GarageGabs

First of all, you’re probably asking yourself what the relevance of that photo is to an ACC basketball game. I’ll tell ya. Folks in North Carolina know two things: How to panic in 1/4 inch of snow…..and the Clemson Tigers are not a threat to become a dominant force in College Basketball.

The only reason I’m even up this morning…..is that 1/4 inch of snow. I’m sitting here on the computer waiting for my fiance’ to make it to her destination. Once I get that “honey I made it” phone call….I can put my old bones back in the bed.

As for Clemson, the National media was calling last nights game vs. North Carolina a “statement game”. Clemson made a statement alright, but it was the same one they’ve been since Jimmy Carter was in office….they lost to UNC, 77-55. Is it just people outside of the ACC that think Clemson is about to become some sort of national power? Yeah, they were 17-1 coming into this game, but as I mentioned a day before Christmas, their schedule has been cupcake city. They’ve now played 2 ranked teams (Maryland is about to be unranked as well) and lost to both of them. They’ll be VERY lucky if they gain a split out of Boston College and Duke (their next 2 games). Lucky for Clemson, the ACC is shaping up to be a very up and down league…they’ll win 20 games (thanks to a patsy non-conference schedule) and they have an outside shot at finishing .500 in the ACC, which more than likely will get them an early exit from the Big Dance.

As for Carolina, last nights results weren’t all that surprising. Coming off an upset loss to Virginia Tech, everyone knew the Heels would be foaming at the mouth to do some Tiger stomping. Make no mistake about it…this UNC team is strong. Are they strong enough to win a national title? Honestly, I don’t think they are….to much youth. They are just young enough to put up that occasional clunker of a game, which will probably keep them from winning 6 straight in March. I do believe they will easily win the ACC regular season title, and probably the tournament title as well.

I wouldn’t have made that statement about UNC two days ago, but that was before Boston College showed Sean Williams and Akida McLain the door. If you’ve ever watched B.C. play, you know the importance of Sean Williams, the guy is a shot blocking machine. His dismissal only validates my opinion that the B.C. basketball team is Thug Central. Every time I have watched them play I see Jared Dudley pumping his chest and pointing at the opposing teams fans…this was going on last year as well. I know there is such a thing as playing with emotion, but when a large percent of your google image results are you celebrating, then something is up. Anyway, the loss of Williams in the middle is going to do a ton of damage to the Eagles win/loss record. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch of guys.

A lot of people have been jumping on the Virginia Tech bandwagon lately as well. Tech knocked off then #5 Duke (@ Duke) and #1 UNC in the space of one week. Ok, let me go ahead and kill this myth. Duke is not that good this year. Dick Vitale might tell you they are, but this really isn’t the finest entry Coach K has brought to the pageant. That being said, winning at Duke is a nice win, but Tech won’t be the only ACC team to do it this season. Now, the win at UNC was impressive, but as I mentioned earlier, UNC is gonna slip up from time to time….Tech caught them slipping. Tech validated my theory last night by going out and losing to FSU, 82-73.

It’s just gonna be one of those years in the ACC. Maryland, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Clemson, Boston College, Virginia, and Georgia Tech are all just good enough to beat up on eachother. Any of them could step up on any given night and knock off Duke, and a couple of them will beat UNC. State and Wake Forest are left on the outside looking in. Outside of Carolina, I don’t see any of these teams stepping up and becoming some sort of National force. Of course, that doesn’t mean an ACC team other than UNC won’t make a deep tourney run.

Not much going on in the ACC tonight other than Wake Forest picking up another loss at Duke. I can hear that “fire Prosser” machine starting to heat up, to think people thought only NCSU fans were crazy.

I’ve gotten my phone call, that’s my cue to get out of here.

Triangle Could See Up To 2 Inches Of Snow  (Seriously, it’s 8 am and drizzling rain…these fools act like we’re in a blizzard)