DATE: Thursday, March 6, 1997               TAG: 9703060555

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Column 

SOURCE: Bob Molinaro 

                                            LENGTH:   64 lines

ACC TOURNEY'S A GOOD SHOW, NOTHING MORE

The following is intended to be a brief meditation on the ACC tournament, which begins tonight in Greensboro.

But first, congratulations go out to the Ivy League, Big Ten and Pac-10, leagues that have seen fit to eschew the conference tournament.

These are the conferences that understand how a champion should be crowned. These are the leagues that place the proper emphasis on the regular season.

Unfortunately, the proud Big Ten has caved to convention. Soon, one of the last great holdouts will launch its own intramural playoff. Not surprising. There is too much money and TV exposure to be had to expect the trend to reverse itself.

Surely, though, everyone understands the inequity of the thing.

The other night, Fairfield, the last seed, won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament in Buffalo, N.Y. Iona, which proved itself superior over the course of two months, is on the outside looking in. Mighty Fairfield, 11-18, secured its league's automatic bid.

This happens every year in some of the small and mid-major conferences. A lot of people think it's cute when a footwipe rises up to beat out a legitimate winner. Fans and the media get caught up in the moment and forget about the unfairness of the concept.

For the sake of a few dollars, TV exposure and cheap thrills, conferences put unreasonable demands and tremendous pressure on the best teams.

We've learned to accept this concept, which renders the regular season almost meaningless. But, in fact, the philosophy behind some of these tournaments is almost unsporting.

It's been a long, long time since this sort of controversy attached itself to the ACC tournament.

This year will be no exception. The ACC anticipates landing six schools in the Field of 64, regardless of what takes place in Greensboro. Even Virginia, which should lose to North Carolina in Friday's first-round game, is expected to make the cut.

You can see why U.Va. would impress the selection committee; it finished with a regular-season conference mark of 7-9. The Cavaliers should be very proud of themselves. Cue the balloons and confetti.

A tournament berth, and perhaps a first-round victory, will distract from the problems at U.Va. The problems will be there again, though, when next season rolls around.

So who wins the ACC tournament? Probably the hottest club, North Carolina (How's that for going out on a limb?). Or as Dean Smith's team is referred to these days: The North Carolina (Who Started With An 0-3 Conference Record) Tar Heels.

Enough already. North Carolina is ranked fifth in the nation, and the media still won't stop talking about its stumble from the gate. As if the Tar Heels ever lacked talent or size. As if January counts for anything now.

Duke (which began league play 2-2, by the way) finished with the best record but is harder to handicap because of the Blue Devils' dependence on the 3-pointer. Will Trajan Langdon shoot 3 for 12 or 8 for 16? Therein lies the riddle.

Wake Forest could renew itself, but the Duncan Deacons look listless. Clemson is North Carolina State with a little more talent. Maryland is (worn) down and (figured) out.

Meanwhile, even the Florida State Seminoles (record: 6-10!) believe that a victory over Wake Forest in the first round will garner them an NCAA bid.

Let them have their ACC tournament dream. It helps give the impression there is a good reason to play the thing.

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