This has to be the best matchup in any major conference with 4 teams all within ½ game of first place.
1. Boston College is on top of it all with a 9 – 3 record, and they have one of the best forwards in the league in Jared Dudley averaging 19.6 ppg, 59% fg% also vs. Shamari Spears 5.6 boards per game. and John Oates. At the back is Tyrese Rice 17.1 ppg., 144 assists and Sean Marshall 15.1 ppg. The bench isn’t too deep with Márquez Haynes, Tyrelle Blair and Tyler Roche. The loss of Sean Williams the best shot blocker in the country (5.1 pg.) 12.1 ppg. and 6.9 boards has hurt the Eagles.
2. North Carolina is loaded and has the deepest bench in the ACC Carolina is the No. 2 scoring team in the country with an average of 88.1 points per game, is sixth in field goal percentage and is the team number one in defensive rebounding with 28.1 points per game. The Tarheels are led by Tyler Hansbrough with 18.6 points per game. and Brandon Wright – 14.6 pp. in the frontcourt as well as Wayne Ellington – 12.1 ppg. and Ty Lawson had 10.3 ppg., 134 assists and 43 steals in the backcourt. They lose nothing when they go to the bench with Forwards: Reyshawn Terry, Deon Thompson and Danny Green. Guards Marcus Ginyard, Wes Miller and Bobby Frasor don’t miss a step up front on this team. N.Carolina has passed the 100 point mark 7 times, and will be a team final 4.
3. Virginia Tech is 8-3 in conference play and head coach Seth Greenberg has done a great job with this hokie team, lots of interchangeable parts as 6’7″ Deron Washington can play guard or as a forward averaging 11.9 ppg and AD Vassallo has now returned to the starting lineup as a forward – 11.2 ppg At the back is Zabian Dowell who leads the team in scoring at 18.2 ppg and is hitting 42% beyond the arc.Overall is Jamon Gordon – 11.6 ppg., 112 assists, 64 steals.They have size with center Colman Collins – 6’9″, 7.8 ppg. and off the bench is Lewis Witcher – 6’9″, Cheick Diakite and 7ft Robert Krabbendam. They have a favorable schedule with 3 games remaining at home BC, Miami, FL and Clemson and on the road at N.Carolina State and Virginia .
4. The Virginia Cavaliers are also 8-3 in the ACC and have won 8 of 9 as of this report. Virginia has passed Maryland twice, Duke, Clemson in S. Carolina, Gonzaga and Arizona. A good resume for Sunday’s selection. Virginia has JR Reynolds – 18.5 points per game. and Sean Singletary – 18.4 ppg., 89% free throws, 41% 3 point % at the back and up front is Mamadi Diane – 11 ppg., Jason Cain who leads the team in rebounding. Also on the bench are Adrian Joseph, Laurynas Mikalayskas and Center Tunji Soroye. This team is 10-11 deep, and has FL State without Toney Douglas, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech at home, and Miami, FL and Wake Forest on the road.
5. Duke is 6 – 6 in the ACC but don’t count them yet. Good performance in the conference tournament and the Blue Devils will dance again. This is a young and inexperienced team, but it has the especially defensive talent to make waves. Duke is led by guards Greg Paulus 9.9 ppg. and by Marcus Nelson – 14.1 pp. and up front Josh McRoberts – 13.3 ppg. and David McClure. Center Brian Zoubek and Gerald Henderson have been given much more playing time. A home win vs. Georgia Tech and Maryland, plus a division at Clemson and North Carolina, will have the selection committee.