With UNC-Duke looming here are the plotlines for the final weekend of ACC basketball.
- UNC and Duke play for the all the marbles and with a two game lead in the loss column on FSU, the winner gets the #1 seed in the ACC Tournament and the loser will be #2.
- Speaking of FSU, the Seminoles won their third game of the season via a buzzer beating three pointer despite having Bernard James ejected from the game for kicking Virginia's Joe Harris. Earlier in the season Michael Snaer hit threes to beat Duke and Virginia Tech. Last night in Charlottesville it was Ian Miller doing the deed. FSU has the #3 seed wrapped up.
- The ACC POY race was made somewhat more interesting with UVa's Mike Scott putting up 28 points and 10 rebounds versus FSU a night after Tyler Zeller went for 30 against Maryland. I noted some UVa folks on Twitter attempting to devalue Zeller's 30 points vs Maryland because most of the points came from free throws while touting Scott went big against the ACC's best defense. Just so we are clear: Zeller 30 points, eight rebounds and won. Scott had 28 points and 10 rebounds but lost(hat tip Chris.) Also remember, Scott was dreadful in the head-to-head meetings with UNC whereas Zeller put up 25 and 20 in two wins over the Cavs.
- There is an absolute logjam after third place in the ACC. Virginia, Miami, NC State and Clemson all have seven losses. Since the #4 seed gets a Thursday bye in the ACC Tournament though UVa has bigger fish to fry than even that. If the Cavs lose to Maryland they would be 8-8 and possibly on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. Of course if UVa didn't have Mike Scott they'd probably miss the NCAA Tournament so he should be ACC POY right? Oh wait...
- Maryland has the #8 seed locked up. The 9-12 order between Virginia Tech, Boston College, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest is still in flux.
- Kendall Marshall needs 15 assists to break Craig Neal's ACC single assist record. If Marshall gets 15 assists versus Duke, UNC will likely win the ACC regular season title.