooter, this team could make another Final Four run.

Season Recap: Clemson

2009-2010
Clemson: 21-11 (9-7 ACC)

What we thought was going to be a quiet offseason for Clemson has been anything but. Coach Oliver Purnell decided to bolt for Big East doormat DePaul. Clemson settled on Wright State coach Brad Brownell. More on the future of the program later. For now, let's look back at 2009.

Clemson has been pretty predictable in recent years. They do extremely well in the non-conference, only to come back to earth in the ACC and lose in the first round of the NCAAs. Now I will say I never really thought this Clemson team had the talent of the teams in past years. They lost great players like K.C. Rivers and Terence Oglesby, and the incoming class didn't really produce anyone of note. So it was a good accomplishment to get where they did: you can't take making the NCAA Tournament for granted.

Clemson did most of its damage this year at home. Their only home loss in conference was to Duke. They did struggle some on the road, going 2-6 in conference. But I'm sure fans are disappointed by how the season ended. The Tigers lost to NC State in their first round ACC game, and then fell to 10 seed Missouri in the first round of the NCAAs.

Best Win: 70-69 over Butler in Anaheim (11/29)

This game in the 76 Classic didn't get a lot of attention, but when you knock off the team that gets to the National Title game, that earns you this spot. Clemson had already lost once in the tournament, to Texas A&M, and put together a nice win to add to their resume. But it was hard to keep the momentum from that game...

Worst Loss: 76-74 to Illinois (12/2)

I like to put conference games in these spots, but I just couldn't overlook this one. Clemson was up by 23 points at home in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, and let Illinois come all the way back to win. It was definitely a game that sent shockwaves through the country, and was the first real sign of a chink in the armor of the Tigers.

Postseason Play:

As I mentioned earlier, it was a rough end to the season. The Tigers lost in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. They were still able to get a 7 seed in the NCAAs, largely due to their non-conference resume. But they lost by 8 to Mizzou. This is the third straight year Clemson has lost in the first round of the NCAAs. And they haven't won an NCAA Tournament game this decade.

What's Ahead:

Like Boston College, Clemson certainly has a lot of question marks with a new coach. Brad Brownell compiled a decent record at Wright State and Old Dominion, but it was nothing overwhelming. Experts I've read seem to like the hire, but I think it will take some time to work out. The good thing is Oliver Purnell has not left the cupboard bare. Clemson loses its heart and soul, Trevor Booker. That will be a tough loss. The only other senior is David Potter. They have some potential with young big guys like Trevor's brother Devin Booker and Jerai Grant.

I think the question mark will be outside shooting. Demontez Stitt is a good shooter but they don't have a lot else in terms of offensive firepower. Still, I expect Clemson to contend for a fourth straight NCAA bid next year.

Season Recap: Boston College

Now that the season is over, it's time to look back at 2009-2010. Did the team meet expectations? What were the best and worst moments? Plus I'll look ahead to next year. Starting in alphabetical order, let's go with Boston College.

2009-2010
BC: 15-16 (6-10 ACC)

Overall, it wasn't a very good year for the Eagles. They couldn't really get it done in the non-conference, losing several games they shouldn't have. BC lost home games to Harvard, Rhode Island, and Maine, and really didn't have momentum going into the conference season. They found themselves in a lot of close games, but couldn't win them down the stretch. It certainly did not help that they went 1-7 on the road in conference.

If you take a look at how BC has performed well in the last few years, they have really had one standout player that could score in bunches in their flex offense. That has been Craig Smith, Jared Dudley, and Tyrese Rice in recent years. But this year, they had no one that could fill that void. The most explosive scorer was Reggie Jackson, who didn't seem to fit the offense they ran. They also had players who played big roles in the past not really step up this year. I'm thinking of Rakim Sanders, an athletic guard-forward who can knock down shots. He averaged 11 points per game, but didn't have more than 15 points in any game. And his shooting percentages dropped significantly.

Best Win: 75-69 over Clemson (1/26)

This was BC's only win of the season over a team that made the NCAA Tournament. They played decently at home, going 5-3 in the ACC. But they couldn't keep the momentum from this game, losing their next four games.

Worst Loss: 52-51 to Maine (1/2)

I don't know how you lose a home game to Maine. The Black Bears finished third in the America East. This came after BC already lost home games to Harvard and Rhode Island.

Postseason Play:

The Eagles lost in the first round of the ACC Tournament to a Virginia team that had lost 9 games in a row. They did not make any postseason tournaments.

What's Ahead:

Surprisingly, BC dumped Al Skinner after he expressed interest in the St. John's job. Skinner had a great run at BC, and I thought this was a bit of a hasty firing. Now they have to go back to the drawing board with Cornell coach Steve Donahue. Donahue certainly made a name for himself this year, with a great run to the Sweet 16. It will be interesting to see what style he brings to the team. They will probably go from a flex offense to one that is more oriented on the 3. The problem is Boston College doesn't really have good 3 point shooters.

The good news is BC doesn't lose much. Role player Tyler Roche is the only senior. So they have the experience. We'll see if that can translate to more wins next year.

Championship Game Preview

It certainly appears as if Duke is on its way to another National Championship. The Blue Devils looked as good as they have all year against West Virginia. When Scheyer, Singler and Smith are all hitting 3s, it's almost impossible to beat Duke. The Mountaineers didn't stand much of a chance, and had to play from behind all game.

