In 2007, 2008 and 2009, I took a shot at predicting the ACC Tournament. I’m back for another attempt, which is fated to end miserably. Still, I forge ahead, just as the woefully disappointing ACC does as they storm Greensboro for what is still considered (justly or no?) the premier conference tournament in the land.
Here goes …
FIRST ROUND, MARCH 11
Game 1, Noon: #8 Boston College vs. #9 Virginia
Essentially, the Eagles run a version of the Wake Forest-Georgia Tech cut-blocking scheme in football. Their flex offense is all flying elbows and moving screens, and their team is essentially made up of guys that look like they’re football players. Joe Trapani is a nice player, but they forget about him too often. B.J. “I Borrow Money From My Brother” Raji and Rakim “And Eric B.” Sanders provide matchup problems, but Reggie “Not Mr. March” Jackson is a bit out of place at point guard, making B.C. susceptible to the press. Tyler Roche is a sharpshooter off the bench, but Boston College at times appears to be more interested in dictating pace than scoring points. Coach Al “Choppers” Skinner presides over ugly basketball and questionable class, but the Eagles are no fun to play for anybody.
The Wahoos and new coach Tony “I Left My Heart In Pullman, Washington” Bennett were the toast of the ACC early on, but it’s been a freefall back to earth for the Cavaliers. Bennett simply doesn’t have the horses and lost his cool in the regular-season finale vs. Maryland at the most inopportune of times. Losing Sylven “Can’t Spell My Own Name” Landesberg, one of the league’s finest players, to academics is a head-scratcher on the eve of the ACC Tournament. The reality is that Bennett, like Duke football coach David Cutcliffe, got a lot of publicity mileage out of a surprising start, allowing him to seemingly get a free pass during a disastrous eight-game losing streak heading into tourney time. I really can’t name any other Cavs players outside of Mike Scott 
(seems like I remember they have a smallish shooter and a lot of guys from Africa), so I’m just not going to try.
Winner: #8 Boston College.
In the battle of too-cool-for-ties coaches, the Eagles outlast the Cavs in a hellaciously ugly game in which Virginia demonstrates that they just want their season to be over more than B.C. does.
Game 2, 2 p.m.: #5 Wake Forest vs. #12 Miami
The Demon Deacons ended their inopportune slide and arguably salvaged an NCAA tourney berth with a narrow win over Clemson in the league’s final regular-season game. However, that doesn’t change the fact that Wake is made up of a top player with a penchant for disappearing (Al-Farouq Aminu), a point guard who can’t shoot (Ish Smith) and a host of role players who refuse to accept their roles (L.D. Williams, Chas MacFarland). Like last year, the Deacs are entering the postseason playing their worst basketball of the year, a staple of Dino Gaudio teams: The talent is there, but the heart ain’t.
The Hurricanes can be dangerous if Dwayne Collins is healthy, but unfortunately that is rare. Beyond that, they have a lot of head cases and gunners who aren’t quite talented enough to play the playground ball that coach Frank “I Really Don’t Look Like My Name” Haith allows. Also, the ‘Canes struggle when they— … aw hell, who am I kidding? If “the U” itself doesn’t give a shit about “the U” basketball, why should I? I’m just going to stop this charade right here.
Winner: #5 Wake Forest.
The Deacons were very fortunate to grab the #5 slot, because they would be a prime candidate for a first-day upset if they were playing almost anybody but Miami. The rest of the field just needs to hope that Wake doesn’t start finding itself after a cupcake game to start the tourney.
Game 3, 7 p.m.: #7 Georgia Tech vs. #10 UNC
Ah, yes. The “Underachiever Bowl.” Should be a dandy.
The Yellow Jackets consistently seem to do less with more than just about anyone in the nation, and it may finally be catching up to coach Paul Hewitt. Despite an insane rollover contract that guarantees him $7 million even if he is ousted, speculation persists that Hewitt’s time could be coming to an end in Atlanta. I think I could win 20 games with Derrick Favors, Gani Lawal and Iman Shumpert, but the reality is that GT has shit the bed once again, and is on the outside looking in for NCAA Tournament consideration. Turnovers and inconsistency in the backcourt have stymied the Jackets’ efforts against opposing pressure and have led to an inability to feed the post, where Tech is strongest.
