ACC Basketball: Predicting the Postseason Result for Every Team

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An entertaining and arduous ACC regular season wraps on in one week. Then all attention shifts to the conference tournament, which annually supplies suspense and surprises.

Some teams can lock up a top seed in the NCAA tournament with a strong showing in ACC tourney action. Other programs are one loss away from complete postseason elimination, left with nothing else to do but bid farewell to senior players.

Based on what we know now about each ACC squad, let's take a look at how the postseason could play out. The conference tournament gets underway March 14 in Greensboro, N.C.

Boston College

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Prediction: Lose to Florida State in first round of ACC tournament, no postseason

The Eagles began the season 9-6 but suffered a five-game conference losing streak. Boston College is 0-4 versus ranked opponents and has dropped five ACC games by a double-digit margin.

After drawing the No. 11 seed in conference tourney, the Eagles are unable to overcome a Florida State squad still holding onto hope for an NCAA tournament berth. The Seminoles bounce BC in Round 1.

Clemson

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Prediction: Lose to Georgia Tech in first round of ACC tournament, no postseason

Clemson is left out of postseason tournament action for the second straight season. It's a negative development for head coach Brad Brownell, who reached the NCAA tournament in 2011 to extend the Tigers' streak to four years.

Clemson meets Georgia Tech in the opening round of conference tournament. The Tigers lose a close contest and are sent packing.

Duke

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Prediction: ACC tournament champions, No. 1 seed in NCAA tournament, lose in Final Four

The resounding return of senior Ryan Kelly quickly erases the agony of a recent loss to Virginia. Duke is 16-0 when the 6'11" sharpshooter suits up, and he provides a healthy dose of veteran savvy.

Mason Plumlee is an anchor inside, averaging a double-double per contest. Guards Seth Curry and Quinn Cook are cold-blooded long-distance shooters and freshman Rasheed Sulaimon is an emerging standout.

The Blue Devils knock off Maryland (for the second year in a row), North Carolina and Virginia on the way to an ACC tournament title, their 11th since 1999. The run earns Duke a top seed in the NCAA tournament and Coach K reaches his 12th Final Four. 

Florida State

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Prediction: Lose to Virginia in ACC tournament quarterfinals, No. 7 seed in NIT, lose in first round

The defending ACC tournament champions haven't been able to recapture the magic in 2013. The Seminoles haven't won consecutive games since Jan. 9.

Florida State has lost five conference games by at least 18 points and simply isn't an impressive squad. The Seminoles get past Boston College in the opening round but are eliminated by Virginia in an ACC quarterfinal matchup. 

Georgia Tech

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Prediction: Lose to Miami in ACC quarterfinals, No. 4 seed in CBI, lose in quarterfinals

The Yellow Jackets are left out of the NCAA tournament for the sixth time in eight years. Georgia Tech hasn't owned a win streak since 2012 and suffered a season sweep against a struggling Clemson squad.

This team escapes the opening round of ACC tourney action before falling to Miami for the third time this season. Coach Brian Gregory gets his team a CBI bid but the journey doesn't last long.

Maryland

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Prediction: Lose to Duke in ACC tournament quarterfinals, No. 1 seed in NIT, lose in semifinal

The Terps suffered untimely losses at Georgia Tech and Boston College in February. Those defeats will ultimately haunt Maryland when the NCAA selection committee unveils a tournament bracket devoid of Terps.

Maryland upset Duke and  N.C. State during the regular season so the squad is a dangerous draw in ACC play. After topping Wake Forest in the first round, the Terrapins lose to eventual conference champion Duke. 

Miami

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Prediction: Lose to Virginia in ACC tournament semifinal, No. 2 seed in NCAA tournament, lose in Sweet 16

After rumbling through its first 13 conference games without a loss, Miami has suddenly suffered ACC losses on consecutive Saturdays. There's nothing to be ashamed of when losing by three points at Duke, but the Blue Devils are now in position to build momentum for a postseason run.

Meanwhile, seeds of doubt may be growing in the minds of Miami players.

The Hurricanes knock off Georgia Tech before succumbing to Virginia in ACC semifinal round. Duke edges out Miami for a No. 1 seed in NCAA tournament, but a No. 2 slot is an excellent fallback plan for upstart Miami.

North Carolina

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Prediction: Lose to Duke in ACC tournament semifinal, No. 6 seed in NCAA tournament, eliminated in second round

The Tar Heels have overcome a lackluster start (10-5, 0-2 in conference) to lock up a spot in the NCAA tourney. North Carolina, currently riding a four-game win streak, claims victory over Virginia Tech in the conference quarterfinals to set up another showdown with Duke.

The Blue Devils win the latest classic matchup in college basketball's best series and UNC settles for a No. 6 seed in the NCAA tournament. Ultimately, the team's inconsistent shooting prematurely ends any hopes of a third national title for Roy Williams.

North Carolina State

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Prediction: Lose to Virginia Tech ACC tournament opening round, No. 9 seed in NCAA tournament, lose in first round

The Wolfpack were selected No. 1 in the ACC Preseason Poll but it's been far from smooth sailing this year. N.C. State is 6-6 in its last 12 games. 

The team suffers a stunning upset to 12th-seeded Virginia Tech in ACC tournament and struggles to recover in NCAA tournament. Wolfpack are sent home in the opening round wondering what went wrong after so much summer hype.

Virginia

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Prediction: Lose to Duke in ACC Championship, No. 7 seed in NCAA tournament, lose in Sweet 16

The Cavs are riding the wave after a thrilling win over Duke. Virginia is a well-rounded offensive group that gets after the ball on defense with ferocity.

Those traits drive UVA to victories over Florida State and Miami. The Cavs fall short of another win against Duke in the ACC title game.

After reaching its first conference championship since 1994, Virginia claims a No. 7 seed in NCAA tournament. The Cavs win a pair before bowing out.

Virginia Tech

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Prediction: Lose to North Carolina in ACC quarterfinal, no postseason

The Hokies shock college fans across the country by pulling off an upset in opening round of the ACC tournament, but the team is no match for UNC in quarterfinals competition.

Virginia Tech's season is defined by a nine-game conference losing streak. That horrific stretch leaves the Hokies with no place to play in the postseason.

Wake Forest

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Prediction: Lose to Maryland in ACC tournament opening round, no postseason

Another year, another disappointing conclusion for embattled Demon Deacons coach Jeff Bzdelik. The third-year Wake Forest leader hasn't reached the NCAA tournament since he took Air Force to the big dance in 2006.

Wake Forest wilts against Maryland in the first round of conference tourney action and talk about Bzdelik's future in Winston-Salem continues to swirl.