ACC Tournament: Will Someone Upset Duke?
Three Teams Look to Take Down Duke in ACC Tournament
The ACC Conference is stacked this year with three teams that have the potential to knock the defending NCAA Champions off their pedestal. Last year the Miami Hurricanes emerged to challenge the Blue Devils and this year there may be another unlikely team to take down Duke. The following are three teams that have the potential to send Duke packing early.
No. 3 Maryland Terrapins
The Maryland Terrapins have struggled at times this season but they do have all the elements that will make them well suited for tournament play. They are ranked in the top 25 nationally in shooting percentage from the field and they are unafraid to get dirty under the basket.
The Terrapins rank in the top ten nationally in rebounding led by their leading board crasher Jordon Williams. Williams also happens to be the teams leading scorer as well. This team will go as far as Williams can take them. Williams is also a smart player. He knows his place and has not attempted a three pointer in his two years of college play. Maryland has lost to Duke twice this season but they have a shot in tournament play.
No. 2 Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech is finishing out the season strong and despite their losses early in the season they look to be setting up well for the ACC Tournament. In tournament play one player can take a team on his back and take them to victory. That man for Virginia Tech is Malcolm Delaney .
Delaney is the leading scorer for the Hokies averaging over 19 points per game and hitting three pointers at an over 40 percent clip. Delaney will also be a key down the stretch with his 86 percent shooting percentage from the foul line. The second key to this team going all the way in the ACC Tournament will be the rebounding of Jeff Allen. He is averaging 10 per game and he is second leading scorer. Watch out for the Hokies in Greensboro.
No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels
The North Carloina Tar Heels close out the regular season against the Duke Blue Devils March 5th and then they will potentially face them in the ACC Tournament Final March 13th. If they do face off on Selection Sunday it will be war between two teams that hate each other to the core.
The Tar Heels are not the best shooting team in the ACC but they do have the length and toughness to give the Blue Devils a tough game. In their first meeting the Blue Devils prevailed by six points but the game was closer than the final score indicates.
North Carolina leads the country in rebounding but this is partially because their outside shooting is weak. They are hitting just over 20 percent from the outside. The best aspect of North Carolina's game is their two way players.
Their top three Tyler Zeller, Harrison Barnes and John Henson are decent scorers but more importantly they are not afraid to bang under the basket. They will be keys to beating Duke on Sunday if they face off against each other. North Carolina will be the best challenger to Duke's reign in the ACC Tournament.
What About Duke?
The loss of Kyrie Irving has slowed this teams scoring but they are still the team to beat in the ACC Tournament. Nolan Smith and Kyle Singlar have picked up the slack in the scoring department and Seth Curry along with Andre Dawkins have helped with the outside shooting.
On the other Mason Plumlee is the man to count on under bucket with Singlar helping out on occasion. Duke is not the best shooting team in the country and they are the most physical team but they do know how to win. Coach Mike Krzyzewski has made a living off of winning with average teams and this team could be an over achiever in the NCAA Tournament. Duke will lose to the North Carolina in ACC Final.
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Published by Todd Jacobs
Todd Jacobs is from Anaheim, California and resides in the city of Las Vegas. Todd worked for Orange Coast Magazine as News Editor in the 80s and recently began writing for several online sites including:... View profile
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- Terrapins rank in top 10 nationally in rebounding led by their leading board crasher Jordon Williams
- Delaney is the leading scorer for the Hokies averaging over 19 points per game.
- Nolan Smith and Kyle Singlar have picked up the slack in the scoring department for Duke.