ACC Tournament: Why UNC Will Prevail, Plus Predictions for Every Matchup
It may not have the same appeal as the Big East Tournament, but there is still a lot at stake in this week's ACC Tournament.
Duke is still fighting for the final No. 1 seed, and North Carolina could finish as high as a second seed.
Meanwhile, teams on the bubble like Virginia Tech and Boston College could solidify their tournament resumes with strong showings.
From the opening round games all the way to the championship, here are predictions for every matchup in the ACC Tourney.
Opening Round: No. 9 Miami over No. 8 Virginia
1 of 11
Miami won the only matchup between these teams this season, a 70-68 overtime thriller.
Neither of these teams are tournament worthy—both were under .500 in conference play, and between the two they only have one win over a ranked team.
The edge goes to Miami because of their three point shooting. (They shoot close to 40 percent as a team.)
Furthermore, Virginia's leading scorer Mike Scott has been out since late December. The Cavs are a different team without him.
I like Miami, 75-68 over Virginia.
Opening Round: No. 5 Boston College over No. 12 Wake Forest
2 of 11
This is an easy game to predict. Wake has been awful this year, entering the conference tournament on a 10-game losing streak and with only one conference win.
Boston College is lead by guard Reggie Jackson, who averages over 18 points a game, while also dishing out close to five assists and shooting 50 percent from the field.
Boston College won their regular season finale 84-68 over Wake.
I look for a similar result in this rematch. Boston College wins easily, 80-65.
Opening Round: No. 10 NC State over No. 7 Maryland
3 of 11
Maryland is in the top 25 nationally in points per game, rebounds, assists, and field goal percentage, yet sit just five games over .500.
It has been a difficult, disappointing season for the Terps, who are on the verge of missing their first NCAA tournament since 2008.
Maryland also has not ended the year well, entering the conference tournament on a three game losing streak.
NC State was in a similar position in last year's ACC Tournament as an eleven seed, and made it all the way to the semifinals.
I don't foresee another deep run for the Wolfpack, but I see them upsetting a rattled Maryland team, 68-64.
.png?w=256 "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship")
Opening Round: No. 6 Virginia Tech over No. 11 Georgia Tech
4 of 11
The Hokies have had a bit of a letdown since beating then number one Duke in late February, losing their final two games of conference play.
Guard Malcolm Delaney is second in the ACC in scoring, and Virginia Tech blew out Georgia Tech, 102-77, in their most recent matchup.
Virginia Tech has been on the wrong side of the bubble the previous two years, and a win here would really help with the selection committee.
I see Virginia Tech playing a solid, high-intensity game and prevailing, 72-62.
Quarterfinals: No. 1 UNC over No. 9 Miami
5 of 11
North Carolina is one of the most talented teams in the country, but also one of the youngest.
The pressure of being ranked eighth in the preseason poll, coupled with a difficult non-conference schedule, dropped the Heels from national rankings, and fans wondered if this season was to be a repeat of last.
However, UNC responded to the adversity, winning 20 of their final 23 games. Surprisingly, it was UNC, not preseason No. 1 Duke, who won the ACC regular season title.
UNC is back, and their size (they lead the NCAA in rebounding) will prove to be too much for an undersized Miami team. UNC wins, 75-62.
Quarterfinals: No. 4 Clemson over No. 5 Boston College
6 of 11
This game will be a dogfight. Both teams were 9-7 in conference play, and are separated by only one loss in their overall records.
Clemson is a very balanced offensive team, with six players averaging over eight points a game. They won the only regular season matchup against Boston College, 77-69.
I think the rest Clemson earned via their first round bye will really help, and I see them winning a close one, 67-65.
Quarterfinals: No. 2 Duke over No. 10 NC State
7 of 11
Duke is once again in line for another deep NCAA tournament run, lead by National POY candidate Nolan Smith.
The Dukies have outside scoring very few other teams can match, and when the Plumlee brothers play with physicality down low, they are a very tough team to beat.
Although they only finished with four losses, Duke has not always looked the part of the dominant team many thought would repeat as National Champions.
They have not played great against quality competition, with just a 2-2 record against teams with a top 25 RPI.
Duke may need an ACC Tournament Championship to hold on to their projected No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The journey starts against NC State. Duke is far too talented a team for the Wolfpack to keep up with. The Dukies prevail, 80-68.
Quarterfinals: No. 6 Virginia Tech over No. 3 FSU
8 of 11
Florida State is a great defensive team, but are offensively challenged to say the least.
They average more turnovers than assists, and discounting their two victories over Wake Forest, scored over 70 points only twice in conference play.
Furthermore, the injury to leading scorer Chris Singleton leaves the Noles with only one player scoring in double figures.
FSU has posted a 3-2 record in his absence, but I don't see them scoring enough to get past Delaney and the Hokies. Virginia Tech wins a low-scorer, 62-56.
Semifinals: No. 1 UNC over No. 4 Clemson
9 of 11
The ACC is a rather weak conference, with only two teams ranked in the Top 25.
Those two teams, however, are both ranked in the top 10.
UNC and Duke both have a giant advantage over the rest of the ACC in terms of talent and depth.
Although Clemson is the four seed in the ACC, I don't see this game being close.
UNC holds the NCAA record for most consecutive home games won over a single opponent—Clemson.
I see the Carolina fans traveling well to support their team(Greensboro Coliseum is less than an hour drive from Chapel Hill), giving them a home-like atmosphere. UNC prevails, 72-60.
Semifinals: No. 2 Duke over No. 6 Virginia Tech
10 of 11
Virginia Tech won the only meeting between these teams this season, playing a great defensive game and winning 64-60.
Those 60 points scored were well below Duke's season average of 81. Duke was only 4-of-20 from three point range, and only had six assists.
Coach K will be sure to look at film from that game and come up with some new offensive sets to help improve the team's flow.
Duke is too talented a team to be held to that few points again. Virginia Tech will have to score more this time around to defeat Duke again.
I foresee another close game, but this time Duke is victorious, 70-65.
Championship: No. 1 UNC over No. 2 Duke
11 of 11
Harrison Barnes was supposed to be the All-World freshman for North Carolina. But, after Larry Drew abruptly left the program, Kendall Marshall was forced to take up that title.
Mr. Marshall has responded with flying colors. He leads the team in assists, and his smart, fluid way of running the offense transformed UNC into the national title contender you see today.
Duke and UNC split their two regular season matchups, but UNC could have easily won both. They led 51-39 at half of the first game, before Seth Curry and Nolan Smith turned it on in the second half to give Duke the win.
Curry and Smith hit some really tough shots that game, and that's what great players do. But, for the most part, contested shots will miss the basket.
North Carolina played good defense on Smith and Curry that game; they just hit contested jumpers with a hand in the face.
Take away that second half, and UNC has outscored Duke 132-106 this season. In those games, Marshall has an assist to turnover ratio of 17-3.
I see Marshall being the difference maker yet again, and UNC winning the ACC Tournament, 85-81.
.png?w=480 "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
