Bracketology: February 29th

If the favorites win, how the ACC Tournament will play out

This is a bracket of what the tournament would like like if the favored teams won the games they were supposed to in the final week. Most notably in those games is Duke beating North Carolina, but there is also Maryland losing twice, including to Virginia at home, and Miami losing tonight at NC State. The bottom four teams should all end up at 4-12, provided NC State beats Virginia Tech in Blacksburgh (no easy feat), Boston College beats Georgia Tech at home, and Georgia Tech beats Wake Forest at home. If this happened, Virginia Tech would own the tiebreaker with a better overall record, followed by Wake, Georgia Tech, and finally Boston College.

The things the immediately pop out when looking at this bracket from top to bottom are numerous. First, NC State has beaten Boston College twice this year, escaping with a five point win in Chestnut Hill. However, they lost at home to Virginia in a hard fought battle, where they had no answer for Mike Scott and lost by just one. Still one has to believe NC State would like to draw Virginia over Florida State or North Carolina, both of whom dismantled the Wolfpack with relative ease. Next, Maryland and Virginia Tech may end up being the most interesting game on the first day. The two teams have only played once this year, with Maryland winning by four at home. Terrell Stoglin had 28 points that game and Virginia Tech's backcourt could not match up with him. We have seen improvement in the Hokies since then, especially from Erick Green, and that matchup could be between potential all-conference guards. The Hokies would love another shot at Duke in the second round after just losing to them in overtime in Durham, although they have already beaten Virginia once and took Florida State down to the last second. Neither of those matchups seems likely for Tech, as they are pretty comfortably in the nine spot.

In the bottom of the bracket, Miami would love to draw Georgia Tech, already beating them by an easy 15 in Atlanta. The Hurricanes would also love to get Florida State again, a team they see as being able to put away comfortably with or without the reinstated Reggie Johnson. Florida State has to be rooting for the Hurricanes tonight versus NC State, as they would much prefer to play a Wolfpack team they dismantled earlier this month. If the draw came out like this, look for Miami to increase their NCAA tournament chances by making a push to the semifinals. In the final quadrant Clemson meets Wake Forest in a matchup that Clemson would love. The Tigers have beaten the Deacons by a combined 31 points in two game this year and are on a roll at the moment. If the Tigers got North Carolina one would think they would be excited, as well. The Tigers lost by 22 in Chapel Hill earlier this month but kept the game within ten for about 32 minutes. The Tar Heels' feelings could go either way after the Duke game. If they win, count on them having a lot of energy and momentum going into the postseason. If they lose, they could either drag themselves down or regroup and try to make it to the championship for a third meeting. Also, they have to be rooting for the Hurricanes the rest of the way, too. Tonight, they will be going for Miami just because NC State is not their favorite, and during the tournament (if it played out like this) they would love to face them instead of Florida State, who beat them by 33 points in January.

Anyway you look at it, get ready for a hell of a ACC tournament.

ACC Power Rankings: February 28th

(From left to right) Seth Curry, Austin Rivers, and Andre Dawkins led Duke to another number one spot in this weeks Power Rankings.

1. Duke- The Blue Devils stay on top this week after an impressive win at Florida State and pushing past Virginia Tech at home. The streaky Andre Dawkins came to play versus Florida State, putting up 22 points in 21 minutes. The Devils shot 13-28 from three in the game, making the difference in the win. Freshman Austin Rivers took home his conference-leading eighth freshman of the week award after putting up a combined 43 points and eight rebounds in the two wins. If the Blue Devils take care of business on the road tonight at Wake then get ready for the showdown for the regular season crown with North Carolina in Durham on Saturday night.

2. North Carolina- The Tar Heels pulled out what may go down as one of their more impressive wins on Saturday at Virginia. Although it does not look great on paper (17-51 FG% as a team) they beat the Cavaliers in a game that went perfectly to plan for Virginia. Tyler Zeller made a huge case for his campaign for conference player of the year, putting up 20 points to Virginia star Mike Scott's 7. The Tar Heels showed good patience and defense (Virginia shot 35% from the field) and their 17 extra foul shots was the difference. Kendall Marshall showed signs that his shooting is improving in a 7-8 from the field performance to put a dagger in the hearts of NC State last Tuesday. The Tar Heels steamrolled the Wolfpack 86-74 in what might be the last time the Tobacco Road rivals meet twice a year.

3. Florida State- The Seminoles need to quickly turn their mindsets around as the end of the regular season approaches. A tough home loss to Duke still weighed on them as they went into Miami and lost to an undermanned Hurricanes team in a game that was never really close. Michael Snaer did his part, scoring a combined 38 points, but the interior game was absent in the loss in Coral Gables. Bernard James was held to eight points in a game that saw a lack of Reggie Johnson to stop him. The Seminoles need more offensive firepower, and that's where the inconsistency of Delvydas Dulkys, Ian Miller, and Luke Loucks comes into question. Where will the help for Snaer come from? Trap games at Virginia and a home game versus Clemson will help determine the future of this team going into March.

4. Virginia- The Cavaliers showed fight this week by playing in two games decided by a total of five points. Mike Scott's weaknesses may have been shown during the Carolina game, as the interior defense forced the big man outside, where he is less comfortable. In the win over Virginia Tech, Scott scored 20 points while grabbing 9 rebounds against an inferior paint defense. Joe Harris and Jontel Evans both showed up in the loss to UNC, Harris putting up a solid 12 point, 5 rebound, 3 assist, 3 block line while Evans used his incredible quickness to get to the basket while scoring 13 points on 6-13 shooting. The Cavaliers need two wins this week, with games at home versus Florida State and at Maryland, in order to solidify their spot in the Big Dance.

5. Miami- Miami took a big leap towards being in the tournament with a victory over Florida State. Doing it without Reggie Johnson, who was declared ineligible because of family benefits from the previous coaching staff, Miami clobbered the Seminoles. A last minute loss to Maryland was quickly forgotten and it looks as though the Hurricanes have found themselves on the right side of the bubble. Johnson's status will be looked at closely this week, as he is indispensable for their stretch run. The game at NC State won't be easy, but is necessary, and finishing the season at home versus lowly Boston College should give them momentum going into the ACC tournament.

6. Clemson- The Tigers jump NC State this week after beating the Wolfpack at home. Clemson dismantled Georgia Tech, first, on the road by 19. Then they got their second victory over a top seven conference team this year. The Tigers are doing it as a team, too, as Andre Young hit the go-ahead three, Milton Jennings scored 17 points while playing with foul trouble, and Tanner Smith (15 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists) may have had the most complete game of his career. The Tigers only shot 30% from three but their foul line performance (16-21) was the key. They have now won four of five. Clemson would love to go into the ACC tournament as the six seed, with the probability of getting Florida State, instead of Duke or UNC, in the quarterfinals.

7. NC State- Pop. That's what the Wolfpack has been hearing this week. Their bubble may have burst in their loss to Clemson. It may have burst when they could not have come away with a signature victory during a grueling four game losing streak. Either way, NC State may need to win the ACC tournament to snag a spot. Their final two games are no sure things, either, as they have Miami, hot off a win versus Florida State, and then go to Virginia Tech, who showed fight in a loss to Duke. CJ Leslie and Lorenzo Brown continued their tear for the Wolfpack, combining for 36 points and 15 boards in the loss, but Brown failed to connect on late free throws, and Leslie again found himself in foul trouble. State needs a draw that will give them Duke in the quarters of the ACC tournament if they want a chance to make a run. Duke was the only top team they put a fight up against.

8. Maryland- The Terps showed signs of life in a win over Miami, and looked to be crawling into the bubble conversation. But then a loss to lowly Georgia Tech brought them back down to reality. Maryland has no shot at a berth without a tournament victory, and needs momentum to have the slightest shot at this. An upset of North Carolina on their senior night would be a start, but is about the closest thing to impossible. Maryland finishes the season at home versus Virginia, a team that blew them out earlier this season, but one that could spring a run. Terrell Stoglin continues to decline in value, shooting 5-17 from the field in the Georgia Tech loss.

9. Virginia Tech- The Hokies come off a week in which they lost to two of the top four teams in the ACC by a combined 7 points in games versus Virginia and at Duke. Virginia Tech has now played in 11 ACC games decided by five points or less, winning only four. Seth Greenberg was disappointed after the loss to Duke but seems to be looking at the upside, noting that the team could be 11-3 in the conference right now. This young team is developing and may have the most potential out of any team in the league. Erick Green remains a stud, with Dorian Finney-Smith, Jarell Eddie, and Cadarian Raines offering a good future. This is one team I could see making a splash in Atlanta.

10. Wake Forest- Wake had perhaps their best game of the season in their domination of Boston College this week. That may be bad news for Duke, who they play tonight, as the Blue Devils may still be tired from Saturday's overtime win over Virginia Tech. CJ Harris and Travis McKie represent the development of the whole team, serving as leaders on the court and in the stats. The Deacons should beat Georgia Tech in the finale, putting them in tenth place in the conference and ready to take on a reeling NC State team in the ACC tournament. This could perhaps put the team in position to snag a spot in the NIT.

