Why ACC is the toughest conference in basketball NCAA.com

CHAMPS

PRESENTED BY What was it Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton called the ACC the other day? “The best basketball league ever assembled in the history of college basketball.” What was it Boston College’s Jim Christian was saying? “Obviously, the gauntlet of the league never stops.” How was Louisville’s Rick Pitino explaining it? “There’s no longer a bottom. Last year we had a bottom. This year Boston College and Georgia Tech were picked at the bottom, and they’re certainly not bottom teams. They can beat anybody in our conference.” That was after Georgia Tech whipped North Carolina by 12, and before the Yellow Jackets blew past Florida State – the first time in 13 years the Yellow Jackets had victories over two top-10 teams in the same regular season. P.S. In between those wins, they lost by 53 points at Duke. RELATED: 30-12 – ACC record against the Big Ten, SEC and Pac-12. 4-13 – ACC record against the Big East and Big 12. Hmmmm. No. 1 – Duke’s pre-season ranking in both polls, by landslide votes. Tied for 9th – Duke’s current position in the ACC standings. 1 – Starting lineup used by Notre Dame in 21 games this season. After Wednesday night, everyone knows just what he meant. 14.5 – North Carolina’s rebound margin, the best in the nation and the second highest in Division I since 1980. 4 – Ranked teams Louisville played in 15 days in late December and early January. The Cardinals went 2-2, beating Kentucky and Indiana by holding them a combined 51 points under their scoring average – but losing both ACC games. 12-1 – Mike Brey’s record in overtime games at Notre Dame since 2012. 10 – Notre Dame’s losing streak against Virginia. For an Irish victory, you have to go back to 1981, when the Cavaliers center was Ralph Sampson. “A team we’ve had no answers for,” Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said. 13.5 – Syracuse’s average margin of victory in going 4-0 at home in the ACC. 14, 18, 51, 8 – NC State’s margins of defeat in four true road games – before winning at Duke Monday for the first time in 22 years. 6-1 – NC State’s record in games decided by five or fewer points, or in overtime. 8-6 – NC State’s record in everything else. 2 – ACC players averaging more than 20 points a game. They both play for Pittsburgh — Jamel Artis and Michael Young — giving the Panthers the two highest scorers in the league. 25 – Consecutive ACC road losses for Wake Forest until the 93-88 win over NC State last Saturday.

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