ACC notes: Devils flirt with underachieving

CLEMSON - Mike Krzyzewski should hope Duke's struggles at Georgetown can be blamed on nerves performing before Barack Obama.

Krzyzewski hopes the loss was not an indictment of Duke's lacking athleticism, which has plagued the Blue Devils in recent postseasons.

"We're not a powerhouse," Krzyzewski said. "I don't think Georgetown's a powerhouse, either. We're both really good teams.

"You can't let one game define you either way."

Lately Duke has been defined by failing to live up to lofty billings come March.

Since 2000, Duke has earned six No. 1 seeds and two No. 2 seeds in the NCAA tournament. Yet, Duke has made just two trips to the Final Four in the last decade, and not since 2004. It's the longest final four drought in Durham since the mid 1980s.

And again on Saturday, Duke did not have the look of a Final Four contender

THUMBS UP

Sylven Landesberg: The Virginia guard has scored in double figures in every game this year and is second in the ACC in scoring in conference games (21.3 ppg) trailing only Malcolm Delaney. The good news for Virginia is he might return for his junior year. NBADraft.net does not rate him as a first-round prospect for 2010.

Virginia coach Tony Bennett: The Cavs (13-6, 4-2) are a half game back of Duke for first place in the ACC and fresh off a rout of North Carolina in the Dean Dome. Bennett might want to send a thank you note to former coach Dave Leitao for landing Landesberg.

Solomon Alabi: Florida State's 7-foot-1 center is blocking 2.6 shots a game and is now knocking down jump-hooks with consistency. He's even hitting 18-foot jumpers. Scary - for the opposition.

THUMBS DOWN

North Carolina: The Tar Heels (2-4 ACC) are in danger of missing the NCAA tournament. After UNC's latest setback, a 75-60 home loss to Virginia, the Raleigh News & Observer's Robbi Pickeral offered a one-liner, saying Landesberg joined what is "becoming an 'I Lit Up Carolina' club,' scoring 29 points on 11-of-18 shooting."

Maryland: How much of the Terps' short-lived, first-place standing in the ACC was fueled by a favorable early schedule? Trips to Duke, Virginia, Florida State and Virginia Tech remain along with home dates against Georgia Tech, Duke and Virginia.

Over-usage at Duke: Duke's Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith are great, but they are also being exhausted. Each averages at least 35 minutes per game.

TRAV'S TAKE

- Clemson should be upset with the scheduling done by the ACC office. The year Clemson does not make a trip to Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels are as vulnerable as they have been in recent memory. Clemson has never won at Chapel Hill (0-54).

- In the category of "Ruining a Good Thing": Reports have the NCAA tournament possibly nearing an expansion to 96 teams. Adding more teams only further rewards mediocrity in power conferences.

- If Michael Snaer continues to play like this (13 points against Duke and 10 against Boston College on 9 of 16 shooting) Florida State will be a team no one wants to face in the ACC or NCAA tournaments. FSU plays great defense, but they need someone to open up the perimeter.