1 For The Money, 2 For The Show

We all know it’s a numbers game. That some opponents just have your number, that numbers crunching is the path to insight and understanding.

And, of course, you know you’re doomed when your number is up.

These days a lot of numbers are up -- consecutive numbers, jersey numerals that make players look a bit like they were removed from a box and set out on the court in robotic fashion.

The numerals worn are confined to a relatively narrow range -- NCAA Rule 1, Section 22, Article 7, Clause b. 2 prevents college basketball players from wearing numerals 6, 7, 8 or 9. This makes it easy for game officials to signal personal fouls using two hands. Nothing like modernizing the game.

In the ACC four teams – Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest -- have not been swept by this collective affectation in 2017-18. Boston College takes it to a different extreme, with three runs of four consecutive numerals on its 14-man preseason roster.

Three of the league’s top teams – Louisville, Miami and North Carolina – have rosters with players wearing 0,1,2,3,4 and 5. Most times, but not all, the numerical runs start with zero and go from there.

Only Duke and Virginia Tech lack anyone who wears “O”.

That has to count for something.