2025 ACC Tournament Preview & Conference Awards

CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 16. Up next: The ACC Tournament.

Who will accomplish greatness in Charlotte? Though this season has been relatively underwhelming for the ACC, it’s the first time the conference didn’t bring every team to the tournament. Miami, N.C. State and Boston College all missed the tournament this season, but all three West Coast editions snuck in.

No. 2 Duke (28-3, 19-1 ACC) won the regular season championship and the top seed in the tournament after its rivalry win over North Carolina on March 8. Meanwhile, No. 14 Louisville (25-6, 18-2 ACC) closed out the No. 2 seed in the tournament, No. 11 Clemson (26-5, 18-2 ACC) snagged the third seed and Wake Forest (21-10, 13-7 ACC) reigned in the final double-bye.

The Blue Devils dropped just one conference game during the regular season, falling to Clemson back on Feb. 8, 77-71. Since then, Duke has been on an eight-game ride and swept its rival Tar Heels to end the regular season. Louisville went from worst to near-best under first-year head coach Pat Kelsey. The Cardinals were eliminated in the first round of the tournament last season, and just a year later are booked for a quarterfinals appearance before the first tip-off.

Just like every year, the bottom four seeds face off on Tuesday and the single-bye teams play the winner of Tuesday’s games on Wednesday. The top four teams get the automatic ticket to the quarterfinals, set to begin Wednesday afternoon. The championship game is scheduled for March 15 at 8:30 p.m. on ACC Network.

2025 ACC Awards

Player of the Year: Cooper Flagg, Duke

Freshman of the Year: Cooper Flagg, Duke

Transfer of the Year: Chucky Hepburn, Louisville

Coach of the Year: Pat Kelsey, Louisville

First Team:

• G: Chase Hunter, Clemson (16.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 41.2 3P%)
• G: Markus Burton, Notre Dame (22.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.5 SPG, 39.0 3P%)
• G: Chucky Hepburn, Louisville (16.3 PPG, 5.9 APG, 3.5 RPG, 2.4 SPG, 35.0 3P%)
• F: Cooper Flagg, Duke (19.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 37.7 3P%)
• F: Maxime Raynaud, Stanford (20.1 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.2 BPG)

Second Team:

• G: RJ Davis, UNC (17.3 PPG, 3.8 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.1 SPG)
• G: Reyne Smith, Louisville (13.4 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.8 APG, 38.3 3P%)
• G: JJ Starling, Syracuse (17.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.9 APG)
• G: Tyrese Proctor, Duke (12.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 40.1 3P%)
• F: Ian Schieffelin, Clemson (12.9 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 50.5 FG%, 35.8 3P%)

2025 ACC Tournament Simulation

First Round – Tues., Mar. 11

12. Notre Dame (14-17, 8-12) vs. 13. Pitt (17-14, 8-12) — 2 p.m. EST on ACC Network

A rematch from a game that took place just two weeks ago, Notre Dame and Pitt will have a chance to battle again. These two teams were tied for a majority of their regular season matchup, until Notre Dame pulled away in the final minutes. Four different players reached 20 points, two from both squads.

It’s an ideal game to kick off the tournament. Ishmael Leggett and Markus Burton should provide some extra show-stopping action, but it’s possible this opening matchup will all come down to rebounding. Forwards Cameron Corhen and Kebba Njie led their respective squads collecting boards, but Burton’s six rebounds helped give the Fighting Irish the edge.

If Burton does the same, Notre Dame can advance to round two.

Madison’s pick: 12. Notre Dame

10. Virginia Tech (13-18, 8-12) vs. 15. Cal (13-18, 6-14) — 4:30 p.m. EST on ACC Network

This game could potentially be the first upset of the tournament. Virginia Tech nearly blew a 19-point halftime lead to California in the second half, surviving with a 71-68 Hokies win during the regular season. California’s Andrej Stojakovic scored a game-high 24 points, despite shooting 8-for-20 from the field.

California has lost three of its last four games, but it’s a squad that knows how to beat the Hokies.

Virginia Tech has a strong chance of taking down the Golden Bears, but don’t be surprised if California makes life difficult Tuesday afternoon.

