The 71st edition of the ACC men’s basketball tournament heads to the nation’s capital – not exactly the event’s traditional home but not its first rodeo in Washington either.
In all, this will be the third time the event will be staged in D.C. at the venue currently known as Capital One Arena. Moving the spectacle to the District, however, has not prevented the league’s usual Tobacco Road powers from claiming the championship, as Duke won it in 2005 and North Carolina cut down the nets in 2016.
That will likely be the case again, as you’ll see below, but then March is rarely predictable.
ACC tournament schedule, bracket, scores
At Capitol One Arena, Washington, D.C.
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First round
Tuesday March 12
Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech, 2 p.m.
North Carolina State vs. Louisville, 4:30 p.m.
Boston College vs. Miami (Fla.), 7 p.m.
Second round
Wednesday March 13
Virginia Tech vs. Florida State, noon
Wake Forest vs. Notre Dame-Georgia Tech winner, 2:30 p.m.
Syracuse vs. North Carolina State-Louisville winner, 7 p.m.
Clemson vs. Boston College-Miami (Fla.) winner, 9:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Thursday, March 14
North Carolina vs. Virginia Tech-Florida State winner, noon
Pittsburgh vs. Wake Forest-Notre Dame Georgia Tech winner, 2:30 p.m.
Duke vs. Syracuse-North Carolina State-Louisville winner, 7 p.m.
Virginia vs. Clemson-Boston College-Miami (Fla.) winner, 9:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday, March 15
North Carolina-Virginia Tech-Florida State winner vs. Pittsburgh-Wake Forest-Notre Dame Georgia Tech winner, 7 p.m.
Duke-Syracuse-North Carolina State-Louisville winner vs. Virginia-Clemson-Boston College-Miami (Fla.) winner, 9:30 p.m.
Championship
Saturday, March 16
Semifinal winners, 8:30 p.m.
The ACC tournament favorites
The Tar Heels secured the top seed with a head-to-head sweep of the Blue Devils, but those two pulled well clear of the field and will be seen as the two big contenders. They are the only two teams that can feel assured of moving on to the NCAA as a top seed, and as such both will wear the big target once they take the floor. Clemson narrowly lost at Duke and won at North Carolina, making the Tigers the best bet to disrupt the rivals from meeting for a third time.
ACC tournament top players
► R.J. Davis, G, North Carolina – The ACC’s leading scorer (21.1 ppg) and likely player of the year shot a blistering 41.6% from three-point range during the regular season, and he always has a green light thanks to the rebounding prowess of his friends.
►Kyle Filipowski, C, Duke – The team’s top scorer (16.7) and rebounder (8.0) for a second consecutive year is the latest in a long line of Blue Devils whose occasionally questionable style of play earns him the wrath of opposing fans.
► Blake Hinson, G, Pittsburgh – The Panthers’ veteran marksman put up 18.8 points a game while connecting at a 42.4% clip from distance
►Hunter Sallis, G, Wake Forest – The former Gonzaga transfer quickly became the Demon Deacons’ go-to scorer (18.3 ppg), shooting just a shade under 50% from the field.
►P.J. Hall, C, Clemson – The senior mainstay in the Tigers’ frontcourt (18.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg) has worked to improve his shooting range, entering the tournament with 47 made three-pointers along with his 49 blocked shots.
NCAA tournament bubble storylines in ACC
Ironically, the same metrics that kept Clemson out of the Big Dance a year ago will likely get the Tigers in this time despite a less favorable seed. Nonetheless, their likely quarterfinal encounter with Virginia looms large for all bubble watchers, as the Cavaliers might also need another win. Likewise, Pitt and Wake might be in a virtual elimination game assuming the Demon Deacons avoid a Wednesday stumble.