Roy “F Haiti, What About Me?” Williams seems like he’s spent more time throwing his players under the bus, worrying about heckling fans, and engendering pity for a vastly overblown injury and inexperience situation than he has in actually trying to coach. The Heels’ players look like they’ve had enough and the lack of caring and energy on the floor is almost shocking. Role players Deon Thompson, Marcus Ginyard and William Graves haven’t been able to assume leadership roles on or off the court, and the one player who gave the Tar Heels a definitive positional advantage, Ed Davis, is out injured and already focused on the NBA. John “Black Gumby” Henson and Dexter Strickland have flashed their abilities at times,
but Larry Drew Jr. is a head case and this team has quit on Roy, plain and simple.
Winner: #7 Georgia Tech.
The Yellow Jackets at least seem to be mildly interested in playing, while UNC packed it in a month ago. That combination points to a relatively easy GT victory in this matchup of disappointments.
Game 4, 9 p.m.: #6 Clemson vs. #11 NC State
If I was lazier, I could just copy-and-paste what I wrote the last three years about the Tigers, but I owe you more than that. Clemson wrapped up a rollercoaster league slate with a disappointing loss to Wake Forest in the regular-season finale, once more stumbling to the finish line after a rousing start. Trevor Booker continues to be a beast on both ends of the floor, and underrated Demontez Stitt and surprising Jerai Grant give him a couple of strong running mates. However, the younger Tigercubs haven’t progressed as quickly as some expected, and this team misses strangely departed deadeye Terrence Oglesby more than most realize. Coach Oliver “I’m Still Not Lou Gossett, Jr., As Much As You Want Me To Be” Purnell has done a tremendous job with the Tigers, but can he actually win anything of note?
The Pack was once again sunk by Division III-caliber guard play, though they rallied to win three of four to conclude the regular season. Tracy Smith is the most underrated player in the ACC, but too often he’s the only option for a team that can’t knock down open shots or get out of their own way too often. State is more than capable of toppling heavyweights when they limit turnovers and convert easy opportunities, but those times have been few and far between for coach Sidney Lowe (hey, are there any rules against Wolfpack Women's coach Kellie Harper coaching both teams in ACC Tournaments?). The late-season emergence of C.J. Williams gives the Wolfpack a slashing wingman; unfortunately, it comes at the same time as sharpshooter Scott Wood has faded badly. NC State has had to hitch its wagon to the Jekyll and Hyde duo of Good Javy/Bad Javy Gonzalez and Good Farnold/Bad Farnold Degand -- 
no wonder Lowe’s goatee is looking so gray.
Winner: #11 NC State.
They say the ACC Tournament doesn’t really start until the first big upset, and the Wolfpack is capable of pulling it off here. These two teams played to a three-point game in their only meeting, and if State can attack the press rather than just try to beat it, they have the horses to make the Tigers one-dimensional -- and kick-start the tourney.
QUARTERFINALS, MARCH 12
Game 5, Noon: #1 Duke vs. #8 Boston College
Unlike its teams in recent memory, the Blue Devils are much better positioned to withstand games in which they don’t shoot well. The sort-of emergence of Brian Zoubek on the boards and the sometimes-slashing game of Nolan Smith have given Duke other ways to win. Jon Scheyer brings a well-rounded game to a point guard spot he’s taken to relatively well, and Kyle Singler continues to be an extremely difficult matchup. Smith head-scratchingly disappears for stretches of time, but this is the most physical Devils team I can remember, with Zoubek, Lance Thomas and the Plumlees bringing a presence on the interior. However, Duke is very thin in the backcourt, and has run out of gas in the postseason in recent years -- will Coach “I Swear My Hair Is Still This Color” K trust Andre Dawkins enough to give him meaningful minutes when it counts?
