RALEIGH, N.C. — The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is still in the early stages of its season, a fact well understood by N.C. State’s head coach, Kevin Keatts. His team experienced an extraordinary turnaround last year, culminating in an unexpected league tournament championship and a Final Four appearance.
However, this season has not begun in an ideal scenario for the ACC as teams now approach the heart of their league schedule. The conference, which had aimed to secure more bids for the NCAA Tournament, has struggled in nonconference play, resulting in only one team ranked in the AP Top 25. This puts the conference in a challenging position as it heads into 2025, particularly since the opportunities for high-quality victories are still limited.
“You have to focus on the aspects of the game you can control,” Keatts mentioned, just a day prior to his team’s face-off against rival North Carolina, a rematch of last year’s ACC championship. “Analysts are projecting we might only have four bids, with a slim chance for five, but rather than get caught up in that noise, we need to concentrate on winning.”
The ACC’s troubles this season began with a dismal record against other power conferences. As of Friday, the ACC had managed a mere 16 wins against 52 losses when competing against teams from the Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, and Southeastern conferences. This translates to a win percentage of just 23.5%, the lowest among the major leagues, while the SEC leads with a remarkable 59-19 record.
The ACC hit a significant low during the annual interleague competition against the SEC, wherein it suffered a 14-2 defeat. The only bright spots for the conference came from No. 4 Duke’s triumph over No. 2 Auburn, and Clemson’s victory against No. 6 Kentucky.
During Monday’s teleconference, coaches expressed confusion over the disappointing outcomes. Clemson’s coach, Brad Brownell, noted his lack of insight into other teams’ performances, sharing his disappointment about the league-wide results.
The ongoing struggles impact how the conference is perceived, especially as teams focus on enhancing their standings during league play. The ACC currently has six teams within the top 50 of the NCAA’s NET rankings, trailing behind the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12, which could significantly affect selection decisions come March.
“It’s disheartening when results unfold this way, as they shape decisions we must live with for the rest of the year,” remarked Duke coach Jon Scheyer.
This unfortunate downturn occurs at a sensitive time, given that league coaches and officials had been analyzing the factors contributing to the lowest bid totals since the ACC expanded. For the last three seasons, only five bids have been awarded to the conference’s 15-member roster, a situation further complicated this year by the addition of California, Stanford, and SMU.
The ACC maintains a commendable track record in March, with four different teams—Duke, UNC, Miami, and N.C. State—making the Final Four within the last three seasons. Coach Leonard Hamilton of Florida State emphasized the resilience of ACC teams as they consistently remain competitive at the season’s conclusion.
However, past accomplishments don’t influence current bid evaluations, and the priority was to secure significant wins early on—a task now hampered by previous setbacks in the season.
Currently, fourth-ranked Duke (13-2, 5-0) is living up to its expectations as the preseason favorite, evidenced by a dominant 31-point victory against Pittsburgh. Panthers coach Jeff Capel highlighted that the determination of standout player Cooper Flagg sets Duke apart from last year’s squad.
Pitt holds a NET ranking of 20, with UNC (39th), Louisville (40th), and Clemson (41st) positioned as teams likely to build their resumes through quality nonconference victories. This group includes significant wins over ranked opponents, which helps lift their status.
For the rest of the teams, the opportunity for additional Quadrant 1 wins—vital for enhancing an NCAA resume—has diminished. As Keatts pointed out, many upcoming games will feature more Quad 2 matchups, especially at home.
The clear path forward is simple: winning games and hoping that the victories stand the test of time by Selection Sunday. “When you fail to capture wins in essential games against other conferences and follow up with mixed results in nonconference play, it severely impacts your standing,” Keatts stated.
