Week Preview
There is one week left in the regular season of the ACC and for some teams these games are pivotal. Over the weekend, Virginia Tech got it done, beating the #1 team in the nation, Duke, for a signature win. Boston College picked up an important win at Virginia. And Maryland suffered what could be the final blow to their NCAA chances, losing at UNC.
Here are the ACC games ahead during the week:
Tuesday:
NC State at Virginia (7:00 p.m.) - This is a pretty meaningless game in terms of the NCAA Tournament. Both teams are playing better, though. Virginia has won two of the last three. And NC State is coming off a win over Georgia Tech.
Boston College at Virginia Tech (9:00 p.m.) - This is a huge game for both teams. Boston College is in most people's first four out list after losing at home to Miami last week. They will hope to catch Virginia Tech in a letdown game after their win over Duke. The Hokies will likely put themselves firmly in the tournament if they get their 10th ACC win here.
Wednesday:
Maryland at Miami (7:00 p.m.) - The Terps aren't in very good shape when it comes to the NCAA Tournament, but if they want any chance they have to win this game. Miami has been playing better basketball, but is coming off a tough loss to Florida State.
North Carolina at Florida State (7:00 p.m.) - North Carolina has a great chance to end up with an ACC regular season title if they win their last two games. This one won't be easy, even without Chris Singleton. The Noles are probably in good shape for the tournament but will sew it up if they win this one.
Clemson at Duke (9:00 p.m.) - Clemson is also on a lot of first four out lists, and are in a tough position here, playing Duke in Cameron on Senior Day coming off a Duke loss. The Tigers have to hope Duke shoots poorly from 3 like they did against Virginia Tech if they have any chance.
Thursday:
Georgia Tech at Wake Forest (8:00 p.m.) - Not much interest in this game. These are right now the two worst teams in the conference. As poorly as Wake has been all year, they actually have a chance at a second conference win here.
I'll be back later in the week with a look ahead to the weekend.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Weekend Preview
The regular season is drawing to a close, and time is running out for some teams to make their case for the NCAA Tournament. There are some crucial games this weekend for ACC teams. Right now the only guarantees are that Duke and UNC will be in the tournament. Florida State, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Clemson and Maryland all have chances. Georgia Tech, Virginia, Wake Forest, Miami and NC State do not (other than winning the ACC Tournament). Here are the weekend's games:
Saturday:
Boston College at Virginia (12:00 p.m.) - Boston College had a really bad loss at home on Wednesday night, losing to Miami in a game in which they were completely outplayed in the first half. They have to win this game on the road against a Virginia team that has not given up on the season. If BC loses this one, you can count them out.
Georgia Tech at NC State (2:00 p.m.) - Not a lot of interest in this one. Georgia Tech has now lost 7 games in a row and is really tanking in what will most likely be Paul Hewitt's last season. NC State is coming off a tough loss to rival UNC but is playing better and should win this one at home.
Miami at Florida State (2:00 p.m.) - Florida State is starting to slip a bit and really needs to win this game against a Miami team that is finally finishing off games. The Noles won at Miami earlier in the year and need to prove that they can play without Chris Singleton or they will be on the outside looking in.
Wake Forest at Clemson (4:00 p.m.) - There's not much to say about this one, other than the fact that it is an opportunity for Clemson to add to their ACC win total and improve their seeding in the conference. Clemson has an outside shot of getting into the tournament if they can finish the season strong.
Duke at Virginia Tech (9:00 p.m.) - The opportunity is there for the Hokies: the #1 team is coming into their building in what is really a must-win. It certainly isn't easy to beat Duke, but they are beatable. If the Hokies can win this one, they should be in the tournament. If not, the road becomes a lot tougher.
Sunday:
Maryland at UNC (7:45 p.m.) - This shapes up to be a great game. Maryland is playing good basketball right now, but needs to win every game they can to make it to the tournament. They have a tough assignment, though, against a UNC team that is gunning for an ACC regular season title.
The regular season is drawing to a close, and time is running out for some teams to make their case for the NCAA Tournament. There are some crucial games this weekend for ACC teams. Right now the only guarantees are that Duke and UNC will be in the tournament. Florida State, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Clemson and Maryland all have chances. Georgia Tech, Virginia, Wake Forest, Miami and NC State do not (other than winning the ACC Tournament). Here are the weekend's games:
Saturday:
Boston College at Virginia (12:00 p.m.) - Boston College had a really bad loss at home on Wednesday night, losing to Miami in a game in which they were completely outplayed in the first half. They have to win this game on the road against a Virginia team that has not given up on the season. If BC loses this one, you can count them out.
Georgia Tech at NC State (2:00 p.m.) - Not a lot of interest in this one. Georgia Tech has now lost 7 games in a row and is really tanking in what will most likely be Paul Hewitt's last season. NC State is coming off a tough loss to rival UNC but is playing better and should win this one at home.
Miami at Florida State (2:00 p.m.) - Florida State is starting to slip a bit and really needs to win this game against a Miami team that is finally finishing off games. The Noles won at Miami earlier in the year and need to prove that they can play without Chris Singleton or they will be on the outside looking in.
Wake Forest at Clemson (4:00 p.m.) - There's not much to say about this one, other than the fact that it is an opportunity for Clemson to add to their ACC win total and improve their seeding in the conference. Clemson has an outside shot of getting into the tournament if they can finish the season strong.
Duke at Virginia Tech (9:00 p.m.) - The opportunity is there for the Hokies: the #1 team is coming into their building in what is really a must-win. It certainly isn't easy to beat Duke, but they are beatable. If the Hokies can win this one, they should be in the tournament. If not, the road becomes a lot tougher.
Sunday:
Maryland at UNC (7:45 p.m.) - This shapes up to be a great game. Maryland is playing good basketball right now, but needs to win every game they can to make it to the tournament. They have a tough assignment, though, against a UNC team that is gunning for an ACC regular season title.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Analysis: VT vs. UVA
I made the trip up to Charlottesville Saturday to watch the VT/UVA game, so I thought I'd write about what I saw. First off, UVA won the game because they played it at their tempo. They wanted to keep the game in the 50s, and limit the transition game of Virginia Tech, and they did that.
Let's start with UVA on offense. Having watched Tony Bennett teams for several years, I know his style. And he worked it perfectly Saturday. UVA slowed the tempo down on each possession, working the clock down under 10 seconds just about every time. More often than not, they ended up taking a 3 with less than 5 on the shot clock. And fortunately for them, they made their shots. It's not like they were all wide-open spot on threes either. Many of them were off-balance, with people's hands in their face. UVA had the most success when they sent either Joe Harris or Sammy Zeglinski to the corner. They seemed to make almost every single one of those. It seemed like Virginia Tech didn't know what kind of defense to play either - they switched from man-to-man to a 2-3 zone multiple times. It was only their pressing defense that allowed them to fluster the UVA offense.
UVA makes their living on defense, and they played it pretty well against Virginia Tech. They allowed very few baskets on the interior. It seemed like everytime Jeff Allen touched the ball, it was around the 3-point line. They also limited transition baskets and did a very good job on the defensive glass. At the beginning of the game, Tech tried to force tempo, but they were very sloppy. Terrell Bell in particular had some very bad turnovers. Once they weren't able to play that transition game, they slowed it down to a pace that UVA wanted to play.
It's pretty clear what Tony Bennett is trying to do at UVA with the talent he has: slow the game down, limit the number of possessions, and make a living at the 3-point line. When they hit their threes, they can beat people. When they don't, they end up scoring 40 points like they did last week against Duke. Regardless, this is not a fun team for opponents to play.
For Virginia Tech, it's obviously frustrating. They had been playing with a lot of confidence, and building momentum toward an NCAA berth. It's one thing that UVA hit a bunch of crazy shots. It's another to only score 54 points (with at least 8 of those in catch-up time in the last minute).
After this loss, it's looking more and more clear that the season will hinge on next week's home game against Duke. Duke is not invincible, but they are a very solid team and it will take a team effort to beat them. Tech will have to get contributions from their bench players if they have any chance of winning. Take a look at the stats for the bench players in the last five games:
Manny Atkins - 3-20 from the field, 0-7 from 3
Jarell Eddie - 1-10 from the field, 0-5 from 3
Ty Garland - 1-11 from the field, 1-7 from 3
That's just not going to get it done.
I made the trip up to Charlottesville Saturday to watch the VT/UVA game, so I thought I'd write about what I saw. First off, UVA won the game because they played it at their tempo. They wanted to keep the game in the 50s, and limit the transition game of Virginia Tech, and they did that.
Let's start with UVA on offense. Having watched Tony Bennett teams for several years, I know his style. And he worked it perfectly Saturday. UVA slowed the tempo down on each possession, working the clock down under 10 seconds just about every time. More often than not, they ended up taking a 3 with less than 5 on the shot clock. And fortunately for them, they made their shots. It's not like they were all wide-open spot on threes either. Many of them were off-balance, with people's hands in their face. UVA had the most success when they sent either Joe Harris or Sammy Zeglinski to the corner. They seemed to make almost every single one of those. It seemed like Virginia Tech didn't know what kind of defense to play either - they switched from man-to-man to a 2-3 zone multiple times. It was only their pressing defense that allowed them to fluster the UVA offense.
UVA makes their living on defense, and they played it pretty well against Virginia Tech. They allowed very few baskets on the interior. It seemed like everytime Jeff Allen touched the ball, it was around the 3-point line. They also limited transition baskets and did a very good job on the defensive glass. At the beginning of the game, Tech tried to force tempo, but they were very sloppy. Terrell Bell in particular had some very bad turnovers. Once they weren't able to play that transition game, they slowed it down to a pace that UVA wanted to play.
It's pretty clear what Tony Bennett is trying to do at UVA with the talent he has: slow the game down, limit the number of possessions, and make a living at the 3-point line. When they hit their threes, they can beat people. When they don't, they end up scoring 40 points like they did last week against Duke. Regardless, this is not a fun team for opponents to play.
For Virginia Tech, it's obviously frustrating. They had been playing with a lot of confidence, and building momentum toward an NCAA berth. It's one thing that UVA hit a bunch of crazy shots. It's another to only score 54 points (with at least 8 of those in catch-up time in the last minute).
After this loss, it's looking more and more clear that the season will hinge on next week's home game against Duke. Duke is not invincible, but they are a very solid team and it will take a team effort to beat them. Tech will have to get contributions from their bench players if they have any chance of winning. Take a look at the stats for the bench players in the last five games:
Manny Atkins - 3-20 from the field, 0-7 from 3
Jarell Eddie - 1-10 from the field, 0-5 from 3
Ty Garland - 1-11 from the field, 1-7 from 3
That's just not going to get it done.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
The Week Ahead
Time is running out for teams that want to make a move toward the NCAA Tournament. There are still a bunch of teams who can either play their way in or play their way out. This week isn't exactly chock full of big matchups, but there are plenty of games that teams can't afford to lose.
Here are the most important games:
Tuesday:
Maryland at Virginia Tech (8:00 p.m.) - Maryland is one or two losses away from being firmly off the bubble. A weekend loss to Boston College was killer. The Hokies are in decent shape for now, but losing this game certainly does not help their cause. Tech played very well up in College Park and will be carrying a lot of confidence into this game.
