CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - MARCH 09: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers cuts down the net after winning a game against the Louisville Cardinals to a clinch a share of the ACC regular season title at John Paul Jones Arena on March 9, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) The Virginia Cavaliers sit above the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils in the 2019 ACC Tournament, but how will the bracket shake out? Entering the 2018-19 college basketball season, the general consensus seemed to be that it would be a battle between the Duke Blue Devils, Virginia Cavaliers and North Carolina Tar Heels for the top spots entering the 2019 ACC Tournament. And coming into the final day of the regular season, it was indeed those three teams that were duking it out for the top three seeds with nothing decided. In the mid-afternoon, Virginia had a matchup with the Louisville Cardinals with simple consequences. If the Cavaliers won, they’d be the top seed in the ACC Tournament. If they lost, they wouldn’t be. Luckily for those in Charlottesville, Tony Bennett’s team took care of business and clinched the top spot. That still left plenty to be decided in the later game, however, as Duke and North Carolina renewed their storied rivalry in Chapel Hill. The winner of the matchup would get the No. 2 seed in the tournament while the loser would fall into the third spot. For the second time on the year, though, it was the Tar Heels that emerged victorious over Coach K’s squad. But Duke expects to have Zion Williamson for Thursday’s game in the ACC Tournament. Thus, that set the top seeds for the 2019 ACC Tournament, but that merely means they won’t play until Thursday in the long affair. Meanwhile, six teams will begin play in the tourney on Tuesday, March 12, followed by five teams (three with byes) that will begin play on Wednesday against Tuesday’s winners. Finally, the top four seeds will get double-byes and start play on Thursday, facing the teams that won on Wednesday. With all of that in mind, let’s take a look at the full 2019 ACC Tournament printable bracket and how everything has shaken out: Obviously, the top seeds in Virginia, North Carolina, Duke and Florida State have to be considered the favorites to win the 2019 ACC Tournament. However, you can’t count out quality teams like Virginia Tech, Louisville, Syracuse and even a squad like NC State. All this is to say, college hoops fans should keep their eyes peeled on Charlotte to see how things shake out over the coming week ahead of March Madness.<doc-sep>The 2019 ACC tournament tips off Tuesday, March 12 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. Below is an in-depth look at the tournament, including a complete bracket, TV schedule, analysis and predictions. 2019 ACC tournament bracket, seeds The complete 2019 ACC men's basketball tournament bracket. (ACC) A printable 2019 ACC tournament bracket can be found here. Who is the favorite? Virginia. The Cavaliers tied North Carolina atop the league, but won a tiebreaker by virtue of beating the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill in February. Their reward is the No. 1 seed and avoiding facing UNC or a Duke team that beat them twice until a potential championship matchup. The Cavs are their usual juggernaut selves on defense — boasting the nation’s third-ranked defense in terms of efficiency — while equally capable of turning it up on offense. Just ask Syracuse, which watched Virginia sink 18-of-25 3-pointers while scoring 47 points in the second half of a 79-53 win last week. Virginia’s only two losses this season came against the Blue Devils. It will take a significant upset to keep Virginia out of Saturday’s final. Who else can win? North Carolina and Duke, of course. The rivals are on track for a potential third matchup in Friday’s semifinal round if they can escape upset in Thursday’s quarterfinals. The biggest question here — let’s be real, anywhere in college hoops — will be the status of Zion Williamson. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was optimistic after Saturday’s regular-season finale that Williamson will be ready to go on Thursday. If Williamson returns, there’s the potential of finally getting the full-force UNC-Duke matchup college basketball was deprived of when his Nike busted at the seams in the opening minute of their matchup in Durham. If he doesn’t, UNC has the clear edge and the best shot at upending Virginia for the tournament title. Either way, they’ll likely have to get through each other first before facing the Cavaliers, making the road that much tougher. Florida State, Virginia Tech, Louisville and Syracuse are all capable of pulling off an upset. But asking them to do so multiple times in Charlotte is a tall task. Story continues Bubble implications Clemson and N.C. State may be playing for their respective NCAA tournament lives when they face off Wednesday in the tournament’s 8-9 matchup. N.C. State (21-10, 9-9, KenPom 31, NET 32): The Wolfpack stumbled down the stretch, losing three of their last six including an ugly loss to a bad Georgia Tech team to close out their home schedule. Their non-conference slate is not helping their cause, and they failed to beat any of the ACC powers in conference play. They need some wins in Charlotte. Clemson (19-12, 9-9, KenPom 28, NET 35): Clemson avoided the Georgia Tech disaster N.C. State suffered when it eked out a 64-62 road last week win over a Notre Dame team that finished 3-15 in ACC play. Still, not a good look. A win over Virginia Tech helps its cause, but multiple wins in Charlotte will go a long way toward Clemson’s March hopes. Players to watch Zion Williamson, F, Duke: Will he or won’t