The 2024 ACC tournament final sets the stage for a clash between a team vying for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and another aiming to secure a spot in the field of 68.
Throughout the season, the North Carolina Tar Heels have showcased their dominance in the ACC, and now they are poised to vie for their first ACC tournament title since 2016.
In a surprising turn of events, the NC State Wolfpack upset the Virginia Cavaliers in Friday’s second semifinal, marking their fourth consecutive victory in as many days.
For NC State, the only path to the NCAA tournament lies in securing the ACC’s automatic bid with a championship win. Although a fifth consecutive victory seems improbable, the Wolfpack have defied expectations thus far within the confines of Capital One Arena.
Semifinal Results:
- No. 1 North Carolina 72, No. 4 Pittsburgh 65
- No. 10 NC State 73, No. 3 Virginia 65 (Final/OT)
Championship Game Details:
- Date: Saturday, March 16
- Start Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN
- Live Stream: ESPN.com and ESPN app
Preview:
The showdown between North Carolina and NC State presents contrasting objectives for both teams in their quest for victory within the Capitol One Arena.
North Carolina finds itself in a prime position to secure the fourth No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, especially following the upsets suffered by the Arizona Wildcats and Tennessee Volunteers on Friday.
With these developments, UNC stands on the brink of joining the Houston Cougars, Connecticut Huskies, and Purdue Boilermakers on the top seed line, with a regular season-tournament double potentially bolstering their resume significantly.
However, a defeat against NC State would undoubtedly inject an intriguing narrative into the conversation leading up to Selection Sunday.
Meanwhile, for NC State to complete their remarkable run of five consecutive wins in as many days, they must overcome a team they fell to twice during the regular season, suffering defeats with scores of 67-54 and 79-70 on January 10 and March 2, respectively.
To emerge victorious on Saturday night, the Wolfpack must navigate through an improved UNC defense, which has held five opponents to 70 points or less during their recent eight-game winning streak.
A triumph for NC State would mark the culmination of an extraordinary March journey while simultaneously dashing the hopes of a bubble team. Consequently, outside of Raleigh, few fans across the country are likely to root for the Wolfpack, given the high stakes involved.
