SoCon Tourney, Duke v. Carolina headline rivalry week

Tim Rink / Reporter

It’s a big week for a lot of teams in college basketball. Bubble teams are going to have to earn their spot this week, or get their bubble burst. Neither of our beloved Phoenix teams have earned a ticket to the big dance, so the only way the two teams will get in is through their conference tournaments.

Elon’s women have played valiantly this year. They played good teams and never gave up, no matter the odds. When they lost the team leader, Holly Andrews, to an ACL injury, they kept playing and everyone stepped it up a level. Unfortunately, the SoCon has a dominant team in the form of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. With the Mocs in the mix, I just can’t see the Lady Phoenix winning the tournament.

The men have also had a lot of odds to overcome this year: a new coach, a young team and a tough schedule. They’ve played well, but have had their problems. Scottie Rice is one of the most explosive scorers in the SoCon, but he was inconsistent, bothered by an injury. Freshman roommates Montell Watson and Matt Nowlin started out with some consistency issues, both showing brilliance in a few games, but having trouble showing it every game. But they have both come on greatly at the end of the season and are playing at their top level. Watson and Nowlin will be sophomores next year and with Rice healed up and junior Jackson Ayetobi, the team’s big man, coming back, the core of the team stays intact. With another year to grow, and another year for coach Ernie Nestor to get his system — which brought great results this year — in place, the Phoenix looks good for next year. Unfortunately, it won’t be able to win the tournament this year. The big three in the SoCon — East Tennessee State, College of Charleston and Georgia Southern — are just too good.

FSU at Georgia Tech, Saturday 4:30 p.m., Raycom / Jefferson Pilot Sports

FSU has built an incredible tournament resume, and would love to cap off the regular season by taking out another top 25 team in the Yellow Jackets. FSU has a good team this year. But basketball rule No. 1 is, “You never bet on a road team in the ACC unless it has a decided advantage, period.”

GT 70, FSU 60

NC State at Wake, Saturday 1:30 p.m., CBS

These two teams have already gotten their dance cards punched. Both have knocked off Duke and several other top teams this year. State is No. 2 in the horrendously difficult ACC this year. Wake has been one of the premier teams in the country this year, and could make the Elite Eight if it can play as a team. Don’t look for these two teams to slack off again. Both of these teams have great squads, and I’m looking back at rule No. 1 again.

Wake 75, NCSU, 68

Stanford at Washington, Saturday 6 p.m.

Stanford had a year that could go down in history as one of the best ever. But it shouldn’t be No. 1. St. Joseph’s is my No. 1. St. Joe’s non-conference schedule has been harder and it has beaten teams more soundly. So out of spite, I’m making the following pick: Stanford falls to the hottest team in the Pac-10, the Huskies, and St. Joe’s moves to No. 1. Most importantly, the four No. 1 seeds are given to teams that deserve them: Duke, St. Joes, Pitt and UConn.

Stanford 75, Washington 76

Virginia at Maryland, Sunday 8 p.m., Fox Sports Net

The only reason this late season game has any signifigance is that I really want the Terps in the tournament. They have to win this game to have a shot at it. The young Terps have been very shaky this year, but I think they deserve a chance to dance as much as anyone, even though they should exit in the second round. Fear the turtle in this one.

Maryland 65, Virginia, 52

Duke v. Carolina, Saturday 9 p.m., Raycom / Jefferson Pilot Sports

The Tarheels, under coach Roy Williams, are back. They’ve returned to their seat in the top 25, they’ll have a high seed in the tournament, and they’re getting national attention again. That’s a lot to say about a team. Carolina’s back, but Duke never left. Enough said. Do you Carolina fans remember Chris Duhon in the closing seconds, a la Tyus Edny? Well, this game should be just as tight. Don’t look for a different result, though, as Duke is just too much for the Tarheels to handle. If you can’t beat them in your house, you aren’t beating the Devils at Cameron.

Duke 83, UNC 81 (OT)

KRT Campus

Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser (above left) hopes to lead his Demon Decons past the visiting North Carolina State Wolfpack. Sheldon Williams (aboove) and the Duke Blues will play host to their rivals this weekend when the UNC Tarheels visit Sunday. The Devils won the previous match-up between the two team on a last-second lay-up.