The assumption is that around 8 p.m. most NC State fans will tune into the ACC Network to watch the Pack at Clemson in State’s final regular season game before the ACC Tournament next week in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Technically there is still seeding implications on the line for NC State, in addition to the pride.
But some NCSU faithful may be excused if they have a watchful eye on another big contest with some potential links to NC State: Virginia Commonwealth is at Dayton.
Both head coaches, VCU’s Will Wade and Dayton’s Archie Miller, are on The Wolfpacker’s Hot Board’s list of “likely candidates” for the Pack’s soon-to-be vacant position.
Related link: Hot board, Version 2.0
Miller’s connections are obvious, a successful sixth-year head coach Dayton with one trip to the Elite Eight under his belt and a Wolfpack alum. Wade is a fourth year head coach, two winning years at Chattanooga followed by his second straight big campaign at VCU.
Dayton is 23-5 overall and 14-2 in the Atlantic 10, one game ahead of VCU which is 23-6 and 13-3. A Dayton win on its home floor would clinch the regular season A-10 title. VCU though could move into the driver’s seat with a victory. Wade’s squad beat the Fliers at home, 73-68, on Jan. 27.
A win by the Rams would push it into a tie with Dayton and owning the tiebreaker by virtue of a season sweep. VCU would then need a home win over George Mason to finish the regular season on March 4 and clinch the top seed in the tournament, which is held March 8-12 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
VCU-Dayton’s tipoff is also at 8 p.m. and televised on the CBS Sports Network.
Championship Week Heating Up
The Colonial Athletic Association’s conference tournament starts Friday in Charleston, S.C., and it will be the start of a crucial weekend for UNC Wilmington third-year head coach Kevin Keatts. A repeat of last year’s championship sends Keatts, who is on the likely candidates list as well on the hot board, back to the NCAA Tournament.
It would quite an accomplishment for Keatts considering UNCW was 9-23 overall and 3-13 in the conference under Buzz Peterson the year before Keatts arrived. The Seahawks had not had a winning conference record since 2007-08 before Keatts has led them to three straight upon his arrival.
He has a tall order though to get to a second straight ticker to the Big Dance. Just one game behind the Seahawks in the standings is College of Charleston, who has the luxury of playing the tournament on friendly grounds and presumably partisan crowds.
UNCW and Charleston split in the regular season. Ironically, Wilmington’s win came in Charleston, winning 65-59 on Jan. 19. Charleston then returned the favor by topping the Seahawks 67-66 in Wilmington on Feb. 2.
That game was decided in the closing seconds, with Charleston’s Jarrell Brantley converting a three-point play with eight seconds remaining to put the Cougars up two. UNCW’s Chris Flemmings had a chance to tie in the final moments, but missed the second of two free throws.
For a full view of the Colonial tournament bracket, click here.
The Big South tournament is already under way with a pair of play-in games contested Tuesday evening. Charleston Southern defeated Longwood to advance to play top-seeded Winthrop, led by head coach Pat Kelsey, in the quarterfinals. Kelsey was added to The Wolfpacker’s Hot Board as a “possible candidate” this week.
Winthrop hosts Charleston Southern on Thursday at 7 p.m. By winning the top seed via a tiebreaker over UNC Asheville, Winthrop gets to host the quarterfinals and semifinals. The championship game, to be played Sunday, will be at the venue of the highest remaining seed.
For a full view of the Big South tournament bracket, click here.
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