We got just a little more clarity on the Eagles’ ACC Tournament picture tonight with three more ACC games in the books. North Carolina topped Maryland to improve to 12-5 in conference play, while the Terps drop to 8-9. N.C. State made quick work of Wake Forest as the Deacons fall to 5-12.
Georgia Tech pulled off the upset of the season in the ACC, downing Miami on a last second tip-in to deny the Hurricanes the ACC’s regular season title that actually doesn’t exist. Georgia Tech draws even with BC at 6-11. Wake Forest and Clemson are a full game back at 5-12 with one to play.
Here’s how the tournament would look if the season ended today.
The seeds:
1. Miami Hurricanes (14-3)
2. Duke Blue Devils (13-4)
3. North Carolina Tar Heels (12-5)
4. N.C. State Wolfpack (11-6)
5. Virginia Cavaliers (10-6)
6. Maryland Terrapins (8-9)
7. Florida St. Seminoles (7-9)
8. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-11)
9. Boston College Eagles (6-11)
10. Clemson Tigers (5-12)
11. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-12)
12. Virginia Tech Hokies (4-13)
And the tournament bracket:
Thursday, March 14 – First Round
Game 1: #8 Georgia Tech vs. #9 Boston College, noon ESPNU/ACC Network
Game 2: #5 Virginia vs. #12 Virginia Tech, 2 p.m. ESPNU/ACC Network
Game 3: #7 Florida State vs. #10 Clemson, 7 p.m. ESPNU/ACC Network
Game 4: #6 Maryland vs. #11 Wake Forest, 9 p.m. ESPNU/ACC Network
Friday, March 15 – Quarterfinals
Game 5: #1 Miami vs. Game 1 winner, noon ESPN2/ACC Network
Game 6: #4 N.C. State vs. Game 2 winner, 2 p.m. ESPN2/ACC Network
Game 7: #2 Duke vs. Game 3 winner, 7 p.m. ESPN2/ACC Network
Game 8: #3 North Carolina vs. Game 4 winner, 9 p.m. ESPN2/ACC Network
NOTES:
— Even though the Eagles and Jackets have yet to face one another, BC would lose the tiebreaker to Georgia Tech based on Tech’s win last night against Miami. Luckily the season doesn’t end today and the Eagles and Jackets will break the tie on the court on Saturday.
— Clemson owns the tiebreaker over Wake Forest by virtue of the head-to-head win over the Demon Deacons.
The Georgia Tech win combined with the Wake Forest loss eliminate a lot of the various permutations for Boston College. It’s relatively straightforward now.
If Boston College defeats Georgia Tech …
— The Eagles will be the no. 8 seed.
Simple. Even if Florida State loses their final two games of the season against N.C. State and Virginia, BC can’t jump the Seminoles as FSU owns the head-to-head tiebreaker. No one else in the league could get to seven wins at that point.
If Georgia Tech defeats Boston College …
— The Eagles will be the no. 9 seed with a Wake Forest loss.
— The Eagles will be the no. 9 seed with a Wake Forest win and a Clemson win. Three-way tiebreaker goes BC (2-1), Clemson, Wake Forest (1-2). Clemson over Wake Forest with the head-to-head victory over the Deacons.
— The Eagles will be the no. 10 seed with a Wake Forest win and a Clemson loss.
