Not a record, but ACC might get 10 bids to NCAA Tournament
Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange raises his hand during the second round of the ACC Tournament against the Miami Hurricanes at Barclays Center on March 8, 2017. Credit: Getty Images / Al Bello
It no longer looks like the ACC is going to emerge from its first conference tournament in New York and match the record for NCAA Tournament bids. The Big East got 11 teams into the 2011 tourney draw. After the way results shook out over 14 games at Barclays Center, the ACC could get as many as 10.
Georgia Tech sustained the most damage when it lost a second-round game to Pittsburgh to fall to 17-15. The Yellowjackets had signature wins over North Carolina, Florida State and Notre Dame but there is no precedent for a 15-loss at-large bid.
The team next closest to the cut line is Syracuse (18-14), which also got bounced in a second-round game. The Orange had some bad losses early to Boston College and St. John’s but it also has big wins against Virginia, Duke and Florida State. As many bracketologists have the Orange in the tournament as have it out. Syracuse could wind up in a first-round game in Dayton if it gets in.
Wake Forest (19-13) also looks good to make it despite losing its second-round game to Virginia Tech. The Demon Deacons have a strong 34 RPI and didn’t suffer a bad loss all season.
North Carolina (27-7) might have ended up with the overall No. 1 seeding if it had won the championship. Its semifinal loss to Duke doesn’t discount it from still getting a No. 1. With Villanova and Gonzaga probably both getting No. 1 seedings, that leaves the Tar Heels, Kansas and the winner of the Pac-12 title game between Oregon and Arizona in the hunt for the other two.
Duke and Notre Dame, by virtue of advancing to the Saturday night final improved where they will likely land. The Blue Devils look like a No. 2 or a No. 3. The Fighting Irish look like a No. 3 or a No. 4 after closing the season strongly.
Louisville (24-8) could have garnered a No. 2 seeding if it reached the semifinals, but probably takes a hit for losing its quarterfinal to Duke.
Florida State (25-8), Virginia (22-10), Miami (21-11) and Virginia Tech (22-10) all should be locks for the draw.
