After being rated as the #1 conference, the real ACC showed up in the NCAA Tournament this weekend.  The names on the front of the uniforms are the same, but don’t tell me the ACC was better than the Pac 10, Big 12 or even the Big East this year.  It wasn’t the same ACC.

I’ve been wondering why it has been considered the top conference for most of the year, and now my pessimism has been turned into realism.

No doubt, that for what ever reason, Duke was a better team two months ago, but coming down the stretch, the ACC has been a one team league.  One.  Besides Carolina, none of these other teams strike fear into their opponent, like “ohhh…here comes the big bad ACC school.”  Not happening.

Clemson made their nifty little run to the ACC tournament final, but were swiftly shown the door at the Big Dance by Villanova, a twelve seed that finished .500 in the Big East.

I was listening to “Prime Time with the Pack Man” on ESPN Radio, and one of the 98 co-hosts was complaining that the ACC was underrated and then blasted the NCAA Selection Committee for minutes on end about how the ACC only received four bids.  Um…hello, wake up call.  The ACC wasn’t very good this year, period.

To get a selection to the Tourney, .500 teams in the ACC have generally been granted immunity - they’re in.  Over the past twenty years, teams that finished at .500 have gotten in about 80% of the time and only twice have teams had over .500 records an not gone dancing - 2000 (Virginia (9-7) and 2006 Florida State (9-7) which both got bounced in their first ACC Tournament game. 

But the idea is to have the best possible at-large teams, not to let teams in because of some unwritten rule; one that should apply in most years, but not be a given right as was the case in ‘07-’08.

Now ACC fans are left to put it all on North Carlolina…unless Miami pulls a shocker today and represents…but they’ll have to knock of Texas, and they kind of seem to be on a mission.   Good luck Canes, you’re gonna need it.  

But using mathematical logic, the top ranked conference should at least have two teams in the Sweet Sixteen right?  So Miami should win then…or not.   - Jesse Jones