ACC Madness is Here!

UNC

The Heels seem to be hitting their stride around the same time as last season when they had to adjust to Larry Drew II leaving. This time they’ve had to adjust to losing their best defender in Dexter Strickland. Reggie Bullock has had to fill that gap and has done an exceptional job. Bullock has also given UNC an offensive spark which is something the Heels really needed. With Bullock and Harrison Barnes on the floor, UNC has two legit scoring threats on the perimeter which makes them awfully hard to guard.

BIG DANCE ADVANCE: If they can get easy baskets in transition and play lockdown defense. UNC leads the nation in rebounding and is ranked second in scoring. They should be able to ride ACC Player of the Year Tyler Zeller and John Henson all the way to the Final Four.

SENT PACKING: If they don’t defend the perimeter. With Strickland out UNC will have a tough time against teams with good backcourts. The guard play in the ACC doesn't really challenge the Heels so a team like Missouri could be a shock to the system. Also UNC does not shoot well enough to overcome large deficits. They’ve been known to have scoring droughts. If they find themselves down double digits late in the second half they’re in trouble.

ACC TOURNAMENT: It really depends on how bad the Heels want it, but I wouldn’t crown them yet. UNC will probably see MD, NC State, or Virginia, three teams who are playing for their NCAA lives, and really sick of losing to Carolina.

DUKE

Duke’s play has taken a lot of criticism for losing two games at home and barely beating Wake Forest, but this is still a team that beat Kansas, Michigan, Michigan St., and UNC.  Freshman of the Year Austin Rivers can put the team on his back but the other guys will have to step up. Duke has been tested. Their strength of schedule is ranked second and they own some impressive comeback victories against UNC, NC State, and Virginia Tech.

BIG DANCE ADVANCE: If they step it up defensively and make shots. Duke is virtually unbeatable if they run wild on the three point line. They've hit 10 or more three's in 10 games this season, and their only loss was the buzzer beater to Florida State. If the Plumlee brothers can give more offensive help inside to free up the shooters Duke could make a big run.  

SENT PACKING:  If they run up on a team that can score inside, defend and rebound. The Blue Devils ranked tenth in points allowed in the ACC.

ACC TOURNAMENT:  Forget about being blown out at Cameron by UNC. This is still Duke and they’ve won the last three ACC Tournament Championships. What we can’t forget about is the fact that forward Ryan Kelly won’t play because of a sprained ankle.

FLORIDA STATE

Jekyll and Hyde. This FSU team that beat UNC by 33 and beat Duke at Cameron is the same team that lost to Princeton and Harvard. However, the Seminoles made quite a run in January with a seven-game win streak. ACC Coach of the Year Leonard Hamilton figured out if the best offensive talent is going to Duke and UNC, then he needs to get lockdown defenders, and its paying off.

BIG DANCE ADVANCE: If they keep playing their signature defense and find some sort of offensive consistency. Actually their problem isn't scoring, its turnovers. The Seminoles rank first in field goal percentage in the ACC, but are next to last in assists/turnover ratio.

SENT PACKING: If they have to play any one from the Ivy League. Losses to Harvard and Princeton are major red flags.

ACC TOURNAMENT: Depends on which FSU team shows up. The one that got beat by 20 points at Clemson, or the one that took UNC to the woodshed?

VIRGINIA

The Cavs have not adjusted well to losing senior center Assane Sene. They were 15-2 with him in the line up, but finished the season just 7-6 after Sene injured his ankle on January 19th. And to add insult to injury, Coach Tony Bennett said Sene won’t return this season because he violated team rules.  Think about this, it took overtime and 35 points, 11 rebounds from Mike Scott just to beat Maryland. 

BIG DANCE ADVANCE: The Cavs will go as far as Mike Scott can take them. They’ve played pretty good defense all season holding teams to a league best 55 points per game. But eventually you have to score and the Cavs are tenth in ACC scoring.

SENT PACKING: Its all about tempo with UVA. They play a half-court basketball and choose getting back on defense over offensive rebounding. If they come up on a team that can run and gun it will be a short tournament for the Cavs.    

ACC TOURNAMENT: The first round bye will really help UVA as they are not a very deep team. They should beat the winner between NC State/Boston College, but will need more career performances from Mike Scott to make it past Friday.

