Virginia is off until Monday when it faces Miami on the road in what will be a big game for both the Cavaliers and the Hurricanes, and the ACC in general. So let's take a look at the Saturday slate of games in the conference, as all have a bearing on first place in the ACC or for the conference's NCAA tournament bubble outlook.
First, a look at the top 10 in the ACC standings.
Team ACC Overall
Miami 10-3 21-4
UNC 10-3 21-5
UVa 10-4 21-5
Lville 9-4 20-6
Duke 9-4 20-6
N. Dame 9-4 18-7
Clem 9-5 16-10
Cuse 8-6 18-9
Pitt 7-6 18-7
FSU 6-8 16-10
No. 20 Duke at No. 18 Louisville, Noon ESPN
Previous meeting: Duke won, 72-65, at home Feb. 9
At stake: The Blue Devils were possibly looking at the bubble a few weeks ago, having lost three games in a row to unranked teams, and four of five overall. Since then, they've turned it around and have back-to-back one-point wins over No. 7 Virginia and No. 5 North Carolina. They've virtually locked up their tournament spot by winning five straight overall, and now find themselves in the thick of the race for the ACC regular-season crown. Depth is an issue. Amile Jefferson still isn't back from his foot injury and 3-point sniper Matt Jones hurt his ankle at UNC and is out at least against the Cardinals. Louisville is ineligible for the postseason after self-imposing a ban after an investigation into possible recruiting violations, but can still "win" the ACC regular season. Teams can put ACC regular-season titles on banners, as UVa has done at JPJ, calling it "first place," but there is no trophy and the ACC recognizes the ACC tournament champion as its champion for that season. Thus, Louisville can still finish "first." And the Cards seem to not have let down after announcing the ban, going 2-2, with a very solid win over Syracuse included therein. The losses were close ones to Duke and Notre Dame.
No. 11 Miami at No. 5 North Carolina, 1 p.m. CBS
Previous meeting: First this season
At stake: First place, for now, in the conference. The top teams play several games against each other down the stretch, so this is just one piece of the puzzle. UNC is now a 2 seed in the NCAA tournament according to ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi while Miami is a 3. UNC can, of course, work itself back to the 1 line, a place it has spent a good portion of this season, and I think the Hurricanes can get to a No. 1 seed as well, as long as they keep winning.
Pittsburgh at Syracuse, 2 p.m. ESPN2
Previous meeting: Pittsburgh won, 72-61, at home Dec. 31
At stake: This is a huge game for both teams who are on the bubble. Right now, Lunardi has the Panthers in the tournament as a No. 11 seed in the "Last Four Byes" section, meaning they are a cut above the teams in the "Last Four In" section. Still, they do not want to be losing more games than they win down the stretch. After Syracuse, they get Louisville and Duke. Ouch. But both at home. The first win for Pitt over Syracuse came when Jim Boeheim was suspended for NCAA violations. The Orange went just 4-5 in those games, but the selection committee has said it will treat those games differently, meaning since Syracuse has played better with Boeheim this year, it might gain an edge over another bubble team since Syracuse at the end of the year will be representing a better version of itself. Syracuse has gone 8-3 with Boeheim back on the bench, with the only losses coming home vs. UNC, at UVa, and at Louisville. As of now, Lunardi has the Orange in as a No. 9 seed, meaning it could withstand a couple losses before being dropped off the bracket. Still, Syracuse just needs to keep winning to lock up a spot. The Orange finishes vs. N.C. State, at UNC, and at Florida State. My feeling is if it goes 2-2 these last four games, it will be in regardless of its result in the ACC tournament.
