This Weekend in the ACC: February 25
Posted by Mick McDonald on February 25th, 2017Here are a few things to keep your eye on around the ACC this weekend (all times Eastern):
Saturday, 12:00 PM: Florida State (22-6; 10-5 ACC) at Clemson (14-13; 4-11 ACC) Clemson found yet another heartbreaking way to lose this week, this time thanks to a buzzer-beating three from Virginia Tech’s Seth Allen in Blacksburg. Can the Tigers still make a run at the NCAA Tournament without winning the ACC Tournament? Maybe. The Tigers’ 4-11 ACC record is unquestionably ugly, but if they can win their final three games (a big if, of course) to reach 7-11, a strong non-conference showing might counterbalance their sub-.500 record. They would still likely need a couple wins in Brooklyn, but such a run is certainly not out of the question. The problem is that the last time these two teams played, the Seminoles made 17 threes and shot a blistering 66 percent from the field on their way to a 48-point victory. Florida State, however, has been a different team on the road this year — can the Tigers finally win a close game?
Can Clemson finally win a tight one with the Seminoles in town this weekend? (AP Photo)
Saturday, 4:00 PM: Duke (22-6; 10-5 ACC) at Miami (19-8; 9-6 ACC) Break up the Hurricanes! After an, umm, let’s say unappetizing victory over Virginia on Monday night, Jim Larranaga’s bunch has now won five of their last six games. Miami now appears headed for the NCAA Tournament, a shocking development given a pathetic non-conference schedule that featured losses to the only two decent teams (Florida and Iowa State) it played. The Hurricanes have racked up wins by basically being the anti-Clemson, winning their last five games by single digits. Duke, meanwhile, fresh off a buzzer-beating loss at Syracuse that snapped its seven-game winning streak, needs a victory here to have a shot of catching North Carolina for the ACC regular season championship.
Sunday, 2:00 PM: Syracuse (17-12; 9-7 ACC) at Louisville (22-6; 10-5 ACC): Don’t jump the gun on proclaiming Syracuse a lock for the NCAA Tournament after the Orange’s thrilling win over Duke on Wednesday night. Yes, they have racked up home wins over Florida State, Virginia and Duke, but all those losses in November and December still count too. Those pesky mishaps (most notably to St. John’s at home by 33 points) are weighing Syracuse’s computer ratings and should continue to make its fans nervous all the way until Selection Sunday. The best way to calm those nerves would be a road victory this weekend over Louisville. The key for Syracuse will be how point guard John Gillon plays — the senior has been terrific over the Orange’s last eight games, averaging 18.4 points and 6.6 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from three-point range.
The Orange will need John Gillon to continue to play like a star if they want to notch a huge road win over Louisville. (Rich Barnes/USA Today Sports)
Sunday, 6:30 PM: Georgia Tech (16-12; 7-8 ACC) at Notre Dame (21-7; 10-5 ACC): Georgia Tech has been skating on thin ice for weeks — winning some big home games but losing almost everything on the road. Then a home loss to lowly NC State occurred and it appeared as if a bid was slipping away. The Yellow Jackets now have road games at Notre Dame and Syracuse with a visit from Pittsburgh sandwiched in between. It’s difficult to imagine Georgia Tech making the NCAA Tournament without picking up a win in one of those two road contests. Their first chance comes tomorrow evening, and they’ll need a big night from big man Ben Lammers. He had 15 points and 10 rebounds in the Yellow Jackets’ win over the Fighting Irish in Atlanta and they will need even more from him if they want to steal a win in South Bend.
