ACC coaches prepare for crucial conference games

By AMY MURNICK

and JONATHAN GANZ

This week, the topic of conversation in the weekly Atlantic Coast Conference teleconference turned from Coach K to preparation for critical ACC matchups.

After an exhausting week, the travel continues for No. 14 Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons (12-4, 4-3 ACC) are in the middle of their toughest stretch of the season, according to Demon Deacon head coach Dave Odom. After a heartbreaking 62-61 loss to UNC on Saturday, sophomore center Tim Duncan helped Wake bounce back against Vanderbilt on Sunday with an awe-inspiring performance in the team's easy win over the Commodores.

"Tim took the loss personally, and I knew someone was going to have to pay for it," said Odom of Duncan's performance on Sunday, which included 22 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots. "It turned out to be Vanderbilt."

Next up for Wake Forest will be a journey to Raleigh to play N.C. State tonight at 7:30 p.m. The Wolfpack (10-7, 2-5) are the most improved team in the conference this year. But their sloppy play in last Saturday's 60-55 loss to Clemson has head coach Les Robinson worried.

"We're coming off a very tough loss to Clemson, where I didn't think we handled [Clemson's] discipline and delay game very well," Robinson said. "It showed that we're not really a mature team. We showed more discipline on the road at Tech and at Duke than we did on Saturday. We just have to regroup and get that discipline back for the Wake Forest game."

Another team that was missing something over the past weekend was No. 21 Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets were without All-ACC forward James Forrest, who broke his left wrist in a car accident last week. He will have a cast on for three weeks, and during that time, freshman Michael Maddox will take over his starting position.

"Certainly James Forrest is an outstanding player," Clemson head coach Rick Barnes said. "Losing him had to hurt, but if you watched [Tech] play FSU each and every player stepped it up. It was just like we did without Devin [Gray]."

The victim in Georgia Tech's victory on Sunday was Florida State. The Seminoles (9-7, 3-5) expected an easier game with Forrest out of the line-up, but what they got was a disappointing loss.

"It was a tough loss at home against Georgia Tech," Florida State head coach Pat Kennedy said. "I've got to give so much credit to them. I think the younger players really stepped forward for Tech.

"On the other hand, we're starting to feel the affects of our younger players. We've got sophomores and freshmen trying to do a lot of what we're trying to get done, and they're just falling short."

The Seminoles will get a chance to work on their problems tonight at 7 p.m., when they journey out of the conference to face UNC-Greensboro. Their next ACC game is at Virginia on Saturday at 4 p.m.

But the 15th-ranked Cavaliers (12-5, 5-2) must first face No. 5 Maryland, which currently leads the conference at 6-1. They will do battle at Cole Field House in College Park, Md., tonight at 7 p.m.

"It's a big basketball game for both us and [Maryland]," Virginia head coach Jeff Jones said. "Traditionally, I think Maryland and Virginia have gone at one another very hard and have played some very close, hard-fought games. This in all likelihood will be no exception, and it will be the kind of contest where only the strong will survive."

The Terrapins (16-3, 6-1) survived a tough game last Saturday versus Duke. They were able to hold on at home for a 74-72 win.

"We've done a pretty good job of getting [victories]," Maryland head coach Gary Williams said. "We haven't played particularly well, but at the same time we did get the win against Duke. Joe [Smith] didn't score that much. He had a good defensive effort, though.

"We know now that more people can step up for us. We know how good Joe is. . . In the off games, someone else is going to have to pick it up for us."

All but two ACC teams are in action tonight. The other two--No. 3 North Carolina and Duke--square off tomorrow in the conference's biggest rivalry. They will meet at 9 p.m. in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

For the Blue Devils (10-9, 0-7), the game presents yet another chance to notch their first ACC victory. But Duke acting head coach Pete Gaudet realizes that this could be Duke's toughest ACC game yet.

"It's a big game in a season of big games," Gaudet said. "I've got to convince our guys it's a fun game. At the end of the game there's got to be the feeling that you've poured your heart into the game. If they do that they'll enjoy it."

This will be Gaudet's first chance to match wits directly with North Carolina head coach Dean Smith. Smith has the Tar Heels in their customary position-- at the top of the ACC standings. But North Carolina (16-1, 6-1) and Smith expect a battle from the Blue Devils.

"We're coming up against a Duke team, which I think has found themselves completely," Smith said. "They're playing like they did in December when they beat Illinois. They're certainly a very dangerous team that could win the national championship. They'd have to go on a run, but based on their last two games they certainly are capable of doing it."