CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The ACC Tournament is back in its natural habitat of North Carolina.
After a one-year stop in DC and two years in Brooklyn, this year's edition is in Charlotte for the first time since 2008. This year's tournament features three national championship contenders and a host of teams talented enough to make noise in March.
Blue blood programs Duke and North Carolina find themselves fighting for No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament as is Virginia (28-2, 16-2). The Cavaliers gained the ACC's top seed with a 73-68 win Saturday against Louisville. North Carolina (26-5, 14-4) earned the second seed with a 79-70 win against No. 3 Duke (26-5, 14-4) Saturday.
The biggest question for the Blue Devils and most of college basketball is whether or not Zion Williamson will make his return for the tournament. Williamson suffered a knee sprain in the opening minute against North Carolina on Feb. 20.
Virginia and UNC were regular season co-champions. The Cavaliers are the No. 1 seed for the fourth time in six years. The defending ACC champs return to the city where they were stunned by No. 16 seed University of Maryland-Baltimore County last year, one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport. The Cavs are led by Kyle Guy and De'Andre Hunter.
Cam Johnson and freshman sensation Coby White lead the Tar Heels in scoring while senior Luke Maye averages a double double in points and rebounds.
Florida State (25-6, 13-5) is the No. 4 seed. FSU, No. 7 Louisville (19-12, 10-8), No. 6 Syracuse (19-12, 10-8) and No. 5 Virginia Tech (23-7, 12-6) are all fighting to improve their NCAA seeding. Other teams like NC State (21-10, 9-9) and Clemson (19-12, 9-9) are on the tournament bubble and need wins to boost their resume.
WFMY News 2 will carry all 14 games live, starting Tuesday with Miami and Wake Forest at the Spectrum Center. Here's the tournament schedule:
Tuesday, March 12
First round
Noon – No. 12 Miami vs. No. 13 Wake Forest
2 p.m. – No. 10 Georgia Tech vs. No. 15 Notre Dame
7 p.m. – No. 11 Boston College vs. No. 14 Pitt
Wednesday, March 13
Second round
Noon – No. 8 NC State vs. No. 9 Clemson
2 p.m. – No. 5 Virginia Tech vs. Tuesday noon winner
7 p.m. – No. 7 Louisville vs. Tuesday 2 p.m. winner
9 p.m. – No. 6 Syracuse vs. Tuesday 7 p.m. winner
Thursday, March 14
Quarterfinals
12:30 p.m. – No. 1 Virginia vs. Wednesday noon winner
2:30 p.m. – No. 4 Florida State vs. Wednesday 2 p.m. winner
7 p.m. – No. 2 North Carolina vs. Wednesday 7 p.m. winner
9 p.m. – No. 3 Duke vs. Wednesday 9 p.m. winner
Friday, March 15
Semifinals
7 p.m. – Thursday afternoon winners
9 p.m. – Thursday evening winners
Saturday, March 16
Championship
8:30 p.m. – Friday evening winners
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