Weekend in Review: February 14th

Each game over the past weekend gave us a true feel for who will be a serious NCAA tournament contender, who is bound for the NIT, and who's seasons will be ending without a postseason.

Duke 77-Maryland 56
In a game similar to last season's Blue Devil shellacking of the Terrapins at Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke dominated from beginning to end. Last year, Duke won 85-44 in a game even uglier than the final score. In this year's game, the Blue Devil defense held the Terrapins to 15% shooting from beyond the arc. Most teams that play Duke focus their defense on the big three of Singler, Smith and Scheyer, and this contest was no different. Problem is, Maryland forgot to box out after contesting shots. Brian Zoubek, of all people, finished with 16 points and a whopping 17 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end. Zoubek uses his massive 7'1 frame to simply reach over defenders to swat rebounds out to his guards, or to get multiple tip rebound opportunities. Although Zoubek is offensively challenged, Duke is greatly benefitting from his size and willingness to affect the offensive glass. The Devils are clearly the ACC favorite after their demolition of the Terrapins, and they are looking unbeatable at home. Maryland had a quick chance for a bounce-back game Monday night against Virginia.

Maryland 85-Virginia 66
In a make-up game from a week earlier, Greivis Vasquez, was unstoppable, as the Terrapins were in great shape from start to finish. Vasquez finished with 30 points, with 25 coming in the first half, a half in which Maryland shot an incredible 70% from the field. The Terps didn't need to shoot nearly that well to win. This game was similar to Maryland's win at home against NC State, in which the Terps ran their halfcourt offense to perfection. The formula for beating Virginia is simple: stop Sylven Landesberg. Mike Scott will get his points one way or another, but if your team defense takes Landesberg out of his rhythm of making mid range shots and getting to the foul line, you will have a great chance to win. Landesberg finished with just 12 points. UVA as a team shot just 2 for 16 from three point range, and those 14 misses allowed Maryland to get baskets in transition. Virginia, after the loss to rival Virginia Tech on Saturday, needs to win the ACC tournament to make the NCAA's. Otherwise, an NIT bid is in store for the Cavs. Expect UVA to be a very solid club next season, as players get more used to coach Tony Bennett's system.

Wake Forest 75-Georgia Tech 64
Georgia Tech can't win on the road... what else is new? Tech has lost six of their last seven road games, with their only win coming at lowly North Carolina. It was more of the same Saturday in Winston-Salem. The Jackets are now in eighth place in the ACC, while Wake is second. Al-Farouq Aminu posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and the Wake Forest defense was suffocating down the stretch. It held Tech stud freshman Derrick Favors to only four points and two rebounds. Favors played only 22 minutes in the contest. Wake will battle Virginia Tech on Tuesday for its second-place seed in Blacksburg, while the Yellow Jackets host North Carolina in a must-win game for Paul Hewitt's club.

Virginia Tech 61-Virginia 55

Tech swept the regular season Battle of the Commonwealth for the second time in three seasons behind the play of Jeff Allen down the stretch. Allen simply took over with the Hokies down three with two minutes left. First, he makes a layup and gets fouled by Mike Scott, then sinks the free throw. The next possession, Allen drains his second three pointer of the game to put the Hokies up three. On the ensuing possession, an Allen steal and pass to J.T. Thompson, who sank two clutch free throws, put the game on ice. The Hokies host Wake Forest on Tuesday night. If Tech wins, they are a virtual lock for the NCAA tournament, barring a major collapse. The game could have gone Virginia's way, but the Hokies made two more plays than the Cavaliers down the stretch.

Clemson 74-Miami 66
The Tigers won a must-win game at home Saturday against the Hurricanes. Clemson got solid production from its bread and butter of Trevor Booker and Demontez Stitt, as well as benefitting tremendously from the Hurricanes going 7-17 at the foul line. Clemson is in the thick of the ACC race after going on a rough stretch without Stitt, who missed games at Boston College and against Maryland and did not start the Virginia Tech game because of an ankle injury. The Tigers went 1-2 in those games. With Stitt back, I expect the Tigers to challenge for an NCAA tournament berth. It will not be easy though, with three of their final five games on the road.

North Carolina 74-NC State 61
UNC continued their dominance of the Wolfpack, beating State in Chapel Hill for the seventh straight occasion. The Heels, playing without frontcourt star Ed Davis for the first time this season, showed they are not ready to throw in the towel just yet. State point guard Javier Gonzalez was once again out-played by his rival, this time being Larry Drew. Gonzalez finished with 13 points, but also a whopping six turnovers. Meanwhile, Drew had 15 points and only two turnovers. The 'Pack, who have lost their past six ACC games since defeating Duke, will try to contend for an NIT berth. The Heels will join them in the "Not Invited Tournament" unless they can win the conference tournament.

Florida State 62-Boston College 47
Using their season-long formula of tremendous halfcourt defense, the Seminoles came away with a comfortable victory against the struggling Eagles. The 'Noles held BC to 17 second half points. At 6-5 in the ACC, and with all five remaining conference games looking very winnable, FSU has a solid chance for an NCAA berth. The downside to their schedule is only having one quality non-conference win- a home win vs Marquette. A season sweep of Georgia Tech certainly does not hurt, and neither does a quality win at home against Virginia Tech. If the Hokies can lock up an NCAA berth, that win will look even better. Boston College needs a solid finish to the season to earn consideration for an NIT berth.