For the first time in 31 years, the ACC tournament championship game will be played without a team from North Carolina in it.
Florida State and Georgia Tech are not lamenting that piece of history, with both looking to seize the tournament title. The second-seeded Seminoles advanced by virtue of beating UNC on Friday night in one semifinal, while No. 4 Georgia Tech advanced by forfeit after a positive COVID-19 test forced Virginia to leave Greensboro, N.C.
The Noles also advanced once this week by virtue of forfeit, Duke in the quarterfinals in their case. It’s a weird bit of history for this matchup: Both teams have played only one game before tonight.
The 2021 tournament was originally scheduled to be played in Washington, D.C., but was moved to Greensboro, N.C. due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is the 68th annual edition of the tournament. Last year’s tournament started, but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic before the third day of play.
Tournament odds entering Friday
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Brian Bennett’s pick
Florida State (7-2). While the Seminoles have had too many clunkers — Saturday at Notre Dame being the latest — we can’t shake last month’s 21-point beatdown of Virginia out of our noggins.
Eamonn Brennan’s ACC Bubble Watch
Locks: Virginia, Florida State, Clemson, North Carolina
Should be in: Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech
Work to do: Syracuse
Waiting game: Louisville, Duke
Tournament schedule
Note: All times Eastern
First round – Tues., March 9
Game 1: No. 13 Miami def. No. 12 Pittsburgh, 79-73
Game 2: No. 10 Duke def. No. 15 Boston College, 86-51
Game 3: No. 11 Notre Dame 80, No. 14 Wake Forest 77
Second round – Wed., March 10
Game 4: No. 8 Syracuse def. No. 9 NC State, 89-68
Game 5: No. 13 Miami def. No. 5 Clemson, 67-64
Game 6: No. 10 Duke def. No. 7 Louisville, 70-56
Game 7: No. 6 North Carolina def. No. 11 Notre Dame, 101-59
Quarterfinals – Thurs., March 11
Game 8: No. 1 Virginia def. No. 8 Syracuse, 72-69
Game 9: No. 4 Georgia Tech def. No. 13 Miami, 70-66
Game 10: No. 2 Florida State wins by forfeit
Game 11: No. 6 North Carolina def. No. 3 Virginia Tech, 81-73
Semifinals – Fri., March 12
Game 12: No. 4 Georgia Tech wins by forfeit
Game 13: No. 2 Florida State def. No. 6 North Carolina, 69-66
ACC championship game – Sat., March 13
Game 14: No. 4 Georgia Tech vs. No. 2 Florida State, 8:30 p.m. on ESPN
Click here for a printable NCAA Tournament bracket to fill out on Selection Sunday.
(Photo by Nell Redmond /USA TODAY Sports; The Athletic may receive an affiliate commission if you open an account with BetMGM through links contained in this article.)
