Fansided

5 reasons North Carolina will win the 2019 ACC Tournament

By Mike Phillips

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 09: Coby White #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after a play against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Dean Smith Center on March 09, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 09: Coby White #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after a play against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Dean Smith Center on March 09, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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ACC Tournament
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 11: De’Andre Hunter #12 of the Virginia Cavaliers shoots over Garrison Brooks #15 and Brandon Robinson #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at the Dean Smith Center on February 11, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Virginia won 69-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

1. Virginia isn’t unbeatable

If the Tar Heels get by Duke in the semifinals they would likely face Virginia in the ACC final. The Cavaliers have had an excellent season, going undefeated against anyone not named Duke, but their team is certainly not unbeatable.

Tony Bennett’s squad continues to rely on its Pack Line defense to win, which is fine in the regular season but can leave the Cavaliers vulnerable in March. Virginia scores only 72.1 points per game, which is fine if they can slow the tempo down but leaves them vulnerable against teams that can speed up the game and hit shots from the outside.

That formula can work for North Carolina, which has the ability to get hot from deep and the athletes to make life difficult on Virginia’s defense. The Tar Heels also have a bigger incentive to win the ACC Tournament since they probably won’t land on the one line without it, creating added desperation that could lead to a more prolific offensive effort.

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