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Snowflakes: ACC Hoops

* What a game in Chapel Hill on Sunday. Still without star point guard Ty Lawson, North Carolina rallied from a double-digit deficit in the second half and finally put away Clemson in double overtime, 103-93. Tyler Hansbrough may have wrapped up the National Player of the Year in this contest as he poured in 39 points and grabbed 13 boards. Over the Tar Heels’ last 7 games, the 6’9” junior has averaged an impressive 26.6 points and 13 rebounds. After the loss against Duke on Wednesday night, you know Roy Williams’ club had to be questioning how good they could be without Lawson in the lineup. On the brink of losing two home games in a row, North Carolina answered some of their doubters with the big comeback and gained a huge boost of confidence in the process.

* On the other hand, Clemson must feel like they will never win in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Up by 14 points with under 8 minutes to go, the Tigers blew the lead and lost at UNC for the 53rd time in 53 tries. That’s right, 53 of 53 in Chapel Hill! Clemson should still be okay as far as the NCAA field goes, but they cannot let the ghosts of last season’s major collapse creep into the locker room. Their next four games are against teams who are standing at 6th place or below in the ACC so things are set up for the well for Oliver Purnell’s team to make the Big Dance for the first time since 1998.

* Maryland has won four in a row, and now can be considered a legitimate candidate to make the NCAA Tourney field. Things didn’t look so good for the Terps in late December when they stood at 6-6 after home losses to Ohio U. and American. Since that low point, Gary Williams’ club has won 10 out of 12 and has vaulted into third place in the ACC. While their RPI isn’t great, they do have a road win at North Carolina which will be huge on Selection Sunday. If they can go 5-2 down the stretch, I believe Maryland will cap a great comeback season and get in the field of 65.

                                                               

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