ABC- Anything But Cavalier! What an incredible game up at Chapel Hill on Sunday. It was almost surreal! Due to the weather, many seats in the lower bowl were empty but quickly filled as the PA announcer invited folks down from the upper deck. The atmosphere was raucous but Virginia came out with poise and took control of the game and the tempo immediately. It was as impressive a road win as I have seen in recent memory. If this is any indication,and I know it is just one game, but Tony Bennett is going to have a very successful career at UVA. Carolina has a lot to figure out in a very short amount of time. They have road games this week at Virginia Tech and Maryland. They could have 10 losses and a 2-6 record in conference after Super Sunday!
I have a jammed packed weekend. Let me give you a preview of my three games:
Thursday- Maryland @ Florida St. – Maryland won the first game of the series,77-68, in College Park on January 10th. The Terps broke out to a 41-27 halftime lead and held on for the win. They did a good job of spreading State out and driving them.This is the best shooting team in the league and they were incredible in this game, 47% from the field and 63% from 3. They took good care of the ball and got quality shots. They will need to do the same in this game. When Eric Hayes is scoring, the Terps are tough to beat.He was 5-6 from three in game one and he will need to put up similar numbers tonight. Greivis Vasquez will need to be special and make good decisions with the ball.Maryland is 1-2 on the road in the league and need to prove that they can take that potent offense on the road. Florida State will need to defend much better in this game. Their overall defensive numbers are gaudy but they go up in conference play.Solomon Alabi was in foul trouble in game one so his presence will be key. He has averaged 15 points over his last 6 games and must dominate the paint. Chris Singleton is very versatile and is a legitimate Defesive player of the year candidate.If he shoots fewer 3’s and drives more, he will be much more of a scoring threat. The Seminoles must turn Maryland over and create offense from their defense. They must dominate the paint and the backboards.
Saturday- Wake Forest @ Virginia- This is a return game as well. Virginia, one of the better shooting teams in the ACC, could not find the basket at Wake, shooting 21% from the field, 14% from three and 33% from the line in the first half.They wound up losing 69-57 but the game wasn’t that close. They are 10-2 at home this year and have re-established JPJ Arena as a home court. Sylven Landesberg has been wildly consistent this year and is having an all-league season. Keeping him out of the lane is a priority. Mike Scott must have a better game in the post than he did @ Wake and Sammy Zeglinski has to score more than 1 point. Virginia has bet much better than anticipated, ( ask the Tar Heels!) and will have to keep Ish Smith at bay. Wake must dominate the paint and attack the rim- they were 20-29 from the free throw line in game one. They also must do a better job of taking care of the ball, having turned it over 24 times at home. Against the Cav’s “D”, Ari Stewart and CJ Harris will need to hit jump shots.It should be a great matchup in snowy Charlottesville!
Super Sunday- UNC @ Maryland- As I said earlier, Carolina will be coming off a tough game at VT and will face a Maryland team that is tough at home. The Terps beat UNC here last year as Vazquez had the game of his life. You know he is waiting for another chance at the Heels. Maryland will want to push and Carolina should fall in line with that. This Maryland has bought into the defensive end of the floor and will no doubt clog the paint and test Carolina’s perimeter offense. Ed Davis has been bothered by an ankle injury and has been less than dominant lately.He needs to regain his early season form. It will be interesting to see how much urgency the Heels approach this game with.
We are almost at the Halfway pole and I don’t think anything definitive has been learned. There is absolutely no separation in the league at all- seven teams at the top all have 2 or 3 losses! And as part of the bottom 5- Clemson UNC and Miami! Teams are going to have to get serious in a hurry to spruce up their tournament resumes. Hopefully, by the end of games next Wednesday, the picture will be a little clearer.
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