11. Georgia Tech- The biggest of battles happens tonight, as the Yellow Jackets travel to Chestnut Hill to take on Boston College for eleventh place in the tournament. Georgia Tech beat Maryland in one of their best wins of the season to break a four game losing streak. They are now 2-10 in the last 12 games.

12. Boston College- You saw the preview for tonight's game above. Take away the Florida State win and this could go down as one of the worst season's in school history. Good thing they're all freshmen.

Bracketology: February 28th

RPI Rankings do not show strength at the top of each conference

If you are unfamiliar with how the board of athletic directors select the team for the NCAA tournament in March it comes from several things. The board will look at each teams RPI rankings, strength of schedule, wins over Top-50 or Top-100 teams (according to RPI rankings) in the country, losses against team rated below 150 in the RPI, and what each team's record has been in the games leading up to the tournament. The RPI ratings tend to be the largest part of each team’s “resume” and the formula is interesting.

According to an archival NCAA News (Vol. 18, No. 3) the Ratings Percentage Index was picked up in the early 1980s and is based on “four factors: (1) Division 1 winning percentage, (2) opponents’ success, (3) opponents’ strength of schedule and (4) road success” (page 4). Another formula is RPI=(Winning percentage * .25) + (Opponents’ winning percentage * .5) + (opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage * .25). The RPI began factoring home, win, and neutral results in 2004, giving 1.4 points for away games, .6 for home, and 1 for neutral.

According to RealTimeRPI.com, the Atlantic Coast Conference currently sits in fourth in the country in the "Power Rankings" with a 55.67 average index. These "Power Rankings" are made up of an average strength of schedule, the strength of schedule rank, and the number of teams in each conference. The ACC ranks sixth in conference RPI with a .5618 rating, with the Big Ten leading all conferences at a mark of .5846.

As it is getting closer to March and everyone seems to be doubting the strength of the ACC this season, I decided to go team by team in terms of the standings of every conference to see how the ACC stacks up…

This table shows the top ranked teams from each of the top ten conferences according to their RPI rankings. The columns represented are conference record (Conf), conference RPI (CRPI), overall record versus Division I teams (All), their team RPI, their RPI rank, their team strength of schedule (SOS), and their strength of schedule rank. The consensus is that Kentucky and Syracuse are locks for the top two number one seeds, but upon further review it’s hard to put Kentucky way ahead of Duke, Michigan State, or Kansas. I like Syracuse as the overall number one seed, because of their RPI ranking while going 15-1 in the second best conference in the country. Michigan State also has to be given credit for going 12-3 in the toughest conference in the country and having the overall hardest strength of schedule. Duke represents the ACC well here too. Their RPI ranking is second best nationally and the fact that they have gone 25-4 against the toughest schedule in the country says something. My rankings for the top teams in each conference are Syracuse (1), Michigan State (2), Duke (3), Kansas (4), Kentucky (5), Temple (6), UNLV (7), Wichita State (8), Southern Miss (9), and California (10).

This is the same table as above, just for the second ranked teams in each conference. North Carolina of the ACC seems to be the top choice for this one, with Ohio State making a strong case as well. The RPI rank and strength of schedule of 5 and 12, respectably, for Carolina, make them the best (second best) team in the country. My ranks for the number two teams from each conference go something like this: North Carolina (1), Ohio State (2), Baylor (3), Marquette (4), Florida (5), Colorado St. (6), Memphis (7), St. Louis (8), Creighton (9), Oregon (10).

This table is for the third ranked teams in each of the top ten conferences. A couple things pop out at first glance. First of all, Michigan comes across as a far and away front-runner in this group. Going 11-4 in the top conference in the country, including 20-7 overall against the seventh ranked strength of schedule, is very respectable. There is also, once again, a big drop off from the ACC, Big Ten, Big East, Big 12, and SEC, to the rest of the conferences. My rankings for these schools are Michigan (1), Georgetown (2), Florida State (3), Missouri (4), Vanderbilt (5), New Mexico (6), Xavier (7), Marshall (8), Washington (9), and Northern Iowa (10).

When looking at the table for the fourth ranked teams from each conference you notice sustained strength throughout each conference. For the ACC, Virginia looks good until you get to their strength of schedule. The other top seven conferences all boast good number four teams. My rankings are Indiana (1), Louisville (2), Alabama (3), Kansas State (4), San Diego State (5), Virginia (6), St. Joseph’s (7), Arizona (8), Missouri State (9), and UCF (10).

The fifth ranking is where you start to see the drop off of the mid-major conferences, like Wyoming in the Mountain West and Indiana State in the Missouri Valley. The power five conferences all boast bubble teams here, besides Wisconsin in the top ranked Big Ten. My rankings for the fifth place teams in each conference are Wisconsin (1), Connecticut (2), Miami (3), Iowa State (4), Dayton (5), Mississippi State (6), Colorado (7), Wyoming (8), Tulsa (9), and Indiana State (10).

So if we tally up each conference's rankings of the top five teams they come up as follows:
1. Big Ten (7)
2. Big East (11)
3. ACC (15)
4. Big 12 (19)
5. SEC (24)
6. Atlantic 10 (33)
7. Mountain West (34)
8. Conference USA (43)
9. Pac-12 (44)
10. Missouri Valley (46)

So when you compare the top five teams from each conference based on their full resumes it shows a completely different ranking then the conference RPI ratings. So, during what most people call a down ACC year, there is more power at the top than the mighty Big 12 or SEC. Just my opinion, but the ACC looks completely legitimate this year.

Crazy Weekend in the ACC May Have Gone Unnoticed

The weekend was another crazy one throughout the country, as Kansas and Missouri completed their storied rivalry with an overtime game in Lawrence. Wisconsin upset Ohio State on the road. Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, and New Mexico all joined Ohio State in being upset. This all may have left the happenings of the ACC in the back of some analyst’s minds. It should not have, the last couple of days in the conference left storylines that are going to dominate the rest of the season. Here is what happened if you missed it…

Reggie Johnson can only watch from the bench during the Hurricanes win versus Florida State. -photo via Associated Press.

Reggie Johnson of Miami was declared ineligible… According to ESPN.com news services Johnson “has been declared ineligible by the Hurricanes after an investigation revealed that members of his family took impermissible travel benefits that…came from a member of former coach Frank Haith’s staff…The Hurricanes said Johnson was not aware of the benefits and personally received nothing.” Miami is currently seeking his immediate reinstatement and first-year coach Jim Larranaga is sticking to the fact that Johnson did not do anything wrong. This is tough for the Hurricanes as Johnson averages 10.6 points and 6.9 rebounds a game. Johnson has been up and down but recorded an 11-point and 9 rebound game against North Carolina and is a key part for the Canes bubble chances. Johnson was replaced in the starting lineup by Raphael Akperjiori (1.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg).

Without Johnson, Miami routed Florida State… Not only does this boost Miami’s chances of being on the right side of the bubble as they add another big win to go along with their victory at Duke, but it also ended a poor week for the Seminoles. Florida State lost this one 78-62 and was outscored by 24 points this week. Surely, it was tough to travel to Coral Gables after falling at home to Duke on Thursday but a three-day layoff should have given the Seminoles more rest to challenge the Hurricanes. Bernard James, Xavier Gibson, Jon Kreft, and Okaro White managed only 16 points between the four of them while not taking advantage of a 280-pound opening on the inside with the absence of Johnson. Durand Scott led the Hurricanes with a 17 point, 7 rebound, 2 assist, one steal performance.

Tyler Zeller (44) completes a key last minute dunk at Virginia. -photo via Star News Online.

North Carolina grinds out win over Virginia… The Cavaliers could not have asked for a better pace. The Tar Heels average a third best nationally 81.9 points per game while the Cavalier average a second best nationally 51 points per game. The final score of this one was 54-51. Carolina shot a poor 33.3% while the Cavaliers scored four more field goals while shooting 35%. Virginia committed only four turnovers to North Carolina’s 11. The game plan was clear for the Wahoos, but they struggled with foul trouble. Player of the year candidate was thrown out of rhythm when four fouls forced him into only 22 minutes. The team committed six more fouls than UNC and the Tar Heels shot 18-23 from the line while the Cavaliers shot just 3-6. Henson should win an Oscar for this one, as his acting helped Scott pick up his fourth foul with 12 minutes left. Tyler Zeller’s 20 point performance, including a clutch last minute dunk, may have gave him the edge over Scott for the player of the year race, but I am still not convince that it is a lock.

