ACC Basketball: 2022 conference tournament preview and predictions

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 10: Light depicting the ACC logo shines on the court prior to a game between the North Carolina State Wolfpack and the North Carolina Tar Heels during the Semifinals of the 2012 Men's ACC Tournament at the Philips Arena on March 10, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. North Carolina defeated NC State 69-67. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

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ACC Basketball Paul Atkinson Jr. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

ACC Bracketology

What Happens after Duke?

Bracketology in the ACC is both easy and hard. For Duke, it is easy because they are the only team in the league that is a lock to make the tournament. The only question for the Blue Devils is what seed line will they fall on when the bracket is revealed on Selection Sunday.

During the early bracket reveal the Blue Devils found themselves on the No. 2 seed line and that is the most likely spot for them pending the tournament. Even if they win the tournament, I don’t see Duke making the jump to the top of the bracket without some help in other tournaments. A drop to the No. 3 line is possible but it would take a loss before the conference final in my opinion.

In terms of at-large bids for the conference that’s where things get a little tougher to figure out. Looking at what bracketologists have in store for the ACC, I see no more than three at-large teams making the field.

As it stands now, barring a surprise champion, which given this season is completely plausible, I see North Carolina, Notre Dame, Miami, and Wake Forest battling for three likely spots. No matter how many at-large teams make the tournament, none of them have a very big margin of error and I don’t think we will see any of them as anything higher than a No. 8 seed.