Wednesday:
Duke at Virginia (7:00 p.m.) - The only real interest in this game has to do with seeding. If Duke slips up on the road, that gives UNC (which is playing Wake) a chance for the conference title.
Thursday:
Clemson at NC State (7:00 p.m.) - The last time these two teams played, NC State burst out to a huge lead in the first half, only to blow it all away and lose by double digits. Clemson suffered a tough loss at home to UNC, and if they lose this game that will severely hurt their NCAA chances.
Saturday:
Virginia Tech at UVA (1:00 p.m.) - Virginia Tech fans remember what happened when these two teams played in Blacksburg. If the Hokies lose the Maryland game, this road win is a must.
Boston College at UNC (4:00 p.m.) - The first time these two played was pretty ugly. UNC won by 32 in Chestnut Hill. Boston College is in decent shape for the tournament now, but a win on the road would really help their cause. Don't think it's going to happen though.
Sunday:
Clemson at Miami (3:30 p.m.) - Clemson has a couple of sneaky tough road games this week. They haven't proved that they could win on the road so far this year. We'll know by this time next week if Clemson is for real.
Time is running out for teams that want to make a move toward the NCAA Tournament. There are still a bunch of teams who can either play their way in or play their way out. This week isn't exactly chock full of big matchups, but there are plenty of games that teams can't afford to lose.
Here are the most important games:
Tuesday:
Maryland at Virginia Tech (8:00 p.m.) - Maryland is one or two losses away from being firmly off the bubble. A weekend loss to Boston College was killer. The Hokies are in decent shape for now, but losing this game certainly does not help their cause. Tech played very well up in College Park and will be carrying a lot of confidence into this game.
Wednesday:
Duke at Virginia (7:00 p.m.) - The only real interest in this game has to do with seeding. If Duke slips up on the road, that gives UNC (which is playing Wake) a chance for the conference title.
Thursday:
Clemson at NC State (7:00 p.m.) - The last time these two teams played, NC State burst out to a huge lead in the first half, only to blow it all away and lose by double digits. Clemson suffered a tough loss at home to UNC, and if they lose this game that will severely hurt their NCAA chances.
Saturday:
Virginia Tech at UVA (1:00 p.m.) - Virginia Tech fans remember what happened when these two teams played in Blacksburg. If the Hokies lose the Maryland game, this road win is a must.
Boston College at UNC (4:00 p.m.) - The first time these two played was pretty ugly. UNC won by 32 in Chestnut Hill. Boston College is in decent shape for the tournament now, but a win on the road would really help their cause. Don't think it's going to happen though.
Sunday:
Clemson at Miami (3:30 p.m.) - Clemson has a couple of sneaky tough road games this week. They haven't proved that they could win on the road so far this year. We'll know by this time next week if Clemson is for real.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
UNC/Duke Preview
It has been a huge game for decades - but this year's version of college basketball's best rivalry should bring us one of the best matchups in years. The Blue Devils and Tar Heels have been playing excellent basketball recently. Duke started off the year as the #1 team, lost one of their best players, and still has managed a 21-2 record. North Carolina started off the season with not terribly high expectations. But they have really turned it on, and have now compiled a 7-1 conference record.
So let's take a look at the matchup:
Duke can beat you many different ways. Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler came into the year with a lot of experience and loads of potential. They have been terrific, combining for 39 points per game. But it's much more than them: Andre Dawkins and Seth Curry can light it up from the bench. The Plumlee brothers provide the Devils with some inside presence. And Ryan Kelly has been a pleasant surprise. As has been the case for many years, Duke is reliant heavily on the 3. Dawkins, Curry and Kelly are all shooting at least 41% from 3-point land. Singler and Smith aren't bad either.
North Carolina has had a lot of change over the past 12 months,
culminating in last week's decision by Larry Drew II to leave the program. Truth be told, Drew wasn't the best point guard UNC has ever had, and they might be better without him. It's no coincidence that their improvement has come at the same time that much heralded freshman Harrison Barnes started scoring in bunches. Barnes has a great shooting touch for a forward, and if he can stop forcing it as much as he does he could be a superstar. John Henson is a freakish athlete who can be a shooter but has an even bigger impact on the defensive end. Kendall Marshall only scores 4.5 points per game but is a great distributor and a catalyst for the team.
So what separates these two teams? Honestly, probably the venue the game is being played in. Duke hasn't even come close to losing a game at Cameron over the last two years. It's almost impossible to keep them from going on one of those patented Duke runs, where they score 10 points in a row over a minute. That being said, North Carolina has a chance. If I were the Heels, I would focus on guarding the 3. Let Henson guard the post - he can handle the Plumlees. If you can get out and make Duke put up quick shots, you can win.
If I were Duke, I would focus on ball movement. Make the extra pass and force Carolina to defend you all over the court. Don't take quick shots. And on defense, I would force the Heels to make shots from the outside. Double Barnes if you need to, double Tyler Zeller if you need to, and leave guys like Marshall and Leslie McDonald open. They have had some good outside shooting games, but the majority of the time they do most of their damage on the inside.
My prediction: Duke wins a close one, 77-72.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Week Preview
Another week is in the books, and some teams are starting to creep into contention, somewhat surprisingly. I'm talking specifically about Clemson and Maryland, who might be playing their way into tournament berths. Clemson got a come from behind win at home against NC State, and then blew out Florida State at home on Saturday. They still haven't shown an ability to win on the road, but seem to be putting things together under first year coach Brad Brownell.
Maryland has really improved since a blowout home loss to Virginia Tech, with wins over Clemson, at Virginia and at Georgia Tech. The last two were both by double digits. Maryland's big chance comes on Wednesday with a home game against Duke. Win that and they are most likely on the "in" side of the bubble. Here are the games on the ACC slate:
Tuesday:
Wake Forest at Florida State (7:00 p.m.) - If Florida State doesn't win this game they are in serious trouble. But it shouldn't be a problem.
UNC at Boston College (9:00 p.m.) - This is a good test for a Boston College team that has not looked very good in its last two games. UNC has improved and with a win here could be in very good shape for a top 4 finish in the league.
Wednesday:
Virginia Tech at NC State (7:00 p.m.) - The Hokies got a much-needed win against Miami and need to put the Georgia Tech game in the mirror with a road win against a NC State team that is really struggling right now. The Wolfpack's performance against UNC was terrible.
Clemson at UVA (9:00 p.m.) - This is a chance for Clemson to build its resume for the tournament. For UVA, they need a confidence boost after a bad loss at Wake Forest.
Duke at Maryland (9:00 p.m.) - As I said before, this is a huge opportunity for Maryland. Unfortunately for them, they are catching Duke at the wrong time, after the Devils lost in embarrassing fashion to St. John's.
Thursday:
Georgia Tech at Miami (7:00 p.m.) - Not a lot of interest in this game. Definitely a must-win for Miami after a series of really tough losses.
Saturday:
Clemson at Georgia Tech (1:00 p.m.) - The schedulers weren't kind to Georgia Tech this week. They have a very tough turnaround to an early game on Saturday. A good chance for Clemson to pick up a road win.
Virginia Tech at Boston College (1:00 p.m.) - Depending on how Tech's game with NC State goes, this could end up being a very big game for both teams. BC has been pretty good at home, in what is not a very intimidating home atmosphere.
Wake Forest at Maryland (1:00 p.m.) - I give Wake credit for winning this past weekend, but they aren't going to win games like this.
Virginia at Miami (2:00 p.m.) - The good news for the Hurricanes is you can't get a much easier week than what they have. The bad news is they sit at 1-6 in the conference.
NC State at Duke (6:00 p.m.) - If NC State plays up to its potential, they can stay with Duke, even at Cameron. If they play like they did in Chapel Hill last week, they will be blown out of the gym.
Sunday:
Florida State at UNC (2:00 p.m.) - The annual pre-Super Bowl ACC game is a good matchup. Florida State needs a good performance on the road, and may catch UNC looking ahead to their big game next week against Duke.
Another week is in the books, and some teams are starting to creep into contention, somewhat surprisingly. I'm talking specifically about Clemson and Maryland, who might be playing their way into tournament berths. Clemson got a come from behind win at home against NC State, and then blew out Florida State at home on Saturday. They still haven't shown an ability to win on the road, but seem to be putting things together under first year coach Brad Brownell.
Maryland has really improved since a blowout home loss to Virginia Tech, with wins over Clemson, at Virginia and at Georgia Tech. The last two were both by double digits. Maryland's big chance comes on Wednesday with a home game against Duke. Win that and they are most likely on the "in" side of the bubble. Here are the games on the ACC slate:
Tuesday:
Wake Forest at Florida State (7:00 p.m.) - If Florida State doesn't win this game they are in serious trouble. But it shouldn't be a problem.
UNC at Boston College (9:00 p.m.) - This is a good test for a Boston College team that has not looked very good in its last two games. UNC has improved and with a win here could be in very good shape for a top 4 finish in the league.
Wednesday:
Virginia Tech at NC State (7:00 p.m.) - The Hokies got a much-needed win against Miami and need to put the Georgia Tech game in the mirror with a road win against a NC State team that is really struggling right now. The Wolfpack's performance against UNC was terrible.
Clemson at UVA (9:00 p.m.) - This is a chance for Clemson to build its resume for the tournament. For UVA, they need a confidence boost after a bad loss at Wake Forest.
Duke at Maryland (9:00 p.m.) - As I said before, this is a huge opportunity for Maryland. Unfortunately for them, they are catching Duke at the wrong time, after the Devils lost in embarrassing fashion to St. John's.
Thursday:
Georgia Tech at Miami (7:00 p.m.) - Not a lot of interest in this game. Definitely a must-win for Miami after a series of really tough losses.
Saturday:
Clemson at Georgia Tech (1:00 p.m.) - The schedulers weren't kind to Georgia Tech this week. They have a very tough turnaround to an early game on Saturday. A good chance for Clemson to pick up a road win.
Virginia Tech at Boston College (1:00 p.m.) - Depending on how Tech's game with NC State goes, this could end up being a very big game for both teams. BC has been pretty good at home, in what is not a very intimidating home atmosphere.
Wake Forest at Maryland (1:00 p.m.) - I give Wake credit for winning this past weekend, but they aren't going to win games like this.
Virginia at Miami (2:00 p.m.) - The good news for the Hurricanes is you can't get a much easier week than what they have. The bad news is they sit at 1-6 in the conference.
NC State at Duke (6:00 p.m.) - If NC State plays up to its potential, they can stay with Duke, even at Cameron. If they play like they did in Chapel Hill last week, they will be blown out of the gym.
Sunday:
Florida State at UNC (2:00 p.m.) - The annual pre-Super Bowl ACC game is a good matchup. Florida State needs a good performance on the road, and may catch UNC looking ahead to their big game next week against Duke.
Friday, January 21, 2011
ACC Standings: A Closer Look
Now that we are in the middle of the conference swing, I figured it's a good time to look at how the standings have shaken out so far. Of course at this point, schedules aren't created equal - for example every team that has played Wake Forest has an extra win in their column. But we are starting to see who may be a contender and who may be a pretender.
1. Duke - 4-1 ACC, 17-1 Overall
No big surprise that Duke is at the top of the standings. They have struggled a bit recently, however, losing to Florida State and winning fairly close games against Maryland and Virginia at home. The Devils did come back with a nice win at NC State earlier this week.
