2020 ACC Tournament Bracket
Favorite to win: Florida State (+175)
Leonard Hamilton deservedly was announced as ACC Coach of the Year today and he has his Seminoles ready for battle in the 2020 ACC Tournament. Florida State ended its ACC slate with a 16-4 record, one game better than Virginia, Louisville, and Duke. The Seminoles finished the season undefeated at home. Leading scorer and sophomore Devin Vassell has been stellar, using all of his 6 foot 6 frame to average 12.7 points per game on 49.3% shooting. However, it really is a team effort on both sides of the ball for the Noles. If they can take care of either Clemson or Miami in the quarterfinals, it should be an exciting semifinals matchup with Duke, a team they went 1-1 against in the regular season.
Team to Watch: NC State
I don’t expect the Wolfpack to win the 2020 ACC Tournament, but these games are huge for them. NC State is currently a Last Four In team according to Joe Lunardi. With teams right on their heels, the Wolfpack cannot afford a slip-up against Wake Forest or Pitt in their first game. After that, the Wolfpack would take on a Duke team that they went 1-1 against in the regular season. Another win there would guarantee a spot in the Big Dance. The good news for the Wolfpack is their only bad losses were against Clemson and North Carolina in the conference. Conference tournaments are always huge for bubble teams and it is no different for NC State this week.
Player to Watch: Cole Anthony (North Carolina)
We all know the struggles UNC has had this season. But after a brutal seven-game losing streak, the Tar Heels have won three of their last four games heading to Greenboro. Their only shot at an NCAA Tournament appearance would be to win five straight games and grab the ACC’s automatic bid. In order for this to happen, leading scorer and 2020 lottery pick Cole Anthony will have to be huge. He’s averaged 19.6 points per game in his 20 games and has lifted the UNC offense lately. Although he struggled in the team’s last game against Duke, you can expect big things from him in this 2020 ACC Tournament. He will be the difference between a first-round loss to Virginia Tech and a deep run.
Current Tournament Teams: 5
As mentioned before, NC State is the only of these five teams that are on the bubble. Florida State, Duke, Louisville, and Virginia should all be in on Sunday. For those four, this is a great opportunity to boost a resume late and try to get a better seed. The only way this league becomes six bid is if a team like North Carolina, Syracuse, or Notre Dame go on a run and win the whole thing. We’ve seen Syracuse teams in the past sneak into the tournament and do damage, but they have struggled to perform in the ACC Tournament. I think the conference stays at five bids, as much as I’d love to see my Orange go on a run.
Prediction
This is always a tough conference to predict. You can never count out Duke or Virginia, Florida State has been phenomenal, and Louisville is having a fantastic season. Despite losing two of their last three, I’m taking the Cardinals to win the tournament. Their path to me is the easiest. If they can take care of Syracuse/UNC/Virginia Tech, it would most likely be a semifinals matchup with Virginia. Louisville to me has the advantage there. In a championship game, anything can happen. But I like the Cardinals to cut down the nets in Greensboro this weekend. Too much Jordan Nwora for the rest of the league to handle. Either way, it will be a fun week as always in the 2020 ACC Tournament.
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