After 10 consecutive years of southern hospitality, the ACC Tournament moves north to Washington, D.C., for a year before heading even farther up the east coast to Brooklyn in 2017 and 2018. This will mark the fifth time the ACC Tournament has been held in the DC area, and the first time back there since 2005. In a bit of a public gaffe, the league’s marketing office apparently used the wrong dome in a stock photo advertising for the tournament. Let’s hope that’s the only embarrassment that the league suffers this week. As we move into day one of the tournament, here’s a preview of a few things we expect to occur.
Here’s a printable version of the Bracket: 2016 ACC Tournament
And The Winner Is: According to KenPom, there’s a 66 percent chance that one of the league’s two highest-rated teams (#2 Virginia and #1 North Carolina) wins the ACC crown this week. We agree that those are the two teams to beat, with the Cavaliers earning a slight edge over the Tar Heels. Led by newly-minted ACC Player of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, the Cavaliers have been the league’s best team during the second half of conference play. North Carolina is certainly capable of beating any team in Washington, but we are a little leery of the Tar Heels’ tendency toward inconsistent shooting.
Dark Horse With a Chance: It would be a massive surprise if #4 Notre Dame repeats its historic run in Greensboro from last year, but there is a distinct possibility that this season’s bracket could break in favor of the Fighting Irish. It’s unlikely that Mike Brey’s squad will win the ACC title, but it could make a run to the championship game on Saturday. Could the 2016 ACC Tournament feature a narrative similar to that of 1976, the first time the league held its championship in the D.C. area? Virginia, the #6 seed, beat three higher-seeded teams on its way to the program’s first-ever ACC title. The Cavaliers were led by ACC Tournament MVP Wally Walker, who was supposedly motivated by a perceived snub by a media corps that neglected to vote him on to the all-ACC First Team that year. Many observers thought Notre Dame point guard Demetrius Jackson would be an all-ACC First Teamer when the league announced its current season awards on Sunday, but the outstanding junior ended up as a Second Team selection. It would not shock anyone if Jackson is out to prove a point this week.
Upset Alert #1: No matter which team wins the #12 NC State – #13 Wake Forest matchup on Tuesday afternoon, #5 Duke will have to face a rival school that it has already beaten twice this season. If that team happens to be NC State, don’t be surprised if the Wolfpack manages to knock off a weary bunch of Blue Devils on Wednesday. In both prior meetings, Mark Gottfried’s club went toe to toe with Duke for 39 minutes before fading at the very end. With nothing to lose, Cat Barber may be able to make the third time the charm.
Upset Alert #2: If #9 Syracuse can get past #8 Pittsburgh, the Orange are more than capable of giving #1 North Carolina a run for its money in Thursday’s quarterfinals. Syracuse went to the wire with the Tar Heels twice this season, and Jim Boeheim’s famous 2-3 zone is capable of forcing tough shooting performances — something we’ve seen the Tar Heels struggle with recently. Of course, getting past the Panthers on Wednesday will be quite the chore — Pittsburgh already owns two double-figure wins over the Orange this year.