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Bracketology: The fun of college hoops and the Bubble Watch

By Lukas Harkins

Jan 10, 2017; College Park, MD, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Robert Johnson (4) reacts after missing a potential game timing shot as time expires in second half against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center. Maryland Terrapins defeated Indiana Hoosiers 75-72. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2017; College Park, MD, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Robert Johnson (4) reacts after missing a potential game timing shot as time expires in second half against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center. Maryland Terrapins defeated Indiana Hoosiers 75-72. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 10, 2017; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Grayson Allen (3) has the ball knocked away by Florida State Seminoles guard Dwayne Bacon (3) during the second half at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2017; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Grayson Allen (3) has the ball knocked away by Florida State Seminoles guard Dwayne Bacon (3) during the second half at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports /

ACC

Lead-Pipe Lock:

Some Perspiration: Duke, Florida State, Louisville, Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Clemson, Pittsburgh

Better Double-Up on the Deodorant: Miami, Wake Forest, NC State

Duke Blue Devils, 14-3 (2-2): Losing to Florida State is nothing to be ashamed of, but Duke finds itself at .500 in conference play, something that does not happen all that often. Without Coach K, it will be interesting to see how the Blue Devils play, although their tournament hopes are definitely in good shape.  

Quality wins: vs. Florida, vs. Rhode Island, vs. Tennessee State

Bad losses: none.

Missed opportunities: vs. Kansas, @ Virginia Tech

Up next: @ Louisville (1/14), vs. Miami (1/21)

Florida State Seminoles, 16-1 (4-0): It is impossible to say that Florida State has not gone out and earned their top-10 ranking. They tout five wins against the projected tournament field and their only loss came to Temple. Still, after defeating Duke, UNC and ND present entirely new challenges and are both games will be played on the road. FSU has proven they are very capable of beating great teams, but soon enough they have to lose one, right? Right?! 

Quality wins: vs. Florida, vs. Minnesota, vs. Illinois, @ Virginia, vs. Virginia Tech

Bad losses: none.

Missed opportunities: vs. Temple

Up next: @ North Carolina (1/14), vs. Notre Dame (1/18)

Louisville Cardinals, 13-3 (1-2): Even with two losses (both against ranked opponents) since the last installment of the Bubble Watch, the Cardinals are doing just fine. Louisville’s wins are among the best in the nation and that will continue to hold true to form, even if teams like Indiana decline.

Quality wins: vs. Kentucky, vs. Purdue, vs. Wichita State, vs. Indiana

Bad losses: none.

Missed opportunities: vs. Baylor, vs. Virginia, @ Notre Dame

Up next: vs. Pittsburgh (1/11), vs. Duke (1/14)

Virginia Cavaliers, 12-3 (2-2): Now .500 in conference play, the Cavaliers are not as hot as other ACC teams, but are still playing solid basketball. Winning on the road against Louisville was a big victory, but they then turned around and lost their next two games. Nonetheless, the Cavaliers will be in the “lead-pipe lock” section when it becomes available.

Quality wins: vs. Providence, vs. Ohio State, @ Louisville

Bad losses: none.

Missed opportunities: vs. West Virginia, vs. Florida State, vs. Pittsburgh

Up next: @ Clemson (1/14), @ Boston College (1/18)

Virginia Tech Hokies, 13-3 (2-2): Syracuse is a streaky team that was on one of their streaks before running into Virginia Tech on Tuesday night. Despite showing struggles in recent games, the Hokies halted Syracuse’s run back to relevance with a 10-point win. They once again showed why they’re a team to watch in the ACC.

Quality wins: @ Michigan, vs. Duke

Bad losses: none.

Missed opportunities: vs. Texas A&M, @ NC State, @ Florida State

Up next: vs. Notre Dame (1/14), vs. Georgia Tech (1/18)

North Carolina Tar Heels, 14-3 (2-1): After receiving a road scare against Clemson, the Tar Heels took out their anger out on NC State, winning 107-56 in an absolute rout. A trap game approaches (Wake Forest on the road), and North Carolina needs to take care of business before coming back home to face Florida State.

Quality wins: vs. Oklahoma State, vs. Wisconsin, @ Clemson, vs. NC State

Bad losses: @ Georgia Tech

Missed opportunities: vs. Kentucky, @ Indiana

Up next: @ Wake Forest (1/11), vs. Florida State (1/14)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 14-2 (3-0): After losing back-to-back games to Villanova and Purdue earlier in the season, there are nothing but positive things to say about Notre Dame. They have come to play in every game and Bonzie Colson is a machine. A road trip of three straight games is on the horizon though. Going 2-1 would be the mark of a very good stretch.

Quality wins: vs. Northwestern, vs. Louisville, vs. Clemson, @ Pittsburgh

Bad losses: none.

Missed opportunities: vs. Villanova, vs. Purdue

Up next: @ Miami (1/12), @ Virginia Tech (1/14)

Clemson Tigers, 11-4 (1-2): Now losers of back-to-back games against ranked opponents, Clemson will need at least one more marquee win to make their mark on the league. They will also need to snag all the home victories that they can, as it is very difficult to win ACC games on the road. Their next opportunity for one of these marquee wins comes against Virginia on their home floor in a few days.

Quality wins: @ South Carolina, @ Wake Forest

Bad losses: vs. Oklahoma

Missed opportunities: vs. Xavier, vs. North Carolina, @ Notre Dame

Up next: @ Georgia Tech (1/12), vs. Virginia (1/14)

Pittsburgh Panthers, 12-4 (1-2): With wins over Virginia and Maryland, Pitt is in pretty good shape. The team has two pretty bad losses, but their wins have them solidly in the tournament at the moment. Can the Panthers bounce back from their loss to Syracuse and knock off Louisville on the road? That would certainly help.

Quality wins: @ Maryland, vs. Marquette, vs. Virginia

Bad losses: vs. Duquesne, @ Syracuse

Missed opportunities: vs. SMU, vs. Notre Dame

Up next: @ Louisville (1/11), vs. Miami (1/14)

Miami Hurricanes, 11-3 (1-1): Another team coming off a loss to Syracuse (will we see the ‘Cuse join the Bubble Watch soon? Maybe…), Miami’s resume is in need of a marquee win or two. Notre Dame in a couple days would be a viable option, especially considering that the game is at home. A road date with Duke is just under two weeks away.

Quality wins: vs. NC State

Bad losses: @ Syracuse

Missed opportunities: vs. Florida, vs. Iowa State

Up next: vs. Notre Dame (1/12), @ Pittsburgh (1/14)

Wake Forest Demon Deacons, 10-6 (1-3): Losers of three of their last four, the Demon Deacons are not helping themselves. They have no very good wins, and even though their losses have all been respectable, they’re not showing the aptitude to win big games. This will need to change soon, and there is no reason why their next two games (North Carolina and Miami at home) cannot be the difference.

Quality wins: none.

Bad losses: none.

Missed opportunities: vs. Villanova, @ Xavier, @ Northwestern, @ Florida State, vs. Clemson, @ Virginia

Up next: vs. North Carolina (1/11), vs. Miami (1/18)

NC State Wolfpack, 12-4 (1-2): North Carolina State got absolutely embarrassed in their game against UNC, but that does not take away from their solid season. Three of their four losses have come on the road to quality teams. Plus, the ACC contains a surplus of great opponents that can help a resume.

Quality wins: vs. Tennessee State, vs. Virginia Tech

Bad losses: none.

Missed opportunities: vs. Creighton, @ Illinois, @ Miami, @ North Carolina

Up next: @ Boston College (1/11), vs. Georgia Tech (1/15)

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