he play, and how will he look if he does? It’s the story of the ACC and NCAA tournament. Coby White, PG, North Carolina: A 6-foot-5 scoring point guard who can put the ball on the floor and shoot from deep, White is one of the tournament’s biggest scoring threats. Carolina’s chances may rest on how effective its freshman floor leader is. De'Andre Hunter, F Virginia: The potential lottery pick has come to define Tony Bennett’s way of basketball at Virginia as an elite wing defender who can make teams pay on the other end with his 3-point accuracy. The sophomore who spurned the NBA after last year’s stunning NCAA tournament exit has improved his distance shooting from 38.2 percent as a freshman to 48.6 percent this season. That three-and-D ability makes him a coveted NBA prospect and one of the the ACC’s most dangerous players. One big storyline Can the ACC land three No. 1 seeds for the NCAA tournament? Duke swept Virginia. North Carolina swept Duke with the benefit of Williamson missing both games. Virginia beat North Carolina on the road in their only matchup. The ACC powers have 12 combined losses, and five of them came in games played against each other. Virginia is a lock for a No. 1 seed, and if Duke beats UNC in Charlotte, the selection committee will be faced with a difficult decision. That decision could end up being three No. 1 seeds coming from the same conference. 2019 ACC tournament TV schedule All times Eastern Tuesday, March 12 | First round No. 12 Miami vs. No. 13 Wake Forest — Noon, ESPN2 No. 10 Georgia Tech vs. No. 15 Notre Dame — 2:30 p.m., ESPN2 No. 11 Boston College vs. No. 14 Pittsburgh — 7 p.m., ESPNU Wednesday, March 13 | Second round No. 8 N.C. State vs. No. 9 Clemson — Noon, ESPN No. 5 Virginia Tech vs. No. 12 Miami/No. 13 Wake Forest — 2:30 p.m., ESPN No. 7 Louisville vs. No. 10 Georgia Tech/No. 15 Notre Dame — 7 p.m., ESPN2 No. 6 Syracuse vs. No. 11 Boston College/No. 14 Pittsburgh — 9:30 p.m., ESPN2 Thursday, March 14 | Quarterfinals No. 1 Virginia vs. No. 8 N.C. State/No. 9 Clemson — 12:30 p.m., ESPN No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 5 Virginia Tech/No. 12 Miami/No. 13 Wake Forest — 3 p.m., ESPN No. 2 North Carolina vs. No. 7 Louisville/No. 10 Georgia Tech/No. 15 Notre Dame — 7 p.m., ESPN No. 3 Duke vs. No. 6 Syracuse/No. 11 Boston College/No. 14 Pittsburgh — 9:30 p.m., ESPN Friday, March 15 | Semifinals Winners of quarterfinals 1 and 2 — 7 p.m., ESPN Winners of quarterfinals 3 and 4 — 9:30 p.m., ESPN Saturday, March 16 | Final Semifinal winners — 8:30 p.m., ESPN Zion Williamson is expected to return from a knee injury for the ACC tournament. Will he and Duke get another shot at North Carolina? (AP) 2019 ACC tournament predictions First round No. 12 Miami over No. 13 Wake Forest No. 10 Georgia Tech over No. 15 Notre Dame No. 14 Pittsburgh over No. 11 Boston College Second round No. 9 Clemson over No. 8 N.C. State No. 5 Virginia Tech over No. 12 Miami No. 7 Louisville over No. 10 Georgia Tech No. 6 Syracuse over No. 14 Pittsburgh Quarterfinals No. 5 Virginia Tech over No. 4 Florida State No. 1 Virginia over No. 9 Clemson No. 2 North Carolina over No. 7 Louisville No. 3 Duke over No. 6 Syracuse Semifinals No. 1 Virginia over No. 5 Virginia Tech No. 3 Duke over No. 2 North Carolina Final No. 1 Virginia over No. 3 Duke Other conference tournament previews: Big 12 | Big East | Big Ten | Pac-12 | SEC More on Yahoo Sports:<doc-sep>
The Virginia Cavaliers clinched the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament for the fourth time in the past six seasons after outlasting the Louisville Cardinals, 73-68. That gave the Hoos a share of the regular season title and fans the chance to watch Duke and North Carolina battle for second place in the conference. Carolina also grabbed a share of the regular season title, with the Hoos and Heels both finishing the season 16-2 . Both of Virginia’s losses came to Duke. Carolina lost to both Louisville and Virginia, giving Virginia the top seed and Carolina second. Duke earned the No. 3 seed, while Florida State rounded out the group of double-byes with the No. 4 seed in the ACC. The ACC tournament starts on Tuesday in Charlotte, but the Hoos won’t be in action until Thursday, when they face the winner of NC State and Clemson. Here’s the full ACC Tournament schedule: Tuesday, March 12 First round Noon – No. 12 Miami-Florida Hurricanes vs. No. 13 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (ESPN/Raycom) 2 p.m. – No. 10 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. No. 15 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (ESPN/Raycom) 7 p.m. – No. 11 Boston College Eagles vs. No. 14 Pittsburgh Panthers (ESPNU/Raycom) Wednesday, March 13 Second round Noon – No. 8 NC State Wolfpack vs. No. 9 Clemson Tigers (ESPN/Raycom) 2 p.m. – No. 5 Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Tuesday noon winner (ESPN/Raycom) 7 p.m. – No. 7 Louisville Cardinals vs. Tuesday 2 p.m. winner (ESPN2/Raycom) 9 p.m. – No. 6 Syracuse Orange vs. Tuesday 7 p.m. winner (ESPN2/Raycom) Thursday, March 14 Quarterfinals 12:30 p.m. – No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers vs. Wednesday noon winner (ESPN or ESPN2/Raycom) 2:30 p.m. – No. 4 Florida State Seminoles vs. Wednesday 2 p.m. winner (ESPN or ESPN2/Raycom) 7 p.m. – No. 2 North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Wednesday 7 p.m. winner (ESPN or ESPN2/Raycom) 9 p.m. – No. 3 Duke Blue Devils vs. Wednesday 9 p.m. winner (ESPN or ESPN2/Raycom) Friday, March 15 Semifinals 7 p.m. – Thursday afternoon winners (ESPN or ESPN2/Raycom) 9 p.m. – Thursday evening winners (ESPN or ESPN2/Raycom) Saturday, March 16 Championship 8:30 p.m. – Friday evening winners (ESPN/Raycom) Download your full printable bracket below: