Duke survives, Miami continues magical run in ACC Quarterfinals

In the first game, Virginia presented Duke with a much stiffer challenge than they anticipated. The Cavaliers used an inspired defensive effort to contest virtually every Duke shot.

The Blue Devils struggled from the field, shooting nine-for-26 in the first half, which led to the score being tied at 27.

It was not until the second half that Duke committed to scoring inside. Kyle Singler scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half to lead the way.

Virginia hung around for quite awhile. The Cavaliers trailed 46-35 with just under 10 minutes to go, when they scored nine straight points to draw within two.

The run was capped by a three-pointer from Mustapha Farrakhan with 6:24 left, but the Cavaliers did not make another shot from the field again.

Jon Scheyer survived an abysmal shooting performance to score 15 points. His three-point play with 2:30 left put the final dagger in the heart of Virginia.

Sammy Zeglinski could not recapture the magic of Thursday’s first round win. After scoring 21 points against Boston College, Zeglinski was held scoreless by the Blue Devils.

Virginia played the best defense they could against Duke, but simply did not have enough playmakers on offense to keep up in the end.

Apparently nobody told Miami they were the last-place team entering this tournament, because they sure are not playing like it.

The Hurricanes’ zone defense proved to be a bugaboo for ACC leading scorer Malcolm Delaney, who scored only seven points and missed all eight shots behind the arc.

Miami freshman Durand Scott simply took the game over down the stretch. Scott scored 12 of Miami’s final 14 points to finish with 17.

Virginia Tech started off hot, mainly because of Dorenzo Hudson. Despite missing practice all week with a sore foot, Hudson erupted for 13 points in the first seven and a half minutes to send the Hokies to a 22-12 lead.

Miami recovered by halftime, trailing 37-35 at the break.

The Hokies received a boost in the second half from Jeff Allen, who finished with 18 points, 12 of which came in the second half. Allen was too quick on the interior for Miami’s bigs Julian Gamble and Reggie Johnson, making several drop steps and spin moves for easy looks at the rim.

The story of the game was Delaney’s struggles. Against the 2-3 zone of Miami, Delaney hardly ever penetrated the lane, and was ice cold from the field. Whether the Hokies play in the NCAA Tournament or the NIT, their opponents would be wise to take a page out of the Hurricanes’ playbook and show the Hokies a zone defense.

Miami also went deeper into their bench, playing eight guys. Seth Greenberg only played six players significant minutes, and it showed down the stretch. Despite the fact that the Hokies had a bye Thursday and Miami was playing its second game in as many days, it was the Hurricanes that had more energy in the final minutes.

Hudson disappeared after his scorching start, scoring only one point in the second half. The Hokies also shot 11-for-18 (61 percent) from the foul line, well below their season average.

It’s now onto the semifinals for Miami and Duke. The Hurricanes won’t have the same luxury of facing a poor shooting team on Saturday, as Duke shoots the three as well as anyone in America.

Still, Frank Haith’s guys are playing with too much heart this weekend to count them out of any game.

The Race to Greensboro – Breaking down the ACC Tournament chase

Starting today, I will take a look at each conference and handicap what each team needs to do between now and selection Sunday. First off, the Atlantic Coast Conference.

 

Duke (23-4, 11-2)

NCAA Tournament chances: lock

 

The Blue Devils lead the ACC by a game and a half over Maryland, and have all but wrapped up the regular season championship. That being said, Duke is far from flawless, and is not a shoo-in to win the conference tournament.

No team in the country has a trio as talented as Duke’s Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith. All three players bring different but valuable assets to the table and make stopping Duke a living hell for opponents.

The worst news for Mike Krzyzewski’s team is they cannot play their tournament games at home. Each of Duke’s four losses has come on the road, and they have a much tougher time making shots away from Cameron Indoor Stadium.

 

Best-case scenario: ACC Championship/Final Four

Worst-case scenario: ACC Quarterfinals/NCAA first round

Likely scenario: ACC Championship/Sweet Sixteen

 

Maryland (19-7, 9-3)

NCAA Tournament chances: very likely

 

The Terrapins have flown somewhat under the radar this season, but with two weeks left in the regular season, they are in sole possession of second place in the ACC.

Quite frankly, Gary Williams’ team has been one arguable the most dominate team in the conference.  In its nine conference wins, Maryland has outscored its opponents by an average of 14 points per game. When they come to play, the Terps leave no doubt.

The biggest concern for Maryland’s NCAA Tournament hopes is their lack of a quality non-conference victory. The best win in that category was over Indiana, which is hardly anything to brag about.

 

Best-case scenario: ACC Championship/Sweet Sixteen

Worst-case scenario: ACC Quarterfinals/NIT

Likely scenario: ACC Semifinals/NCAA 2^nd round

Virginia Tech (21-5, 8-4)

NCAA Tournament chances: somewhat probable

 

The Hokies could have all but solidified a spot in the NCAA tournament with a win at Duke Sunday night. Instead, Tech sits in third place in the ACC with several difficult games remaining.

