The Tournament: A History of ACC Men’s Basketball Presented by New York Life: (1998 – 2008) (S1EP9 ACC Network Monday 7 March 2022)

(1998 – 2008): As a new century dawns, Duke is more dominant than ever, winning an unprecedented five straight ACC tournament titles and seven in eight years with a core of stars headlined by Shane Battier, Jay Williams and JJ Redick. Meanwhile, Roy Williams rejuvenates the Carolina program that his mentor Dean Smith once made standard, and Clemson’s pursuit of an elusive ACC championship continues.

Airdate: Monday 7 March 2022 at 21:00 on ACC Network

Season 1 Episode 9

In an era when the NCAA tournament awarded just one berth per conference, the ACC transformed the sport with its own tournament — to identify its champion (and its NCAA championship contender) — immediately after regular season play. In the years since it first launched the conference tournament, the ACC has showcased many of the game’s all-time greats, from David Thompson, Ralph Sampson, Michael Jordan and Tim Duncan to coaches Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Valvano and Roy Williams. It has also influenced innovations like the shot clock and three-point line.

Through exclusive footage and interviews with more than 160 players, coaches and media members who have been a part of the ACC tournament since its beginnings, the series explores the inception, transformation and impact of arguably the most storied, significant and successful conference in the history of men’s college basketball, and its tournament on entire eras of the game.