Conference tournaments are an important part of the college basketball season. While every league has its own tournament, there is perhaps no tournament with as much history and prestige as the ACC Basketball Tournament. The ACC Tournament dates back to 1954, with last-minute ACC Basketball Tournament tickets often being in short supply due to its overwhelming popularity. The conference is home to so many proud basketball programs that there’s almost no way for any other league to compete with the quality and quantity of teams that compete in the ACC Tournament every year.

The Blue Bloods

For a long time, the ACC Basketball Tournament has been a showcase for some of the country’s most prominent programs. Specifically, Duke and North Carolina, who form the greatest rivalry in college basketball history, have long been figures in the ACC semifinals and finals. Together, the Blue Devils and Tar Heels have combined for more ACC championships than the rest of the conference’s teams combined. Of course, longstanding members like NC State, Virginia, Wake Forest, and Georgia Tech also head to the ACC Tournament every year believing that they can make some noise and challenge Duke and North Carolina for conference supremacy.

The Party Grows

In the 21st century, the ACC has grown in size, making the conference tournament better than ever. The addition of basketball powerhouses like Syracuse, Louisville, Pittsburgh, and Notre Dame have given the ACC more depth than any other conference in the country. With the continued improvement of programs like Clemson, Florida State, and Miami, there is more depth than ever. Of the 15 teams that make up the ACC, it’s rare for any of them to show up at the ACC Tournament at the end of the season not believing that they can win a few games, which is why the ACC Tournament is arguably the most competitive and entertaining in college basketball.