Seth Greenberg has done a magnificent job coaching this team. Through 14 games at home, the Hokies have yet to lose once. The Feb. 27 date with Maryland in Blacksburg can be circled as a must-win for the Hokies, if they want to lock up a tournament spot before the ACC tournament begins.

With one of the worst non-conference schedules in America, Tech needs to finish at least 10-6 in the ACC to feel comfortable heading into selection Sunday.

 

Best-case scenario: ACC Championship/Sweet Sixteen

Worst-case scenario: ACC Quarterfinals/NIT

Likely scenario: ACC Finals/NCAA Second Round

 

Wake Forest (18-7, 8-5)

NCAA Tournament chances: somewhat probable

 

Last week, the Deacons were a comfortable lock for the NCAA Tournament, until they lost two games in a row.

Wake has strong non-conference victories, including ones over Gonzaga, Xavier and Richmond. Against the stronger opponents in the ACC, though, the Demon Deacons have struggled.

They have lost at Miami, at Duke, at Georgia Tech, at Virginia Tech, and at North Carolina State. Their only road win in the ACC came against North Carolina on Jan. 20.

Their struggles away from home raise a big red flag as far as their tournament prospects. Then again, not too many teams have found success on the road in this conference.

 

Best-case scenario: ACC Championship/Sweet Sixteen

Worst-case scenario: ACC Quarterfinals/NIT

Likely scenario: ACC Quarterfinals/NCAA First Round

 

Clemson (19-7, 7-5)

NCAA Tournament Chances: Bubble

The Tigers sit on the bubble at this point, and their outlook is rough. Three of their last four games are on the road, and they are all against strong teams in Maryland, Florida State and Wake Forest.

After losing at Virginia Tech on Feb. 6, Clemson has won three straight games. 

Realistically, the Tigers need to win at least two games in their final four, and a game in the ACC tournament to make the big dance.

 

Best-case scenario: ACC Semifinals/NCAA second round

Worst-case scenario: ACC first round/NIT

Likely scenario: ACC quarterfinals/NIT

 

Florida State (19-7, 7-5)

NCAA Tournament chances: Bubble

 

The Seminoles sit in a similar boat as Clemson for the time being, but with a much easier line of games down the stretch.

The ‘Noles’ final two road games are against North Carolina and Miami, two of the weaker teams in the conference.

Leonard Hamilton’s team is lacking a big-time scorer a la Toney Douglass or Al Thornton. If they had a better backcourt, FSU might be the best team in the conference.

With such great size inside, Florida State could give teams trouble in postseason play.

 

Best-case scenario: ACC Semifinals/NCAA first round

Worst-case scenario: ACC First round/NIT

Likely scenario: ACC Semifinals/NCAA first round

 

Georgia Tech (18-9, 6-7)

NCAA Tournament Chances: barely on the bubble

 

The Yellow Jackets are one of the more inconsistent, underachieving teams in the nation.

They are 2-4 in their last six games, but two of their final three games are at home. Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal are both All-ACC candidates, but there have been many disappointing performances from the Jackets this season.

To make the NCAA Tournament, Paul Hewitt’s squad must win two of its final three regular season games and make it to the ACC semifinals.

 

Best-case scenario: ACC Semifinals/NCAA first round

Worst-case scenario: ACC First round/NIT

Likely scenario: ACC Quarterfinals/NIT

 

Virginia (14-11, 5-7)

NCAA Tournament chances: very unlikely

Remember when the Cavaliers were in first place in the ACC? After a surprisingly hot start in conference play, the Wahoos have fallen on hard times down the stretch.

Virginia has lost five straight games, and it’s not crazy to think that the Cavs could go from 5-2 to 5-11 or 6-10 by season’s end.

If the Cavaliers want to make a shocking run to the NCAA tournament, they would need to win out in their final four games and probably make the finals of the conference tournament.

 

Boston College (13-13, 4-8)

NCAA Tournament chances: only with an automatic bid

Early season losses to Maine and Harvard spelled doom for the Eagles’ season. Other than a win against Clemson at home on Jan. 26, there are no wins to speak about for Boston College.

The Eagles need to win three more games to be eligible for the NIT. That is very possible, with games against Virginia and North Carolina State left in the regular season. That means they would only have to win one ACC Tournament game should they beat the Cavs and Wolfpack.

 

Best-case scenario: ACC Quarterfinals/NIT

Worst-case scenario: ACC first round/CBI

Likely scenario: ACC first round/CBI

 

North Carolina (14-13, 3-9)

NCAA Tournament chances: only with an automatic bid

The Tar Heels have fallen so far from the top-10 ranked team from early January that only a tournament championship would earn them an NCAA bid.

The scary thing about the Heels is, even if they enter the conference tournament as the 11^th seed, they are talented enough to make a miraculous run. 

Is that likely? Yeah, and Matt Collette is a humble gentleman. Still, Carolina could salvage a forgettable season with at least a couple good wins late in the year.

 

Best-case scenario: ACC Semifinals/NCAA First Round

Worst-case scenario: ACC first round/CBI

Likely scenario: ACC first round/CBI

North Carolina State (15-13, 3-10)

NCAA Tournament Chances: only with an automatic bid

Over the course of the season, the Wolfpack have been the worst team in the ACC, but they have had a couple bright moments.

