'Starting Five' - NCAA Tourney talk with Sports Columnist Greg Schimmel

Talking Maryland basketball, ACC and the national scene with Greg Schimmel, sports columnist for The Diamondback, the University of Maryland student newspaper

FFToolbox.com, one of the leaders in fantasy football coverage, continues to expand our sports coverage beyond the pigskin perspective with a foray into college hoops heaven, better known as the NCAA Tournament. Led by our point guard Ben Standig, we will pose our "Starting Five" questions to a series of sports writers, contributors and fans across the country, assisting our readers as they gear up for the madness of March. The segment will provide an overview of the upcoming NCAA Tournament, from the power conference and mid-major perspective, including teams in both camps hoping that their major post-season bubble will not burst.

First off Greg, let me thank you for your time and effort in helping FFToolbox.com with our college basketball post-season coverage. Ok, time for tip off...

1) This time of year, we always hear the chattering class arguing over which type of team should get those precious final at-large berths; a power conference team like Maryland or a mid-major school like Creighton or St. Mary's. What is your take on this bar room type argument and if, as some on the worldwide leader have suggested, the NCAA should do away with automatic bids?

Greg Schimmel - I think the power conference vs. mid-major question and the power conference vs. automatic bid question are two entirely different debates. First, the NCAA should absolutely NOT do away with automatic bids. Some of the best and most entertaining stories of the tournament come on the first two days when you see some of these small schools play against the nation's top programs. Plus, the inclusion of the automatic bid truly gives every team in the nation a chance to compete for a national championship.
For the final at-large bids, I think schools from power conferences should have an advantage over mid-major teams. Sure, you'll get a team like George Mason once in a while, but bubble teams from power conferences are more likely to succeed in the tournament, and they have bigger fan bases and more interest.

2) Losing the regular season finale to ACC bottom feeder Virginia capped a roller coaster ride of a season for the 18-12 Terrapins, who finished 7-9 in conference play. Where on the bubble do you have them right now and if they have not already earned a bid in your eyes, what do they have to accomplish in the ACC Tournament to ensure they receive one?

GS - As of right now the Terps are outside the field of 65. They need to win at least their first two ACC tournament games to have a chance to get in, and depending on how other bubble teams do that still might not be enough. Had they beaten UVA on Saturday, a win in the first round against NC State probably would have locked up a berth.

3) As in many years, the ACC is rather top heavy with UNC leading the way. How good are the Tar Heels and do you view any other ACC school as a serious final four contender?

GS - Well, we saw on our campus last month that the Tar Heels are beatable, but they are a very good team. They probably have at least five or six players that are legitimate NBA prospects. Wake Forest and Duke definitely could make a run to the Final Four, but I don't think either of them will.

4) How many ACC schools do you see making the NCAA Tournament?

A couple of weeks ago it looked like it might be eight or maybe even nine, but now I think only six will end up making it. North Carolina, Wake Forest, Duke, Florida State, Clemson and Boston College. If Maryland, Virginia Tech or Miami upsets a top four seed in the ACC tournament to get to the semifinals, you might see a seventh team get in. But I don't think either North Carolina or Wake Forest is going to lose in the quarterfinal round.

5) What is your ACC Tournament prediction?

GS - I like North Carolina over Duke in the championship game.

Sixth Man Bonus Question - Terrapins guard Greivis Vasquez; is he mad talented or a maddening talent?

GS - Greivis is a good player who also knows how to ruffle some feathers. Part of what makes him such a strong player is his relentless attitude on the floor. His showiness can rub people the wrong way, but he is definitely the Terps' best player and they wouldn't have done much without him this year.