ACC Basketball: 2022 conference tournament preview and predictions
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Duke vs. No. 9 Syracuse
The first quarterfinal sees No. 1 Duke take on No. 9 Syracuse. The Blue Devils had little issue with Syracuse during the regular season, sweeping the season series by an average of 22 points and scoring 88 points per game.
The forward duo of Paolo Banchero and Mark Williams has absolutely feasted on Syracuse this season, to the tune of 79 points and 33 rebounds. The third meeting between the two should give us the same result, an easy Duke March into the semifinals unless Syracuse can find a way to defend them out of the zone.
Prediction: Duke 89, Syracuse 71
No. 2 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Virginia Tech
Notre Dame may have finished 2nd in the league, but the Fighting Irish also finished with a favorable schedule, not having beaten a team that finished in the top half of the league since February 2nd. The Hokies on the other hand have wins over Miami and Virginia in that time and won the only meeting between the two this season.
These two teams are evenly matched and could be one of the more entertaining ones of the tournament. The difference for me is whether Naheim Alleyne and Storm Murphy can match Notre Dame’s three-point production as they did in the first meeting, I’m not sure they can.
Prediction: Notre Dame 78, Virginia Tech 73
No. 3 North Carolina vs. No. 6 Virginia
With North Carolina’s big win over Duke to end the season, they earned the No. 3 seed and will face No. 6 Virginia in the quarterfinals. The Tar Heels beat Virginia handily during the regular season, 74-58.
When North Carolina is going right like they were against Duke with four players scoring at least 20 points and having won five straight heading into this game, they are Duke’s biggest threat. Virginia doesn’t have anyone that can handle the Armando Bacot and Brady Manek duo, or the offensive firepower to hang with a clicking Tar Heels squad.
Prediction: North Carolina 81, Virginia 70
No. 4 Miami vs. No 5 Wake Forest
The final quarterfinal sees the other surprise of the conference, No. 4 Miami take on No. 5 Wake Forest in a battle of teams picked to finish 12th and 13th in the preseason. The Hurricanes swept the season series from Wake Forest by a total of 12 points.
Three reasons that led to the sweep were guard Isaiah Wong who scored 45 points, Wake Forest’s inability to convert at the free-throw line, shooting 11-20, and Miami forcing 15 turnovers per game in the season series. Williams and LaRavia are really good, but if they can’t protect the ball against a Miami team that has had their number, it will be the Hurricanes moving on to the semifinals.
Prediction: Miami 78, Wake Forest 74