It's Not All About John Wall

Five things we learned from a busy Tuesday night of hoops:

1. It's Not All About John Wall

South Carolina guard Devan Downey has operated below the national radar most of this season because the Gamecocks have been the definition of mediocre until their upset of No. 1 Kentucky Tuesday night. Downey isn't below the radar any more.

For all the understandable chatter about how good Kentucky's John Wall is, Downey was the star last night. Suddenly, he's in the mix for SEC player of the year -- Downey that is.

2. Jack It Up

If you didn't see the final few minutes of the Bobcats' overtime win at Phoenix, you missed seeing Stephen Jackson just will a tying 3-pointer in near the end of regulation. It was the kind of almost arrogant play the Bobcats have lacked through the years and a shining example of how Jackson has transformed this team. It was a big time bucket.

3. Feeling Blue ... In A Good Way

Was North Carolina's win at N.C. State a season-saver? It may be too soon to call it that but the Tar Heels' victory stopped the bleeding and eased some very worried minds around Chapel Hill.

The Tar Heels are still limited -- they could use a spot-up 3-pointer shooter to take pressure off their inside guys -- but they responded to a big moment by winning in Raleigh.

4. There's More To Come

Tonight, the Charlotte 49ers host 15th-ranked Temple at Halton Arena in a game that could go a long way toward defining the 49ers' season. A win and Charlotte is in position to make a run at the Atlantic-10 regular-season championship and a return to the NCAA tournament. It's been a while since the Niners have had a game like this one.

5. Then There's Duke

The Blue Devils are home tonight against Florida State at 9 p.m. The Seminoles may have picked a bad time to visit Durham.

Who wins the N.C. State-UNC game?

A five-point primer for tonight's North Carolina-N.C. State basketball game:

1. The Red Coat

Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe (above) is almost guaranteed to wear his snappy red sport coat on the sideline tonight. It’s fair to assume his counterpart, Roy Williams (right), doesn’t own a red sports coat. But considering how his Tar Heels have played recently, Williams might consider wearing one if it would help.






2. If N.C. State wins…


There will be justifiable excitement on Hillsborough Street considering the modest expectations for this Wolfpack team and the dearth of victories against the Tar Heels in recent years. Someone might actually mention the prospect of a post-season tournament appearance for the Pack.

3. If North Carolina wins…

A late-night breeze will blow across the state as Tar Heel fans let loose a giant sigh of relief. The Tar Heels won the national championship 10 months ago, but it seems a distant memory.

4. Why It Matters So Much

If you don’t think there’s a difference in the states of North Carolina and South Carolina, you haven’t lived in both. It’s the same with N.C. State and North Carolina. They’re neighbors and part of the same educational system but they’re as different as Rush Limbaugh and Keith Olberman.

5. Who Wins?

North Carolina 71, N.C. State 67

Super Bowl, super bowling to start your day

A five-point way to start your day while wondering how long it will be before Brett Favre makes his retirement official -- again:

1. Start Your Wagers

The early line has Indianapolis as a four-point favorite over the New Orleans Saints in the Super Bowl though that's likely to wiggle some, especially early.

That's purely about football. On the emotional side, the Saints will be the overwhelming favorite (and the certain pick of those above) given their history and what happened in New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina. Get ready to hear a lot -- a whole lot -- about that.

Can't decide? You have time. The game is Feb. 7.

2. Who's League Is it?

After a busy weekend of ACC basketball, the new week begins with Virginia and Maryland (and coach Gary Williams, below) tied for the lead with matching 3-1 records. Not exactly the way most of us saw it shaking it out -- but it's still relatively early.


3. Say Hello To Carmelo

Their six-game winning streak behind them, the Bobcats start a long western swing tonight in Denver dragging a two-game losing streak with them. It doesn't help that the trip starts against one of the NBA's hottest teams, featuring Carmelo Anthony, and in the mile-high atmosphere of Denver. It's on SportsSouth starting at 9 p.m.

4. Bill's Big Day?

Charlotte native Bill Haas (right) starts the final round of the rain-delayed Bob Hope Classic one shot behind co-leaders Alex Prugh and Bubba Watson. Haas, son of Jay, is still seeking his first PGA Tour victory.

Want to watch? It's on the Golf Channel, with coverage starting at 3 p.m.




5. Want To Go Bowling?

On Sunday, Kelli Kulick (left) became the first woman to ever win a PBA event, naturally raising the question of whether it will spark new interest in bowling. Given the weather around here recently, bowling beats most of the outdoor alternatives.

-- Ron Green Jr.

Five questions for the weekend

Five sports-related questions to ponder as the weekend arrives:

1. Who's going to the Super Bowl?

Vegas says it's the Colts and the Saints. Jets coach Rex Ryan says he'll be shocked if his team doesn't go to the Super Bowl. And if the Vikings lose, the will he or won't he return questions will start immediately about Brett Favre.

The prospect of Drew Brees (right) and Favre flinging it Sunday night (6:30 p.m., FOX, WCCB-TV channel 18) with a spot in the Super Bowl on the line is more exciting than free shrimp.

The Colts play the upstart New York Jets in the warmup. (3 p.m., CBS, WBTV channel 3).



2. Can Duke win on the road?

So far, the Blue Devils are 0-3 in true road games this season and they're in Littlejohn Coliseum Saturday night to meet Clemson. It doesn't get the recognition of Cameron Indoor Stadium or some other arenas but there aren't many tougher places to play than Littlejohn when the place is full and the crowd is engaged. It'll be roaring Saturday. There may even be a Danny Ford sighting in the building.

