ACC Tournament 2013 Bracket: Power Ranking Title Hopefuls

The ACC tournament is going to bring more excitement to a conference that has already been competitive, hard-fought and above all else, entertaining. 

This conference is loaded with top teams and scrappy afterthoughts hoping to seize an opportunity to extend their March run. 

However, this article is going to focus on the top teams, as I break down the three favorites to emerge as champions. But first, check out the bracket, via TheACC.com.

No. 3: North Carolina Tar Heels 

North Carolina has redefined itself as the season has progressed. They switched to a four-guard lineup and haven't looked back. 

The Tar Heels have lost just three games in their past 12 contests, and that followed a stretch where they went just 5-4.

With the speedier lineup, junior Reggie Bullock has flourished. He has hit double figures in scoring in nine of his last 11 games, and he's averaging 10 boards over his last five games.

The problem for the Tar Heels is that they are still struggling against their tougher opponents. Those three losses in the past 12 that we mentioned? They came against our next two teams, to run their combined record to 0-4 against Miami and Duke. 

No. 2: Miami Hurricanes

It would appear that Miami's stellar season has stalled at the wrong time.

The Hurricanes have lost three of their last five, and one of those was a 15-point drubbing at Wake Forest.

At the heart of Miami's strong season has been its defense. The Hurricanes are 31st in the nation in points allowed per game at 59.9. Over their last five, they have allowed 67.4. In their three losses, to Duke and Georgia Tech to go along with Wake, they surrendered 76.7 per contest. 

In each of those three losses, they allowed the opposition to shoot better than 50 percent from the field.

While this is a concerning trend, Miami looked fabulous closing out the season by trouncing Clemson 62-49, and I'm picking them in every matchup that doesn't involve our next team. 

No. 1 Duke

Duke is the most talented team in this conference...when they are healthy.

As fate will have it, Duke is healthy. After missing 13 games with a foot injury, senior forward Ryan Kelly returned to action on March 2 against Miami. Duke has not lost since—granted, that has only been a span of three games, but it does include a victory over North Carolina to go with the Miami win.

Kelly's return has allowed Duke's core players to focus on their strengths, and Mason Plumlee and Seth Curry have been fantastic. 

The Blue Devils are complete, experienced and ready to take this tournament.