On the other hand, Butler survived in its game with Michigan State. Both teams shot a horrible percentage down the stretch, and Butler was able to hang on (barely). If the Bulldogs have any chance against Duke, they must hit shots, both inside and out. They have to keep Matt Howard in the game battling for rebounds against Brian Zoubek. And they have to hope that one or two of Duke's big three are not hitting. Otherwise the Blue Devils will be the second ACC team in a row to cut down the nets.

Final Four Preview

We've got two compelling matchups in the Final Four on Saturday. Here's how I see them:

#5 Butler vs. #5 Michigan State (6:07 p.m.)
Butler continues to ride its long winning streak, playing very solid on both ends. They are the type of team that doesn't look very athletic but surprises you with the plays they can make. Gordon Hayward is the standout: he can play inside or outside. And Butler can really clamp down on you on defense. I think the matchup that provides a problem for Butler is Michigan State's Draymond Green. The big guy can bring the ball up the court, and he can go in the low block and post up. He is going to be a tough cover for Matt Howard. I feel like with a week to prepare, Tom Izzo will have a good defensive gameplan for Butler, and the Spartans will win a close one.

#1 Duke vs. #2 West Virginia (8:47 p.m.)
This is the marquee matchup of the day. West Virginia is playing in its first Final Four since 1959. Duke has been there many times since then. Both teams put a lot of emphasis on defense. West Virginia really clamped down on Kentucky and forced them into way too many outside shots. The problem with that in this game is that Duke is a much better three point shooting team than Kentucky. Where West Virginia has the advantage, though, is its physicality. They can outmuscle Duke's big guys on the glass and get second chance opportunities. Duke has played well in the tournament, but they haven't played a team as good as West Virginia. I give the edge to the Mountaineers.

Elite Eight Recap

We had four more very competitive games this weekend, as the Final Four is set. If anyone predicted these four, you should go ahead and buy a lottery ticket. Let's start with the first game, where Butler continued to impress in knocking off Kansas State. I think fatigue was definitely a factor for the Wildcats. And Butler made solid plays down the stretch to win and head home to Indy.

West Virginia pulled off a win over favorite Kentucky. It was a strange game, with WVU not making any 2 point field goals in the first half but still leading at halftime. In the second half, Kentucky's defense broke down, giving up way too many easy baskets. You have to wonder about John Calipari. If he couldn't win it all with this talent and no Kansas, when is he going to ever win?

Michigan State continues to get it done in March, taking out Tennessee in the last minute. Tom Izzo has really impressed me the last two years with his abililty to get the most out of his team during the tournament. Tennessee has to be kicking itself: it had a golden opportunity to get to the first ever Final Four and came up just short.

And Duke was able to knock off Baylor, with some strong offensive rebounding and clutch 3 point shooting late. Baylor impressed me with their athleticism, but just wasn't able to get it done down the stretch. If I were to pick a Duke team from the past 6 or 7 years to get to the Final Four, this one would not have been it. But they have gotten the job done in March.

Elite Eight Viewing Guide

Week 2 picked up where week 1 left off, with some more great games. The best of the Sweet 16 round had to be the game between Xavier and Kansas State. The Musketeers hit some great shots to extend the game into double overtime, where Kansas State finally won it. The guard play on both sides was tremendous.

The biggest upset of round 3 had to be Butler beating Syracuse. The Orange were trailing most of the game, but took the lead late only to see Butler make a late run to win. Kentucky and Baylor offered the most impressive wins of the round, as cinderellas Cornell and St. Mary's came back to earth. And Northern Iowa couldn't extend their streak, losing to another Michigan State squad that has overachieved in the tournament.

So here's what the Elite 8 round looks like:

Saturday:

#2 Kansas State vs. #5 Butler (4:30 p.m.)
On paper you would definitely say Kansas State has the advantage. But you can't count Butler out, especially after their performance against Syracuse. They will have to be able to contain Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente if they have a shot of pulling another upset.

#1 Kentucky vs. #2 West Virginia (7:05 p.m.)
This is the marquee game of the weekend. Kentucky has looked unstoppable in its three games, and certainly has the talent to win it all. West Virginia has struggled at times, and turned the ball over way too much against Washington. But the Mountaineers are still a very solid team and present the biggest challenge to UK so far.

Sunday:

#5 Michigan State vs. #6 Tennessee (2:20 p.m.)
Raise your hand if you had this as the Elite 8 matchup in the Midwest Region. You have two teams that are very well coached that are both capable of beating anyone on any given night. Michigan State has been to several Final Fours in the last decade; Tennessee has never been to the Elite 8 before. The experience factor could play a role in this one.

#1 Duke vs. #3 Baylor (5:05 p.m.)
Duke got over the hump, making it to the Elite 8 for the first time in a long while (at least for their standards). They have to be a little concerned, though, at just how well Baylor played against St. Mary's. Duke certainly has the experience edge in this game, but is not as athletic as Baylor. It should be a great matchup.

Sweet 16 Viewing Guide

The tournament has been a wild ride so far, and there are definitely some interesting matchups shaping up for the Sweet 16. The theme for a lot of them are favored, big conference heavyweights against upstart teams from mid-major conferences. Here's the schedule for the next two days:

Thursday:

#1 Syracuse vs. #5 Butler (7:07 p.m.)
Syracuse looked very strong in the opening weekend, especially in its easy win over Gonzaga. It will still be without center Arinze Onuaku for this game. Butler did a good job in beating two mid-major opponents. I think Butler has the 3 point shooting to stay with Syracuse, but if the Orange gets a good game from Andy Rautins it could be another easy win.
#2 West Virginia vs. #11 Washington (7:27 p.m., WDBJ)
Washington's easy win over New Mexico didn't get much publicity, but it should have considering the seeds. The Huskies certainly aren't playing like an 11 seed, and have a lot of confidence. They have all the tools to give West Virginia a good game. The Mountaineers will be without guard Truck Bryant for the rest of the season.