MIAMI

The Hurricanes made an impressive run in late January with a five game winning streak. Two of those games included a double overtime win against Maryland, followed by an overtime win at Duke. This is a tough team. The Hurricanes don't really have any bad losses on the season. NC State seems to have their number, but the Canes split with Florida St. 

SENT PACKING: The Canes might not even get a chance to pack. That loss at Maryland hurt. But even if Miami does get in, it will be tough getting past the first round. They struggled out of conference losing to Purdue, Old Miss, West Virginia, and Memphis.

ACC TOURNAMENT: The U will beat Georgia Tech. If they can get the Reggie Johnson who put up 27 pts. 12 rbs. against Duke to show up, they'll be very capable of winning the ACC Tournament.

NC STATE

This was definitely a season to build on for the Wolfpack. In just one season they went from finishing next to last in the ACC to finishing fifth in conference. Depth is their main issue because of the up-tempo style that Coach Mark Gottfried likes to play. The Wolfpack showed how dangerous they can be when they had a 20 point lead at Duke (but we know how that turned out). The cavalry comes next season with a top ten recruiting class, and if sophomore C.J. Leslie doesn't turn pro, we might be talking pre-season top 25 for NC State.  

BIG DANCE ADVANCE: I don't see NC State making the Big Dance, and frankly they aren't ready. A loss at home to Georgia Tech probably sealed their fate. Plus NC State hasn't beaten a ranked opponent all season.

ACC TOURNAMENT: The Wolfpack enter the ACC Tournament with some momentum. they ended the season with back to back wins. However, winning four games in four days may be a little too much for a team with no depth. 

MARYLAND 

Ohhhh what could've been if Jordan Williams hadn't left early for the NBA. And that pretty much sums up Maryland's season. The bright spot is a pretty good recruiting class headlined by 6'9 center Shaquille Cleare, joining the ACC's leading scorer Terrell Stoglin (21 ppg.). Hopefully he doesn't leave early too. Maryland's problem is defense. They give up the most points in the ACC.

ACC TOURNAMENT: The Terrapins are struggling and they enter the ACC Tournament on a three-game losing streak. Yes they play Wake Forest, but Maryland didn't really dominate the Deacons in the regular season, winning by only six points.

CLEMSON

We're waiting for Coach Brad Brownell to take Clemson to the next level, but the Tigers took a step back this season. Finishing 8-8 in conference is ok, but their 16-14 record is a head scratcher. Coach Brownell has a recruit coming by the name of Jarron Blossomgame. With a name like Blossomgame...can't wait to see him play! 

ACC TOURNAMENT: The Tigers play Virginia Tech who they just beat a week ago. Clemson has a little bit of momentum. They are 5-2 in their last seven games, while the Hokies have lost four straight. 

VIRGINIA TECH
It seems Virginia Tech is on the bubble every year...but this season they aren't even close. Why did they struggle so much? They can't shoot. The Hokies are dead last in field goal percentage.

ACC TOURNAMENT: The Hokies ended the season on a four-game losing skid. Their first round game against Clemson will be close, but even if the Hokies win they probably won't get past the second round. They didn't win two consecutive conference games all season.

WAKE FOREST
The Demon Deacons want to remember their near come back victory against Duke. They have good pieces in place with guards C.J. Harris (16.8 ppg.) and Travis McKie (15.9 ppg). Their issue is defense where they rank next to last in points allowed.

ACC TOURNAMENT: The Demon Deacons could actually pull off the upset against Maryland. They've got the size and shooters to get past the first round. However, they don't have the horses to get past UNC.

GEORGIA TECH

The glory days of Georgia Tech basketball seem to be long gone. I am not a fan of conference expansion but when I see what's happened to Georgia Tech, I don't blame the ACC for bringing in Pitt and Syracuse. Hopefully Coach Brian Gregory can rebuild this program. They'll be an experienced team next season and he has some size coming in with 6'8 forward Robert Carter.

ACC TOURNAMENT: Georgia Tech's leading scorer and rebounder Glen Rice Jr. was suspended and will not play in the ACC Tournament. Sooo...there you go.

BOSTON COLLEGE
Yes, the Eagles have been beat up on this season, but they are a team of freshman. What kills them in games is the inability to make shots. They rank next to last in field goal percentage. 

ACC TOURNAMENT: A first round match-up against NC State will be hard for the Eagles. I think BC is just too young to beat a Wolfpack squad playing for an NCAA Tournament birth.