Florida State at Virginia Tech, 3 p.m. ESPN3.com
Previous meeting: First
At stake: The Seminoles' situation is dire. They have good victories this season over VCU, Florida, Virginia, and Clemson, all teams in the tournament if it started today or at least in the bubble conversation. A couple weeks ago, they were trending in the right direction, but an 86-80 home loss to Georgia Tech, which is nowhere near the bubble, on Wednesday soured things. They also missed out on an opportunity for a big win with a 67-65 home loss to Miami on Sunday. As of now, Lunardi has the Seminoles in the "Next Four Out" category, meaning FSU is a quality win away from the "First Four Out" category and probably two wins in a row or so of being in. If they can avoid a relatively bad loss at VT, they get opportunities for big victories over Duke, Notre Dame, and Syracuse down the stretch, with the latter two at home. Time is running out, though. The Hokies are 13-13, and could aim for an NIT bid with a good finish. Buzz Williams has done a nice job at Tech in his second season.
Clemson at N.C. State, 3 p.m. ESPN3.com
Previous meeting: First
At stake: Clemson, like FSU, needs wins and needs them now. The Tigers are in a little better spot, finding themselves in Lunardi's "First Four Out" section. They also have a little more manageable schedule down the stretch. The committee loves road wins, and three of the Tigers' final four games are on the road, but against the bottom of the conference. They also travel to Georgia Tech and Boston College. The other game is Clemson's final chance for a resume-building win: March 1 home vs. Virginia. Clemson has won two in a row against lesser competition -- Georgia Tech and BC -- and must just keep winning and beat up on those teams again. Without a win over UVa, though, the Tigers could be hard-pressed to get into the tournament, I think, without a deep run in the ACC tournament. N.C. State, at 13-13, is like VT, and needs wins just to make itself a viable possibility for the NIT.
No. 19 Notre Dame at Georgia Tech, 8 p.m. ESPN2
Previous meeting: Notre Dame won, 72-64, at home Jan. 14
At stake: NCAA tournament seeding. The Fighting Irish are solidly in the tournament right now as a 5 seed in bracketology. They can also win the ACC regular season if things fall right. It'll be an uphill battle, but Notre Dame actually has an easier schedule probably than the other teams grouped atop the conference right now. After GT, Notre Dame plays at Wake Forest, at Florida State, and vs. Miami and N.C. State. Georgia Tech at 14-12 is going for an NIT bid.
First, a look at the top 10 in the ACC standings.
Team ACC Overall
Miami 10-3 21-4
UNC 10-3 21-5
UVa 10-4 21-5
Lville 9-4 20-6
Duke 9-4 20-6
N. Dame 9-4 18-7
Clem 9-5 16-10
Cuse 8-6 18-9
Pitt 7-6 18-7
FSU 6-8 16-10
No. 20 Duke at No. 18 Louisville, Noon ESPN
Previous meeting: Duke won, 72-65, at home Feb. 9
At stake: The Blue Devils were possibly looking at the bubble a few weeks ago, having lost three games in a row to unranked teams, and four of five overall. Since then, they've turned it around and have back-to-back one-point wins over No. 7 Virginia and No. 5 North Carolina. They've virtually locked up their tournament spot by winning five straight overall, and now find themselves in the thick of the race for the ACC regular-season crown. Depth is an issue. Amile Jefferson still isn't back from his foot injury and 3-point sniper Matt Jones hurt his ankle at UNC and is out at least against the Cardinals. Louisville is ineligible for the postseason after self-imposing a ban after an investigation into possible recruiting violations, but can still "win" the ACC regular season. Teams can put ACC regular-season titles on banners, as UVa has done at JPJ, calling it "first place," but there is no trophy and the ACC recognizes the ACC tournament champion as its champion for that season. Thus, Louisville can still finish "first." And the Cards seem to not have let down after announcing the ban, going 2-2, with a very solid win over Syracuse included therein. The losses were close ones to Duke and Notre Dame.
No. 11 Miami at No. 5 North Carolina, 1 p.m. CBS
Previous meeting: First this season
At stake: First place, for now, in the conference. The top teams play several games against each other down the stretch, so this is just one piece of the puzzle. UNC is now a 2 seed in the NCAA tournament according to ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi while Miami is a 3. UNC can, of course, work itself back to the 1 line, a place it has spent a good portion of this season, and I think the Hurricanes can get to a No. 1 seed as well, as long as they keep winning.