2. Boston College - 4-1 ACC, 14-5 Overall
People are continuing to underestimate what Boston College has done this year. This is a team that did not come with high expectations, but has been performing very well. Their conference slate hasn't been all that difficult so far, with home games against Virginia, Georgia Tech and NC State. We'll find much more about the Eagles in their next four games, with road dates against Florida State and Duke, then home games against North Carolina and Virginia Tech.
3. Florida State - 4-1 ACC, 14-5 Overall
The Seminoles hit a bit of a rough patch, with losses to Auburn and Virginia Tech, but have rebounded nicely. They picked up a big road win over Miami this week, and obviously have that huge win over Duke. The Noles are poised to finish in the top 4.
4. North Carolina - 3-1 ACC, 13-5 Overall
You have to feel a little uneasy if you are a Tar Heel fan right now. Yes, they are 3-1 in conference. But that 1 was a bad road loss by 20 points to Georgia Tech. They also barely beat Virginia Tech in a game they easily could have lost. And they won in the last minute against Virginia. UNC has a little time off before heading down to Miami but appear vulnerable right now.
5. Virginia Tech - 3-2 ACC, 12-5 Overall
The Hokies are really playing good basketball right now, with a huge road win over Maryland. They have won 8 of their last 9, with the only loss coming by 3 points in Chapel Hill. The early season home loss to Virginia hurts their position right now, but they look poised to move up the standings with a schedule that is pretty favorable.
6. Clemson - 2-2 ACC, 13-5 Overall
Clemson has been understandably an inconsistent team so far. They have had to work in a lot of new players and a brand new system. Most recently, their streak continued of never having won in Chapel Hill. So far Clemson has won their two home games and lost their two road games.
7. Georgia Tech - 2-2 ACC, 9-8 Overall
Georgia Tech is a bit of a surprise in this 7 spot, with a surge over the last week. The 20 point win over UNC is probably the head scratcher of the year. And then they followed it up with a 35 point win at home over Wake. The road has been a different story, with double digit losses to BC and Clemson. It's hard to think that they will be able to maintain this position in the standings.
8. Miami - 1-3 ACC, 12-6 Overall
It appears to be a repeat of last year for the Hurricanes, with a strong start to the season and then a series of losses in ACC play. The Canes would look a lot better if they had been able to hold serve at home against Florida State. But so far they have lost three of their first four conference games, with the only win a 1 point victory at home against BC.
9. NC State - 1-3 ACC, 11-7 Overall
No matter where you are, you can probably hear the rumblings coming from the Wolfpack fans. State appears to be underachieving yet again under Sidney Lowe. State lost its game of the year at home against Duke. The team has also lost on the road against Boston College and Florida State, with the lone win a home victory over Wake.
10. Maryland - 1-3 ACC, 11-7 Overall
Maryland had been competing pretty hard thus far this season, before running into a lot of trouble at home against the Hokies. In a game they had to win, the Terps lost by 17. Now they are sitting at 1-3 in conference, with two home losses. Like NC State, their only conference win is against Wake. Maryland has a stretch of winnable games ahead, and needs to turn it around.
11. Virginia - 1-3 ACC, 10-8 Overall
Virginia has been wildly inconsistent this year, and has not won a conference game in more than a month. They have played pretty well at times in games against Duke and UNC, but haven't been able to seal the deal. Most recently, they lost a 3 point game up at Boston College. The Cavs will have two home games in a row to try to gain back some confidence.
12. Wake Forest - 0-4 ACC, 7-12 Overall
What can you say about Wake Forest? They may be the worst ACC team I have ever seen. The Deacons have lost their ACC games by 21, 19, 29 and 35. Their next game is against Duke. There is a very real possibility that Wake could lose every game they play for the rest of the season.
Now that we are in the middle of the conference swing, I figured it's a good time to look at how the standings have shaken out so far. Of course at this point, schedules aren't created equal - for example every team that has played Wake Forest has an extra win in their column. But we are starting to see who may be a contender and who may be a pretender.
1. Duke - 4-1 ACC, 17-1 Overall
No big surprise that Duke is at the top of the standings. They have struggled a bit recently, however, losing to Florida State and winning fairly close games against Maryland and Virginia at home. The Devils did come back with a nice win at NC State earlier this week.
2. Boston College - 4-1 ACC, 14-5 Overall
People are continuing to underestimate what Boston College has done this year. This is a team that did not come with high expectations, but has been performing very well. Their conference slate hasn't been all that difficult so far, with home games against Virginia, Georgia Tech and NC State. We'll find much more about the Eagles in their next four games, with road dates against Florida State and Duke, then home games against North Carolina and Virginia Tech.
3. Florida State - 4-1 ACC, 14-5 Overall
The Seminoles hit a bit of a rough patch, with losses to Auburn and Virginia Tech, but have rebounded nicely. They picked up a big road win over Miami this week, and obviously have that huge win over Duke. The Noles are poised to finish in the top 4.
4. North Carolina - 3-1 ACC, 13-5 Overall
You have to feel a little uneasy if you are a Tar Heel fan right now. Yes, they are 3-1 in conference. But that 1 was a bad road loss by 20 points to Georgia Tech. They also barely beat Virginia Tech in a game they easily could have lost. And they won in the last minute against Virginia. UNC has a little time off before heading down to Miami but appear vulnerable right now.
5. Virginia Tech - 3-2 ACC, 12-5 Overall
The Hokies are really playing good basketball right now, with a huge road win over Maryland. They have won 8 of their last 9, with the only loss coming by 3 points in Chapel Hill. The early season home loss to Virginia hurts their position right now, but they look poised to move up the standings with a schedule that is pretty favorable.
6. Clemson - 2-2 ACC, 13-5 Overall
Clemson has been understandably an inconsistent team so far. They have had to work in a lot of new players and a brand new system. Most recently, their streak continued of never having won in Chapel Hill. So far Clemson has won their two home games and lost their two road games.
7. Georgia Tech - 2-2 ACC, 9-8 Overall
Georgia Tech is a bit of a surprise in this 7 spot, with a surge over the last week. The 20 point win over UNC is probably the head scratcher of the year. And then they followed it up with a 35 point win at home over Wake. The road has been a different story, with double digit losses to BC and Clemson. It's hard to think that they will be able to maintain this position in the standings.
8. Miami - 1-3 ACC, 12-6 Overall
It appears to be a repeat of last year for the Hurricanes, with a strong start to the season and then a series of losses in ACC play. The Canes would look a lot better if they had been able to hold serve at home against Florida State. But so far they have lost three of their first four conference games, with the only win a 1 point victory at home against BC.
9. NC State - 1-3 ACC, 11-7 Overall
No matter where you are, you can probably hear the rumblings coming from the Wolfpack fans. State appears to be underachieving yet again under Sidney Lowe. State lost its game of the year at home against Duke. The team has also lost on the road against Boston College and Florida State, with the lone win a home victory over Wake.
10. Maryland - 1-3 ACC, 11-7 Overall
Maryland had been competing pretty hard thus far this season, before running into a lot of trouble at home against the Hokies. In a game they had to win, the Terps lost by 17. Now they are sitting at 1-3 in conference, with two home losses. Like NC State, their only conference win is against Wake. Maryland has a stretch of winnable games ahead, and needs to turn it around.
11. Virginia - 1-3 ACC, 10-8 Overall
Virginia has been wildly inconsistent this year, and has not won a conference game in more than a month. They have played pretty well at times in games against Duke and UNC, but haven't been able to seal the deal. Most recently, they lost a 3 point game up at Boston College. The Cavs will have two home games in a row to try to gain back some confidence.
12. Wake Forest - 0-4 ACC, 7-12 Overall
What can you say about Wake Forest? They may be the worst ACC team I have ever seen. The Deacons have lost their ACC games by 21, 19, 29 and 35. Their next game is against Duke. There is a very real possibility that Wake could lose every game they play for the rest of the season.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Weekend Thoughts
There weren't a lot of surprises in the ACC this past weekend. Still, there was plenty of compelling action.
Let's start in Durham, where Maryland gave Duke all it could handle. If there is a such thing as a moral victory, the Terps had it, staying right with the #1 Devils the whole game. Maryland used a very strong performance from Jordan Williams to spark them. Duke really struggled in their offense for most of the game before coming through with some free throws and clutch baskets down the stretch. It will be interesting to see if this is just an isolated incident for one game or will be a sign of things to come.
In Charlottesville, the Cavaliers played a very inconsistent game against UNC. Virginia played very well in the first half, hitting a lot of big shots and sparking what became a very good crowd. But in the second half, the shooting got very cold for UVA and they really struggled to score, only getting 19 points. You could just feel the air slowly suck out of the building as UNC creeped back in the game. The Heels definitely have some issues, and need to find an outside shooter, but at the end of the day they should be happy with a win.
Virginia Tech got a badly needed win at home over Florida State. The Hokies have been playing much better since they established their current lineup, and won by playing zone. Jeff Allen had a monster game, matching the game that Chris Singleton had. The difference was Virginia Tech had other players step up, and Florida State did not.
In other action, NC State got an expected win over Wake Forest. The Deacons continue to struggle. Boston College got a tougher than expected victory over Georgia Tech, not pulling away until late. And Clemson was able to win a home game that many thought Miami would pull out.
Here is the slate for the mid-week games. One note: the game between Georgia Tech and Clemson was moved from Tuesday to Wednesday because of weather.
Tuesday:
NC State at BC (9:00 p.m) - Good test for the Wolfpack.
Wednesday:
Georgia Tech at Clemson (7:00 p.m.) - Another opportunity for a home win for the Tigers.
Maryland at Wake Forest (8:00 p.m.) - Any letdown for the Terps?
Duke at Florida State (9:00 p.m.) - Game of the mid-week and one where Duke is vulnerable.
Thursday:
Virginia Tech at UNC (9:00 p.m.) - Can the Hokies' thin lineup hold up in Chapel Hill?
There weren't a lot of surprises in the ACC this past weekend. Still, there was plenty of compelling action.
Let's start in Durham, where Maryland gave Duke all it could handle. If there is a such thing as a moral victory, the Terps had it, staying right with the #1 Devils the whole game. Maryland used a very strong performance from Jordan Williams to spark them. Duke really struggled in their offense for most of the game before coming through with some free throws and clutch baskets down the stretch. It will be interesting to see if this is just an isolated incident for one game or will be a sign of things to come.
In Charlottesville, the Cavaliers played a very inconsistent game against UNC. Virginia played very well in the first half, hitting a lot of big shots and sparking what became a very good crowd. But in the second half, the shooting got very cold for UVA and they really struggled to score, only getting 19 points. You could just feel the air slowly suck out of the building as UNC creeped back in the game. The Heels definitely have some issues, and need to find an outside shooter, but at the end of the day they should be happy with a win.
Virginia Tech got a badly needed win at home over Florida State. The Hokies have been playing much better since they established their current lineup, and won by playing zone. Jeff Allen had a monster game, matching the game that Chris Singleton had. The difference was Virginia Tech had other players step up, and Florida State did not.
In other action, NC State got an expected win over Wake Forest. The Deacons continue to struggle. Boston College got a tougher than expected victory over Georgia Tech, not pulling away until late. And Clemson was able to win a home game that many thought Miami would pull out.
