Looking at ACC Tourney standings

[CDu]

With just 2 weeks left in the regular season, it's about time to start to look at the ACC Tournament seeding picture. Here's a start:

1. UVa (13-1, vs GT, @ Pitt, @Louisville, vs ND): The Cavaliers are one win (or one Duke loss) away from locking up the #1 seed thanks to their 13-1 record, our 10-4 record, and their head-to-head win over us. They likely will solidify the top spot tomorrow night. If not, then almost assuredly by the end of the weekend.

2. Duke (10-4, vs Louisville, vs Syracuse, @VT, vs UNC): while the #1 spot is mathematically possible for at least one more day, it's realistically not possible. As for the #2 spot, there is a lot left to do to secure it. Winning the 3 remaining home games would do it, as we'd have the tiebreaker over Clemson and beating UNC on Senior Day would push them to at least 6 losses.

3. UNC (10-5, @Syracuse, vs Miami, @Duke): Beating us would give the Heels a strong chance at the #2 spot, especially if they can win their other two remaining games. A loss to Duke will likely mean a 3rd or 4th place finish. Given the remaining schedule, it's hard to see them finishing worse than 4th.

4. Clemson (9-5, @VT, vs GT, vs FSU, @Syracuse): The Tigers have a precarious grasp on a top 4 spot. Lots of winnable games left, but none look easy. They could end up anywhere from 2nd to 8th.

5. Virginia Tech (8-6, vs Clemson, vs Louisville, vs Duke, @Miami): lots of opportunity to make noise over the next two weeks, with 3 big home games.

6. Louisville (8-6, @Duke, @VT, vs UVa, @NC St): Wow, they have a rough finish to this season. Getting to 10 wins would be an impressive accomplishment given where they sit and what they have left.

7. NC State (8-6, vs BC, vs FSU, @GT, vs Louisville): the Pack are lurking in a VERY interesting position. All of their remaining games are winnable, though FSU and Louisville won't be easy ones. Win out, and they could sneak as high as the 3 line. If they don't get to 10 wins given what they have left, that would be a disappointment.

8. FSU (8-7, @NC St, @Clemson, vs BC): The 'Noles should get to at least .500 in conference, but getting to 10 or more wins looks tough.

9. Miami (8-7, vs BC, @UNC, vs VT): The loss of Bruce Brown has hurt the 'Canes. They should still get into the NCAAs, but it's hard to see them making much noise. Right now, they're just fighting to stay out of ACC Tuesday.

10. Syracuse (7-7, vs UNC, @Duke, @BC, vs Clemson): Tough stretch for Syracuse coming up. They could very well end up 8-10. Upsetting UNC or Clemson at home would give them some NCAA tourney life. Losing those two and @Duke would make it very tough for them to get into the tournament, and would almost certainly put them in ACC Tuesday.

11-15. Of these teams, I think the only interesting one is Notre Dame (6-9, @Wake, vs Pitt, @UVa). If the Irish can get Colson and maybe Harvey back by the Pitt game (to prep for the UVa game), they could conceivably sneak back to .500. It's not likely, and the most likely outcome is that they'll be playing on ACC Tuesday. But other than them, there just isn't much to be interested in among the bottom 5.

[Tripping William]

Thanks, CDu.

As a reminder in assessing this -- and a bracket can be found here -- the bottom four teams play Tuesday (10 vs. 15, 11 vs. 14, 12 vs. 13) and the top four teams have a double-bye until Thursday.

On Wednesday you will have:
8 vs. 9
7 vs. 10/15
6 vs. 11/14
5 vs. 12/13

Thursday will be:
1 vs. 8/9
2 vs. 7/10/15
3 vs. 6/11/14
4 vs. 5/12/13

[duke2x]

With just 2 weeks left in the regular season, it's about time to start to look at the ACC Tournament seeding picture. Here's a start:

3. UNC (10-5, @Syracuse, vs Miami, @Duke): Beating us would give the Heels a strong chance at the #2 spot, especially if they can win their other two remaining games. A loss to Duke will likely mean a 3rd or 4th place finish. Given the remaining schedule, it's hard to see them finishing worse than 4th.

6. Louisville (8-6, @Duke, @VT, vs UVa, @NC St): Wow, they have a rough finish to this season. Getting to 10 wins would be an impressive accomplishment given where they sit and what they have left.

UNC could easily finish 11-7 and 5th. It requires Syracuse and VT to beat UNC and Duke at home, a reasonable prediction today. They could also finish 10-8 and 9th if you think wishfully.

Louisville fans think they might go 8-10, and I agree with that possibility.

[PackMan97]

7. NC State (8-6, vs BC, vs FSU, @GT, vs Louisville): the Pack are lurking in a VERY interesting position. All of their remaining games are winnable, though FSU and Louisville won't be easy ones. Win out, and they could sneak as high as the 3 line. If they don't get to 10 wins given what they have left, that would be a disappointment.

The biggest problem State has are tiebreakers. We lose the middle of the road tie breakers.

Teams we will likely end up tied with:
0-1 vs Miami
0-1 vs VT
TBD Louisville

Teams we could end up tied with if things break right.
1-1 vs UNC
1-1 vs Clemson
1-0 vs Duke

[Bob Green]

Thanks, CDu.

As a reminder in assessing this -- and a bracket can be found here --

This bracket includes approximate game times:

http://www.theacc.com/sports/2018/1/...ournament.aspx

[Tripping William]

This bracket includes approximate game times:

http://www.theacc.com/sports/2018/1/...ournament.aspx

Even better. To me, selfishly, the top benefit for Duke of finishing second, instead of third, is not the difference in the teams we'll play, but in avoiding the very last game on Thursday night (tipping off at more like 10:00 p.m. than 9:00 p.m., in actuality).

[kako]

Even better. To me, selfishly, the top benefit for Duke of finishing second, instead of third, is not the difference in the teams we'll play, but in avoiding the very last game on Thursday night (tipping off at more like 10:00 p.m. than 9:00 p.m., in actuality).

Definitely! I'd rather finish 4th than 3rd. The late games definitely can take a team out of whack. Sure, Duke would likely then play UVA in the semis. But the road to the championship goes through them somewhere. Might as well be then. At that point in the season for NCAA tourney seeding, it might not matter if the UVA game is in the semis or final - just need to beat them for the better seed. Of course, I'm assuming Duke would win the final anyway.