Well, if we’ve learned nothing else during the NCAA basketball season, it’s that nobody is safe. Top ranked teams have toppled all season furthering the belief that rankings mean absolutely nothing and that none of us have a shot with these brackets we fill out every March. The ACC is loaded with strong teams, but these five schools could be poised to disappoint in the conference tourney.
5. Syracuse Orange
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY SportsThe Orange just have shown the consistency fans expected since they joined the conference. Yes, they played without their coach early, but this team was talented enough to make noise. Don't expect it to get noisier in the tournament.
4. Virginia Cavaliers
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Virginia's got all of the tools. They've got the coach, and fans keep waiting on them, year after year, to take that next step and take control. They just refuse to do it.
3. Miami Hurricanes
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY SportsMiami's beaten the Duke Blue Devils handily and they've gotten undressed by North Carolina. They can hang with anybody; they'd just rather hang out on their home court. They're a different group when forced to play elsewhere.
2. Duke Blue Devils
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY SportsIt may not be fair to call this team a disappointment. They've overcome injuries and some stunning losses to inferior teams early in the season. Expect to see some of the magic run out in the ACC tournament (especially if they draw Notre Dame).
1. North Carolina Tar Heels
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY SportsThis is still the most talented team in the country, but it's hard to believe they can put a winning streak together sometimes. They'll make a deep run, but it will be in that other tournament. They haven't always seemed focused in the ACC version.
