North Carolina Basketball: What's Needed to Win the ACC

It's simple: Wins are needed, and perhaps a stroke of good fortune. 

With only a handful of games left and being on the bad end of the tiebreaker with Florida State, UNC can't afford any more stumbles on the way to Cameron for the annual "who wins the ACC?" game.

It's crunch time, and the one favorable things  the Tar Heels is the Duke/ Florida State rematch on Thursday. 

Duke will be out to avenge their home loss to the Seminoles a month ago. Should they win, UNC can lock up the ACC outright by marching out of Durham with a W.

Not an easy task at any time, but the idea of taking fate into their own hands is a much better one than leaving it up to Florida State to take a loss in their final three games against Miami, Virginia and Clemson. 

Virginia is having an unheralded good year—reaching 20 wins for the first time since the '06-'07 season—and has a legitimate chance to play the role of spoiler for Florida State.

If FSU takes a second win from Duke, that will be the game that Tar Heel fans watch the closest, to see if the Cavaliers can save the ACC for North Carolina.

With all the possibilities that come into play, it's feeling like March Madness already. All of those possibilities aside though, none of it will matter unless Harrison Barnes and company put away the rest of the season.

They are clicking well at the right time, with Barnes and Tyler Zeller putting up gaudy numbers on a regular basis. These efforts have to continue for just two more weeks to hold up their end of the bargain.

One of the upcoming games before Duke is key, as the Heels visit Virginia for a rematch. The Cavaliers have the opportunity to spoil it for North Carolina, just as they did against Florida State earlier this year.

Earlier in the season, UNC beat Virginia 70-52, led by Zeller's 25 points. It was one of the strongest games of the season for the big man, and one that was desperately needed after the heart breaking loss to Duke. 

All players need to repeat their performances, especially Zeller. When's he's playing well, the floor opens up for Barnes and Bullock.

Perimeter shooting is going to be key in the final stretch of games, especially against Duke. Perhaps more important than perimeter shooting against Duke, however, is perimeter defense.

With the conference on the line, there will be no room to allow Austin Rivers and Seth Curry to knock down shot after shot from outside. 

The next few weeks are shaping up to be about as dramatic as possible. Three teams are in the mix for the league championship, with one dark horse in position to break the hearts of a campus before the season is even over. 

Like the Christmas season, March Madness seems to start a little bit earlier every year. Isn't it great?