As the Tar Heels (and other three team from the conference) take the day off it is time for the ACC to begin their cocktail party post-season tournament. Of course for those like me this is true beginning of March Madness, because today the games start, go until Sunday, then the selection committee will tell us who goes where and in what seed and finally we have three days to get bitch and moan ready for what is the best month in sports. This is the time of the year where past records are forgotten, where no one worries about what happened before, this is where a team needs to get hot and get lucky and they might just be cutting down the nets when it all said and done. Of course that will happen in a while, for now let’s focus about the four games that will be played today in Greensboro Coliseum.
First game of the day, which begins at 12:00 pm EST, is #8 Virginia (16-14 & 7-9 in the ACC) vs #9 Miami (18-13 & 6-10 in the ACC). This should be an interesting game, and one that I will follow cause the winner of this one will be playing against North Carolina tomorrow at the same time slot. Virginia was able to close out the season with a couple of conference wins, however none of that will matter since Miami is going to be able to take this one, especially with UVa’s Mike Scott not able to play. The ‘Canes has a couple of good guards, Malcolm Grant and Durand Scott, that the Heels will have to watch out for when they play in the second round of the tourney. I am also sure that the UNC coaching staff is looking at tape of Reggie Johnson, who can cause havoc in the paint.
My prediction: ‘Canes move on but not as easy as they would hae liked.
The next game has #5 Boston College (19-11 & 9-7 in the ACC) and #12 Wake Forest (8-23 & 1-15 in the ACC) going at it at 2:00 pm EST. In this one all I can say is that the Eagles will win against what could be one of the worst teams in the ACC in a long time. The interesting thing about this game is that if BC wins they will face Clemson and both teams seem to be bubble when it comes to the tournament. Meaning that the winner of tomorrow’s match up would be likely in the Big Dance. What is scary is that an upset in this game would probably put both BC and Clemson at risk of not making it, since BC would definitely not make it in with a loss like this and a Clemson win over WF would not help them at all when it comes to quality wins.
My prediction: The Eagles soar in this one and aren’t even that tired making it for a great game tomorrow against the Tigers.
The first night game, beginning at 7:00 pm EST has #7 Maryland (18-13 & 7-9 in the ACC) going at it with #10 N.C. State (15-15 & 5-11 in the ACC). And here might be the hardest game to decypher of the first round. The Terps should win this one easily, but they do not seem to be “into it” anymore for the year playing against a head coach that knows this could be the last game with his team. But the reality of this game is pretty simple, the winner gets the chance of being beaten by a Duke team that wants to rebound from the bashing in Chapel Hill.
My prediction: Will go with MD but would not be one bit surprised if it is N.C. State winning it.
And finally the first day ends with #6 Virginia Tech (19-10 & 9-7 in the ACC) vs #11 Georgia Tech (13-17 & 5-11 in the ACC). Imagine if the Hokies were to lose this game? What a dive they would be taking after having beat Duke, giving us another epic moment with Seth Greenberg telling us how his team should have been in the Big Dance (how many years in a row would that be now?) However this game should make VT get back on the winning side of things and help them stay on the bubble. Of course that does not mean they are in, and I am not sure how far into the tournament they have to advance in order for that to happen. Some people say two, which would mean this one and then FSU tomorrow. Could it happen? Sure, will it? Only time will tell.
My prediction: Tech wins (ok bad joke). It’s Virginia Tech taking it, but then falling against FSU tomorrow and once again being on the outside looking in for next week.
Original Story:
http://www.the5thcorner.com/acc-tourn...
