Let's take a look at the 4 games on the ACC schedule tonight.
Clemson at Georgia Tech, 7 p.m. (RSN/ESPN3)
Storyline: Don’t let Clemson’s 5-7 conference record fool you. Five of those seven losses have come by four points or fewer. The Tigers are a dangerous team that vastly underachieved in the non-conference portion of their schedule. Over the next few weeks, they have a chance to be a major spoiler if they can embrace that role. Tonight’s trip to Georgia Tech is a game they should win, especially considering the Yellow Jackets are without suspended star Glen Rice, Jr.
Player to watch: Milton Jennings is the most enigmatic player in the ACC. The brash Clemson forward has steadily improved as the season has progressed, with the exception of a two-game suspension at the end of January (the Tigers lost both game by a combined six points). He’s shooting better than 42 percent from three-point range in conference play. Combine his length with a quick step and such a sweet stroke from deep, and Jennings is a nightmare matchup for most teams. He’s averaging 10.8 points per game since returning from suspension. There’s not a player on Georgia Tech’s roster who matches up well with Jennings. As is the case on many nights, Jennings’ focus tonight may be the difference between a Clemson win or loss.
Prediction: Georgia Tech is going nowhere fast, whereas Clemson hasn’t quit on coach Brad Brownell despite such an awful start to the season. The Rice suspension wasn’t exactly what the last-place Yellow Jackets needed with five (now four) games left. The winner tonight will break a 60-60 tie in the all-time series between the two programs.
CLEMSON 65, GEORGIA TECH 54
North Carolina at NC State, 8 p.m. (ACC Network split/ESPN3)
Storyline: I went into great detail yesterday on NC State’s woes since halftime of last Thursday’s loss at Duke. For North Carolina, the opportunity remains for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament (even it is in the West, which is inevitable). The Tar Heels have won three straight games by an average of 16.3 points since falling to Duke, but they’ve done so while shooting just 28 percent from three-point range.
The Heels absolutely smother teams on the boards (plus-12 margin on the season), and it’s their dominance in the frontcourt that makes it almost impossible for most teams to stand a chance.
Player to watch: In the games that Carolina has struggled this season, it’s been because its opponent has been lights out from long range. Scott Wood has the ability to fill that role tonight. He leads the ACC, shooting 42 percent from three on the season. If he can get hot early and energize the home crowd, the Wolfpack can absolutely pull off the upset. He’ll have to reverse recent fortunes, however. Wood is just 5-of-27 from the field in his last three games entering tonight.
The Tar Heels have shown a propensity for getting flustered when they fall behind early on the road. If North Carolina jumps out to an early lead and Wood isn’t knocking down outside shots, well, there’s very little chance for State in this game.
Prediction: The Heels won the first match-up 74-55, thanks to the aforementioned dominance on the glass. Carolina outrebounded State 48-26 in that contest. The tallest player in the Wolfpack’s main rotation is 6-foot-9 DeShawn Painter. John Henson and Tyler Zeller should have their way in the paint per usual, and NC State will continue to fall apart at the seams, letting an at-large bid slip through its grasp in the process.
NORTH CAROLINA 79, NC STATE 62
Miami at Maryland, 8 p.m. (ACC Network Split/ESPN3)
Storyline: The Hurricanes continue to claw their way back into the at-large discussion with a trip to Maryland tonight. The importance of this contest for Jimmy Larranaga’s club cannot be understated. Miami simply cannot afford a loss tonight if it hopes to attract the attention of the selection committee. Maryland is in complete disarray following a 27-point loss to Virginia.
With Pe’Shon Howard lost for the season, the Terps have lost a significant piece of their backcourt, one that would have been invaluable matching up with Miami’s trio of Durand Scott, Shane Larkin and Malcolm Grant.
Players to watch: Kenny Kadji has quietly assembled a spectacular season in his first year of eligibility with Miami. The former Florida transfer is averaging nearly 13 points and six rebounds per game while shooting 54 percent from the field. His length at 6-foot-11 makes him an extreme mismatch on the offensive end against anyone not named John Henson. Maryland’s inexperienced frontcourt will have trouble matching the physicality of Kadji and Reggie Johnson inside.
Prediction:The Terrapins nearly stole a win in Miami when the teams last met on February 1st, instead falling in double overtime 90-86. It’s been a bumpy road for Mark Turgeon and company since then, losing three of five, including having the bottom fall out against the Cavaliers. Miami has much more to play for tonight, and that should be enough to carry them to an important victory on the road.
MIAMI 66, MARYLAND 60
Virginia at Virginia Tech, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
Storyline: Seth Greenberg once famously said the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee would be “certifiably insane” if it left his Hokies out of the big dance. Well, Greenberg himself might have earned that moniker Monday when he told reporters he was focused on building the Hokies’ tournament resume, despite a 4-8 record in ACC play and absolutely no shot whatsoever at earning an at-large bid. That said, the Hokies have played much better of late, splitting its last six games after a 1-5 start in league play. Virginia, meanwhile, has lost three of five and is in danger of falling out of at-large consideration if the swoon continues. Exacting revenge on the Hokies, who stole a one-point win in Charlottesville last month, is step number one in avoiding such a catastrophe.
Players to watch: It’s no secret that Mike Scott is the key to everything for the Cavaliers, but he’ll no doubt step on the court tonight with a chip on his shoulder. The Hokies held Scott to 10 points in the last match-up, his lowest output for any game in which he’s played at least 30 minutes this season. Tech will be without starting center Victor Davila tonight, placing the burden of containing Scott on the less experienced shoulders of Cadarian Raines and C.J. Barksdale. To make an educated guess, Scott won’t quite be kept in check like last time.
Prediction: A Virginia loss would raise some serious red flags for Tony Bennett’s club heading into a difficult final stretch of the season. The blowout win over Maryland seemed to cure many ills, at least temporarily. Virginia Tech is anything but an offensive juggernaut, but Greenberg’s recent strategy of playing the guys with the highest effort in practice has kept them competitive in recent games. Contrary to what the Hokies’ head coach may say, there is much more on the line in this game for the Cavaliers.
VIRGINIA 55, VIRGINIA TECH 50
