ACC Tournament 2012 Bracket: Sleepers with Best Chance to Upset Duke and UNC

If UNC and Duke fail to meet in the 2012 ACC Championship Game it would be a complete disappointment.

For almost the entire season the once-powerful ACC was known primarily as "UNC, Duke and the other 10 teams."

The conference tournament gets underway today, and five of the 12 teams have records over .500 in the conference play. We know the surprising Florida State Seminoles, who were 12-4 in ACC play, and the Virginia Cavaliers, but which other teams are capable of springing upsets over the Tar Heels and Blue Devils. 

Miami Hurricanes (18-11, 9-7 ACC)

The Hurricanes upset Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium in overtime earlier this season. They have a balanced scoring set with good athleticism and can matchup with almost every team.

They also knocked off the Seminoles at home in a rout. They are a classic boom-or-bust hit in the ACC Tournament.

NC State Wolfpack (20-11, 9-7 ACC)

The Wolfpack don't have the marquee wins like the Hurricanes. However, they beat the Hurricanes twice.

NC State beat the teams they were supposed to (BC, GT, MD, Wake) but lost to every good team but the Hurricanes.

Their two run-ins with UNC weren't very close, but they did play Duke tough. If they put it all together they may be able to knock out one of the favorites.

Clemson Tigers (16-14, 8-8 ACC)

The Tigers had quite an up and down run through ACC play, but never came close to beating Duke or UNC, and they were fortunate enough to only play each of them once.

They did, however, knock off the Seminoles, Wolfpack and Cavaliers. They also suffered a disappointing loss at the hands of Boston College though.

Don't expect Clemson to shock the nation and run through the tournament, but they could surprise one of the giants if they come out sleepwalking.

First Round—March 8, 2012 (All Games Broadcast on ESPNU and ACC Network, Streaming on ESPN3.com)

Game 1: No. 8 Maryland vs. No. 9 Wake Forest, 12:00 p.m. EDT

Game 2: No. 5 North Carolina State vs. No. 12 Boston College, 2:00 p.m. EDT

Game 3: No. 7 Clemson vs. No. 10 Virginia Tech, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Game 4: No. 6 Miami vs. No. 11 Georgia Tech, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Quarterfinals—March 9, 2012 (All Games Broadcast on ESPN 2 and ACC Network)

Game 5: No. 1 North Carolina vs. Maryland/Wake Forest Winner, 12:00 p.m. EDT

Game 6: No. 4 Virginia vs. NC State/Boston College Winner, 2:00 p.m. EDT

Game 7: No. 2 Duke vs. Clemson/Virginia Tech Winner, 7:00 p.m. EDT

Game 8: No. 3 Florida State vs. Miami/Georgia Tech Winner, 9:00 p.m. EDT

Semifinals—March 10, 2012 (All Games Broadcast on ESPN and ACC Network)

Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner, 1:00 p.m. EDT

Game 10: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner, 3:00 p.m. EDT (Streaming on ESPN3.com)

Finals—March 11, 2012 (ESPN and ACC Network, Streaming on ESPN3.com)

Game 11: Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner