While this may not be the ACC of years past, the five day tournament in Greensboro to end the season is always entertaining. With usual powerhouses Duke and UNC struggling, the field seems as wide-open as ever for a team to sneak in with an auto-bid.
2021 ACC Tournament Bracket
Favorite to win: Florida State (+230)
Although Virginia may have earned the number one seed, it is Leonard Hamilton’s squad that gets the nod as the betting favorite. The Noles seemed like the best team in the ACC from start to finish, however a loss at Notre Dame to end the season sees them slide to the second seed. Florida State finished the season with the highest points per game of any ACC team (79.6) and also the largest average margin of victory (9.6). They may not boast as many stars as some of the other teams in the conference, but the Noles just may be the deepest team in the tournament this week.
Team to Watch: Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets have sneakily played the best basketball in the ACC to end the season. Their six-game win streak entering tournament play got them all the way up to the four seed. They were also able to avenge earlier losses in the season to Florida State and Duke with wins later on. Not to mention, they boast the best player in the conference, Moses Wright. He averaged 18 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.5 SPG and 1.7 BPG while shooting 54.4% from the floor. Guards Jose Alvarado and Michael Devoe each average 15 points per game, adding fuel to the fire. A high-powered offense paired with a middle of the pack defense could be enough for a mini-run in the ACC Tournament.
Player to Watch: Buddy Boeheim
I decided to go with an under the radar pick for my player to watch, Syracuse’s Buddy Boeheim. Boeheim has been a big reason why the Orange have picked up their play recently, leading the team in scoring and pouring it in with volume from deep. He may not have been in player of the year conversations in the conference, but when he gets hot he is as untouchable as anyone. Boeheim playing well or leaving his game in Central New York could be the difference between a Syracuse run or a first round exit.
Current Tournament Teams: 7
Don’t let the volume fool you. This has been a very weak year for the ACC. Virginia is currently the highest rated seed according to ESPN at 4. This is a conference that is usually all over the 1-3 seeds. With Duke and UNC both having down years, it has felt like a bit of a letdown overall. With that being said, Virginia, Florida State, and Virginia Tech seem to be mortal locks to make it. Georgia Tech, Clemson and North Carolina should be in with wins, as well as Louisville. As of right now, Syracuse is a potential eighth team, however they would need a win over NC State as well as a possible upset over Virginia to solidify their chances. There is also always the possibility of a team like Duke making a run and taking the auto bid.
Prediction
This seems like the toughest year to predict this conference. Right when you think Florida State is going to run through everyone, they lose their season finale to Notre Dame. With that being said, I’m sticking with my gut. Give me Florida State to take the whole thing. I predicted them to win it last year, but they were never given the chance. This team is deep and they are hungry to capture their first true ACC championship since 2012.