Atlantic Coast Conference Notebook
After turning the calendar from January to February, the much-anticipated Selection Sunday – March 12 for those looking to mark their day planners – lies barely a month away.
But for a handful of ACC teams, the win-or-go-home attitude must start March 9, the first day of the conference tournament for the bottom eight teams. The ACC prepares to play its first conference tournament with 12 teams, thanks to the addition of Boston College during the off-season. And the Eagles have become one of seven teams vying for three bye spots not occupied by Duke. The Blue Devils are the lone ACC team on cruise control for one of the top four spots in the ACC Tournament.
But North Carolina State, Miami, North Carolina, Boston College, Virginia, Maryland and Florida State are separated by a mere three games in the standings. With such parity from top to bottom, the selection committee will struggle to differentiate the teams stuck in the middle, so a two- or three-game winning streak in the ACC Tournament would do wonders.
Ironically, the No. 6 and No. 7 teams in the final regular-season standings might pick up a better draw for a run to the NCAA Tournament than the No. 5 team. Here’s why.
If the No. 6 or No. 7 team in the ACC Tournament reaches the conference semifinals, that team would play – at highest – the No. 2 or No. 3 seed, which won’t be Duke. At worst – or best, depending on how you look at it – those teams would not see Duke until the conference championship, after they had won three games in three days, most likely including wins against two NCAA Tournament-bound squads. If both the No. 6 and No. 7 squads make the conference semifinals, that game could essentially become an NCAA Tournament elimination game.
But if you’re the No. 5 team, you draw the No. 12 team in the opening round. That’s the definition of a trap game. The worst team in the regular season probably will not have a .500 record, meaning there’s no hope of an NIT invitation. So that game is the team’s last, unless they pull off the upset. A loss to the No. 12 team could doom the No. 5 team’s tournament dreams. For example, if Miami or North Carolina slip in the standings to fifth, the combination of a bad loss to the No. 12 team and the previous losses that caused the drop in the standings would not look good to the selection committee.
So if the No. 5 team takes care of business, the next match up is against the No. 4 squad. A loss here means that the ACC Tournament was useless for improving its NCAA Tournament résumé, and other conference rivals have an opportunity to step forward. A win gives the No. 5 team a likely date with Duke, which has been automatic in the ACC Tournament since last millennium. Anything that’s not an embarrassing semifinal loss would be solid. A win would mean you can pencil the No. 5 team in the NCAA Tournament. But more likely, the No. 5 will be reeling from a bad loss in a 12 p.m. Friday game when committee members having nothing better to do than grab some lunch and watch one of their No. 1 seeds in action.
So what’s it all mean? With 12 teams in the ACC, the importance of finishing strong is greater than ever. Earn an opening-round bye in the conference tournament and you’re probably in the NCAA Tournament. If you’re the No. 5-7 teams, though, you have some work to do. And contrary to logic, the No. 5 team might have the hardest job of the three.
Player of the Week: J.J. Redick, Duke
With 64 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in two tight wins last week, Redick yet again claims the Player of the Week award. It’s almost worth declaring Redick player of the year and giving someone else a chance to win this award week-to-week.
Rookie of the Week: Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
Just like Redick, Hansbrough has already proven he’s the winner of this category. Hansbrough led North Carolina to two wins with 29 points and 15 rebounds. Honorable mention goes to Virginia Tech’s A.D. Vassallo, who filled in admirably for Coleman Collins.
ACC Coach Watch: Gary Williams, Maryland
With losses to North Carolina and North Carolina State last week, the Terrapins clearly are in trouble. Williams must turn this team around and beat some ACC foes sans Chris McCray.
Duke Blue Devils (21-1, 9-0)
Last week:
Win: at Boston College, 83-81
Win: Florida State, 97-96 OT
Next two games:
Feb. 7: at North Carolina
Feb. 11: at Maryland
The Blue Devils picked up two big wins in close games last week, despite some controversy involving the officials. Duke withstood a furious rally by Boston College to slip by with an 83-81. Eagle fans and Duke haters cried foul, however, because of a missed call late in the game. Senior forward Shelden Williams clearly fouled Tyrese Rice on a drive with less than 10 seconds remaining. Although the call was pretty obvious, the free throws would have only cut the lead to one. At best, the Eagles would have had a couple of seconds to run the length of the court to put up a shot. Of course, the principle of getting the calls right is more important than the situation. But those who say the officials handed Duke the game are wrong, too.
