#1 Duke vs #12 Wake Forest
Perhaps Duke's theme song should be "Some Guys Have All the Luck" by Rod Stewart. Instead of getting a #4 seed worth a grain of salt, they get the last place team in the ACC. Despite improved play from Wake Forest, I am really doubtful this game will be anything other than a Blue Devil win. This will be Wake's third game in a row and I imagine that toll will begin to show. And somehow I do not think Michael Drum and Cameron Stanley will go for double figures against Duke. Wake needs big games from Eric Williams and Justin Gray. They need to limit Shelden Williams as much as possible and J.J. Redick needs to stuggle from the field. Even if those things all happen, Wake will probably find itself on the short end of the scoreboard. It would appear Duke is heading for a ninth straight ACC Tournament Final.
Prediction: Duke 79 Wake Forest 62
#2 North Carolina vs. #3 Boston College
Another thought I poffered in an earlier post comes to roost here. How much can we glean from Boston College's earlier victory over UNC? When Boston College beat UNC in Chapel Hill it was at the darkest point of the season. The Tar Heels lost 3 out of 4 including two in a row. Following that loss, the Heels posted three straight double digit wins and lost the thriller to Duke. That was the last time UNC lost and aside from tonight's uneven performance, UNC has played extremely well. BC has been very consistent after opening the ACC season 0-3. They lost at Virginia before walking into Raleigh and pulling out a double OT win. BC presents a number of problems other teams, Duke included, do not present to the Heels. They have very good rebounders and physical players on the post. BC has multiple options on offense and should be the best defensive team UNC has faced in the last 10 games. I have little regard for how UNC played tonight versus how BC played. Every day is a new day and every team matches up differently with each other. The truth is that UNC seems to be due a loss and the this ACC semifinal game appears to be it.
Prediction: Boston College 74 UNC 71