Some of the top teams in the ACC in 2023 have been traditional powers like Virginia, but also upstarts like Pittsburgh and Clemson.
While established programs like UNC and Duke have looked like top 10 teams one week and NIT one and doners in others.
There are other teams in the ACC that are on the rise and looking to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament like Pittsburgh and NC State.
College basketball is known for its parity and upsets, and there is always the possibility of a team making a surprise run to the top of the conference standings, and we’ve seen that in this year’s ACC too.
What are the chances of an ACC team making a deep NCAA Tournament run?
According to DraftKings the following are the odds for the top ACC Teams of winning the tournament:
Virginia + 2500
Miami + 8000
Pittsburgh- +15000
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With that said don’t let the ACC’s overall stats mislead you. The bottom of the ACC is dreadful with historically bad teams like Louisville, Georgia Tech, and Notre Dame. Florida State was horrible in the non-conference, but the 6-8 ACC teams that make the NCAA will be dangerous and their OOC results prove it. Remember who won the ACC/Big 10 Challenge? It wasn’t the Big 10 either.
Let’s take a look at the ACC’s top 4 teams that can reach the second weekend and beyond provided they make the Big Dance in some cases.
Virginia – They have the best coach in the league Tony Bennett, and an experienced PG Kihei Clark who already has a national title. They can play defense and shoot the 3. The Hoos have already beat Baylor, Illinois, and won at Michigan OOC. If an ACC team can get to the Final 4, it would be Virginia.
Miami – The Canes got to the elite 8 last year, and their elite guard play can dictate the tempo in most games they get into. They have 8 Q1/Q2 wins, and whole their defense may not be great it is no longer a liability.
NC State – I love teams in March with outstanding scorers. NC State has one in Terquavion Smith. DJ Burns gives the Wolfpack an inside presence. We’ve already seen the Wolfpack nearly take down Kansas. The Wolfpack is the kind of opponent a 1 or 2 seed doesn’t want to see in 2nd round.
Pittsburgh – When Pittsburgh lost to FSU at home, you wondered if this was the same ole Panthers. but their resilience since that game has proven there is much more to them this year. People’s eyes were opened when they went to Northwestern and blitzed the Wildcats. Yea the same Northwestern than just beat Purdue.
The rest – We know what North Carolina is capable of when they are at their best. Hey Hubert Davis let your Heels get out and run and you’ll make the NCAA tournament, and you’ll pull an upset or two.
Wake Forest has their own elite scorer in Tyree Appelby, but they have to make the field as well.
Barring a total collapse, Duke will make the NCAA tournament, but their inconsistent scoring limits their ceiling, but if that perimeter shot starts dropping watch out.
Clemson? They are a pretty balanced team overall but lack the explosive scoring and enough athleticism to likely be much more than a first-weekend NCAA team even if they make the NCAA tournament.
At the end of the day don’t be surprised if the ACC is again one of March’s top conferences. That’s when it counts and when the ACC typically plays their best basketball.
