Curse Lifted: Why ACC Basketball is King

By Kartik Krishnaiyer
Canes Rising Staff

ACC Basketball is a one of a kind experience. What other league can produce two upsets in 17 days involving number one teams losing to bottom half conference teams in their own building?

For all of those people who believe the Big East is the best conference in Basketball, I have news for you: The ACC has no "easy outs" like South Florida, Rutgers or DePaul. Tonight, two teams from the state of Florida played a great game which once again showed the quality of ACC Basketball. The two time national champion Gators may have the titles, but they nor their fans will never experience the gauntlet that is ACC Basketball. As much as Florida has accomplished they can never experience the passion the way FSU and Miami do. The SEC even when talented just doesn't have the basketball culture the ACC does. (the opposite is true in football where the SEC even in down years represents a gauntlet full of crazed fans and football culture, while the ACC while sometimes as talented as the SEC just doesn't have the passion or culture for the game.)

Miami had lost 5 straight matchups to Florida State and in fact the Noles had won 16 straight against schools from the state of Florida entering tonight's contest. Tonight UM erased an early 12 point deficit to win. But really both teams could have this game. Tony Douglas was spectacular as always for the Noles. Jordan DeMercy defense was also outstanding.

Jack McClinton and Lance Hurdle had great scoring games for the Canes while Dwayne Collins held his own against the big and athletic FSU post players. Adrian Thomas contributed mightily off the bench.

Florida is a football state. We all know that and some of our posters on this site feel so insecure that they must remind us of this each and every day. But tonight's game was a celebration of basketball in Florida: ACC Basketball which is the best brand of basketball around.