Busting Brackets
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Bracketology Bubble Watch: Where do fringe tournament teams stand?

By Lukas Harkins

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 15: A general view of the court with March Madness signage is seen prior to the start of the game between the OklahomaSooners and the Rhode Island Rams in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 15: A general view of the court with March Madness signage is seen prior to the start of the game between the OklahomaSooners and the Rhode Island Rams in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – JANUARY 29: North Carolina State Wolfpack. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – JANUARY 29: North Carolina State Wolfpack. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

Atlantic Coast Conference

Lead-pipe lock: Virginia (1), Duke (1), North Carolina (2), Louisville (3), Virginia Tech (4)

Firmly in the field: Florida State (7)

Some perspiration: NC State (9), Syracuse (9)

Double the deodorant: Clemson (S4O).

Florida State Seminoles (15-5, 3-4 ACC)

NET: 33 | KPI: 29 | SOR: 26 | BPI: 24 | KP: 26 | Sag: 24

Q1: 2-4 | Q2: 4-1 | Q3: 4-0 | Q4: 5-0

Florida State did not do all that much to change their positioning in the projected field during this past week. Already highly rated in regards to seeding, the Seminoles are pretty safely in the field and they proved that in a double-digit road victory over Miami (FL). Now, with three of their next four games coming at home, Florida State should be able to move up significantly. They might not quite be a lock yet but, with how weak the bubble is, it will happen sooner rather than later.

NC State Wolfpack (16-5, 4-4 ACC)

NET: 25 | KPI: 68 | SOR: 31 | BPI: 19 | KP: 27 | Sag: 26

Q1: 1-4 | Q2: 5-0 | Q3: 1-1 | Q4: 9-0 

NC State split their games during this past week but it is hard to say that they really dropped. This is due to the fact that their one loss, despite coming at home, also was to one of the top teams in the country in the Virginia Cavaliers. Oh, and it went to overtime. From an eye test perspective, NC State definitely passed. With that said, though, the loss is still a loss for a team that lacks high-quality wins on the year. With four of their next five games coming against KenPom top-50 teams, it is time to find out if the Wolfpack are for real or if they are just pretending.

Syracuse Orange (15-6, 6-2 ACC)

NET: 45 | KPI: 32 | SOR: 41 | BPI: 30 | KP: 39 | Sag: 31

Q1: 2-2 | Q2: 4-2 | Q3: 4-2 | Q4: 5-0

Syracuse lost its first road game of the entire season during this past week while getting obliterated by Virginia Tech. And while this is far from a crushing loss, the performance was not their best. Thankfully, the Orange will able to respond and weather a tough road crowd in their following game by taking down Boston College. This win over the struggling Eagles was a big one, though, because Syracuse did not “let Virginia Tech beat them twice.” Syracuse splitting their games this week keeps them in strong NCAA Tournament position.

Clemson Tigers (12-8, 2-5 ACC)

NET: 54 | KPI: 56 | SOR: 57 | BPI: 39 | KP: 45 | Sag: 39

Q1: 0-7 | Q2: 4-1 | Q3: 3-0 | Q4: 5-0 

Despite the fact that Clemson is well below .500 in conference play and completely lacks a Quadrant 1 win, I believe that they are still in the NCAA Tournament conversation. The Tigers are rated quite highly by all metrics (in comparison to their actual resume) and therefore just need the wins to go dancing. And considering they still have matchups with Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Boston College, and Notre Dame left on the schedule, it is not out of the question for Clemson to start piling up some wins. Out for now, but maybe not for long.

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