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Wednesday, Feb. 28 |
Duke Vs Maryland
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To think that only a few weeks ago Maryland's season was deemed for doom.
The Terps were struggling, fans were angry, players were frustrated the program was listing at sea. Now, all clear sailing for Maryland (22-7, 8-6) after winning its fifth straight game with a stunning upset of North Carolina. |
A sellout crowd braved a winter storm and snow-covered roads on Feb. 25 to watch the ACC's hottest team.
"We could have given up. We're not going to give up," said guard D.J. Strawberry. "We're going to keep fighting. I wanted to win so bad."
As the final buzzer sounded, fans rushed the court to celebrate the Terrapins' first win over North Carolina in six tries since Jan. 14, 2004.
Before their five-game run, the Terrapins were 3-6 in the ACC and in danger of missing the NCAA tournament for a third straight season.
"You get criticized around here when you lose," Terrapins coach Gary Williams said. "That's part of the deal, I guess, when you've won a national championship (in 2002)."
On the other side; Duke pretty much secured a berth in the 65-team NCAA field, but as the Blue Devils took time out to beat nonconference St. John's, their place in the ACC standings remains very much unsettled. |
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With two league games left in the regular season, the Blue Devils still retain hopes of getting the last of the top four spots that will give them a direct pass to the quarterfinals of the league's postseason tournament.
They need to win both those games and hope Boston College loses at Georgia Tech. If that happens, the Devils and Eagles would finish with 10-6 records, and the Blue Devils own the tiebreaker by virtue of their season sweep.
Teams finishing from 5-through-12 in the standings must play a first-round game and need to win four consecutive games to win the event.
No team that has had to play four games has won |
the ACC tourney, though that needs to be put into perspective. It was only when Florida State started taking part in 1992 as the ninth member of the league that even became possible.
Duke has won its last three conference games after losing four in a row for the first time in 11 years, but there has been a bit of a disturbing trend.
In each of the last three ACC wins, including the midweek 71-66 victory at Clemson, the Blue Devils have pulled out to comfortable halftime leads only to see their opponents mount challenges in the second half.
None of the final winning margins in those ACC games was as wide as the Blue Devils' halftime leads. |
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| Previews |
thursday, March 1 |
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Cleveland Cavaliers vs Dallas Mavericks
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By conservative estimates, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has paid enough in fines to feed Latrell Sprewell's family for the next 20 years.
Although his usual targets are NBA Commissioner David Stern and the guys in striped shirts, Cuban is not afraid to take on anyone in defense of his players. Hence, his recent criticism of Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (since injured) after Wade singled out Dirk Nowitzki as the reason Dallas lost the 2006 title.
Love him or hate him, it's hard to ignore Cuban, a guy who seems eager to |
supplant crosstown rival Jerry Jones and New York's King George as professional sports' most visible owner. Stern grudgingly admits Cuban probably saved basketball in Dallas, one of the NBA's most downtrodden franchises before his arrival.
Cuban isn't your typical owner who hides behind dark shades in a private luxury box. He interacts freely with the fans, who appreciate his passion and zest for bringing a title to their fair city. And sometimes he gets so wound up, he wonders (like all of us) about the numerous conspiracy theories that always make the NBA rounds.
This year, there may be no stopping Cuban and the Mavs. They are on pace to earn home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, as hard-nosed coach Avery Johnson uses last year's NBA Finals collapse as motivation.
When the Mavs host the Cleveland Cavaliers, hoops fans will be treated to a mano-a-mano between two of the league's top offensive forces in Nowitzki and LeBron James. Given the weakened state of the Eastern Conference, this could be a Finals preview.
While we're leery of a team that starts Erick Dampier in the middle, the Mavs' supporting cast has enough firepower to help Nowitzki survive the rugged Western Conference.
Josh Howard has developed into one of the league's better small forwards, particularly on defense. Shooting guard Jason Terry can run hot and cold, but he's capable of putting up 20 if opponents double-team Nowitzki.
Like any successful coach, Johnson is unafraid to go to his bench, with Jerry Stackhouse usually the most attractive option. Ex-Cav DeSagana Diop, a 7-footer, is around to help wear down opponents in the paint.