Here is the slate for the mid-week games. One note: the game between Georgia Tech and Clemson was moved from Tuesday to Wednesday because of weather.
Tuesday:
NC State at BC (9:00 p.m) - Good test for the Wolfpack.
Wednesday:
Georgia Tech at Clemson (7:00 p.m.) - Another opportunity for a home win for the Tigers.
Maryland at Wake Forest (8:00 p.m.) - Any letdown for the Terps?
Duke at Florida State (9:00 p.m.) - Game of the mid-week and one where Duke is vulnerable.
Thursday:
Virginia Tech at UNC (9:00 p.m.) - Can the Hokies' thin lineup hold up in Chapel Hill?
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Weekend Preview
Here we are, finally at the real start of the conference season. I'm sure a bunch of ACC teams are happy to get to conference play after having less than stellar non-conference seasons. There are plenty of big games this weekend, so let's get right to it:
UNC at UVA (Saturday, 12:00 p.m.)
UNC has impressed with its recent play, and UVA has not. The Tar Heels bring a lot of confidence in, and I think will benefit from a fairly sparse crowd at JPJ. UVA has struggled lately, but this young team has the ability to play well, so Carolina can't think of this one as a pushover.
Wake Forest at NC State (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.)
What a nightmare of a season it has been so far for Wake Forest. They open ACC play on the road against one of their Tobacco Road rivals. NC State hasn't been setting the world on fire, but should do enough at home to beat the Deacs.
Florida State at Virginia Tech (Saturday, 3:00 p.m.)
This is the game of the day in the conference. It is a game that Virginia Tech simply has to win, already losing a home game to UVA. Florida State is a tough matchup for them, with a lot of size. Although FSU is coming off a head-scratching loss to Auburn. If the Hokies can play well out of the gates, they can win this game.
Georgia Tech at Boston College (Saturday, 4:00 p.m.)
Boston College is coming off another disappointing loss to Harvard, but has played pretty well so far this year. Georgia Tech has been a horrible road team over the last couple years and will likely struggle to win this one.
Miami at Clemson (Saturday, 6:00 p.m.)
This is an intriguing matchup. Clemson is still trying to figure out Brad Brownell's system, and has had a few bumps on the road. If Miami can find a way to win at Littlejohn, they will be taken more seriously as a contender for an NCAA berth.
Maryland at Duke (Sunday, 8:00 p.m.)
This is being showcased as one of the games of the weekend nationally. I think most of the people who are doing that are doing so based on history. Because Duke is simply too good to get beat at home by a Maryland team that has struggled to score this year.
Here we are, finally at the real start of the conference season. I'm sure a bunch of ACC teams are happy to get to conference play after having less than stellar non-conference seasons. There are plenty of big games this weekend, so let's get right to it:
UNC at UVA (Saturday, 12:00 p.m.)
UNC has impressed with its recent play, and UVA has not. The Tar Heels bring a lot of confidence in, and I think will benefit from a fairly sparse crowd at JPJ. UVA has struggled lately, but this young team has the ability to play well, so Carolina can't think of this one as a pushover.
Wake Forest at NC State (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.)
What a nightmare of a season it has been so far for Wake Forest. They open ACC play on the road against one of their Tobacco Road rivals. NC State hasn't been setting the world on fire, but should do enough at home to beat the Deacs.
Florida State at Virginia Tech (Saturday, 3:00 p.m.)
This is the game of the day in the conference. It is a game that Virginia Tech simply has to win, already losing a home game to UVA. Florida State is a tough matchup for them, with a lot of size. Although FSU is coming off a head-scratching loss to Auburn. If the Hokies can play well out of the gates, they can win this game.
Georgia Tech at Boston College (Saturday, 4:00 p.m.)
Boston College is coming off another disappointing loss to Harvard, but has played pretty well so far this year. Georgia Tech has been a horrible road team over the last couple years and will likely struggle to win this one.
Miami at Clemson (Saturday, 6:00 p.m.)
This is an intriguing matchup. Clemson is still trying to figure out Brad Brownell's system, and has had a few bumps on the road. If Miami can find a way to win at Littlejohn, they will be taken more seriously as a contender for an NCAA berth.
Maryland at Duke (Sunday, 8:00 p.m.)
This is being showcased as one of the games of the weekend nationally. I think most of the people who are doing that are doing so based on history. Because Duke is simply too good to get beat at home by a Maryland team that has struggled to score this year.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
NCAA Chances
Conference play is about to kick into high gear. And unfortunately for the ACC, that means time is running out to come up with showcase wins against teams from other conferences. This is a big part of where NCAA Tournament resumes are built. And so far this year, things haven't been going so well for the conference. There is no question the ACC is down. And that could be a problem when it comes to deciding who's in and who's out in March. So lets look at the chances each team has to make it to the Big Dance:
Boston College (11-3):
Boston College has played pretty well thus far. They have 3 losses on the season, to Yale, Wisconsin and Rhode Island. Only the Yale loss qualifies as a bad one. BC also has wins over Texas A&M, Cal, Providence, South Carolina (on the road), and a road victory in conference against Maryland. If they can keep this up they can be one of the teams in.
Chances: Good
Clemson (11-4):
Clemson has been up and down this year. Their only two quality wins are against Seton Hall and at College of Charleston. They have lost to the four best teams on their schedule, including on the road at Florida State. At this point, they would probably have to go 10-6 to get in.
Chances: Not good
Duke (13-0):
Duke is the number 1 team in the country, and has wins over Kansas State, Michigan State, Marquette and Butler. This is the only sure thing on this list.
Chances: Absolute lock
Florida State (11-4):
Florida State has been looking good for a while, but a loss to Auburn has taken a little of the shine off. They do have a solid win against Baylor. Their other losses are against Florida, Ohio State and Butler, all good teams. I think they will do enough in conference play to get in.
Chances: Good
Georgia Tech (7-6):
Here we get to the first of the sad cases in the ACC. Georgia Tech has wins over UTEP and Richmond. They have also lost to Kennesaw State, Siena and Charlotte. Not looking good for Paul Hewitt.
Chances: Slim
Maryland (10-4):
Maryland is going to be a tough call. Their best win is at Penn State. They have no bad losses, though, with the exception of maybe the home game against BC. Their conference schedule isn't easy, so I'm leaning out on this one.
Chances: 50/50
Miami (11-4):
Miami has had some good wins, against West Virginia and Mississippi. They have a bad 16 point loss at Rutgers. I don't see them performing well on the road this year. They will probably be on the outside looking in.
Chances: Not good
North Carolina (10-4):
UNC started the year off sluggishly, but has come on of late. They have a win over Kentucky that is looking better by the day. Their four losses are all against teams that should make the tournament. I think UNC will be there too.
Chances: Very good
N.C. State (9-4):
NC State hasn't shown much so far this year. Their best win is probably a neutral site win over George Mason. They have also lost to Arizona, Wisconsin, Syracuse and Georgetown. The Wolfpack has two games each against Duke and UNC. That does not equal success.
Chances: Not good
Virginia (10-5):
Virginia has been wildly inconsistent this year. They have road wins at Minnesota and Virginia Tech. But UVA has also lost home games to Seattle and Iowa State, and almost lost to Norfolk State. I don't think this is the year they make the tournament.
Chances: Slim
Virginia Tech (9-4):
The Hokies started out the season poorly, losing in every big game. They have won five in a row, beating Penn State, Mississippi State and St. Bonaventure (on the road) in the process. They've still got a shot to make it.
Chances: 50/50
Wake Forest (6-8):
Wake Forest has been nothing short of an embarrassment. They have lost four games in a row, and will be lucky to even see the .500 mark at any point the rest of the way.
Chances: None
Conference play is about to kick into high gear. And unfortunately for the ACC, that means time is running out to come up with showcase wins against teams from other conferences. This is a big part of where NCAA Tournament resumes are built. And so far this year, things haven't been going so well for the conference. There is no question the ACC is down. And that could be a problem when it comes to deciding who's in and who's out in March. So lets look at the chances each team has to make it to the Big Dance:
Boston College (11-3):
Boston College has played pretty well thus far. They have 3 losses on the season, to Yale, Wisconsin and Rhode Island. Only the Yale loss qualifies as a bad one. BC also has wins over Texas A&M, Cal, Providence, South Carolina (on the road), and a road victory in conference against Maryland. If they can keep this up they can be one of the teams in.
Chances: Good
Clemson (11-4):
Clemson has been up and down this year. Their only two quality wins are against Seton Hall and at College of Charleston. They have lost to the four best teams on their schedule, including on the road at Florida State. At this point, they would probably have to go 10-6 to get in.
Chances: Not good
Duke (13-0):
Duke is the number 1 team in the country, and has wins over Kansas State, Michigan State, Marquette and Butler. This is the only sure thing on this list.
Chances: Absolute lock
Florida State (11-4):
Florida State has been looking good for a while, but a loss to Auburn has taken a little of the shine off. They do have a solid win against Baylor. Their other losses are against Florida, Ohio State and Butler, all good teams. I think they will do enough in conference play to get in.
Chances: Good
Georgia Tech (7-6):
Here we get to the first of the sad cases in the ACC. Georgia Tech has wins over UTEP and Richmond. They have also lost to Kennesaw State, Siena and Charlotte. Not looking good for Paul Hewitt.
Chances: Slim
Maryland (10-4):
Maryland is going to be a tough call. Their best win is at Penn State. They have no bad losses, though, with the exception of maybe the home game against BC. Their conference schedule isn't easy, so I'm leaning out on this one.
Chances: 50/50
Miami (11-4):
Miami has had some good wins, against West Virginia and Mississippi. They have a bad 16 point loss at Rutgers. I don't see them performing well on the road this year. They will probably be on the outside looking in.
Chances: Not good
North Carolina (10-4):
UNC started the year off sluggishly, but has come on of late. They have a win over Kentucky that is looking better by the day. Their four losses are all against teams that should make the tournament. I think UNC will be there too.
Chances: Very good
N.C. State (9-4):
NC State hasn't shown much so far this year. Their best win is probably a neutral site win over George Mason. They have also lost to Arizona, Wisconsin, Syracuse and Georgetown. The Wolfpack has two games each against Duke and UNC. That does not equal success.
Chances: Not good
Virginia (10-5):
Virginia has been wildly inconsistent this year. They have road wins at Minnesota and Virginia Tech. But UVA has also lost home games to Seattle and Iowa State, and almost lost to Norfolk State. I don't think this is the year they make the tournament.
Chances: Slim
Virginia Tech (9-4):
The Hokies started out the season poorly, losing in every big game. They have won five in a row, beating Penn State, Mississippi State and St. Bonaventure (on the road) in the process. They've still got a shot to make it.
Chances: 50/50
Wake Forest (6-8):
Wake Forest has been nothing short of an embarrassment. They have lost four games in a row, and will be lucky to even see the .500 mark at any point the rest of the way.
Chances: None
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
The Week Ahead
It's close to the end of 2010 and most teams are still on their Christmas break. There aren't many more games to close out the year, but there are a bunch of good matchups for the first weekend of 2011. Here's a preview of the week's best games:
North Carolina at Rutgers (Tuesday, 9:00 p.m.)
Rutgers isn't exactly a powerhouse, but they have already had a double digit win over Miami. They haven't matched up very well with UNC in recent years, though, and I don't expect the Heels to lose in New Jersey.