The officiating fiasco continued against Florida State, however. Williams again was involved in a sticky situation. The Seminoles’ Alexander Johnson intentionally fouled Williams to prevent an easy dunk. Williams jumped into Johnson’s face to let him know he did not appreciate being tossed to the floor. Johnson backed away, but the referees still called a technical foul on him and Williams. That made five fouls on Johnson, who had a solid game with 13 points and 11 rebounds in only 14 minutes. Despite the controversy involving Williams, he had a monster week with 48 points, 19 rebounds and 11 blocks.
North Carolina State Wolfpack (18-4, 7-2)
Last week:
Win: Virginia, 66-64
Win: Maryland, 62-58
Next two games:
Feb. 8: at Miami
Feb. 12: at Georgia Tech
The Wolfpack continued to play solid basketball last week in two tight home wins against Virginia and Maryland. Although the victories kept North Carolina State in second place, Wolfpack fans must still feel anxious about the team’s position because the team allows opponents to hang around late in game. This week, North Carolina State must hit the road to Miami and Georgia Tech. The Wolfpack beat both those teams in Raleigh earlier this season, so the Hurricanes and Yellow Jackets have revenge on their minds. The Hurricanes can move into a tie for second in the conference with a win.
To avoid road losses, North Carolina State must shoot the ball more consistently. The Wolfpack shot 50 percent from the field against the Cavaliers despite hitting only 7-of-22 three-pointers. The numbers flopped against the Terrapins win North Carolina State barely shot 30 percent from the floor but drained 12-of-28 three-pointers. Senior point guard Tony Bethel played well last week, connecting on nine three-pointers, scoring 17 points against Maryland and 16 against Virginia. In addition to increasing his scoring, Bethel worked within coach Herb Sendek’s system to distribute the ball to teammate with nine assists in two games. In the two games last week, the Wolfpack registered assists on more than 70 percent of their made field goals. That’s solid teamwork.
Miami Hurricanes (14-8, 6-3)
Last week:
Win: Wake Forest, 78-69
Win: at Georgia Tech, 70-53
Next two games:
Feb. 8: North Carolina State
Feb. 12: North Carolina
Following the Hurricanes’ loss to Louisville on New Year’s Eve, Miami dropped to 7-6 overall and appeared destined to a rough season. But with seven wins out of the last nine games, the Hurricanes are suddenly among the ACC’s best teams. The Hurricanes have the most talented backcourt in the conference, and the three guards can go toe-to-toe with any guard combination outside the Main Line near Philadelphia. Senior guard Robert Hite is the leader of the pack, supported by junior guard Guillermo Diaz and senior point guard Anthony Harris.
The importance of the triplets needs no further example than the win against Wake Forest. The Hurricanes rallied behind 59 points from Hite, Diaz and Harris. That’s more than 75 percent of the team’s 78 points. The three hit all 12 of Miami three-pointers. But they do more than score, as Harris and Hite each dished out five assists. The experience and skill of this backcourt could easily carry Miami to a couple of surprise victories as February turns to March.
North Carolina Tar Heels (14-5, 5-3)
Last week:
Win: at Maryland, 77-62
Win: Clemson, 76-61
Next two games:
Feb. 7: Duke
Feb. 12: at Miami
The Tar Heels surged toward the top of the standings last week with wins against Maryland and Clemson. With games against Duke and Miami this week, North Carolina has an opportunity to cement its place among the top teams in the conference. Senior forward David Noel will likely be the reason for the team’s success if the Tar Heels build on their three-game winning streak.
In two games last week, Noel played sensational. He scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the team’s easy win in College Park. Then Noel flirted with a triple-double against Clemson, picking up 12 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. He embraced a more active role in the offense and led the charge. The improved play of Noel and junior forward Reyshawn Terry bodes well for the youthful squad that desperately needs consistency from its more experienced players. With three games against Duke and North Carolina State in the final eight regular-season match ups, North Carolina needs the veterans to put up strong numbers every night.
Boston College Eagles (17-5, 5-4)
Last week:
Loss: Duke, 83-81
Win: at Virginia Tech, 74-73
Next two games:
Feb. 8: at Wake Forest
Feb. 11: Clemson
Boston College’s final eight games are a grab bag of mixed blessings. On one hand, five home games with road trips to Wake Forest, Virginia and North Carolina State don’t sound terribly imposing. On the other hand, every ACC game is a potential upset, and the Eagles cannot afford many home losses to the likes of Clemson and Virginia Tech. The Eagles also don’t have many power games remaining to earn a higher seed in the NCAA Tournament. Boston College will rely on other teams losing and a long winning streak entering March.
