2010 ACC Basketball Championship Preview

The Duke Blue Devils (28-5, 13-3 advanced to the 2010 ACC Basketball Tournament championship game to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (22-11, 7-9) at 1:00 PM EST in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Blue Devils have won 8 of the past 11 ACC Tournament championships and defeated Florida State, 79-69 to win the 2009 ACC Tournament title. Georgia Tech, is playing to help ensure they make the best case possible to obtain an automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Tournament. The two teams played twice this year, splitting the matchup with the home team winning each game.

Duke Blue Devils 2010 ACC Championship Preview

Although Coach K has gone on record to state he is not worried about obtaining a #1 seed in the 2010 NCAA Tournament, you know it has to be a consideration since the 3 Blue Devil Final Four appearances since 1999 have come after starting the tournament as a #1 seed. Duke is considered to be in competition with West Virginia (Already won the 2010 Big East Tournament) and Ohio State for the 4^th remaining #1 seed (Kansas, Kentucky, and Syracuse are considered to be locks for #1 seeds).

Duke started off the 2010 ACC Tournament with a 57-46 victory over the UVA Cavaliers. Kyle Singler scored 18 points for Duke with Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith also chipping in 15 points each.

In the ACC Tournament semi-final, Duke was able to hold on to defeat Miami 77-74 in a close matchup with one of the ACC Tourney surprises in the Hurricanes. Singler led the Blue Devils with 27 points helping them get back to the ACC Championship game for the 11^th time in 13 years. Duke was the only team in the top 6 seeds to make it to the semifinal round of the tournament. They split with Georgia Tech during the regular season.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 2010 Big Ten Championship Preview

Georgia Tech lost their last two regular season games to plant themselves firmly in the 2010 NCAA Tournament bubble. Since then, they have won three games in a row in the 2010 ACC Tournament to earn a shot at the Duke Blue Devils for the postseason tournament championship.

Georgia Tech started ACC Tourney play with a closer-than-expected 62-58 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels. They would then go on and win another close matchup with Maryland, 69-64, and ultimately survived a third close game in the semifinals against the NC State Wolfpack, 57-54.

Georgia Tech is led by forward Gani Lawal who averages 13.4 ppg and 8.8 rpg. Not far behind him is future NBA player, Derrick Favors at 12.1 ppg and 8.1 rpg.

ACC Championship Preview

Coach K will have the Blue Devils read for what has become the regular finale for Duke in the ACC Championship game. In order to have a shot in the game, Georgia Tech will need to clamp down on Kyle Singler's scoring and the Blue Devils transition offense. The came could come down to a contest of big men where Duke (for once) holds a slight edge over Tech.

ACC Tournament Prediction: A tight game, but Duke wins by approximately 7 points.