UNC Basketball: Updating the ACC race with two weeks left

The ACC race is hitting the stretch run with three teams tied atop the standings and just two weeks left. Where does the UNC Basketball program stand after the win over Duke?

With the North Carolina Tar Heels’ big win over Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium on Wednesday, things got a little more interesting atop the Atlantic Coast Conference.

UNC, Duke and Virginia are all 11-2 with just two weeks and five games left in the conference season. The three-way tie atop the standings will make for an interesting final two weeks including round two between UNC and Duke.

As you know in the ACC, there are no tiebreakers for a conference champion.

Teams can split the regular season conference title and tiebreakers will be used for seeding purposes only. The top four teams will get a double-bye in the tournament and open up playing on Thursday, rather than Tuesday or Wednesday.

It’s been a significant advantage for the most part as teams only have to win three games to win it all on a double-bye. Last season, UNC fell out of the Top 4 and ended up having to play an extra game. They did reach the ACC title game before losing to Virginia in the finals.

Here’s a look at the updated standings going into the weekend of Feb. 23:

Double Byes

1. Virginia 12-2 (24-2)

2. Duke 12-2 (24-3)

3. UNC 12-2 (22-5)

4. Virginia Tech 10-5 (21-6)

In the Hunt

5. Syracuse 9-5 (18-9)

6.  Florida State 9-5 (21-6)

7. Louisville 9-6 (18-10)

8. NC State 7-7 (19-8)

Rest of the field

9. Clemson 6-8 (16-11)

10. Boston College 4-10 (13-13)

11.  Miami 4-10 (12-14)

12. Georgia Tech 4-11 (12-16)

13. Wake Forest 3-10 (9-14)

14.  Notre Dame 3-11 (13-14)

15. Pitt 2-12 (12-15)

Let’s take a look at the games this weekend, some of which have a lot of significance for the race to a double-bye.

Games 2/23-2/24

UNC 77, Florida State 59

Virginia 64, Louisville 52

Duke 75, Syracuse 65

Virginia Tech 67,Notre Dame 59

Miami 80, Georgia Tech 65

Clemson 76, Boston College 66

Wake Forest @ NC State (Sunday)

Key games the rest of the season

With two weeks left, there are some big games still looming in conference play including the season-finale in Chapel Hill between Duke and UNC. Here’s a look at some other games down the stretch that will be huge after this weekend:

Tuesday, Feb. 26 — Syracuse @ UNC; Duke @ Virginia Tech

Saturday, March 2 — NC State @ Florida State

Monday, March 4 – Virginia @ Syracuse

Tuesday, March 5 — Virginia Tech @ Florida State

Sunday, March 9 — Duke @ UNC; Louisville @ Virginia.

What UNC needs to do..

The Tar Heels can put themselves in prime position for a double-bye this weekend with a win over Florida State. They would have the tiebreaker over the Seminoles and would be three games up with four to play.

UNC will also host Syracuse on Monday and by winning both games, they would pretty much lock up a double-bye.

As for their conference title hopes, UNC will pretty much need to win out to earn a share. A loss ahead of the Duke finale would be a tough obstacle to overcome. Virginia has a relatively favorable schedule down the stretch and it’s hard seeing them lose a game.

But it is the ACC and anything could happen.

For more on the UNC Basketball program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.