NC State’s bubble may have just burst… Barring a run to an ACC tournament championship, the Wolfpack may be done. A 72-69 loss to Clemson in overtime means State has lost four in a row in the most important stretch of their season. Clemson tied NC State at 7-7 in the conference for sixth place. For the first time in this stretch, foul trouble was not the main point of interest for the Wolfpack, as CJ Leslie, who was the most consistent player down the stretch, was the only player who picked up four fouls. Clemson big man Devin Booker, who finished with a very respectable 9 points and 10 rebounds, fouled out for the Tigers. Down the stretch, the story may have to belong to Clemson guard Tanner Smith, however. Smith finished with 15 points, four rebounds, and five assists, while scoring five points in the final minute and overtime. This also included the two free throws with six seconds left that forced overtime.

Austin Rivers (0) goes up for a tough shot against Virginia Tech in the first half. -photo via Gerry Broome/AP

Duke survived to keep hope of a number one seed… Virginia Tech came into Durham with a mission to take advantage of Duke’s tired legs and come out with an upset. Duke looked lackadaisical, not giving their normal effort for loose balls while coming off a tough battle in Tallahassee two days earlier. But Coach K applauded his team’s effort, saying that this is just like a tournament game, where you have to face two solid teams in three days. Krzyzewski gave all the credit in the world, noting that the Hokies have been part of 11 games in the conference that have been decided by four points or less, now with a 4-7 record in those games. Cadarian Raines had a bit of a coming out party for Tech, with a 16 point, 5 rebound game, and their best player, Erick Green, scored all 16 of his points in the second half, but missed the biggest shot of them all with a missed jumper from the elbow with three seconds left. Seth Curry and Austin Rivers both made three free throws in overtime, and scored 19 and 23 points, respectably. Miles Plumlee continued a charge with 15 rebounds.

Other results…
Wake 85, Boston College 56- CJ Harris and Travis McKie combine for 44 points in battle for tenth place in conference.
Maryland 61, Georgia Tech 63- Disappointing loss in Atlanta for the Terps, who could have been in sixth place right now. Leading scorer Terrell Stoglin shot just 5-17 from the field as Maryland drops to eighth.

Top 40 Players of the ACC: No. 5-1

North Carolina's Harrison Barnes (center) tries to break free through the stifling defense of Virginia's Mike Scott (23). -photo via Gerry Broome/Associated Press


The anticipation is finally over folks, it's time to unveil the top 5 players in the ACC. Without further ado...

5. Kendall Marshall, North Carolina- For Kendall Marshall, his journey has been a little strange. He came in as a top 30 recruit but was on the sideline for the better part of the first half of his freshman season. Larry Drew II was the starting point guard for the Tar Heels during that time. Since then Drew transferred to UCLA after riding the bench and Marshall has become the best passer in college basketball. Marshall has played the exact same amount of minutes as he did last year and now has 275 assists (9.8 apg), 45 more than he did a year ago. His total of 505 puts him at a pace to outdo Bobby Hurley's NCAA record of 1,076, provided Marshall stays all four years. The knock for the 6-4 Marshall was his scoring, and when he scored a career high 22, including 4-5 from three in the Tar Heels most recent matchup against NC State, the rest of the season had a collective "uh-oh". With the most effective "eye for the open guy", Marshall could become a lottery pick if he starts hitting outside shots.

4. Michael Snaer, Florida State- Michael Snaer's numbers are not going to wow you, averagin 13.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg but coach Leonard Hamilton recently came out saying he is "the best perimeter defender in the conference--and it's not even close". Snaer has not only showed defense prowess this season, but also exploded into the team leader. The junior came in as a McDonald's All-American and Seminole fans had high hopes 8.8 points per game as a freshman. But his sophomore year showed little hope as he remained at 8.8 exactly. This season is a different story. The multi-talented guard leads the ACC's best field goal percentage defense and is only one of two players to average double digits. Oh, I almost forgot, he hit a game winner to end Duke's 45 game home winning streak and completed a frantic comeback by hitting a game winner with 2.6 seconds left to avoid an upset bid by Virginia Tech.

3. Harrison Barnes, North Carolina- 3 is a good number for Barnes, seeing as that might be the position he will be picked in June's NBA draft. 3 is also the position that the 6-8 Barnes will snuggle into nicely as a pro for the next decade plus. 3 is also the position that no one in the country can match up with. Barnes's length and natural athleticism make him a matchup nightmare. He average's 18 points a game, good to lead the nation's second most proficient scoring offense, and good enough to be second best in the conference. Given that North Carolina will end up with four of the top seven players on this list, it's hard to imagine him not averaging more just about anywhere else in the country. As an ACC fan, it's impossible not to know what kind of expectations Barnes came in with. He was selected preseason All-AMERICAN, becoming the first ever freshman to do that, and was expected to be a good step ahead of future first round draft pick Kyrie Irving. Since the initial result was not completely up to expected, Barnes has been nothing short of spectacular.

2. Tyler Zeller, North Carolina- Tyler Zeller came into this season as probably the fourth option on this Tar Heel squad. He has come to the end of his up and down, four year career as the number one player on the squad. People wanted to criticize Zeller for being soft, not athletic enough, and hurt too often. He proved all doubters wrong by averaging a tremendous 15.4 ppg and 9.4 rpg. He is probably most noted for his work ethic and team effort these days, showing it by beating everybody down the floor throughout every game and being on the other end of a Kendall Marshall assist. While he is in the conversation for best offensive big man in the country, he has also teamed up with John Henson to make the most intimidating interior defense in the nation. Zeller is also the story that we all miss in college basketball. He's a senior who is set to graduate and has overcome injuries that kept him to 25 total games his freshman and sophomore seasons.

1. Mike Scott, Virginia- Scott, after the past few games, has reemerged as my pick for ACC player of the year. Scott averages a team high 17.3 points and 8.2 rebounds a game and is a natural team leader as a fifth year senior. Scott is also the most VALUABLE player in the conference, with only one other player on the team averaging double figures. Coach Tony Bennett has instituted a defense first, defense second philosophy in Charlottesville, as seen in their second ranked nationally scoring defense of 52.1 points against per game. Scott is the ring leader on the defensive side of the ball for the Wahoos, plugging the middle while also having the range to defend outside. Scott is taking 23% of the Cavaliers shots, and not a bad choice to do that if you are going to pick someone. To me, it's a clear choice for player of the year: who means most to their team? Mike Scott--by a long ways.

Duke-Florida State Preview

The biggest game of the week in the ACC has arrived as Duke (Number 5 AP/Number 4 ESPN/USA Today Coaches) travels to Tallahassee to take on Florida State (16/16). If you consider yourself a college hoops fan then you know by now that Michael Snaer hit a buzzer beater three in Cameron Indoor Stadium to beat the Blue Devils on January 21st. In this one Duke comes in on a roll on the road while Florida State is trying to win their first ever ACC regular season crown. The two teams are a half game back of North Carolina in the standings right now, with the winner holding the tiebreaker for first place over the Tar Heels. Let's take a look at what each starter has to do for his team to take home the victory tonight:

Duke guards Seth Curry and Austin Rivers (0) have been leading the team recently.

G Tyler Thornton- Thornton is Duke's best perimeter defender and will be up against it again tonight. He'll draw Florida State's top scorer Michael Snaer at times and deadly three point shooter Devydas Dulkys at times. Thornton has proven he can guard both quicker and bigger players by holding Maryland's Terrell Stoglin to a second-worst-of-the-season total of 13 points and slowing Harrison Barnes, who is seven inches taller.

G Austin Rivers- Rivers will become the first Duke freshman to lead the team in scoring since Johnny Dawkins in 1983. Last matchup with the Seminoles, Rivers put up a team high 19 points. Rivers was able to use his quickness and dribbling ability to get by slower defenders such as Dulkys and Luke Loucks. Rivers will need to put in at least 15 for the Blue Devils and try to keep it a fast paced game.

G Seth Curry- The hottest player for Duke right now is Curry. He scored 18 and a season high 26 in wins over Boston College and NC State, respectably. He will most likely be facing off against Dulkys most of the night and his improving defense has done best against outside shooters like himself. Curry has to be connecting from the outside for Duke and avoid the below average nights he was having earlier in the conference season.

F Mason Plumlee- The middle Plumlee is Duke's best interior player. In the last matchup Florida State big man Xavier Gibson poured in 18 points in the paint and was the best big on the court. Plumlee has the length and athletic ability to hang with Gibson and Bernard James, but has not had a great scoring night in the past few games for Duke. Look for Coach K to try to establish the inside game early.

F Miles Plumlee- Mason's older brother Miles has come on of late. He secured 22 rebounds (the most by any Duke player in Coach K's tenure) against Maryland and has let his presence be known in the past few games. The Duke coaches have shown Miles videos of Brian Zoubek, the seven foot center from Duke's 2010 national championship team in an effort to get him to take on a similar role. So far it's working, but Maryland and Boston College don't have the bigs that Florida State does.

