Florida State basketball (15-5, 11-4 ACC) has the UNC Tarheels (18-9, 10-6 ACC) standing in its way of an ACC Championship berth.
TV Schedule: Friday, March 12, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN2
Where: Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC
No. 2 Florida State basketball received more rest and time to prepare for their next opponent when a positive COVID-19 test in the Duke Blue Devils program canceled the quarterfinal matchup. As a result, the Seminoles are one step closer to the ACC Championship Game.
The Seminoles ended the season 2-2 after winning four straight games. M.J. Walker, Raiquan Gray, and Scottie Barnes lead the team in scoring. Barnes is a surefire 2021 NBA Draft pick, and the others have shown next-level potential also.
Anthony Polite and Balsa Koprivica have taken their games to another level this season. They will be key players to watch in this game and the NCAA Tournament. Florida State basketball does a great job of getting into the paint and capitalizing on those opportunities. They run the fast break very well also.
The No. 6 North Carolina Tarheels redeemed themselves after having an injury-riddled 2019-20 campaign with Cole Anthony on the roster. Armando Bacot, Garrison Brooks, and Caleb Love are their leading scorers.
Day’Ron Sharpe has been a great addition to the Tarheel’s frontcourt. He is a guy who can make you pay on both ends of the floor in the paint area and rebound the ball with the best of them. Leaky Black, Walker Kessler, and Anthony Harris are guys to pay attention to as well.
This ACC Semifinal will be a battle. I don’t foresee a blowout. It will go down to the wire and be a question of who wants it more? Both of these teams are good enough to represent the ACC well in the NCAA Tournament. One of them is going to get the automatic bid. Which one? We’ll find out.
Prediction: North Carolina 80 – Florida State 85