Home Bracketology: Which of the ACC’s 8-8 teams have the best shot at an NCAA bid?
News

Bracketology: Which of the ACC’s 8-8 teams have the best shot at an NCAA bid?

acc basketballFour ACC teams are sitting at 8-8 in conference play right now – Notre Dame, N.C. State, Syracuse and Clemson.

One of the four – N.C. State – is listed as an NCAA Tournament team in both the Joe Lunardi and Jerry Palm bracket renderings.

Is it possible that the ACC can get another team into the field?

N.C. State (17-10, 8-8 ACC)

NET: 53 KenPom: 50 KPI: 42 Sagarin: 41 ESPN BPI: 43 ESPN SOR: 48
AVG RATING: 47.8
Q1: 5-4 Q2: 4-3 Q3: 2-3 Q4: 6-0

Upcoming games: at UNC, Pitt, at Duke, Wake Forest

If State can go 3-1 down the stretch, and win a game in Greensboro, you’re talking 21-12 with a better than .500 record against Q1/Q2.

You’d feel pretty good on Selection Sunday. Not golden, but pretty good.

Notre Dame (17-10, 8-8 ACC)

NET: 56 KenPom: 56 KPI: 75 Sagarin: 43 ESPN BPI: 57 ESPN SOR: 59
AVG RATING: 57.7
Q1: 2-6 Q2: 1-3 Q3: 7-1 Q4: 7-0

Upcoming games: at Boston College, at Wake Forest, Florida State, Virginia Tech

You can see the issue here. The metrics aren’t good, and they’re skewed because of all the Q3 and Q4 games.

I think the Irish need to win out and get at least one win in Greensboro to feel good on Selection Sunday.

Syracuse (15-12, 8-8 ACC)

NET: 66 KenPom: 59 KPI: 69 Sagarin: 55 ESPN BPI: 58 ESPN SOR: 77
AVG RATING: 64.0
Q1: 2-7 Q2: 2-4 Q3: 5-1 Q4: 6-0

Upcoming games: at Pitt, UNC, at BC, at Miami

Three weeks ago, I was ready to pencil ‘Cuse in as an NCAA team. Now, they have to win out, and still might need to win the ACC Tournament, or at the least play on Saturday night.

Clemson (14-12, 8-8 ACC)

NET: 73 KenPom: 63 KPI: 63 Sagarin: 47 ESPN BPI: 62 ESPN SOR: 74
AVG RATING: 63.7
Q1: 2-6 Q2: 5-4 Q3: 3-2 Q4: 4-0

Upcoming games: at Georgia Tech, Florida State, at Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech

This team has two home wins over Top 10 teams (Duke, Louisville), could get another one this weekend with a win over FSU, and nonetheless, it’s hard to see a path to an NCAA bid without the Tigers cutting down the nets in Greensboro.

Story by Chris Graham

Support AFP




Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.

Latest News

radio
Politics

Last Week with Rob Schilling: The week’s conspiracy theories brought to you by UVA Athletics

brian o'connor mississippi state
Baseball

No-maha: Brian O’Connor, Mississippi State, fall short in Super Regional

Mississippi State, 20th nationally in the regular season in team ERA, gave up double-digits in back-to-back Super Regional losses to Georgia, and Year 1 under Brian O’Connor came to an end without a trip to Omaha.

nelson chittum
Baseball

Former MLB pitcher Nelson Chittum travelled the U.S. in two distinct careers

Nelson Chittum played professional baseball from 1956-1964, pitching in two games with the Boston Red Sox in 1958, and in 27 games with the St. Louis Cardinals the next two seasons.

school student child bookbag
Local

UVA announces $43.4M gift toward early childhood learning center

jalen brunson
Basketball

Knicks star Jalen Brunson picked up early hoops lessons in Charlottesville

donald trump
Politics, U.S. & World

Trump storms out of ‘Meet the Press’ interview after having lies fact-checked

john mcguire
Politics, Virginia

MAGA Congressman John McGuire struggles to explain thoughts on healthcare