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Three big schools in North Carolina head to NCAA tournament

NC State secured the ACC tournament title. Now they join UNC, and Duke in the NCAA tournament.

NORTH CAROLINA, USA — Monday was the first day back on campus after a huge ACC tournament win this past weekend for the Wolfpack. 

Now, NC State joins the Duke Blue Devils and Carolina Tar Heels as all three schools fight to bring home a national title.

NC State's campus was buzzing Monday after securing the ACC Championship title after 37 years without one. 

According to the ACC, NC State won its 11th ACC Tournament Championship on Saturday. 

The Wolfpack became the first team seeded 8th or lower to win the ACC Tournament. 

NC State enters the NCAA tournament on a 5 game-winning streak, and that itself is enough to get campus hype. 

Raleigh native and Wolfack men's basketball shooting guard had an emotional interview after the win. 

He said, "Why not us?" and students around campus today shared the same outlook. 

Many walk to class wearing their red gear, hopeful they will bring home another title. 

"We were hopeful, but not really expecting anything. It's just so special our first year here they were able to do that and bring so much excitement," said Matthew Davis, an NC State student.

Now... the Wolfpack is preparing for the NCAA tournament and fans are confident they will go far. 

"I'm definitely excited. I think we now have a shot especially since we beat Carolina," said Cailey Moore, an NC State student.

"We definitely have a lot of mojo right now all of the guys seem confident in their interviews and they were playing together so that's all you can ask for I feel like we can beat anybody," said Owen Chitester, an NC State student.

Over near Durham, the UNC Tarheels are back home after a tough loss in the title game but students say their blood bleeds Carolina blue. They have no doubt they will make it far in the NCAA tourney. 

"Feeling good I know we still have that one seed luckily and actually we've never won an ACC tournament and then won the NCAA tournament. So, I'm hoping this is a wake-up call. State went on a great run, and even though we beat them in the regular season hats off to them," said Samuel Johnson, a UNC student.

On the other side of Tobacco Road...the Duke Blue Devils.

"I grew up in North Carolina so it's really exciting to see all three big basketball powerhouses make it to the tournament," said Kathryn Thomas, a Duke student.

Students are hoping for a farther drive than last year when they lost after the second round. 

"I think school spirit is synonymous with Duke and I think we are all excited to watch the game this weekend and putting in all of our bracket picks now and excited to watch and see how it goes," said Thomas.

The Tar Heels play this Thursday in Charlotte at 2:45 p.m.

NC State also plays Thursday in Pittsburgh at 9:40 p.m.

Duke tips off Friday in Brooklyn at 7:10 p.m.

All three games are right here on WFMY News 2.

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