Bench: G Andre Dawkins, G Quinn Cook, F Josh Hairston, F Ryan Kelly- The mainstays off the bench are Kelly and Dawkins. Kelly is the next in line in terms of "big men" but likes to stretch the floor. The problem against Florida State is that their bigs are long and athletic enough to keep up with him and defend the three. Dawkins is a deadly outside shooter who has been getting smothered on defense. His defensive urge has improved recently, as seen in the NC State game, where he matched up well enough on Scott Wood to hold the Wolfpack sharpshooter to 1-7 from the field.

Xavier Gibson's high flying dunks shook the Cameron Crazies in January. -photo via ESPN.com

G Luke Loucks- Loucks has developed into a good point guard for the Seminoles. He leads the team in assists at four a game and has turned into a defensive menace. He'll have his hands full with the outside shooters of Duke, but has succeeded as he came into college as a similar three point specialist.

G Devydas Dulkys- We saw what Dulkys was capable of in his 32 point, 8-10 from three game against North Carolina. The guard has not scored more than 12 since but remains a threat from deep. Another player like Loucks who knows the routes of outside shooters, he'll probably match up against Curry. If Dulkys can get the three going, look out.

G Michael Snaer- Snaer has become Florida State's leader and "Mr. Big Shot". The junior could be an all-ACC pick but will face up against Rivers, who may be his biggest contender for a spot on the team. Snaer is the quickest player for the Seminoles and will be tested against Rivers' crossover. We all know Snaer made the big shot against Duke but what was most surprising was how Duke did not defend him, seeing as he scored 14 points against the Blue Devils.

F Bernard James- James has developed into one of the best big men in college basketball and his maturity is rubbing off on his teammates. He got the best of the Plumlees in the first meeting, getting 12 points with 8 boards. James has the size and defensive ability to be a headache for any coach. His matchup with Mason Plumlee may determine the outcome of this game.

F Xavier Gibson- As I said, Gibson led Florida State with 18 points in the first meeting. Even the Plumlees could not match Gibson's freakish athleticism and the 6-11 senior took advantage. Gibson has to be a mainstay scorer because either him or James is going to be doubled a lot. If Gibson grabs a double double this game is Florida State's to lose.

Bench: G Ian Miller, F Okaro White, F Jon Kreft, G Jeff Peterson. The Florida State bench can go deep or shallow. Against NC State the Seminoles put 11 guys in the scoring column but in other games Miller and White have been the only ones noticeable. White adds length and is an adequate player to give James and Gibson some rest. Miller is an athletic guard who can play both point and swing. Look for Miller to try to stop Rivers if Snaer cannot.

Austin Rivers drives on Xavier Gibson (1). -photo via Chuck Liddy/News & Observer

Prediction: Rivers and Curry get theirs. Mason Plumlee gets 12 and 10. Snaer will explode for 20, and James/Gibson combine for 30. In another classic Duke stays together on the road to get revenge, 79-72.


--Krzyzewski acknowledged that his team likely has a “little bit more incentive” to beat Florida State because of what happened the last times these teams met, when the Seminoles’ Michael Snaer made a 3 at the buzzer to give Florida State a victory in Durham. Krzyzewski said he re-watched that game on the way home from Boston last night and he described the first Duke-FSU game as “just a heck of a game.”- Andrew Carter/News & Observer

Bracketology: Explained ACC Style

CJ Leslie and NC State have to be nervous about their current position. -photo via The Sports Fan Journal

The ACC teams, in my opinion of bracketology, turned out like this:

Duke: 1 seed, Midwest Region (St. Louis). RPI:3 SOS: 3. Best Win: Michigan St.-N (4th in RPi). 6-4 vs. Top-50. Worst Loss: Miami (49). Last 10: 8-2. Right now, Duke has one of the top 4 resumes in the country. A win tonight against Florida State would also erase the memory of one of their losses. Duke's road is going to travel through Greensboro in the first and second round no matter what, giving a nice home court feeling. I have them going to St. Louis for their regional games just because Kentucky is arguable the overall number one seed and certainly one of the top two. They want to go to Atlanta just as much as the Blue Devils and deserve their choice a little more as of right now. If the tournament set up as it is here, I see Duke cruising over UNC-Asheville, beating a surging Kansas State team in a close game, taking down an overrated Louisville team, and then a neutral court rematch with Ohio State, who pasted the Blue Devils in Columbus earlier this year.

North Carolina: 2 seed, West Region (Phoenix). RPI: 5 SOS: 12. Best Win: Michigan St.-N (4th in RPI). 5-4 Top-50. Worst Loss: @Florida St (19). L10: 9-1. North Carolina is certainly the two seed that is challenging most for a one seed right now, with Missouri right behind them. They had to be put in the West Region in order to play the lowest ranked two seed (Michigan State). This could easily change to the East Region in order to be closer to home, but they would then have to play Syracuse in Boston. A rematch against Kentucky is something the committee tries to avoid and there is no way they are going to be put in the same region as Duke. The Tar Heels will also start in Greensboro no matter what and if the tournament set up like so I would see them winning easily over Bucknell, getting and beating Iowa State in the second round, defeating a big Baylor team in the Sweet Sixteen and setting up a rematch with the Spartans for the regional championship.

Florida State: 5 seed, East Region (Boston) RPI: 19 SOS: 13. Best Win: @Duke (3rd in RPI). 4-4 Top-50. Worst Loss: @Boston College (222). L10: 9-1. That Boston College loss does not look good on Florida State's resume. Neither does a loss to Clemson (150) or Princeton (98). But the Seminoles do still boast a tough schedule and solid RPI. Wins over Duke and Virginia in their remaining games and then a good showing in the ACC tournament could boost them into a top three seed. Because they are in a 4-5 region the four seed would not get a very good pick at where it wanted to go, meaning these matchups may end up being in Portland or Albuquerque. If it shaped up like this, I like Florida State beating a pesky St. Joe's in the first round, a close battle with Indiana or Northern Iowa (could see NI pulling that upset), and then a showdown in Boston with Syracuse.

Virginia: 7 seed, South Region (Atlanta) RPI: 34 SOS: 101. Best Win: Michigan (10th in RPI). 2-3 Top-50. Worst Loss: @Clemson (150). L10: 6-4. Virginia needs to beat North Carolina on Saturday if they want better than the 7 seed I gave them. They are clinging on to a victory of Michigan early in the year and love seeing the Wolverines succeeding but they need some more help. In this scenario they would have to go to Omaha and play a feisty and hot New Mexico team. If they snuck by New Mexico they would have to go up against Missouri, which I think would be a game that Mike Scott could control and Virginia would match up well with their guards. However, this is far from comfortable territory for Virginia and a win over UNC, followed by Florida State, and then a strong showing in the tournament should boost them up.

Miami: 12 seed, West Region (Phoenix) RPI: 49 SOS: 32. Best Win: @Duke (3rd in RPI). 1-6 Top-50. Worst Loss: @Maryland (89). L10: 6-4. Miami is limping hard and needs a win over Florida State on Sunday to patch up their record versus the top teams in the country. They are still riding the Duke win hard and manage to sneak in as one of the last four in because of a strong strength of schedule. Southern Miss would be a blessing for Miami to get in the first round but Florida would not stop short of putting a smack down on the Hurricanes.

NC State: 13 seed, West Region (Phoenix) RPI: 64 SOS: 33. Best Win: @Miami (49th in RPI). 1-8 Top-50. Worst Loss: Georgia Tech (186). L10: 5-5. I'm not sure that NC State actually makes it at this point, but I wanted to put them in mostly to talk about them. State needs to finish the season without anymore losses. 49th ranked Miami is not a "big time win" but beating them twice would help their chances. State blew its chances in the last three games versus Duke, UNC, and Florida State. Unless they get to the finals of the ACC tournament I don't see much of a chance for them. But just for fun let's see what they would do if the tournament shaped up like this: they would lose in the play-in game to a reeling Illinois team. Maybe it would be better to try to make a run in the NIT?

My Bracketology

Here is my latest Bracketology, I'll go into more explanation about what the ACC teams need to do to win in March later....

Top 40 Players of the ACC: No. 10-6

What they do best: Austin Rivers (0) driving on John Henson (31) who goes for the block. photo via Gerry Broome/AP

Ok, it's top ten time. There may have been controversy so far, but this is how it has laid out. It is really hard to this, especially this top ten, because every player is improving or losing ground each night. Reminder: this is who I feel are the best players in the ACC, and it does not necessarily mean where they will land on the all-conference team. For instance Seth Curry was 18 and Lorenzo Brown 19 but I think both have a shot at an all-conference team bid. Anyways, a quick recap:

11. CJ Leslie, NC State
12. CJ Harris, Wake Forest
13. Reggie Johnson, Miami
14. Kenny Kadji, Miami
15. Erick Green, Virginia Tech
16. Andre Young, Clemson
17. Durand Scott, Miami
18. Seth Curry, Duke
19. Lorenzo Brown, NC State
20. Glen Rice, Jr., Georgia Tech
21. Dexter Strickland, North Carolina
22. Travis McKie, Wake Forest
23. Scott Wood, NC State
24. Joe Harris, Virginia
25. CJ Williams, NC State
26. Devin Booker, Clemson
27. Dorenzo Hudson, Virginia Tech
28. Sean Mosley, Maryland
29. Richard Howell, NC State
30. Ryan Kelly, Duke
31. Matt Humphrey, Boston College
32. Malcolm Grant, Miami
33. Milton Jennings, Clemson
34. Jontel Evans, Virginia
35. Mfon Udofia, Georgia Tech
36. Andre Dawkins, Duke
37. Reggie Bullock, North Carolina
38. Tony Chennault, Wake Forest
39. Ryan Anderson, Boston College
40. Sammy Zeglinski, Virginia

And here is the first half of your top ten....

