ACC Tournament Nothing Like It When Played In Carolina

Notre Dame played in the ACC Championship game in only their second season  in the League.  Clemson has tried 61 times and only played in the finals twice,  Only twice in the history of the league has a North Carolina based team not played in the finals.  Carolina play in the big game for the 33rd time.

Notre Dame even though they may represent the Midwest connection the Fighting Irish are a good addition for the ACC in basketball even though they are only here as part of a football deal.  They are loaded with seniors and present a three point shooting attack compared to when Carolina is playing at their best to can go inside first and if they are hitting outside shots can be dominant.

I don't know whether it was three out of four people in the stands cheered for Carolina or was it this newcomer trying to show the world this state of North Carolina ACC dominance is a thing of the past. Just might have been Notre Dame is a great fit for the ACC  because they have the ACC look that the ACC tries to project.  The Thomas Jefferson academic league.  There was a static energy in the building deserving of the past glory of the ACC tournament.

The first half was inside Carolina dominance scoring two points almost at will while the Irish rained threes.  Eight minutes to go in the game Carolina got every rebound and made every three.  Then that four games in four days kicked in.  The final eight minute Notre  Dame looked fresher.  Carolina had turnovers on lazy passes, outside shooting died and Notre Dame got every rebound.

Even though the Irish had the momentum the killer play of the game was when the score was tied at 64 and Carolina got a block  ND got the rebound and every player outside the three point line passed the ball around the horn for the killer three with Carolina defense out of gas.

This game was ACC  playing the game the way it needs to be played no 48-45 game here.  Don't care if any tournament high school or college has any meaning any more because of the playoffs.  There is one thing for sure.  Every league can say all they want about conference tournaments but when the ACC plays their championship every other league wishes they could be like this.

Tournament Basketball Is Want Too

Virginia opens their action in the ACC Tournament by running off to a big first half lead against Florida State and held their own in the second.

Carolina played so so in their opening game against Georgia Tech and continue in their first half against Louisville.  They played super for most of the Virginia  game and head to the finals on a up swing.

Notre Dame had a big start against Miami  and didn't finish  all that great.  Their motivation was they knew from what they saw from Duke they had better be ready at the start.  Didn't hurt their coach had been a Duke assistant.

Duke played a perfect first half against State but they coasted in the second so what happens in the first half against Notre Dame.  Duke was a step slow the whole first half and Notre Dame did what K had done to State, went right after the big men.  Duke even with about four minutes to go in the half showed signs of panic.

Duke was still a step slow in the second half until Notre Dame started protecting the lead and yet their outside shooting wasn't there to win the game.

Either Duke or Carolina have played in the ACC tournament final every year since 1997.   I wish Virginia played offense like Notre Dame.  I wish Notre Dame played defense like Virginia.  I don't see the ACC having a team in the Final Four.

Carolina and Notre Dame have by Far played the last two  days more consistent than any body else.  The luster of all North Carolina team finals gone the Tar Heels  are there representing all of us old time ACC fans.