As we will be doing each month of this season, we sat down with Daniel from OnlineSportsFanatic.com and talked ACC bracketology. If your not familiar with OnlineSportsFanatic.com, it's the only place you can find nightly bracketology. Here's what Daniel had to say...
1. The ACC/Big 10 Challenge has come and gone, did that have a profound effect on your Bracketology.
It definitely had a big affect. Duke and North Carolina notched huge wins in the ACC/Big Ten challenge and it made them unquestioned one seeds. Even after the Blue Devils lost at Michigan the win over Purdue was enough to keep Duke as a #1 seed. Clemson got a huge win at a previously undefeated Illinois team, and Miami blew a huge lead to Ohio State (who benefited tremendously). Maryland picked up a nice win over Michigan, just days after knocking off Michigan State.
2. What ACC team has been the biggest surprise so far this season and moved up the seeding? What about the biggest disappointment?
Florida State has been the biggest surprise to me this season. The Seminoles were outside my bracketology before the season, but after notching a huge home win on Sunday night over a ranked Florida squad the Seminoles are easily in. Their 8-1 record is impressive at this point, but we will see if they can keep it up. For the most disappointing team I have to vote Virginia Tech, and this one was rough. They lost to Xavier off of a miracle half court shot to begin their bad luck. Then after losing to Seton Hall by four they lost their game in the ACC/Big Ten challenge off of a last second shot to Wisconsin. The Hokies are 5-3 and could easily be 8-0, especially if the two buzzer beaters didn't go in. I expect them to rebound and play their way into the tournament.
3. What non-conference wins/losses have helped or hurt ACC teams the most?
Speaking of losses, Virginia Tech's hurt them pretty bad. The loss to Seton Hall (a likely fellow bubble team) will hurt them on Selection Sunday. The top wins so far this year for the ACC include Duke over Purdue, North Carolina over Michigan State, Clemson over Illinois, Maryland over Michigan State, Wake Forest over Baylor, Georgia Tech over Vanderbilt, and Boston College over UAB. A few of the losses I didn't like include Miami to Ohio State, Georgia Tech to Penn State, and Duke losing to Michigan in their second meeting. The Hurricanes haven't really knocked off anyone they can be proud of just yet, although their losses are to teams that don't yet have a loss (Connecticut & Ohio State).
4. The big question, where does the ACC stand right now in your eyes? How many bids do they deserve? What seeds do you see the conference grabbing?
Right now I have the ACC grabbing two of the #1 seeds and 7 bids overall. I have North Carolina as the top overall seed in the field, with Duke as the other #1 seed. The next highest ACC team is Wake Forest as a #5 seed, although the Demon Deacons are quickly moving up the board. Clemson is also moving up very quickly but for now they sit as a #6 seed. Miami is a #7 seed, followed by Florida State as a #8 seed, and two loss Maryland hanging in as a #12 seed. The way the season is playing out now it appears the ACC could have 5 or 6 of the best 25 teams in the country. North Carolina will get the NCAA Tournament's top seed unless something crazy happens the rest of the season, because the Tar Heels are just that good. Anything but a championship in Chapel Hill this season will be a huge disappointment. Wake Forest and Clemson look like teams people like to pick as their "sexy" Final Four team when they pick their bracket. Right now the ACC is clearly the second best basketball conference behind the unbelievable Big East.
5. Who is on the outside looking in?
Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, and Boston College all have decent resumes and are just ouside of my field. The Wolfpack missed a chance for a big win on Sunday when Stephen Curry beat them, practically by himself. There's a reason Curry is the best player in the country N. C. State fans, so don't get too upset about the loss. Meanwhile Georgia Tech is up and down. They have some decent wins over Vanderbilt and Mercer, but then in their only national TV appearance they lost to Penn State. The Nittany Lions might surprise this season, but I don't see a top team when I look at Penn State. Boston College has some nice losses to Purdue and St Louis, and two nice wins over Iowa and Purdue. The next time the Eagles should even be tested is on January 4th when they begin their ACC season against...you guessed it...North Carolina. All three of these teams could play their way in.
6. Anything else you want to add?
Just to recap things it looks like the ACC is destined for 6 or 7 NCAA Tournament teams. The worst case scenario is 5 teams getting in, especially with the strength that flows from top to bottom in the conference. Don't be afraid Tar Heel fans, because this will not be as competitive as the football conference. North Carolina is by far the best team I've seen this entire season. I don't expect many teams to challenge the Tar Heels, and they should win the ACC. For some reason I don't think these other teams are just going to lay down for them though.
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