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.
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