#2 Kansas State vs. #6 Xavier (9:37 p.m.)
Kansas State played very well in the opening weekend, and seems to have a great combination of solid offense and defense. They will be tested by a Xavier squad that is consistently underrated, and is seemingly always in the Sweet 16. Should be a great matchup.
#1 Kentucky vs. #12 Cornell (9:57 p.m., WDBJ)
Ooh what a juicy game this is! Kentucky looked unstoppable in dismantling a good Wake Forest team. And no one even came close to 12 seed Cornell in its two games. So is Cornell the team that has the discipline and the offensive weapons to frustrate the young Wildcats? This upset is certainly possible.

Friday:

#2 Ohio State vs. #6 Tennessee (7:07 p.m., WDBJ)
These two teams must feel like they have a real chance to reach the Final Four. Tennessee got a bit of a break in getting Ohio instead of Georgetown, but they still took care of business. Ohio State did a nice job holding off a solid Georgia Tech team and has one of the best players in the country in Evan Turner. Expect a tight one.
#3 Baylor vs. #10 St. Mary's (7:27 p.m.)
With all the buzz around some of the upstart teams, the attention has been off the great job Scott Drew has done coaching this Baylor team. The Bears have strength, speed, size, athleticism, and can play with anyone. St. Mary's has Omar Samhan. If Baylor can't stop him, they could be in trouble.

#5 Michigan State vs. #9 Northern Iowa (9:37 p.m.)
Northern Iowa was the story of the first weekend, with a remarkable upset of Kansas. If they continue to play like they have been, there's no reason to think they can't make the Elite 8. All that stands in their way is Tom Izzo, who has done another masterful coaching job. Michigan State will be wounded without Kalin Lucas, but don't count them out.
#1 Duke vs. #4 Purdue (9:57 p.m., WDBJ)
Purdue has risen from the dead just at the right time. And earlier in the year they were a National Title contender. So there's no reason to believe they can't beat Duke. The Blue Devils haven't gotten past this round in a long time, but this is their best chance.

Second Round Thoughts

It was certainly a very memorable first weekend of March Madness. The biggest story of the second round has to be Kansas losing to Northern Iowa. For a team that was such a favorite to win the whole thing to go down to Northern Iowa in the second round is truly stunning. Kansas really did not play well in either one of its games, and I really don't know why. You have to hand it to the Panthers, though: they made some clutch shots and flat outplayed Kansas.

Maryland fans are definitely hurting today. The Terps made a great comeback in the final minute, only to see Michigan State nail a 3 pointer as time expired to win. Maryland came so close to a Sweet 16 bid, only to fall short. That leaves Duke as the only ACC team to make it through the first weekend. The Blue Devils used strong defense to coast to an easy win over Cal.

This field is definitely a testament to parity. 11 conferences are represented in the Sweet 16. And we still have a 9, 10, 11 and 12 seed alive. It should make for a very interesting second week.

NCAA Second Round: Sunday Viewing Guide

The madness continues Sunday, with 8 more games. Here's what you can expect:

#1 Syracuse vs. #8 Gonzaga (12:10 p.m., WDBJ)
You have to be impressed with the way Gonzaga played in the first round. And with the success of St. Mary's, the WCC is looking strong. That being said, I'm not sure the Zags have the discipline to go up against Syracuse's zone. It should be an entertaining game though.

#2 Ohio State vs. #10 Georgia Tech (2:20 p.m.)
This time slot is loaded with great games, starting with this one. Georgia Tech, if they don't turn the ball over, can play with anyone. Their talent on the inside will test Ohio State. It will be tough going against Evan Turner though, who can take over any game. The Buckeyes stand to be the biggest winners from last night's Kansas loss.
#4 Maryland vs. #5 Michigan State (2:30 p.m.)
This is probably the marquee game of the day. Last year, Maryland beat Michigan State, and they will look to do it again. Michigan State is capable of making a run like last year, but so far this season hasn't quite figured it out. On the Maryland side, anytime you are playing with Greivis Vasquez, you have a chance.
#2 West Virginia vs. #10 Missouri (2:40 p.m., WDBJ)
Everyone remembers what Mizzou did last year, and for that reason you can't count them out in this game. But West Virginia seems to have it really going well, and has all the tools to make a deep March run.
#4 Wisconsin vs. #12 Cornell (2:50 p.m.)
The Big Red from Cornell made a lot of believers in their first round performance against Temple. They will now face a Wisconsin team that doesn't always win ugly but finds ways to win. First to 60 should win this one.

#3 Pittsburgh vs. #6 Xavier (4:50 p.m.)
Xavier remembers all too well what happened last year: a loss to Pittsburgh in the tournament. They will be out for payback here. I think these two teams are pretty evenly matched. Expect a tight game.
#4 Purdue vs. #5 Texas A&M (5:00 p.m.)
Most people expected Purdue to bow out in the first round, but they showed some toughness in pulling one out. They will be against a much more difficult foe today, though, in Texas A&M. The Aggies looked very strong in their first round game.
#1 Duke vs. #8 California (5:15 p.m.)
Cal was one of the most impressive teams in the first round, using an impressive display of speed to blow past Louisville. They have the potential to really give Duke problems. I think in the end it will come down to who can make their 3s to decide the winner.

