ACC Basketball Rankings March 8 - March 15: Hokies Punch NCAA Ticket

Congratulations to Virginia Tech and Florida State. By getting those 10th ACC conference wins this week, they are headed to the NCAA tournament. Wake Forest also stopped the bleeding to get to 9-7 in the ACC, and I think they are a lock too.

Georgia Tech had the kind of week that will send you straight the NIT. Paul Hewitt might be about as popular with Jacket fans right now as Georgia Bulldog head football coach Marc Richt is.

And the ACC tournament is this week. Let the fun begin.

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Feb 22 -Mar 1 |Mar 1 - Mar 8

1). Duke Blue Devils (26-5, 13-3) Last week - 1
We usually give breaks to teams that lose at Duke, so now I'm going to give a break to the Blue Devils. They ran into a buzzsaw at Maryland and lost 79-72. They came home and destroyed North Carolina 82-50. The Blue Devils look like a No. 1 seed to me, and if they get to the finals of the ACC tournament, I think they'll get it. They'll face the Boston College/Virginia winner Friday.

2). Maryland Terrapins (23-7, 13-3) Last week - 2
The Terrapins started making their case for a top four NCAA bid this week. They played superbly beating Duke 79-72. Greivis Vasquez was everywhere in the win scoring 20 points. I didn't like Vasquez early in his career. He was too hot headed for me, but he's become a great ACC player. Maryland also won a hard-fought 74-68 game at Virginia to become co-ACC regular season champs with Duke. They get the winner of the UNC/Georgia Tech game Friday.

3). Florida State Seminoles (22-8, 10-6) Last week - 4
Win by one point or 30, it doesn't matter. It's only the wins that matter. Florida State picked up two crucial wins this week. They beat Wake Forest 51-47 at home, and Miami 61-60 in Miami. That gets FSU in the NCAAs, and they are also rewarded with a 3 seed in the ACC tournament. The way the Noles play defense, if they can get a little scoring, they can play into the weekend of the ACC tournament. No breaks for FSU though; either they play a physical Clemson team or a hometown NC State team Friday.

4). Virgina Tech Hokies(23-7, 10-6) Last week - 5
Questions have followed the Hokies all year. Despite its gawdy record is this really an NCAA team? By winning twice this week, a 71-59 win over NC State and then getting a really gutty 88-82 win at Georgia Tech the Hokies answered with a resounding YES! They beat Georgia Tech without their second leading scorer Dorenzo Hudson out to boot. With a player like Malcolm Delaney that can take over a game, the Hokies could be a darkhorse pick for the ACC tournament. They'll play the winner of the Wake Forest\Miami game.

5). Clemson Tigers (21-9, 9-7) Last week - 3
The Tigers certainly could have used a win at Wake Forest Sunday. They easily dispatched Georgia Tech on Tuesday, but Sunday was different story. If they'd have beat Wake, the Tigers would have gotten a first round ACC bye, but instead they lost 70-65. The Deacs size was able to contain Trevor Booker. Booker only had 6 points in the game, and now Clemson is a 6 seed in the ACC tournament. It will be a tricky opening game against an NC State team capable on any given day of beating anyone in the ACC.

6). Wake Forest Demon Deacons (19-9, 9-7) Last week - 6
The Deacs were starting to sweat a little after a 51-47 loss to Florida State, but they took care of business Sunday with a 70-65 win over Clemson. That should be more than enough to get them in to the big dance. With the tournament in Greensboro, NC, I don't expect them to have much trouble with Miami. Then their size could give Virginia Tech a lot of trouble Friday. Of the Thursday teams, they have the best shot to get to the weekend.

7). Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (19-11, 7-9) Last week - 7
Talk about playing yourself out of the NCAA tournament. That's exactly what the Yellow Jackets did this week. First the Jackets lost 91-80 at Clemson Tuesday. Then Georgia Tech lost to Virginia Tech 88-82 at home. Missing the NCAAs and underachieving is a story that is becoming all too familiar for Paul Hewitt coached teams. They'll face UNC Thursday in a game that better start an ACC tournament run for Georgia Tech, if they want any shot at the NCAAs.

8). North Carolina State Wolfpack(17-14, 5-11) Last week - 9
The Wolfpack picked up a solid 66-54 over Boston College this Sunday after losing 71-59 at Virginia Tech. They have a tough opening round ACC game with Clemson Thursday. If they win that one, they'll face Florida State Friday. The Wolfpack are a good bet for the NIT.

9). Boston College Eagles (15-15, 6-10) Last week - 8
Boston College went 1-1 this week. They beat Virginia 68-55, but lost to NC State 66-54. The Eagles get to face the ACC team probably in the worst shape in  the conference. They get to play a Virginia team minus Sylven Landesberg. That would ensure BC finishes no worse than a .500 for the year and would probably get them in the NIT or CBI postseason tournament.

10). North Carolina Tar Heels (16-15, 5-11) Last week - 12
After North Carolina beat Miami 69-62 to give the Heels a modest two game winning streak, they headed to Duke to play the Blue Devils. Just for a moment you thought the Heels might have a chance, and then the moment was gone. Duke steamrolled UNC by 32. North Carolina just doesn't have enough firepower in the backcourt to make any significant run in the ACC tournament. They can beat Georgia Tech in their game Thursday though and ended any hope of the Jackets making the NCAAs. Maryland would be next on Friday with a win.

11). Miami Hurricanes (18-12, 4-12) Last week - 12
The Canes went 0-2 this week. They lost at North Carolina 69-62. Then it was tough luck loss at home against Florida State 61-60. The Canes were without the services of their leading scorer Dwayne Collins, who the Canes hope to have back for the ACC tournament. According to head coach Frank Haith though, Collins isn't expected back. Without him I don't think the Canes can match up with Wake Forest inside. If they can get by Wake, they'll play Virginia Tech Friday.

12). Virginia Cavaliers (14-15, 5-11) Last week  - 11
Sylven Landesberg is out for the rest of the year with academic issues. The Cavaliers had some nice moments this year, but if the end of the line isn't against Boston College Thursday, it will be Friday against Duke. This week they lost by 13 at Boston College Wednesday and by six against Maryland on Saturday.