Boston College at Rhode Island (Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.)
The Eagles have played well so far this year, but have a tough matchup with Rhode Island. Hokie fans remember the Rams as the team that beat the Hokies in Blacksburg in the NIT last year.
Wake Forest at Richmond (Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.)
For a young team that has really struggled, this week could put them in full crisis mode. First comes a road game against a Richmond team that has already beaten Purdue. They did lose to Georgia Tech, though, so Wake could pull the surprise.
Boston College at South Carolina (Saturday, 5:30 p.m.)
Boston College has certainly scheduled a tough week. If they survive their road game against Rhode Island, they might be in for a letdown against a South Carolina team that isn't very strong but is still an SEC team.
Gonzaga at Wake Forest (Sunday, 1:00 p.m.)
Wake Forest had a big win last year when they went up to Spokane and shut down the Zags. This year Gonzaga is the team that is likely to come on the road and get the win. If Wake loses both games this week, you can bet the Deacon nation will be in an uproar over Dino Gaudio's firing.
LSU at Virginia (Sunday, 5:30 p.m.)
Virginia is trying to battle some confidence issues, coming off two poor performances in a row. They should be able to beat two BCS conference foes this week, playing Iowa State and LSU, both at home. LSU has struggled mightily since losing to UNC in the tournament a couple years ago.
Miami at Duke (Sunday, 7:45 p.m.)
The first ACC conference game of 2011 will likely be a blowout. This will be Duke's most competitive game playing without Kyrie Irving. But even without him, they are much better than Miami, especially at home.
It's close to the end of 2010 and most teams are still on their Christmas break. There aren't many more games to close out the year, but there are a bunch of good matchups for the first weekend of 2011. Here's a preview of the week's best games:
North Carolina at Rutgers (Tuesday, 9:00 p.m.)
Rutgers isn't exactly a powerhouse, but they have already had a double digit win over Miami. They haven't matched up very well with UNC in recent years, though, and I don't expect the Heels to lose in New Jersey.
Boston College at Rhode Island (Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.)
The Eagles have played well so far this year, but have a tough matchup with Rhode Island. Hokie fans remember the Rams as the team that beat the Hokies in Blacksburg in the NIT last year.
Wake Forest at Richmond (Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.)
For a young team that has really struggled, this week could put them in full crisis mode. First comes a road game against a Richmond team that has already beaten Purdue. They did lose to Georgia Tech, though, so Wake could pull the surprise.
Boston College at South Carolina (Saturday, 5:30 p.m.)
Boston College has certainly scheduled a tough week. If they survive their road game against Rhode Island, they might be in for a letdown against a South Carolina team that isn't very strong but is still an SEC team.
Gonzaga at Wake Forest (Sunday, 1:00 p.m.)
Wake Forest had a big win last year when they went up to Spokane and shut down the Zags. This year Gonzaga is the team that is likely to come on the road and get the win. If Wake loses both games this week, you can bet the Deacon nation will be in an uproar over Dino Gaudio's firing.
LSU at Virginia (Sunday, 5:30 p.m.)
Virginia is trying to battle some confidence issues, coming off two poor performances in a row. They should be able to beat two BCS conference foes this week, playing Iowa State and LSU, both at home. LSU has struggled mightily since losing to UNC in the tournament a couple years ago.
Miami at Duke (Sunday, 7:45 p.m.)
The first ACC conference game of 2011 will likely be a blowout. This will be Duke's most competitive game playing without Kyrie Irving. But even without him, they are much better than Miami, especially at home.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Pre-Christmas Games Preview
Most ACC teams are trying to get in one last game before Christmas, and some will need to guard against being tripped up by a mediocre team. It already happened once this week, with Wake losing at home against Presbyterian, and almost happened to Virginia, which escaped with a one point win over Norfolk State.
Here are a few games that should be on your radar:
Clemson at College of Charleston (Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.)
The College of Charleston already played Maryland tough in College Park and will be looking for a victory over an ACC team for the second straight year. Clemson is a better team than Charleston but don't be surprised if the home team wins this one.
Georgia Tech at Siena (Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.)
Siena isn't what it once was, with Coach Fran McCaffrey gone. But they are still a decent mid-major team and could present Georgia Tech with some problems up in New York.
Virginia Tech at St. Bonaventure (Thursday, 7:00 p.m.)
St. Bonaventure hasn't been relevant for several years, but is starting to play better and has a victory over St. Johns this year. They could catch Virginia Tech napping.
Florida State vs. TBA in Hawaii (Thursday)
The Seminoles are playing in the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii, in a tournament that has a decent field. This second round game will likely be played against Butler, with a final round matchup coming Saturday against potentially Baylor.
Most ACC teams are trying to get in one last game before Christmas, and some will need to guard against being tripped up by a mediocre team. It already happened once this week, with Wake losing at home against Presbyterian, and almost happened to Virginia, which escaped with a one point win over Norfolk State.
Here are a few games that should be on your radar:
Clemson at College of Charleston (Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.)
The College of Charleston already played Maryland tough in College Park and will be looking for a victory over an ACC team for the second straight year. Clemson is a better team than Charleston but don't be surprised if the home team wins this one.
Georgia Tech at Siena (Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.)
Siena isn't what it once was, with Coach Fran McCaffrey gone. But they are still a decent mid-major team and could present Georgia Tech with some problems up in New York.
Virginia Tech at St. Bonaventure (Thursday, 7:00 p.m.)
St. Bonaventure hasn't been relevant for several years, but is starting to play better and has a victory over St. Johns this year. They could catch Virginia Tech napping.
Florida State vs. TBA in Hawaii (Thursday)
The Seminoles are playing in the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii, in a tournament that has a decent field. This second round game will likely be played against Butler, with a final round matchup coming Saturday against potentially Baylor.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Weekend Recap
There were some good games this weekend, and I think we learned more about some of the teams in the ACC. Here are my impressions:
-UNC played well despite losing a virtual home game against Texas. It seems to me that the Heels are still trying to figure out their offensive identity with a lot of guys who do not have much game experience. If I were them, I'd keep getting the ball down low to Tyler Zeller. I am impressed by how much he has improved, and he has gotten to the point where he is almost unstoppable down low. They still need to figure out how best to use freshman Harrison Barnes.
-Miami had a golden opportunity to knock off a surprisingly good team in UCF but really struggled in the second half. They were up at halftime, but really unraveled down the stretch. Once they got behind, it seemed like they got in panic mode, not running any set offenses, but choosing to have one of their guards drive into the lane and throw up an off-balance shot. If they didn't get fouled, it was one and done and UCF took advantage.
-Virginia Tech may have turned the corner. They played their best game of the year against a Mississippi State team that is talented, albeit gassed after playing five games in a week. Still, even against a tired team, for the Hokies to win by 30 is quite a feat. If they can continue to get consistent production out of people like Erick Green and Victor Davila, they can make their goal of the NCAAs.
-NC State didn't take advantage of a game that really would have looked good on their resume had they'd won. Arizona is a solid team with some NBA caliber players. But playing at home, the Wolfpack should have been able to take care of business. Instead, they fell behind and only got into more of a hole. They were playing a very aggressive form of defense, which led to a lot of easy Arizona baskets.
-It was a good win for Georgia Tech down in the Bahamas. They were able to knock off a Richmond team that many people think is a lock for the NCAA Tournament. The Yellow Jackets were able to win by 13 despite playing much of the game without Iman Shumpert.
I'll be back later in the week with a look ahead at some decent non-conference matchups.
There were some good games this weekend, and I think we learned more about some of the teams in the ACC. Here are my impressions:
-UNC played well despite losing a virtual home game against Texas. It seems to me that the Heels are still trying to figure out their offensive identity with a lot of guys who do not have much game experience. If I were them, I'd keep getting the ball down low to Tyler Zeller. I am impressed by how much he has improved, and he has gotten to the point where he is almost unstoppable down low. They still need to figure out how best to use freshman Harrison Barnes.
-Miami had a golden opportunity to knock off a surprisingly good team in UCF but really struggled in the second half. They were up at halftime, but really unraveled down the stretch. Once they got behind, it seemed like they got in panic mode, not running any set offenses, but choosing to have one of their guards drive into the lane and throw up an off-balance shot. If they didn't get fouled, it was one and done and UCF took advantage.
-Virginia Tech may have turned the corner. They played their best game of the year against a Mississippi State team that is talented, albeit gassed after playing five games in a week. Still, even against a tired team, for the Hokies to win by 30 is quite a feat. If they can continue to get consistent production out of people like Erick Green and Victor Davila, they can make their goal of the NCAAs.
-NC State didn't take advantage of a game that really would have looked good on their resume had they'd won. Arizona is a solid team with some NBA caliber players. But playing at home, the Wolfpack should have been able to take care of business. Instead, they fell behind and only got into more of a hole. They were playing a very aggressive form of defense, which led to a lot of easy Arizona baskets.
-It was a good win for Georgia Tech down in the Bahamas. They were able to knock off a Richmond team that many people think is a lock for the NCAA Tournament. The Yellow Jackets were able to win by 13 despite playing much of the game without Iman Shumpert.
I'll be back later in the week with a look ahead at some decent non-conference matchups.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
The State of the ACC
As it's about a month into the season, it's a good time to look at how the ACC teams have been progressing thus far this year. So here is the status report:
Boston College (8-2)
The Eagles have surpassed expectations so far. They performed admirably in Orlando, beating a good Texas A&M squad and winning big over California. BC also has a very solid road win over Maryland and an underrated win at UMass. Steve Donahue has to be happy with how his first year has gone so far.
Clemson (5-4)
Clemson lost quite a bit from last year's team, and the transition to both new players and a new coach has been understandably tough. The Tigers have lost all of their games against good teams, with the best victory being against Seton Hall at a neutral site. The home loss to Michigan was disappointing, and they missed an opportunity down the stretch at Florida State.
Duke (10-0)
The Duke Blue Devils have done what everyone expected them to do: win, win, win. They have played a pretty impressive schedule, and have racked up wins against Kansas State, Michigan State, Butler and Marquette. Most of their games have been blowouts. There is some cause for concern with Kyrie Irving's injury, but even if he is out for the year they should be in good shape.
Florida State (8-2)
Florida State has a decent record thus far, but it still feels as if they haven't played up to their potential. The Seminoles have lost two games, both against ranked teams, but they were both at home. In those games, they only scored a combined 95 points. Florida State's best non-conference win is hard to pick out - perhaps a 23 point win at Florida International.
Georgia Tech (5-4)
The Yellow Jackets are another team that has underperformed so far. They started out the year by losing their second game, a 17 point loss at Kennesaw State. Georgia Tech had a good win in Atlantic City over UTEP, but followed that up with three straight losses, including a home loss to rival Georgia. They appear to be one of the weaker teams in the ACC.
Maryland (7-4)
Maryland has shown promise at times this year, despite being very young. I think they are on pace for a solid year, given Gary Williams' track record. The Terps played well in New York, despite losing two games to Pitt and Illinois. They did blow out Penn State on the road, but lost to Temple and at home to Boston College. The jury is still out on Maryland.