First Round Thoughts and Saturday Viewing Guide

Well we were in for quite a first round of the NCAA Tournament. Thursday was the best first day I've ever seen, with seemingly almost every game coming down to the last possession. Among the notable games: Villanova needing overtime to survive being upset by 15 seed Robert Morris, Murray State getting a buzzer-beater to take down Vanderbilt, and Ohio pulling off a big upset in manhandling Georgetown. Wake Forest also pulled off a nice win for the ACC, beating Texas. Wake almost blew it in regulation, only to see Texas blow an 8 point lead in overtime.

On Friday, there weren't nearly as many close games. There were still highlights, among them: Cornell looking very strong in upsetting Temple, Wisconsin holding off Wofford on the last possession, and Michigan State hanging on against New Mexico State. The ACC had a solid day as well, with Georgia Tech pulling off a modest upset against Oklahoma State. Maryland and Duke won their first games with relative ease. Clemson and Florida State had disappointing showings and will be going home early.

So what can we expect for Saturday's second round games? Here's a preview:

#2 Villanova vs. #10 St. Mary's (1:05 p.m., WDBJ)
If you go based off of how the teams looked on Thursday, you'd have to give the edge to St. Mary's. They looked very good against a strong Richmond team. The big question mark is whether Villanova's game against Robert Morris was just a wakeup call or a sign of a team in decline.

#5 Butler vs. #13 Murray State (3:20 p.m.)
This is not the most attractive game on paper, but it is a good matchup between two great teams. Butler is 29-4 and has won 21 games in a row. Murray State is 31-4. I like Butler in this one.
#6 Tennessee vs. #14 Ohio (3:35 p.m., WDBJ)
This could be a very interesting game, if Ohio comes out with the same firepower it did on Thursday. Ohio proved it could play with the big boys, and wants to keep this streak going. Tennessee will not overlook this opponent, though, and I'm sure is happy Ohio knocked off Georgetown, making their road to the Sweet 16 easier.

#1 Kansas vs. #9 Northern Iowa (5:40 p.m.)
Northern Iowa had one of the more exciting wins on Thursday and is a strong 29-4 on the year. Meanwhile, Kansas struggled a bit in its first round game against Lehigh. But I wouldn't bet on the upset.
#3 Baylor vs. #11 Old Dominion (5:45 p.m., WDBJ)
Like in the Tennessee game, Baylor is another team that was glad to see an upset, not having to play Notre Dame. Old Dominion is a good team, but I think Baylor has too much size and athleticism for them.
#3 New Mexico vs. #11 Washington (5:50 p.m.)
This is a very compelling matchup between two of the west's best teams. Washington looked very strong in its comeback win over Marquette, while New Mexico struggled to put away Montana. New Mexico can quiet a lot of its skeptics with a win here.

#2 Kansas State vs. #7 BYU (8:10 p.m.)
Kansas State had a very ho-hum win in its first game, while BYU had to go to double overtime to beat Florida. Don't expect BYU to roll over, though. Jimmer Fredette and company have a real chance to pull the upset.
#1 Kentucky vs. #9 Wake Forest (8:15 p.m., WDBJ)
This is the only game with an ACC team playing today and the game I'm looking forward to seeing most. I want to see if Wake Forest's speed can keep up with Kentucky. Al-Farouq Aminu must have a good game if Wake has a chance.

NCAA First Round Viewing Guide: Friday

The first day of March Madness has already been one to remember. So what's in store for Day 2? Here's your viewing guide, with games on WDBJ in Roanoke so noted.

#2 West Virginia vs. #15 Morgan State (12:15 p.m., WDBJ)
Many people think the Mountaineers have a great shot of getting to the Final Four. I'm not on the West Virginia bandwagon, but they certainly should have enough to get by the Bears.
#6 Xavier vs. #11 Minnesota (12:25 p.m.)
Xavier is another team that many are high on, and I think they have a good shot of getting to the Sweet 16. They have an interesting challenge in a Minnesota team that played well in the Big Ten tournament and has nothing to lose.
#5 Temple vs. #12 Cornell (12:30 p.m.)
This is the game I want to see the most out of the first round. Cornell has had a great year, breezing through the Ivy League and almost knocking off Kansas in Lawrence. They have a real shot against a Temple team that is also very strong.

#4 Purdue vs. #13 Siena (2:30 p.m.)
A lot of people are souding the upset alert here. It's sad what has happened to Purdue in the last couple weeks: Purdue went from a Final Four contender to losing its best player and pretty much losing its offense completely. Siena is a tournament tested team and will give them their best effort.
#7 Clemson vs. #10 Missouri (2:35 p.m., WDBJ)
Clemson has been an enigma this year, very hot and cold. And memories of last year's flameout in the tournament have me uneasy about their chances. Missouri made a great run last year and I think they are a slight favorite here.
#3 Pittsburgh vs. #14 Oakland (2:45 p.m.)
Jamie Dixon has done a great job at Pitt this year, taking a team that lost all of its best players and still getting a 3 seed. They might not have the weapons to make it far in the tournament, but should beat Oakland.
#4 Wisconsin vs. #13 Wofford (2:50 p.m.)
You can never count Wisconsin out when it comes to tournament time. Bo Ryan does a great job year in and year out. They do have a good challenge here from a Wofford team that did well in the Southern Conference this year.

