Lennie Rosenbluth shoots over Wake Forest defenders in the 1957 ACC Tournament. A haze of cigarette and cigar smoke hangs in the air as was often the case in Reynolds before smoking was banned from the arena decads later.
File photo
Over the decades, the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament has become an annual ritual for college basketball teams and their fans, moving from an often smoky Reynolds Coliseum to polished arenas around the country. We’ve gone deep into the photo files of the News & Observer, Charlotte Observer and Durham Herald to find some a selection of photos from the excitement on and off the court during the tournament.
Check back for more additions to the gallery.
The 1957 Tar Heels pose with coach Frank McGuire in the UNC locker room at the ACC Tournament. File photo
Young UNC and Duke fans cheer on the Blue Devils at the 1972 ACC Tournament in Greensboro. File photo
NC State's Everett Case is lifted aloft by players and fans after the Wolfpack won the 1965 ACC Tournament in Reynolds Coliseum. File photo
UNC Coach Dean Smith, right, coaches his team, including Eddie Fogler (2nd from left), and Charlie Scott, during the 1969 ACC Tournament. File photo
Phil Ford celebrates UNC’s win in the championship game of the 1975 ACC Tournament. File photo
UNC coach Dean Smith, right, reviews stats as he sits with assistant coach Bill Guthridge, middle, and NC State head coach Norm Sloan, left, at the 1974 ACC Tournament in Greensboro, NC. NEWS & OBSERVER FILE PHOTO
NC State's David Thompson soars above the rim against Maryland in the 1974 ACC Tournament championship game in Greensboro, NC. File photo
NC State center Tommy Burleson drives against Maryland center Len Elmore in the 1974 ACC Tournament championship game. 1974 News & Observer file poto File photo
NC State center Tommy Burleson goes up for a shot over Maryland center Len Elmore late in the Wolfpack's ACC Tournament game against Maryland in 1974. 1974 News & Observer file photo File photo
A Maryland supporter shows his disdain for UNC coach Dean Smith during the 1982 ACC tournament. UNC went on to win the tournament, and the national championship. Chuck Liddy File photo
UNC's Jimmy Black wears one of the nets as he holds a trophy following the Tar Heels win over Virginia in the 1982 ACC Tournament championship game. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
NC State point guard Monte Towe cuts down the nets after the Wolfpack defeated Maryland to win the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, NC in 1974. File photo
NC State head coach Jim Valvano embraces Dereck Wittenburg as the Wolfpack celebrates their 1983 ACC Tournament championship. File photo
Jim Valvano hugs two of his players after NCSU wins the ACC Tournament in 1987. File photo
NC State coach Jim Valvano, wearing one of the game nets, is interviewed following the Wolfpack's 1983 ACC Tournament championship game victory. File photo
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski cuts down the net after the Blue Devils win the 1986 ACC Tournament by defeating the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 68-67 in Greensboro. Robert Willett File photo
Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski, left, hugs tournament MVP Johnny Dawkins after Duke defeated Georgia Tech to win the ACC Tournament on March 9, 1986 in Greensboro, NC. It was Krzyzewski's first ACC Tournament Championship. File photo
File photo of University of Maryland's Len Bias, after being named the MVP of the 1984 ACC tournament, after defeating Duke in the championship game played in Greensboro. Harold Moore File photo
Duke's Casey Sanders flashes the crowd of Duke fans a grin after cutting a string from the net during the Blue Devils' celebration after winning the 2001 ACC Tournament. Duke defeated UNC 79-53. Scott Sharpe File photo
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski hugs his grandson Joey Savarino, 9, after the Blue Devils win the ACC tourney at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta,Ga. during the 2009 ACC Tournament finals. Chuck Liddy cliddy@newsobserver.com
UNC's Tyler Hansbrough wearing a Groucho Marx mask is hugging Lillian Lee,Wednesday,March, 07, 2007, outside the Dean Smith Center as the team departed for the ACC Tournament. Bernard Thomas File photo
UNC coach Roy Williams wants a foul called against Florida State's Bernard James (5) after he blocked a shot by UNC's P.J. Hairston (15) with 0:41 seconds to play in the championship game of the ACC Tournament on Sunday March 11, 2012 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's Mark Gottfried talks with N.C. State's C.J. Leslie (5) during the second half of N.C. State's 78-57 victory over Boston College in the first round of the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament Thursday, March 8, 2012, at Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
UNC's Tyler Hansbrough celebrates after scoring two to put the Tar Heels up 68-66 to beat Virginia Tech in the closing seconds of their semifinal game of the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament, at Charlotte Bobcats Arena, on Saturday, March 15, 2008. Mark Dolejs The Herald-Sun
Duke's Jon Scheyer (30) shoots in front of Georgia Tech's Alade Aminu (44) in the quarterfinals of the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament, at Charlotte Bobcats Arena, on Friday, March 14, 2008. Mark Dolejs The Herald-Sun
