ACC Basketball: NC State hurts team’s at-large chances after upset loss to Boston College

Boston College is having their most successful season in recent memory, but will they be able to keep it up as they continue to advance in the ACC tourney?

From finishing in the bottom two spots of the ACC standings just one year ago, both squads have taken significant strides this season.

Boston College’s second win in two days matches their conference win total from the two previous seasons combined.

NC State has had their fair share of success this year under first-year coach Kevin Keatts and is currently a 9-seed in our updated bracketology.

Today, however, the Eagles were able to better their chances of joining the Wolfpack in the big dance by topping them  91-87

NC State fell apart later after mounting an impressive comeback attempt.

The Wolfpack trailed by as many as seventeen but knotted the score up with four minutes remaining.

NC State was down two with twelve seconds remaining and had the inbound pass stolen. Then proceeded to call a timeout on their next possession when they had none remaining.

The technical foul they were assessed allowed the Eagles to ice the game at the free throw line.

NC State is still safely in

The Wolfpack suffered a few unsightly losses during the season against Northern Iowa, UNC Greensboro, and Georgia Tech, but NC State has too many quality wins to be left watching from home.

Wins against Arizona, Duke, Clemson, North Carolina, and Florida St. gives the Wolfpack a strong resume compared to other bubble teams.

Can Boston College go all the way?

As much as Boston College has improved, I think it’s safe to say the Eagles would need to win the ACC tournament to clinch a tournament birth.

Boston College will face off against Clemson on Thursday, in what looks like another winnable game.

Next: 2018 ACC Tournament Breakdown

The Eagles fell by four in their only meeting with the Tigers this season, but if they can get the same effort from all ACC guards Ky Bowman and Jerome Robinson as today, another upset could be in the cards.

As they say, this is March, and we all know anything can happen.