Virginia Basketall: Predictions for Cavaliers in the ACC Tournament

The Virginia Cavaliers (28-2, 16-2) capped off their second straight ACC regular-season championship with a win at Syracuse last Monday. It was the first time in ACC history that a team won 16 conference games in back-to-back seasons. The Hoos are also the first team—away from Tobacco Road—to win back-to-back regular-season championships.

Not bad, huh?

After all, UVa wasn't supposed to be able to match last season's record-breaking campaign. Joe Harris and Akil Mitchell were both gone, Louisville was a new addition in the ACC and Duke added more McDonald's All-Americans to an already strong roster. 

The Cavaliers got off to a 19-0 start this season before blowing a late lead to Duke on January 31 in Charlottesville. Unfortunately for Virginia, it lost the regular-season finale to Louisville on Saturday, 59-57, after Mangok Mathiang hit a wide-open jumper with 2.7 seconds left to give the Hoos just their second defeat of the season.

Virginia takes the court again on Thursday at noon ET. Can the Cavaliers win a second straight outright ACC title, too? 

Justin Anderson Won't Play in the Opener

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Justin Anderson

Junior guard Justin Anderson was on his way to becoming a first-team All-ACC selection before breaking a finger on his shooting hand in the February 7 win over Louisville. Anderson was averaging over 13 points per game, shooting almost 49 percent from three-point range—tops in the ACC—and playing outstanding defense. 

Anderson—named to the All-ACC second team on Monday, per CollegeBasketballTalk—was set to return last Saturday at Louisville. However, Anderson underwent an appendectomy last Thursday, and his status for the ACC tournament is in doubt. 

There's a good chance Anderson won't be available at all for the tournament. Recovery times vary for this procedure. In all likelihood, Anderson won't be available for UVa's first game, but he could come back for Friday's semifinals—if the Hoos make it—with a rematch against Louisville or UNC seeming quite possible.

Head coach Tony Bennett would like to see Anderson get some court time before the Hoos play in the NCAA tournament next week. Getting him back this week would be a tremendous boost for the the No. 3 Cavaliers. 

Virginia Will Face Louisville in the Semifinals

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Virginia's Anthony Gill and Louisville's Montrezl Harrell battle under the basket

Predicting who will win games, especially in March, is always an impossible task. After all, it's called March Madness for a reason. But it's tough to imagine that top-seeded Virginia won't at least make it to the semifinals in the ACC tournament.

The Hoos will have to defeat either Clemson or Florida State on Thursday to get to Friday's semifinals. 

As for their projected opponent, the Hoos could be looking at a third game with Louisville. The Cardinals, seeded fourth and also receiving a double bye, will likely have to dispatch North Carolina to get a rubber match with the Hoos. 

While traditional ACC fans would love to see UVa and UNC battle in the tourney, a UVa/Louisville game would be the better matchup. Both games went down to the wire in the regular season, and after last week's physical contest, a third game would be fun to watch. 

The Cavaliers Will Defeat Duke in the ACC Championship Game

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Duke's Grayson Allen tries to get past UVa's Anthony Gill and Justin Anderson on January 31

Duke barely defeated Virginia in the 2013-14 regular season, protecting their home court in Durham with a 69-65 victory on January 13, 2014. The Cavaliers got revenge in the ACC tournament championship game, though, with a 72-63 win for their first ACC title since 1976.

This season, UVa's first loss came at the hands of Duke, as the Blue Devils went to Charlottesville and pulled out a 69-63 win. 

Can the same thing that happened one year ago happen again this season?

Sure it can. And it will.

Both teams are playing at a high level right now. Duke, arguably, is playing at an even higher level, but Virginia will correct the mistakes it made in the regular season. The Cavaliers allowed way too many points in transition in the loss to Duke. That won't happen again.

Virginia will exact revenge and win its second straight outright ACC title. 

Malcolm Brogdon Will Be Named MVP of the ACC Tournament

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Malcolm Brogdon

If Virginia wins its second straight ACC championship, who will be named MVP?

Junior guard Malcolm Brogdon, named to the All-ACC first team for the second consecutive year, is the answer.

Brogdon, who deferred to Anderson several times early in the season, has played some of his better basketball as of late. He's one of the top all-around players in the country and does everything well.

He has, however, struggled with his shot at times this season. But in the loss to Louisville, Brogdon showed his willingness to take a clutch shot in the waning seconds of the game. Brogdon's three with just under 10 seconds left almost gave UVa the victory.

Brogdon will be steady throughout the tournament. He'll lead the Hoos in scoring each game and hit more than one clutch shot that will help seal another ACC title for the Cavaliers.