The Atlantic Coast Conference was founded in 1953 and remains a stalwart among college basketball conferences. With two of the biggest teams in the nation, the attention it gets on the national stage is always at a high.<\/p>\n
Sports will get the headlines, but it’s worth noting that some ACC schools boast strong academics as well. Duke University, for instance, hit the country’s top 10 list in national rankings. With such a strong academic presence, a reputable essay writing service<\/a> is something many students have found useful. It’s not alone, however. Virginia (25), North Carolina (T-29), Wake Forest (T-29), and Boston College (30) have also been recognized as strong academic programs.<\/p>\n With the addition of two of the Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley to the ACC in 2024-25, the conference’s academic profile will become even stronger as these institutions are globally recognized for their academic excellence. Schools like Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and Virginia Tech also rank highly within the ACC for academics, particularly in specific fields like communications, engineering, and public health.<\/p>\n The Tar Heels men\u2019s basketball program is one of the most successful in NCAA history, not just in the ACC. North Carolina has won six NCAA championships<\/a> and a record 133 NCAA tournament matchups. They have advanced to Sweet Sixteen 31 times, they have a record of 21 Final Fours, and 12 title games.<\/p>\n They won their first title in 1957, five years after Frank McGuire took over as a head coach. He was responsible for the modern era of Tar Heel basketball, but also for popularizing the sport thanks to his rivalry with Everett Case.<\/p>\n Dean Smith is the longest coach in the history of the program, coaching the team from 1961 to 1997, winning two NCAA championships in the span, in 1982 and 1993. That 1982 NCAA championship is one of the most memorable in NCAA history, with a young Michael Jordan hitting a game-winner to beat Georgetown. Smith also promoted desegregation, recruiting the first African American scholarship basketball player, Charlie Scott.<\/p>\n Nowadays, Smith is remembered for his idea, \u201cThe Carolina Way\u201d, challenging his players to \u201cplay hard, smart, and play together\u201d. The idea promoted excellence in the classroom, not just on the court. In practices, players would thank the passer, as Dean instilled in them the act of selflessness. After Smith, the Tar Heels won three more titles, in 2005, 2009, and 2017. Only Kentucky and UCLA have won more NCAA titles. They have a record of 32 first-place finishes in the regular season in the ACC and 18 ACC tournament wins. Duke has 22.<\/p>\n Some of the greatest players and coaches in league history have been part of the Tar Heels, including Dean Smith, Bob McAdoo, Larry Brown, James Worthy, Michael Jordan<\/a>, and Vince Carter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Duke Basketball is synonymous with Coach K<\/a>, Mike Krzyzewski. The famous head coach was responsible for all five National Championships, and he is second all-time in NCAA titles. He led them to 13 Final Fours, five in a row from 1988 to 1992.<\/p>\n During his tenure at Duke, Mike has recruited and helped some of the best NBA players get high in the draft. Some notable alumni include: Grant Hill, Zion Williamson, Christian Laettner, Carlos Boozer, Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving<\/a>, RJ Barrett, Jabari Parker, Jalen Johnson, Elton Brand, Paolo Banchero, Luol Deng, Dereck Lively, Jared McCain, and JJ Redick.<\/p>\nSuccessful ACC Basketball Programs<\/h2>\n
1. North Carolina Tar Heels<\/h3>\n
2. Duke Blue Devils<\/h3>\n