Is The ACC The Toughest Conference In The Nation?

The ACC and Big 12 are loaded with top teams this season, but is the former the best conference in the nation?

There was once a time that the Duke Blue Devils were thought to be runaway favorites with the Kentucky Wildcats for a spot in the national title game. Coincidentally, this argument halted right around the beginning of conference play, where the Blue Devils have shown their mortality.

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Unluckily for Duke and Mike Krzyzewski, they’re positioned in arguably the toughest conference in America. Currently, seven of the top 25 teams in the USA Today poll come from the ACC. A look at KenPom’s rankings shows that 10 of the top 100 teams come from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Arguably the top defense in the country comes from the ACC in the Virginia Cavaliers. The Louisville Cardinals rank in the top 15 in blocks and top 10 in steals. On the offensive end, Notre Dame is 2nd in the nation in points scored, while UNC is 10th and Duke is 20th. In terms of offensive rating, the Irish top the list at 124.5 points scored per 100 possessions, with Duke 5th, Virginia 14th, and UNC 24th.

Individually, the statistical leaderboards are scattered with ACC players with the likes of Jerian Grant and Jahlil Okafor dominating defenses individually. But you also have players like Marcus Paige, a pre-season All-American, or Montrezl Harrell, who is 16th in win shares, or Anthony Gill, 14th in player efficiency rating. Players like Tyus Jones and Terry Rozier would lead many top schools but play second fiddle to players on their own team, let alone in the conference.

There’s an argument to be made for the Big 12, sure. But it’s unlikely to be a convincing one. The ACC this season is chock full of talented individuals and teams. As of today, six teams sit above .500 in the conference, and that includes a school we haven’t even mentioned in Syracuse.

For years, college football analysts give SEC schools a pass because of how “great and deep” the conference is. They shout that each week top schools battle one another. They’re given the benefit of the doubt when bowl time comes.

This season, the NCAA selection committee must do the same. A team like the Miami Hurricanes, who hold a win over Duke and narrow losses to both Virginia and Notre Dame, should be a lock for the tournament. Yet in Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology, he has them in the play-in game.

We’ve all heard that winning on the road in conference play is never easy. With the ACC this year, winning at home is no small feat either. We’re looking at one of the best conference title races of all-time, folks.

Next: College Basketball: Four Coaches on the Hot Seat

Is The ACC The Toughest Conference In The Nation?

By Jacob Rude | Jan 29, 2015

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