#5 Texas A&M vs. #12 Utah State (4:45 p.m.)
The battle of the Aggies is Friday's standalone game. I think Texas A&M is a very good team that can really make a run in this tournament. They need to first get by a Utah State squad that cannot be counted out.

#8 Gonzaga vs. #9 Florida State (7:10 p.m.)
This is an interesting 8/9 matchup between a mid-major team with a good NCAA Tournament pedigree and an ACC team without one. Gonzaga likes to get up and down, and Florida State likes to play defense, so whichever can force their style will win.
#7 Oklahoma State vs. #10 Georgia Tech (7:15 p.m.)
For some reason the committee lumped a bunch of ACC teams at the same time. I think this will be the best of the three games. Georgia Tech has the talent to compete with anyone if they cut down on the turnovers. And Oklahoma State has a great guard in James Anderson.
#5 Michigan State vs. #12 New Mexico State (7:20 p.m.)
Michigan State doesn't quite have the talent they did last year when they made the run to the final game. But they can be very dangerous. They should be able to beat New Mexico State.
#1 Duke vs. #16 Arkansas Pine-Bluff (7:25 p.m., WDBJ)
This is the type of game that Duke really excels in. Expect this one to be a blowout by halftime.

#1 Syracuse vs. #16 Vermont (9:30 p.m.)
I think this is the least mis-matched 1/16 game I've seen in the tournament. That doesn't mean Vermont will win. But they might stick around long enough to give Syracuse a scare.
#2 Ohio State vs. #15 UC Santa Barbara (9:35 p.m.)
Ohio State is one of the best teams in this tournament, and shouldn't have problems with UCSB in this game.
#4 Maryland vs. #13 Houston (9:40 p.m., WDBJ)
Maryland is one of the ACC's hopes to make a run in the tournament. They take on a Houston squad that is only in the big dance because they made a run and won the CUSA Tournament. It will be interesting to see if they can keep that run going.
#8 California vs. #9 Louisville (9:45 p.m.)
It seems like the vast majority of the population is picking the 9 seed Louisville. And for good reason. The Pac-1o has been very suspect, and I think most people don't think California deserved an 8 seed.

NCAA First Round Viewing Guide: Thursday

We're inching closer to the best sporting event of the year. 64 teams are getting ready to take the court over the next two days. This tournament proves to be wide open, once you get beyond a few really strong teams. It seems that almost everyone is picking Kansas this year (including me), so the first few rounds will be very important in your pool. So here's your handy viewing guide for Thursday. Games being shown on WDBJ in Roanoke are so noted.

#7 BYU vs. #10 Florida (12:20 p.m.)
Some say Florida didn't really belong in the tournament, certainly not as a 10 seed. They are the underdog as the SEC team going against the mid-major. BYU has to be the favorite, with one of the better players in the country (Jimmer Fredette)
#6 Notre Dame vs. #11 Old Dominion (12:25 p.m., WDBJ)
Notre Dame is one of my sleepers in this tournament, with a great end to the season. They have just gotten back Luke Harangody from injury. They have a tough matchup here with ODU, which won both the CAA regular season and tournament.
#2 Villanova vs. #15 Robert Morris (12:30 p.m.)
Villanova has had some problems in early round games (see: American last year) but shouldn't have much trouble with Robert Morris.

#4 Vanderbilt vs. #13 Murray State (2:30 p.m.)
Vanderbilt is a team that I never am really comfortable with. I think they are vulnerable in this game against a Murray State team that went 30-4 on the season. Don't be surprised if there is an upset here.
#2 Kansas State vs. #15 North Texas (2:40 p.m.)
Kansas State has had an impressive season, doing really well except when they had to play Kansas. They shouldn't have any problems with the Mean Green.
#3 Baylor vs. #14 Sam Houston State (2:45 p.m.)
Baylor has been a great story, on the verge the last couple years of having a breakout season. And this was it. Many people have them as a real sleeper in this tournament. They should definitely win this one.
#7 Richmond vs. #10 St. Mary's (2:50 p.m., WDBJ)
I am real high on Richmond. I think the Spiders have the talent and the coaching to do very well in this tournament. They have a tough first round game against a St. Mary's team that did admirably well the year after losing Patty Mills.

#5 Butler vs. #12 UTEP (4:45 p.m.)
This is the no-man's land game on the west coast, and it should be a good one. I like what Brad Stevens has done at Butler, but a lot of people are smelling upset. This one reminds me of the Drake vs. Western KY matchup from a couple years ago.

#8 UNLV vs. #9 Northern Iowa (7:10 p.m.)
There probably isn't a lot of juice for this game between two mid-major teams. But it is an 8/9 game, so it should be very competitive. I like Northern Iowa in this spot.
#1 Kentucky vs. #16 East Tennessee St. (7:15 p.m.)
If you haven't seen Kentucky play this year, this is your chance to see one of the most talented teams in the country. Going forward, it will be interesting to see how they handle the pressure of the NCAA Tournament. This won't be a contest though.
#6 Marquette vs. #11 Washington (7:20 p.m.)
This might be the most attractive matchup of day 1. Marquette plays very hard with somewhat limited talent. And Washington is a very athletic team that can play very well at times. I expect a close battle.
#3 Georgetown vs. #14 Ohio (7:25 p.m., WDBJ)
Georgetown has had an up and down season, but closed on a high note with a trip to the Big East Tournament final. They have the pieces to beat anyone. But they can also play poorly, which means Ohio could sneak in an upset.

