Two weeks ago we zeroed in on Wake Forest and Pittsburgh as at large NCAA candidates from the ACC.
Last week we updated things for part 2, and the ACC’s most intriguing bubble watch continues today.
UNC, Duke, and Clemson are locks to the NCAA Tournament. Virginia got the split they needed winning at Boston College, but losing at Duke. If they beat Georgia Tech at home next week, they’ll make the field even if they are limping in. Look around the country nobody is making real bubble moves.
Syracuse is 18-10 (10-8), but with a NET of 82 probably need a final win at Clemson to even be in the picture.
Virginia Tech is 16-13 (8-10) and their NET is 59, but they also have 4 Q1 wins, and if they win at Louisville and beat Notre Dame at home, they could get a look with a deep ACCT tournament run.
That still leaves Wake Forest and Pittsburgh as ACC teams that realistically can play their way into the NCAA Tournament.
What do they need to do?
Wake Forest 18-11 (10-8) Net 31
Wake Forest did the one thing this week they couldn’t do and that was get swept. In both games at Notre Dame and at Virginia Tech the Deacs just wilted in the second half. They have exactly 1 Q1 win and have lost 4 of their last 6 games. Now Wake Forest’s back is against the wall this upcoming week.
They get erratic, but very dangerous Georgia Tech at home, and then it’s a home game with Clemson. Win both and Wake Forest is probably in the Big Dance at 20-11 (12-8), though an ACCT win wouldn’t hurt. Wake Forest shouldn’t be in this position to have to win their final two games to make the NCAAs, but after a trainwreck of a week here they are.
Pittsburgh 19-10 (10-8) Net 44
Pittsburgh didn’t do anything to hurt themselves this week. They lost at Clemson in a pretty tight game and routed Boston College by 35 which will help those metric numbers. I’ve been saying for a while the Panthers needed a 3-1 finish to feel pretty good.
If they can handle struggling Florida State and NC State at home that would give Pittsburgh a 21-10 (12-8) finish with a NET that would be in the high 30s or low 40s. Yes the SOS is in the 300s like Clemson last year, but the Tigers also had a NET of 60 when they missed the field.
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