Oh I think the ACC is always going to be a very good basketball conference (not even counting their 'football money' school additions). You're mostly talking about a conference whose core members Virginia, NC State, NC, Maryland, Clemson, Ga. Tech, Fla. St. are all public schools with big-money, taxpayer-supported budgets that are used to bankroll these deeply-entrenched basketball programs featuring their scholar athletes. Heck, in many of these locals, it's the only game in town vs. for example a smaller basketball conference like the Big East which was born out of private/parochial schools some of which are located in big towns (NYC, Philly, DC, Chicago) and who also have to compete harder recruiting-wise which is why the ACC history is littered with northeast recruits ever since the days of Frank McGuire. Easier to be BMOC in some publically-funded gym on Tobacco Rd. than say Broadway.
They don't deserve 4 teams in the top 14 is my point. Most years I would say the conference is tough top to bottom like you are trying to argue, but not this year. They aren't impressive at the top and there is a huge drop off after the top 4. Virginia isn't that impressive, this is the same team that put up 38 points at home vs. Wisconsin. They are first just because they haven't choked against those crap teams at the bottom like Duke (Clemson, Wake) UNC (Wake, Miami), Cuse (BC, GT)... The ACC this year reminds me of 2012, when they also had a great deal of crap teams at the bottom and a surprise in the top 4 (Florida State).. That year they were shut out of the Final Four, had 1 team in Elite 8, 2 in the Sweet Sixteen and we saw Duke get bounced by Lehigh.... I suspect we will see a similar fate in this year's tourney.
This is the best season in quite a while for the ACC thanks to SU and UVa though SU is struggling now. Virginia isn't that impressive? have you watched them play? sure they got an easy ACC sched but their lone loss was a close one on the road at duke. teams have bad games, teams get better. Carolina is a million miles better today than they were 2 months ago. every team outside of Wichita State and UF has bad losses on their resume. AZ only has 2 losses but to ASU and Cal, Nova got crushed by SU(not a bad loss but a whooping) and humiliated by Creighton(not bad teams but the way they lost was bad), KU has 7 losses and lost to Colorado AND K-State, Wisconsin lost to Indian and Northwestern(the same NW that just lost 59-32 to PENN STATE at HOME). I hope duke goes out in rd 1 in the Tourney but the ACC has been strong this year, stronger than it has been in years. The ONLY reason the ACC was shut out in 2012 was b/c their best team was the victim of dirty play, if Marshall doesn't go down(even w/ all the other injuries) Carolina is playing Kentucky for the title w/ a great chance to win it.
That's a flat out lie that the ACC is the strongest it's been in years... it's one of the weakest years I've seen from them. I watch a lot of college basketball and last night I watched Cincinnati, I think they are better than any team I've seen in the ACC. That's just one example, there are many teams across the country I could pick out. I'm not trying to bash the ACC for any certain reason. I am actually a fan of the conference and most years I think they are far and away the best conference.. and they will be going forward. I'm just saying they are WEAK this year, I expected more, it's a down season like 2012. I think the biggest factor to succeed in the tournament, even more so than defense, is having a team that can score in multiple ways. Win either the track meet game or the air out of the ball game. I don't see that from anyone in the ACC. I think UNC will be the most successful in the tourney because Roy, but they don't have the dogs to make a serious run....
The same Cincy team that struggled to beat ACC bottom feeder NC State at home? the one that beat a mediocre Pitt team by a point? their 23 most impressive wins were over UConn and UL, in the rematch those teams beat Cincy. Cincy would be the 5th best team in the ACC. It's not vintage pre expansion ACC basketball but the ACC is having a good year. even the bad teams can win some games. Carolina has enough to make a run, not win a title but make a deep run. The problem is FT shooting. If they don't get hot at the line in the Tourney they could go out early. It will cost them a close game. UVa is an excellent defensive team and very underrated offensively. They struggled early, coming into this year I expected they'd be very good. they weren't early but they clearly are now.
I would say that the ACC is among the strongest conferences this year, but by no means is this among the Strongest ACC conferences in history. Agree or Disagree, junc? I just don't see an all-time powerful conference anywhere in the nation this year.
I agree. I don't care what their seed is, no team EVER wants to face a team in the tournament that is coached by Pitino, Izzo, Self, or Roy.
it's not an all time great ACC, not even close but it has been a strong conference. Once of the top 2-3 this season and should be better as UNC and duke get back to normal next year and Louisville joins in. I would take Self off that list, only 2 FFs and one he made b/c of Carolina injuries and getting basically a home game he didn't deserve against Carolina where the Heels nearly beat KU w/ a freshman walk on at PG.
I never understood your hatred of Bill Self. 12 Conference titles in a row mean nothing to you? The Big 12 has been a damn good conference.
The Big 12 is a good conference, some years it has been the best and there have been some very good KU teams but look at this year. KU has 7 losses, it is not a great team and they won the league by at least 3 games. I don't like Self b/c he underachieves far too often, again only 2 FFs and one he almost lost to a mid major in the elite 8 and the other played a virtual home game they didn't earn against a team decimated w/ injuries. If Carolina is relatively healthy they beat KU. 1 seed in 2013, lost in Sweet 16 1 seed in 2011, lost in reg final to mid major 1 seed in 2010, lost in 2nd rd lost in 1st rd in back to back years(as 3 and 4 seed)(Roy has NEVER lost a 1st rd game)
Andre Brown of Winthrop hits a moving 3 over two defenders from about 25 feet to beat High Point in the Big South tournament. This after he missed the front end of a 1 and 1 (he's an 82% free throw shooter). 0:19Andre Smith missed Free Throw.59-58 0:1959-58Devante Wallace Defensive Rebound. 0:14High Point Timeout 0:0659-60Adam Weary made Jumper. 0:01Andre Smith made Three Point Jumper.62-60 0:00End of Game
Rematch of last years Atlantic Sun Tourney Final Mercer vs Florida Gulf Coast Looks like Winthrop is into the Big South Final, they will either play Coastal Carolina or VMI. I believe the game is on Coastal Carolina's home floor. Mount St Mary's knocks off Staten Island's Wagner Belmont looks like they'll be making their 37th straight 1st round exit if they can get past Eastern Kentucky who beat Murray State Busy day at the Orleans Arena as we have 4 WCC games , they all take a break tomorrow and play the semi's on Monday. I may end up going depending on who wins today
Double ot win for us!! Man we almost blew it with the 6 point lead gone in 11 seconds. But what a win, I think we make it in the tourney...I think. 20-11 10-8 record. I hope that is good
It was the craziest game I can ever SJU playing in. Up 6 with 11 seconds left, MU ties it with no time left. Should have lost so many times. D hits that long 3 to tie it in 2OT. Such a big win, two wins in the BET gets them in. After this win, it wouldnt surprise me to see them win the whole thing now.
yes, for this year and last year the tournament has been at Coastal Carolina They're looking to make it in for the 4th straight year. They did almost beat #2 Duke in 2008 (appearances: 2006-2008, 2011-2013). Otherwise, none were close.
Iowa state down 18 with 10mins left just hit a buzzer beater 3 to send it to overtime ! C'mon Iowa state.
