After Tyler Ennis lifted the Atlantic Coast Conference into the college basketball tabloids on Wednesday, one would expect a lull in the conference’s action. But a league that was deemed generally disappointing earlier this season is starting to round out, and a great slate of games dot Saturday’s ACC schedule.

Here are some of the top matchups.

No. 17 Virginia at Clemson, noon, ESPN2

Since ACC play has started, the Cavaliers have thrived. Virginia (20-5, 11-1 Atlantic Coast) sits second behind No. 1 Syracuse in the league and will continue its in-conference dominance at the Littlejohn Coliseum on Saturday. Clemson’s (15-8, 6-5) athleticism with K.J. McDaniels and Landry Nnoko will bother the Cavaliers on the glass, but UVA’s one-two scoring punch of Malcolm Brogdon and Joe Harris stave off the upset. The Tigers lack guard play. Correction: The Tigers really lack guard play. And that’s a problem going against Virginia.

Pick: Virginia

No. 25 Pittsburgh at North Carolina, 1 p.m., CBS

How will Pittsburgh (20-5, 8-4) respond to what may have been the most crushing loss of the college basketball season? No matter what, the Panthers travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., for a date with the Tar Heels (16-7, 6-4), and that could spell problems for Jamie Dixon’s squad. Lamar Patterson was devastated after the Panthers’ stunning loss to Syracuse on Wednesday, which may turn into a dramatic bounce-back performance. But what’s more likely to happen is that Pitt will drag its feet into a hostile environment and stumble to a second straight loss.

Pick: North Carolina

Maryland at No. 8 Duke, 6 p.m., ESPN

After its overtime loss to SU, Duke (19-5, 8-3) has started to flex its conference muscle. Not only have the Blue Devils crept into the Top 10, but they’ve rattled off two straight 20-point wins against Wake Forest and Boston College, respectively. Duke’s momentum hit a rut in the middle of the week when inclement weather forced North Carolina to postpone college basketball’s biggest rivalry, and now Maryland (14-11, 6-6) steps in front of the train. The Terps have had a very inconsistent season, and Jake Layman’s ability to stretch the floor could keep Maryland in the game early on. But the historically better team proves that history continually repeats itself.

Pick: Duke

— Compiled by Jesse Dougherty, asst. sports editor, jcdoug01@syr.edu

Published on February 14, 2014 at 12:29 am