Part of running SCACCHoops.com means some yearly tiresome tasks up updating schedules and rosters. I recently completed such a task of updating the ACC basketball rosters and in doing so one thing became abundantly clear. The ACC teams can be thrown into 3 clearly defined groups according to talent and experience levels of the teams.
In most years, teams can move between levels during a season based upon a number of factors, including but not limited to, unexpected impact freshmen, in-season injuries, and returning players taking a step forward. This season, I'd argue that the disparity between talent levels is so expansive that such a move is unlikely.
Let's take a look.
Group A - Teams in this group have a goal of a national championship, and anything less than a final four appearance is a disappointment.
UNC
Group B - The goal for these teams is an NCAA bid and to make some noise in the NCAA tournament, but a national championship is unlikely. Anything less than a NCAA tournament bid will put some of these coaches on a hotseat.
Duke, FSU, Miami, NC State, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Virginia, Maryland
Group C - These teams are focused on rebuilding. Rarely does the ACC have more than one team in this group, but this season there are three.
Boston College, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech
The good news for the schools in Group B is that with more weaker schools than dominant schools, you should see more teams with above .500 records in conference play. Further, if the ACC can hold its own in impact non-conference games, you could see the ACC with 6 or 7 NCAA bids this season.
