The ACC Didn't Show Up In the Tournament

Everyone says the Big East is the best conference in the nation. I agree, to a point, but don't think the gap is as big as people think. I mean, the ACC did win 10 of 16 meetings between members of the conferences this year. The ACC did get in as many teams in the NCAA Tournament as the Big East did and they have four less teams. Of course, the NCAA Tournament is where the true value of a conference's strength are measured.

For the ACC, it didn't stack up.

Thursday was fine. North Carolina completely blew away Radford despite not playing ACC Player of the Year Ty Lawson. Duke blew up Binghamton and, for a night, put the rest that this was a team that chokes in the dance. Maryland actually pulled an upset by beating the No. 7 seed California Bears. The one stain was that Clemson underacheived in the tournament yet again.

That's a 3-1 mark heading into Friday where three more teams had a chance to flex the ACC's muscle. All three teams that were playing were rated a better seed. All three lost.

Boston College went out and lost to USC pretty handily. While the game was closer than the final score indicates, it wasn't that close. Florida State lost a tough, tight game to Wisconsin in overtime. And the shocker of them all, Wake Forest was pounded by Cleveland State. Yes, a team that was once ranked No. 1 in the nation lost to a team that wouldn't have even been invited to the tournament if they hadn't upset Butler for the Horizon championship.

Seven teams got into the dance. Only three teams remain out of the 32 left. While North Carolina and Duke are nice bets to get to the Sweet 16 and both have the ability to get to the Final Four. Still, it is disheartening for the conference that complained so much in recent years about why they didn't get more teams in.

Can the ACC Really Get Eight Teams In?

The ACC has a shot at getting eight teams in the upcoming ACC tournament (nine teams are actually in the hunt). A lot would have to happen for this dream to come true but it is very possible.

North Carolina, Duke, Clemson, Wake Forest and Florida State are pretty much locks to get in. UNC is fighting for a No. 1 seed while Clemson, Duke and Wake are fighting to get into close "pods". At least one of these teams will not get a first round bye in the ACC tournament.

This means that Boston College, Maryland, Miami and Virginia Tech are left fighting for those remaining at-large bids.

VIRGINIA TECH (17-11): Tech has a golden opportunity to show the selection committee what they are made of. The Hokies host No. 2 North Carolina on Wednesday before visiting Florida State this weekend. A win against the Heels would be their signature victory. That's saying something as Va Tech has won on the road against Clemson and Wake Forest. They also have wins over fellow bubble teams Miami and Boston College.

MIAMI (16-10): The Canes have had a very inconsistent season. They have no bad losses and have wins over Kentucky (fellow bubble team), FSU, Wake Forest and twice against Boston College. They have two winnable games (Ga Tech, NC State) to secure an 8-8 conference season. That means they are a win or two in the ACC tournament from getting into the dance.

MARYLAND (18-10): The Terps are tough to figure out. In this stretch run, they keep alternating wins and losses. The thing is that none of their conference losses are that bad (at UNC, at Clemson, Duke twice, at Miami, at Florida State, Boston College). The Terps have a huge game against Wake Forest coming up this week.

BOSTON COLLEGE (20-9): Of these four bubble teams, BC has the most going for it. Namely, wins over both Duke and North Carolina (the latter on the road). They've also beaten Florida State. The problem is that they followed up that win over UNC with a loss to Harvard. They are 8-6 in ACC play with NC State and Ga Tech coming up. If they get to 10 conference wins, it would be impossible for the committee to deny the Eagles.

Tar Heels Choke Away Shot at No. 1 Ranking

I am angry that my beloved Tar Heels decided it was time to choke away a 16-point lead, ending their 10-game winning streak and forking over a shot at the No. 1 ranking.

But, whatever. It happens. Am I bent? Sure. But we lost to a rabid Maryland team that was led by the brilliant Greivis Vasquez.

This does take a lot of the shine off the Heels this season, but it doesn't make me think that this team cannot win the NCAA Tournament. I remember the 2005 team lost to Santa Clara and a loss to Georgia Tech team in the ACC Tournament. They also choked away a game at Duke, midseason. That team, like this team, lost at Wake Forest. That team also won a championship.

Same sort of thing in 1993. The Heels again lost to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the ACC Tournament (that was in the title game, which was in Charlotte). That Heels team lost at Wake Forest (they were destroyed, 88-62) and at Duke (by 14) in back-to-back games. That Heels team would go on to win a championship.

In 1982, the Heels only lost twice. Once at powerful Virginia. The other was ... you guessed it ... to Wake Forest. They won a title.

The 1957 team didn't lose a game all season long.

Am I rationalizing? You betcha! But sometimes you have to get a little perspective of what you've seen.