NCAA Tournament Instareaction: ACC Teams
Posted by Matt Patton on March 15th, 2015Here are some quick thoughts on the ACC teams that were selected for this year’s NCAA Tournament.
Duke, #1 Seed, South: Duke took the top spot in the South. This isn’t really surprising to anyone, and the more I thought about it the more sense Duke makes as a #1 seed (if you throw out made-up rules about not having won their conference). Duke only lost one of its last 13 games; it notched huge road wins against Wisconsin and Virginia (two teams it would be competing with for that last #1 seed); it swept North Carolina. Losing two of three to Notre Dame definitely gave me pause, but the Blue Devils had the overall profile of a #1 seed. As far as their bracket goes, they have a potential rematch with St. John’s in the round of 32 (a team that Duke beat in a close game for Coach K’s 1,000th win) or a San Diego State team that could be a real problem if they’re shooting well. The other half of Duke’s region is a lot more challenging although I like the way they match up with a lot of the teams in the South Region. This will be the region of pure offense (minus the Aztecs), and it could create some crazy results.
If Justin Anderson is 100%, Virginia got a very favorable draw. (Getty)
Virginia, #2 Seed, East: Virginia was pseudo-snubbed to get a #2 seed. And while I doubt the committee will publicly say it, the Cavaliers’ mediocre play with Justin Anderson back in the lineup probably affected their seeding. This team might be the second-best group in the country if he gets back to where he was before the injury, but losing two of your last three games doesn’t instill confidence from the Selection Committee. Virginia also got a very favorable bracket. Other than Oklahoma or Michigan State conjuring up some March magic, I don’t see a lot of resistance in their way prior to the regional finals. The other half of the bracket looks like a recipe for chaos, which could also play into the Cavaliers’ hands. Long story short, I don’t have a problem with Virginia on the second line in the East Region. They played like a #1 seed for most of the year and still have a great shot to make it to the Final Four.
Notre Dame, #3 Seed, Midwest: “We want Kentucky” was a sign pretty much all of the Fighting Irish fans had in Greensboro. Just kidding. The matchups in this region are OK for Notre Dame until the Sweet Sixteen when the Irish will have to face either Kansas or Wichita State. But even those games aren’t all that terrifying. Rick Barnes’ underperforming Texas squad could certainly knock Mike Brey out in the Round of 32, but I think the senior-laden Irish have a great chance of eventually getting a shot at the much, much, much taller Wildcats. Unfortunately, the Kentucky juggernaut looming in the Elite Eight (assuming Buffalo doesn’t exact some kind of strange revenge) probably means Brey won’t be able to definitively claim the best Notre Dame season in history when he gets around to arguing with Digger Phelps, but this is March. Anything can happen.
North Carolina, #4 Seed, West: Apart from drawing perennial powerhouse Harvard in the Round of 64, North Carolina is in remarkably good shape. Wisconsin will obviously be a really tough out and either winner of the VCU – Ohio State game also could make a run to Indianapolis. But those two teams are on the other half of the region. Arkansas is a tough team to peg, but with all of the Tar Heels’ ball-handlers, I think they’ll be fine against the press. That said, this is the same North Carolina team that lost to Pittsburgh a few weeks ago.
Louisville, #4 Seed, East: The Cardinals are going to be a popular upset pick here, and their recent play has certainly earned that tag. I’m not seeing that happening against UC Irvine, but the Round of 32 game is going to be really tough with either of Wyoming or Northern Iowa. The games will be in Seattle, which could make that first round game all the more challenging if a bunch of excited Anteaters’ alumni make the trip north. I don’t see Louisville making it out of the first weekend, but this isn’t the first year I have made that prediction and been wrong.
NC State, #8 Seed, East: First reaction. NC State got a #8 seed?! That is bold, Selection Committee. I have no clue what to expect from this team. LSU is a high upside team that also just lost to (gulp) Auburn; but the Tigers also played Kentucky down to the last minute. I think NC State is the better team in this spot but confidence is hard to come by after the Wolfpack’s showing against Duke in the ACC Tournament. If Mark Gottfried gets his team through its first game, Villanova won’t be happy to see them in the Round of 32 at all. NC State has shown a keen ability to hang with very good teams. I’m not saying I would bet on them here, but if Cat Barber is healthy, they can beat nearly anyone.
Snubs: Miami (kind of). Miami was left out of the field altogether, which wasn’t a surprise; the Hurricanes were given every opportunity to improve their lot and they didn’t come through. They needed one more win to hang their hats on last week, and it just didn’t happen. No one should be upset though, as Miami logged plenty of awful losses this season to go along with that huge win at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