10. Bernard James, Florida State- James is the oldest player in the ACC (just turned 27) and shows it with his maturity. James is in only his second season with Florida State after a stint overseas serving in the military. He averages nearly a double double (10.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg) but his presence is felt most on the defensive end (2.3 bpg). The 6-10, 240 pound senior is shooting a stifling 60.7% from the field while bullying up on ACC big men. The main knock against James, who certainly has an NBA body, is his age. The forward's story is a great one, and one that should be told after he gets drafted this June.

9. Mason Plumlee, Duke- Plumlee has continued to improve his game during his three year career. Coming in as a top ten recruit in 2009 there was a lot of pressure on the big man. He has quietly raised his game to be one of the top big men in the country. His numbers (11.2 ppg, 9.7 rpg) don't lie and his athleticism is unquestioned. One of the top pro prospects in the conference, the Junior has also continued to assert himself on the defensive end (1.7 bpg). With work on his free throws (48.6%) he could come back as the most dominant big man the Blue Devils have had since Shelden Williams in 2006.

8. Terrell Stoglin, Maryland- Stoglin is an unquestioned scorer, leading the conference with 21.3 ppg. The questions for Stoglin are his defense and a recently raised point by coach Mark Turgeon on his selfishness, claiming Stoglin "gets his". Leadership qualities are clearly not there yet for the sophomore, and one has to believe that will come with time. Stoglin is only 6-1, and his size may lead to improvement with ball handling and distributing this offseason. If he becomes a point guard as well as a scorer, the leadership and teammate characteristics will make Stoglin a serious threat next season.

7. John Henson, North Carolina- The North Carolina foursome is hard to figure out. Henson along with teammates Kendall Marshall, Harrison Barnes, and Tyler Zeller are all sure to be first round draft picks and have put a stamp on the ACC this year. So, I decided to look at who the Tar Heels could afford to lose most, and was left with Henson. The Junior started off his career as a defensive stopper, now ranking second in school history with 263 blocks. But the improvement for the 6-11, 220 pound forward have come on the offensive end, where he loves going left on the block but puts up jump shots with his right. He still leads the conference in blocks (3.1) but now is putting in his offensive numbers (14 ppg, 10.4 rpg). Henson should be named ACC defensive player of the year this season.

6. Austin Rivers, Duke- Coming into a school that just saw maybe the most talented freshman since Kevin Durant in Kyrie Irving is a lot of pressure. Add to it that you come in as a number one overall recruit and you should be overwhelmed. Rivers has done a good job of staying focused and will become the first Duke freshman to lead the team in scoring (15 ppg) since Johnny Dawkins in 1983. What Rivers has improved on is his distribution and outside shot. We have learned that he is not afraid to take the big shot (late threes against North Carolina and NC State) and he is ready to be a leader. Coach K claims "he is not a freshman anymore" and it shows on the court. Maybe the quickest crossover in the conference, Rivers could be player of the year if he sticks around another season.

What Last Night Proved- February 22

Clemson 56, Georgia Tech 37-

Milton Jennings drives on Kammeon Holsey (24). photo via John Bazemore/AP

This may be the late-in-the-season game that Clemson needed to show off next year's cornerstones. Junior Milton Jennings scored 15 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 23 minutes while freshman K.J. McDaniels scored 10 points in 13 minutes as the Tigers overcame a down night for leading scorer Andre Young. While Young is graduating this year, Jennings, McDaniels, and Devin Booker seem to be the face of this talented team going into next season. The Tigers have now won 3 of 4 including a win over Virginia. If they can win two of their final three they could quietly grab the number five seed in the ACC tournament.
For Georgia Tech this marks now losing 9 of 10 and 14 of 16. Georgia Tech is bad and worse with Glen Rice, Jr. suspended. The good that came out of it is the continuing improvement of sophomore Kammeon Holsey, who led the team with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Holsey has now put up double digit point totals in 4 of Tech's last 5 games.

North Carolina 86, NC State 74-

Kendall Marshall goes for a layup over Lorenzo Brown (2). photo via Gerry Broome/AP

Kendall Marshall can score. The point guard and nationally-leading assist getter led the Tar Heels with a career high 22 points. He also dished out 13 assists while committing no turnovers. The sophomore was 7-8 from the field including 4-5 from deep. Teams have been daring Marshall to shoot and if he can put out even half of his effort from three point land the rest of the country is in trouble. The Tar Heels asserted dominance over the Wolfpack in the last season the two teams will meet twice, beating their Raleigh rivals by a combined 31 points.
For an impressive performance in a losing effort, one looks to NC State's CJ Leslie. The forward led the team with 24 points and 12 rebounds while not committing any turnovers. This team has to become Leslie and point guard Lorenzo Brown's. Brown's 18 point, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists were good enough to put him in the same category as Marshall when looking at ACC point guards. Mark Gottfried has done a good job in his first season at Raleigh but just lost three straight to the best the conference has to offer and NC State's bubble is quickly popping.

Maryland 75, Miami 70-

James Padgett (35) is surrounded by teammates after completing a late three point play. photo via Baltimore Sun/Kenneth K. Lam

Maryland may have the harshest crowd in the conference. The team rode the momentum of the screaming fans to a clutch victory. James Padgett was the hero, grabbing an offensive rebound and completing a three point play in the closing minute to help the Terps secure their sixth ACC victory. Sean Mosley may have been the most impressive Terp, scoring 15 points while dishing out 6 assists and grabbing 5 boards. The conference's leading scorer Terrell Stoglin scored 20 points on 6 of 17 shooting after Mark Turgeon claimed the star sophomore "gets his" while not necessarily looking for the team win.
Miami may have just fell off the NCAA train. The Hurricanes were riding their victory at Duke hard in order to stay on the bubble and now have dropped to 7-6 in ACC play. They clearly missed Durand Scott after he fouled out in the final minute as they wasted an opportunity to tie with a Shane Larkin turnover. Kenny Kadji scored 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in the losing effort.

Virginia 61, Virginia Tech 59-

Virginia's Mike Scott goes up for a dunk against Virginia Tech. photo via Don Peterson/AP

Virginia righted the ship by not allowing a Virginia Tech sweep of the season series. Virginia did it with their defense, holding the Hokies scoreless for an eight minute stretch to overcome a three point halftime deficit. Both teams were cold in the last four minutes and the Cavaliers defense outdid the Hokies'. Mike Scott led all scorers with 20 points while grabbing 9 boards. Sammy Zeglinski helped out with 13 but Virginia still won this almost entirely with defense.
Erick Green continues to impress, scoring 17 of his 19 points in the second half. Green has endured a rough season, becoming a complete player while his team is far from a finished project. The junior has to use this momentum into next season though, as he will be joined by sensational freshman Dorian Finney-Smith and sophomore Jarell Eddie, who showed his athleticism with a block on possible ACC player of the year Mike Scott.

Power Rankings- February 21st

Seth Curry and Austin Rivers have kept the Blue Devils on top of this week's Power Rankings -photo via msnbc.com

1. Duke- Duke has to remain on top of this week's standings because they did not do anything wrong. The comeback against NC State was a scare but may have brought out what Seth Curry can do for this team. They looked much more comfortable against a Boston College team with high hopes in Chestnut Hill. Can the Blue Devils get revenge in Tallahassee? This is the week where Duke decides if they are a number one or two seed come March.

2. North Carolina- Carolina was so up and down in their win over Clemson that it once again brings up their main problem: no feistiness. John Henson becomes the best possible player to spark some controversy and bring the heat that the Tar Heels had with players such as Tyler Hansbrough or Rashad McCants. Roy Williams is a hall of famer and undisputedly one of the best coaches in the country, but he needs to make his team angry, and get them to play a full game. Going to Raleigh should bring out some dislike, maybe enough to pull off a confidence-boosting win on the road.

3. Florida State- Florida State looked downright bad in their last second win over Virginia Tech. They looked downright terrific in their romp of NC State on the road. Like just about every team in this conference, the Seminoles remain inconsistent. Michael Snaer is not only Mr. Big Shot for them, but has pulled away as a leader and top player. The beginning of their magic may have started when Snaer knocked off Duke at the buzzer in Cameron, can they gain more momentum from a win over the Blue Devils at home on Thursday?