Miami (7-2)
Miami has flown under the radar at the start of the year, much as they did last year. They have played decently well this year, with the exception of a 16 point loss to Rutgers. The Canes have two decent home wins, against Ole Miss and West Virginia, but other than that have not been tested. They don't play another road game until January 2nd at Duke.
North Carolina (7-3)
The Tar Heels have taken some time to come into their own. Along the way, they struggled to losses against Minnesota and Vanderbilt. UNC also had a loss at Illinois which wasn't very close. But UNC has put together a good win against Kentucky and appears to be picking up steam with a matchup at Texas up next.
N.C. State (5-3)
The high expectations for NC State this year haven't seemed to filter down to the team yet. The Wolfpack played horribly against Wisconsin and got blown out at a neutral site by Georgetown. Their best win is against George Mason. With a game against Arizona upcoming, NC State needs to get things together. Getting Tracy Smith back would help.
Virginia (6-3)
Virginia has been one of the few teams in the ACC that could be counted as a surprise. The Cavaliers started the season off as most people expected: blowout losses to Stanford and Washington. But they rebounded to beat Oklahoma by 18 and have since piled up road wins against Minnesota and Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers look to be a force to be reckoned with this year.
Virginia Tech (5-4)
It would definitely be fair to say the Hokies have been a disappointment. Their early season struggles have been well documented (including in this blog). The only loss that could be counted as a bad loss was their home defeat to Virginia, but they really should have beaten Purdue. The best win so far is a neutral site victory over Oklahoma State, with a chance at a better one this weekend against Mississippi State.
Wake Forest (6-4)
Wake Forest's record isn't much different from many other teams, but they are clearly the worst team in the ACC. They have already lost to Stetson, VCU, Winthrop and UNC Wilmington, with the first three being at home. In their last game, they won at home by only two points to a UNC Greensboro team that hasn't won a game this season. In fact, UNC Greensboro's previous best loss was by 12 points to NC A&T. Not good in Winston Salem.
To recap, a lot of the ACC teams have some work to do to earn respectability for the conference. Most years, there would be a lot of teams with no more than two losses. Right now, 8 of the 12 teams have at least 3 losses. And time is running out to pile up the non-conference wins.
As it's about a month into the season, it's a good time to look at how the ACC teams have been progressing thus far this year. So here is the status report:
Boston College (8-2)
The Eagles have surpassed expectations so far. They performed admirably in Orlando, beating a good Texas A&M squad and winning big over California. BC also has a very solid road win over Maryland and an underrated win at UMass. Steve Donahue has to be happy with how his first year has gone so far.
Clemson (5-4)
Clemson lost quite a bit from last year's team, and the transition to both new players and a new coach has been understandably tough. The Tigers have lost all of their games against good teams, with the best victory being against Seton Hall at a neutral site. The home loss to Michigan was disappointing, and they missed an opportunity down the stretch at Florida State.
Duke (10-0)
The Duke Blue Devils have done what everyone expected them to do: win, win, win. They have played a pretty impressive schedule, and have racked up wins against Kansas State, Michigan State, Butler and Marquette. Most of their games have been blowouts. There is some cause for concern with Kyrie Irving's injury, but even if he is out for the year they should be in good shape.
Florida State (8-2)
Florida State has a decent record thus far, but it still feels as if they haven't played up to their potential. The Seminoles have lost two games, both against ranked teams, but they were both at home. In those games, they only scored a combined 95 points. Florida State's best non-conference win is hard to pick out - perhaps a 23 point win at Florida International.
Georgia Tech (5-4)
The Yellow Jackets are another team that has underperformed so far. They started out the year by losing their second game, a 17 point loss at Kennesaw State. Georgia Tech had a good win in Atlantic City over UTEP, but followed that up with three straight losses, including a home loss to rival Georgia. They appear to be one of the weaker teams in the ACC.
Maryland (7-4)
Maryland has shown promise at times this year, despite being very young. I think they are on pace for a solid year, given Gary Williams' track record. The Terps played well in New York, despite losing two games to Pitt and Illinois. They did blow out Penn State on the road, but lost to Temple and at home to Boston College. The jury is still out on Maryland.
Miami (7-2)
Miami has flown under the radar at the start of the year, much as they did last year. They have played decently well this year, with the exception of a 16 point loss to Rutgers. The Canes have two decent home wins, against Ole Miss and West Virginia, but other than that have not been tested. They don't play another road game until January 2nd at Duke.
North Carolina (7-3)
The Tar Heels have taken some time to come into their own. Along the way, they struggled to losses against Minnesota and Vanderbilt. UNC also had a loss at Illinois which wasn't very close. But UNC has put together a good win against Kentucky and appears to be picking up steam with a matchup at Texas up next.
N.C. State (5-3)
The high expectations for NC State this year haven't seemed to filter down to the team yet. The Wolfpack played horribly against Wisconsin and got blown out at a neutral site by Georgetown. Their best win is against George Mason. With a game against Arizona upcoming, NC State needs to get things together. Getting Tracy Smith back would help.
Virginia (6-3)
Virginia has been one of the few teams in the ACC that could be counted as a surprise. The Cavaliers started the season off as most people expected: blowout losses to Stanford and Washington. But they rebounded to beat Oklahoma by 18 and have since piled up road wins against Minnesota and Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers look to be a force to be reckoned with this year.
Virginia Tech (5-4)
It would definitely be fair to say the Hokies have been a disappointment. Their early season struggles have been well documented (including in this blog). The only loss that could be counted as a bad loss was their home defeat to Virginia, but they really should have beaten Purdue. The best win so far is a neutral site victory over Oklahoma State, with a chance at a better one this weekend against Mississippi State.
Wake Forest (6-4)
Wake Forest's record isn't much different from many other teams, but they are clearly the worst team in the ACC. They have already lost to Stetson, VCU, Winthrop and UNC Wilmington, with the first three being at home. In their last game, they won at home by only two points to a UNC Greensboro team that hasn't won a game this season. In fact, UNC Greensboro's previous best loss was by 12 points to NC A&T. Not good in Winston Salem.
To recap, a lot of the ACC teams have some work to do to earn respectability for the conference. Most years, there would be a lot of teams with no more than two losses. Right now, 8 of the 12 teams have at least 3 losses. And time is running out to pile up the non-conference wins.
Monday, December 13, 2010
The Week Ahead
We aren't even halfway into December, and three conference games are already in the books. I've got to hand it to Boston College - they had the most impressive performance of the weekend. BC was able to go to Maryland and win a shootout, playing much better than the home team down the stretch. Of the three new coaches, Steve Donahue inherited the team with the most returning talent. But he has still done a fine job so far. For Maryland, this is not a good loss. I am fairly confident they will be able to turn it around, though.
In the other conference game, Florida State was able to outlast Clemson. For years this was the game between the two worst teams in the conference, and I think there is still not much national interest for this matchup. This game was marked by a bunch of missed layups and dunks. But in the end, Florida State got the win they were expected to get.
This is another week where teams are on their exam break, so not much action. But here are the marquee games worth looking out for:
Oregon at UVA (Friday, 8:00 p.m.)
After spending a long time on the road, UVA is home for the rest of the year. This is notable because they are hosting a BCS foe, but Oregon doesn't have a lot of firepower and has to travel across the country. UVA should win this one.
Texas vs. UNC (Saturday, 4:00 p.m. in Greensboro)
This made for TV matchup should be a virtual home crowd for the Heels. They got one solid win over Kentucky and will be looking to build a little momentum. Texas is a bit of an enigma, playing well in New York but losing badly on the road at Southern Cal.
Georgia Tech vs. Richmond (Saturday, 5:00 p.m. in the Bahamas)
This is game one of the Battle at Atlantis, and is a tough matchup for the Yellow Jackets. Richmond is considered a team on the rise and already has a neutral site win over Purdue to its credit. The Jackets are coming off a tough loss at home to rival Georgia and could use a boost.
Virginia Tech vs. Mississippi State (Saturday, 8:00 p.m. in the Bahamas)
The second game of the Battle at Atlantis features two teams who really want to get back to the NCAA Tournament. The Hokies got a nice win over Penn State but have still underachieved. Mississippi State will be looking to get back to full strength with Renardo Sidney returning to the team.
Wake Forest at Xavier (Saturday, 8:00 p.m.)
Wake Forest has really struggled in the early going this year, and their schedule is not getting any easier. A trip to Xavier will be a tough test for Jeff Bzdelik's crew. Thus far Wake's best win is a home win over Iowa. Keeping the Xavier game close will probably be a victory for the Deacs.
Arizona at N.C. State (Sunday, 4:30 p.m.)
This is a rematch of a very competitive game from last year. The Wolfpack have a lot of promise but have yet to deliver with a big win, losing all three of their games against BCS conference opponents. Arizona is expected to contend for an NCAA berth this year, and would be a good win for the Pack.
We aren't even halfway into December, and three conference games are already in the books. I've got to hand it to Boston College - they had the most impressive performance of the weekend. BC was able to go to Maryland and win a shootout, playing much better than the home team down the stretch. Of the three new coaches, Steve Donahue inherited the team with the most returning talent. But he has still done a fine job so far. For Maryland, this is not a good loss. I am fairly confident they will be able to turn it around, though.
In the other conference game, Florida State was able to outlast Clemson. For years this was the game between the two worst teams in the conference, and I think there is still not much national interest for this matchup. This game was marked by a bunch of missed layups and dunks. But in the end, Florida State got the win they were expected to get.
This is another week where teams are on their exam break, so not much action. But here are the marquee games worth looking out for:
Oregon at UVA (Friday, 8:00 p.m.)
After spending a long time on the road, UVA is home for the rest of the year. This is notable because they are hosting a BCS foe, but Oregon doesn't have a lot of firepower and has to travel across the country. UVA should win this one.
Texas vs. UNC (Saturday, 4:00 p.m. in Greensboro)
This made for TV matchup should be a virtual home crowd for the Heels. They got one solid win over Kentucky and will be looking to build a little momentum. Texas is a bit of an enigma, playing well in New York but losing badly on the road at Southern Cal.
Georgia Tech vs. Richmond (Saturday, 5:00 p.m. in the Bahamas)
This is game one of the Battle at Atlantis, and is a tough matchup for the Yellow Jackets. Richmond is considered a team on the rise and already has a neutral site win over Purdue to its credit. The Jackets are coming off a tough loss at home to rival Georgia and could use a boost.
Virginia Tech vs. Mississippi State (Saturday, 8:00 p.m. in the Bahamas)
The second game of the Battle at Atlantis features two teams who really want to get back to the NCAA Tournament. The Hokies got a nice win over Penn State but have still underachieved. Mississippi State will be looking to get back to full strength with Renardo Sidney returning to the team.
Wake Forest at Xavier (Saturday, 8:00 p.m.)
Wake Forest has really struggled in the early going this year, and their schedule is not getting any easier. A trip to Xavier will be a tough test for Jeff Bzdelik's crew. Thus far Wake's best win is a home win over Iowa. Keeping the Xavier game close will probably be a victory for the Deacs.
Arizona at N.C. State (Sunday, 4:30 p.m.)
This is a rematch of a very competitive game from last year. The Wolfpack have a lot of promise but have yet to deliver with a big win, losing all three of their games against BCS conference opponents. Arizona is expected to contend for an NCAA berth this year, and would be a good win for the Pack.
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
What's Wrong with the Hokies?
