CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 17. Up next: The ACC Tournament.
After what can only be described as a WILD end to the regular season, the ACC Tournament will crown a champion this week in Washington, D.C.
North Carolina and Duke have been dominant in conference play all season, losing a combined eight ACC games (two of which being UNC defeating the Blue Devils). They are both locks for the NCAA Tournament, with Virginia and Clemson projected to join them in the field of 68.
This year’s ACC Tournament will answer a ton of questions regarding the conference’s representation in the big dance. Wake Forest, Pitt, and even Syracuse are among the teams whose tournament performance could be the difference between the NIT and a lower seed.
While it seems to be between the Tar Heels and the Blue Devils, things could get crazy in the nation’s capital.
2024 ACC Awards
Player of the Year: RJ Davis, UNC
Freshman of the Year: Markus Burton, Notre Dame
Transfer of the Year: Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest
Coach of the Year: Hubert Davis, North Carolina
First Team:
- G: RJ Davis, North Carolina (21.1 PPG, 3.7 APG, 3.5 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 41.6 3P%, 88.6 FT%)
- F: Blake Hinson, Pitt (18.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 0.8 APG, 42.4 3P%)
- F: Norchad Omier, Miami (17.0 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 55.7 FG%)
- F: Armando Bacot, North Carolina (13.9 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.6 BPG, 54.0 FG%)
- C: Kyle Filipowski, Duke (16.7 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.6 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 50.4 FG%)
Second Team:
- G: Markus Burton, Notre Dame (17.3 PPG, 4.3 APG, 3.3 RPG, 2.0 SPG)
- G: Judah Mintz, Syracuse (18.7 PPG, 4.5 APG, 3.2 RPG, 2.1 SPG)
- G: Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest (18.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 41.6 3P%)
- F: PJ Hall, Clemson (18.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.6 BPG)
- F: Quentin Post, Boston College (16.6 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.8 BPG, 51.5 FG%)
ACC Tournament Simulation
First Round – Tues., Mar. 12
12. Notre Dame vs. 13. Georgia Tech – 2 p.m. on ACCN
A disappointing season overall for the Irish, but something special seemed to be brewing in the final eight games. ND won five of the final eight games, including a win over Clemson and a win over their first-round opponents. Notre Dame swept the season series with Georgia Tech, albeit by single digits both times.
But the Yellow Jackets have the strangest resume in the ACC. A losing record, but wins over Duke, UNC, and Clemson. They beat teams they are not supposed to. The Irish are young, and Georgia Tech seemed to figure some things out in the second meeting. So while ND takes the first two meetings this season, Damon Stoudamire’s squad will take the third.
TJ’s pick: Georgia Tech
10. NC State vs. 15. Louisville – 4:30 p.m. on ACCN
Louisville is looking to forget this season. Kenny Payne seems to be on the hot seat, even if Louisville’s athletic director says he will stick with him. There is talent on this Louisville team, but NC State has too many pieces.
Onto next year for the Cardinals.
TJ’s pick: NC State
11. Boston College vs. 14. Miami – 7 p.m. on ACCN
A shocking season for Miami. The reigning Elite Eight team returned a solid core, including Norchad Omier and Wooga Poplar, but just fell flat. BC, similarly, didn’t quite pan out. Quentin Post had a stellar year, but ultimately the Eagles did not quite live up to their own expectations.
This is an interesting matchup down low. Omier and Post will showcase some of the best post play the conference has to offer, a rematch of the show the two put on just days ago. Boston College won by 10, and they will win again. Tough to defend against BC when Claudell Harris is hitting his shots, and when Post has the ability to extend as well.
TJ’s pick: BC
Second Round – Wed., Mar. 13
8. Virginia Tech vs. 9. Florida State – Noon on ESPN / ESPN2
Sean Pedulla and the Hokies finished the season strong with three straight wins, giving them a .500 record on the year. Florida State was gutted in the offseason, but they put together some nice outings. The two teams split the season series. This is a dead-even matchup to kick off Day 2.
Unfortunately for the Seminoles, Pedulla and Hunter Cattoor remind you of the early days of the “Splash Brothers” in Golden State. If they both hit their shots at a high clip, there won’t be much Florida State can do about it.
TJ’s pick: Virginia Tech
13. Georgia Tech vs. 5. Wake Forest – 2:30 p.m. on ESPN
The Deacs still have a bad taste in their mouths after a one-point defeat to Georgia Tech in their second meeting, especially after dominating the Yellow Jackets in February to the tune of a 29-point victory. Tech’s Baye Ndongo hit a floater with just .4 seconds left to hand Wake Forest its only loss at home.
I wouldn’t expect lightning to strike twice.
TJ’s pick: Wake Forest
10. NC State vs. 7. Syracuse – 7 p.m. on ESPN2
Up until a week left in the season, Syracuse was in contention for the 4-seed in this tournament and possibly securing an at-large bid in the big dance. After losing to Clemson, that dream took a U-Turn; The Orange must make it to at least the semifinals to reignite the conversation.
Adrian Autry has done a phenomenal job in his first year at the helm, scraping together a 20-win season with a young, injury-ridden roster. Syracuse has played with a much different attitude in these final few weeks, and they are a much different team than the one NC State faced in February. Oh, and by the way, the Orange won that game.
