Parity. It?s a word often used to describe the Atlantic Coast Conference during men?s basketball season.
But this year, the equality from the top to bottom in the ACC perhaps has never been greater. It?s the only conference in the country in which every team has an overall winning record, and 10 of 12 teams are all either over .500 or within a win in conference play.
“Right now, I think the coaches like to think that?s a good thing,” Boston College coach Al Skinner said. “Everybody wants to be in the mix. You like to think you have a chance to end up at the top of the league. Everyone is fighting for the same thing ? having success in the league. Hopefully at the end of the day, the fact that we?ve had some success not only within the league, but without the league, the NCAA will reward us for that.”
Will the conference be showered with invitations to the NCAA Tournament? It?s hard to tell ? at least right now. But if many ACC teams keep alternating wins and losses, the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee may decide the league is not as strong, which could leave several of the conference?s usual contenders without an invitation to the NCAA Tournament.
Duke (17-1 overall, 5-0 ACC), and North Carolina (19-1, 4-1) are perched at the top, followed by Boston College (12-6, 3-2). Clemson, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech are all at 3-3 in the conference, and Miami, North Carolina State, Wake Forest and Maryland are 2-3.
This year, parity exists not only in the standings, but also on the scoreboard ? where many ACC games have come down to the last minute or final possession, as 17 of the first 32 conference games (53 percent) were decided by three points or less or went into overtime.
“It seems like it?s been like that every since I?ve been here,” Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said. “There?s a lot of parity. Maybe this year you see more in terms of the score being close, but you always see the games being hard-fought.”
Maryland (12-8, 2-3) meets last-place Virginia (11-7, 1-4) Wednesday night at 7 at Comcast Center in front of a national television audience on ESPN in a game in which the loser will be in last place. Last year, Maryland opened conference play 3-6, but finished 10-6 in league play and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years.
“It?s so close this year. In my opinion, a lot of the teams that are really close, a lot of games will come down to the wire,” Terrapins coach Gary Williams said. “Nothing is set in stone yet, especially with the closeness of all the games so far. We think [Virginia is] a good basketball team.”
Last year, seven ACC teams made the NCAA Tournament ? only North Carolina advanced past the second round, going to the Elite Eight. Maryland defeated Davidson in the first round before losing to Butler.
Since North Carolina?s championship in 2005, no ACC team has made the Final Four, despite the conference?s 11 combined berths in 2006 and 2007. Including Maryland?s title in 2002, ACC teams have made just four Final Four appearances ? in 30 combined tournament trips ? in six years.
The ACC has entered at least four teams in the tournament since 2000, when Maryland joined Duke and North Carolina as the only entrants from one of the nation?s top conferences.
This year, Duke, North Carolina and Boston College seem like early favorites, despite North Carolina?s recent loss to Maryland and Boston College?s setback to Virginia Tech.
“I think every coach wants to coach on the biggest stage,” Tar Heels coach Roy Williams said. “That?s what the NCAA Tournament is. It?s a reward.”
ACC IN THE NCAA
Teams from the ACC that made the NCAA Tournament in recent years:
» 2007: 7: Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech, UNC, Maryland, Virginia, Virginia Tech
» 2006: 4: Boston College, Duke, UNC, N.C. State
» 2005: 5: Duke, Georgia Tech, UNC, N.C. State, Wake Forest
» 2004: 6: Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland, UNC, N.C. State, Wake Forest
» 2003: 4: Duke, Maryland, N.C. State, Wake Forest
» 2002: 4: Duke, Maryland, N.C. State, Wake Forest
BOLD ? NCAA Champion
Italics ? Final Four