4. Virginia- Virginia may have broken out of their slump with a terrific display on both ends during the second half versus Maryland. The Cavs held Maryland to 13 points while Mike Scott wrote another chapter in his bid for ACC Player of the Year. Virginia has a big week this week, seeking revenge at rival Virginia Tech, before hosting North Carolina. A win over the Tar Heels may boost the Cavaliers to a top five seed in the tournament.

5. Miami- The Hurricanes remain very much on the bubble and squandered a chance for another signature win by losing to North Carolina. If Miami go on the road to beat Maryland and then beat rival Florida State at home it will go a long ways towards their chances. Florida State will be two days off of what should most certainly be a hard fought battle with Duke and Miami should look to capitalize. Can Reggie Johnson carry this team?

6. NC State- The third of NC State's three game chance to put a stamp on their resume is tonight versus UNC in Raleigh. The Wolfpack have lost two in a row to Duke and Florida State, and looked bad against the Seminoles. The best NC State has to offer usually comes out during home meetings versus Carolina, and they need it if they want an outside chance at an at-large bid.

7. Maryland- Maryland accomplished something this week: proving their are the top six teams in the conference and then the bottom six. A bad loss at Virginia was not what this team needed, but there is still a chance. The Terps still have games against Miami, North Carolina, and Virginia to gain momentum going into the ACC tournament.

8. Clemson- The Tigers had a successful week, beating Virginia at home and putting up a fight that was closer than the score in Chapel Hill. Now having lost 56 in a row to Carolina in Chapel Hill, the Tigers should be able to shrug that off and move forward. Milton Jennings is beginning to assert himself as a playmaker, and games at Georgia Tech and versus NC State could be a chance for the Tigers to climb to .500 in the conference.

9. Virginia Tech- The Hokies looked like they had a bit of a hangover from the last second defeat to Florida State when they had to take an extra period to beat lowly Georgia Tech by one point. Virginia Tech showed defensive promise in their game against the Seminoles and need to focus on the good that came out of that game. Unfortunately, the have Virginia and Duke this week.

10. Wake Forest- The Deacons proved they were not the worst team in the conference in a defeat of Georgia Tech but still have a long ways to go. Games to come versus Boston College and a rematch with the Yellow Jackets give Wake a chance to secure the nine spot in the conference tournament.

11. Boston College- Four of the Eagles top five players are freshman. That showed in a blowout loss to Duke this week. There is a future in Chestnut Hill and Ryan Anderson is quietly going to become a star.

12. Georgia Tech- Glen Rice, Jr.'s suspension did not help anything in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets lost to two of the teams they had a chance to beat in Virginia Tech and Wake Forest this week. Get ready to face Miami or NC State in the opening round of the ACC tournament as the bottom seed.

Top 40 Players of the ACC: No. 15-11

-Kenny Kadji and Reggie Johnson- photo via News & Observer

15. Erick Green, Virginia Tech- The 6-4, 185 pound point guard has always had tremendous potential and this year he has shown it off unlike ever before. He is leading the Hokies in points (15.6) and assists (2.8) while putting up a stifling 45.8% mark on field goals. Green is going to have the ball in all clutch situations for Tech and look for him to make his mark as one of the best in the conference next year.

14. Kenny Kadji, Miami- For his size (6-11, 245), Kadji does an incredible job of finding an outside shot. His stroke looks like a guard's and his interior defense has shut down some of the best big men in the conference. After transferring from Florida, Kadji has flourished in this Miami offense. One might think that the return of Reggie Johnson may take away from Kadji's numbers, but instead it has opened up his outside game.

13. Reggie Johnson, Miami- Johnson still claims that he "is about 70%" but he is showing how dominant he can be at times. By far the biggest body in the ACC (6-10, 284), Johnson uses his shoulders to clear space in order to garner his team leading 7.1 rpg. Johnson has been questioned mostly on his stamina, and with his size this remains a problem. However, as he showed in his 27 point, 12 rebound performance at Duke, sometimes it does not matter.

12. CJ Harris, Wake Forest- An unquestioned scorer (16.9 ppg), Harris has been the brightest spot in an abysmal year for the Deacons. Harris shoots an incredible 48.6% on field goals and has put together an all-conference type of year. Going into his senior year, Harris has to look to better himself at finding teammates but a bright future is ahead for the guard.

11. CJ Leslie, NC State- Leslie may have the most talent out of anyone on the Wolfpack roster. He has the ability to score (13.0 ppg), rebound (6.7 rpg) and block shots (1.9 bpg). A true athlete, the 6-8, 209 pound forward is playing as a small power forward. Leslie has the ability to stretch the defense to 15 feet and play above the rim. For Leslie, the future depends on his ability to handle the ball better and be able to maneuver around slower defenders.

Top 40 Players of the ACC: No. 20-16

Seth Curry drives on Lorenzo Brown in last night's victory for Duke. -photo via rivals.com

20. Glen Rice, Jr., Georgia Tech- In all reality the best player and prospect on this Georgia Tech team, Rice needs to improve on consistency and his headiness. His numbers (13 ppg, 6.7 rpg) continue to rise year to year but there have been stretches where he seems lost, not sure whether to depend on his shot or his natural ability. Certainly a prop prospect you can see his dad's genes coming out at times from deep.

19. Lorenzo Brown, NC State- What a difference a new coach can make. The minute Mark Gottfried got to Raleigh he decided Brown was going to be his point guard, skyrocketing his numbers (12.1 ppg, 6.6 apg, 4.3 rpg). Not only that but Brown has turned into a leader for this squad, calling out the plays and pushing through hard times when others look down. Brown has a natural build to be a two guard with the offensive skills of a point guard.

18. Seth Curry, Duke- When you think of Duke's players this year it's hard to pick out one that has been consistently good. Curry is the closest to that fit, coming on more so in recent games. He started off the season as the point guard but, like his brother Stephen, needs to be able to find his own shot. An underrated driver, Curry has unquestioned ability from deep and is getting better on defense.

17. Durand Scott, Miami- When you talk about consistent players for teams, Scott leaps off the page for his Miami squad. The junior leads his team in minutes (34.2) while posting solid numbers (12.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.3 apg). Scott is slowing becoming a leader for the Hurricanes and should show up on next year's preseason all-conference team. A bulky 205 pounds, the shooting guard continues to impress on defense, as well.

16. Andre Young, Clemson- Without Young, Clemson would be by far the worst team in the conference. A 5-9 senior, the leader of the Tigers plays as if he were 6-5. A strong, quick defender, Young also leads his team in scoring (13.6) and assists (3.3). If there was an award for toughness given out, Young would be in the lead right now. This is the kind of guy that Clemson is going to miss going forward.

Top 40 Players of the ACC: No. 25-21

Dexter Strickland- photo via fayobserver.com


25. CJ Williams, NC State- The senior leader for the Wolf Pack, Williams' numbers have skyrocketed this year (12.2 ppg from 4.7). He is loving his role under new coach Mark Gottfried and continues to please State fans with his improvement. Known more for his defense, Williams' role on the offensive end continues to rise.

24. Joe Harris, Virginia- Harris is Virginia's second leading scorer and was notably absent during the Clemson loss. With a broken bone in his left hand Harris, known mostly for his outside shooting, was held in check, a main reason why Virginia had their worst ACC loss yet. His health may decide Virginia's fate down the stretch as he is the main help for All-conference player Mike Scott.

23. Scott Wood, NC State- Maybe the prettiest shot in all of college basketball, Wood broke an ACC record with 66 consecutive free throw makes earlier this season. Wood is leading the Wolf Pack in scoring (13.4 ppg) and seems to be able to find his shot a lot easier because he is using his size (6-6) to shoot over smaller guards.

22. Travis McKie, Wake Forest- McKie (15.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg) would be higher on this list if it was generated from numbers alone. His contributions to lowly Wake are unquestioned, but what is in question is whether his output would be the same on another team. The 6-7, 210 pound sophomore is being put into a power forward position while more naturally a three. If the Deacons can find another interior player, look for McKie's numbers to continue to jump.

21. Dexter Strickland, North Carolina- Strickland has easily become to most important injury in the conference. The knee injury that requires Strickland to be out the rest of the season is mostly felt on the defensive end for the Tar Heels. There is a tough feeling around Chapel Hill that the mood would have been different after the Duke game had the feisty shooting guard been there to stop Austin Rivers.

Top 40 Players of the ACC: No. 30-26

30. Ryan Kelly, Duke- Ryan Kelly came in as a very highly touted forward with range to stretch the floor. The top 20 recruit has shown the promise he came in with this year. His numbers are nearly doubled (12.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and he seems to do better coming off the bench. A very vital player for Duke, he is able to stretch big men out to the 3 point line and defend seven footers on the block.

29. Richard Howell, NC State- Maybe the best big man for the Wolf Pack, Howell has shown a great amount of promise this year. His size (6-8, 250) allows him to bully other big men and his rebounding ability has flourished under Mark Gottfried (9.2 rpg). Howell will continue getting tests with the Plumlees, Zeller, and Reggie Johnson all ahead.

