March Madness Bracketology 2024: What's at stake in ACC Tournament?
By Scott Roche
![Feb 27, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Sean Pedulla looks to shoot the Feb 27, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Sean Pedulla looks to shoot the](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5285,h_2972,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/233/01hrmbsmdhsmffapre8b.jpg)
This week, the 2024 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament will be held at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. As it currently stands, regular-season champion North Carolina, Duke, and Clemson are all locks for the NCAA Tournament when the brackets are revealed Sunday night. After that, some teams have some work to do this week if they are going to get into the field of 68.
Of course, winning the tournament gets an automatic bid and outside of the three mentioned above, it would solidify another team in the tournament. There are some teams outside of the top two, North Carolina and Duke, who could win the tournament. Here are some teams that have a lot at stake in this week in Washington.
1. Virginia
The Cavaliers were in most of the different bracketology until a couple of weeks ago and a 34-point blowout loss at Virginia Tech last month and then a loss to North Carolina at home have them on the bubble. One win might do it for Tony Bennett's team, but two should do it.
2. Pittsburgh
The Panthers earned the fourth seed and the coveted final double-bye. Three games in three days is more doable than four games in four days for any team. Getting to the championship game would likely mean beating North Carolina in the semifinals and that might be enough to get them in.
3. Syracuse
In most power conferences, 20 wins and 11 in the conference are enough to lock up an at-large bid, but the Orange don't have the best NET ranking. The analytics don't love Syracuse and two wins in Washington might get them in if other results go their way.
4. Wake Forest
Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes has been outspoken about his team's disrespect for the NCAA Tournament, but his team did themselves no favors after getting a huge résumé victory over Duke two weeks ago. Losses at Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, and at home against Georgia Tech all but ended their hopes unless they can win the tournament.
5. Virginia Tech
Somehow, Joe Lunardi has the Hokies as a consideration team, but unless they win the tournament, it's hard seeing them getting in despite their good NET ranking. Virginia Tech has won three in a row and they are just two years removed from winning the ACC Tournament in 2022. Can they do it again?
There are plenty of storylines at stake as the tournament gets underway on Tuesday and there is a lot for several teams to play for. It should be a fun week in Washington.
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