ACC Tournament Preview

Carolina takes on FSU in a few hours in the first game of the second day of the ACC tournament. I think I blogged this last year, but growing up in North Carolina the first day of the ACC tournament was practically a state holiday. There were only two days - or two events - where TVs were allowed in class: a moon walk and the ACC tournament. Class would stop in order to watch some college basketball, at least in the good ol' North State.

Of course, there was more riding on the outcome back then in the days of each league only getting one entry into the NCAA tournament. That's one reason the ACC tournament always was the cover story on the next week's Sports Illustrated (also a big deal back then).

John Feinstein laments what has happened to the ACC tournament - more focused on the post-football expansion ACC as opposed to the post-multiple NCAA bids ACC - in the Post today.

• Man, did Maryland look terrible last night down the stretch in losing to Boston College. Vasquez in particular was horrible with a lot of turnovers, and James Gist didn't help matters by jacking up shots from the perimeter. You'd think Gary Williams would call a time out, draw an X on the whiteboard marking Gist down low, and order Vasquez to get him the ball. Seems like a simple thing to do, but the Terps couldn't do it.
• The fans are starting to get restless with Williams in College Park; interesting how the press in DC always defends him. I wonder how long that will last since Maryland is doomed for a third trip to the NIT in four years.
• Miami played their way into the tournament yesterday with their win over NC State. State finished with a losing record and won't even get invited to the NIT.
• The biggest game of the day is Virginia Tech versus the Hurricanes at 2:30. A win by the Hokies guarantees their bid to the NCAA, though one would hope with 9 wins in the RPI's toughest conference would be enough. But 9 wins is not a lock after playing an unbalanced schedule most of your wins coming over bottom feeders like BC, NC State and Wake.
• Carolina's tilt against FSU could end up being a close game. Counting their first round win over Wake, the Seminoles are now 8-9 in the ACC. A win over the Heels could get them into the tournament, or FSU probably thinks it can so they will be fired up.
• The good news for Carolina is they are starting to hit their stride on offense and defense, and now has four almost unstoppable weapons in Hansbrough, Ellington, Lawson and Danny the Deity.

Go Heels!