28. Sean Mosley, Maryland- Known more for his defense, Mosley has developed into the captain and leader of this young Maryland team. His dedication is unquestioned and he will be missed by the Terps next year. After a tough season a year ago, Mosley is back to putting up good numbers (10.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg).

27. Dorenzo Hudson, Virginia Tech- The senior's numbers are not as improved as Seth Greenberg might have liked (11.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg), but the 6-5, 220 pound guard is a floor leader for the Hokies. If you watch Hudson and Virginia Tech play you won't be wowed by any flashy moves, but he will certainly make you wonder about his value to this team's mentality.

26. Devin Booker, Clemson- Another talent for Clemson, Booker showed off what he is capable with a solid performance in the clutch against nationally ranked Virginia last night. Booker is averaging nearly 11 points and 7 boards a game but can put up a double double on any night. His size (6-8, 245) allows him to battle down low but his ability also makes his mid range game scary.

Top 40 Players of the ACC: No. 35-31

35. Mfon Udofia, Georgia Tech- From his sophomore to junior year, the Yellow Jacket guard has seen his points (10.0 from 6.7), rebounds (3.6 from 2.1) and assists (2.5 from 1.2) improve drastically this year. Udofia has taken on more of a leadership roll this year and continues to adjust to life as a point guard. More naturally a scorer, Udofia is working on the transformation.

34. Jontel Evans, Virginia- The pesty point guard has been taking over games for Virginia whenever Mike Scott takes a rest or gets in foul trouble. The 5-11 junior looks small on the court but his defense (1.7 spg) and leadership on the court go a long way.

33. Milton Jennings, Clemson- One of the most talented players in the conference, coach Brad Brownell has continued to say Jennings just needs to work on his mental game. The junior has improved his points (9.5) and rebounds (5.4) just slightly this year, but has also made his presence felt on the defensive end (1.0 bpg). If the lanky forward can keep his off-court problems away from the team he could put himself on an all-conference team next year.

32. Malcolm Grant, Miami- Grant and fellow guard Durand Scott have put themselves out there as the mental leaders for the Hurricanes. Grant has played steadily over his three years since transferring from Villanova, averaging 12 point, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds during his Hurrican career. A trip to the NCAAs would be the icing on the cake.

31. Matt Humphrey, Boston College- The transfer from Oregon is arguably the most important transfer in the ACC this year. The junior guard likes to jack up the three (5.6 3PA/g) but also leads the Eagles in scoring (10.4 ppg). Humphrey will continue to be a key piece for Boston College, especially on the offensive side, next year.

The Top 40 Players in The ACC: No.40-36

I have arranged a list of the top 40 players currently playing in the ACC. The list was made today, February 14th, and is subject to change. As it were today here it my list...

40. Tony Channeault, Wake Forest- The sophomore guard has seen his numbers sky rockets by 12 per game this year. This is the main reason his point total has doubled to more than 9 a game and his assists round out around 3 a game. A natural scorer, Channeault has learned how to play better defense (1.0 spg) and dish much better than his freshman season (2.2 to/g).

39. Sammy Zeglinski, Virginia- A fifth year senior, Zeglinski has become such an integral part of the Cavaliers on both sides of the ball. A solid deep ball shooter, Zeglinski has seen his point totals go up every year (8.2 ppg). Zeglinski has turned into a better all around player (2.7 apg, 3.2 rpg, 1.6 spg) while becoming a very vital part of Virginia's run.

38. Ryan Anderson, Boston College- What a solid freshman Anderson has shaped into. The 6-8, 217 pound forward has become the most important and all around rounded player for the Eagles (9.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg). Anderson has had to match up with larger players all year, holding his own, showing that he is the future in Chestnut Hill.

37. Reggie Bullock, North Carolina- Bullock had the spotlight thrown onto him during the second half of this year when starting shooting guard Dexter Strickland went down. Strickland was the best defender on the team, and there was worries in Chapel Hill as to whether the three point marksman Bullock would be able to accept that roll. He has done a good job with it, and continues to be the best long range shooter on the team (4.6 3PA/g).

36. Andre Dawkins, Duke- No one questions Dawkins from beyond the arc. Perhaps the prettiest stroke in the conference (a tie with NC State's Scott Wood), Dawkins has had nights where he has put up 26 or 25 points (career high 26 vs. Michigan State). The main issue for Dawkins (.406 3P%) is his consistency, something the junior needs to continue working on.

Power Rankings- February 14th

1. Duke- One of the best wins in the most storied rivalry in college basketball helped, but a very convincing, and most importantly, defensive win over Maryland was what propels the Blue Devils to the top. Austin Rivers is now in command of this team, and if Miles Plumlee can follow the footsteps of Brian Zoubek in 2010 this could be another deep run for Duke. Look for Seth Curry to continue asserting himself as the scorer his brother and father were.

2. North Carolina- The win over Virginia was a great rebound victory for Carolina. Tyler Zeller continues to make his case for player of the year while their four future first round picks could all land a spot on the all-conference team. Things do not necessarily get easier for the Tar Heels, however, as a trip to Miami this week looms, with down the road contests at Virginia and Duke are on the horizon.

3. Florida State- Everyone figured a slip up like the one the Seminoles got at Boston College was coming but they all still forget that Florida State is in control of their own destiny, holding the tie break over Carolina and Duke. While Bernard James is continuing to assert himself as one of the best bigs in the conference, their defense remains the key. A win at NC State this weekend would go far for the Seminoles confidence.

4. Virginia- Virginia continues to win the games they are supposed to and lose the ones they are supposed to. An easy strength of schedule out of conference is the downfall for the Cavaliers seeding come March but a number of key games remain. If they can do what they are supposed to and beat Clemson and Maryland this week, upcoming games at home versus UNC and Florida State are going to be huge.

5. NC State- The Wolfpack avoided an embarassing sweep by Georgia Tech by beating the Yellow Jackets on the road this past week. While the win was anything but punctuating it kept NC State alive for a NCAA bid. A big three straight games versus the top three teams in the ACC is next for NC State, and if the Wolfpack cannot come away with one, if not two, victories their chances continue to diminish. Look for CJ Leslie to start taking over.

6. Miami- Reggie Johnson came out flat against Florida State, scoring just 4 points while grabbing 6 rebounds, proving that the Hurricanes go as he goes. A win at home versus North Carolina this week would certainly help solidify their NCAA chances. Dexter Strickland scored a season high on the Canes last time, and he is not there for Carolina this go around. Look for Shane Larkin to continue his hot defensive streak against Kendall Marshall and watch for an interesting inside matchup between Johnson and Zeller.

7. Maryland- Maryland is fading, and looks all but set for an NIT bid, unless they pull a miracle in the ACC tournament. While Terrell Stoglin has all but locked up a spot on the all-conference team, he was shut down by a suspect Duke defense when he was not getting the ball from point guard Pe'Shon Howard. Maryland still plays Virginia twice and goes to Chapel Hill. A victory in one of those matchups would certainly provide the confidence the rest of the Terps need.

8. Clemson- Clemson looked great against a terrible Wake Forest team this week, but not so good in a loss to Maryland. Clemson (12-12, 4-6) would love to finish above .500 this season, but is going to have to beat a top five ACC team to do so. The offense remains the problem, and if Milton Jennings can start capitalizing on his talent, it could turn this team for the better. If the standings stood as they are today, Clemson would get an interesting draw in the ACC tournament, facing Virginia Tech in a play-in game, followed by a matchup with Florida State.

9. Virginia Tech- The Hokies beat Boston College by one at home this week. Hardly something to brag about, but it pushes them past the Eagles in this week's rankings. Erick Green should be looked at for a potential spot on an all-conference team and Dorian Finney-Smith has all but locked up a spot as an all-freshman team performer. That is about all there is going for Tech right now. Seth Greenberg has been told his job is safe, but without a strong finish, it may be in jeopardy.

10. Boston College- The Eagles pulled the unexpected by beating the hottest team in the league in Florida State this week. A great win that was expected to boost this team was drained in a loss to lowly Virginia Tech. Ryan Anderson remains the future of this team, and a win when Duke comes to town is a tall task, but one that could propel this team.

11. Georgia Tech- The battle for this 11 spot on the rankings is set for this week, as the Yellow Jackets travel to Winston-Salem for a matchup with Wake Forest. Georgia Tech continues to dissapoint but the future remains bright. With the easiest remaining schedule in the conference, look for Georgia Tech to make moves in the standings, while giving themselves momentum into next season.

12. Wake Forest- Two losses by a combined 44 points this week proved to the ACC world that the Deacons have hit a new low. Wake should consider it a victory to finish the season 2-3 and win itself some momentum with a victory in the ACC tournament. CJ Harris should be able to sneak on to an all-conference team, but don't count on it just yet.