The 88-74 win over Duke gave State fans hope, but since that game, the Pack have lost seven of eight games. On Saturday they may have spoiled Wake Forest’s season with a 68-54 win at home.

 

Even with the select impressive victories, the Wolfpack have little hope to make it to the second day of the ACC Tournament still alive.

 

Best-case scenario: ACC quarterfinals/CBI

Worst-case scenario: ACC first round/CBI

Likely scenario: ACC first round/CBI

2010 ACC Schedule – Team-by-team Reaction

On Thursday, the ACC released its 2010 football schedule. There are some notable out of conference games to speak of, and there will be some tough stretches for the favorites in the league. Here is an early breakdown of the 2010 slate for each team.

Boston College:

Toughest non-conference game – Oct. 2 vs. Notre Dame

Toughest conference games – Sept. 25 vs. Virginia Tech, Oct. 16 at Florida State

Easiest FBS game – Nov. 27 at Syracuse

Schedule Strength – C+

Clemson:

Toughest non-conference game – Sept. 18 at Auburn

Toughest conference games – Oct. 2 vs. Miami, Nov. 13 at Florida State

Easiest FBS game – Sept. 4 vs. North Texas

Schedule Strength – B+

Florida State

Toughest non-conference game – Sept. 11 at Oklahoma

Toughest conference games – Oct. 9 at Miami, Nov. 6 vs. UNC

Easiest FBS game – Sept. 18 vs. BYU

Schedule Strength – A

Maryland

Toughest non-conference game – Sept. 18 at West Virginia

Toughest conference games – Nov. 6 at Miami, Nov. 20 vs. Florida State

Easiest FBS game – Sept. 25 vs. FIU

Schedule Strength – C+

NC State

Toughest non-conference game – Sept. 16 (Thurs.) vs. Cincinnati

Toughest conference games – Oct. 2 vs. Virginia Tech, Oct. 28 (Thurs.) vs. Florida State

Easiest FBS game – Sept. 11 at Central Florida

Schedule Strength – A-

Wake Forest

Toughest non-conference game – Sept. 18 at Stanford

Toughest conference games – Sept. 25 at Florida State, Oct. 16 at Virginia Tech

Easiest FBS game – Nov. 27 at Vanderbilt

Schedule Strength – B

Duke

Toughest non-conference game – Sept. 18 vs. Alabama

Toughest conference games- Oct. 23 at Virginia Tech, Nov. 27 vs. Virginia Tech

Easiest FBS game – Sept. 25 vs. Army

Schedule Strength – B+

Georgia Tech

Toughest non-conference game – Nov. 27 at Georgia

Toughest conference games- Nov. 4 (Thurs.) at Virginia Tech, Nov. 13 vs. Miami

Easiest FBS game – Oct. 16 vs. Middle Tennessee

Schedule Strength – B-

Miami

Toughest non-conference game – Sept. 11 at Ohio State

Toughest conference games- Nov. 20 vs. Virginia Tech, Oct. 2 at Clemson

Easiest FBS game – Nov. 27 at South Florida

Schedule Strength – A+

North Carolina

Toughest non-conference game – Sept. 4 vs. LSU (In Atlanta)

Toughest conference games- Oct. 23 at Miami, Nov. 6 at Florida State

Easiest FBS game – Oct. 2 vs. East Carolina

Schedule Strength – B+

Virginia

Toughest non-conference game – Sept. 11 at USC

Toughest conference games- Nov. 27 at Virginia Tech, Oct. 30 vs. Miami

Easiest FBS game – Oct. 23 vs. Eastern Michigan

Schedule Strength – C

Virginia Tech

Toughest non-conference game – Sept. 6 (Mon.) vs. Boise State (In Washington D.C.)

Toughest conference games – Nov. 20 at Miami, Nov. 13 at UNC

Easiest FBS game – Oct. 9 vs. Central Michigan

Schedule Strength – B+

Virginia Tech-UVA initial summary

Thanks to an enormous effort from Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech won its sixth straight contest with Virginia 42-13.

Williams carried the ball 23 times for 182 yards and four touchdowns.

Prospects didn’t look so bright in the first half. The Hokies’ defense permitted Jameel Sewell to run for 99 yards and a touchdown by the break. Tech led 14-13 at halftime.

That’s when Williams took over. The redshirt freshman ran for 123 yards in the first 20 minutes of the second half, and two scores.

With six minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Hokies still held on to just a one-point lead. Tyrod Taylor had just been intercepted in the end zone for a touchback, when the Tech defense came up with its biggest play of the night, recovering a fumble on the next play to set up another Williams score.

The Hokies scored two more touchdowns in the next five and a half minutes to expand the lead to 35-13, proving to be insurmountable for the Cavaliers.

The loss probably marks the end of the Al Groh era at Virginia. After nine seasons at the school, Groh is likely to be fired in the coming days following the team’s worst record in 26 years.

With the win, Virginia Tech is now one win shy of its sixth straight 10-win season. Interestingly enough, all six of those seasons coincide with Tech’s membership in the ACC.

Check back later for final thoughts on the game.