This is a general overview, not a deep dive, to give an idea of where everyone stands in the ACC as of January 26...just as a conversation starter if anyone is interested. It is going to be a tough road to get more than 3 teams into the postseason. Entertaining game coming Tuesday night between Louisville and Wake Forest at 7:00pm on ACCN.
ACC STANDINGS
3 teams likely to get in barring a collapse
Duke (17-2, 9-1; #2 in .NET) - likely #1 seed in NCAAT barring a complete collapse; Cooper Flagg has been as good as advertised despite that he just turned 18 on Dec. 21 and should be in HS. Complete team that plays D well.
Louisville (15-5, 8-1; #25 in .NET) - Only ACC loss was to Duke. Incredible turnaround considering 0 players on roster when Kelsey took over and a combined record of 12-52 over the prior 2 seasons. Currently on a 9-game win streak. Their key player transfers came from Wisconsin, Charleston (2), JMU, USF, Colorado, BYU, and Long Beach St. LVille has no more Duke or Clemson left to play....but Wake up next on Monday night.
Clemson (17-4; 9-1; #31 in .NET) - Only ACC loss was to LVille. Clemson lost a few guys from last year, but they continue to win games. Old guys like Chase Hunter and Ian Schieffelin are leading them through. Clemson has one game vs. Duke left, no more LVille.
2 teams that have a shot, but resume needs work
Wake Forest (15-5, 7-2; #71 in .NET) - Wake's only 2 ACC losses are to Duke and Clemson...but have LVille up Tuesday night. They also have another Duke game left, as well as some potential schedule strength builders with Stanford, UNC, SMU, and Pittsburgh. We will know if Wake has a shot before much longer.
North Carolina (13-8, 6-3; #40 in .NET) - they have the brand and brutal OOC, but they need to go on an ACC run to get in. They have 2 games with Duke, 1 with Clemson, and 2 with Pitt to build...if they drop both to Duke, as well as lose to Clemson, I am not sure they get in even with their name. The talent is there to make the tourney, but not go far if they do.
3 teams that could make a move for the NCAAT, but not likely as consistency is not there
SMU (15-5, 6-3; #44 in .NET) - Their .NET is there, but will they have anything left to add to their resume? With only Clemson, Wake, Stanford, and Pitt left of consequence, they need to stack wins.
Stanford (14-6, 6-3; #70 in .NET) - Stanford has one of the best players around in Maxime Reynaud, but beyond that there is not much. They have games coming up against Duke, Louisville, and Wake...will need to pull off some upsets to have a shot because of their .NET.
Pittsburgh (13-6, 4-4; #36 in .NET) - Their .NET is there...Pitt had a great OOC run, but have struggled in ACC play. They simply need to make a run in ACC play and they can get an NCAAT bid. They have Louisville and Wake left to play, plus 2 game vs UNC. Of these 3 teams, they are the most likely to make it..,.perhaps on par with Wake and UNC in terms of odds to make it.
6 teams that should make the ACCT, but zero shot at NCAAT
FSU (13-7, 4-5; #75 in .NET) - they still have Duke, Louisville, Wake, Clemson, UNC, and SMU to play...so theoretically the season could flip for them...but I doubt it.
Notre Dame (9-10, 3-5; #88 in .NET) - they have Markus Burton back now, but it is too late.
California (11-9, 4-5; #117 in .NET) -
Syracuse (9-11, 3-6; #146 in .NET) -
Georgia Tech (9-11, 3-6; #151 in .NET) - we can stack some win's with another game with BC...along with games vs. Miami, NCSt, and Virginia...the worst 4 teams in the ACC this year.
Virginia Tech (8-12, 3-6; #187 in .NET) -
4 teams battling for the final ACCT spot, but it will not be BC or MIami
NCState (9-10, 2-6; #120 in .NET) - they are capable of getting up into the 3rd ACC quartile
Virginia (9-11, 2-7; #138 in .NET) - they are capable of getting up into the 3rd ACC quartile
Boston College (9-11, 1-8; #224 in .NET) - BC should end up being out of ACCT
Miami (4-16, 0-9; #240 in .NET) - The MB version of FSU FB. Shockingly they battled at Cal yesterday, prior to that had lost their last 4 games each by around 40 points...that is hard to do.
