2018 ACC Touranment Preview For Duke, North Carolina And NC State

The regular season is now over as the postseason begins starting with the ACC Tournament.

Duke and NC State begin  this  weeks ACC Tournament in Brooklyn New York  finishing the regular season in the win column.

Meanwhile North Carolina begins  the tournament on a two-game losing streak losing to Miami and then to Duke.

As for how each team finished the regular season.  

Duke comes into the tournament with a record of 25-6 and 13-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/_/id/150/haven won their regular season finale against rival  North Carolina

With No. 5 Duke trailing its fiercest rival and struggling to match the magnitude of the moment, coach Mike Krzyzewski had a simple message for his team. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

No pressure -- and no set plays, either."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

"Take the pianos off your back, quit playing with all the pressure in the world, get a smile on your face," Krzyzewski said. "Just play." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

Marvin Bagley III had 18 of his 21 points in the second half along with 15 rebounds, and No. 5 Duke erased a 13-point deficit in the second half and beat No. 9 North Carolina 74-64 on Saturday night."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

Grayson Allen added 15 points in his final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, and Gary Trent Jr. had 13 points -- including three 3-pointers in the final 10 minutes -- to help the Blue Devils (25-6, 13-5) clinch the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

Duke was 8 of 15 from 3-point range in the second half -- the Blue Devils made just 1 of 10 from that distance in the first half -- and outrebounded North Carolina 24-13 after halftime. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

"They kicked our butts in the second half," UNC coach Roy Williams said."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

Cameron Johnson scored 16 points for the Tar Heels (22-9, 11-7), while Kenny Williams and Luke Maye each had 13. Three weeks after they rallied from a double-figure deficit to win the rivalry's first game, it was the Blue Devils' turn to flip the script."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

Duke trailed by 11 with 14 1/2 minutes to play, but once the pressure started to fade, the ACC's top offense finally found its rhythm."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

"I'm not going to call any plays," Krzyzewski said he told his team. "If you hit, cut, everybody touch the ball, you see a play to make, you make the play. And get comfortable in the game. And they did that. You could see them do that." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

The Blue Devils hit four 3s in 4 1/2 minutes to erase that deficit, and that came early during the 25-10 burst keyed by six 3s that put them ahead to stay."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

BIG PICTURE

North Carolina: The Tar Heels had a chance to spoil Duke's Senior Night for the third time in their last four regular-season-ending visits to Cameron, and sweep their fiercest rivals. Instead, after too many missed shots at inopportune times, they'll enter the postseason on a two-game losing streak."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

"Played a little timid, and it's hard to win games like that -- playing timid," guard Joel Berry II said."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

Duke: This very well might have been the final game at Cameron for a good chunk of the starting five, with Allen -- the team's lone senior -- surrounded by three potential one-and-done freshmen and Krzyzewski acknowledging in the leadup to the game that "it's the last game probably for a few of our other kids, too." The offense came alive just in time to send Allen -- and maybe the others -- out the way they wanted."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

KEY STATS

North Carolina, which tied a program record with two turnovers in the previous meeting on Feb. 8, had much more trouble taking care of the ball in this one. The Tar Heels had 14 turnovers and the Blue Devils turned them into 15 points."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

COMFORT ZONE

The Tar Heels also set a program record under Williams by taking 33 3-pointers in the first meeting, and put up 31 more in this one against Duke's 2/3 zone defense. But they only made eight -- three after halftime -- and the most conspicuous stat line belonged to Berry, last year's Final Four Most Outstanding Player who finished 0 for 7 from 3-point range. "I don't like shooting 31 3s," Williams said. "That's not who we are." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

KEY STRETCH

Duke had missed 13 of its first 14 3s before Trevon Duval and Allen connected on back-to-back possessions near the 13-minute mark and made it a two-possession game. Then, after Johnson missed a 3-pointer, Bagley finished off a pretty feed from Duval for a dunk that pulled the Blue Devils to 46-43 and reclaimed the momentum for good. "Marvin went nuts there for a while and just put us on his back," Krzyzewski said."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

HE SAID IT

"Aliens crawled up in my guys' bodies in the second half, because this wasn't the North Carolina team I've seen all year." -- Williams, on his team losing composure in the second half."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982

 Kevin Keatts will get his first taste of the  ACC Tournament environment  after finishing his first regular season as the head coach of NC State.

NC State enters the ACC Tournament with a record of 21-10-11-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.  "according to http://gopack.com/news/2018/3/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-louisville-on-senior-night.aspx?path=mbball and are coming off a win over Louisville in their regular season finale.