#1 Kansas vs. #16 Lehigh (9:30 p.m.)
The Jayhawks have all the tools to cut down the nets in a few weeks, and Lehigh will be but a small bump in the road. I'm sure they'll use this as a tuneup for their next game.
#8 Texas vs. #9 Wake Forest (9:35 p.m., WDBJ)
This is a game between two teams that had higher aspirations earlier in the season but have really struggled down the stretch. Texas has the talent to be a #2 seed but really dropped off. But I still like them over Wake, which is in freefall mode.
#3 New Mexico vs. #14 Montana (9:40 p.m.)
For many people, New Mexico is one of the biggest wildcards in this tournament. Most (including me) have never seen them play. I will be interested to see how they do against a Montana team that was one of the best stories of championship week.
#6 Tennessee vs. #11 San Diego State (9:45 p.m.)
I thought Bruce Pearl did one of the best coaching jobs this year, getting Tennessee to play as well as they did after an incident marred the program in the middle of the year. They could make a run in the tournament, or could lose this game.

Postseason Preview

Duke added another ACC Tournament title to its resume Sunday, beating a very tough Georgia Tech team on a clutch 3 by Jon Scheyer. That likely gave them a 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. In all, six teams made it. Virginia Tech was the most notable exception. Despite winning 23 games and 10 ACC games, they didn't make it in the field. Most people point to their poor non-conference schedule as to why. Here's a look at the postseason schedule for the 9 teams that are still playing. The most notable exception to me is Miami, who won 20 games this year and yet is in no postseason play.

NCAA Tournament:

#1 Duke vs. #16 Winthrop/Ark Pine-Bluff, Friday, 7:25 p.m.
#4 Maryland vs. #13 Houston, Friday, 9:40 p.m.
#7 Clemson vs. #10 Missouri, Friday, 2:35 p.m.
#8 Texas vs. #9 Wake Forest, Thursday, 9:35 p.m.
#8 Gonzaga vs. #9 Florida State, Friday, 7:10 p.m.
#7 Oklahoma State vs. #10 Georgia Tech, Friday, 7:15 p.m.

NIT:

#1 Virginia Tech vs. #8 Quinnipiac, Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
#4 UNC vs. #5 William and Mary, Tuesday, 9:30 p.m.
#3 South Florida vs. #6 NC State, Tuesday, 8:00 p.m.
(all the higher seeds are at home)

I will bring the full NCAA first round preview later this week.

ACC Tournament Final Preview

The higher seeds finally held serve on Saturday, in what has been a pretty good tournament. Both games yesterday came down to the final minute. Let's start with Duke, which held off Miami to win. The Blue Devils got a great effort from Kyle Singler, and were able to pull out to pretty significant leads twice only to see Miami climb back. I can't say enough about how well the Hurricanes played in this tournament. They should be a force in the NIT.

In the second game, Georgia Tech was able to hold off a late charge from NC State. The Wolfpack looked very tired in the first half, only mustering 19 points. But just like their game against Maryland, Georgia Tech let NC State back in with a disturbing number of turnovers. It's amazing how bad the Yellow Jackets look when a team presses them: they act as if they haven't practiced before. The key play in yesterday's game was Javier Gonzalez dribbling the ball off his foot, then grabbing Derrick Favors by the jersey and slinging him down for an intentional foul.

So that sets up today's final. I'm sure 95% of the people out there expect Duke to win. And you can count me among those. Georgia Tech certainly has the talent to beat Duke, but they are so sloppy with the ball that I have to think Duke will make them pay for those turnovers. For Georgia Tech the key is a healthy dose of Favors and Gani Lawal. They were very successful going in to them early in the NC State game, and can't abandon that.

For Duke, I think the key is a strong game from the role players. Scheyer has been a bit off this week, and Singler can't do it all himself. Brian Zoubek, Lance Thomas, and the Plumlee brothers need to play well to pick up the slack. I expect Georgia Tech to give Duke a good fight, but playing four days in a row will wear them down and Duke should take home another ACC Tournament title.

ACC Tournament Semifinals Preview

Before I get into today's semifinal games, let me go back to Friday. It's pretty remarkable that the 11 seed and the 12 seed are among the last 4 teams left. Some may say it speaks to the strength from top to bottom of the league, others may say it's a sign that the conference is down when the "best" teams can't beat the bottom ones. What it does is make me uneasy about how the ACC teams will perform in the NCAA Tournament. Let's take a look at how the teams below Duke fared:
#2 seed Maryland had a horrific first half performance against #7 seed Georgia Tech, and despite an almost complete unraveling by the Jackets in the second half still lost.
#3 seed Florida State couldn't do anything offensively against #11 seed NC State, was behind most of the game, and lost.
#4 seed Virginia Tech had a terrible game from its best player, Malcolm Delaney, and couldn't beat #12 seed Miami.
#5 seed Wake Forest didn't show up in their game against #12 seed Miami and lost by 21 points!
#6 seed Clemson looked really bad offensively against #11 seed NC State and lost after trailing most of the game.

