About to watch Georgia Tech-North Carolina in the game that will determine who Maryland plays tomorrow night in the ACC tournament...
If I'm Maryland, I'd rather play North Carolina than Georgia Tech -- for a few reasons, some less obvious than others. Unlike North Carolina, Georgia Tech has a real shot at the NCAA tournament. The Yellow Jackets are 7-9 -- the same record the NCAA-bound Terps had last season entering the tournament.
So Georgia Tech has obvious incentive. But it's more than that. Freshman forward Derrick Favors (11.8 points, 8.7 rebounds) could come out and declare for the NBA draft. So could junior forward Gani Lawal, who has flirted with the NBA before. I think these guys will be inspired not only to win for their school, but to audition on a big stage for NBA scouts.
It goes without saying that the Yellow Jackets came within a Cliff Tucker buzzer-beater of beating the Terps at Comcast Center.
It would be a clearly tough (but winnable) game for the Terps if Georgia Tech gets a rematch.