Madison’s pick: 15. Cal

11. Florida State (17-14, 8-12) vs. 14. Syracuse (13-18, 7-13) — 7 p.m. EST on ACC Network

If Eddie Lampkin Jr. plays the way he’s ended the regular season for the Orange, Syracuse could find itself with a big-time advantage. The transfer center is playing some of his best basketball of the year, recording 14 double-doubles.

However, Syracuse has struggled holding big leads in the second half. The Orange have shown some improvements since their 16-point to Florida State back in January. Florida State will face a Syracuse squad without Donnie Freeman, but the Seminoles exposed the Orange’s inability to guard the three-point arc to the rest of the conference.

It’ll all come down to if Florida State can repeat its regular season performance, or if Syracuse can play like it did against N.C. State and Virginia.

Madison’s pick: 14. Syracuse

Second Round – Wed., Mar. 12

8. Georgia Tech (16-15, 10-10) vs. 9. Virginia (15-16, 8-12) — Noon EST on ESPN

Day two starts off with two teams trying to make a last second case at a play-in game or and at-large bid for the Big Dance. However, both teams need to win at least its first — if not two games — to have a distinctive argument for the selection committee.

What makes life harder for Georgia Tech and Virginia is that both teams ended its regular season with a loss. The Yellow Jackets were dismantled by Wake Forest on the road, and the same goes for the Cavaliers by Syracuse. Georgia Tech has been a h0t-and-cold-like team this season, dropping a handful of games it shouldn’t have, including a loss to Syracuse and Boston College, but also have wins over Louisville and Clemson late in the season.

The Yellow Jackets have won three of their last four games heading into the tournament, and if they can beat ACC teams with a double-bye, it shouldn’t be too tall of a task to take down Virginia.

Madison’s pick: 8. Georgia Tech

5. North Carolina (20-12, 13-7) vs. 12. Notre Dame — 2:30 p.m. EST on ESPN

The Tar Heels have a lush history of ACC Tournament Championships, including a 4-1 record in the second round. But Notre Dame did well against North Carolina in the regular season, falling to the Tar Heels by just one point.

This particular North Carolina squad hasn’t been particularly stellar, however, it is a squad that knows how to pick up wins when the time comes. The Fighting Irish’s Burton will be difficult to slow down, especially after he scored 23 points against the Tar Heels in the regular season, but Notre Dame will need strong performances from more than just their superstar sophomore.

Madison’s pick: 5. North Carolina

7. Stanford (19-12, 11-9) vs. 15. Cal — 7 p.m. EST on ESPN2/ESPNU

A Pac-12 reunion in the second round is bound to cause lots of on court drama. Two teams have their own rivalry and a lot of history will be an idyllic matchup to kickoff the evening session of day two.

The Cardinals took down the Bears in the regular season, but it was a game that came down to the its final moments. A two-possession game sets up a potential battle on the boards with a lot more on the line this go around. Maxime Raynaud has been a major key to Stanford’s success this season, and California will be ready for the center to make a statement.

However, California has one additional advantage: it’s making the cross-country trip a little earlier than Stanford, allowing the Bears to readjust to the time change quicker. Will it be a major factor? Probably not. But it’s something to think about.

Madison’s pick: 7. Stanford

6. SMU (22-9, 13-7) vs. 14. Syracuse — 9:30 p.m. EST on ESPN2/ESPNU

SMU has been a dark horse in the ACC for most of the season, and it’s likely they’ll remain a dark horse in Charlotte.

These two squads faced off just days ago, and the Mustangs eliminated a major, double-digit Syracuse lead for a 77-75 win. However, SMU dropped its season finale against Florida State just days later. The recency factor will probably come into play here. The Orange will try and avoid repeating its loss from last week, while the Mustangs will know how to slow down JJ Starling and Lampkin.

SMU did struggle in its final weeks of the regular season, going 3-3 in the final six games, but the Mustangs haven’t lost back-to-back ACC games all season.

Madison’s pick: 6. SMU

Quarterfinals – Thur., Mar. 13

1. Duke (28-3, 19-1) vs. 8. Georgia Tech — Noon EST on ESPN2/ESPNU

Here come the blue bloods, literally.

