The Next Play: More challenges ahead in 2022 as pandemic continues to be disruptive
If all goes as planned — and that’s always a guess during the pandemic — the Carolina Hurricanes will continue with their season in the first week of 2022. The ACC will play men’s and women’s basketball games, one headliner being the N.C. State-North Carolina women’s showdown at Reynolds Coliseum. With new COVID-19 quarantine rules in place, for the NHL and the ACC, any absences shouldn’t be as long or their impact as significant.
Trying to keep it going
The Canes were to have a road game Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, making for a memorable return game to Toronto for Canes goalie Frederik Andersen. But the game was postponed because of COVID and attendance restrictions in Ontario, Canada, and Andersen will have to wait to face his former team in Scotiabank Arena.
Everything remains fluid. As Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said Thursday, “It’s day to day with all this.” The Canes, after a New Year’s Day game at Columbus, have back-to-back home games scheduled later in the week against Calgary and Florida. They hope to play them.
Rival game for Pack, Heels
The N.C. State women’s basketball team ended 2021 ranked fifth in the nation, making it 23 consecutive polls that the Wolfpack women have been included in the top five. Now comes the rivalry game with North Carolina at Reynolds Coliseum.
The No. 24 Tar Heels moved to 13-0 by beating Syracuse on Thursday and were to host Clemson on Sunday. Then, it’s on to Raleigh on Thursday. UNC split with the Pack last season, winning in Chapel Hill when N.C. State was ranked fourth but losing 82-63 at Reynolds Coliseum in a February game.
Duke looks to get back on court
Mike Krzyzewski’s last season with the Blue Devils is taking a few unexpected turns with postponements, but Duke should be back on the court this coming week with home games Tuesday against Georgia Tech and Saturday against Miami. The No. 2 Blue Devils last played Dec. 22, beating Virginia Tech at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
After their Sunday game against Boston College, the Tar Heels are scheduled to stay on the road for a game at Notre Dame, then return to Chapel Hill to face Virginia on Saturday. But it’s a day-to-day thing in the ACC, as well, and should stay that way.
Consider that the ACC postponed four games set for Dec. 29. But not N.C. State at Miami. That game was played. The Wolfpack led much of the second half but could not close it out in a 91-83 loss. The Pack’s losing streak was four games heading into its home game Saturday against Florida State, with games to follow against Virginia Tech and Clemson to begin 2022.
