ACC Semifinals Preview

No. 1 Duke vs. No. 4 Georgia Tech
In the last game between these two teams met, No.4 Georgia Tech ended No. 1 Duke’s 41-game winning streak. Sophomore guard Jarrett Jack had a great game to lead the Yellow Jackets to the victory. Jack saved the Yellow Jackets in the first-round game against No.5 North Carolina by draining a deep two-point shooter to give Georgia Tech an 83-82 win.

Duke, meanwhile, handled No. 8 Virginia 84-74 in a relatively close game that Duke managed to win behind monster games by sophomore forward Shelden Williams and junior guard Daniel Ewing. Williams will need to have another great game against Georgia Tech for Duke to advance, but he is playing as well as anyone right now in the ACC. Georgia Tech will need Jack and junior guard B.J. Elder to have a great game to have a chance for a second consecutive upset of Duke.

Prediction: Duke 80, Georgia Tech 69

No. 2 NC State vs. No. 6 Maryland
The Terrapins essentially clinched their position in the NCAA Tournament with an 87-86 win against No. 6 Wake Forest. Maryland beat the Demon Deacons at their own game – a high scoring affair. It was the Terrapins first win against Wake Forest this year, and it basically guaranteed the Terrapins a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Maryland’s opponent, No. 2 NC State, all but eliminated No. 7 Florida State from the NCAA Tournament. The Wolfpack won 78-71 and will look to advance to the ACC championship for the third consecutive year. The Wolfpack have lost two consecutive ACC championships to the Duke Blue Devils and would likely love to see Duke in the championship game to exact revenge. But NC State must fight Maryland in the semifinals first, and the Terrapins are playing great basketball. Maryland won the last game between these teams at NC State. The Wolfpack won in College Park, Md., so this game will determine the season series. Maryland is playing well and is now looking to increase its NCAA seeding.

Prediction: Maryland 72, NC State 70