Acc Basketball: Who Will Be Crowned Champions?

who wil win the acc basketball

The ACC Men's Basketball Tournament is an annual college basketball tournament featuring teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The 2022-2023 season saw RJ Davis of North Carolina receive the most votes for Player of the Year, with Kyle Filipowski of Duke coming in second. The previous year's championship game was won by NC State, who took the title as a No. 10 seed. With the 2023-2024 season already underway, it remains to be seen who will win the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament this year.

Characteristics Values
Player of the Year RJ Davis, North Carolina
1st Runner-up Kyle Filipowski, Duke
2nd Runner-up PJ Hall, Clemson
Defensive Player of the Year Reece Beekman, Virginia
Rookie of the Year Markus Burton, Notre Dame
Most Improved Player Ian Schieffelin, Clemson
Winner of 2025 ACC Tournament Duke

shunwild

NC State's chances

NC State has a strong basketball program and has experienced recent success in the ACC tournament. In 2024, the NC State Wolfpack won the ACC tournament as a No. 10 seed, marking the 11th time the program has won the tournament. In 2025, the Wolfpack repeated this feat, again winning the ACC tournament as a No. 10 seed.

However, in 2024, the NC State Wolfpack entered the ACC tournament as a No. 10 seed, facing off against the top-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels in the championship game. Despite the Wolfpack's impressive run to the championship game, the Tar Heels were heavily favored to win, with an implied probability of 84.3% to the Wolfpack's 20.0%. The Tar Heels' superior size and the presence of star player RJ Davis were expected to give them a significant advantage. The Tar Heels had also swept the two regular-season matchups against the Wolfpack, winning both games comfortably.

Despite the odds, the NC State Wolfpack had proven capable of pulling off upsets, winning five of their six games when they were the underdog by at least +400 on the moneyline during the 2023-24 season. In the 2024 ACC tournament, the Wolfpack upset the No. 2 seed Blue Devils in the semifinals, winning 74-69 in overtime.

In the 2024 championship game, the NC State Wolfpack fell to the North Carolina Tar Heels, losing 78-68. The Tar Heels' tempo and rebounding advantage helped them pull away late, as predicted.

While NC State has demonstrated the ability to overcome adversity and compete with top-seeded teams, their chances in any given ACC tournament will depend on various factors, including their seeding, the performance of their opponents, and the presence of key players.

shunwild

Duke's performance

Duke University's basketball programme has a rich history of success, with the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team being a powerhouse in college basketball. The Blue Devils have won the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) a record 23 times and have 21 ACC regular-season titles to their name. They have also finished the season ranked No. 1 in the AP poll eight times and held the longest streak in the AP Top 25, with 200 consecutive appearances from 1996 to 2007.

The men's team has won 28 conference titles (13 regular season, 15 tournament), including 10 of the 13 ACC Tournament Titles from 1998-99 to 2010-11. They have reached the Final Four an impressive 13 times and have won the NCAA Championship five times, with the last victory in 2015. The Blue Devils' performance in the NCAA Tournament has been consistently impressive, and they are one of a handful of teams to have defeated all their tournament opponents by double digits.

The Duke Blue Devils women's basketball team is also a force to be reckoned with. In 2025, the women's team celebrated the 50th anniversary of their programme, which has been defined by tradition, excellence, and success. The women's team won the 2025 ACC Women's Basketball Tournament title, defeating NC State 76-62. This was their ninth ACC Women's Basketball Tournament crown, thanks to standout performances by sophomore Oluchi Okananwa and junior Ashlon Jackson, who both scored 22 points. The Blue Devils' victory in the ACC Tournament final was convincing, with a 14-point margin—the largest since Notre Dame's win in 2019.

Duke's basketball teams, both men's and women's, have consistently demonstrated their prowess on the court. With numerous conference and tournament titles, NCAA Championship wins, and a culture of excellence, Duke University has established itself as a dominant force in college basketball.

shunwild

North Carolina's past wins

North Carolina has had a long and successful history in the ACC basketball tournament. The team has won 18 conference crowns, second only to Duke, who has 22.

In the 2025 ACC tournament, North Carolina reached the quarter-finals, beating No. 12 Notre Dame 76-56 and then No. 4 Wake Forest 68-59. However, they were then beaten 78-68 by No. 1 Duke, who went on to win the championship.