Halfway Time (Or a Little Past)- Time for Midseason Awards

-photo from AP/Gerry Broome

All-Conference Freshmen Team:
Austin Rivers, Duke, G- 15.0 ppg, .450 fg
Dorian Finney-Smith, Virginia Tech, F- 6.0 ppg, 7.1 rpg
Ryan Anderson, Boston College, F- 9.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg
Ashton Pankey, Maryland, F- 5.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg
Shane Larkin, Miami, G- 7.5 ppg, 2.6 apg, 1.8 spg
Honorable Mention: PJ Haiston, UNC; Rod Hall, Clemson

Freshman of the Year: Austin Rivers, Duke

All-Defensive Team:
John Henson, North Carolina, F- 10.3 rpg, 3.1 bpg
Bernard James, Florida State, F- 8.4 rpg, 2.2 bpg
Andre Young, Clemson, G- 1.9 spg, 3.3 rpg
Xavier Gibson, Florida State, F- 4.8 rpg, 1.6 bpg
Mason Plumlee, Duke, F- 9.9 rpg, 1.6 bpg
Honorable Mention: Tyler Thornton, Duke; Shane Larkin, Miami; Tyler Zeller, North Carolina; Dexter Strickland, North Carolina; Shane Mosley, Maryland

Defensive Player of the Year: John Henson, North Carolina

All Conference First Team:
F- Mike Scott, Virginia
F- Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
C- Tyler Zeller, North Carolina
G- Terrell Stoglin, Maryland
G- Michael Snaer, Florida State
Second Team:
F- John Henson, North Carolina
F- Mason Plumlee, Duke
C- Bernard James, Florida State
G- Austin Rivers, Duke
G- Kendall Marshall, North Carolina
Third Team:
F- CJ Leslie, North Carolina State
F- Ryan Kelly, Duke
C- Reggie Johnson, Miami
G- CJ Harris, Wake Forest
G- Lorenzo Brown, North Carolina State
Honorable Mention (Not in any Order): Durand Scott, Miami; Kenny Kadji, Miami; Xavier Gibson, Florida State; Devydas Dulkys, Florida State; Glen Rice, Jr., Georgia Tech; Andre Young, Clemson; Milton Jennings, Clemson; Travis McKie, Wake Forest; Dexter Strickland, North Carolina; Seth Curry, Duke; CJ Williams, NC State; Scott Wood, NC State; Joe Harris, Virginia; Sammy Zeglinski, Virginia; Jontel Evans, Virginia; James Padgett, Maryland; Shane Mosley, Maryland; P'Shon Howard, Maryland; Ryan Anderson, Boston College; Mike Humphrey, Boston College; Erick Green, Virginia Tech; Dorenzo Hudson, Virginia Tech

Player of the Year: Tyler Zeller (50 votes), Mike Scott (43), Terrell Stoglin (7)

ACC Players' NBA Worth, Part 1

A quick look at the top NBA prospects from the ACC. I want to explain that the NBA dream result (NBADR) is only who I see them best relating to in terms of their game. This does not mean how good i think they actually are. Anyways, here they are....

Boston College:
Ryan Anderson, Freshman, 6-8, 217 lbs.- Anderson has length and great rebounding ability for a freshman. In the NBA he would translate to a small forward while he is being used more as a postman for the Eagles. While Anderson is definitely in contention for all-conference freshmen team there is no reason for him to be leaving Chestnut Hill anytime soon. Projection: Second round-undrafted (2014-15). NBA dream result: Thaddeus Young.

Clemson:
Devin Booker, Junior, 6-8, 245- No one question's Booker's size but the skill factor still needs work. A talented defender with great rebounding ability. Booker no doubt will be back for his senior year as a leader for the Tigers. Projection: Second round-undrafted (2013). NBADR: Elton Brand.
Milton Jennings, Junior, 6-9, 215- A lanky, long forward, Jennings can cause havoc with his range and defensive ability. His long arms allow for great reach and his quickness allows him to match up with smaller guards. Projection: Second round (2013). NBADR: Hakim Warrick.

Duke:
Seth Curry, Junior (RS), 6-2, 180- A similar game to older brother Stephen, Seth does not have the two inches that allow older bro to shoot over a lot of point guards. Seth does have a smooth stroke and a continuously improving drive. Projection: Second round (2013). NBADR: Well, why not, Stephen Curry.
Andre Dawkins, Junior, 6-4, 200- Dawkins has a smooth jumper and when he pushes himself can put up 25 points. His consistency is his main issue and defense against bigger opponents will be tough at the next level. Projection: Second round-undrafted (2013). NBADR: JJ Redick.
Ryan Kelly, Junior, 6-11, 230- A slender forward who can stretch the floor, Kelly is a very poor man's Dirk Nowitzki. Kelly is not the most athletically talented but can shoot better than anyone in the conference with his size. Projection: Second round (2013). NBADR: Channing Frye.
Mason Plumlee, Junior, 6-10, 245- Arguably the best prospect for Duke, Plumlee is as athletic as big men come. His interior moves continue to get better and his rebounding has taken a huge leap this year. Plumlee will decide after the season to leave early, but I don't see him going anywhere different after another year. Projection: First Round. NBADR: Jermaine O'Neal
Miles Plumlee, Senior, 6-10, 245- Plumlee is a weird subject. An athletic specimen for a guy with his size, he is yet to break out. He has shown glimpses of being aware enough to be in the right spot and the ability to hit a mid-range jumper, just not on a regular basis. Projection: Second round-undrafted. NBADR: Markieff Morris.
Austin Rivers, Freshman, 6-4, 200- Rivers has been compared to Dwyane Wade a lot and I see that comparison. While obviously not at Wade's level, Rivers has similar size (needs to add strength, though) and enjoys the drive more than the jumper (although that it is beginning to look better every game, ask Tyler Zeller). Rivers' decision to stay or go will be one of the biggest offseason topics in the ACC. Projection: Lottery-First Round. NBADR: Dwyane Wade

Florida State:
Xavier Gibson, Senior, 6-11, 250- Gibson has all the potential in the world. An athletic big man who likes playing defense way more than offense. He also possesses that urge to do better than his opponent. Projection: Second round-undrafted. NBADR: Kendrick Perkins.
Bernard James, Senior, 6-10, 240- James' biggest negative? He just turned 27. Which is unfortunate for his NBA prospects (great story of how he got here though http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5866376) since he has the ability to be a great player/defender in the post. Projection: Second round. NBADR: Joakim Noah.
Michael Snaer, Junior, 6-5, 205- Snaer might be the best chance the Seminoles have to a draft pick. The shifty guard can play on both ends. He can stretch the court with his jumper (ask the Cameron Crazies) and can drive against most anyone. Projection: Second round (2013). NBADR: Jason Richardson.

Georgia Tech:
Kammeon Holsey, Sophomore, 6-8, 226- A super talent who can jump out of the gym, Holsey continues to raise his draft stock. He would be smart to at least stay through his junior year but the prospect has all kinds of talent on both ends. Projection: First-Second round (2013-14). NBADR: Corey Maggette.
Daniel Miller, Sophomore, 6-11, 258- Miller is definitely a work in progress but has the size to make people notice him. Still a bit clumsy with the ball, Miller has developed defensively. Projection: Second round-undrafted (2014). NBADR: Rik Smits.
Glen Rice, Jr., Junior, 6-5, 205- When he wants to be, Rice can be a deadly weapon for the Yellow Jackets. He has some of his dad's genes from deep and is the best player for Georgia Tech with the ball in his hand. Projection: Second round (2013). NBADR: Gerald Henderson.
Mfon Udofia, Junior, 6-2, 195- While he may not have grown up as a point guard, Udofia is getting better at handling the ball and his vision is getting better, as seen with his rise in assist numbers. Udofia has the strength to be a good backup point guard, he just needs to continue working on his vision. Projection: Second round-undrafted (2013). NBADR: Toney Douglas.

Maryland:
Nick Faust, Freshman, 6-6, 175- Faust's athletic ability is without question there. He has great drive technique and his jumper is getting better. A couple more years in College Park should be able to get this talented freshman the physical and mental strength he needs. Projection: First-Second round (2014-15). NBADR: Vince Carter.
Alex Len, Freshman, 7-1, 225- Len has a world of potential that has not been discovered yet. He has the size to shoot over anyone and the range to stretch big guys. Strength will be gained over the next couple years. Projection: First-Second round (2013-15). NBADR: Chris Bosh.
Terrell Stoglin, Sophomroe, 6-1, 185- Stoglin is a scorer by nature, but his size won't allow him to play the same way he does now at the next level. The guard would do good to stay another year and develop his point guard abilities. Projection: First-second round (2012-14). NBADR: Monta Ellis.

Miami:
Malcolm Grant, Senior, 6-1, 188- Grant has the strength to match up with just about any point guard in the league but not the ability. A great leader and clutch scorer, Grant has not been able to do everything he needs to prove his NBA potential. Projection: Second-undrafted. NBADR: Tyreke Evans.