UNC Basketball program among 4 ACC schools to make Sweet 16

The ACC had a down year... so they said. Four ACC schools are heading into the Sweet 16, including the UNC basketball program.
North Carolina v Duke
North Carolina v Duke / Grant Halverson/GettyImages
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After what was identified as a "weak" season, the Atlantic Coast Conference is being strongly represented in the NCAA Tournament. Now, four of the five teams from the ACC that entered the field of 64 are headed to the Sweet 16, including the No. 1-seeded UNC basketball program

Virginia barely snuck in and got destroyed in a First Four matchup with Colorado State. The Cavaliers are the only ACC team no longer remaining. Clemson, North Carolina, Duke, and North Carolina State are looking like contenders. 

The No. 6 seeded Clemson avoided the common No. 11 over No. 6 upset by burying New Mexico and then upsetting No. 3 Baylor in a nail-biter on Sunday. P.J. Hall and the Tigers will have their work cut out for them next round when they face former Tar Heel Caleb Love and the Arizona Wildcats. 

North Carolina, ranked No.1 in the West Region, handled No. 16-seeded Wagner as they should in the opening round. In the round of 32, the Tar Heels started off flat and fell 12 points behind Michigan State before emerging victorious behind a monster game from Harrison Ingram. 

Duke is on a roll and playing the best basketball of their season. They rolled past Vermont in the Round of 64. Fortunately for the Blue Devils, they played #12 seed James Madison University instead of Wisconsin in the second round, and they took advantage. Jared McCain dropped 30 in a 38-point win for Duke. 

North Carolina State was rewarded an automatic bid to participate in March Madness by winning five games in five days, including the ACC Tournament Championship over the Tar Heels. DJ Burns and company are making the most of this opportunity. A win over Texas Tech and a thrilling overtime victory against Oakland has put the Wolfpack one step closer to reliving 1983. 

It is time for the ACC to start getting a little more respect when it comes to at-large bids for the NCAA Tournament. Wake Forest and Pittsburgh, who finished ahead of Clemson in conference standings, were snubbed in the eyes of many this year and could have done some damage. The one-third of the teams that are left are proving that the ACC is no joke and wins when it matters most. 

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Next. UNC Basketball fights back to advance to the Sweet 16. UNC Basketball fights back to advance to the Sweet 16. dark