There are currently 6 teams in the running for the ACC regular season title. Every one of these teams will play 3 more games, and each team has at least one game against another contender. When the dust settles, the top 4 teams will get a double-bye in the ACC Tournament, meaning they will enter the tournament in the quarterfinals. (Remember that Louisville is ineligable for postseason play.) The ACC currently owns the top defensive team (Louisville) and the top offensive team (Notre Dame) in the country, so even if you don't have a stake in the outcome these games should be some A+ entertainment.
#1 UNC (12-3)
Sat 2/27, 6:30p: @ UVA
Mon 2/29, 7p: vs Syracuse
Sat 3/5, 6:30p: @ Duke
#2 Miami (11-4)
Sat 2/27, 2p: vs Louisville
Wed 3/2, 7p: @ ND
Sat 3/5, 4p: @ VT
#2 Louisville (11-4)
Sat 2/27, 2p: @ Miami
Tue 3/1, 8p: vs GT
Sat 3/5, 8:30p: @ UVA
#4 UVA (10-5)
Sat 2/27, 6:30p: vs UNC
Tue 3/1, 7p: @ Clemson
Sat 3/5, 8:30p: vs Louisville
#4 Duke (10-5)
Sun 2/28, 2p: @ Pitt
Tue 3/1, 8p: vs Wake
Sat 3/5, 6:30p: vs UNC
#4 Notre Dame (10-5)
Sat 2/27, 4p: @ FSU
Wed 3/2, 7p: vs Miami
Sat 3/5, 12p: vs NC State
UNC @ UVA (Sat 2/27, 6:30p)
This is one to watch. Two teams in the running for a #1 seed in March with two polar opposite styles of play. While UVA plays the slowest ball in the country, UNC is heralded for its fast pace and effort in transition. 2 of UNC's 3 ACC losses have come on the road, and the only team to beat UVA on its home court in the past 2 years went on to win the national title last year. (It's worth noting though that UNC could fit that bill.) The way to beat UVA when they're on form is to light shots up from the outside, but UNC has struggled to hit 3's, averaging 28.3% in ACC play. This game could absolutely come down to the last posession, and with Roy Williams' timeout history, that could work out in UVA's favor :)
Louisville @ Miami (Sat 2/27, 2p)
This game comes in a close second in the must-watch category. Lousville plays the most stifling defense in the country, but Miami has recovered from a tumble against UNC and just took down UVA at home, where it is undefeated in ACC play. If UNC loses their game against UVA on Saturday night, the winner of this game would become the ACC's new #1.
UVA @ Clemson (Tue 3/1, 7p)
With all of the high-profile games this week it would be easy for this one to slip under the radar. But this game will determine whether UVA can take a share of the title, and Clemson is no slouch. At 9-7 in the conference, Clemson narrowly missed being the seventh team on the list of contenders and has beaten a number of the teams we're discussing here. Add to this that UVA is notoriously flaky on the road, and this game could easily be the one that ends UVA's hopes of a three-peat.
Miami @ Notre Dame (Wed 3/2, 7p)
Notre Dame is running the best offense in the country right now, and they have slowly built a resume that demonstrates why they're a part of this list. But their defense is wanting, and Miami handled them without much trouble when they visited Florida earlier in the season. It will be interesting to see how they handle ND on their home court.
UNC @ Duke (Sat 3/5, 6:30p)
This will be one fierce rematch. Duke will likely win its games against Pitt and Wake, placing them at 12-5 on Saturday. Assuming UNC loses to UVA but wins against Syracuse, it will be coming in at 13-4, setting this up as a match for a share of the regular-season title. Despite an earlier slump, Duke has been a force lately, with recent back-to-back-to-back wins against the top of the ACC. Although luck played a part in 1-point wins against UVA and UNC, Duke is a dangerous team and boasts the #2 offense in the country.
Louisville @ UVA (Sat 3/5, 8:30p)
This is the last game of the regular season, but even if UVA and Louisville are out of the running for the title at this point, this game could still determine which teams get the double-bye in the Tourney. The Hoos handed the Cards their biggest home loss in history at Yum! Center last month, in a game that proved that UVA could actually win on the road. Both teams are defensive powerhouses, but remember again that UVA is undefeated at JPJ this season and it seems like this will be a tough game for the Cards to win.
It's possible that we could have a 5-way tie for the title.
