READY FOR ACC- TION!

Cavaliers the team to beat at Barclays

The invasion continues. Following the Big Ten’s trip to Madison Square Garden, the ACC Tournament brings the country’s best basketball conference back to Brooklyn for the second straight season.

Duke took home the title last year and could become the first repeat winner since the Blue Devils won three straight (2009-11), but several teams need a memorable run far more.

After sending an ACC-record nine teams to the NCAA Tournament last year, the conference could hit double-digits this year — Syracuse, Louisville and Notre Dame are right on the bubble — and potentially challenge the Big East’s all-time record of 11 selections.

Here’s a look at the 15-team field, listed in seed order:

VIRGINIA

Record: 28-2, 17-1 Coach: Tony Bennett (Ninth season, 216-85)

Star: Devon Hall (11.9 ppg, 3.2 apg) — The league’s top two-way wing shoots nearly 45 percent on 3-pointers.

X-factor: Kyle Guy (13.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg) — The Cavaliers’ leadingscorer has scored three or fewer points in two of the past three games. Strength: Defense. The Cavaliers are the country’s best again, holding 12 different teams under 50 points this season. Weakness: Getting to the line. The Cavaliers have attempted the second-fewest free throws in the country. Can win title if: Nothing changes. The top-ranked team in the country’s only in-conference blemish came in a one-point overtime loss to Virginia Tech. Odds: 5-2

DUKE

Record: 25-6, 13-5 Coach: Mike Krzyzewski (38th season, 1,023-277) Star: Marvin Bagley III (20.7 ppg, 11.2 rpg) — The one-and-done freshman earned ACC Player of the Year honors, and will soon be a top-five lottery pick.

X-factor: Grayson Allen (15.5 ppg, 4.5 apg) — Everyone’s favorite Dukie is the lone senior on a young roster. Strength: Talent. The Blue Devils have five players projected to be picked in the first round of the NBA draft this year. Weakness: Consistency. Duke suffered head-scratching losses to Boston College and St. John’s. Can win title if: Everything finally comes together. At its best, no team in the country is better. Odds: 3-1

MIAMI

Record: 22-8, 11-7 Coach: Jim Larranaga (Seventh season, 161-77) Star: Lonnie Walker IV (11.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg) — He keeps getting better, and is the first freshman in school history named to an all-conference team.

X-factor: Dewan Huell (11.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg) — Miami’s slumping big man is averaging just 7.5 points over the past nine games.

Strength: Depth and balance. The Hurricanes are sharp on both ends, and have seven players averaging more than 20 minutes per game.

Weakness: Free-throw shooting. The Hurricanes hit just 66.6 percent from the line. Can win title if: They’ve adjusted to Bruce Brown Jr.’s absence. The Hurricanes have won four straight, with the lead sophomore injured. Odds: 10-1

CLEMSON

Record: 22-8, 11-7 Coach: Brad Brownell (Eighth season, 146-111) Star: Marcquise Reed (16.4 ppg, 3.5 apg) — The Robert Morris transfer will lead the Tigers to their first NCAA Tournament berth in seven years. X-factor: Elijah Thomas (10.7 ppg, 7.8 apg) — Since the career-ending knee injury to Donte Grantham, the 6-foot-9 junior is the key on the glass. Strength: Defense. The Tigers rank seventh in the nation in adjusted efficiency. Weakness: Bench. 90 percent of their scoring comes from starters. Can win title if: Their confidence isn’t shaken. The Tigers have lost four of their past six games. Odds: 8-1

N.C. STATE

Record: 21-10, 11-7 Coach: Kevin Keatts (First season, 21-10)

Star: Omer Yurtseven (13.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg) — The 7-footer from Turkey is one of the country’s best inside-out threats.

X-factor: Markell Johnson (8.7 ppg, 7.5 apg) — The sophomore ranks third in the nation in assists, and shoots nearly 42 percent on 3-pointers.

Strength: Pace. The Wolfpack have excelled in their new up-tempo system, averaging 81 points per game. Weakness: Interior defense. N.C. State allows the ACC’s highest 2-point field goal percentage to opponents. Can win title if: The turnovers keep coming. The Wolfpack lead the conference in steals. Odds: 14-1

NORTH CAROLINA

Record: 22-9, 11-7 Coach: Roy Williams (15th season, 420-124)

Star: Joel Berry II (17.8 ppg, 3.2 apg) — Last year’s Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four is one of two starters back from the title team.

X-factor: Theo Pinson (9.9 ppg, 4.7 apg) — The Tar Heels’ most colorful character also serves as their glue guy. Strength: Rebounding. The Tar Heels have the nation’s best rebound margin (10.4) per game. Weakness: Close games. North

Carolina is 4-5 in games decided by four points or less.

Can win title if: Experience is the difference. The defending national champions have never had a better chance to repeat under Williams.

Odds: 6-1

VIRGINIA TECH

Record: 21-10, 10-8 Coach: Buzz Williams (Fourth season, 74-58) Star: Justin Robinson (13.8 ppg, 5.5 apg) — The All-ACC secondteamer is the school’s first such honoree in five years. X-factor: Kerry Blackshear Jr. (12.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg) — The brilliant shooters need the 6-foot-10 forward to create space. Strength: 3-point shooting. The Hokies hit 39 percent from outside. Weakness: Rebounding. The undersized team ranks 13th in the league. Can win title if: They stay hot from outside. It’s the key to countless upsets this time of year. Odds: 12-1

FLORIDA STATE

Record: 20-10, 9-9 Coach: Leonard Hamilton (16th season, 324-206)

Star: Terance Mann (13.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg) — The Seminoles’ leadingscorer and rebounder is one of three players in the league to lead his team in both categories.

