ACC preview

By Mike Fratto - The Washington Times - Thursday, March 5, 2009

Thursday through Sunday, Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum

PLAYER TO WATCH

Marissa Coleman, Maryland

Teammate Kristi Toliver may garner more attention, but Coleman has been the ACC’s best player over the past month. The senior averaged 22.0 points during the Terrapins’ nine-game winning streak to close out the regular season and posted career highs in scoring (32 against Boston College ) and rebounds (16 against Miami) last week.

BEST BET

North Carolina

The Tar Heels are the No. 4 seed this year, but they have won this tournament the past four years. They will have no shortage of supporters in Greensboro, which can only bode well considering their four conference losses came on the road. Until another team proves it can beat North Carolina in this tournament, Sylvia Hatchell’s bunch remains the favorite.

DARK HORSE

Florida State

The surprising Seminoles sat atop the standings for the majority of the past two months. With wins over Duke and North Carolina and a one-point loss to Maryland, Florida State proved it can play with the ACC’s elite. But those strong showings all came at home, and the Seminoles have a chance to prove they can win away from Tallahassee.

MOST TO GAIN

Wake Forest

Two weeks ago, the Demon Deacons were 5-5 in the ACC and seemed destined for an NCAA tournament berth. But after dropping its last four conference games, Wake Forest is sitting on the bubble. With top-seeded Maryland waiting in the second round, a strong showing this weekend could get the Demon Deacons back into the field.

WHO’S HOT

Maryland

The Terps have won nine straight to cap a 14-2 conference season. They have arguably the league’s best tandem in Toliver and Coleman, who have scored at will over the past month. A trip to the tournament finals would all but ensure Maryland the No. 1 seed in the Raleigh region, but it hasn’t won the ACC tournament since 1989.

WHO’S NOT

Boston College

The Eagles got off to a hot start in conference play but suffered a 1-6 February to fall back to the middle of the pack. Granted, those losses were at Duke, Florida State, Maryland (twice), North Carolina and at Virginia, but Boston College would have done well to navigate that tough stretch better than it did.

- Mike Fratto

SCHEDULE

First round, Thursday

(5) Georgia Tech (21-8, 8-6) vs. (12) Clemson (13-16, 2-12), 11 a.m.

(8) N.C. State (13-16, 5-9) vs. (9) Wake Forest (18-10, 5-9), 3 p.m.

(7) Boston College (19-10, 7-7) vs. (10) Miami (13-16, 2-12) , 6 p.m.

(6) Virginia (22-8, 8-6) vs. (11) Virginia Tech (12-17, 2-12), 8 p.m.

Quarterfinals, Friday

(4) North Carolina (25-5, 10-4) vs. Georgia Tech/Clemson, 11 a.m.

(1) Maryland (25-4, 12-2) vs. N.C. State/Wake Forest, 3 p.m.

(2) Florida State (24-6, 12-2) vs. BC/Miami, 6 p.m.

(3) Duke (24-4, 11-3) vs. Virginia/Virginia Tech, 8 p.m.