The 2015 ACC tournament is upon us with games beginning at 1pm today. While some of us are trying to juggle midterms in between matchups, the cards have secured a double bye and will make their first conference tournament appearance on Thursday vs the winner of game 4. Here’s my thoughts on this years bracket…
Tuesday,1 Boston college vs Georgia tech
2 Wake Forest vs virginia tech
Game 1 Boston College is the bottom of the conference barrel. While they are currently on a 3 game win streak with an impressive win over the Wolfpack of NC state, I don’t see Georgia tech losing to BC twice.
Game 2 Wake Forest barely won in the regular season matchup vs the Hokies back in January. A loss for either team will be season ending. While I think it will be a relatively close matchup I see the Deacons returning for tournament action on Wednesday to face the hurricanes of Miami.
Prediction: Georgia Tech, Wake Forest
Wednesday, 3Clemson vs Florida State
4UNC vs 1 Georgia Tech
5NC State vs Pittsburgh
6Miami vs 2Wake Forest
Game 3 Both teams hold the same conference record… the Seminoles have a 6 win advantage over the last 7 meetings with the Tigers. When making predictions I usually go with my first instinct and Clemson is just an extremely forgettable basketball team, to me. No offense (also, no pun intended).
Game 4 The road ends here for the Yellow Jackets as they have fallen twice to the Tar Heels this season, with obvious reason. The Tar Heels are a lot to handle and GT has yet to compete with them for a full 40 minutes. Even without an ill Kennedy Meeks, the Heels should optimistically move onto Thursday’s matchup with the Cards.
Game 5 I had high praise for Pittsburgh when they faced the Cards believing they would be a true test for any tournament match up. On a 3 game losing streak I doubt the panthers will contain a different hungry Cat… Barber of the Wolfpack.
Game 6 The hurricanes barely survived the snowstorm at Boston college in February that postponed the matchup and required 2 OT to seal the victory. And of course there was the almost 20 point win AT duke that left us all scratching our heads.. The canes lucked out in getting a matchup with Deacons as I believe the physicality of two nights play will be too draining for Wake Forest to continue onto Thursday.
Prediction: Florida State, UNC, NC State, Miami
Thursday, 7Virginia vs 3FSU
8Louisville vs 4 UNC
9Duke vs 5 NC State
10 Notre dame vs 6Miami
Game 7 Fresh legs and if necessary, a returning Justin Anderson for the Cavaliers will be too much for the Seminoles.
Game 8 A third matchup between the two teams lead for 3 halves by the Cards, I don’t have the gut to say the Tar Heels will win this intense competition. I think a Chris Jones-less Louisville team fairs a lot better than in the previous two matchups but freshman Quentin Snider has the opportunity to shine if he can share the ball and run the offense like he confidently did in a victory vs Virginia.
Game 9 An interesting match up, I can see some upset. Whoever wins the last 5 minutes of this game moves on to Friday’s Semifinals.
Game 10 Notre dame avoided a loss at home to the Canes in January after Miami shocked Duke at home. Lead by Wooden Award finalist Jerian Grant, who has the ability to shine in big moments, the Irish have one of the most efficient offenses in the country. I doubt Miami comes close to sniffing a victory against the Irish.
Prediction: Virginia, Louisville, NC State, Notre Dame
Friday, Virginia vs Louisville
NC state vs Notre dame
Semifinal 1 A split home and home series determined by just 7 points between the two, suffocating defenses will keep this another low scoring game. If Justin Anderson hasn’t returned yet, he’s sure to make an appearance for an offensive lift for the Cavs. The reigning ACC tournament champs and regular season champs are humbled to keep the crown but the Cards are hungry enough to keep that from happening.
Semifinal 2 Unlike the first semifinal matchup, this one is sure to be a fury of offense. It took overtime for the Irish to put NC State away in the regular season, this will be a much more active backcourt in Cat Barber & Trevor Lacey.
Prediction: Louisville, NC state
ACC title game ➡➡➡ a rematch of the Valentines Day loss for Louisville, there’s nothing that Rick Pitino would LOVE more than an ACC title in his first appearance.
2015 ACC Tournament winner: Louisville
Head coach: Rick Pitino
MVP: TERRY ROZIER
If you would like to reach me for opinions and debate, find me on twitter @darylfoust4
HAPPY MARCH MADNESS, YALL!!!