Winner: #1 Duke.
Plain and simple, the Eagles just don’t have enough firepower to match the Devils’ scoring ability, even if they can limit the tempo. Duke can nearly match B.C.’s physicality (the Duke-Wake Forest game early in the campaign was the most physical game I can ever remember in the ACC) and has the ball-pressure skills to drive the Eagles guards nuts. The Blue Devils overwhelm Boston College here.
Game 6, 2 p.m.: #4 Virginia Tech vs. #5 Wake Forest
The Hokies have developed a nice three-pronged attack in Malcom Delaney, Jeff Allen and Dorenzo Hudson, and coach Seth Greenberg works the refs and a gameplan with equal aplomb. A perennial bubble team, Virginia Tech has overcome yet another horrible out-of-conference slate by winning enough key games to propel themselves to a seemingly easy NCAA berth. While a tremendous player, Delaney has mastered the art of getting undeserved trips to the charity stripe: Step 1, dribble out of control into other players. Step 2, yell loudly as you travel/charge. Step 3, flail arms about. Step 4, fall to court with a resounding crash. Step 5, proceed directly to free-throw line as other team stands around with arms upraised and quizzical looks. Hudson is a gunner who is nearly as adept at shooting Virginia Tech out of games as he is bringing firepower, while Allen is a consistent interior threat.
Winner: #4 Virginia Tech.
I usually favor the more disciplined and determined team in matchups like this, and while Wake has the better players, the Hokies have the better coach and system. Going forward, one has to question the postseason chances of a team that pins a huge part of their hopes and offense on referees bailing out a guard, but Virginia Tech is a bad matchup for the Deacs -- and everyone else.
Game 7, 7 p.m.: #2 Maryland vs. #7 Georgia Tech
General Grievis Meximelt has the Terrapins clicking in a big way, and the ACC’s best coach, Gary Williams, is pushing all the right buttons. If Vasquez isn’t the conference Player of the Year, there should be an investigation, and even though he’s the most hated player in the league (hell, on the East Coast maybe?), he is an undeniable force. Rookie Jordan Williams has given the Terps a needed presence in the paint, while been-there-forever Eric Hayes (I’m pretty sure the Vasquez-Hayes backcourt played with Len Bias) benefits big-time from the attention Vasquez draws. The only question for Maryland is whether they have enough other pieces to withstand the inevitable out-of-control stretches that Vasquez suffers through in each and every game.
Winner: #2 Maryland. 
In a surprisingly dangerous matchup for the Terps, Maryland outlasts GT in a close one. The Terrapins pressure the ball enough to make life uncomfortable on the Tech guards and make it hard for them to get the ball inside, where the Jackets could potentially make life miserable on the Terps. I could see Williams getting in foul trouble for Maryland and the Yellow Jackets giving the Terrapins a scare in a big way.
Game 8, 9 p.m.: #3 Florida State vs. #11 NC State
The Seminoles lead the nation in field-goal-percentage defense, and coach Leonard Hamilton (finally) has a lot of pieces to the puzzle in Tallahassee. Solomon “I Didn’t Do It, I Have An” Alabi is a rejector on the interior, Ryan Reid is rugged on the interior, Chris Singleton oozes athleticism, Michael Snaer is one of the best freshman in the league, and Deividas Dulkys can “stroke it from distance” (that’s what she said). FSU occasionally bogs down on offense, but forces you to be highly disciplined on offense and does a strong job of dictating the pace of play.
Winner: #3 Florida State. 
The Pack knocked off the ‘Noles earlier this year, but it took a huge game from freshman Scott Wood. I question whether State can play disciplined enough ball on back-to-back days in the tournament to win this one, and FSU pounces on other teams’ mistakes. The Wolfpack should keep it close, but the Seminoles pull it out in the end.
P.S. A chalk Semifinal Saturday? This just feels wrong …
Now, on to part deux ...
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