N.C. State's Mark Gottfried can't believe the official's call during the second half of North Carolina 69-67 victory over N.C. State in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament Saturday, March 10, 2012, at Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA. Assistant coach Bobby Lutz is to the left. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski smiles at the rim after bumping his head as he prepared to cut down the net after the Blue Devils defeated Maryland in the 2000 ACC Tournament Championship game 81-68. JEFF SINER
3/12/00 Duke tournament MVP Jason Williams holds his hardware and is surrounded by teammates, from left, Chris Carrawell, Carlos Boozer and Shane Battier after Duke beat Maryland, 81-68, to win the ACC Title. CHRISTOPHER A. RECORD
Duke's Nate James hugs teammate Matt Christensen as his teammates and the media move in after Duke beat Maryland, 81-68, to win the ACC Tournament. CHRISTOPHER A. RECORD
UNC’s Serge Zwikker shouts to the North Carolina fans during the post-game ceremony Sunday in Greensboro. Zwikker had 14 points in the Heels' 64-54 victory over the Wolfpack. CHRISTOPHER A. RECORD File photo
UNC’s bench reacts to substitutes scoring late in the game against NC State. CHRISTOPHER A. RECORD File photo
Maryland's John Gilchrist, the ACC tournament MVP, celebrates with teammates after the Terrapins defeated Duke, 95-87, in overtime to win the ACC Championship on Sunday afternoon, March 14, 2004, at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. CHRISTOPHER A. RECORD File photo
North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough celebrates his game winning shot with under a second left against Virginia Tech in the semifinals of the 55th annual ACC tournament at Bobcats Arena. North Carolina won, 68-66 to advance to the championship game. DAVID T. FOSTER III File photo
Duke forward Jabari Parker (1) walks through a phalanx of arms and hands as he heads to the locker room after the Blue Devils eliminated the Wolfpack. Duke advanced to face Virginia in the championship game of the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament defeating N.C. State 75-67 in Greensboro, N.C. Saturday, March 15, 2014. Chuck Liddy cliddy@newsobserver.com
J.J. Redick and Mike Krzyzewski hug after Duke won the ACC Championship by beating Boston College 78-76 in 2006. Redick had 26 points in the victory and was named MVP of the tournament. File photo
N.C. State's Josh Powell (left) and Scooter Sherrill bump chests after Powell scored in the second half of the ACC Tournament championship game against duke at the Greensboro Coliseum. Powell led State with 26 points but Duke won 84-77. Johnny Andrews File photo
UNC's P.J. Hairston (15) and head coach Roy Williams leave the court amid a shower of confetti after Hairston's last second shot attempt to tie the game fell short, giving Florida State an 85-82 victory and their first ACC Tournament title on Sunday March 11, 2012 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski leaves the court amid a shower of confetti following the Blue Devils 82-67 loss to Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament Championship on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
NC State's Anthony Grundy celebrates with Julius Hodge after the Wolfpack upset Maryland 86-82 in semifinal action at the ACC Tournament Saturday, March 9, 2002. Chuck Liddy File photo
Duke's Daniel Ewing, Shelden Williams and Dahntay Jones celebrate as the Blue Devils secured a record-setting fifth-straight ACC Title with a 84-77 win over N.C. State in the ACC Championship in Greensboro. Christopher A. Record File photo
Duke's Javin DeLaurier (12) leads the team onto the court before Duke's game against UNC in the semifinals of the 2019 ACC Tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, March 15, 2019. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Kyle Filipowski (30) reacts after he made the baske while being fouled during Duke’s 96-69 victory over Pitt in the quarterfinals of the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Thursday, March 9, 2023. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's KJ Keatts is lifted to put the Wolfpack sticker on the wall after N.C. State’s 72-65 overtime victory over Virginia in the semifinals of the 2024 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Friday, March 15, 2024. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's head coach Kevin Keatts hugs DJ Burns Jr. (30) after N.C. State’s 84-76 victory over UNC in the championship game of the 2024 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Saturday, March 16, 2024. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's DJ Burns Jr. (30) celebrates as he leaves the floor after N.C. State’s 84-76 victory over UNC in the championship game of the 2024 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Saturday, March 16, 2024. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
The N.C. State mascot Mr. Wolf is buried beneath a shower of confetti as they celebrate their 84-76 victory overt North Carolina to clinch the ACC Tournament Championship at Capitol One Arena on Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 3:59 PM.