Pittsburgh at Syracuse, 2 p.m. ESPN2
Previous meeting: Pittsburgh won, 72-61, at home Dec. 31
At stake: This is a huge game for both teams who are on the bubble. Right now, Lunardi has the Panthers in the tournament as a No. 11 seed in the "Last Four Byes" section, meaning they are a cut above the teams in the "Last Four In" section. Still, they do not want to be losing more games than they win down the stretch. After Syracuse, they get Louisville and Duke. Ouch. But both at home. The first win for Pitt over Syracuse came when Jim Boeheim was suspended for NCAA violations. The Orange went just 4-5 in those games, but the selection committee has said it will treat those games differently, meaning since Syracuse has played better with Boeheim this year, it might gain an edge over another bubble team since Syracuse at the end of the year will be representing a better version of itself. Syracuse has gone 8-3 with Boeheim back on the bench, with the only losses coming home vs. UNC, at UVa, and at Louisville. As of now, Lunardi has the Orange in as a No. 9 seed, meaning it could withstand a couple losses before being dropped off the bracket. Still, Syracuse just needs to keep winning to lock up a spot. The Orange finishes vs. N.C. State, at UNC, and at Florida State. My feeling is if it goes 2-2 these last four games, it will be in regardless of its result in the ACC tournament.
Florida State at Virginia Tech, 3 p.m. ESPN3.com
Previous meeting: First
At stake: The Seminoles' situation is dire. They have good victories this season over VCU, Florida, Virginia, and Clemson, all teams in the tournament if it started today or at least in the bubble conversation. A couple weeks ago, they were trending in the right direction, but an 86-80 home loss to Georgia Tech, which is nowhere near the bubble, on Wednesday soured things. They also missed out on an opportunity for a big win with a 67-65 home loss to Miami on Sunday. As of now, Lunardi has the Seminoles in the "Next Four Out" category, meaning FSU is a quality win away from the "First Four Out" category and probably two wins in a row or so of being in. If they can avoid a relatively bad loss at VT, they get opportunities for big victories over Duke, Notre Dame, and Syracuse down the stretch, with the latter two at home. Time is running out, though. The Hokies are 13-13, and could aim for an NIT bid with a good finish. Buzz Williams has done a nice job at Tech in his second season.
Clemson at N.C. State, 3 p.m. ESPN3.com
Previous meeting: First
At stake: Clemson, like FSU, needs wins and needs them now. The Tigers are in a little better spot, finding themselves in Lunardi's "First Four Out" section. They also have a little more manageable schedule down the stretch. The committee loves road wins, and three of the Tigers' final four games are on the road, but against the bottom of the conference. They also travel to Georgia Tech and Boston College. The other game is Clemson's final chance for a resume-building win: March 1 home vs. Virginia. Clemson has won two in a row against lesser competition -- Georgia Tech and BC -- and must just keep winning and beat up on those teams again. Without a win over UVa, though, the Tigers could be hard-pressed to get into the tournament, I think, without a deep run in the ACC tournament. N.C. State, at 13-13, is like VT, and needs wins just to make itself a viable possibility for the NIT.
No. 19 Notre Dame at Georgia Tech, 8 p.m. ESPN2
Previous meeting: Notre Dame won, 72-64, at home Jan. 14
At stake: NCAA tournament seeding. The Fighting Irish are solidly in the tournament right now as a 5 seed in bracketology. They can also win the ACC regular season if things fall right. It'll be an uphill battle, but Notre Dame actually has an easier schedule probably than the other teams grouped atop the conference right now. After GT, Notre Dame plays at Wake Forest, at Florida State, and vs. Miami and N.C. State. Georgia Tech at 14-12 is going for an NIT bid.
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