2008 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament
Charlotte Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina from March 13th-March 16th
Posted on Wednesday, March 12th by TD at Totals 4 You Opening Round – Thursday, March 13th
Game 1: Wake Forest vs. Florida State at 12:00 PM EST
Game 2: Miami-Florida vs. N.C. State at 2:30 PM EST
Game 3: Georgia Tech vs. Virginia at 7:00 PM EST
Game 4: Maryland vs. Boston College at 9:30 PM EST
Quarterfinal Round – Friday, March 14th
Game 5: North Carolina vs. Game 1 Winner at 12:00 PM EST
Game 6: Virginia Tech vs. Game 2 Winner at 2:30 PM EST
Game 7: Duke vs. Game 3 Winner at 7:00 PM EST
Game 8: Clemson vs. Game 4 Winner at 9:30 PM EST
Semifinal Round – Saturday, March 15th
Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner at 1:30 PM EST
Game 10: Game 7 Winner vs. game 8 Winner at 4:00 PM EST
Championship Round – Sunday, March 16th
Game 11: Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner at 1:00 PM EST#1 Seed) North Carolina: 29-2 season, 14-2 conference, 9-1 last 10, 15-0 road/neutral
RPI rank 2, 9-1 vs. RPI top 50, 87.2 points offense, 75.0 points defense
Strength of schedule 4, First opponent: 3-0 vs. Wake Forest/Florida State
#2 Seed) Duke: 26-4 season, 13-3 conference, 7-3 last 10, 11-3 road/neutral
RPI rank 4, 6-3 vs. RPI top 50, 83.8 points offense, 74.4 points defense
Strength of schedule 9, First opponent: 3-0 vs. Georgia Tech/Virginia
#3 Seed) Clemson: 22-8 season, 10-6 conference, 7-3 last 10, 7-6 road/neutral
RPI rank 22, 3-5 vs. RPI top 50, 77.8 points offense, 72.8 points defense
Strength of schedule 37, First opponent: 2-0 vs. Maryland/Boston College
#4 Seed) Virginia Tech: 18-12 season. 9-7 conference, 6-4 last 10, 6-10 road/neutral
RPI rank 57, 0-6 vs. RPI top 50, 72.0 points offense, 72.2 points defense
Strength of schedule 45, First opponent: 0-2 vs. Miami-Florida/N.C. State
#5 Seed) Miami-Florida: 21-9 season, 8-8 conference, 6-4 last 10, 7-7 road/neutral
RPI rank 28, 3-3 vs. RPI top 50, 74.8 points offense, 75.8 points defense
Strength of schedule 32, First opponent: 0-1 vs. N.C. State
#6 Seed) Maryland: 18-13 season, 8-8 conference, 5-5 last 10, 5-7 road/neutral
RPI rank 69, 1-5 vs. RPI top 50, 75.2 points offense, 75.7 points defense
Strength of schedule 17, First opponent: 1-1 vs. Boston College
#7 Seed) Georgia Tech: 14-16 season, 7-9 conference, 4-6 last 10, 8-9 road/neutral
RPI rank 73, 2-9 vs. RPI top 50, 77.4 points offense, 77.6 points defense
Strength of schedule 8, First opponent: 1-1 vs. Virginia
#8 Seed) Wake Forest: 17-12 season, 7-9 conference, 4-6 last 10, 2-10 road/neutral
RPI rank 87, 3-3 vs. RPI top 50, 73.9 points offense, 76.4 points defense
Strength of schedule 84, First opponent: 2-0 vs. Florida State
#9 Seed) Florida State: 18-13 season, 7-9 conference, 5-5 last 10, 5-9 road/neutral
RPI rank 63, 4-5 vs. RPI top 50, 69.4 points offense, 73.2 points defense
Strength of schedule 20, First opponent: 0-2 vs. Wake Forest
#10 Seed) Virginia: 15-14 season, 5-11 conference, 4-6 last 10, 4-8 road/neutral
RPI rank 107, 1-7 vs. RPI top 50, 73.9 points offense, 77.7 points defense
Strength of schedule 53, First opponent: 1-1 vs. Georgia Tech
#11 Seed) Boston College: 13-16 season, 4-12 conference, 1-9 last 10, 2-8 road/neutral
RPI rank 136, 1-7 vs. RPI top 50, 72.8 points offense, 77.4 points defense
Strength of schedule 15, First opponent: 1-1 vs. Maryland
#12 Seed) N.C. State: 15-15 season, 4-12 conference, 2-8 last 10, 5-9 road/neutral
RPI rank 93, 2-7 vs. RPI top 50, 68.4 points offense, 77.4 points defense
Strength of schedule 24, First opponent: 1-0 vs. Miami-FloridaThe Analysis: The first thing that jumps out to the observer about the 55th annual ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament is the surprising lack of depth in what has so often been the nation’s power conference. Prohibitive favorites North Carolina and Duke split their season series with the Blue Devils posting an 89-78 road win on February 6th and the Tar Heels returning the favor with a 76-68 victory on March 8th. As much as we have backed Roy Williams’ crew as the best in the country all season, we’ll give the nod to Coach Krzyzewski’s squad at Bobcats Arena based on their health right now and superior guard play that is so critical to tournament play.
That being said, we must take heed to the wisdom of history’s greatest seer and sports handicapper, as related by William Shakespeare, who wisely warned against playing the heavily favored Caesars at Theatre of Pompey Arena on March 15th, 44 BC. Those who took the Senators plus the points really cleaned up and this season’s Ides of March may yield the same. Clemson’s RPI ranking of 22 has slid under the glare of the Titans of Tobacco Road and the Tigers have tested both these crews, taking the Heels to overtime in both of their meetings while pushing the Devils hard in 80-93 loss in Durham. If both Duke (3-0 vs. possible first game opponents) and Clemson (2-0 vs. possible first game opponents) handle their business on Friday, it sets up a meeting on the Ides of March, 2008…take Clemson to win the 2008 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Filed under: college basketball
