Joe Lunardi has 4 ACC teams on NCAA Tournament bubble ahead of Selection Sunday
Joe Lunardi is projecting an anxious Selection Sunday for several teams in the ACC.
By all accounts, it was a down year for the conference after it sent 3 teams to the Elite Eight last season. Lunardi currently projects 5 ACC teams to make the field of 68 with 2 more squads expected to miss out.
Pittsburgh and NC State are 2 of Lunardi’s “last four in.” He has both the Panthers and the Wolfpack headed to Dayton to participate in the play-in round.
The news for Clemson and North Carolina isn’t as good. Lunardi projects both the Tigers and Tar Heels to miss the NCAA Tournament altogether.
On Friday, Lunardi spoke at length about Clemson’s NCAA Tournament résumé. The Tigers did very well in the ACC this season, but their nonconference strength of schedule ranks outside of the top 300 nationally. Lunardi says a bubble team has never earned an at-large berth with a nonconference strength of schedule ranked that low.
North Carolina was arguably the most disappointing team in the country this season. The Tar Heels are expected to miss the NCAA Tournament despite being ranked preseason No. 1.
Duke, Miami and Virginia are safely into the field of 68, per Lunardi.
The full bracket will be revealed at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday evening.