Our first BCS conference preview is the ACC, which has been down for the past few years. It actually hasnt been down at all, but that is the conventional wisdom among national sportswriters. It's an easy answer to a complicated question - how has Virginia Tech won 21 conference games in the past two seasons? Oh, the ACC must be down (snooty ESPN voice)! It's such a strange coincedence, every time the Hokies have a successful season, the ACC is down. It couldn't possibly be that the architecture school from the sticks actually built a competitive program or anything, right? And God forbid they beat Duke or North Carolina again. Its all garbage, of course, but that always leads to a devaluation of their league wins - "Well, they had 9 wins, but the league is DOWN, so its more like 7 or 8 in the old, awesome ACC!" Screw you, national media.
The ACC moved to 12 teams in 2005, and the almost inevitable consequence of expanding beyond 10 teams in a conference is that the 11th and 12th place teams always drag down the overall RPI because - surprise - they lose a lot of games. Somebody has to finish in last place, and it usually means that their computer numbers will be awful. So the 3rd to 5th place ACC teams that usually populated the 25-45 section of the RPI are now popping up in the 40-60 range. The math of conference expansion almost guarantees that, but figuring that out requires a bit of original thought, which is a foreign concept at ESPN.
Keep in mind that we are only previewing who will be on the bubble in the ACC. If your team isn't on the list, they are probably either very good or very bad.
Virginia Tech
We wouldn't have it any other way. America's Bubble Team returns guards Erick Green and Dorenzo Hudson, along with stonehands forward Victor "VicDav" Davila. Forward JT Thompson returns from a torn ACL to provide a spark off the bench. Seth Greenberg's best recruiting class ever - headlined by wing Dorian Finney-Smith - will provide the Hokies with the depth that they lacked last season. Can this be the year they grab a couple big non-conference wins to finally break through to the NCAA Tournament? Most likely it will be another long, tense, bubble season in Blacksburg.
Verdict: Right on the Cutline (Again)
Virginia
There is certainly a void behind the UNC-Duke-Florida State triumverate at the top of the ACC that someone has to fill. Many are picking the Cavaliers to do that, but we are going to take a wait-and-see approach. All-ACC caliber player Mike Scott returns, and coach Tony Bennett probably has a squad capable of executing his deliberate style, but are they talented enough to win road games in this league with regularity? That is what seperates the upper tier of the ACC from the also-rans.
Verdict: Right on the Cutline
Clemson
Oh hey - its that team that didnt win ONE SINGLE GAME against the top-50 of the RPI last year but still made the tournament! Unfortunately for coach Brad Brownell, the Tigers arent much better this year and will be back on the bubble struggling to stay relevant. Devin Booker and Tanner Smith provide veteran leadership, and Brownell's considerable coaching skill should keep them in contention for a bid in a wide-open ACC race.
Verdict: Last/Next Four Out Range
Miami
With the surprising addition of Coach Jim Larranaga and an outstanding backcourt of Malcolm Grant and Durand Scott, things are looking up for the Hurricanes. if Reggie Johnson is fully recovered from his knee injury, Coach L could have a top-25 contender on his hands.
Verdict: 8 or 9 seed in Tournament
NC State
New coach Mark Gottfried welcomes back forward CJ Leslie and some solid frontcourt depth. The Wolfpack could climb up the standings if they get enough scoring from their guards and sneak in some wins against the rest of the ACC logjam in the middle of the standings.
Verdict: Next Four Out/Treading Water