These teams really need to step it up next week! Now, let's look ahead to Saturday:

#1 Duke vs. #12 Miami (1:30 p.m.)
This tournament could not have opened up better for Duke. They first had to face a Virginia squad that they match up better with than BC. And now instead of having to play Virginia Tech, they get Miami. The Hurricanes have certainly played their best basketball of the season in their last two games. But I don't think they have the legs or the talent to stay with Duke. They might make it interesting for a half or less, but Duke should roll.

#7 Georgia Tech vs. #11 NC State (4:00 p.m.)
This is looking like deja vu all over again for the Wolfpack. Three years ago, they made a run to the finals, and could do that again. The Wolfpack haven't been setting the world on fire, but have been playing solid defense. Georgia Tech is the definition of streaky. You only had to watch their game against Maryland to see that. NC State will have the crowd edge but I do like Georgia Tech's superior talent to win out. Expect a big game from Derrick Favors.

ACC Tournament Second Round Preview

It was a wild day one at the ACC Tournament. So will order be restored on Friday?

#1 Duke vs. #9 Virginia (12:00 p.m.)
The Cavaliers put together a nice win over Boston College, using the 3 point shot to build a lead towards the end of the first half. They did it all without their best player, Sylven Landesberg. Facing a rested Duke will be a different challenge though. The Blue Devils creamed UVA from the opening tip up in Charlottesville not too long ago and should coast here.

#4 Virginia Tech vs. #12 Miami (2:30 p.m.)
I'm sure anyone that saw the box score from Thursday's Miami-Wake game probably did a double take. The Hurricanes just took it to Wake Forest. The Deacons frankly had a pathetic performance, on both sides of the ball. So now Miami is riding some momentum into their game against the Hokies. This is the third year in a row these two teams have played in the ACC Tournament, and Tech has won comfortably both times. They should make it three in a row today.

#2 Maryland vs. #7 Georgia Tech (7:00 p.m.)
Georgia Tech did what it needed to do Thursday, beating North Carolina to put itself in much stronger NCAA Tournament consideration. Despite a very poor first half, Tech and specifically Derrick Favors turned it up in the second half to win. This sets up a rematch of a very memorable finish between GT and Maryland. The Terps are playing very well at the moment, and should win a close one.

#3 Florida State vs. #11 NC State (9:30 p.m.)
The Wolfpack always seem to play well in the NCAA Tournament, and put forth one of their better efforts on Thursday against Clemson. They slowed the game down and didn't let Clemson's press get to them. Now they get to play Florida State, a team they beat down in Tallahassee. The Seminoles are a better team, but I kind of like State in this matchup.

ACC Tournament First Round Preview

The regular season is over and it's time for teams to step it up this week. We won't see the best teams play on Thursday, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't see some compelling games. For one team in particular, First Round Thursday is very important.

#8 Boston College vs. #9 Virginia (12:00 p.m.)
Boston College comes into this game playing better basketball as of late. The Eagles had an up and down year, losing some close games early in the conference season. They will face a Virginia squad that earned some accolades early in the year, but has really fallen on some hard times. The Cavaliers have lost 9 games in a row, and have lost their best player for the rest of the year. They did play well in their last game, a narrow loss to Maryland. I think Virginia plays hard, but in the end BC should win this one.

#5 Wake Forest vs. #12 Miami (2:30 p.m.)
Wake Forest has not played its best basketball lately, losers of 4 of their last 5. But they did end the year with a nice home win over Clemson. The Miami Hurricanes have played about even with their talent level. They went undefeated in non-conference play but started to unravel once they got into the ACC. Miami did play well at home, knocking off Wake by one point. But they have not played well historically in the ACC Tournament. Wake should win.

#7 Georgia Tech vs. #10 North Carolina (7:00 p.m.)
This is a very important game for Georgia Tech, after their home loss to Virginia Tech. If they lose this game, they won't make it into the Tournament. Fortunately for them, they are playing the Tar Heels, who are coming off a 32 point loss to rival Duke. Georgia Tech has owned Carolina in the two meetings they had this year. And they should do enough to win this game.

#6 Clemson vs. #11 NC State (9:30 p.m.)
Despite their tough road loss to Wake Forest, Clemson has played pretty well lately, with a road win over Florida State and home win over Georgia Tech. The Tigers have been a bit inconsistent on offense, but their pressing style gives opponents fit. NC State played decently in the last couple weeks of the season, but does not have the talent to compete with Clemson. I don't see an upset here.

Preseason Picks Revisited

Now that the regular season is done, it's time to revisit my preseason predictions for the ACC. There were some ties in the standings, so I'm going based off of the seedings for the ACC Tournament. Overall, I think I had a pretty good crystal ball for this year. I was completely wrong (as most people were) about North Carolina, who came up far short of expectations. But my preseason pick of Maryland as one of the best teams turned out okay. Here's the comparison (teams listed in order they finished):

Team: Pick:

1. Duke 2
2. Maryland 3
3. Florida State 6
4. Virginia Tech 8
5. Wake Forest 4
6. Clemson 5
7. Georgia Tech 7
8. Boston College 9
9. Virginia 10
10. UNC 1
11. NC State 12
12. Miami 11

So the only one I got exactly right was Georgia Tech. But the only schools that I was off by more than one slot were Virginia Tech, Florida State and UNC.

Weekend Recap

The regular season is now over, and it's time for teams to look ahead to the ACC Tournament. But before that starts, let's look back at this weekend's games.

