The ACC has three teams that will make the NCAA tournament, another one with a strong chance and at least one more with fleeting hope at making the field Selection Sunday, barring any unexpected runs through the conference tournament.
Here’s a look at the teams with tournament dreams.
On the dance floor: Duke, North Carolina, Florida State.
The Blue Devils, who played Tuesday night, are in the running for a NCAA No. 1 seed, which is where cbssports.com has them as the top seed in the South, but ESPN has Duke as a No. 2 seed. The Blue Devils close the regular season by hosting North Carolina on Saturday in a game that will decide the ACC’s regular-season title.
The Tar Heels (25-4, 12-2 ACC) still have a chance to grab a No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament, but need to defeat Maryland and Duke to finish the regular season. Both cbssports.com and ESPN project North Carolina as a No. 2 seed, if the tournament began today.
The Seminoles (19-9, 10-4) didn’t help themselves with a loss to Miami on Sunday, giving them consecutive defeats for the first time since December. Still, they are a lock to reach the NCAA tournament, most likely as a No. 5 or 6 seed, although a loss at Virginia on Thursday would do some damage.
Should make it: Virginia. The Cavaliers (21-7, 8-6) could boost their chances with an upset of Florida State, but it appears the Cavaliers already are in the NCAAs. They're 2-3 in their past five games, but two of those losses were to North Carolina. Most scenarios have the Cavaliers making the tournament as a No. 8 seed.
On the brink: Miami. The Hurricanes (17-10, 8-6) also haven't played well down the stretch with only two wins in their past five games, but they won at Duke and are coming off a win against Florida State. Miami is projected as a No. 12 seed, but much depends on Wednesday night's game at N.C. State, which defeated the Hurricanes on Jan. 22.
Down to last fingernail: N.C. State. The selection committee doesn't like late four-game losing streaks, which is exactly what the Wolfpack (18-11, 7-7) is on heading into its game against Miami. But a victory over the Hurricanes could help change things for a team with only one victory against a team in the RPI top 50, and that was at Miami on Jan. 22.
Hot shot
Ryan Anderson is gradually proving that he might be the best of nine freshmen on Boston College’s roster.
The Eagles (8-20, 3-11) continue to struggle with only one win in their past 11 games, but Anderson has elevated his performance. He has averaged 19.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in the past four games and leads Boston College with 10.8 points and seven rebounds per game.
Anderson is on the verge of becoming the 11th freshman in ACC history to lead his team in both categories.
Have not
Virginia’s Mike Scott is the ACC’s leading active scorer, and he’ll finish in the top five in scoring this season, but he struggled against North Carolina on Saturday.
He scored a season-low six points — nearly 11 below his average — and missed 10 of his 13 attempts from the field in the 54-51 home loss. He also picked up his fourth foul with 12 minutes to play.
“I think they did a good job on him defensively,” Virginia coach Tony Bennett said. “He’s played so well and carried us. He was off and maybe was settling a little on the outside.”
On a roll
- Virginia Tech's Cadarian Raines scored a career-high 16 points against Duke, bettering his previous high of 13 points set against Georgia Tech on Feb. 18. He has averaged 5.3 points this season.
- Wake Forest's C.J. Harris scored 23 points in a victory over Boston College, the 10th time he scored at least 20 points in a game this season. He has averaged 17 points.
- Clemson (15-13, 7-7) hasn't done enough to reach the NCAA tournament, but might be playing itself into a NIT berth. The Tigers have won four of five entering Thursday's game against Virginia Tech.
Must-see TV
- North Carolina at Duke, 7 p.m. Saturday (ESPN)
Duke pulled off a masterful comeback in the final six minutes of the first meeting, capped by Austin Rivers’ 3-pointer at the buzzer to win 85-84 in Chapel Hill on Feb. 8. Can the Blue Devils sweep the Tar Heels? The ACC regular-season title will be on the line.
Quotable
“When you’re on the bubble, it has a lot to do with what you do. But it also has a lot to do with what everybody else is doing. Winning, losing, somebody making a late run, somebody winning a conference tournament, who knows. You’re at the mercy of a lot of variables when you get to this point.” — N.C. State coach Mark Gottfried on making the NCAA tournament
By the numbers
7,261 Fans who attended Miami's victory over FSU, the second largest crowd for a Hurricanes game at BankUnited Center.
21,063 Average attendance at North Carolina this season.
