ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE
Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
March 7-11
NORTH CAROLINA
Record: 26-6, 14-4
Having won the ACC regular season, all signs point to the Tar Heels grabbing a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament. They’ll be the favorite in this, but UNC doesn’t often put everything into this Tournament. With Syracuse/Miami being their first matchup, it won’t get any easier with either Duke or Louisville in the semifinals. The Heels split with Duke and beat Louisville (at UNC) in their only meeting. But due to their size, it will be hard to argue against this team, much like when they won a year ago.
FLORIDA STATE
Record: 24-7, 12-6
The Seminoles managed to get a 2-seed in the ACC after going 3-6 in Conference road Games. Playing on a neutral cOurt, it’s hard to see this team making a run to win the title. Their first Game won’t be easy against Wake Forest or Virginia Tech, and then a meeting with Virginia or Notre Dame will be troublesome. The ‘Noles have a deep team with NBA talent, but that hasn’t shown up away from home this season.
NOTRE DAME
Record: 23-8, 12-6
The Irish have been a great Tournament team in recent seasons, but likely getting Virginia in their first Game could be a problem. In their only meeting this season, the Cavaliers won 71-54 in South Bend. If the Irish win that, they could make a run with FSU up next, but this team has little depth or size and will be hard to trust to win three Games.
LOUISVILLE
Record: 24-7, 12-6
The Cardinals got on the wrong side of the bracket all because of tiebreakers. To make the championship, they’ll likely have to go through Duke and then UNC. Louisville definitely has what it takes to make that run, but betting on them to beat Duke and UNC on back-to-back days will take some guts.
DUKE
Record: 23-8, 11-7
While Louisville has a tough road, Duke has one more Game in addition to that. The Blue Devils will likely draw Clemson in their first Game before having to deal with Louisville and North Carolina. For a team with loads of talent but little depth, it’s going to take an incredible run to win Four-straight Games against some of the best teams in the country.
VIRGINIA
Record: 21-9, 10-8
The Hoos got into a bit of a rough patch a couple weeks ago, but have returned to form in their last three. They have given up just 85 points total in their last two Games. To make things better, Virginia got on the favorable side of the ACC bracket. They’ll draw either Georgia Tech or Pittsburgh before Notre Dame and then possibly Florida State. While the road is long, they don’t play the type of Game that would wear them down a ton.
VIRGINIA TECH
Record: 21-9, 10-8
The Hokies got a decent draw as well, despite coming in as the 7-seed. However, the issue is that they’ll probably get Wake in their first Game, a team that just beat them in Blacksburg. A win in that Game would give them a meeting with an FSU team that beat them by 15 points back in January. The Hokies had a good season, but will likely only get a win or two in this Tournament.
SYRACUSE
Record: 18-13, 10-8
The Orange sit firmly on the bubble and their draw in the ACC Tournament doesn’t help much, especially for a team that has struggled on the road all season. Miami won’t be easy, but even with a win there, it’s hard to see ‘Cuse beating North Carolina. The Orange beat Miami 70-55, but that was back in January on their home cOurt.
MIAMI (FL)
Record: 20-10, 10-8
On the other end of the Orange are the Hurricanes, but they’re all set for the NCAA Tournament. The ‘Canes come into this one having lost two straight on the road, but with a win against Syracuse could give UNC a run for their money. They beat the Heels 77-62 back in January, and of course, that was in Coral Gables.
WAKE FOREST
Record: 18-12, 9-9
Sitting on the NCAA bubble, the Demon Deacons got a great spot in this Tournament and come in having won three consecutive Games. After Boston College, they get a beatable Virginia Tech (who they just beat on the road) and then an FSU team that hasn’t been good away from home all season.
Clemson and Georgia Tech have had surprising seasons, but it’s hard to see either one making a deep run in this Tournament. The Tigers have a good team, but would have to go through Duke, Louisville and UNC en route to the title Game.
Virginia may be the team to put money on coming out of the bottom of the bracket and playing elite defense. Florida State is the 2-seed, but will be hard to trust in New York. The Tar Heels won the Tournament last year and are favored to do so again, but there’s been a different winner in each of the past six seasons. To continue that trend, Louisville would be the team to bet on.