Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

MARCH! I LOVE MARCH!!!

March!  The ACC Tournament is about to tip off, the music is being selected for the Big Dance, and the equipment is being laid out for Spring Football.  That's right.  I said football in March.  LOVE TAR HEEL FOOTBALL!  Its the most wonderful time of the year!  But nothing like the here and now, ACC Tourney time!  Some of my most favorite memories from school (K-12) were the pizza parties that centered around the ACC Tournament.  You know you grew up on Tobacco Road when your school's curriculum centered around basketball for one Friday in March.  So while the country is looking ahead and focused on Joe Lunardi's projections for the Big Dance, I am going to sit back and enjoy one of the best events in college sports, even if it is a down year.  Before we get to the ACC Tourney . . . . 

Tweets of the Day

KButter5 Kendall Marshall

Stayin grounded is the key to success. To much is given, much is expected.

_John_Henson_ John Henson

Motivation.

Check back tomorrow for my thoughts on the regular season accolades, why I don't value them very much, and my ultimate hypocrisy in selecting and justifying my own selections for All-ACC.

 Fun Facts

Did You Know:  

The 1st ACC Tournament (ACCT) was played in 1954.  Since then, UNC and dook have played 18 times in the ACCT:

• Overall, dook leads 10-8 over UNC
• The lower-ranked seed has won the match up in 9 of the 18
• Since 1980, the higher seed (underdog according to seed) has won 8 of 10
• The last time UNC and dook played in the ACCT was in 2003, the year before Coach Williams took over the team.  UNC lost, as a 7 seed, to the 3rd seed dookies 75-63. 

In the 57 years of the ACCT:

• Only 10 times have UNC and dook entered the tournament representing both top two seeds (i.e. UNC was 1 seed and dook the 2 seed or dook at the 1 and UNC at the 2) 
• Only 10 times have UNC and dook played in the final game for the ACCT Championship
• In only 5 of those 10 games has UNC and dook represented the 1 and 2 seeds
• Of those 5 games, UNC leads 4-1 over dook, with dook winning the last such match up in 2001

What does all this mean?  Not much.  That is why you play the game.   Que Coach Edwards.



Classic.  Love it.  If anything, the above fun facts tell you that, historically, there is a 50% chance that the Tar Heels will play the dookies this Sunday for a third time this year.  That is why I am putting both teams in the Championship game in my ACCT Bracket.  Who wins that game if it comes to fruition?  I am duty bound to select the Tar Heels, but that is definitely putting the cart before the horse.  Lets take a look at the brackets.  

(8) UVa vs. (9) Da "U"

This is how I am going to pick a winner in this game.  I am going to take a quarter out of my change jar.  I am going to flip it.  If it lands on heads, I am picking Miami.  If it lands on tails, I am picking UVa.  Are you ready?  I have flicked the quarter.  It is spinning end over end.  It has flown about six inches over my head and is starting to descend.  I have caught it and slammed it on the top of my right hand (I am left handed).  I lift my left hand slowly.  And, I am picking . . . (building dramatic effect) . . . Miami.  Best Match Up & X-Factor:  Perimeter Shooting.  Seriously, both teams can get hot from 3 pt land and change the outcome of a game.  So not only is that the best match up, it is the X-factor.  Winner:  Miami.  If both shoot equally from outside, you have to take Miami.  Reggie Williams is way too much for Sene or Harrell to handle, so Miami gets the nod in a coin-flip. 

(5) BC vs. (12) WF

No analysis needed.  BC will win and win comfortably. Wake Forest threatens no one this year, not even UNCG. No need to look at the best match up or consider any X-factors, unless you want to consider Ron Wellman and Jeff Bzdelik's job security an X-factor. 

(7) Maryland vs. (10) NCSU

Remember when you were little and your Mom told you not to mess with a wounded animal.  Well, Tuffy is maimed and Maryland better be careful not go poking her with any sticks.  (If any State fans read this blog, they will love the fact that my Tuffy hyperlink is Carolina blue.  Haha.)  Best Match Up: Tracy Smith (NCSU) and Jordan Williams (Maryland).  On Feb. 20, Williams got the best of it, but both got their points so we can consider that a wash.  Since then, Maryland is 1-4 and lost its last three and won't have the home crowd to help them in this one like they did when they edged the Pack a few weeks ago.  However, the Pack have dropped their last two, so . . . .  X-factor:  The ACCT.  The only thing that Lowe has been able to do, besides underachieve, is be competitive in the ACCT.  Last year, Lowe and NCSU made an unexpected run in the ACCT.  If they win this first game, expect Greensboro Colosseum to be coated in red for the rest of the tournament (until they play the Heels) and that will give them a huge boost. Winner: NCSU.  I think Lowe has enough ACCT magic left for one last victory.  Interestingly enough, however, in '09, Maryland came in as the 7 seed and knocked out the 10th seed NCSU on the first day of the tournament.  Look familiar? 

(6) VT vs. (11) GT

I know this is stupid but THANK GOD Paul Hewitt is on the right side of the bracket!  Somehow, he just has that Roy Williams krypotnite. Instead, Seth Greenburg and VT get to tangle with a dangerous GT team in their last shot at a guaranteed bid to the Big Dance.  Will VT take the first step and take away the power of the Selection Committee to not select them by beating GT?  Best Match Up: Malcolm Delaney (VT) and Iman Shumpert (GT).  The outcome of this game will be determined by this match up.  Shumpert is an all ACC defender.  The first time these teams played in Atlanta, Delaney was shut down, scoring only 8 pts on 3 of 11 shooting, and VT lost by 15.  The next time they played, Delaney dropped 33 on GT in a 102-77 rout.  Can Delaney get it done in his last ACCT against Shumpert?  My minds is telling me no, but my heart is telling me yes.  X-factor: Glen Rice, Jr.  Rice is the second leading scorer for the Yellow Jackets and averages 12.8 ppg on the season.  However, over the last five games, Rice is shooting 30% from the field and averaging 6.6 ppg.  While GT is 2-3 over that period, they are going to need more consistent scoring from Rice to make any noise in the ACCT.  Winner: VT.  Despite inconsistent play to finish the regular season, VT gets the W.  GT is a scary team, but there is too much on the line for VT not to win.

As for the rest of my bracket:

Friday:
UNC over Miami, BC over Clemson, dook over NCSU, and FSU over VT
Saturday:
UNC over BC and dook over FSU
Sunday:
UNC over dook (again)