First here is copy of the entire bracket for your viewing pleasure.
5 ACC teams made the Big Dance. For the first time in a while, I really can’t find issues with the ACC Teams selected or seeding. Miami I felt was an NCAA worthy team, but when you look their resume there just weren’t enough quality wins. Losing to Florida State Friday in the ACCT probably did them in along with NC State’s tournament run. Let’s look at the ACC Team’s Brackets and give our quick impressions.
1 Seed: North Carolina, MidWest
This is a favorable bracket for the Tar Heels. They get the first 2 games in Greensboro, NC then Michigan and Temple while good teams don’t scare you. UNC may have to play Kansas in St. Louis which will be a tough out, but the Jayhawks are the only team in this bracket that could potentially knock out the Heels before the Final 4. Certainly with the return of John Henson the Tar Heels are on the short list of national championship contenders.
2 Seed: Duke, South
Duke like North Carolina will open the NCAAs in Greensboro, NC which should guarantee the Blue Devils will reach the sweet 16, though Notre Dame could be a tricky 2nd round game. Baylor’s athleticism could also pose problems for Duke in the sweet 16. Should the Blue Devils make it to the Elite 8 it would be a matchup nightmare with the Kentucky Wildcats. Duke would have to shoot over 50% to win that game. It’s a tough bracket for Duke.
3 Seed: Florida State, East
The Seminoles are a good team I mean really good. They deservedly got a nice 3 seed after winning the ACC Tournament. Florida State is a veteran battle tested team, that I don’t think will have any trouble reaching the sweet 16 game where the Noles could face Ohio State. That would be an absolute war, and I’d call it a toss-up at the moment. Without Fab Melo Syracuse is beatable in this bracket. FSU is good enough to reach the Final 4, but back to back games potentially with Ohio State and Syracuse will make them earn it.
10 Seed: Virginia, West
Mike Scott is one of the best players in the ACC, but this is a beat-up injured team, and Florida in the first round is not a good matchup. The Gators routed Florida State early in the season, and were one of the few teams to challenge Syracuse when they were crushing everyone in November and December. Florida struggled late, but this is a team with good athletic guard play. If somehow Virginia somehow gets by the Gators the Big 12 tournament champs Missouri Tigers await. The committee did UVA no favors.
11 Seed: NC State, MidWest
I think NC State is one of the most dangerous double digit seeds in the tournament. This is a team that can score from multiple positions and C.J Leslie is really coming into his own as a player. I could certainly see the Wolfpack knocking off 6 seed San Diego St.. For the Pack’s next opponent schizophrenic NCAA team Georgetown may not even get past Belmont. I’m not predicting NC State to the Sweet 16, but it wouldn’t shock me. Beating Kansas in St. Louis may be a bit much for the Wolfpack in the Sweet 16, but that would be a heck of a first season for Coach Mark Gottfried.
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