Colleges

Dickie V gives ACC a shout

By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published March 6, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Getty Images] Basketball commentator Dick Vitale will work several games in Tampa during the ACC tournament.

Dick Vitale, Sarasota resident and the ever-effusive ESPN/ABC college basketball analyst, loves the ACC tournament, which is Thursday through Sunday at the St. Pete Times Forum. He'll work five games.

What do you think about the ACC taking its tournament so far from Tobacco Road?

Living here, I'm a little biased, but I think it's fantastic that it's in our area. I think it's fantastic that the league spreads the style of play and the unbelievable competitiveness - which is what the league's all about - across the various schools throughout the conference. I think it's just great for our area. I really do. People are going to be intrigued by the incredible intensity and the pageantry of the ACC tournament. It's the granddaddy of them all. The ACC, to me, is the one that other conferences have tried to emulate. It has set the tone in terms of the tournament.

Have you seen an ACC season like this before?

It's been topsy-turvy, but that's what makes it special. That's why I think the tournament is going to be so unique and so special. In the past, you've always had a couple of dominant teams. Obviously, what Duke has done has been unheard of. To win seven ACC tournament titles in eight years is absolutely mindboggling. It's one of the great achievements on the Hall of Fame resume of Mike Krzyzewski. But I'll tell you this: this year, you try to analyze and evaluate who's going to stand tall, it's very, very difficult to do.

We expect the name stars - North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough, Boston College's Jared Dudley, Virginia's Sean Singletary, Florida State's Al Thornton - to play well. But who should we look for to jump out of the shadows during the tournament?

There's so many good young kids in the league. You look at Maryland and keep an eye on (freshman point guard) Greivis Vasquez; he had a terrific game against Duke. He has great passing ability, sets the tone and he's come on real strong. Keep an eye on him. Watch (Duke sophomore point guard) Greg Paulus. He has now become a scorer; he's almost like Duke's No. 1 option. He struggled earlier this year, but he's becoming more of a complete guard who can score as well as pass. He's capable of doing some damage to clubs. You take a look at North Carolina and, you mentioned Tyler Hansbrough, but look at their diaper dandy, (freshman forward) Brandan Wright. He's a special talent. He's a mini-version of what Sam Perkins was when he was a superstar at North Carolina. With Virginia, you talk about Sean Singletary, but what about his running mate? He doesn't get any publicity, but J.R. Reynolds is absolutely terrific. You can go right down the list and you can project somebody from almost every team who will be a major factor.

Despite the logjam at the top, is UNC the team to beat?

To me, North Carolina is probably the deepest, most talented team. But they're also the youngest team. When you have so many freshmen, they've had to learn, and they've got to learn how to focus on every possession. They have to play every possession as tough as can be. Roy Williams is a master at preaching that.

The Blue Devils will be in a strange position; they'll have to win four games in four days to defend their ACC title. Do they have the talent and depth to pull that off?

Never underestimate a Mike Krzyzewski basketball team. When you think they won't achieve something, when people count them out, is when he'll respond in a way to get the maximum from his players. Trust me, they will not be an easy out here. I asked him about that and he said, "Four days, three days. The bottom line is you've got to come to play." People like ourselves in the media will search for fatigue factors. Sure it's a tough test. Sure it's going to be very difficult. But it's also very possible.

Do you have a favorite ACC tournament memory?

There's been so many great ones, but I remember doing the games back (... I'm giving my age away) back in '83 when (North Carolina State's) Jimmy Valvano had to win the ACC tournament just to get into the NCAA Tournament and all he was staring at was No. 8 North Carolina with Michael Jordan and company, (then) they had to beat No. 2 Virginia and Ralph Sampson. They probably wouldn't have been in the NCAA unless they won the ACC, so that's one that's always stood out for me and, obviously, it became even more special for me with the fact that he went on to win the national title. The league has produced so many great players over the years and the tournament's had so many magical moments. Great, great players. Great coaching. The environment. I get goose bumps just thinking about it. I can't wait for it to start.

Brian Landman can be reached at landman@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3347.

[Last modified March 5, 2007, 23:07:29]