Duke earned the number one seed in the tournament with a beatdown of UNC. The Blue Devils took out any frustrations from the Maryland loss, embarrassing the Tar Heels. Duke ended up earning of a share of the regular season title with Maryland, who narrowly beat Virginia in Charlottesville. The Cavaliers were playing without best player Sylven Landesberg, who was suspended for the rest of the season. They were still able to make it a game, until an untimely technical foul called on Tony Bennett.

Virginia Tech got the biggest win of the weekend, beating Georgia Tech on the road. Playing without Dorenzo Hudson, the rest of the Hokies stepped it up and played one of their best games of the year. The home loss could prove very costly for the Yellow Jackets.

In other ACC action, Wake Forest got a much needed home win over Clemson. The Deacons had lost four games in a row but were able to hold off the Tigers for the win. Florida State escaped Coral Gables with a road win over Miami. The Canes missed a shot to win at the buzzer.

And NC State ended the regular season on a positive note, beating Boston College at home. The Wolfpack basically used one big run at the end of the game to win.

Coming up later this week, I'll look back at my preseason predictions, and look ahead to this weekend's ACC Tournament in Greensboro.

Mid-Week Update

There are still a lot of ACC teams that have to be nervous about their position in the NCAA Tournament with just one regular season game to go. The game of the week was Maryland taking out Duke, in a great battle. The Terps came out blazing and raced to a 13 point lead, only to see Duke come back. But in the end, some clutch baskets by Greivis Vasquez put the Terps over the top. They are now tied with Duke atop the ACC.

In other action, Clemson got a home win over Georgia Tech in a very high-scoring affair at Littlejohn. The Tigers are looking good for NCAA Tournament consideration, while Georgia Tech has to be getting a little nervous. Florida State got a win in typical Florida State fashion, winning a low-scoring battle against Wake Forest. The Deacons have now lost four games in a row.

Virginia Tech got a much needed home win over NC State, putting them back in decent position to make the Tournament. In fairly meaningless games, North Carolina picked up a home win over Miami, giving them two straight wins. And Boston College continued their solid play, beating a listless Virginia squad at home.

Here's what you can expect for the last weekend of the year:

Saturday:

Florida State at Miami (12:00 p.m., ESPN2) - Florida State could use a road win against their rivals from Miami. They have been playing better as of late, but Miami is tough at home.
Maryland at Virginia (1:30 p.m., Raycom) - This is about as much of a sure thing for a road win as you can get. Maryland is streaking, and Virginia is not. Terps should win big.
Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech (4:00 p.m., Raycom) - This is a critical game for both teams, and could be an elimination game for the Tournament. You'd have to give the Jackets the edge at home.
North Carolina at Duke (9:00 p.m., ESPN) - This has to be the most meaningless Duke vs Carolina matchup on the last week in years. Duke is much better than Carolina, and is at home.

Sunday:

Boston College at NC State (2:00 p.m., Raycom) - All that's on the line here is bragging rights. For what it's worth, these two teams have been more competitive recently.
Clemson at Wake Forest (6:00 p.m., FSN) - Several ACC teams will probably be looking to this game to figure out if they will be playing on Thursday next week. Wake really needs to win this one to stop their slide.

Weekend Recap

This weekend was very good if you were a road team. Five of the six ACC games were won by road teams. And some were definitely surprises. Let's start in Blacksburg, where it was a strange day. The game was delayed by three hours, and ended up being a classic. Maryland won in double overtime, when Erick Green missed a three pointer that would have given the Hokies the lead. The Terps continue to impress, while the Hokies have now lost three in a row. They are back on the bubble.

Clemson also got a big road win over Florida State. The Tigers looked dead in the first half, and were down in the last minute, but got the benefit of some costly turnovers by the Noles and a clutch three pointer by Andre Young to win. This really boosts their NCAA profile. Another surprise road winner: North Carolina. The Tar Heels somehow got it together to beat Wake Forest on the road. The Deacons have now lost to NC State and UNC in back-to-back games.

Speaking of the Wolfpack, they got a somewhat surprising road victory over Miami. The Canes had been playing better at home. Duke coasted to a road win over Virginia. The game was over almost before it begun. And the lone team to win at home was Georgia Tech. BC gave them a little trouble, but Georgia Tech was able to hold them off.

Here's what's ahead for the start of the last week of the regular season:

Tuesday:

Georgia Tech at Clemson (8:00 p.m., Raycom) - Two teams that should be in the tournament will want to win this one to feel more comfortable. I think if Clemson hadn't won at Florida State this would have been a must-win for them.
Miami at North Carolina (8:00 p.m., Raycom) - Not much to play for here except pride. And for Carolina, maybe the last win of the year with a road game at Duke to end the season.

Wednesday:

NC State at Virginia Tech (7:00 p.m.) - The Hokies desperately need this win after losing three in a row. The Wolfpack have been playing better lately, but lost at home to the Hokies by 20 a couple weeks ago.
Wake Forest at Florida State (7:00 p.m., ESPN2) - Wake Forest has been taking on water, and needs a road win to get back on track. It's going to be tough - I'm sure FSU is not in a good mood after blowing the Clemson game.
Duke at Maryland (9:00 p.m., ESPN) - This should be a great one. Maryland has not lost since they went to Cameron and got blown out. Duke hasn't lost in that time frame either. I expect this one to come down to the wire.
Virginia at Boston College (9:00 p.m., ESPNU) - The Cavaliers have really struggled recently, and have to get Landesberg back if they have any chance in this one. BC has played better in its last three games.

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.