X-factor: Trent Forrest (7.5 ppg, 3.9 apg) — The sixth man is their spark, and is coming off a careerhigh 21-point outing.

Strength: Offense. The Seminoles average 82.0 points per game, third best in the conference, and have eight players averaging at least 7.0 points per game.

Weakness: The road. Florida State was 2-7 away from home in league play. Can win title if: Fatigue becomes a factor for foes. The Seminoles use a 10-man rotation, and play the country’s 26th-fastest tempo. Odds: 16-1

LOUISVILLE

Record: 19-12, 9-9 Coach: David Padgett (First season, 19-12)

Star: Deng Adel (15.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg) — The junior shined here last year, scoring a team-high 21 points in a quarterfinal loss to Duke.

X-factor: Anas Mahmoud (7.3 ppg, 3.0 bpg) — The 7-footer from Egypt ranks eighth in the nation in blocks. Strength: Defense. The Cardinals rank third in the nation in blocks, and 20th in field goal percentage allowed. Weakness: Confidence. Louisville has lost seven of its past 10 games. Can win title if: Rick Pitino returns. But maybe not even then. The Cardinals have never won an ACC Tournament game. Odds: 25-1

NOTRE DAME

Record: 18-13, 8-10 Coach: Mike Brey (18th season, 400-200) Star: Bonzie Colson (20.9 ppg, 10.6 rpg) — The Irish are only on the bubble because the indispensable forward missed nearly two months with a broken left foot. X-factor: Matt Farrell (16.8 ppg, 5.3 apg) — The New Jersey native exploded for 37 points less than three weeks ago. Strength: Offense. Few teams are more fun to watch than this roster of sharpshooters. Weakness: Continuity. Colson has only played in two games since returning to the court. Can win title if: Colson can carry the team, like in the run to last year’s title game.

Odds: 25-1

SYRACUSE

Record: 19-12, 8-10 Coach: Jim Boeheim (42nd season, 922-366) Star: Tyus Battle (20.0 ppg, 1.6 spg) — The ACC’s third-leading scorer also leads the league in minutes played. X-factor: Frank Howard (15.2 ppg, 5.0 apg) — The shaky shooter has made at least 50 percent from the field just twice in the past two months.

Strength: Defense. The famed 2-3 zone ranks 14th in the nation, surrendering just 64.1 points.

Weakness: Shooting. The Orange are the ACC’s second-worst shooting (41.9 percent), and 3-point shooting (32.3 percent) team. Can win title if: It feels enough like home. The support didn’t help last year, though, with Syracuse losing its first game. Odds: 33-1

BOSTON COLLEGE

Record: 17-14, 7-11 Coach: Jim Christian (Fourth season, 46-81)

Star: Jerome Robinson (20.7 ppg, 3.4 apg) — The junior guard led the conference in scoring, and finished second in player of the year voting.

X-factor: Ky Bowman (16.9 ppg, 4.8 apg) — The do-everything guard was once a North Carolina football commit at wide receiver.

Strength: A high ceiling. B.C. has beaten Duke and Miami, and lost to Virginia by one-point.

Weakness: Rim protection. The Eagles swat just 3.3 shots per game, ranking 14th in the conference. Can win title if: Chaos ensues. Boston College hasn’t won the tournament since joining the league in 2005. Odds: 50-1

GEORGIA TECH

Record: 13-18, 6-12 Coach: Josh Pastner (Second season, 34-34)

Star: Josh Okogie (18.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg) — The 6-foot-4 guard is just the sixth player in school history to surpass 1,000 points in two seasons.

X-factor: Ben Lammers (11.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg) — The senior was named to the ACC All-Defensive team for the second straight year.

Strength: Size. The Yellow Jackets have three starters, who are at least 6-foot-9. Weakness: Perimeter shooting. Tech shot a leaguelow 470 3-pointers all season, 90 fewer than the next closest team.

Can win title if: Kenny Anderson is feeling frisky. Odds: 100-1

WAKE FOREST

Record: 11-19, 4-14 Coach: Danny Manning (Fourth season, 54-71) Star: Bryant Crawford (16.7 ppg, 4.9 apg) — Inconsistency has been as evident as his talent as a junior. X-factor: Doral Moore (11.2 ppg, 9.6 rpg) — The junior’s 7-foot-1 frame makes him a matchup nightmare, and one of the league’s best defenders. Strength: 3-pointers. The Demon Deacons shoot 38.2 percent from the perimeter. Weakness: Turnovers. Wake averages 13.2 per game, ranking second-worst in the league. Can win title if: Manning hasn’t used up his miracles. Odds: 100-1

PITTSBURGH

Record: 8-23, 0-18 Coach: Kevin Stallings (Second season, 24-40) Star: Jared Wilson-Frame (12.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg) — The team’s leading scorer shoots just 37.1 percent from the field. X-factor: Marcus Carr (9.7 ppg, 4.1 apg) — The undersized guard hit the freshman wall, reaching double-digit points once in the past seven games. Strength: Showing up on time for the next game. Weakness: Basketball. Can win title if: Every teams dies laughing at the notion. The Panthers are the only team in the nation to go winless in conference. Odds: 250-1