The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Men’s Basketball Tournament is one of the most prestigious and competitive college basketball tournaments in the country. Every year, the tournament takes place in Greensboro, North Carolina, and the winner of the tournament is crowned the ACC champion. This year, the tournament was held from March 10th to March 14th, and the winner was the Virginia Cavaliers.
Virginia Cavaliers Win the ACC Tournament
The Virginia Cavaliers, who were the top seed in the tournament, made it to the championship game by defeating the Syracuse Orange in the quarterfinals, the Duke Blue Devils in the semifinals, and the Florida State Seminoles in the finals. The Cavaliers won the championship game 71-63, and earned their first ACC Tournament title since 1976. The victory was especially sweet for the Cavaliers, as they had come close to winning the tournament in recent years but had fallen short.
Virginia’s Road to the Championship
The Cavaliers began their tournament run by taking on the eighth-seeded Syracuse Orange in the quarterfinals. The Cavaliers were led by star guard Ty Jerome, who scored 20 points and recorded seven assists in the game. The Cavaliers were also aided by a strong defensive performance, as they held the Orange to just 34.3% shooting from the field. The Cavaliers won the game 69-59, and advanced to the semifinals.
In the semifinals, the Cavaliers faced off against the Duke Blue Devils. The Blue Devils had been one of the top teams in the ACC all season, but the Cavaliers were able to pull off the upset. The Cavaliers were led by forward Mamadi Diakite, who had an impressive double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds. The Cavaliers held the Blue Devils to just 37.3% shooting from the field, and won the game 75-73.
In the finals, the Cavaliers took on the Florida State Seminoles. The Seminoles had been one of the surprise teams of the tournament, as they had knocked off the second-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels in the semifinals. The Cavaliers were led by guard Kyle Guy, who scored 20 points and recorded four assists. The Cavaliers held the Seminoles to just 38.7% shooting from the field, and won the game 71-63.
Virginia’s Post-Tournament Accolades
The Cavaliers have been rewarded for their tournament performance with several awards and honors. Ty Jerome was named the ACC Tournament Most Valuable Player, and Kyle Guy, Mamadi Diakite, and De’Andre Hunter were named to the All-Tournament team. The Cavaliers also received the ACC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they will be the top seed in the South Region.
Virginia Cavaliers Make History
With their victory in the ACC Tournament, the Virginia Cavaliers have made history. They are the first team since the Duke Blue Devils in 1991 to win both the regular season and tournament championships in the same season. The Cavaliers have also earned a spot in the record books, becoming the first team since the North Carolina Tar Heels in 1982 to win the ACC Tournament three times.
Conclusion
The Virginia Cavaliers have won the 2020 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament. This is the Cavaliers’ first tournament title since 1976, and they are the first team since the Duke Blue Devils in 1991 to win both the regular season and tournament championships in the same season. The Cavaliers will now move on to the NCAA Tournament, where they will be the top seed in the South Region.