Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski's voice wavered as he spoke of his admiration for his team, his voice heavy with the weight of another early goodbye. To his left, Gerald Henderson wiped both of his hands across his face as if he was trying to push away the whole forgettable night. Next to Henderson, Lance Thomas sat stone-faced.
Each of them looked like they just ran a marathon, only to finish with 10 rounds in the ring and come up losers in both.
BOSTON -- He looks like a chew toy, or something out of a puppet show. His dreads flop over a headband that would stand out more prominently if not for a midsection best described as doughy. His name is Levance Fields, and sometimes, he'll drive you to exasperation with reckless dribbling into traffic and corkscrew jumpshots heaved for no apparent purpose or reason.
BOSTON -- He looks like a chew toy, or something out of a puppet show. His dreads flop over a headband that would stand out more prominently if not for a midsection best described as doughy. His name is Levance Fields, and sometimes, he'll drive you to exasperation with reckless dribbling into traffic and corkscrew jumpshots heaved for no apparent purpose or reason.
Before March was mad, the ACC was already basketball crazy.
Since 1955, the granddaddy of all conference tournaments has put one heck of an exclamation point on the end of the season, the twist ending to an Oscar-worthy film. Even in an era when six bids out of the league are as routine as Billy Packer ripping apart mid-majors or Mike Krzyewski having a colorful conversation with the referees, the ACC tournament still matters.
And in 2009, the ACC tournament has a to-do list the size of Barack Obama's.
On a night North Carolina coach Roy Williams tried to start seven seniors, it turned out to be another reminder that all the Tar Heels really need is one junior.
On a night North Carolina coach Roy Williams tried to start seven seniors, it turned out to be another reminder that all the Tar Heels really need is one junior.
If you've ever seen a man get a five-figure bill from the IRS while an elephant simultaneously steps on his foot, you might have a general frame of reference for the level of rancor Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski can raise when defeat comes his way.
So, as he explained a 79-71 loss to North Carolina, the sixth Heel win in the last seven games and the second time in three seasons he's been swept by his rival, a funny thing happened.
If you've ever seen a man get a five-figure bill from the IRS while an elephant simultaneously steps on his foot, you might have a general frame of reference for the level of rancor Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski can raise when defeat comes his way.
So, as he explained a 79-71 loss to North Carolina, the sixth Heel win in the last seven games and the second time in three seasons he's been swept by his rival, a funny thing happened.
Virginia Tech needed a crucial win at home to solidify its NCAA tournament status with only two games remaining on its regular-season ACC schedule. But a Nolan Smith-less Blue Devil squad likely had a few points to prove as well.
And the Blue Devils' agenda won out.
That is, after a little controversy and a heckuva run by the Hokies.
Maryland-Duke is not a rivalry to be taken lightly, even if Duke did wallop the Terps by 41 in Cameron earlier this season. Now that Maryland is firmly on the bubble (and climbing), though, the stakes are raised again. Which may explain why Maryland fans are going all out in their pre-game prep for Wednesday night's matchup.
"All out" here doesn't just mean "making funny chant sheets," either; the Terps have not only created Facebook groups dedicated to "Operation: Scheyerface 2.0" (via Joe Ovies) but they also spent the week prank-calling Duke's hotel room.
BOSTON -- He looks like a chew toy, or something out of a puppet show. His dreads flop over a headband that would stand out more prominently if not for a midsection best described as doughy. His name is Levance Fields, and sometimes, he'll drive you to exasperation with reckless dribbling into traffic and corkscrew jumpshots heaved for no apparent purpose or reason.
If you've ever seen a man get a five-figure bill from the IRS while an elephant simultaneously steps on his foot, you might have a general frame of reference for the level of rancor Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski can raise when defeat comes his way.
Virginia Tech needed a crucial win at home to solidify its NCAA tournament status with only two games remaining on its regular-season ACC schedule. But a Nolan Smith-less Blue Devil squad likely had a few points to prove as well.
Maryland-Duke is not a rivalry to be taken lightly, even if Duke did wallop the Terps by 41 in Cameron earlier this season. Now that Maryland is firmly on the bubble (and climbing), though, the stakes are raised again. Which may explain why Maryland fans are going all out in their pre-game prep for Wednesday night's matchup.
