Just some quick notes on the tournament setup this year: as Coach K said after the Virginia Tech game, Duke will be the #2 seed. That means the Devils get a bye into the second round on Friday, where they’ll face the winner of the 7/10 game.

As of now, for what it’s worth, it’ll be FSU and either Georgia Tech or Wake Forest. Since Tech swept Wake, as of today, it’d be FSU vs. Wake Forest.

Obviously Miami will be the #1 seed. Currently they’d get the winner of BC and Georgia Tech.

UNC is currently solid at #3, while State and Virginia are tied at #4, though Virginia has the tiebreaker since they beat State.

Maryland is currently #6 at 8-8, compared to #7 FSU’s 7-9.

If Maryland beats UNC, then the Terps get a bit of breathing room at #6 and UNC falls back to a tie for third with Virginia (State will either move up or down one in this scenario after the meeting with Wake while UNC and UVa would remain tied). Just as a side thought, it’ll be interesting to see how Maryland is received in Greensboro this year.

In the race for the final bye, State has Wake Forest (H) and Florida State remaining (A), UNC has Maryland (A) and Duke (H), while Virginia gets FSU (A) and Maryland (H).

No question UNC’s path is the toughest here, but consider also what Maryland has to do: currently #70 in the RPI, the Terps really have to beat UNC and Virginia and possibly win one or two tournament games to be considered. And unless we miss our guess, Maryland will be quite unpopular at the ACC Tournament this year.

Since Maryland is desperate and UNC faces the possibility of falling all the way to fifth – and that with Duke coming over this weekend – the game in College Park becomes one of the more intense and interesting matchups this season.