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5 Key Storylines To Watch In The ACC Tournament

By Josh Cornelissen

Mar 4, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Theo Pinson (1) with the ball as Duke Blue Devils guard Grayson Allen (3) defends in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Theo Pinson (1) with the ball as Duke Blue Devils guard Grayson Allen (3) defends in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 4, 2017; Syracuse, NY, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets center Ben Lammers (44) drives the ball as Syracuse Orange forward Tyler Lydon (20) during the second half of a game at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won 90-61. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Syracuse, NY, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets center Ben Lammers (44) drives the ball as Syracuse Orange forward Tyler Lydon (20) during the second half of a game at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won 90-61. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

Any Magic Left For Syracuse?

Last season the Syracuse Orange had to sweat out the bubble with a 19-13 record and once awarded a 10-seed were largely dismissed as one of the teams likely to make an early exit. Turmoil surrounding the coaching staff was more than a backdrop to an inconsistent season.

Then the Orange shocked the world and made a run from that 10-spot, not only upsetting Dayton in its first game but winning the entire Midwest Regional, complete with a huge second-half comeback against the top-seeded Virginia Cavaliers.

Although they lost in the Final Four to the North Carolina Tar Heels, head coach Jim Boeheim had added a bit of March Magic to his already impressive career.

This season the Orange find themselves in a similar position, just above the cut line with an 18-13 record prior to the start of the ACC tournament.

Whether they can make another run deep into the tournament will have a lot to do with what happens around them, but this week they can take the first step in that direction.

With such an uncertain group of teams vying to make the NCAA tournament, a few wins in the ACC tournament could put Syracuse in a favorable position to make a move. Their first game comes against Miami, and the Hurricanes lost big to Syracuse early in conference play.

The real challenge — and opportunity — would come on Friday against North Carolina. Their last two games — a January meeting this season and their Final Four clash last season — have been dominant wins for the Tar Heels.

If the Orange can pull off the upset, they will not only improve their seed but open the door for another team to wrest a No. 1 seed from North Carolina.

The momentum they build this week can give this team confidence for another March run, and their first chance comes Wednesday at noon in Brooklyn.