ACC/Big East: Part II

So I know I said I wouldn’t comment on which conference is better, but after preparing for this article, it became very clear to me that the ACC is the best conference this year. Better than the Big East, better than the Pac-10, better than the Big-10. This conference will have 8 teams in the tournament, for those of you rocket scientist's out there, that’s 75% of the conference teams! So let's break down the best teams in the conference and show you why they truly are the tops in the nation.

Best of the ACC

UNC -

The preseason favorite to win it all.  However, as we 

learned throughout the season, one white power forward named Tyler does not make a title team. This team is stocked head to toe, and their first five guys off the bench could form their own Top 25 team, I am sure of it. This teams shoots above 49% for the season, and leads the ACC in every major statistical team category. 

The thing you might not catch on to is that the key to this team is actually Ty Lawson. He has the 3rd best assist/turn-over ratio in the nation, at about 4, and leads the ACC with 6.3 APG. 

Here is the key: every game that UNC has lost this season, Ty Lawson has seen his Ass/TO ration drop below 1. If a team can stop Ty Lawson and force him to turn over the ball, UNC will lose. Although Hansborough leads the ACC with 21 PPG, he doesn’t produce unless Lawson feeds him the ball.

Wake -

Yet another causality of being ranked #1, this team has been up and down all season. Wake is one of the teams that, as a 'Nova fan, scares the crap out of me. With Jeff Teague averaging 20 PPG and shooting above 50% from the field (including behind the arc), and with the combination of Aminu and Johnson averaging over 17 rebounds a game, this team will punish you on both ends of the court. Flat out, they have one of the most prolific offenses in the country. 

However, their weakness is playing in big games on the road. 13-1 at home and 7-4 (which really isn't that bad) on the road. They have to grow up fast, and find the experience that will help them win the big games in the Tourney.  Watch out America, this team could do the dance.

Clemson -

You only have to talk about one person when you talk about Clemson and that is Trevor Booker. The guy averages just about a double-double, he is one of the most under-rated players in the country and I think he will have a coming out party in the dance. With the support of KC Rivers and his 14 PPG, this team is special and has the potential for a big upset. If Booker plays well, he can carry this team all the way to the final four.

Duke -

A buddy of mine at work really represents the Blue Devils fan base. Like most Duke fans: he thinks he is entitled to a title every season, he thinks his basketball mind is superior to the rest of us because Duke was good in the 90's, he's constantly confused with Daniel Radcliffe and generally has trouble doing basic math. HOWEVER, not to worry!  Just like the past couple of years, this team will have an early exit in the tournament, and I will be able to laugh in his face...hopefully in front of a hot girl in a bar. 

Duke feeds off its home crowd so much, that come tournament time, they lose their 6th man, and fall short. But, one of my favorite players this season has got to be Gerald Henderson. This guy is everything you could want from a college player. Averaging 17 PPG and 5 RPG, this guys is athletic, emotional, and dominant in every part of the game.

FSU -

As much as I built up Clemson, this FSU team beat them twice. This team only has one player that averages double digit scoring a game, (Toney Douglas) and their lack of depth will really limit this team from going much further that the 2nd round of the tournament. One big star player, but just not enough to make it all happen.

Best of the Rest

This conference is stacked with teams that will never play easy, give up, or play poorly when called on. Every year, Duke or UNC loses to Maryland and NC State. Miami had a good showing this year as well. BC, NC State, Maryland, and Miami all have a chance to make the tournament, and with the experience that they gained playing in this conference in the regular season, they have every opportunity to beat any team and make it a Sweet trip.

My Case for the ACC

My roommates, college friends, and all the people around Philly always wonder how I could stand admitting that the ACC is better than the Big East this year. Well, its pretty easy when you look at one stat, non-conference play. 

When you watch the ACC and the Big East beat up on each other all season, its hard to put into perspective how good those teams really are. The only way to differentiate is what they did against all the out of conference power teams. 

So lets look: 

- Georgetown lost to Duke. 

- UNC destroyed the Big 10 champions, Michigan St. 

- Wake beat Illinois (2nd place in the Big 10)  

- Clemson beat Baylor and Indiana 

The ACC played so well out of conference, that it is hard to say that they aren’t better, especially when the Big East lost to teams like Texas, Dayton, Tennessee, Cleveland St., Mississippi, and UNLV. I am not saying those teams are bad, but the difference is that the ACC won tough games out of conference and the Big East didn’t.  Sorry Big East, ACC will win.

So, I am getting my wisdom teeth pulled on March 19th, so I get to sit at home and watch all the first round games...Sure to be some great basketball soon, and I hope that my underdogs, Providence and Clemson, can make a show in the tourney!

I'll update you guys with a little more later, MARCH MADNESS BABY!