How I learned to stop worrying & love ACC Tournament Thursday

By Joe Ovies
Mar 13, 2013

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Much like vinyl and mobile phones that simply make voice calls, the ACC Tournament is never going to make a real comeback. The glory days of playing hooky on Friday and jaunting off to Greensboro have given way to a diluted affair old-timers love to ridicule.

The ACC Tournament will be forced to stretch out even further with the additions of Notre Dame, Syracuse and Pittsburgh for the 2013-14 season. Throw in Louisville as Maryland's replacement the following year and the tournament will be at 15 teams for the foreseeable future.

As fans and media, we have two options: hope that the ACC scraps the traditional tournament format for something fresh or find a way to get over the nostalgia and just have fun with what we've got.

The chances of the first option are slim to none because the ACC dangled the spectacle of the tournament as a carrot to entice defecting Big East schools. Since everybody is showing up to the cocktail party, there's really only one format that can squeeze in all the action over five days. Teams seeded No. 10 through No. 15 would play on Wednesday while the 8th and 9th seeds would open up play on Thursday. Seeds No. 5 through No. 7 would await the winners of Wednesday's action on Thursday and the top four seeds would get a double-bye to Friday.

There are some radical format changes that would pique interest, but they wouldn't fit in the tight window desired by officials. A 15-team double-elimination tournament, with the potential for wild outcomes, would span a couple weeks. It could get even more ridiculous if pool play was introduced and the winners of each group met in the semifinals.

Again, fun to think about. But it ain't happening.

So we're left with having to get over it and having a little fun. Thankfully the ACC makes it easy with Twitter hashtag jokes, Red Panda entertainment and an official theme song that'll be ironically stuck in our heads by halftime of the first game. Let's take a look at the #goacc potential.

No. 8 Boston College vs. No. 9 Georgia Tech

What to expect: The Eagles took out the Yellow Jackets just five days ago, so how each team adjusts from the last meeting is key.

#goacc quotient: High. Boston College's Eddie Odio is all about the YOLO, while Georgia Tech's Robert Carter Jr. will be rocking the extra-medium jersey. If Adam Gold manages to stand next to Brian Gregory so we can see who is taller, it could reach epic levels.

No. 5 NC State vs. No. 12 Virginia Tech

What to expect: The Wolfpack needed overtime to beat the Hokies at PNC Arena. Erick Green is going to get his, so NC State has to do a better job of making sure Jarrell Eddie doesn't add another 17 points in this meeting.

#goacc quotient: Extremely high just for NC State "stuff" alone. For bonus giggles, there will be plenty of "Wood" in this game thanks to Scott Wood and Marshall Wood.

No. 7 Maryland vs. No. 10 Wake Forest

What to expect: The Demon Deacons are 2-12 away from Joel Coliseum this season. Greensboro is only 25 miles away, so maybe that's close enough for the home court mojo to possess Wake Forest and beat Maryland.

#goacc quotient: High, but only for the derp factor. Greensboro Coliseum officials should actually put turnovers on the scoreboard instead of points. Also expect fans to be extra salty at the Terrapins' expense because of their decision to bail for the B1G.

No. 6 Florida State vs. No. 11 Clemson

What to expect: Michael Snaer will find a way to win it for FSU at the buzzer.

#goacc quotient: Mild. There's only so many Big 12 expansion rumors Greg Swaim and West Virginia bloggers can start before we start tuning them out. Only football related jokes, like Chad Morris needing to help Brad Brownell on offense or yelling "the Seminoles are so back!" when they take a lead, can save this one.

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RE: How I learned to stop worrying & love ACC Tournament Thursday

Why can't the ACC maintain a 12 team tournament? Why do the 13th-15th ranked teams deserve a shot?

RE: How I learned to stop worrying & love ACC Tournament Thursday

It is what it is, you can't go back to the glory years. Now I know what it feels like to be a State fan.

RE: How I learned to stop worrying & love ACC Tournament Thursday

Just got back from practice.Anyone can win this year as it showed during the regulat season.
- Posted by kkevin7048

Did any one team stand out? How many teams did you see practice? I wonder since it's in Greensboro that the local schools may have a slight edge. I still See Duke as the frontrunner.
- Posted by jgunn

I just saw my Wolfpack practice then went to lunch.UNC and Duke did not practice for some reason.They must be keeping something secret.
- Posted by kkevin7048

Maybe they're still home since they don't play till Friday. It must have been fun to watch your Pack practice though!

RE: How I learned to stop worrying & love ACC Tournament Thursday

I don't look for any major surprises in this ACCT. I think BC and Wake have a good chance to advance Thursday, and State should as well IF two of their players (I won't say which ones) decide to play ball. If not, then Tech will send the Pack home. An ugly loss to the Hokies would put the Pack very close to if not on the bubble, and it's not out of the realm of possibility that they could even fail to qualify with a bad loss Thursday, given the parity nationally. The nightcap should see FSU advancing.

On Friday, I like Miami regardless of who they play; GT certainly won't take down the 'Canes twice, and BC simply lacks the manpower. State should beat UVA, and Duke should handle Wake Forest or Maryland, but I just don't see Maryland winning a game in this tourney- they stink. The big upset, I think, will come when FSU takes down UNC. However, if it's Clemson, look for Duke-UNC on Saturday. State will give Miami fits, but the way this State team has played of late, plus being short-handed and on tired legs, I don't see them beating the U. Duke will beat whoever they face, and on Sunday, I see Duke and Miami in a real battle, but the Devils will prevail.

Selection Sunday will not be pretty for the ACC. I think the ACC will get a #1 seed somewhere as long as Duke or Miami makes the finals, and I don't see Miami below a #2 seed unless BC knocks them out early. Carolina and State will get seeded somewhere around 5th to 8th or 9th, depending on how they do this weekend. UVA won't get a bid unless they win 2 games in the ACCT. I doubt even the NIT would be interested in the rest of the field, although Maryland and FSU will probably get an invite.

Next season the ACCT will become a long and boring 5-day event that will eventually lose its regional flavor and be dragged from one end of the Eastern US to the other on a rotating basis. They can't sell tickets now; they won't be able to give them away when the tourney moves a thousand miles from Greensboro. Enjoy it now.

RE: How I learned to stop worrying & love ACC Tournament Thursday

Just got back from practice.Anyone can win this year as it showed during the regulat season.
- Posted by kkevin7048

Did any one team stand out? How many teams did you see practice? I wonder since it's in Greensboro that the local schools may have a slight edge. I still See Duke as the frontrunner.
- Posted by jgunn

I just saw my Wolfpack practice then went to lunch.UNC and Duke did not practice for some reason.They must be keeping something secret.

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Joe Ovies