Since there aren't many games going on this week, that gives me a little time to devote to a topic near and dear to my heart: the Hokie basketball team. I have seen the team come a long way since I started following it in 2002. I really thought that the Hokies would never make the tournament again after their last appearance in 1996. But they managed to grow the program to where it has at least earned respectability.
All that being said, this season came in with as high expectations as I'd ever seen for the Hokies. And with a 4-4 record to date, there has been much groveling and complaining and jumping off the bandwagon. So it begs the question: what's wrong?
The main reason I can point to is chemistry. The guys on the floor don't seem to have the same level of trust that they had last year. And that is puzzling, considering it is the same five guys out there. They aren't moving the ball on offense and working together to generate turnovers on defense. On a 3 and 1 break, the ball handler will shoot a contested shot rather than pass to the open man. When guys are getting screened on defense, another defender is not helping out to pick up the open man. And I could go on and on. The team just doesn't look like it's playing together. It has in moments this season: like the last 5 minutes against Oklahoma State and the second half against UVA.
Another problem: the inability to come through down the stretch. The times that the Hokies have performed well in the past have been when they have been able to take over the last few minutes of a game to close out the other team. They did this nicely against Oklahoma State. But against Purdue, they had a four point lead and the Boilermakers on the ropes. But they didn't seem to know what to do with the ball in the last couple minutes and lost. Against UVA, they had chances to tie or take the lead and really deal a knockout blow, but didn't.
You can point to one player in one game and say "Well Malcolm played poorly" or "Dorenzo had a bad game." But good players are going to have bad games. It happens all the time. Good teams are able to win despite this. Their other players (who aren't slouches - they are scholarship athletes at an ACC school) pick up the slack. This has also been lacking.
The last reason I will point to is the sheer lack of manpower. Allan Chaney went out, then J.T. Thompson - both before the season. Cadarian Raines missed a significant amount of time. And just this week, Ben Boggs announced he will transfer. That leaves 10 scholarship playe
rs. If Raines has to miss a lot more time, that number is down to 9. Nine scholarship players is practically unheard of - a lot of teams have 13! It is very difficult to win with that lack of depth, and getting no spark off the bench.
rs. If Raines has to miss a lot more time, that number is down to 9. Nine scholarship players is practically unheard of - a lot of teams have 13! It is very difficult to win with that lack of depth, and getting no spark off the bench.One last point: there has been a lot of criticism of Seth Greenberg on Virginia Tech message boards. I don't know whether Seth is the problem or not. All I know is that his coaching move at the end of the Oklahoma State game single handedly won the game. He has talked about players needing to be more about the team than themselves - is that coaching? Maybe. Maybe Seth Greenberg has hit his ceiling as a coach and the Hokies need another coach to take that next step. But you better believe he is working his heart out to try to come up with a fix.
The good news is, there is plenty of time. The Hokies have 15 more conference games to play, many against teams with inferior talent. They can get out of their funk. But the road back starts with the next game.
Monday, December 06, 2010
Weekend Recap
It was a pretty good weekend for the ACC, with some key wins against non-conference foes.
Let's start in Chapel Hill, where UNC got a much needed win against Kentucky. The Tar Heels have had the Wildcats' number in recent years, and needed this confidence builder. Neither team really got it done on the offensive end, especially late in the game. But Tyler Zeller knocked down some big free throws down the stretch.
Butler played their butts off to a first half draw in a rematch of the NCAA Championship game against Duke. I don't know if it was a hangover from their game against Michigan State or more about what Butler did, but Duke struggled more in that first half than they have all year. That being said, they were still able to win by 12.
Miami got a huge win over West Virginia. The Hurricanes also needed a confidence boost after struggling some in November, and beating the Mountaineers is a good step forward.
NC State held tough against Syracuse, leading late in the game, only to see things slip away. I'm not sure if Wolfpack fans will be heartened by their improved effort or disappointed because of the loss. Either way, NC State has some work to do before conference play starts.
Clemson lost a tough battle against its biggest rival, South Carolina. The Tigers have been struggling some in the early season as well, and look like they will endure some growing pains in the first year under Brad Brownell.
Virginia continued its strong play of late with a road upset of Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers came out hot in the first half, and held onto their 12 point halftime lead. This speaks a lot to the resiliency of Tony Bennett and the Cavs after their tough stretch a couple weeks ago. For Virginia Tech, there are a lot more questions than answers. They seem to lack chemistry, and need to get things together quickly or it will be a very disappointing season.
Maryland strugged offensively against a tough Temple team, trailing by double digits at one point at the BB&T Classic. They were able to make a game of it, losing by 3, but they have to think this loss was a missed opportunity.
The schedule dries up a little bit this week as some teams go on a break for exams. There are only two games of note during the week:
Tuesday: Georgia at Georgia Tech (7:00 p.m.)
Wednesday: Providence at Boston College (7:00 p.m.)
It was a pretty good weekend for the ACC, with some key wins against non-conference foes.
Let's start in Chapel Hill, where UNC got a much needed win against Kentucky. The Tar Heels have had the Wildcats' number in recent years, and needed this confidence builder. Neither team really got it done on the offensive end, especially late in the game. But Tyler Zeller knocked down some big free throws down the stretch.
Butler played their butts off to a first half draw in a rematch of the NCAA Championship game against Duke. I don't know if it was a hangover from their game against Michigan State or more about what Butler did, but Duke struggled more in that first half than they have all year. That being said, they were still able to win by 12.
Miami got a huge win over West Virginia. The Hurricanes also needed a confidence boost after struggling some in November, and beating the Mountaineers is a good step forward.
NC State held tough against Syracuse, leading late in the game, only to see things slip away. I'm not sure if Wolfpack fans will be heartened by their improved effort or disappointed because of the loss. Either way, NC State has some work to do before conference play starts.
Clemson lost a tough battle against its biggest rival, South Carolina. The Tigers have been struggling some in the early season as well, and look like they will endure some growing pains in the first year under Brad Brownell.
Virginia continued its strong play of late with a road upset of Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers came out hot in the first half, and held onto their 12 point halftime lead. This speaks a lot to the resiliency of Tony Bennett and the Cavs after their tough stretch a couple weeks ago. For Virginia Tech, there are a lot more questions than answers. They seem to lack chemistry, and need to get things together quickly or it will be a very disappointing season.
Maryland strugged offensively against a tough Temple team, trailing by double digits at one point at the BB&T Classic. They were able to make a game of it, losing by 3, but they have to think this loss was a missed opportunity.
The schedule dries up a little bit this week as some teams go on a break for exams. There are only two games of note during the week:
Tuesday: Georgia at Georgia Tech (7:00 p.m.)
Wednesday: Providence at Boston College (7:00 p.m.)
Friday, December 03, 2010
Challenge Winners & Losers
Another ACC/Big Ten Challenge is in the books and for the second straight year, the Big Ten won. The ACC did manage to make it competitive on Wednesday, losing by a narrow 6-5 margin. So let's take a look back at the winners and losers.
Winners
Virginia - Virginia pulled off the biggest surprise of the challenge, with a huge road win at Minnesota. The way the Cavaliers had played thus far this year, no one thought they could win going away against a Gophers team predicted to finish in the top 25. This could be a big momentum builder for them.
Northwestern - The Wildcats have never made it to the NCAA Tournament, and are hoping this will be the year. They blasted Georgia Tech at home, scoring at will. This is a good sign for a team hoping to take that next step.
Michigan - The Wolverines came up with a big road win against Clemson. Michigan has been a much improved team since John Beilein took over, and looks to make the NCAA Tournament again this year.
Maryland - The Terps started out slowly against Penn State, but ended up winning by 23. Penn State isn't the strongest team, but beating any Big Ten team by 23 points on the road gets you in the winners column.
Losers
NC State - What happened, Sidney Lowe? There is no shame in losing at Wisconsin. But losing by 39 points, with a second half that was completely meaningless, is pretty sad. State only scored 48 points and gave up 87 to a team that usually plays in the 50s.
Virginia Tech - The Hokies played much better in their Big Ten game against Purdue, and really should have won. But mistakes down the stretch meant another loss and another missed opportunity in the non-conference. Fans will have to tone down their expectations for this season.
Florida State - Ohio State is an impressive team, but Florida State has made a living in recent years out of beating higher ranked teams at home. They have been pretty disappointing so far this year.
Iowa - The Hawkeyes had Wake Forest on the ropes in Winston-Salem but let them off the hook, giving up a late 3. Iowa isn't going anywhere this year but this would have been a good win for them.
This weekend is full of very strong matchups. Among the highlights: UNC vs. Kentucky, Duke vs. Butler, West Virginia at Miami, Maryland vs. Temple, and the first conference game of the year: UVA at Virginia Tech. A full recap of those games is coming up on Monday.
Another ACC/Big Ten Challenge is in the books and for the second straight year, the Big Ten won. The ACC did manage to make it competitive on Wednesday, losing by a narrow 6-5 margin. So let's take a look back at the winners and losers.
Winners
Virginia - Virginia pulled off the biggest surprise of the challenge, with a huge road win at Minnesota. The way the Cavaliers had played thus far this year, no one thought they could win going away against a Gophers team predicted to finish in the top 25. This could be a big momentum builder for them.
Northwestern - The Wildcats have never made it to the NCAA Tournament, and are hoping this will be the year. They blasted Georgia Tech at home, scoring at will. This is a good sign for a team hoping to take that next step.
Michigan - The Wolverines came up with a big road win against Clemson. Michigan has been a much improved team since John Beilein took over, and looks to make the NCAA Tournament again this year.
Maryland - The Terps started out slowly against Penn State, but ended up winning by 23. Penn State isn't the strongest team, but beating any Big Ten team by 23 points on the road gets you in the winners column.
Losers
NC State - What happened, Sidney Lowe? There is no shame in losing at Wisconsin. But losing by 39 points, with a second half that was completely meaningless, is pretty sad. State only scored 48 points and gave up 87 to a team that usually plays in the 50s.
Virginia Tech - The Hokies played much better in their Big Ten game against Purdue, and really should have won. But mistakes down the stretch meant another loss and another missed opportunity in the non-conference. Fans will have to tone down their expectations for this season.
Florida State - Ohio State is an impressive team, but Florida State has made a living in recent years out of beating higher ranked teams at home. They have been pretty disappointing so far this year.
Iowa - The Hawkeyes had Wake Forest on the ropes in Winston-Salem but let them off the hook, giving up a late 3. Iowa isn't going anywhere this year but this would have been a good win for them.
This weekend is full of very strong matchups. Among the highlights: UNC vs. Kentucky, Duke vs. Butler, West Virginia at Miami, Maryland vs. Temple, and the first conference game of the year: UVA at Virginia Tech. A full recap of those games is coming up on Monday.
Monday, November 29, 2010
ACC/Big Ten Challenge Preview
The first week in December means it's time for the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Last year, the Big Ten won the challenge for the first time, and many people think that the Big Ten is the best conference. So does that mean they will win it again this year? Let's take a look at the games.
Virginia at Minnesota (Monday, 7:00 p.m.)
Minnesota has been a solid team thus far this year, already knocking off UNC in Puerto Rico. Virginia has been tested in this early season, and is playing a little better. But they are still a wildly inconsistent team. It's hard to see them going up to Minnesota and winning.
