Inside the ACC

Destination -- Atlantic Coast Conference

GAME to watch

No. 14 N.C. State@No. 1 Duke

When -- Tonight, 7

TV -- ESPN

The point -- The second-steadiest team in the ACC last won at Cameron Indoor Stadium in 1995. The Wolfpack has had success against the Blue Devils in Raleigh, where it won in 2002-03 and 2003-04. In its lone ACC loss this season, N.C. State failed to execute its offense against North Carolina's extended defensive pressure. It must do better this time if it wants to derail Duke, which can improve to 17-0 for the first time since 1991-92. That's the season the Blue Devils won the second of their back-to-back NCAA championships.

BIG LITTLE MAN

Vernon Hamilton, Clemson

The point -- Field-goal percentage is typically dominated by big men, but then there's Hamilton, a 6-foot junior from Richmond, Va., who's the only guard among the conference leaders. Hamilton has made 50.3 percent of his attempts and is bidding to become the first Tigers guard to break even since 1988. He missed the start of Saturday's Duke game when his head bumped into a teammate's chin during pre-game introductions. Hamilton got stitched up, then went for a career-high 31 points.

UNGUARDED AGONY

Tigers at the line

The point -- Clemson made 54.1 percent of its field-goal attempts against Duke, but gave up too many good shots and failed miserably at the easiest attempt in the game, the free throw. The Tigers made a pitiful six of 21, but Oliver Purnell knew it was going to be a struggle on opening night two months ago, when Clemson went 7-for-18. Free throws become paramount at the end, as Maryland learned against Wake Forest on Sunday night.