Buoyed by a top recruiting class, Duke started the season ranked first in the nation and wide favorites to cut down the nets in San Antonio. It probably went without saying that they would take the ACC as well. However, the Blue Devils did not win the ACC, nor did they come even close. Virginia, picked sixth in the ACC, won the conference by four games and is the top ranked team in the country. Regardless of what happens in this tournament, the Cavaliers will most likely stay as the top seeded team in the NCAA Tournament, and the new favorite to cut down the nets next month.
All fifteen teams in the ACC will participate in this tournament that will take place in five rounds. The top four teams received a double bye to the quarterfinals, while the teams seeded fifth through ninth received a single bye to the second round. The entire tournament will take place in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
First Round-Tuesday, March 6th
#13 Georgia Tech vs. #12 Boston College
#15 Pittsburgh vs. #10 Notre Dame
#14 Wake Forest vs. #11 Syracuse
Second Round-Wednesday, March 7th
#9 Louisville vs. #8 Florida State
#13 Georgia Tech vs. #5 NC State
#10 Notre Dame vs. #7 Virginia Tech
#11 Syracuse vs. #6 North Carolina
Quartefinals-Thursday, March 8th
#8 Florida State vs. #1 Virginia
#5 NC State vs. #4 Clemson
#10 Notre Dame vs. #2 Duke
#6 North Carolina vs. #3 Miami
Semifinals-Friday, March 9th
#4 Clemson vs. #1 Virginia
#6 North Carolina vs. #2 Duke
Final-Saturday, March 10th
Virginia ran through the ACC this year, only losing one game to Virginia Tech. They have held opponents over the entire season to a staggering 53 points a game, not allowing a single opponent to get to 70 points all year. They may only average 67 points themselves, but with a defense like that, offense isn't necessary. This defense will be the reason the Cavaliers win this tournament, just as they won the regular season title.
North Carolina 57, Virginia 65
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