Winners
Miami
This was the biggest week for Miami all season. They stumbled through a 3 game losing streak and had to win each of this week’s games. They did (barely) win both, and they reached the magical 20-win mark. No longer a bubble team, Miami presents an intriguing case for even a 6 seed to the committee, especially if they can take down North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Tuesday.
North Carolina
The Tar Heels had an unremarkable win, but they stay in the Winners category because it came on the road against Syracuse. More happy news for the Tar Heels: Joel Berry got engaged! He now joins the ranks of every single BYU player. In all seriousness, though, he’s winning on and off the court. That’ll be put to the test Saturday, when the Duke-UNC rivalry is renewed once again at Cameron Indoor.
Duke
Duke stayed hot, beating Clemson Sunday then ROLLING over Louisville and Syracuse at home this week. One of the hottest teams in basketball, Duke, as usual, is peaking at the right time. Coach K and the (probably soon-to-be hit-with NCAA sanctions like Arizona) Blue Devils will look to maintain the 2 seed in the ACC tournament with a win over North Carolina on Saturday, if they can get past high-flying Virginia Tech.
Virginia
Ho-hum, Virginia wins again. They probably should have been kept in the constants section, but when you hold a Division 1 basketball team to 7 points (!!!!!) in a half, you have something truly remarkable on your hands. Virginia should win easily against Louisville and Notre Dame to close out the season, and all eyes will be on the Cavaliers come NCAA Tournament time.
NC State
Big, double-digit wins over Boston College and Florida State got the Wolfpack to 20 wins and a firm foothold in the tournament field. The remaining schedule for NC State isn’t too daunting, either; Georgia Tech on the road, then Louisville at home. Assuming a 22-9 regular season, NC State is armed and dangerous and could be a dark horse ACC Tournament contender.
Losers
Florida State
A loss to NC State isn’t a terrible thing. What hurt the Seminoles, though, was the 20 point blowout loss to them in which they allowed 92 points and were down by 19 at the half. 19-9 isn’t a lock to make the tournament, but games against Clemson and Boston College are both very winnable, and the Seminoles, with at least a win or two in the ACC tournament, should have no problem snagging a 9 seed.
Clemson
Ouch. Clemson took another loss to Virginia Tech, but they actually played worse against Georgia Tech at home, a game in which the Tigers were trailing deep into the second half before finally pulling ahead. This team needs to right the ship because the tournament is coming up fast. Games against Florida State and Syracuse should be appropriate tune-ups for the competition that awaits Clemson in the tournament.
Syracuse
The Orange had a tough stretch this week, and it showed. They kept it very close against North Carolina, but the wheels came off against Duke, with Syracuse only scoring 16 points in the first half. A game at BC should be a win, but closing out the regular season against Clemson will be a game of mammoth proportions. A true bubble team, the Orange have to claw their way into the tournament with a couple key wins.
Notre Dame
My Irish lost a heartbreaker against Miami to, for all intents and purposes, eliminate themselves from the tournament. It’s a week of mourning, especially when the death knell is given at Virginia on Saturday. It really is a “what could have been?” season for the Irish. Once ranked #3 with a healthy roster, the Irish succumbed to injury and could never fully recover. Irish fans, don’t lose hope; next year’s recruiting class looks solid, and the tournament should be within reach next season.
Boston College
As has become the norm, BC mirrored ND and has been officially eliminated from the tournament. If only the Eagles had beaten Virginia in December (they lost by just 1 measly point on the road). Two losses on the road this week against NC State and Miami sealed their fate, and the two best business schools in America have watched their stock markets crash together. Sorry, that was brutal, I haven’t taken a business class yet, so bear with me.
Constants
Virginia Tech
A big win over Clemson put the Hokies in a jubilant mood, but they overlooked the home matchup against Louisville and lost by 7 on Saturday. Hopefully, the loss will motivate them to beat Duke at home on Monday. They will need at least one win this week, because the game at Miami is no joke, either. This offense can beat anybody, but 21-10 looks a lot better than 20-11.
Pitt
This is probably lazy writing, but you know the deal with Pitt. It’s not good. It’s historically bad. Let’s forget about it and move on.
Louisville
An impressive victory over Virginia Tech would have made the Cardinals big winners, but the Wednesday 26-point loss to Duke put a damper on the festivities. Thursday presents almost a sure loss against Virginia, but Saturday’s game at NC State is a must-win for the Cardinals. Another true bubble team, this week has a lot riding on it for Louisville (not to mention the recruiting scandal that may or may not include them).
Georgia Tech
Despite the losses, Georgia Tech showed they had something left in the tank this season. They led Clemson in the second half and were only losing to Virginia by 1 at the half. Georgia Tech can play the spoiler (to a point) against NC State, but other than that, there isn’t much to play for. Most losses were close, so a better year next season isn’t out of the question.
Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons actually almost pulled it off against Notre Dame, but came up just short. They got a pity win against Pitt, but we all know that doesn’t really count. It’s possible that they end the season on a high note at Georgia Tech, though both of these teams are just playing for pride.