3 Keys: 'Canes Hope to Subdue Pack and Reach ACC Quarterfinals

UM hopes to keep their season and their slim postseason hopes alive. NC State is on the wrong side of the bubble, and needs a big time run to catch the committee's eye.

What will be the keys to tonight's game for UM to keep playing and dent the Pack's chances?

#1 T.J. Warren is going to get his, control his supporting cast. There is a reason that Warren averaged an eye popping 24.8 ppg, and won ACC Player of the Year. Warren is a straight beast who could step on an NBA Floor tomorrow and hang tough. He's going to score. But if you let guys like Desmond Lee and Ralston Turner get going and compliment Warren, you are in big trouble. Turner in particular is key. In NCSU's 56-55 win over UM on 2/8 he went for 17. However in Miami's 85-70 win in the rematch on 3/1, he tallied just 9.

#2 Continue hitting the glass. With Tonye Jekiri's improvement, Erik Swoope's relentless hustle, and big guards Rion Brown and Garrius Adams chipping in, Miami is suddenly a force on the boards. Led by Jekiri's 12 and Swoope's 8. they out-rebounded VT 36-24 yesterday. In the season finale they annihilated Wake on the glass to the tune of a 38-19 advantage. Second chance points mean everything in this kind of a game. The 'Canes should have the advantage down low against the Pack. They will need it ,as making shots in back-to-back games is always a challenge due to fatigue.

#3 Take care of the basketball. UM pretty much controlled the action in their 85-70 victory over State on 3/1. Yet halfway through the second half they found themselves in a dog fight when they got sloppy with the ball. Manu Lecomte, Garrius Adams, and Davon Reed need to be on their game. With the Hurricanes playing for the second time in two days, look for Mark Gottfried to mix in some press to try and force careless errors.

Well there you have it folks. Be sure to check out the game tonight.

ACC Tournament
March 13, 2014 | 7 p.m.
Greensboro Coliseum | Greensboro, N.C.

TV: ESPN | ACC Network (All affiliates)

Radio: 560 WQAM | XM/Sirius 85
Web: WQAM.com | Watch ESPN

ACC Tournament website: www.theacc.com/ACCTourney

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