NCAA Basketball ACC Basketball

5 ACC Teams On The 2015 NCAA Tournament Bubble

5 ACC Teams On The 2015 NCAA Tournament Bubble

Syracuse Orange College Basketball
Getty Images

As the midway point of the college basketball season nears, plenty of teams have emerged from the crowd as title contenders. On the other hand, there are a few schools with work left do to before reaching the NCAA tournament in March. Let's take a look at a couple of ACC teams that are currently on the bubble heading into February.

5. Clemson Tigers

Clemson Tigers
Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

5. Clemson Tigers

Clemson Tigers
Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

The Tigers have two top-50 wins against SEC teams, but have yet to earn a big victory in conference play. Clemson is currently 11-8 overall with a 3-4 record in ACC games. The Tigers will likely need to make a deep run in the conference tournament and pull off some upsets if they hope to be in the bracket come March.

4. Miami Hurricanes

NCAA Basketball: Miami Hurricanes
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

4. Miami Hurricanes

NCAA Basketball: Miami Hurricanes
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

The Hurricanes have an impressive 14-5 record (4-2 ACC) and look like a tournament team at this point in the season. Miami's RPI is a solid 37 and the Hurricanes have already defeated two top-50 teams. One of those came against Duke, which should hold weight with the tournament selection committee. As long as the Hurricanes keep it up, they'll be in the field of 68.

3. Pittsburgh Panthers

NCAA Basketball: Pittsburgh Panthers
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

3. Pittsburgh Panthers

NCAA Basketball: Pittsburgh Panthers
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Panthers have been unable to break through and earn that signature win this season. Pittsburgh is 0-5 vs. teams ranked in the RPI top-50 this year, but will have more chances against high-caliber squads down the road. Winning some of these games will help the 12-7 Panthers boost its RPI and enter the tournament discussion.

2. NC State Wolfpack

NCAA Basketball: North Carolina State Wolfpack
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

2. NC State Wolfpack

NCAA Basketball: North Carolina State Wolfpack
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Wolfpack have an impressive strength of schedule (third overall) and a key victory against Duke. However, NC State's record is only 13-8 and the team still has more to prove in the final stretch of the season. The Wolfpack must reach the 20-win plateau to be seriously considered as a tournament team.

1. Syracuse Orange

NCAA Basketball: Syracuse Orange
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

1. Syracuse Orange

NCAA Basketball: Syracuse Orange
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Normally a given in the field of 68, the Syracuse Orange are squarely on the bubble heading into February. Though the Orange are 14-7 overall with five conference wins, those victories came against the bottom-half of ACC competition. Syracuse's best win came against Iowa, who is ranked No. 51 in the RPI standings. It's do-or-die time for Jim Boeheim's group as conference play heats up.

Share Tweet