March Madness is Here!!

No matter where you are in North Carolina the next few weeks you're bound to get caught up in March Madness. Tournament basketball is upon us and in these parts, worker productivity goes down and office, home and car radios and TV's are tuned to hear and see all the action!!!
After an incredible women's ACC basketball tournament this past weekend in Greensboro(congrats to North Carolina and NC State on making the final) we now turn our attention to the men's tournament.
Here's the rundown if you're setting your DVR or Tivo or if you just want to see when you'll need to sneak out of the office to a TV set.

ACC Tournament Pairings
THURSDAY
#8 Clemson vs. #9 Florida State, Noon (WRAL -TV 5)
#5 Maryland vs. #12 Miami, 2 p.m. (WRAL-TV 5)
#7 Duke vs. #10 N.C. State, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
#6 Georgia Tech vs. #11 Wake Forest, 9 p.m. (Ch. 5) FRIDAY
#1 North Carolina vs. Clemson-Florida St. winner, Noon (Ch.5)
#4 Boston College vs. Maryland-Miami winner, 2 (Ch.5)
#2 Virginia vs. Duke-N.C. State winner, 7 (Ch. 5)
#3 Virginia Tech vs. Georgia Tech-Wake Forest winner, 9 (Ch.5)
SATURDAY
N. Carolina-Clemson-Florida St. winner vs. Boston College-Maryland-Miami winner, 1:30 (Ch.5)
Virginia-Duke-N.C. State winner vs. Virginia Tech-Georgia Tech-Wake Forest winner, 3:30 (Ch.5)
SUNDAY
Semifinal winners, 1 (Ch.5)

THOUGHTS ON THIS PAST WEEKEND'S ACTION
Coach Sylvia Hatchell's Lady Tarheels won a hard fought battle Sunday over Kay Yow's inspired NC State team. I think the Wolfpack ladies were just exhausted physically and mentally from their win over number one ranked Duke on Saturday. Tournaments are always tough because you have to play so many games in a short time frame. Hats off to the Wolfpack....they had won nine games straight going into the ACC women's championship game on Sunday. The Lady Wolfpack will most certainly get an NCAA tournament bid, if for no other reason than the incredible win over Coach G's number one ranked and undefeated Duke women. NCAA tourney bids as well to the number one ranked Tarheels, the Duke girls and Maryland. The women's NCAA tournament will have a strong ACC flavor.
As will the men's NCAA tourney, I think Georgia Tech is a lock to get into the Big Dance now, no matter how they do in the ACC tourney this week. I think Boston College will need at least a victory in the tourney. And, if the NC State men beat Duke in the first round on Thursday I believe they'll get a decent seeding, but probably in the Midwest or West Regional. The Duke team will play without superstar Gerald Henderson after the combative foul on UNC's Tyler Hansbrough on Sunday. Personally I don't think Henderson meant to foul him. I though he was going for the ball. Sure looked like it on the replay on my DVR. But Henderson is suspended for one game and that's the NC State first rounder on Thursday.
Watch out for Clemson and Georgia Tech. They could shock some folks in the tournament this week. I really think Virginia can win it all if they put together all the aspects of their game for three days in a row. In fact I think the final will feature Virginia and Maryland. I'd love for NC State to go all the way, but Coach Sidney Lowe's team doesn't have the depth to keep the energy level there for four days. It's a tough mental and physical adjustment to make and the Pack needs more depth to take it all the way. I love 'um though!! I'm not impressed with Duke or North Carolina like I have been in seasons past. But either team is capable of winning it all. At the beginning of the season when I saw Carolina beat Ohio State I thought they were unstoppable. I mean I thought I was witnessing one of the greatest teams ever. Now I'm not so sure. Here's hoping their intensity level remains like it was on Sunday during the final regular season game against Duke. Now that's the team I remember from earlier in the season.
I'm really worried that once the NCAA tourney rolls around we won't have a single ACC team in the Sweet Sixteen, much less the Elite Eight or Final Four. It's been an off year for the perenial powers on Tobacco Road. Here's hoping there's some redemption as the Ides of March are upon us. Good luck to all and let's have some close games!!

And there you have it. A fun filled week is upon us. Enjoy ACC fans!!!