If you been paying even passing attention to the ACC during the last decade and change then you likely know which team is often the one celebrating at the end of the annual conference tournament and which coach has been cutting down the nets all these years.
It's Duke. It's Mike Krzyzewski. Since 1999, the Blue Devils have won 10 ACC Tournament championships. Ten. Duke wins the conference tournament with such regularity that it's far tougher to name the years that they didn't win.
If Duke's ACC tourney dominance continues through 2019, however, we could look back at this season as one of those off years when the celebration after the tournament final occurred somewhere other than Durham. After all, the Dukies will have to vastly improve on their tepid performance in the regular-season finale against rival North Carolina at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday. With an 88-70 win, the Tar Heels avenged a stunning home loss -- when Duke freshman Austin Rivers hit a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer to cap an incredible comeback -- and to win the ACC regular-season title.
Ranked as the No. 4 club in the nation, UNC is the betting favorite as teams arrive in Atlanta. Led by senior giant Tyler Zeller and sophomore phenom Harrison Barnes, the Tar Heels breezed through conference play for the most part, only suffering that heartbreaking loss to Duke and getting blown out by Florida State on the road. As the top seed, they won't have to face either until the championship game.
Can UNC manage to take the regular-season and ACC Tournament titles from Duke? Does Coach K have some trick up his sleeve that he held back last weekend? Or will a surprise team without a bye make a magical run and punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament? Scroll down and vote on which team you think will win the ACC Tournament.
All odds via Bovada.com.