The NC State men's basketball team's depth was on display Saturday night as its bench poured in a season-high 41 points to help the Wolfpack defeat Louisville, 76-69, in the final game inside PNC Arena for Abdul Malik Abu, Lennard , Allerik Freeman  and Sam Hunt "according to http://gopack.com/news/2018/3/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-louisville-on-senior-night.aspx?path=mbball
 
The win moved the Pack to 21-10 overall and 11-7 in the ACC, the best ACC record for NC State since 2012-13 and tied head coach Kevin Keatts for the most regular season wins as a first-year head coach. His 21 wins ties Everett Case, who went 21-4 in the 1946-47 season. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2018/3/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-louisville-on-senior-night.aspx?path=mbball
 
With the Pack now holding a 16-3 home record, it ties the most home wins since 2012-13 when it went 16-1 in Raleigh."according to http://gopack.com/news/2018/3/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-louisville-on-senior-night.aspx?path=mbball
 
NC State featured a balanced attack with four double-figure scorers;Allerik Freeman added 16 points, Torin Dorn finished with 15 on 7-for-11 shooting, Braxton Beverly had 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting, including a 3-for-4 performance from beyond the arc. and Omer Yurtseven also had 13, going 5-for-12. Dorn also led the Pack in rebounding with eight while Allerik's Freeman's six assists led the team in that category. Yurtseven turned away five shots to tie his career-high in blocks. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2018/3/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-louisville-on-senior-night.aspx?path=mbball

NC State finished the game with nine steals. Yurtseven led the team with a career-high three. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2018/3/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-louisville-on-senior-night.aspx?path=mbball
 
Along with outscoring the Cardinals' bench 41-12, the Wolfpack also took care of the ball and committed a season-low four turnovers compared to Louisville's 15. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2018/3/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-louisville-on-senior-night.aspx?path=mbball
 
In a back-and-forth battle that featured 14 lead changes and seven ties, the Pack was first on the scoreboard after an Abu layup with 19:09 the clock. While the first half saw the score tied five times and the lead change six, the Pack went into the half with a 33-32 advantage. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2018/3/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-louisville-on-senior-night.aspx?path=mbball
 
The second half started off as the first ended with neither the Wolfpack or Cardinals gaining a clear advantage. Louisville had a 48-44 lead with 14:37 to go, but the Pack responded with a 13-0 run to take a 57-48 lead on a Beverly three-pointer with 10:03 to play."according to http://gopack.com/news/2018/3/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-louisville-on-senior-night.aspx?path=mbball

The Cardinals would not go away though as a Darius Perry three-pointer brought Louisville to within two points, 64-62, with 4:30 to go. The Pack scored the next six points though to take a 70-62 lead."according to http://gopack.com/news/2018/3/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-louisville-on-senior-night.aspx?path=mbball

The Pack shot just 16-of-26 from the foul line for the game, but hit 8-of-9 free throws in the final 1:33 to prevent the Cardinals from gaining any momentum for a comeback."according to http://gopack.com/news/2018/3/3/mens-basketball-wolfpack-downs-louisville-on-senior-night.aspx?path=mbball

As for North Carolina though they come into the ACC Tournament with a record of 22-9 and 11-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference "according to http://goheels.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball and enter the tournament on a two-game losing streak with their first loss coming at home to Miami on Tuesday February 27th before losing on the road to their rival Duke in Durham on Saturday.

Ja'Quan Newton hit a running 30-footer at the horn to help Miami upset No. 9 North Carolina 91-88 in a wild finish Tuesday night. "according http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx?path=mbball

Newton's heave off his left foot came immediately after UNC's Joel Berry II hit a tough 3 of his own to tie the game with 4.1 seconds left. Miami pushed the ball upcourt for Newton's shot over Berry, then the Hurricanes immediately mobbed Newton near midcourt. "according tohttp://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx?path=mbball 

"When I was guarding Joel, he came down and hit a great shot," Newton said. "Soon as he hit the shot, I came around and I wanted the ball. ... I got it. I looked at the clock when I was dribbling upcourt and it said 3 seconds left. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx?path=mbball
http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx?path=mbball
"I was just like: 'I've got to shoot it.'" "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx?path=mbball

Officials quickly determined the shot came in time."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx?path=mbball

Miami coach Jim Larranaga said he considered calling a timeout before the Hurricanes inbounded the ball. And as Larranaga gave his postgame comments, Newton stared at a nearby wall-mounted TV replaying his remarkable shot. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx?path=mbball

Larranaga said the final play ended up being simply: "Ja'Quan, score so we can win this game." "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx?path=mbball

It capped a game that saw Miami (21-8, 10-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) squander a 16-point second-half lead, only to come up with a huge win with the ACC Tournament just a week away. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx?path=mbball

Chris Lykes scored 18 points to lead Miami, which shot 55 percent. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx?path=mbball

Berry matched his career high with 31 points for the Tar Heels (22-8, 11-6), who lost their final home game to snap a six-game winning streak. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx?path=mbball


BIG PICTURE
Miami: The Hurricanes had won their past two games by a combined four points, including a comeback from 14 down to beat Boston College on a last-second 3-pointer on Saturday to reach their sixth 20-win season in seven seasons under Jim Larranaga. This one fit right in with those — and truthfully topped them. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx?path=mbball

UNC: The Tar Heels entered this one trying to close out a perfect February, which included emotional rivalry wins against Duke and North Carolina State as well as road wins at Louisville and Syracuse. But they struggled for stops on a night when they shot 54 percent, and they also went just 13 for 20 at the line — including two to tie it in the final minutes before Berry's final basket. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx?path=mbball