ACC Capsules: Can Miami continue its run?

The focus in the ACC this weekend will once again be on league-leading Miami, as the No. 8 Hurricanes host North Carolina Saturday at 2 p.m. in another sellout at BankUnited Center. Not only does this game present an additional big-time basketball event at a school that has had so few in its history until 2013, but it also presents a challenge to the Canes to remain unbeaten in the ACC and show it can beat an improving team it has already defeated. The psychological factor here for Miami is significant. It won at UNC, 68-59, in a contest that was a one-point game with less than five minutes remaining. But the young Tar Heels were knee-deep in the process of finding themselves at the time and just didnt handle the end of that game very well. Since then, however, UNC has won six of seven ACC games and is coming off its most complete performance of the season, a 87-62 waxing of Wake Forest on Tuesday night. The Carolina team visiting Coral Gables is much better than the one the veteran Hurricanes beat a month ago. But so is Miami. The Hurricanes are the last team from a power conference still unbeaten in its league. Asked what that means, Miami coach Jim Larranaga gave a very Larranaga-like response. It means weve got to play North Carolina on Saturday, he said. I dont pay attention to those numbers because they dont reflect what our job is. This game will mark the first time in school history the Canes have played before three capacity crowds at home. Although 9-0 in the ACC (and 17-3 overall), Miami this season was the first ACC team not named Duke or North Carolina to start 7-0 in league play since Virginia did so in 1981. And with a win over UNC (16-6, 6-3) already this season, Miami has knocked off the powerful Research Triangle schools Duke, UNC and N.C. State all in the same season for the first time in school history. To keep the train humming, Miami must beat the improving Tar Heels, who will wear Nike elite uniforms Saturday. Their Carolina blue jerseys will be emblazoned with a large block NC on the front, similar to the logo on UNCs football helmets, and a classic logo the school has used for years, just not so prominently on uniforms. UNC, you might recall, wore a similar uniform for the entire 1999-2000 season, and at the time it was the second-losingest team in school history, yet still managed to reach the Final Four, falling to Florida, which lost two nights later to Michigan State. Pick: Miami, 75-66. Feb. 9 Florida State (13-9, 5-4) at Wake Forest (10-12, 3-7) When: Noon Full Court Press: Wake has been significantly better at home than on the road, so it stands to reason the Demon Deacons will bounce back from 26 and 25-point road losses to knock off the Seminoles. But FSU has actually played well on the road and Wake may have a more difficult time believing in its system with so many ugly losses having piled up. Pick: FSU, 66-63. Georgia Tech (12-9, 2-7) at Virginia Tech (11-11, 2-7) When: 1 p.m. Full Court Press: The Hokies actually won in Atlanta earlier in the season and because home teams have been dominant in the ACC. But the Yellow Jackets are oh-so close to being a team capable of picking up conference road wins against the VTs of the world. But Erick Green and company will find a way to score enough points and get the W. Pick: Virginia Tech, 64-60. Feb. 10 Virginia (16-6, 6-3) at Maryland (17-6, 5-5) When: 1 p.m. Full Court Press: Very big game for both teams. Virginia responded nicely to an ugly road win with a 37-point demolition of Clemson thanks in part to another excellent performance by Joe Harris. Harris must be at the top of his game to get a victory in College Park. Maryland is making progress and gets different guys to step up every night. Dez Wells and Alex Len must do so in this one. Pick: Maryland, 58-54. N.C. State (16-7, 5-5) at Clemson (12-10, 4-6) When: 1 p.m. Full Court Press: N.C. State is at a fork in the road, so what way will the Wolfpack go? Clemson is coming off an embarrassing 37-point loss at UVa, so expect Brad Brownell to get his teams attention. Plus, the Tigers have been especially good at home in recent years. Whether or not Lorenzo Brown plays for State, the Pack have a huge talent advantage and should win, maybe even going away. But nothing has been easy for them for some time. Pick: Clemson, 65-61. Duke (20-2, 7-2) at Boston College (10-12, 2-7) When: 6 p.m. Full Court Press: Duke will be challenged in that Conte Forum will be up for the game, which should give BC an added lift. But Duke is generally ready to play in frenzied atmospheres, and as long as Seth Curry keeps stroking form the perimeter, Mason Plumlee dominates inside and some other guys do enough Duke should win without much problem. Ryan Anderson needs a lot of help from his BC teammates in this one. Pick: Duke, 85-70. Season record: 159-35