(Getty)
The ACC tournament continues Wednesday at the Barclays Center with four games, two Top-25 teams and a couple of squads fighting for their NCAA tournament lives.
And it’s only the second round.
Here’s a complete look at the tournament picture, as well as a preview of Wednesday’s four matchups:
2017 ACC Tournament Bracket & Schedule
(TheACC.com)
You can click here for a printable bracket
Note: All times ET
Tuesday, March 7 (Round 1)
Game 1: Clemson 75, NC State 61
Game 2: Wake Forest 92, Boston College 78
Game 3: Pittsburgh 61, Georgia Tech 59
Wednesday, March 8 (Round 2)
Game 4: Miami 62, Syracuse 57
Game 5: Duke 79, Clemson 72
Game 6: Virginia Tech 99, Wake Forest 90
Game 7: Virginia 75, Pittsburgh 63
Thursday, March 9 (Quarterfinals)
Game 8: Miami vs. North Carolina, Noon, ESPN/ACC Network
Game 9: Duke vs. Louisville, 2 p.m., ESPN/ACC Network
Game 10: Virginia Tech vs. Florida State, 7 p.m., ESPN/ACC Network
Game 11: Virginia vs. Notre Dame, 9 p.m., ESPN/ACC Network
Friday, March 10 (Semifinals)
Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 7 p.m., ESPN or ESPN 2/ACC Network
Game 13: Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 9 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2/ACC Network
Saturday, March 11 (Championship)
Game 14: Game 12 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 9 p.m., ESPN/ACC Network
Round 2 Preview
Miami vs. Syracuse
While Miami is comfortably in the NCAA tournament, Syracuse could potentially have some work to do. BracketMatrix.com projects the Orange as an 11 seed, but they’re going to be sweating on Selection Sunday if they don’t add at least one more quality win–which this would be–to their resume.
Of course, the season’s first meeting bodes well for Jim Boeheim’s squad.
When these teams met in early January, Andrew White and Tyler Lydon each went for 20-plus points, Syracuse held Ja’Quan Newton and Davon Reed to a combined 5-of-23 shooting, and the Orange rolled to a 70-55 victory.
Syracuse’s array of offensive firepower–five different players have had at least 20 points in a game this season, while both White and John Gillon have had 40-point outbursts–against Miami’s stingy defense, which ranks 19th nationally in Ken Pomeroy’s efficiency rankings, will ultimately be one of the most fascinating matchups of the day.
Clemson vs. Duke
This is a must-win game for Clemson, while Duke is simply looking to build some momentum after closing the season with three losses in their last four games.
Their lone matchup of the regular season was an entertaining one, as the Tigers erased a big halftime deficit but ultimately came up short, 64-62, when they couldn’t get up a clean shot in the final seconds.
The key player in this one: Jaron Blossomgame. The All-ACC Third-Team selection has been one of the best scorers in the ACC this season, but he was held to a season-low seven points on 3-of-12 shooting against the Blue Devils in February.
Wake Forest vs. Virginia Tech
Although Wake Forest is battling the bubble and Virginia Tech is safely in, that may not tell the whole picture of how these teams match up. According to Ken Pomeroy’s efficiency rankings, the Demon Deacons are 30th in the country, while Buzz Williams’ squad is at 47. The Sagarin ratings paint a similar picture, with Wake at No. 34 and Virginia Tech at 47.
Those rankings proved correct last weekend, when Wake Forest went into Blacksburg and pulled out the 89-84 win on the road.
The scary though for Virginia Tech in that one: They shot 51.7 percent from the field and held All-ACC First-Teamer John Collins to just 13 points but still lost.
Still, the Hokies had reeled off five wins in their previous six games and boast one of the most efficient offenses in college basketball, so don’t write them off, despite what happened over the weekend.
Pittsburgh vs. Virginia
Pittsburgh scored a mini-upset over Georgia Tech in the first round, keeping alive what has been a tumultuous season.
While the Panthers have a couple of very good offensive weapons in Michael Young, Jamel Artis and Cam Johnson, things are about to get as difficult as possible against a Virginia squad that slows the pace, makes opponents uncomfortable and boasts the most efficient defense in college basketball.
Kevin Stallings’ squad did beat Virginia in overtime back in January, so, like Kevin Garnett would say, anything is possible, but the Cavaliers got revenge this past weekend with a 67-42 thumping.
Unsurprisingly, oddsmakers are pegging this as the most lopsided matchup of the night.
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