In 1984, North Carolina State finished 7th in the ACC and lost in the first round of the NIT to Florida State. The following season, with the addition of guard Vinny Del Negro, the team began a run of five consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Elite Eight in 1985 and 1986 and the Sweet Sixteen in 1989.

In 1987, after a sixth-place finish in the regular season, North Carolina State made a surprising run through the ACC tournament, defeating their rival North Carolina in the championship game. This was a significant win, as North Carolina had gone undefeated in conference play that season.

North Carolina State has a rich basketball history, with notable alumni and coaches. Everett Case, who served as head coach from 1946 to 1965, is the school's highest game-winning basketball coach. Under his leadership, the team won eleven conference championships in thirteen years. Case was named ACC's "Coach of the Year" three times and led the team to numerous Southern Conference and ACC championships.

The team has also won two national championships, in 1974 and 1983, and ranks highly among NCAA Division I college basketball programs in total victories and winning percentage.

shunwild

Syracuse's head coach

Syracuse University's men's basketball team has been coached by Adrian Autry since the 2022-23 season. Autry, a former Syracuse player himself, replaced the legendary Jim Boeheim, who had been at the helm for 47 years. In his first season, Autry guided the team to a 20-12 overall record and an 11-9 mark in the ACC, an impressive feat that saw him become a finalist for the Joe B. Hall Award. Prior to his current role, Autry had a successful professional basketball career in European leagues and the USBL, and later worked as an assistant coach and director of basketball operations at Virginia Tech.

Syracuse's football team is led by head coach Fran Brown, who was hired in November 2023. In his first year, Brown led the team to a 10-win season, tying the record for most victories by a coach in their inaugural season at Syracuse. Brown's tenure has been marked by a culture of success, with the team setting over 20 individual or team single-season or career records. A proven winner, Brown has a 37-4 record over his last three seasons, including his time as an assistant coach. He has also invigorated Syracuse's recruiting efforts, with the 2024 and 2025 recruiting classes ranking as the two highest since national recruiting services began.

While Autry and Brown have both achieved notable success in their respective sports, it is difficult to predict who will win the ACC Basketball tournament. The competition is fierce, and historically, Duke and North Carolina have been the most dominant forces in the conference, with 22 and 18 tournament wins respectively. Nonetheless, with strong leadership and a culture of success, both Syracuse teams are poised to make a strong impression under the guidance of their head coaches.

shunwild

NIL challenges

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is facing several challenges related to NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals. The conference is committed to investing money in NIL deals to boost its men's basketball tournament bids, which are currently at their lowest in 25 years. However, the ACC faces competition from other conferences, such as the SEC, which has higher athletic budgets and has been more successful in attracting top transfers.

One of the main challenges for the ACC is the impact of NIL deals on recruiting. College basketball recruiting has been significantly affected by NIL money, with high school players facing more obstacles and increased competition for roster spots. The NIL deals have made college basketball a more attractive option for European players, leading to more international recruits. As a result, high school players now compete with older, more physically developed international players and college transfers.

Grassroots basketball programs have had to adapt to the new recruiting landscape by focusing on long-term skill development, basketball IQ, and structured coaching to prepare players for the challenges of college recruiting. The traditional AAU basketball model, which prioritizes tournaments and exposure, is no longer sufficient in the NIL era. Programs like Pro Skills Basketball (PSB) emphasize skill development, team play, and basketball fundamentals to help players stand out and make informed decisions about their future.

The NIL deals have also intensified the competition for roster spots, as players can now earn significant money while playing in college. This has resulted in fewer recruits choosing alternative professional pathways, such as the G League Ignite program, which the NBA recently decided to discontinue.

While the ACC is facing challenges, the increased financial commitment to NIL deals shows a willingness to regain its prominence in men's basketball. However, the collectives working to offer athletes money beyond the cap could be restricted by fair market value rules on NIL deals. The NCAA intends to curb pay-for-play transactions outside the revenue-sharing mechanism, but its effectiveness in monitoring NIL transactions remains to be seen.

Frequently asked questions

Duke.

NC State.

Duke, 22 times.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment