Does anyone outside of Duke, UNC, and FSU actually want to make the tournament? Because it's sure hard to tell with the way teams have been playing. Outside of those three teams, only Maryland has been able to win as many as 3 conference games in a row - no one else can get any sustained momentum as they keep trading wins and losses. Virginia Tech, Maryland, Clemson, and BC can still play their way into the tournament, but they have to stop losing.

Monday is dark.

Tuesday gives us a game that Virginia Tech simply can't lose. They travel to Wake Forest, losers of 15 of their last 17, including 5 homes losses by an average of 17.5 points a game. The Hokies mopped the floor with Wake in Blacksburg, winning by 29.

[257]Wake Forest hosts [30]Virginia Tech

Wednesday is a busy day, with 4 conference matchups and a non-conference battle of top 25 opponents. Starting there first, Duke hosts Temple during its "off" week, and hopes to fare far better than it did in the last "off" week game. Temple, for its part, is riding an 8-game winning streak that's put it within a half game of Xavier for the A-10 lead. In conference, Maryland gets their first chance for a statement win down the stretch, hosting Florida State. In reality, it's probably not all that much of a statement - FSU is just 3-3 on the road, with the wins at Miami, Wake, and Georgia Tech, and the losses all by double digits. Plus, if you believe Pomeroy's assessment (and I don't, at least not with regard to Maryland), the Terps are actually the better team and a 77% favorite. But it would still be a big win for the Terps in their drive toward a bid. UNC travels down Tobacco Road to take on NC State - the Pack has been frisky of late, knocking off Clemson in Raleigh and then taking Maryland right down to the wire in the Comcast Center (it was 71-71 before the Terps finished things off on a 16-9 run). BC hosts Miami, a must-win game for the Eagles, who have the easiest road to 10 conference wins among the middle of the pack teams. And in the "teams unlikely to have any postseason" category, Virginia travels to Georgia Tech.

[1]Duke hosts [34]Temple
[96]Georgia Tech hosts [113]Virginia
[79]NC State hosts [12]North Carolina
[70]Boston College hosts [68]Miami
[22]Maryland hosts [40]Florida State

Thursday is dark.

Friday is dark.

Saturday Another busy Saturday in the ACC, with 5 conference matchups on tap. Starting with the noon game, BC heads down to Charlottesville, hoping their day in the JPJ is more like Maryland's and less like Clemson's and Virginia Tech's. They're all must-wins from here on out for the Eagles. Battle Florida part II is in Tallahassee - the game in Coral Gables was a very close, low scoring affair, but FSU has home court this time around, and should be able to win with a little more comfort. NC State hopes to solidfy its chances for at least some post-season bid (NIT, CIT, CBI) with a home date against Georgia Tech. Clemson hosts Wake Forest in what should be a comfortable victory - as bad as Wake is at home, the Deacs are much worse on the road. And then the nightcap - a big battle in Blacksburg as the Hokies host Duke with their last chance for a marquee win before the ACCT. A loss isn't devastating, but it could once again leave Virginia Tech with a bubble resume wholly lacking in impressive victories. For Duke, Carolina continues to breath down the Devils' necks for top billing in the ACC, and they can't afford a slip up.

[113]Virginia hosts [70]Boston College
[40]Florida State hosts [68]Miami
[79]NC State hosts [96]Georgia Tech
[36]Clemson hosts [248]Wake Forest
[30]Virginia Tech hosts [1]Duke

Sunday sends Maryland to Chapel Hill where they hope to cap off a big late-season week. Wins against Florida State and UNC could do wonders for the Terps' resume down the stretch. For its part, depending on the results of Wednesday and Saturday play, UNC could be playing for a tie for first.

[12]North Carolina hosts [22]Maryland