Cleveland lacks Dallas' depth, but James is getting to the point where he can beat some teams almost single-handedly. But sometimes the other Cavs are tempted to stand around and watch. In a recent loss against the Chicago Bulls, James and Larry Hughes accounted for 54 of the team's 86 shots (Hughes was an ugly 9-for-26). As a result, Cleveland got 29 points from its nine other players. |
Long-suffering Cleveland fans know the Cavs are probably a year or two away from seriously threatening for a championship. Still, we remember people saying the same thing about Chicago in 1991, when a guy named Jordan showed Magic Johnson a new sheriff had arrived.
We don't think Stern and Co. would mind a bit, either. |
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| Previews |
thursday, March 1 |
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Virginia Tech Vs Virginia |
| RECORD ANALYSIS: |
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Straight Up |
AGAINST THE SPREAD |
| VIRGINIA TECH |
Home |
Away |
Total |
Home |
Away |
Total |
| Year to Date |
14 - 2 |
6 - 6 |
20 - 8 |
7 - 6 |
8 - 4 |
15 - 10 |
| Last 10 Games |
4 - 1 |
3 - 2 |
7 - 3 |
3 - 2 |
3 - 2 |
6 - 4 |
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Straight Up |
AGAINST THE SPREAD |
| VIRGINIA |
Home |
Away |
Total |
Home |
Away |
Total |
| Year to Date |
16 - 2 |
4 - 5 |
20 - 7 |
6 - 5 |
6 - 2 |
12 - 7 |
| Last 10 Games |
5 - 0 |
3 - 2 |
8 - 2 |
1 - 2 |
3 - 2 |
4 - 4 |
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PREVIOUS MEETINGS: |
| Date |
Matchup |
Line |
Total |
ATS Result |
| 02/10/07 |
Virginia 57 @ Virginia Tech 84 |
VATECH -4.5 |
141.0 |
VATECH/P |
| 03/09/06 |
Virginia Tech 56 @ Virginia 60 |
N/A |
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| 02/11/06 |
Virginia Tech 77 @ Virginia 81 |
N/A |
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/ |
| 01/15/06 |
Virginia 54 @ Virginia Tech 49 |
N/A |
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/ |
| 02/12/05 |
Virginia Tech 60 @ Virginia 65 |
N/A |
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/ |
| 01/27/05 |
Virginia 73 @ Virginia Tech 79 |
N/A |
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| 11/28/03 |
Virginia Tech 65 @ Virginia 80 |
N/A |
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N Carolina Vs Georgia Tech |
| RECORD ANALYSIS: |
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Straight Up |
AGAINST THE SPREAD |
| NORTH CAROLINA |
Home |
Away |
Total |
Home |
Away |
Total |
| Year to Date |
16 - 4 |
6 - 3 |
22 - 7 |
10 - 7 |
7 - 2 |
17 - 9 |
| Last 10 Games |
3 - 1 |
4 - 2 |
7 - 3 |
2 - 2 |
5 - 1 |
7 - 3 |
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Straight Up |
AGAINST THE SPREAD |
| GEORGIA TECH |
Home |
Away |
Total |
Home |
Away |
Total |
| Year to Date |
16 - 1 |
3 - 8 |
19 - 9 |
10 - 3 |
4 - 7 |
14 - 10 |
| Last 10 Games |
4 - 1 |
1 - 4 |
5 - 5 |
3 - 2 |
1 - 4 |
4 - 6 |
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| PREVIOUS MEETINGS: |
| Date |
Matchup |
Line |
Total |
ATS Result |
| 01/20/07 |
Georgia Tech 61 @ N Carolina 77 |
NCAR -13.5 |
159.0 |
NCAR/U |
| 02/15/06 |
Georgia Tech 75 @ N Carolina 82 |
N/A |
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| 03/12/05 |
Georgia Tech 78 @ N Carolina 75 |
N/A |
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| 01/12/05 |
Georgia Tech 69 @ N Carolina 91 |
N/A |
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| 03/12/04 |
N Carolina 82 @ Georgia Tech 83 |
N/A |
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| 02/10/04 |
N Carolina 77 @ Georgia Tech 88 |
N/A |
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| 01/11/04 |
Georgia Tech 88 @ N Carolina 103 |
N/A |
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