Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 8, 1990 TAG: 9003081338
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Bill Brill
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
What with the allegations of point-shaving at N.C. State, not to mention Maryland's surprisingly stiff NCAA penalty this week, there will be no humor found in discussions of what will occur before the largest audience ever to witness the nation's blue-ribbon conference basketball tournament.
But, troubles notwithstanding, the question must be asked: Can anybody win three consecutive games?
In this discussion of who is the favorite, consider:
The regular-season champion, Clemson, and runner-up Duke each lost their last two games. The Blue Devils even suffered their first home defeat, while the Tigers, perhaps too euphoric over their initial first-place finish, were beaten by a bad South Carolina team.
N.C. State lost its last three games, including what almost surely was the home farewell to embattled coach Jim Valvano. Virginia finished 0-2, including an unlikely University Hall loss to Wake Forest in what was supposed to be Terry Holland's going-away party.
The hottest team in the league is the last-place entry, Wake Forest. The Deacons, who were 0-11 in the ACC until the final week, closed with victories over Maryland, N.C. State and UVa. The latter two were on the road, where Wake Forest had no success in recent seasons.
The only other team that could be considered on any kind of a roll is the preseason choice, North Carolina, which defeated Georgia Tech and Duke in the final week.
On the court, this has been a most unusual campaign. While the league seems to have the overall appearance of being down, the ACC might get six NCAA bids even though N.C. State is on probation and cannot play beyond this event. No conference ever has gotten seven bids, and it is doubtful any teams that finished next-to-last ever have been considered.
While the highest-ranked team is No. 12 Duke, this has been a season in which it is reasonable to say that six clubs overachieved, everybody except North Carolina and Wake Forest. And since they enter the tournament on relative hot streaks, even that is not a valid argument, since it is a coach's dream to peak in March.
If there isn't a great team, there surely isn't a bad one. First-year coach Dave Odom has had problems at Wake Forest, perhaps in adjusting to personalities that were not what he had experienced in seven seasons as Holland's assistant at UVa.
Surely, Wake Forest is the finest last-place team in ACC history, and easily the strongest cellar-dwelling club in the country. If there was a tournament for the best of the bottom, Wake Forest would be an overwhelming favorite. In Chris King, Anthony Tucker and Sam Ivy, Wake Forest has three front-line players talented enough to play for anybody.
The Deacons' victory Sunday at N.C. State, plus the subsequent coin flips to settle ties for third and fourth place, plus fifth, sixth and seventh, appears to have made North Carolina the most logical choice to win. The Tar Heels are the defending champions.
Unexpectedly, North Carolina gets a chance for revenge against UVa. The Tar Heels had figured on playing Maryland, which beat them twice, or N.C. State. Considering the Cavs needed to make a school-record 15 3-pointers to edge North Carolina by a point in Charlottesville, a second win over the Tar Heels would be a shocker.
North Carolina is in the bracket with Clemson, a team that has had no success on the road against the Tar Heels. The Tigers never have won a game in Chapel Hill.
The opposite bracket is far more difficult. Duke would have to beat Maryland and, likely, Georgia Tech, each for a third time, to reach the final. Tech would have to get past the Wolfpack, which may be inspired to win one for Jimmy V, and the Duke-Maryland winner.
The Terps also have an outside inspiration. They cannot play in the NCAA Tournament the next two years, and they may need at least one more victory to impress the tournament committee.
Maryland is 18-12 to UVa's 17-10, but beat the Cavs twice. Virginia has two wins over Georgia Tech and one over Duke, not to mention significant non-league wins over Houston, Richmond and Villanova. The Terps played a much softer schedule. However, a 19th victory could be the deciding factor in Maryland's favor.
The pick here: North Carolina.
by CNB