10 questions on ACC basketball

Now that we know where Anna Nicole will be buried and where Britney plans to spend the next four to six weeks, serious journalists can get to the 10 most important questions facing our society:

1. Will Comcast Center be as raucous for North Carolina on Sunday as it was for Duke on Feb. 11? Maryland fans were eager for the chance to kick Duke in the teeth when it was struggling, and don’t seem to despise North Carolina as much.
2. Is Greg Paulus the most unpredictable player in college basketball? Duke’s point guard can be brilliant and abysmal in the very same game. He scored 14 with six assists - and nine turnovers - against Clemson.
3. Will Sidney Lowe ever wear his red blazer again? Lowe admits to being superstitious, and the good luck charm from his first game with North Carolina failed miserably when he was hospitalized for dehydration Wednesday night.
4. What happened to Boston College? Ten days ago, the Eagles led the ACC. Now they’re in danger of falling lower than fourth place. Could it be because the team only has three capable scorers in Jared Dudley, Tyrese Rice and Sean Marshall?
5. Have you ever seen an ACC men’s team miss as many lay-ups as Clemson did Thursday night against Duke? Easy shots missed from the field - and the foul line - will be the reason the Tigers won’t be the NCAA tournament.
6. Has there ever been a more charismatic ACC player than senior point guard Ivory Latta of the North Carolina women’s team? It’s difficult to imagine anybody with more class and energy.
7. What is today’s most intriguing game? Georgia Tech needs a win at Virginia Tech to get to .500 in ACC play. But the Cavaliers have veteran guards in Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds who won’t easily be subdued.
8. Why are Duke’s women 28-0 heading into Sunday’s regular season finale against North Carolina? While past teams have relied heavily on one player such as Alana Beard and Monique Currie, this team is difficult to defend because of its great balance. All five starters average at least nine points, but none averages as much as 15.
9. Who’s the ACC Coach of the Year? If Virginia stays in the top three in the ACC standings, Dave Leitao deserves the award. His team was picked to finish eighth in the preseason by the media who cover the ACC and is tied for second with Virginia Tech.
10. How many ACC teams will reach the NCAA tournament? Six - North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Duke and Maryland. Clemson and Florida State are finished. Georgia Tech still could get in, but needs to win more against a difficult schedule that includes Virginia, North Carolina and Boston College to conclude the regular season.
- Ken Tysiac