ACC Tournament 2013: North Carolina State vs. Virginia Tech Preview

ACC Tournament 2013: [Game 2]

No. 5 North Carolina State vs. No. 12 Virginia Tech

Predicted Winner: North Carolina State

TV/Time: ESPNU, 2:00 p.m.

Feb 16, 2013; Raleigh, NC, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Erick Green (11) dribbles around North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Lorenzo Brown (2) as forward Joey van Zegeren (2) sets a pick during the second half at PNC Arena. North Carolina State won 90-86 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

The second game of the ACC Tournament could be a game better than most will expect. While Virginia Tech is dead last in the regular season, they have provided some good games along the way.

Virginia Tech has the last seed obviously after finishing last in the standings. They went 13-18 overall with a 4-14 ACC record. They provided a good match-up both times against Duke and nearly came away with a win in Chapel Hill against the Tar Heels.

The Wolfpack on the other hand were picked as the pre-season favorites to win the ACC. They fell way short of that. The only way to accurately describe their season is to be brutally honest. The Wolfpack choked. There is no other way to put it.

They finished 22-9 overall and had a fifth place finish in the regular season with their 11-7 record in the ACC.

I will stand behind NC State and pick them as a dark horse for this tournament. They should easily get into the second round after defeating Virginia Tech.