The Duke Blue Devils have been cruising through conference play all season, dropping just one game to Clemson a month ago. Since then, Duke has barely let any other program near it.

Cooper Flagg has been as advertised, catapulting his NBA Draft stock with every game he’s played. Having Tyrese Proctor on the Blue Devils squad certainly helps as well. This particular Duke squad has been a Final Four projected crew since the beginning of the season, and they’ll be a tough group to beat in Charlotte.

Madison’s pick: 1. Duke

4. Wake Forest (21-10, 13-7) vs. 5. North Carolina — 2:30 p.m. EST on ESPN/ESPN2

Assuming these two North Carolina schools square off in the semifinals, expect Spectrum Center to be extremely loud from start to finish.

These two teams last met in January, and the Demon Deacons walked away with a one-point win — a huge win for the program. The Tar Heels will be looking for revenge, and that could mean an action-packed, all out battle.

Wake Forest has an argument to make the NCAA Tournament, sliding into the No. 4 seed on the final day of the regular season. However, North Carolina will be chomping at the bit leading up to that rematch, and that’s a dangerous scenario for Wake Forest to be in.

Madison’s pick: 5. North Carolina

2. Louisville (25-6, 18-2) vs. 7. Stanford — 7 p.m. EST on ESPN/ESPN2

Pat Kelsey has made quite the statement with this revamped Louisville squad in the regular season, now he has to double down in the postseason.

The Cardinals have handled themselves throughout the entire regular season, falling to Duke and Georgia Tech in conference play. Nearly every other game has been squeaky clean with little to no issues. This is a squad carrying a massive nine-game hot streak into Charlotte, and are determined to prove the Louisville ACC fans know well is back.

Raynaud can give Stanford a boost from the glass, but Stanford will have to shut down Louisville fast-pace offense immediately if the Trees want to play in the semifinals.

Madison’s pick: 2. Louisville

3. Clemson (26-5, 18-2) vs. 6. SMU — 9:30 p.m. EST on ESPN/ESPN2

The ACC’s top three seeds are all in very similar positions, so simply rinse and repeat the above.

Chase Hunter and Ian Schieffelin have been surpassing expectations, allowing the Tigers to pick up right where they left off after their Elite Eight appearance last year. Clemson’s been ranked the entire season, and head to the Queen City having won the last eight games.

Similarly to Louisville, SMU will have to shut down quick passing and guard the arc off the opening tip-off in order to send Clemson home early.

Madison’s pick: 3. Clemson

Semifinals – Fri., Mar. 14

1. Duke vs. 5. North Carolina — 7 p.m. EST on TBA

One of the best parts of the ACC Tournament is seeing the Tobacco Road rivalry play out with heightened stakes. This year’s semifinals could potentially be no exception.

Duke dominated North Carolina in the season finale, sending the Tar Heels home with a 13-point loss and no shot at the double-bye. And to cap off things off, the Blue Devils will be searching for a season-sweep against their bitter rivals.

Regardless, the semifinals could very likely be one of the best in-game atmospheres of the entire tournament.

Madison’s pick: 1. Duke

2. Louisville vs. 3. Clemson — 9:30 p.m. EST on TBA

Can the Cardinals double down from their regular season win over the Tigers? Or will Clemson get another crack at Duke?

This semifinal matchup would be as close to a coin flip as it gets. These two teams are very similar, and have exceeded expectations from the jump. If the first semifinal wasn’t intense enough, a battle between two March Madness-level programs could be just as intense or better.

And making it a late-night showdown makes it that much more exciting.

Madison’s pick: 2. Louisville

Championship – Sat., Mar. 15

1. Duke vs. 2. Louisville — 8:30 p.m. EST on TBA

So it’ll all come down to this: a battle between a storied program trying to keep its top dog position against a team looking to rewrite their narrative.

Both of these teams are essentially guaranteed themselves a ticket to March Madness, but a showdown like this could easily dictate seeding during the Selection Show. Not that either program will worry about its seed.

It was a nine-point game between these two to start conference play, with the Blue Devils taking the crown. But it’s been months since then, and both teams have evolved. Could it be another multi-possession game? Absolutely. But it’s also very possible these two foes will take things down to the wire in Charlotte.

Madison’s pick: 1. Duke