ACC Championship Game: Duke Vs Florida State

Last night’s semi-final game in the ACC Tournament was the 6th ranked matchup between Duke and UNC to be decided by a single point. Duke has now won all six.

The game was tied 44-44 at the end of the half.  The score was tied again at 54-54 with 12:38 left on the clock and again at 63-63 with 8:53 remaining.  Big ol’ Zion tied the game at 65-65 with a jumper at the 7:05 mark and the score would see-saw back and forth until the clock showed 31 seconds remaining.

The finale was not for the faint of heart.  Williamson went for a lay-up, missed it, rebounded his missed shot and managed to tap it in to take the lead for good.

The win against the Tarheels set up the title match tonight against Florida State; the team that shocked the No. 2 Virginia Cavaliers on Thursday night.  UVA center Jack Salt dejectedly said of the loss, “They punked us.  They got us on the glass.  They got us in the lane.  They just picked up apart.”

ZION STEALS AND SLAMS 💥 pic.twitter.com/AHlsuIOuPj

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 16, 2019

Six different teams have won the ACC Tournament over the last seven years.  The Noles were the champs in 2012.  That was then.  This is now and only one team in the nation has Zion Williamson.  Charlotte loves Duke so it’s like a home court advantage for the the Blue Devils.

In their only other meeting this year, the Blue Devils edged out FSU 80-78 in Tallahassee.  Former Duke Center Christian Laettner wondered on ESPN’s College Game Day whether Duke’s big guy would be too fatigued for tonight’s game citing he showed signs of exhaustion on the court last night against the Tarheels.  He said he hopes that’s not the case tonight because Duke is going to need “everything he’s got.”

I have a sneaking suspicion Zion is going to be totally stoked for this Championship Game.  Coach K knows how to lead his team to victory.  I’m going with Duke to win it all and get a top seed in the NCAA March Madness Road to the Final Four in Minneapolis. 

Alabama Vs Florida State: A Horse Of A Different Color

Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney was asked about the season-opening matchup between Bama and the Noles.

“[Florida State is] similar to Alabama,” he said. “Alabama’s not going to give you anything. You have to earn it. They’re going to be able to match up with you. They’re going to be fast just like you’re going to be fast. So that ought to be a heck of a ballgame.”

Chip Patterson of CBS Sports would have you believe the SEC is no longer the top conference in college football citing Clemson’s win over the Tide, FSU’s Orange Bowl victory and Lamar Jackson’s Heisman Trophy season for Louisville.

We’ll just see about that!

Alabama has won 15 consecutive season openers. FSU, which is making its first Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game appearance, has won its last six.

FSU’s legendary coach Bobby Bowden was asked for a prediction on the game.

"I'm from Florida State because I coached here for 37 years," Bowden said. Of course, I was raised on Alabama football all my life. I think Bama will be favored, but it wouldn't surprise me for Florida State to eke it out somehow."

Son Tommy Bowden laughed.

"Great politician's statement. I'd say the same thing. He must be running for office,” he joked. "I think that would be the reasonable approach. What my father said is accurate. Florida State's talented enough to win. I do think they'll be underdogs. [If] both teams play as well as they can, Alabama wins.”

While little is known about the specifics of the offense new coordinator Brian Daboll has installed at Alabama since taking the reins in the spring, the Tide coaching staff won’t deviate too far from the script that has built a dynasty in Tuscaloosa.

Florida State is a worthy adversary.  Coach Saban hasn’t lost a season opener at Bama.  It’s Saturday down South after all and I’m still reeling from the last five seconds of last year’s National Championship Game.  Damn those Clemson Tigers!

Publix better hide those crab legs. Jameis Winston will serve as FSU's honorary shoplifting captain for the game.  

ROLL TIDE ROLL!

Basketball Heaven: ACC Quarterfinals

Retirement has it perks.  Yesterday I enjoyed the second round of games in the ACC Tournament.  I slopped up on the couch and watched the afternoon matches between Clemson and Florida State followed by North Carolina and Boston College.

I jumped in the shower after the Tarheels shellacked the Eagles, fed my little furkid and headed out to my favorite watering hole to join friends to enjoy the contest between North Carolina State and the Pitt Panthers.  I stayed through the first half of the Canes/Hokies game and then headed back to Casa de Curmudgeon and turned in for the night.

The game plan today is to watch the first two quarterfinal games and then join my posse at the same watering hole to root for my beloved Duke Blue Devils.  I’m hoping for a victory so they can advance to the semi-finals and then on to the championship game on Saturday.

