What are the big questions for this week in ACC Basketball?
Does North Carolina start turning the corner this week?
North Carolina has been the nation’s most disappointing team. From #1 to unranked in record time. The Tar Heels have lost to every decent team they’ve played save a win over the rising College of Charleston. This is a talented team, that hasn’t found itself. They cruised against Georgia Tech at home and then thumped the Citadel. A win against that caliber of competition doesn’t help, but on Saturday the Heels face NCAA-caliber Ohio State at Madison Square Garden. That’s a winnable game against a good team. If UNC beats Ohio State, I’ll say they are starting to turn that corner. If they lose, it’s more of the same, and then the resume starts getting questioned. It as close to a December must win as the Heels could have.
Will Virginia add Houston to their already impressive resume?
This could have been a 1/2 matchup before Houston faded late at home against Alabama. Virginia was boat raced by Houston last year by 20. Barring a total collapse in the ACC, Virginia with a win would have the OOC resume of a 1 or 2 NCAA seed. Virginia has been a little sluggish offensively the last couple of games, but I think that was the grind of a tough OOC schedule getting to them. I like their chances at home with 11 days off against Houston even if Reece Beekman doesn’t play due to injury.
Will Louisville actually start a winning streak.?
At 0-9, there were whispers Louisville could go winless this year. They had previously 6-1 Western Kentucky and that seemed like a stretch the Cards could beat them, even if it was a soft 6-1. Louisville played by far their best game of the year. They moved the ball around well on offense and showed some ability to shots from the perimeter. That Louisville team could win a few games in the ACC. With Florida A&M and Lipscomb next, Louisville could very well get on a modest 3 game winning streak. In fact, I think they’ll do it. The team I saw against Western Kentucky showed a real spark.
