Critically ACC-laimed?

I'm glad Georgia Tech beat Carolina tonight. Why? Because without that W, this league was going to get royally screwed come Tournament Selection time. I have watched college basketball all year long and although I am slightly biased, the ACC is by far and away the best conference in the nation. Don't give me this nonsense about the PAC-10, please. And, pleaseeeee don't get me started with the Big LEast. I don't care if they expand to 24 teams by the end of the year, for them to get more bids than the ACC is a flat out joke. Their schedule is so unbalanced that teams don't even play each other during a given year. How ridiculous is that? So, what, some teams can beat up on South Florida and Seton Hall twice while others don't even get the chance to? That's a load of garbage.

Out of 12 teams, 9 of them have an RPI inside 45, which is astounding. Take a look at a team like Clemson for example. This team breezed to a 17-0 record beating a number of solid opponents even though I will say some of them were cupcakes and now they are 20-9, on the outside looking in. Newsflash: this team is one of the best 65 teams in the country and they will get left out because the conference beat the Hell out of them not to mention they got a couple of unlucky breaks.

As it stands right now, I have a feeling with the Tech win tonight, the ACC will grab 7 teams but I think it would be a travesty if they didn't at least send 8 to the Tourney. If Florida State gets Toney Douglas back and they win two games in the ACC Tournament then they could get in with big wins at Duke and Florida.

What's amazing about the way it stands in the ACC right now, I think Florida State has a great chance to get there. If they get by Clemson, by the way the ACC Tournament is in Florida so there you go, which I think they would because they matchup very well against them, they would play Virginia the next day and I will go out on a limb and say not only could they beat them but they should beat them because they are the better team. I know what you're saying: How can FSU be better than first place UVA? Same thing as I said before but at a much smaller scale with the Big LEast, UVA got a chance to play NC State, Wake, and Miami all twice.

Here are the matchups if the season ended today. Note UNC would win the 3 way tiebreaker over VA Tech and BC because of overall record. If UNC and Va Tech end the season tied only, VA Tech takes the tiebreaker because of the two wins.

1. Virginia (Bye)
2. UNC (Bye)
3. VA Tech (Bye)
4. BC (Bye)
5. Maryland v. 12. Miami
6. Duke v. 11. Wake Forest
7. Georgia Tech v. 10. NC State
8. Clemson v. 9. FSU

Predictions (Remember this could change)
1. Virginia v. 9. FSU (essentially booting Clemson to the NIT)
2. UNC v. 7. Georgia Tech
3. VA Tech v. 6. Duke (You know Paulus is dying for that rematch after that pitiful performance)
4. BC v. 5. Maryland

Predictions:
9. FSU (that puts them in the tourney, I dont care that UVA lost to Appalachian State) v. 5. Maryland (eventually they will throw out a dud but how can you bet against them right now)
6. Duke v. 2. UNC (With a #1 on the line for UNC, you would expect a solid effort but can they beat Duke 3 times in one year?)

Predictions:
5. Maryland v. 2. UNC (FSU and Duke run out of gas)

Champion: 2. UNC avenges an 89-87 loss earlier in the year and ends Marylands winning streak

*NOTE* If this scenario plays out, there is no way this conference doesn't land 8 teams in the big dance. It would be a crime if they got anything less.

END OF THE YEAR AWARDS:

ACC POY: Slight edge to Jared Dudley because he put the team on his back after they lost Sean Williams to a suspension. Even though I would love to give it to Dowdell or Singletary because they are two of the most explosive guards in the country.

ACC Coach of the Year: Without a doubt, it has to be Seth Greenberg. Two wins over Carolina and at Duke earns you the award. Not to mention keeping this team together after all of the tragedy it went through last year. Sorry Dave Leitto, did you really think I would give it to you after losing to Appalachian State?

ACC Rookie of the Year: Coming into the year, the consensus was that it would be either Thaddeus Young or Brandon Wright. My pick is a bit of a darkhorse and I hate to do it: Vasquez from Maryland, he makes them go and ever since he started playing well, they have looked unbeatable. I wish I could give it to Jon Sheyer but I cant.

First-Team All ACC:
G- Sean Singletary (UVA)
G- Zabien Dowdell (VA Tech)
F- Jared Dudley (BC)
F- Al Thorton (FSU)
C- Tyler Hansbrough (UNC, and vastly overrated)

*Let me know who you would choose over these guys.