ACC Basketball: 5 biggest questions for rest of 2019-20 season

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 21: Javin DeLaurier #12 and Wendell Moore Jr. #0 celebrate with Alex O'Connell #15 of the Duke Blue Devils after his dunk in the second half of their game against the California Golden Bears at Madison Square Garden on November 21, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

6 of 6

NCAA Basketball. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) /

5. How many NCAA Tournament bids do you expect the ACC to get?

Adler

At a minimum, five bids. At a maximum, seven. So I’ll split the floor and the ceiling and say six. Unless something weird happens, Duke and Louisville are locks. Florida State and Virginia should have no issues making it to March Madness. The fifth invite will go to two of either N.C. State, UNC, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech or Notre Dame. If Cole Anthony returns in strong form, and the Tar Heels generate a respectable record, it will prove tough to keep North Carolina out of the NCAA tourney.

It’s anybody’s guess who else makes the Big Dance, although things will start to become more lucid in the next month or two. What’s already clear is that the 2020 March Madness is going to be an absolute barn-burner, because there are no elite teams throughout collegiate hoops, and the balance from conference to conference, including in the ACC, is top-notch!

Walton

Six. I’m projecting that all four of the currently ranked ACC teams–No. 3 Louisville, No. 4 Duke, No. 16 Virginia, and No. 17 Florida State–to make it to the Big Dance and then two more, NC State and Virginia Tech.

Yes, I am projecting the North Carolina Tar Heels to miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010 and only the second time in Roy Williams’ tenure. With the Anthony injury likely leading to more bad losses for UNC, I’ll take NC State’s high-powered offense and the resume of Virginia Tech–who already have a great win over then-No. 3 Michigan State–to round out the six ACC teams I expect to make the NCAA Tournament.

Darlington

I think the ACC gets seven or even eight bids this season. Louisville, Duke, Virginia, and Florida State are sure bets for bids in my opinion. North Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Pittsburgh have all played like they’ll be on the generous end of the bubble. If an 8th bid is given, I could see Boston College or NC State being the teams to potentially grab it.

Next. Biggest takeaways of the week. dark

Moore

5. Right now I think it’s just six ACC teams that will get in, the obvious front three are Louisville, Duke and Florida State. The next are Virginia and Nc state and then just squeaking in is UNC. It could be as few as 5 if Cole Anthony decides to shut it down completely.