The Eagles have won six of their last seven, including a tough 74-73 win at Virginia Tech. The only blemish is the home loss to Duke, in which the Eagles furiously rallied on the wings of nine three-pointers and junior forward Jared Dudley’s 28 points. The Eagles felt victimized by a late miss call that would have sent freshman guard Tyrese Rice to the free-throw line with a chance to cut a three-point lead to one. But there were less than 10 seconds remaining in the game. Boston College failed to stymie a long Duke run late in the first half and early in the second half. If the Eagles had played as well as they did during the last 10 minutes throughout the whole game, Boston College would not have needed to rely on the whims of referees.
Virginia Cavaliers (11-8, 5-4)
Last week:
Loss: at North Carolina State, 66-64
Win: Wake Forest, 75-73
Next two games:
Feb. 7: at Maryland
Feb. 11: Virginia Tech
Two was the magic number for Virginia last week, as the Cavaliers won by two against Wake Forest but lost by two to North Carolina State. In both games, the losing team heaved a half-court shot at the buzzer that would have won if it went in. Against the Wolfpack, Virginia nearly stole a victory on sophomore guard Sean Singletary’s heave at the buzzer. But later in the week, junior guard J.R. Reynolds buried Wake Forest with a two-pointer with less than five seconds remaining. The Demon Deacon’s Justin Gray missed a half-court shot to give the Cavaliers a fifth ACC win, more than they registered last season.
Coach Dave Leitao continues to get his team to play hard every night. After years of mediocrity under former coach Pete Gillen, Leitao has found a way to energize Cavalier basketball. With no seniors who play significant minutes on this roster, Leitao is preparing this team for a run next season that could put the Cavaliers in the Top 25 from start to finish. A strong finish to this season is important to give the young Cavaliers more confidence. Equally important, Virginia could still earn an NCAA Tournament bid, giving the kids even more valuable experience in big-game situations.
Maryland Terrapins (14-7, 4-4)
Last week:
Loss: North Carolina, 77-62
Loss: at North Carolina State, 62-58
Next two games:
Feb. 7: Virginia
Feb. 11: Duke
Maryland faces the unfortunate yet familiar situation of needing some late-season wins to dodge an NCAA Tournament snub. Last season, the team imploded under the pressure of controversy, thanks to the rift between former point guard John Gilchrist and coach Gary Williams. This season, Maryland must adjust to life without senior guard Chris McCray, one of the team’s most potent scorers, who is academically ineligible for the rest of the season. In McCray’s absence, the Terrapins are 1-3, and the selection committee will be watching Maryland closely to see if the team remains competitive without McCray.
Last week, the answer didn’t appear to be promising. The Terrapins shot less than 38 percent from the field against North Carolina and North Carolina State. Although the loss to the Tar Heels looks like a blowout, Maryland was in the game until late. The Terrapins forced 24 turnovers out of North Carolina, yet they failed to convert the opportunities to build a big lead. The team’s three-point shooting continued to be mediocre at best, hitting only 3-of-16 three-point attempts. Maryland’s shooting improved slightly at North Carolina State, but not from the free-throw line. Maryland left five points at the line in a four-point loss to the Wolfpack. If Maryland’s guards – juniors D.J. Strawberry and Mike Jones in particular – don’t start finding the net soon, Maryland will be finding a home game in the NIT on its post-season schedule.
Florida State Seminoles (13-6, 4-5)
Last week:
Win: Clemson, 69-59
Loss: at Duke, 97-96 OT
Next two games:
Feb. 9: Georgia Tech
Feb. 12: Massachusetts
The Seminoles sit at a game below .500 in the ACC, but they are playing as well as any team in the conference. A large reason for Florida State’s success is the team’s pair of junior forwards, Al Thornton and Alexander Johnson. Johnson picked up two more double-doubles last week against Clemson and Duke, giving him three consecutive games with at least 10 points and 10 rebounds. Against Duke, Johnson picked up 13 points and 11 rebounds in only 14 minutes because he fouled out during that aforementioned questionable call following a hard foul against Duke’s Shelden Williams.
Thornton, meanwhile, is making it clear that he will be one of the most dominating forces in the ACC next season. With J.J. Redick, Shelden Williams, Justin Gray and other seasoned veterans gone, Thornton will fill the void for a big-time scorer who deserves national recognition. He was unstoppable at Duke, scoring 37 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. And if you can play dominant basketball in Durham, you can do so anywhere.
