The ACC has a big problem when it comes to NCAA Tourney bids

With ACC conference play starting this week, there's a big problem that the ACC is going to be facing when it comes time to consider NCAA Tournament resumes.

The conference had a subpar non-conference showing and it can be seen on the NCAAGameSim.com rankings.

The Big Problem

As it stands the ACC possibly only has 3 teams looking at a NCAA Tournament bid.  The problem of course is that building your tournament resume means beating NCAA tournament caliber teams, of which the ACC only has a few.  With Wake Forest, FSU, Clemson all on the bubble, can they do enough to feel comfortable?  While there are only so many matchups with Duke, Virginia Tech, and UNC, they certainly have plenty of opportunities to move down.  Teams in the 70's and lower are looking at an extremely difficult challenge to move into tournament consideration.  The golden egg will be beating a team like Duke who was clearly the ACC's best team over the first couple months of the season.  You can guarantee a matchup with Duke will be circled on many schedules.

The Golden Ticket

With potentially only a few at-large bids coming from the conference, the Golden Ticket will come in Brooklyn at the ACC Tournament.  While the ACC Tournament always seems to deliver, the importance of winning will be increased this year.   It's hard to fathom a team with a double-bye in the ACC Tournament having to win the tournament to secure a NCAA Tournament bid.  That scenario could play out this season.