TJ’s pick: Syracuse
11. Boston College vs. 6. Clemson – 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2 / ESPN U
Clemson is just about a lock for an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament, but a loss to Notre Dame in the final few weeks turned some heads. This Clemson team has its flaws, but ultimately they are the third-best team in the conference when everything falls into place.
It’s another marquee matchup for Quentin Post, and Clemson’s PJ Hall is a tall task. He isn’t as talented as Omier in the post, but he is just as physical and his motor is elite. After battling with Omier for 40 minutes the night prior, Post will be tapped out and BC’s season will come to an end.
TJ’s pick: Clemson
Quarterfinals – Thur., Mar. 14
8. Virginia Tech vs. 1. North Carolina – Noon on ESPN / ESPN2
Here come the heavy hitters. As if the Tar Heels needed four days off.
It’s not that Virginia Tech isn’t a talented team, it’s that UNC is a legitimate national championship contender. North Carolina takes care of business, more on them later.
TJ’s pick: North Carolina
4. Pitt vs. 5. Wake Forest – 2:30 p.m. on ESPN / ESPN2
Pitt, with a late-season push and some good fortune, snuck their way into a double-bye as the 4-seed and is one of the big storylines heading into this tournament. The Panthers quietly picked up 21 wins over the course of this season, many thanks to senior Blake Hinson and his 18.8 PPG (2nd best in the conference). They split the season series with Wake Forest, but Wake Forest beat them by 33 in the second meeting.
Pitt’s Blake Hinson was not his usual self, only dropping 10 points in the contest. With the extended time off, he’ll be back in form and contribute nicely. It all comes down to who wants it more, as both teams are still in the running for an at-large bid should madness ensue in the other conferences. Jeff Capel is the type of coach that keeps his guys in check. It will be close, but I see Pitt pulling this out by single digits.
TJ’s pick: Pitt
2. Duke vs. 7. Syracuse – 7 p.m. on ESPN / ESPN2
I was on the baseline for Duke-Syracuse in Cameron in January, and I’ll be the first to tell you that the box score does not tell the whole story.
Syracuse was able to keep it a two-point game heading into the break, fending off the Cameron Crazies and holding Duke to ZERO threes. Duke had no answer for Maliq Brown, who finished with 26 points off the bench. Duke’s shooting came alive in the second half as the Blue Devils went 8-for-8 from beyond the arc, propelling them to a win. If Syracuse can do a better job of defending the deep ball, they could very well force the ACC’s first big upset… and that is exactly what I’m going to pick.
Duke is a lock for the tournament. Syracuse has more to play for. Let the madness begin.
TJ’s pick: Syracuse
3. Virginia vs. 6. Clemson – 9:30 p.m. on ESPN / ESPN2
Immediately following what I believe will be the first big upset in the ACC Tournament, Virginia-Clemson offers a great chance for another.
Virginia has been a shaky team all year, and losing 4-of-their-last-7 does not bode well for this matchup. A one-point victory over the Tigers in their only meeting is strike two, and Clemson has looked much better than Virginia has since. The Cavaliers will dribble the air out of the ball and keep the scoring low, but they will have no answer for PJ Hall. I expect a big performance from the backcourt as well. Upset #2 coming up.
TJ’s pick: Clemson
Semifinals – Fri., Mar. 15
1. North Carolina vs. 4. Pitt – 7 p.m. on ESPN / ESPN2
Pitt lost by 13 when they hosted the Tar Heels in January, and North Carolina is 15-3 since. Hinson had a bad outing, putting up just 11 points. Carlton Carrington was the go-to for the Panthers, dropping 20 points on the young Elliot Cadeau. The UNC freshman has made strides on defense over the course of this season, leading me to believe he will handle Carrington better this time around.
Onto the finals for the Tar Heels.
TJ’s pick: North Carolina
7. Syracuse vs. 6. Clemson – 9:30 p.m. on ESPN / ESPN2
Both teams will be amped after the previous night’s thrillers. One Cinderella story will come to an end.
Clemson swept the season series. The second meeting didn’t look pretty. It will be pretty storybook-esque to see Joe Girard III standing in the way of Syracuse’s tournament hopes. But Clemson will pick up win number three against the Orange, and Syracuse will have to wait and see if a win over Duke is enough to convince the committee.
TJ’s pick: Clemson
Championship – Sat., Mar. 16
1. North Carolina vs. 6. Clemson – 8:30 p.m. on ESPN
It all comes down to this.
UNC faced Clemson in the middle of a rough stretch of games. After beating the Tigers earlier in the year, the Tar Heels dropped the second meeting before scraping by in a win over Miami and losing to Syracuse just days later. It was, by far, the worst North Carolina has looked. Luckily, North Carolina figured it out. They haven’t lost since.
PJ Hall and Armando Bacot will be at war. The difference: Hall, by this point, will have gone up against BC’s Quentin Post and Syracuse’s Maliq Brown, two great scorers in the conference. If Syracuse doesn’t pull off the upset, then Hall will have Duke’s Kyle Filipowski to deal with. Point is, Bacot has a relatively smooth path to the finals in comparison. Bacot will be fresh, Hall will be winded. Expect a big game from the conference’s best big man.
It will be close for most of the game, but UNC will pull away down the stretch. The Tar Heels, after last season’s disastrous finish, will make a case for a 1-seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
TJ’s pick: North Carolina