ESPN will carry the 12:00 PM tipoff featuring the Virginia Cavaliers and the Florida State Seminoles.  The Cavs have one the best defensives in the country so I think FSU is going to lose this game.

At 2:30 PM Louisville is set to play the North Carolina Tarheels.  This is their first ACC Tournament since joining the conference.  I’m not sure how they’re going to react to the venue of the Greensboro Coliseum which will be filled to the rafters with fans rooting for their “home” teams.  The two teams split their regular season meetings, but I’m predicting a victory for the Heels.

My evening will be spent with friends watching the two remaining games of the quarterfinals that pit my beloved Duke Blue Devils against the Wolfpack of North Carolina State.  The Pack had a really strong game against the Pitt Panthers and they knocked the Blue Devils from the ranks of the unbeaten back in January, but Duke drew a double-bye for the tourney so they are well-rested.  This game is going to be brutal, but I think Duke is hungry to win.

The final game of the quarterfinals will see the Irish of Notre Dame go up against the Miami Hurricanes.  I can’t stand either team and could care less who wins.  Wait.  No, that’s not true.  I’m going to root for the Canes in this one.  I don’t think they can pull off the win, but that doesn’t mean I can’t root for them.

GO DUKE

And because no basketball post would be complete without some pom-poms, check out the gals of the ACC.

UPDATE 2:15 PM:  Poor FSU.  They never had a chance against the Cavs.  They threw clunker after clunker and were slow running down court to defend and wound up losing 58-44.

UPDATE 4:42 PM:  For a team that can't decide which league they want to play in, they may want to consider yet another after losing pitifully to Carolina 70-60.  'Ol googly-eyed Rick Pitino told his players not to foul with 21 seconds left in the game.  Now the Tarheels face Virginia tomorrow in the semi-finals.

FINAL UPDATE:  I couldn't contain my joy watching the Blue Devils manhandle the Wolfpack.  The final score was 77-53.  NC State fell behind by double digits early in the first half and never had a chance at recovering.  Notre Dame barely escaped against the Canes.  They ran hot and cold but managed to win 70-63.  

Basketball Heaven

In Tuesday’s first round of the ACC Tournament, Boston College defeated Georgia Tech and Wake Forest lost a heartbreaker to Virginia Tech.

Today’s Second Round match-ups, which will air on ESPN and ESPN2, has No. 8 Clemson playing No. 9 Florida State, No. 5 North Carolina vs. No. 12 Boston College, No. 7 North Carolina State playing No. 10 Pitt and No. 6 Miami goes against No. 14 Virginia Tech.

The ACC Tournament is a three-day battle on the hardwoods for the crown before the winner heads on to their NCAA dreams.

No. 1 Virginia will play the winner of the Clemson/Florida State game in Thursday’s Quarterfinals.  I believe FSU will defeat Clemson.  Louisville will be pitted against the winner of the North Carolina/Boston College game.  North Carolina will edge out the Eagles.

As a big-time Dookie, the 7 PM game between NC State and Pitt is of enormous interest as the winner will face my beloved Duke Blue Devils in the quarterfinals on Thursday.  I smell a victory for the Wolfpack due to Pitt’s weak defense.

Finally, the winner of the Miami/Virginia Tech game will meet the Irish of Notre Dame at 9 PM on Thursday.  The Hurricanes whipped the Hokies twice in the regular season and will likely emerge the winner tonight.

I am going to be in basketball heaven for the next three days watching teams that comprise the very best of men’s college hoops.  I make no secret of my love for Duke.  I know America hates them, but hey, with a 28-3 record and ranked No. 2 in the AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll they are indisputably a title-winning team.  The hate piles up for Duke in the same way it does for the New York Yankees or the Dallas Cowboys; they’re worthy opponents.

And since no basketball post would be complete without some lovely cheerleaders, have a gander at these pretty young things.

UPDATE 2:32 PM:  The Noles barely defeat the Tigers 76-73 after losing a 20-point lead.

UPDATE 4:57 PM:  With 5:01 left in the game, if became apparent the Eagles could not overcome the big lead the Tarheels had.  Carolina wins 81-63.

UPDATE 9:13 PM:  The Panthers played hard, but struggled throughout the game never once taking the lead.  The Wolfpack skinned the cats 81-70.

FINAL UPDATE:  Hokie's turnovers killed their chances to win against the Canes.  Their only lead in the game came in the second half and quickly disappeared as they lost 59-49.