Welcome back, everyone. Day Two of the ACC tournament tips off in just over an hour, with top-seeded UNC taking on No. 9-seeded Miami.

Virginia fans are still sporting the glazed eyed, "dead man walking" stare after yesterday's collapse, while N.C. State fans are wondering what comes next for the Wolfpack program after last night's loss to Maryland.

N&O columnist Caulton Tudor was courtside much of the day Thursday, and he joins us now from the Greensboro Coliseum to take everyone's ACC tournament questions.

I can't speak for WRAL, but I think there'll be something official announced by NCSU next week. I don't think it comes any later than Thursday. But that is just the way I read the situation.
Like almost everyone else, I think N.C. State AD Debbie Yow will make a change.

Defections? Are you talking about UNC defections?

Let's assume William was talking about UNC.

If it's UNC, the departure of Larry Drew II turned an average season into a chance to reach the Final Four. The others have been absorbed well. Long run, losing the Wear brothers could create some frontcourt depth problems — especially if John Henson and Tyler Zeller would turn pro.
But I honestly don't think UNC is going to lose anyone earlier to the NBA this season. I easily could be wrong about that. Losing Will Graves was a cause for concern earlier on the UNC staff. That, too, has passed.

Honestly, I think Maryland needs to get to the ACC championship game.
Beating Duke would help the resume a great deal obviously. But having talked just briefly with Gary Williams, I know he's still concerned about getting a bid.
Here's something to keep in mind, though. If Terps do win tonight and some other bubble teams lose, the impact of a win over Duke would be more important.

The awful coaching in the first game for one thing. Frank Haith basically forgot about Julian Gamble in the 2nd half after he saved Miami in the first.
Tony Bennett and his UVa team went into a meltdown of historic proportions during the final minute of regulation and in OT.
Also, I was surprised that C.J. Leslie didn't play with more emotion for N.C. State against Maryland. I thought his defense had been coming around at least some, but he was a full step behind most of the game. That's why he didn't play but 19 minutes.
I know Leslie is thinking about jumping into the draft, and some team will probably pick him on the raw talent factor. But he just has zero intensity at times. Freshmen go through that some, but last night was his 31st game.

I give a slight edge to BC. I think Donahue will throw a big zone at Clemson's perimeter shooters. If the Tigs can hit some jump shots early, BC's half-court offense should be a positive.
Clemson really needs to convert shots early. The Tigs have been streaky shooters a lot this season, too. A hot streak earlier would force BC to play more man defense.

At Miami in the first game, the Hurricanes hit eight 3s in the first half and 13 for the game. That's always a key against Carolina. Outside strikes bother the way UNC likes to play defense.
Another thing: Miami has to keep John Henson off the offensive boards. UNC hasn't shot particularly well most of the season, but Henson and Zeller get so many stick-backs that the shooting gets covered up.

Tubby's team at Minnesota didnt play well at all in February and March. He got upset with his players a time or two but then said he'd stay with the Gophers until he retired.
He said the same thing at Kentucky, too.
Tubby turns 60 in June, and I just don't believe he wants to spend the rest of his working life in Minnesota in the winter. If he's offered, I think he'll bite.
Tubby can coach, too. He's up there with some of the best when it comes to X'ing and O'ing. The question, though, would be recruiting success, possibly.

It depends on the other contenders really. Pitt lost in the Big East. Kansas also lost yesterday in the Big 12.
Coaches say there's a lot of difference between being a No. 1 and a No. 2, but I'm not so sure. I realize No. 2s have lost in the first round before. But I think both should be No. 2s if they win today and Saturday. Then obviously, the winner on Sunday would be a 1. But being a 2 shouldn't be a hurdle in either case. Big thing if both reach Sunday would be getting a Friday game in the NCAA subregionals.

Coaching is No. 1.
In a way, though, it's not apples and apples by comparison. The Big East has so many teams that the the direct comparison doesn't quite work.
But overall, the conferences with the best coaches are the best conferences. The ACC has slipped in a big way. There are reasons, I guess. A top-line coach just isn't going to take the job at Miami or BC, or probably Virginia Tech and Clemson for that matter.
But the key is finding a good fit, which I think Clemson may have in Brownell and BC with Donahue. One thing the ACC fringe schools cannot survive is making bad hires. That's happened so much during the past 10-12 years that no one has consistently even been in position to challenge Duke and UNC or make a steady run at top-20 status.

Why not? I'll put in a good word for ya.

The officials met for about an hour Thursday, and it came up. I'll try to find John Clougherty at some point today and put what he says on line or in the print notes for Sat.
Things of that nature always lead to quick extra emphasis, however.

Wake had a fair number of fans, but I understand the school could sell but 750 or ticket books. The ACC hoped that all 4 NC based teams would sell at least 1,750.
Ron Wellman is catching a lot of grief from the fans. It's not become a big news item and probably won't unless there's a full blown uprising.
There's definitely a chance that hiring Bzdelik was a bad error of judgment. No one can know for sure until the 2013-14 season probably. But his first season was a nightmare on the developmental front.

Greg is right. It was 63-62, Kansas over the Cowboys. Pesky facts ...

No, Kansas almost lost. My bad.

I think Yow has to contact Sean Miller at Arizona and go from there.
If he says yes, the search logically ends. If he says no, I don't think Yow would be shocked and would move on down her list.
I think Mark Turgeon at Texas A&M would be a good fit, but I know he's making a ton of money in College Station. But I'd check.

Anderson really undertand the up-tempo offene. That's for sure. I wonder if Martin would leave K-State for Miami.
Stevens at NCSU would terrific. But I have a feeling he's waiting to see if Indiana comes open again in the next couple or so seasons.

It's his medical school lab work, of course.
Seriously, Marshall is one of the best passers I've seen in years. He makes some bad ones, of course. Freshmen will do that. But next season this time, he easily could be averaging 8-10 assists per game.
He'll get better with the shot, too.

Lebo should be national coach of the year or at worst, a strong contender. He won't get the votes, of course. But I never thought I'd see the day when ECU had a chance to win 2 games in the ACC Tourney. This season, that could have happened.
He's still going to have to find some talent, but this season should make recruiting a lot easier.

If Williams comes back and Terrell Stoglin improves during the offseason, the Terps will be a load. Gary Williams can develop players. He keeps proving it again year after year.

When did Jay Bilas start posting under "Mountain Heel"?

McDonald's offense is a big key. But to me, the key to Carolina winning right now is still keeping Zeller and Henson out of foul trouble. Generally, neither has been in much difficulty all season. Both are aggressive going after shots, too.
As much McDonald, getting a little pop out of Dex Strickland would be big, too.
One more, guys, then I have to get to the court. I'm working the first game today.

Not really. Plus, they have played a game in this building against a strong opponent -- Texas. That's one reason why Roy Williams wanted it played here.

Have fun today. Please keep reading on line and print. We'll try to give you a product worth reading.

Thanks for joining us, today. Good luck to everyone in their efforts pretending to work as they watch the tournament.

Join us again Monday for an online chat at noon, when we'll go over the NCAA tournament bracket and undergo our annual exercise in pretending to be outraged by the selection committee's seeding choices.