Speechless, Part III

Did not think, in a million years, that Duke would play that well, especially on defense.  The Devils had looked listless for the last few weeks and I honestly did not think they had that game in them. 

Tantalizing to think how things would have gone if Strickland's dunk had not be erroneously called a charge.  Duke gets those calls all the time, but that one was particularly outrageous.  Calling charging on that kind of play - with a defender lazily standing under the hoop, the place where you know the ball is heading - is always cheap and rewards NOT moving your feet.  Rather, refs are rewarding standing there like a statue.  

But Singler's play today was even worse.  The refs did NOT reward him for playing defense.  Instead, he was rewarded to not paying attention and hastily turning around to see what the hub bub was all about.   The last thing refs should do is reward that kind of 'play.'  Sheesh. 

I also wonder if fatigue was a factor for a team that only really plays 7 players and was playing it's third in three days.  But enough whining, which makes one sound like, of course, a member of the Duke Blue Devils.

I still love the ACC tournament

Though it's not - thankfully - the old do-or-die event of my youth, I still love the ACC tournament.  Growing up in North Carolina it was THE sporting event of the year. 

Many ACC vets complain that the event is too NC-centric, and for years it was.  Back in the day it was always in Greensboro, and since each conference could only send one team to the NCAA tournament (until 1979 or so) it was HUGE. How huge? In school, teachers brought it TVs for the students to watch for two occasions: moon walks and the first day of the ACC tournament.

Of course, expansion of the ACC and the NCAA field has diluted the impact and significance of the ACC tournament. But I still love it, and it bothers me that even though Carolina has two national championships and has won the ACC regular season five of the seven years ol' Roy's been in Chapel Hill, Duke now has one more ACC tournament championship than we do. 

That will change this year, I hope. 

With a 1 pm conference call looming, here are my predictions:

• Virginia will defeat Miami, give Carolina a game in the first 10 minutes then succumb to the Heels on Friday;
• In a match up of the two worst coaches in the ACC, Virginia Tech will somehow defeat Georgia Tech. But don't be surprised if the Hokies choke big time, either;
• NC State will defeat Maryland, who seems to be phoning it in, then get waxed by Duke;
• BC will in turn wax Wake, then play a great game versus Clemson.  Both teams will be desperate, but I have BC winning and advancing to play Carolina.
• FSU will ride Chris Singleton's return to defeat a distracted and oddly complacent Virginia Tech team.

So Carolina will then have to play and defeat BC for a third time in the semi-finals, a prospect Dean always loathed.  But behind my pick for ACC tournament MVP John  Henson the Heels will make it to the final to play, FSU.

I was impressed by the Seminoles in their win over Duke - and their game versus Carolina.  With Singleton back and Singler and the Plumlees struggling look for an FSU upset, aided by Derwin Kitchen.

Then as it was versus BC, Carolina will need to defeat a team for a third time in a season, but the Heels will to win their 18th ACC Tournament Championship.

GO HEELS!