ACC title game pits Blue Devils against Yellow Jackets
Greensboro, NC (Sports Network) - The top-seeded and fourth-ranked Duke Blue Devils go for their record 18th ACC Tournament title today, as they take on the seventh-seeded Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the finals at Greensboro Coliseum.
The Blue Devils are not only trying to establish a new record with an 18th championship in this event, but they are also gunning for their second straight title. Duke made its way to the finals by defeating ninth-seeded Virginia, 57-46, in the quarterfinals and nipping 12th-seeded Miami-Florida, 77-74, in the semifinals yesterday. The Blue Devils have now won a record 86 games in this event, and could secure a No.1 seed in the NCAA Tournament with a win today.
As for the Yellow Jackets, they entered the postseason knowing they needed to do some work to ensure a spot in the Big Dance. Tech certainly stepped up to the challenge and took care of business with a 62-58 win over 10th-seeded North Carolina in the first round before upsetting second-seeded and nationally-ranked Maryland, 69-64, in the quarterfinals. The team continued its run yesterday with a 57-54 besting of 11th-seeded NC State. Tech is now in its first championship game since losing to Duke back in 2005.
The Yellow Jackets held NC State to a dismal 30.6 percent shooting from the floor and survived a three-pointer in the closing seconds for a 57-54 win yesterday. Tech missed 13 free throws and turned the ball over 16 times in the game, allowing NC State to rally before hanging on for the win. Derrick Favors had 17 points and eight boards to lead the way, while Gani Lawal registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The ACC Freshman of the Year, Favors has scored in double figures in each postseason game and is averaging 12.2 ppg and 8.5 rpg for the season. He ranks second on the team to Lawal, who puts forth 13.3 ppg and 8.8 rpg. Iman Shumpert is in charge of setting up the duo, handing out a team-high 3.7 apg, and he also chips in with 10.0 ppg.
Duke used a 15-0 run in the second half to take control and it hung on down the stretch for a 77-74 win over Miami yesterday. The Blue Devils shot 48.1 percent from the field and dominated the boards, 38-24. Kyle Singler, who had a team-high 18 points in the quarterfinals, led the charge once again with 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Jon Scheyer added 16 points and six boards, while Nolan Smith chipped in with 12 points. The trio have carried Duke all season long, and Scheyer paces the team with 18.7 ppg and 5.1 apg. Singler produces 17.5 ppg and a team-best 7.0 rpg, while Smith averages a healthy 17.4 ppg.
