With just a 2 1/2 weeks left before Selection Sunday, it’s time to take an in-depth look at each ACC team’s path to the NCAA tournament before the weekend’s games. There’s been plenty of recent shakeup.
We’re still a little to far away to say what will be required in the ACCT to make the field. This is what is needed to be a lock prior to then.
LOCKS
Florida State 14-3 (10-2)
Virginia 15-6 (11-4)
Virginia Tech 14-5 (8-4)
Clemson 14-5 (8-5)
We’re giving FSU a win over Miami. Virginia and Virginia Tech are struggling, but have done enough to lock up bids. Clemson joins the group of locks with a recent win over Wake Forest. There is no scenario that could knock these teams from the NCAA tournament.
ALMOST a LOCK
NOBODY
STILL a REALISTIC PATH
North Carolina 14-8 (8-5)
Scheduling Marquette seemed like a good idea at the time until the Golden Eagles spanked UNC by 13. The Heels are still in decent shape, but need to win 2 of 3 against FSU, a game at Syracuse, and red-hot Duke. The Heels went from near NCAA lock to a dicey situation.
Louisville 12-5 (7-4)
Louisville beat Notre Dame, but it’s a shaky resume. There’s the win over Virginia Tech, and the wins over Georgia Tech and Duke look better and better. Winning 2 out of 3 with games at Duke, at Virginia Tech, and Virginia at home should squeeze them into the field. That’s a brutal stretch and Louisville could easily lose all three.
Georgia Tech 12-8 (8-6)
Georgia Tech got a monster win Tuesday over Virginia Tech. To go along with wins FSU and Clemson, they have some of the better looking wins in the ACC. They need to target a 2-1 or better finish with Syracuse, Duke, and at Wake Forest left. The way they are playing, it is doable.
Duke 11-8 (9-6)
With 4 wins in a row Duke is trending in the right direction. Win 2 out of the next 3 against Louisville, at Georgia Tech and at UNC for a 13-9 (10-7) finish, and I think the NCAA committee will sneak them in.
WINNING OUT REQUIRED
NC State 11-9 (7-8)
NC State pulled out a stunning win at Virginia, and looking at their schedule – running the table is not out of the question. They host Pittsburgh, at Notre Dame, and then Virginia Tech at home. If they win all three, 14-9 (10-8) is going to get them a hard NCAA look.
Syracuse 13-7 (7-6)
Syracuse heads to Georgia Tech, and hosts UNC in their next two games. The Orange can’t afford to lose either or their done. Their resume outside of the Virginia Tech win is so thin. There are two wins over BC that are basically worthless.
FORGET IT
Notre Dame 9-12 (6-9)
Pittsburgh 9-9 (5-8)
Wake Forest 6-12 (3-12)
Miami 7-14 (3-13)
Boston College 3-13 (1-9)
Notre Dame and Pittsburgh join Wake Forest, Miami, and Boston College with nothing to play for but pride and a miracle ACC Tournament run.
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