Clemson Tigers (14-8, 3-6)
Last week:
Loss: at Florida State, 69-59
Loss: at North Carolina, 76-61
Next two games:
Feb. 8: Virginia Tech
Feb. 11: at Boston College
Despite a strong start to the season, the Tigers are now possessors of a three-game losing streak, and they have lost five of six. Clemson is in on the cusp of falling out of the NCAA Tournament discussion. The team’s futility at North Carolina embodies the Tigers’ inability to get over the hump and into the conference’s elite. For the 52nd time in 52 tries, the Tigers lost at Chapel Hill. Despite playing a Tar Heels team that lacks the firepower compared with last year’s version, Clemson played soft and fell behind by double digits early in the first half.
Although the Tigers dropped two road games last week, coach Oliver Purnell must feel good about the play of senior guard Shawan Robinson. Purnell moved Robinson out of the starting lineup for much of this season. He continues to produce effectively, scoring 10 points against Florida State and 11 against North Carolina. Purnell’s guard-oriented offense requires a lot of interchangeable parts, and Robinson fits nicely into his scheme.
Virginia Tech Hokies (12-10, 2-7)
Last week:
Win: Georgia Tech, 63-62
Loss: Boston College, 74-73
Next two games:
Feb. 8: at Clemson
Feb. 11: at Virginia
With junior forward Coleman Collins out of the lineup to attend to his critically ill father, Virginia Tech’s five starters played 167 of 200 possible minutes against Georgia Tech. The starters scored all 63 points in the Hokies’ 63-62 win. Despite the lack of depth, the Hokies continued to play stifling defense, holding the Yellow Jackets to about 42 percent shooting and forcing 17 turnovers. The silver lining to Collins’ absence is that freshman swingman A.D. Vassallo is gathering important experience. He scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the week.
The Hokies are an intriguing squad. With a short bench and plenty of personal distractions, Virginia Tech continues to play hard every game. The Hokies have not matched last season’s amazing ACC debut, when Virginia Tech finished fourth in the conference. But the Hokies may be more dangerous this season come conference tournament time. Virginia Tech could surprise a bubble team in the opening round of the conference tournament.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-11, 2-7)
Last week:
Loss: at Virginia Tech, 63-62
Loss: Miami, 70-53
Next two games:
Feb. 9: at Florida State
Feb. 12: North Carolina State
The Yellow Jackets are the humble owners of a seven-game losing streak after a tight 63-62 loss to Virginia Tech and an ugly 70-53 home blowout against Miami. The final seven games don’t promise to be any easier for Georgia Tech as the Yellow Jackets play four on the road. The home games include North Carolina State and Duke.
With 12 freshmen and sophomores on the roster, only foolish optimists predicted the Yellow Jackets to finish in the top four in the conference. But Georgia Tech has the talent to be better than 2-7 in the conference. Freshmen like Lewis Clinch and D’Andre Bell has been slow to grow in coach Paul Hewitt’s system. However, recent history shows that Hewitt works with his players closely to develop them into stars by the time they are seniors. This staff managed to turn Aussie big man Luke Schenscher into a good player, no small feat. The quarter of Anthony Morrow, Ra’Sean Dickey, Jeremis Smith and Zam Fredrick could be special by the time they graduate.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (12-10, 1-8)
Last week:
Loss: at Miami, 78-69
Loss: at Virginia, 75-73
Next two games:
Feb. 8: Boston College
Feb. 11: Charlotte
With two more losses last week, the Demon Deacons have nearly no chance of reaching the NCAA Tournament unless they win the conference tournament. Wake Forest dropped to 1-8 after losing at Miami and Virginia, claiming sole possession of the ACC’s cellar. The Demon Deacons return home next week to play Boston College and Charlotte, and the team tends to play tougher in Winston-Salem.
Because Wake Forest has two of the conference’s better players, senior center Eric Williams and senior guard Justin Gray, many folks can’t understand Wake Forest’s tremendous fall from grace. Like Virginia last season, the Demon Deacons have gone from a ranked team early in the season to the worst team in the ACC. The Cavaliers have rebounded nicely this season and are now in the middle of the ACC pack. But Wake Forest may not be so fortunate next season because much of the team’s production will depart via graduation. Only three of Wake Forest’s seven freshmen have played more than 10 minutes this season, and none have scored more than 45 points for the season. As tough as this season appears to be, coach Skip Prosser will have his biggest project on his hands next year. Interestingly, Gray and Williams are part of former coach Dave Odom’s last recruiting class. But before bashing Prosser’s recruiting too seriously, don’t forget to give him credit for convincing Chris Paul to stay at home in Winston-Salem.
