Headlines: BC-NC State Tonight

Brian: Two games remain in the men's basketball regular season. Tonight at NC State and then the Eagles come home to face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Saturday. Currently, most bracketologists and tournament experts have BC seeded as a #9. To me, this is extremely bad news. I hope the Eagles can either win their last two games and make some noise in the ACC Tournament to improve their resume and earn a #7 seed ... or fall back into the #10 or #11 range. Reason I am so worried about the #8 and #9 seeds is because inevitably, should the Eagles win their first round matchup, they would face a #1 in the Round of 32.

Knowing how the NCAA Tournament selection committee thinks ... and with two Big East teams as almost guaranteed No. 1 seeds at this point (Connecticut and Pittsburgh) ... you know we'll end up in the Midwest bracket with a second round matchup against our former Big East foe Pittsburgh. (The Eagles can't be placed in the East regional since we are a host school this year). I'd rather be spared the embarrassment of being bounced from the NCAAs by yet another Big East school.

Jeff, you will be at the game tonight. Just how important are these next two games leading into the ACC Tournament? And do you think the committee's penchant for matching BC up with a Big East school in the NCAA pairings is intentional?

Jeff: The next two games are extremely important for the Eagles because they have huge implications for their postseason tournaments. I am not so much concerned about being in the 8-9 game this year because the top teams that are likely to get #1 seeds are not much better than the Wake Forests, Dukes, Villanovas, etc. that are going to be 2, 3, and 4 seeds. Also, BC has already proven it can beat the best with their win over North Carolina earlier this year. If however, the Eagles have any thoughts of an ACC crown, which is a huge IF I know, the Eagles must win their next two games and be a top 4 seed for the ACC tournament in Atlanta. With a first round bye they get a very winable game against a team that will be playing on less than 24 hours rest and a win win suddenly put them into the semifinals.

Brian: Unfortunately though, two wins to finish out the regular season alone do not guarantee us a bye. BC also needs Clemson to lose to Wake Forest this weekend since Clemson beat BC during the regular season and could also finish 10-6.

Jeff: True, but BC needs to assume Clemson will lose to Wake Forest and play like that first round bye is on the line. 10-6 in the ACC is also likely to move us up a spot or two in the NCAA tournament with an potential strong ACC tournament run moving us up are high as a 5 seed without winning the tournament which could still get us a 4 seed.

Brian: Prediction for tonight's game?

Jeff: I'll be at the game and you know I would've picked the Eagles anyway. The Eagles have had more success against NC State since joining the conference than any other school and tonight should be no different. Eagles roll in the end after a competitive first 30 minutes.