ACC Basketball: Duke’s Win Over UNC Blows ACC Wide Open

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In case you missed it, Duke stunned North Carolina at the Dean Dome on Wednesday night, with an Austin Rivers three pointer at the buzzer. We’ll have plenty of time to analysis the loss, and look to the future, from a Heel perspective later. What Duke’s win really did was put the cap on a wild week in ACC basketball that blows the conference title wide open.

Photo Credit: Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE

Both Tar Heel and Blue Devil fans have Boston College to thank after their improbable win over Florida State. FSU would be in the drivers seat after defeating both Carolina and Duke this season already if not for the loss. Duke has been through a wild week of their own after losing to Miami at Cameron for the first time in series history. A loss to UNC would have put Duke in a serious hole at 6-3 behind the would be 8-1 Heels and 7-2 Seminoles.

But this is why college basketball is so great. All three teams are now tied at 7-2 in the ACC and things don’t get any easier from here. The Tar Heels host a tough Virginia team that is slipping lately but showed a lot of early season promise. And Duke faces a feisty Maryland feisty team that gave Carolina fits and knocked off Clemson this week.

The rest of the way Carolina is tough with four out of the last seven regular season games coming on the road. UNC will have to fact #20 Virginia twice. The Heels will travel to Duke, Miami, NC State, the Virginia home and home and a home game against Clemson. Each team left on the schedule is fighting for something and proven they can win this season. NC State may be the least difficult game on the schedule for Carolina. Considering their on and off again focus issues on the road, they can’t afford to look past anyone.

After hosting Maryland on Saturday, Duke faces a tough, but probably less difficult, path than the Heels. Duke plays BC, FSU and Wake on the road. And will host MD, NC State, VT and of course the finale against the Tar Heels. FSU travels to NC State, Miami and Virginia and will host Duke, Clemson, VT and Miami. In my book, FSU has the least difficult path to travel to the ACC title, especially considering they already have wins against Carolina and Duke.

If this week in ACC Basketball told us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected and to expect a wild finish. Something tells me Austin Rivers three just made Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham NC the place to be on Saturday March 3rd. Who knows, an ACC Title might just be on the line.

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