The Confidential

Rivalry Day Preview: February 8, 2012

February 8, 2012, is a big day for ACC hoops.

First, all five teams that are currently ranked play games tonight:

• #2 Syracuse hosts #12 Georgetown
• #5 North Carolina hosts #10 Duke
• #15 Florida State travels to unranked Boston College
• #19 Virginia hosts unranked Wake Forest

Second, this is rivalry week for ESPN purposes, as the Syracuse-Georgetown and North Carolina-Duke games will be on ESPN at 7pm and 9pm, respectively.  Actually, the full name of the evening is this mouthful: Wednesday Night Hoops presented by Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups as Part of Rivalry Week.

Third, these are not just rivalry games, but perhaps two of the best rivalries in all of college basketball.  USA Today has both of these has top 25 rivalries, although that list is far too slanted towards college football to be meaningful.  SB Nation’s list focuses on college basketball and gives a better appraisal.  Still, for long-time ACC fans, it is probably easy to look down on the Syracuse-Georgetown rivalry, as it just started in earnest with the formation of the Big East in 1979-1980.  In contrast, the Carolina schools have been hated rivals for much longer than that.  Plus, Syracuse is not quite in the ACC fold yet, and Georgetown is certainly not part of the ACC.  In contrast, Duke-North Carolina is a matchup of two ACC schools.

Fourth, Syracuse is expected to draw more than 30,000 fans to the game tonight.  North Carolina is certain to draw its capacity of 21,000+.  These are simply huge games.

Fifth, and finally, these two games feature 4 of the top 12 teams in college basketball.  And Georgetown is playing like a top 10 team of late.  All four teams still need statement games to show the tournament committee that they are deserving of the #1 overall seed, a #1 seed, or merely a top 3 seed.  And then there is conference tournament seeding.  So there is much more to play for than merely pride.

If you love college basketball and the ACC, tonight will be a great night.