The NC State Wolfpack has a chance to complete its Cinderella run as it takes on the North Carolina Tar Heels in the ACC Tournament Championship Game Saturday night.
Both teams have a ton riding on the outcome of this game.
Everyone has heard by now that this NC State team is making a run. After ending the regular season on a four-game losing streak, the Wolfpack has come alive in Washington, D.C.
Some of that success is due to former Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim, whose comments during NC State’s First Round matchup against Louisville lit a fire under the team.
“I don’t know why anybody who’s got the recent history of these guys are celebrating anything except, I guess, being here,” said Boeheim, who was on the call for NC State-Louisville. “Let’s not celebrate until we win a game or two.”
NC State took that bulletin board material and cruised past Boeheim’s Orange in the Second Round, pulled off the upset against 2-seed Duke in the Quarterfinals, and then pulled off a miracle last night to knock off Virginia, 73-65.
As the clock ran down its final seconds, NC State’s Michael O’Connell banked in a three-pointer to tie the game at 58 at the end of regulation. In the overtime period, the Wolfpack dominated the Cavaliers. DJ Burns Jr. was spectacular, scoring seven of NC State’s 15 points in overtime. Burns finished with 19 points on the night, leading the Wolfpack.
NC State, who had +6000 odds to win the ACC Championship heading into the tournament, now has a chance to pull off a miracle.
Unfortunately, they have to go through the 4th team in the nation in North Carolina to do it.
You could make the case that Duke and Virginia took NC State for granted, but don’t expect North Carolina to drop the ball. There is more on the line than just a trophy; The Tar Heels have a chance to secure the 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament tonight.
Tennessee got dominated in the SEC Tournament to Mississippi State, knocking the Vols out in the Quarterfinals. Hours later in Las Vegas, Oregon defeated Arizona to end the Wildcats’ championship hopes. Tennessee and Arizona were the two legitimate contenders for the final 1-seed alongside UNC, and the Tar Heels are the last ones standing. Iowa State is another name just creeping on the outside of the conversation going into Saturday’s slate.
It’s safe to say, though, that a loss to the Wolfpack would open the conversation back up again. North Carolina will be looking to end the discussion.
The 1-seed this year is important. Not only does a 1-seed have the easiest perceived path to the trophy, but a 1-seed in the Tournament this year would successfully avoid UConn, Purdue, and Houston until the Final Four.
However, Houston losing by 28 to Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship makes North Carolina’s chances all the more difficult. This win is huge for the Cyclones, and possibly lethal for the Tar Heels.
North Carolina needs to win. They need to win big. Their performance tonight will determine whether Iowa State swoops in and steals the last spot.
Game tips off at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.