3. Will tonight be lucky No. 7 for the Bobcats?

They're in Atlanta tonight (7 p.m., SportsSouth) where they'll put their six-game winning streak on the line against the Hawks. They come back home Saturday night to host Orlando (click here to buy tickets) before hitting the road for two weeks.







4. Is Virginia for real?

The Cavaliers are the only unbeaten team in ACC play but they'll face a tough test Saturday afternoon at Wake Forest. For the Deacons and coach Dino Gaudio (right), it's the kind of game they need to win if they're serious about being an NCAA tournament team in March.

5. Will the Tar Heels lose another one this weekend?

No chance.

They have the weekend off.

Hot: Bobcats, Nicklaus. Not: Heels, Devils

While trying to make sense of the ACC men’s basketball season, here are five things to consider:

1. Get Outta Town

Maybe that’s what it will take to slow down the Charlotte Bobcats.

After blowing through a perfect 6-0 homestand and climbing into fifth place in the Eastern Conference, the Bobcats head next to Atlanta for a Friday night game.

But don’t hurry. Enjoy this moment.

2. A New ACC World Order

In case you hadn’t noticed, the ACC world doesn’t revolve around Duke and North Carolina right now.

It wasn’t a shock that North Carolina lost to Wake Forest – the Deacons are dangerous – but seeing the Blue Devils get handled at N.C. State on the same night raised some questions about whether Duke really is the ACC’s best team this season.

If nothing else, it’s made things much more interesting this season.

3. Happy Birthday, Jack

Today is Jack Nicklaus’s 70th birthday. He’s spending it fishing on the far side of the world. Funny how his record looks more impressive than ever these days.

4. It’s Kobe vs. LeBron

The NBA’s two biggest stars go at it tonight in Cleveland. It doesn’t happen but twice during the regular season so you might want to pay attention.














5. It’s Still January But…

The Charlotte 49ers have put themselves in good position in the Atlantic 10 race with their 13-5 start. Next up: A game at LaSalle on Saturday.

Tobacco Road in all its glory

Here's a quick look at what's coming on a Wednesday sports day in January. All in all, not a bad line-up:

1. Smells Like Tobacco Road
-- Wake Forest at North Carolina, 7 p.m.

-- Duke at N.C. State, 9 p.m.

It doesn’t get a whole lot better than that around here if you’re into college hoops. Which team has the most pressing questions to answer?

That would be the Tar Heels.

2. A Six Pack Night

The Bobcats are going for a sixth straight win tonight when the Miami Heat visit. It’s the final game in a so-far-perfect homestand for the Bobcats.

Gerald Wallace is nursing a tender ankle but it didn’t stop him Monday against Sacramento. Still no word, though, on when Tyson Chandler might be back.

3. The Catamounts Are Coming

Coach Larry Hunter is quietly doing an outstanding job of rebuilding the Western Carolina basketball program. The Catamounts are 14-3 overall and leading the Southern Conference North Division with a 4-1 record entering their game tonight at Davidson. If Hunter’s name sounds familiar, he was a long-time assistant coach to Herb Sendek at N.C. State.

4. On To Richmond

That’s where the Charlotte 49ers play tonight. A Charlotte victory would put the Niners in third place in the Atlantic-10 race at this still-early point in the season.

5. Still Turning Left

The NASCAR media tour continues today with more talk from the various teams about how excited they are about the new season that starts next month at Daytona. There's been talk this week about how to make racing more interesting and competitive.

The answer seems pretty obvious -- figure out how to slow down Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 car.

Hot: Bobcats, Clemson, Petty, rivalries site

Five things you need to know while contemplating Gerald Wallace's ankle:

1. Heat Alert

There’s not a hotter team in the NBA right now than the Charlotte Bobcats, who have spent the past week getting fat on Western Conference teams that have rolled through town.

Next up – the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade (right) on Wednesday night. (To buy tickets, click here.)




2. ACC Hoops, southern style

Clemson’s visit to Georgia Tech tonight has become a big game in league play, especially for the Tigers, who need to demonstrate they can win on the road. The Tigers squeaked past N.C. State in Raleigh last Saturday and a win in Atlanta tonight would go a long way toward establishing them as one of the league’s top teams.





3. Racing noise

It’s the second day of the NASCAR media tour meaning there will be more preseason chatter about the 2010 season. Today’s featured team: Richard Petty Motorsports and Roush Fenway Racing.

4. Tiger Woods update

He may in a clinic in Hattiesburg, Miss. Then again, he may not. The Hattiesburg story has become the hot one though no one has been found who can say definitively they have seen Tiger in Brett Favre’s neighborhood.

It’s a good bet another half-dozen rumors/stories will pop up today.

Over the weekend, Tiger’s buddy, tennis great Roger Federer was quoted saying he’s spoken to Woods recently (he didn’t say where Tiger was at the time) and expects his friend to return to golf “soon.”

What “soon” means is anyone’s guess.

5. Head to Head

That’s the name of the website devoted to the Duke-North Carolina basketball rivalry that goes live today. There’s a clock counting down to the first regular-season meeting between the college basketball bluebloods, special features each day and places where you can chime in – regardless of which shade of blue you prefer.

-- Ron Green Jr.