Some ugly losses for the conference so far. Unless I missed it, it doesn’t look like we’ve beaten a single “power” conference team projected to make the tournament. Granted, not a ton of opportunities thus far.
VT losing at home to Jacksonville is a NET killer.
At least it feels like Pitt has its fate in its own hands this year with a better OOC. I can’t imagine the conference will get much respect again in March unless things 180.
I was hoping it would be different but the reality is that the ACC, besides Duke & UNC cant spend like the SEC, B12, and B10. We may just get 5 teams again:
Duke and UNC who with the loss of Tony Bennett, I will call the ACC Independents.
Then Pitt, Wake, Clem, Miami, UVa and maybe a darkhorse or 2 (ND, Stan, SMU?) fight for 3-4 spots.
The ACC may have some really really bad teams to drag down the NETs which is why I said they should do some type of flex-scheduling the last 2-3 weeks so you dont have to play these teams:
BC
VT
Cal
GT
FSU is 4-1 but they might be real bad
Pitt getting Syr and Lou twice is worst-case scenario because both teams will be below 100 NETs. Lou will be much improved but still not that good. Both can beat us and a home loss is a Q3 loss. Then going on the road at those places arent cakewalks.
Much of our fate will be determined these next 4 games though. If lose 3 of these, we may need to go 15-5 in the ACC to make it. We just dont get the at-bats in the league. Absolutely need to go at least 2-2. 3-1 puts us in good shape. May be able to get in at 12-8.
I think the "Power 3" (B12, SEC, B10) get 30 bids, including 3 auto bids. There's 21 bid league auto bids. So that puts you at 51 teams. That means the final 17 bids would be split between the ACC, BE, MWC, WCC, American, A10, and Missouri Valley with the hope being:
ACC 6
BE 4
MWC 2
WCC 2
American 1
A10 1
MVC 1
