So, how will the 2000 version of the ACC tournament unfold? Who knows.
Mel Kiper Jr. probably has a better shot at correctly predicting the NFL draft selections than one does of guessing how these teams will play this weekend.
Where last year, things went relatively smoothly-bad teams played poorly, good teams played well-this season has been completely unpredictable. Thus, there are a myriad of "X factors" heading into the long weekend in Charlotte.
No. 9 Clemson: Despite having lost home games earlier in the season to Wofford and Appalachian State, the Tigers played well in the second half of the season to end up with four ACC wins. Coach Larry Shyatt was pleased with his team's marked improvement, including a sweep of N.C. State.
No. 8 Georgia Tech: As everyone knows, this will be Bobby Cremins' last ACC tournament. The Jackets have played well at times this season, taking Stanford to overtime, and the team wants to send its head coach out in style.
No. 7 Florida State: The Seminoles are a tough team to figure out. They finished in a tie for sixth in the conference despite a record far below .500. FSU has not had much success in the ACC tourney over the years, but you have to love Nigel Dixon.
No. 6 N.C. State: At the midway point of the season, the Wolfpack seemed headed for a top-three finish in the ACC. Then came a seven-game losing streak that dropped them to sixth. Herb Sendek will hope the team that took Duke to overtime will show up instead of the one that fell twice to Clemson.
No. 5 Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons had been left for dead before rallying to win their last two games to finish fifth in the conference. The NCAA door has not been locked all the way quite yet, and a strong run in Charlotte could provide them with a decent case.
No. 4 North Carolina: Technically, UNC extended its streak of top-three finishes to 36, although it has not been a No. 4 seed in quite a long time. This is a team that has a lot to prove, especially to the NCAA seeding committee. The talent is there, but one wonders if the Heels can keep up three straight days of intensity.
No. 3 Virginia: It is safe to say that the Cavaliers were the surprise team of the season. Gillen's squad earned its No. 3 seed with a dramatic overtime win over Maryland last weekend. The Wahoos have been erratic, however, as they swept UNC and got stomped on by Georgia Tech.
No. 2 Maryland: The Terps are possibly the hottest team in the ACC. They won nine straight in the conference before falling to Virginia. Maryland has the potential to receive a high seed from the NCAA if it can prove itself in Charlotte.
No. 1 Duke: The Blue Devils' domination of the ACC has continued this season. Fatigue, however, could play a key factor over the weekend. The potential day off Friday will help, but Duke may have to defeat UNC and Maryland back-to-back to win its second straight tourney title.
So, with all this in mind, what does the future hold?
The two dark horse candidates to keep an eye on are N.C. State and UNC. The Wolfpack has shown it has the talent to play with every team in the conference. While the ACC season lasts two months, State only has to remain focused for three days to stir things up.
Carolina was ranked nationally in the top five in many preseason polls. Joe Forte has been terrific all season. If Brendan Haywood plays up to his potential and Ed Cota scores some points, the Heels could be dangerous. Of course, don't forget Max Owens come tourney time.
In the end, however, it will probably come down to one and two-Duke vs. Maryland. This will be the rematch everyone is looking forward to. Fatigue could play a role for the Blue Devils, but having a break Friday could be huge. Plus, Chris Carrawell would like nothing more than to end his great conference run with another ACC tournament championship.
The goalposts are safe in College Park-Duke wins again.
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