Busting Brackets
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ACC Basketball: Conference tournament preview

By Matt Ostrowski

Mar 5, 2016; Durham, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams questions a call by the officials in the second half of their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; Durham, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams questions a call by the officials in the second half of their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 1, 2016; Greenville, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers forward Jaron Blossomgame (5) reacts after a three pointer against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The Cavaliers won 64-57. Mandatory Credit: Dawson Powers-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2016; Greenville, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers forward Jaron Blossomgame (5) reacts after a three pointer against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The Cavaliers won 64-57. Mandatory Credit: Dawson Powers-USA TODAY Sports /

Pittsburgh vs. Syracuse

This second round matchup is huge for both teams, who were both listed in Joe Lunardi’s latest bracketology as having one of the last four byes.

And this should be an interesting game, too. Syracuse has excelled at guarding the three-ball this year, as opponents are shooting just 30 percent from behind the arc against them. Good thing Pittsburgh does most of their work inside the arc, with Michael Young and Sheldon Jeter inside.

As for the Orange, they play a very tight rotation this year, with five players playing over 30 minutes per game, including Michael Gbinije, who’s playing almost 38 per game. I’d expect a slow, but close game, with Syracuse, led by Gbinije, pulling away in the end.

Clemson vs. Georgia Tech

Is there a better name in college basketball than Jaron Blossomgame?

Probably not. Clemson is led by Blossomgame, and he’s been as good as any big man in the country this year. He’s thrown down vicious dunks.

He also possesses an inside-out game similar to Perry Ellis of Kansas. Blossomgame is shooting over 60 percent at the rim, and over 40 percent from three-point range.

Georgia Tech is led by Marcus Georges-Hunt, but the real achilles heel for them this year has been their defense. Not only did opponents shoot 50 percent from inside the arc against them in conference games, but they have also put opponents at the free throw line over 20 times per game.

Thus, I think Clemson wins this one, and pretty handily. I’m not sure Georgia Tech has anyone to matchup with Blossomgame’s inside-out game.

Since none of the other matchups are set, I’ll rank the remaining teams from who is least likely to win the championship this weekend, to who is most likely.

Next: Number six