Actual observers of the ACC knew it. The ACC was never a 2 or 3-bid league. The reality didn’t match the hot takes or some of the bracketology nonsense.
After Tuesday’s results, ACC teams are starting to take the decision-making out of the hands of bracketologists who’ve had trouble understanding what quality basketball looks like.
Clemson by most accounts was in the field going into Tuesday night, but even we’ll admit it was a precarious position. At 14-7 (4-6), a loss to UNC would have left the Tigers 4-7 in the ACC with a road game at Syracuse next. Even with an outstanding November and December, that starts to feel like a bubble team that’s slipping. Clemson erased all doubt by going to UNC and beating the Heels in Chapel Hill for only the second time in series history. 15-7 (5-6) with 4 Q1 wins and 7-5 record against the Q1 and Q2, Clemson is easily in the field in any projection this week.
Wake Forest still lacks a Q1 but after back-to-back 29-point wins sits 15-7 (7-4) NET 42. They absolutely destroyed Georgia Tech in Atlanta Tuesday, and while they aren’t a lock. That’s a bubble team that should be in the field.
Of course, Virginia has caught fire winning 7 in a row to get to 18-5 (9-3) NET 32.
The conversation at this point should start to be can the ACC get a 6th NCAA bid? I can’t put a 6th ACC in the field at this point, but NC State 15-7 (7-4) NET 76, FSU 13-9 (7-4) NET 95, Miami 15-8 (6-6) NET 72, Pittsburgh 14-8 (5-6) NET 64, Virginia Tech 13-9 (5-6) NET 53 are close enough to the bubble that with good finishes at least one those teams can get into the field.
