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By Randy Rosetta, WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer With two straight impressive ACC wins in a row, Florida State takes another shot at knocking off one of the league’s frontrunners tonight when the Seminoles make the long trip north to face Boston College at 7 p.m. EST on Tuesday night. FSU (14-5, 2-3) notched wins against Virginia Tech and Miami last week to snap a three-game losing streak. Now the ’Noles are looking for their first three-game ACC winning streak since 1994-95. Florida State has cranked up its offense the last three games, scoring 80 points or more in each – a key number since the Seminoles are 8-1 this year when they hit for 80 or higher. Hot shooting from all over the floor has been a key for FSU. The Seminoles have connected on 50 percent or higher in eight of 19 games this season, all victories. Florida State has also warmed up from long range, burying 26-of-54 from outside the arc in the last three games, buoyed by a season-best 13 makes in the romp over Miami.
Al Thornton continues to make a strong case for ACC Player of the Year honors, leading the ACC in scoring in league games with 22 points a game. He produced 42 points and 17 rebounds last week and was red-hot from the foul line where he went 13-of-14. The Eagles absorbed their first ACC loss of the year Saturday, falling 74-54 at Clemson. But BC (13-5) is still in strong shape at the top of the league standings with a 5-1 record and a home schedule that includes games with North Carolina, Duke and Clemson. Like Thornton, Boston College senior Jared Dudley has emerged as one of the best players in the ACC. He leads the league in rebounding (9 per game) and minutes played (38.5 per game) and ranks second in scoring (18.7 points per game) – tied with Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina and right ahead of Thornton. Dudley’s supporting cast was a major reason the Eagles rolled to a 5-0 ACC start. Sophomore point guard Tyrese Rice tops the ACC with 5.9 assists a game, while senior Sean Marshall has blossomed as an explosive complement to Dudley with eight consecutive games in double-figure scoring and a 20.5 average over that span. He has produced 20 points or more five times recently, including a career-best 30 against Duquesne. Florida State and BC have met just once, with the Eagles winning 90-87 last season in Tallahassee despite Thornton’s career-high 37 points. BC is a 2.5-point favorite tonight on WagerWeb.com. No. 24 VIRGINIA TECH at MIAMI, 9 p.m. EST Tuesday: The Hokies stayed in the rankings despite a road loss at Florida State by posting their second overtime ACC win in 15 days – 67-64 over Maryland on Sunday. Virginia Tech (14-5, 4-1) is off to its best start in conference play since 1995-96 and remains one of the surprising co-leaders in the ACC and gets a chance to assert itself as a legitimate contender with games against Miami, Georgia Tech and N.C. State. The Hokies’ immediate focus is on the up-and-down Hurricanes, who have lost three straight games and seven of nine. Virginia Tech is leaning heavily on its senior backcourt of Zabian Dowdell and Jamon Gordon. Dowdell leads the Hokies with 17.4 points a game and is second on the team in 3-pointers made (32), assists (65) and steals (47). Gordon is supplying 12.3 points a contest and is VT’s leader in assists (82) and steals (51). Between th em, Dowdell and Gordon have launched 444 field-goal attempts. Miami (9-11, 2-4) is getting strong play from freshman forward Dwayne Collins, who is averaging 14 points and 7.8 rebounds over the last four contests. The Hokies are 6-point favorites tonight on WagerWeb.com. GEORGIA TECH at MARYLAND, 9 p.m. EST Wednesday: Two of the ACC’s perennial non-Tobacco Road powers tangle in what may be an early elimination game in the league standings. The Yellow Jackets (13-6, 2-3) are in trouble because they can’t win on the road. They have dropped three league road games this season, 12 ACC road games in a row and their last 15 road games overall. Georgia Tech has also lost its last four games to the Terrapins, three last season. This series has been one of the most competitive in the ACC in recent years. In fact, since Paul Hewitt arrived as the Jackets’ coach in 2000, seven of 12 games with Maryland have been decided by single digits. Freshman point guard Javaris Crittenton has blossomed as Georgia Tech’s leader with 13.8 points and 5.7 assists per game. He tops the Jackets with 16.4 points a game in ACC play. The Terps (15-5, 1-4) have lost thr ee of their last four games – two on the road last week at Virginia and Virginia Tech. Maryland senior Ekene Ibweke has blocked three shots or more in 13 of 20 games this season and stands second in the ACC with 3.2 rejections per game. |