ACC STANDINGS
3 teams likely to get in barring a collapse
Duke (17-2, 9-1; #2 in .NET) - likely #1 seed in NCAAT barring a complete collapse; Cooper Flagg has been as good as advertised despite that he just turned 18 on Dec. 21 and should be in HS. Complete team that plays D well.
Louisville (15-5, 8-1; #25 in .NET) - Only ACC loss was to Duke. Incredible turnaround considering 0 players on roster when Kelsey took over and a combined record of 12-52 over the prior 2 seasons. Currently on a 9-game win streak. Their key player transfers came from Wisconsin, Charleston (2), JMU, USF, Colorado, BYU, and Long Beach St. LVille has no more Duke or Clemson left to play....but Wake up next on Monday night.
Clemson (17-4; 9-1; #31 in .NET) - Only ACC loss was to LVille. Clemson lost a few guys from last year, but they continue to win games. Old guys like Chase Hunter and Ian Schieffelin are leading them through. Clemson has one game vs. Duke left, no more LVille.
2 teams that have a shot, but resume needs work
Wake Forest (15-5, 7-2; #71 in .NET) - Wake's only 2 ACC losses are to Duke and Clemson...but have LVille up Tuesday night. They also have another Duke game left, as well as some potential schedule strength builders with Stanford, UNC, SMU, and Pittsburgh. We will know if Wake has a shot before much longer.
North Carolina (13-8, 6-3; #40 in .NET) - they have the brand and brutal OOC, but they need to go on an ACC run to get in. They have 2 games with Duke, 1 with Clemson, and 2 with Pitt to build...if they drop both to Duke, as well as lose to Clemson, I am not sure they get in even with their name. The talent is there to make the tourney, but not go far if they do.
3 teams that could make a move for the NCAAT, but not likely as consistency is not there
SMU (15-5, 6-3; #44 in .NET) - Their .NET is there, but will they have anything left to add to their resume? With only Clemson, Wake, Stanford, and Pitt left of consequence, they need to stack wins.
Stanford (14-6, 6-3; #70 in .NET) - Stanford has one of the best players around in Maxime Reynaud, but beyond that there is not much. They have games coming up against Duke, Louisville, and Wake...will need to pull off some upsets to have a shot because of their .NET.
Pittsburgh (13-6, 4-4; #36 in .NET) - Their .NET is there...Pitt had a great OOC run, but have struggled in ACC play. They simply need to make a run in ACC play and they can get an NCAAT bid. They have Louisville and Wake left to play, plus 2 game vs UNC. Of these 3 teams, they are the most likely to make it..,.perhaps on par with Wake and UNC in terms of odds to make it.
6 teams that should make the ACCT, but zero shot at NCAAT
FSU (13-7, 4-5; #75 in .NET) - they still have Duke, Louisville, Wake, Clemson, UNC, and SMU to play...so theoretically the season could flip for them...but I doubt it.
Notre Dame (9-10, 3-5; #88 in .NET) - they have Markus Burton back now, but it is too late.
California (11-9, 4-5; #117 in .NET) -
Syracuse (9-11, 3-6; #146 in .NET) -
Georgia Tech (9-11, 3-6; #151 in .NET) - we can stack some win's with another game with BC...along with games vs. Miami, NCSt, and Virginia...the worst 4 teams in the ACC this year.
Virginia Tech (8-12, 3-6; #187 in .NET) -
4 teams battling for the final ACCT spot, but it will not be BC or MIami
NCState (9-10, 2-6; #120 in .NET) - they are capable of getting up into the 3rd ACC quartile
Virginia (9-11, 2-7; #138 in .NET) - they are capable of getting up into the 3rd ACC quartile
Boston College (9-11, 1-8; #224 in .NET) - BC should end up being out of ACCT
Miami (4-16, 0-9; #240 in .NET) - The MB version of FSU FB. Shockingly they battled at Cal yesterday, prior to that had lost their last 4 games each by around 40 points...that is hard to do.