Pick: Minnesota
Georgia Tech at Northwestern (Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.)
Georgia Tech had a good showing in Atlantic City, beating UTEP and losing by just 4 to Syracuse. But they also have a loss to Kennesaw State already this year. Northwestern hasn't really done much of anything thus far this year. I'll take the Jackets to pull off the upset.
Pick: Georgia Tech
Iowa at Wake Forest (Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.)
This has to be the least compelling matchup of the challenge. Both teams have struggled so far this season, and aren't expected to go far from the cellar in their leagues. I will go with the more experienced team.
Pick: Iowa
Ohio State at Florida State (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.)
Ohio State has one of the best wins of the year, winning going away at Florida. By contrast, Florida State just lost a home game to the same Florida team. The Seminoles will be good this year but not at the same level as the Buckeyes.
Pick: Ohio State
Michigan at Clemson (Tuesday, 9:00 p.m.)
Michigan hasn't had much to show for their season so far, losing the only two challenging games they've had. Clemson has struggled some early as well, and it's hard to forget how they performed in last year's challenge, blowing a huge lead against Illinois. But I'll still go with the home team in this one.
Pick: Clemson
North Carolina at Illinois (Tuesday, 9:30 p.m.)
Tuesday's marquee game features a North Carolina team that has had some trouble establishing its identity in the early season. With a game coming up soon against Kentucky, they could use a win like this. Illinois has played well in the early going, and is expected to be a Sweet 16 level team.
Pick: Illinois
Indiana at Boston College (Wednesday, 7:15 p.m.)
I sympathize with what Tom Crean is going through at Indiana - a long rebuilding process after Kelvin Sampson left a gaping hole in the program. Boston College had a very solid Old Spice Tournament. I like the Eagles at home.
Pick: Boston College
NC State at Wisconsin (Wednesday, 7:15 p.m.)
Big things are expected of the Wolfpack this year. If they are to live up to them, going up to Wisconsin and winning would be a big step in the right direction. Unfortunately, the Badgers are almost impossible to beat in Madison, and have another solid team this year.
Pick: Wisconsin
Purdue at Virginia Tech (Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.)
In somewhat of a surprise, Purdue suffered a setback against Richmond, losing by 11. They are still trying to adjust to life without Robbie Hummel. Virginia Tech has been playing good defense but hasn't really established an offensive identity. They are turning it over too much, and something just seems to be missing right now. Purdue is just the type of team that can give the Hokies fits.
Pick: Purdue
Maryland at Penn State (Wednesday, 9:15 p.m.)
Maryland is another team trying to integrate a bunch of young players, and they have played well at times. Penn State took a big step backward last year, and hasn't shown yet this year that they can win games against good teams, losing their only game against quality competition. I expect the Terps to win a tough one on the road.
Pick: Maryland
Michigan State at Duke (Wednesday, 9:30 p.m.)
Michigan State is a fine team and I fully expect Tom Izzo to get the most out of his guys in March. But they struggled against UConn in Maui, and last year got creamed in their Big Ten Challenge game in Chapel Hill. I don't expect them to do any better this year against Duke. They could lose by 25.
Pick: Duke
By my count, that's a 6-5 Big Ten win. But we'll see how things shake out.
The first week in December means it's time for the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Last year, the Big Ten won the challenge for the first time, and many people think that the Big Ten is the best conference. So does that mean they will win it again this year? Let's take a look at the games.
Virginia at Minnesota (Monday, 7:00 p.m.)
Minnesota has been a solid team thus far this year, already knocking off UNC in Puerto Rico. Virginia has been tested in this early season, and is playing a little better. But they are still a wildly inconsistent team. It's hard to see them going up to Minnesota and winning.
Pick: Minnesota
Georgia Tech at Northwestern (Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.)
Georgia Tech had a good showing in Atlantic City, beating UTEP and losing by just 4 to Syracuse. But they also have a loss to Kennesaw State already this year. Northwestern hasn't really done much of anything thus far this year. I'll take the Jackets to pull off the upset.
Pick: Georgia Tech
Iowa at Wake Forest (Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.)
This has to be the least compelling matchup of the challenge. Both teams have struggled so far this season, and aren't expected to go far from the cellar in their leagues. I will go with the more experienced team.
Pick: Iowa
Ohio State at Florida State (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.)
Ohio State has one of the best wins of the year, winning going away at Florida. By contrast, Florida State just lost a home game to the same Florida team. The Seminoles will be good this year but not at the same level as the Buckeyes.
Pick: Ohio State
Michigan at Clemson (Tuesday, 9:00 p.m.)
Michigan hasn't had much to show for their season so far, losing the only two challenging games they've had. Clemson has struggled some early as well, and it's hard to forget how they performed in last year's challenge, blowing a huge lead against Illinois. But I'll still go with the home team in this one.
Pick: Clemson
North Carolina at Illinois (Tuesday, 9:30 p.m.)
Tuesday's marquee game features a North Carolina team that has had some trouble establishing its identity in the early season. With a game coming up soon against Kentucky, they could use a win like this. Illinois has played well in the early going, and is expected to be a Sweet 16 level team.
Pick: Illinois
Indiana at Boston College (Wednesday, 7:15 p.m.)
I sympathize with what Tom Crean is going through at Indiana - a long rebuilding process after Kelvin Sampson left a gaping hole in the program. Boston College had a very solid Old Spice Tournament. I like the Eagles at home.
Pick: Boston College
NC State at Wisconsin (Wednesday, 7:15 p.m.)
Big things are expected of the Wolfpack this year. If they are to live up to them, going up to Wisconsin and winning would be a big step in the right direction. Unfortunately, the Badgers are almost impossible to beat in Madison, and have another solid team this year.
Pick: Wisconsin
Purdue at Virginia Tech (Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.)
In somewhat of a surprise, Purdue suffered a setback against Richmond, losing by 11. They are still trying to adjust to life without Robbie Hummel. Virginia Tech has been playing good defense but hasn't really established an offensive identity. They are turning it over too much, and something just seems to be missing right now. Purdue is just the type of team that can give the Hokies fits.
Pick: Purdue
Maryland at Penn State (Wednesday, 9:15 p.m.)
Maryland is another team trying to integrate a bunch of young players, and they have played well at times. Penn State took a big step backward last year, and hasn't shown yet this year that they can win games against good teams, losing their only game against quality competition. I expect the Terps to win a tough one on the road.
Pick: Maryland
Michigan State at Duke (Wednesday, 9:30 p.m.)
Michigan State is a fine team and I fully expect Tom Izzo to get the most out of his guys in March. But they struggled against UConn in Maui, and last year got creamed in their Big Ten Challenge game in Chapel Hill. I don't expect them to do any better this year against Duke. They could lose by 25.
Pick: Duke
By my count, that's a 6-5 Big Ten win. But we'll see how things shake out.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Mid-Week Update
It's time to look ahead to the weekend in the ACC. But first, a few notes on what's already happened this week:
-It was certainly a roller coaster week for Virginia in Maui. They got absolutely embarrassed in their first game, losing by 43 points to Washington. I don't care how good Washington is - an ACC school shouldn't be losing any game by 43 points. Then UVA came back in their next game against Oklahoma and lit up the scoreboard from the start, jumping out to a huge lead and holding on for a nice win. In the 5th place game, they jumped out to another big lead against Wichita State only to see the Shockers come back and win comfortably.
-Duke had its coming out party on the national stage in the CBE Classic. They played a pretty close game against Marquette, before taking on Kansas State. The Blue Devils looked very strong in that game, winning by double digits against a Wildcat team that should be in the top 10 all year.
-The best ACC win of the week so far may go to Boston College. The Eagles used some hot shooting early to ride to a win over Texas A&M in the first round of the Old Spice Classic. This is a big win for Steve Donahue's team and shows the Eagles will be a force to be reckoned with this year.
To update the teams playing tournaments, Boston College will now take on Wisconsin in the second game of the Old Spice Classic. Depending on what happens today, their final game on Sunday will be against either Notre Dame or Cal.
Virginia Tech takes on Oklahoma State in the second round of the 76 Classic after beating Cal State Northridge easily. They will then play either Murray State or UNLV on Sunday.
Here are the other good games on tap for the weekend:
Duke at Oregon (Saturday, 4:00 p.m.)
The Ducks have to be hoping for a let-down from Duke in this game being played in a technically neutral site in Portland. Truthfully, Oregon is one of the weakest teams in the Pac 10 and will be lucky to stay with Duke for a half.
College of Charleston at UNC (Sunday, 5:30 p.m.)
Heels fans remember what happened when UNC when down to Charleston last year: a demoralizing loss. That was the beginning of a pretty big slide for UNC, and they will look to earn a bit of revenge against a team that has already almost knocked off Maryland.
Florida at Florida State (Sunday, 7:45 p.m.)
This is always a good barometer game for these two rivals. Florida is expected to be one of the best teams in the SEC this year, but has already suffered a home loss to Ohio State. Florida State hasn't really been tested so far this year.
Remember, the ACC-Big Ten Challenge is right around the corner. I'll have a preview of all the games on Monday.
It's time to look ahead to the weekend in the ACC. But first, a few notes on what's already happened this week:
-It was certainly a roller coaster week for Virginia in Maui. They got absolutely embarrassed in their first game, losing by 43 points to Washington. I don't care how good Washington is - an ACC school shouldn't be losing any game by 43 points. Then UVA came back in their next game against Oklahoma and lit up the scoreboard from the start, jumping out to a huge lead and holding on for a nice win. In the 5th place game, they jumped out to another big lead against Wichita State only to see the Shockers come back and win comfortably.
-Duke had its coming out party on the national stage in the CBE Classic. They played a pretty close game against Marquette, before taking on Kansas State. The Blue Devils looked very strong in that game, winning by double digits against a Wildcat team that should be in the top 10 all year.
-The best ACC win of the week so far may go to Boston College. The Eagles used some hot shooting early to ride to a win over Texas A&M in the first round of the Old Spice Classic. This is a big win for Steve Donahue's team and shows the Eagles will be a force to be reckoned with this year.
To update the teams playing tournaments, Boston College will now take on Wisconsin in the second game of the Old Spice Classic. Depending on what happens today, their final game on Sunday will be against either Notre Dame or Cal.
Virginia Tech takes on Oklahoma State in the second round of the 76 Classic after beating Cal State Northridge easily. They will then play either Murray State or UNLV on Sunday.
Here are the other good games on tap for the weekend:
Duke at Oregon (Saturday, 4:00 p.m.)
The Ducks have to be hoping for a let-down from Duke in this game being played in a technically neutral site in Portland. Truthfully, Oregon is one of the weakest teams in the Pac 10 and will be lucky to stay with Duke for a half.
College of Charleston at UNC (Sunday, 5:30 p.m.)
Heels fans remember what happened when UNC when down to Charleston last year: a demoralizing loss. That was the beginning of a pretty big slide for UNC, and they will look to earn a bit of revenge against a team that has already almost knocked off Maryland.
Florida at Florida State (Sunday, 7:45 p.m.)
This is always a good barometer game for these two rivals. Florida is expected to be one of the best teams in the SEC this year, but has already suffered a home loss to Ohio State. Florida State hasn't really been tested so far this year.
Remember, the ACC-Big Ten Challenge is right around the corner. I'll have a preview of all the games on Monday.
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