The stakes are at an all-time high. And how could it not be? The semi-finals of the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament are just around the corner. As the quarterfinals with the top four teams, No. 1 NC State, No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 3 Duke, and No. 4 Florida State culminate. Some rankings might just change.
However, with the matches this season, the four need to worry as winning might not be guaranteed. Three matchups, in particular, have the potential to turn the rankings upside down.
2 Games That Could Possibly Lead to a Change in Order
1) The fall of NC State?
No. 5 North Carolina went up against No. 4 Florida State in the quarterfinals. UNC is coming in after a 78-71 win over Boston College. Meanwhile, Florida was trying to make a comeback after their rather dismal 71-57 loss to Duke.
The Seminoles were hanging on to the merits of their star player, Ta’Niya Latson. But there is so much that a single player can do. UNC’s defense, as seen in most matches this season, was strong. They have given up only 57.9 points per game. UNC, too, much like Florida, has a star player who is balancing it out.
The Tar Heels, with their current approach and momentum, was trouble for Florida. The match ended with 60-56. Now, this win means that North Carolina will be going up against the winners of Game 9. Game 9 is happening between No. 1 NC State and No. 9 Georgia Tech. And if NC State’s game this season is to be studied, they are bound to win.
While NC State has the more explosive offense, North Carolina’s defense could be the deciding factor. If they can slow down James and force NC State into a defensive battle, the Tar Heels could have the edge. But if NC State dictates the pace and keeps it high-scoring, they’ll be tough to stop.
2) A Blue Devil Beatdown?
The University of California’s No. 7 seed will be going up against the No. 2 Notre Dame in the quarterfinals. Cal is entering this match with a 75-58 win over Meanwhile, Notre Dame comes with a star roster.
They have Hannah Hidalgo on their side, who has been putting up 24.2 points per game. She and Olivia Miles helped Notre Dame win against Louisville with a 72-59 score. Notre Dame statistically scored 86.1 points per game while holding opponents to just 62.1.
Meanwhile, Duke is going up against No. 6 Louisville in the quarterfinals. There is no doubt that Duke’s defense has been unshakable all season. And, of course, their last game against Florida State was no different.
They won 71-5,7 with Toby Fournier and Ashlon Jackson leading the charge. It does seem like all the odds are in favor of Duke. However, if they move to the finals and go up against Notre Dame. The stats tell a different story.
Duke has been in a scoring slump. They have an average of 70.4 points per game over their last 10 contests, which is 4.3 points below their season average. Meanwhile, Notre Dame remains consistent, putting up over 83.5 points per game. If Duke can’t keep up offensively, they could be in trouble against a high-scoring opponent.
With two potential upsets brewing, the ACC semifinals could be full of surprises. Four big teams will be putting on their best game.
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