Sports Editor
The 2015 ACC Tournament tips-off in Greensboro this week starting Tuesday afternoon and ending with the championship game Saturday night. This is the first time since 1981 that the tournament will end on a Saturday. The traditional format before expanding the conference was Thursday to Sunday.
After winning the ACC
regular season outright for the second straight year, and being the first team in
the conference to ever do that outside the state of North Carolina, Virginia the
#1 seed will be looking to defend their tournament title as well. This will
depend on if and when one of their leading scorers returns. Junior Justin Anderson
has been out since February 7 after injuring his hand in a home win over Louisville.
He was scheduled to come back this past Saturday but underwent an appendectomy
which has sidelined him without a timetable for a return. Even if he does
return this week, they are not going to win the tournament with ease.
The #2 seed Duke was
the only team to beat the Cavaliers on their home floor this season and one
would have to think if they met in the championship on a neutral floor that the
Blue Devils would have the edge. That being said, Duke doesn’t have a cake walk
to Saturday night either. A potential matchup with N.C. State in the
quarterfinals is very intriguing as, not only did the Wolfpack come out
victorious when the two played this year, but State also has a history of
making a run in this tournament as a lower seed. They are also red hot, winning
five of their last six including two road wins over Louisville and North
Carolina; so if you are looking for a sleeper, N.C. State could make an
unexpected run.
As for N.C. State’s in
state rival North Carolina, they probably have the toughest road to the
championship. Not only do they have to play on Wednesday, but they would have
to go through both Louisville and Virginia just to get to the title game, then
possibly play Duke who has already beat them twice this season. Notre Dame is
another team that, in their first year in the ACC, has had much success
finishing third. They are in the same half of the bracket as Duke, but the
Fighting Irish already beaten the Blue Devils this year so don’t be surprised
to see them in the title game Saturday night.
This conference has so much
talent (5 in the
AP Top 25) that it is very hard to pick a winner. Ultimately
you should expect a rematch between Virginia and Duke. Even if Anderson is back
for the Cavaliers, Duke will win a thrilling game and will be crowned the 2015
ACC Tournament Champions.
Here is the tournament
bracket:
