ACC Nation

Bracketologist Jason Carmello of Big-Underdog joins Will and Jim for a look at his latest bracket. Carmello shares why teams are performing and under-performing as conference championship tournaments approach. He also shares some teams that you’ll want to hear about before you begin building your bracket for the NCAA Tournament. Looking For A Past Episode? Look No Further. Duke has moved into the top spot in the latest AP Top 25 and grabs the No. 1 seed among 4 great teams who all bring something unique to the game. Virginia is a No. 4 seed in Carmello’s latest projection and indicates that new coach Ryan Odom has created a program that has surprised many with the speed in which it has come to fruition. North Carolina continues to hang in there despite many potholes along the way and the Tar Heels are a No. 6 seed. Basketball NC State, Miami, Louisville, SMU, Clemson, Virginia Tech and Cal are all part of the conversation but not everyone is lined up to close the deal. Find out who Carmello believes may have a hard time locking up a tournament bid. On the positive side he shares his thoughts on teams and new coaches that are knocking on the door and should not be overlooked next season. Want More Basketball? Be sure to follow Big Underdog on X and we’ll have Jason on again as we get closer to the NCAA Tournament. Subscribe to ACC Nation podcast and follow us on YouTube. We’re also available on streaming radio. Will has basketball and more on TikTok, be sure follow ACC Nation there as well.

Will Ojanen @WillsWorldMN - (Podcast) Perhaps the biggest surprises in basketball didn't come on the court in day two. Schools, conferences and the NCAA began adjusting to a new normal prompted by the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic. I recorded this podcast late last night so there is a high likelihood of more changes in this fast-moving story. Let's jump right into my review of the games in round two of the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament. Here's a look at the final scores - Clemson 69 Miami 64NC State 73 Pitt 58Notre Dame 80 Boston College 58Syracuse 81 North Carolina 53 Though, according to the ACC website, that score for the final game on the list was in an alternate universe. Must have been a North Carolina intern/grad entering the numbers. Day Two What's Going On? Keep Up With ACC Nation Radio. What's on today's schedule? Will there be a schedule? *Editor's Note: Commissioner John Swofford confirmed play of games earlier this morning. I take a look at the upcoming games and share my picks for Thursday's action at the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament. Day Three Clemson - Florida StateNC State - DukeNotre Dame - VirginiaSyracuse - Louisville The talk of the town (at least in Raleigh) has been, will the Wolfpack make it to the NCAA Tournament? A win against Duke would surely get them past the 'Last Four In' category but the big question still remains. Will there be an NCAA Tournament? We'll wait it out like everyone else and share that with you on Twitter @accnation as soon as we hear. Have You Subscribed To ACC Nation Podcast Yet?

Will Ojanen @WillsWorldMN - Were there any surprises in day one of the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament? If there's one thing we all know for sure, the further we get into the match-ups the more likely there will be some surprises. It is ACC basketball after all. Join me for this quick podcast as I run down the performances and outcomes of Tuesday night's games. Then, I'll delve into today's games with my previews and picks. On the schedule today - Miami - ClemsonPitt - NC StateBoston College - Notre DameNorth Carolina - Syracuse Best Whiskeys In ACC Nation....Well, Almost Day one is in the bag, day two is underway and the best is yet to come. Are You Listening To ACC Nation Radio?

Will Ojanen @WillsWorldMN - Here we are at the end of the regular season. Who would've thought we'd still be battling it out for the ACC title at this point? All those games that have been won and those that have been lost are being stacked up and compared. It starts with the regular season title, moves into seeding for the ACC Tournament and impacts teams' NCAA NET rankings, too. Are there teams that are still sitting on the edge of a cliff when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. Who do I think may be headed to the NIT? How about the CBI and what benefits will come from extended season play? This is the end of my regular season Will's Weekend Preview but there's a whole lot of basketball left to cover. Let's think of this as a new beginning instead of the end. Explaining The NET - Will's World Time to look at who's playing this weekend and I'll share my picks for each game. Won For The Road There are two games on the schedule for this evening (Friday, March 6). Georgia Tech @ ClemsonWake Forest @ NC State The Yellow Jackets wrap up their season as they've decided not to pursue challenging their NCAA post-season ban. Danny Manning and buy-out negotiations with Wake Forest are underway. The Wolfpack are in or they aren't, depending on who's bracket you look at so this is a must win for NC State. Wrapping Up The Season What match-ups are on the schedule for Saturday, March 7? Virginia Tech @ Notre DameLouisville @ VirginiaSyracuse @ MiamiBoston College @ Florida StateNorth Carolina @ Duke The Irish gave the Seminoles a challenge earlier. Can the Hokies give Notre Dame a run on their home court? Find out where I think these two teams are headed for the post-season. If things break the right way the Cavaliers could share the regular season title. Who saw that coming? Can the Cardinals overcome the Virginia home court advantage? Have You Listened? ACC Nation Radio Miami gave Virginia a run for their money earlier in the week. What strange thing happened that led to the Cavaliers win? How could Syracuse go to the NCAA Tournament? Do I think it will happen? Boston College heads south for a head to head with Florida State who looks like a lock on the regular season ACC title. Is it time to move on from Jim Christian? The Seminoles haven't lost at home this season. That should answer any other questions you might have. Spit, No Shine Wrapping up the season what would usually be the Tobacco Road highlight doesn't have the same shine. But, as usual when North Carolina and Duke go at it in Cameron, there'll be plenty of spit. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @WillsWorldMN.

Will Ojanen @WillsWorldMN - (Podcast) The final weekend? Hold on there, there's more ACC basketball on the way but that final weekend is coming soon. You can almost hear the countdown clock ticking away. I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that the ACC and NCAA Tournaments are coming at us fast. The bad news is that the true end of the season is only a week away after this, the penultimate weekend. That means there's just two weeks of basketball left for some teams. So if you're a fan of one of those teams enjoy it while it lasts. There's always next year, right? In my short form podcast I'll get you up to speed on how teams stack up in the ACC standings. There are some very interesting finishes. Shocking and pleasant surprises would sum it all up. Creme Of The Crop - The Q View This weekend action begins on Saturday with Pitt at NC State. The Wolfpack absolutely need a win here to just sneak into the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers have been cold but will the trip down south warm them up? Find out who I pick. Countdown Florida State heads to Clemson. Is Leonard Hamilton an ACC COY candidate? The Seminoles and Tigers should keep it close to make it interesting. Syracuse is off the bubble but they can make some hay with the tournament. The Orange host North Carolina and the Tar Heels will continue to struggle. The countdown is on for Syracuse getting into post-season play. Notre Dame faces off with Wake Forest after the Demon Deacons knocked off Duke. Is this a let-down game? The Irish can help make their post-season a bit more interesting with a win here and some fireworks in the conference tournament. ACC Nation Radio - Listen Now! Will's Weekend Preview Podcast Duke, oh Duke. What's going on with this team especially on the road? The Blue Devils head to Virginia where the Cavaliers have suddenly found their offense. They'll need a stellar performance to knock off Duke. Join me on HotMic as I provide commentary on this game. Listen for details. Miami and Georgia Tech put two question marks together. The answer? This could be a close game all the way but I'll pick the Yellow Jackets to close it out with a win. Virginia Tech has been on a slow, cold roll and will have to deal with Louisville at the Yum Center. It will be tough weekend for the Hokies.

Jim Quist @ACCTheQ - (Podcast) Well, that was fast! A quick four months worth of ACC women's basketball has brought us to the end of the regular season. Greensboro looms on the horizon. The ACC Tournament is one week away and it could very well hold post-season hopes for a number of teams. Who are those teams? I'll take a look at Charlie Creme's Bracketology and more to find out who is the ACC's Creme of the Crop in this short version podcast. Before I get into the teams and their seeding it's a great time to look at the conference's stat leaders. These are some of the players that help make or break seasons. Like, the senior that averaged just shy of 20 points a game over the season to lead the ACC. Will she be going to the NCAA Tournament? Speaking of shooters. From field goals to free throws I list the top conference players in those categories. I'll share the top 5 offensive and defensive teams, then look at the margin to see which teams put it all together this year. ACC Nation 2020 Fantasy Tourney Creme Of The Crop The NCAA is still using the RPI to help determine post-season play. I have a look at the teams that are ranked. Is there an easy answer as to why one ACC team isn't seeded? Then, the latest college women's basketball bracketology. I'll share the ACC teams that are seeded plus where they are projected to play in the NCAA Tournament. What ACC teams did Charlie Creme pick to be in his last four in and his next four out? Can they lock in a spot as regular season play winds down? The countdown begins to the ACC Women's Basketball Tournament, March 4-8. Virginia Women ACC Swim Dive Champs

At this time of year there's more sports than you can shake a stick at, but never fear, that's why we're here. All you need to do is pick your poison. Up front we run down conference sports news which includes three ACC Championships. You can read more about them in our Sports News section. Want to know how teams rank? We've got the numbers for gymnastics, ice hockey, indoor track and field, tennis, wrestling, softball and lacrosse. Of course you'll want to know the latest when it comes to rankings. We'll have an update on the podcast/radio or here on the site each week. When it comes to basketball the rankings, ratings and brackets are becoming essential reading. If that's what you're looking for we'll share them with you on the website and talk about them each week in special podcasts and our regular episodes. You can catch all of the latest on ACC Nation Radio available 24/7. Pick Your Poison A huge weekend for men's college basketball as 35 games were decided by 3 points or less or in overtime. What might that mean for this week's rankings? Will it change how the brackets lay out? Will and Jim take a look at this weekend's ACC games and share their thoughts. Virginia's offense is beginning to emerge and Will says, the Hoo's are peaking at the right time. The Cavaliers with a win over Pitt but they still haven't found their closing kill skills. Florida State and NC State dish up a tale of two halves. A solid road win for the Seminoles but the question is, did it hurt the Wolfpack? We'll see this week in the updated brackets North Carolina gets mowed down by Louisville. Jim asks Will, 'what the heck is going on at Chapel Hill'. The guys discuss Cole Anthony staying another year at North Carolina as opposed to going pro. When it comes to the Cardinals, what's up with their roller-coaster performances? Georgia Tech can't pull off the win after putting a scare into Syracuse in the first half. Questions still abound with the appeal of sanctions by the Yellow Jackets. Far too many fouls. The water boys take home a few. Charge Or Flop? A quick look at the women's NCAA RPI. Which ACC teams are looking at a post-season run? We'll have Charlie Creme's latest bracketology this week. Clemson picks up a nice win on the road against Boston College. Is Jim Christian in or out? Duke lays wood on Virginia Tech after their embarrassement at NC State. The Hokies couldn't stem the Blue Devils offense. Find out who Will thinks could be the ACC Offensive Player of The Year. Notre Dame takes advantage of Miami for a home court win. The Canes appear to be in a tail-spin. Are the Irish an NIT team? The 'Coach K Post-Game Handshake Conspiracy'. Pick your poison. Mowing down Krzyzewski in a bathroom....'charge or flop'?

Jim Quist @ACCTheQ - (Podcast) The intensity of ACC men's basketball is about to take a few steps forward on the scale. And from a fan's perspective that's a great thing. We're about to see what teams are made of, what coaches are actually earning their salaries and just how much patience we'll have down the stretch. So, here we go with a little man to man on team performances. The Q View on this weekend's games and my picks as Will takes a weekend off. Looking back on the week's matchups there have been some head scratchers. Boston College continues to be the conference's 'home wrecker' and Eagles head coach Jim Christian offers the perfect quote for the week. How exactly do the words, bald, choke, Hee Haw and clover apply to North Carolina? Got a few minutes? Give a listen and you'll find out. While you're at it, be sure to subscribe to the podcast or listen to ACC Nation Radio. Leonard Hamilton appears to have a team that could make a deep run this year. Add a freshman forward to the plate when serving up threats that the Seminoles can deliver. Man To Man Jim Boeheim serves up some more cray-cray by accusing a well known ratings service of saying bad things about his boy. Uhm, no. It made one of our friends happy, though. The trials and tribulations of Georgia Tech and Wake Forest all in one place. Is it too much to handle? Are the offensive struggles of the reigning national champs finally come to an end? I never realized that Blacksburg was spelled with an 'o' and a 't'. PNC is Duke's woodshed. The Pack recover from their earlier misfortunes. The Q View - Weekend Schedule and Picks Some quick takes and my picks to win in head to head matchups this weekend across the ACC. Virginia @ Pitt*Must Watch Florida State @ NC StateNorth Carolina @ LouisvilleGeorgia Tech @ SyracuseClemson @ Boston CollegeVirginia Tech @ DukeMiami @ Notre Dame Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn. Look for @accnation. Subscribe to our podcast or listen to ACC Nation Radio (links above) on your favorite platform. Jim Quist is Managing Editor of ACC Nation and Co-Host of ACC Nation Podcast. He’s a member of NSMA (National Sports Media Association), FWAA (Football Writers Association of America) and USBWA (U.S. Basketball Writers Association). He holds a Beer Brewer Professional Certificate from the University of Richmond. Follow him on Twitter @ACCTheQ.

At the mid-point of the season it looked as if ACC men’s basketball had re-emerged while the women were not quite up to snuff. Never, ever judge a book by it’s cover applies liberally in this instance. The conference women are demonstrating their prowess with North Carolina, Notre Dame, Virginia, Louisville and Duke all moving forward in the NCAA Tournament. Stanford and Cal have moved into the Quarterfinals of the WBIT with wins over Quinnipiac and Kansas State respectively. Listen To More ACC Nation Podcasts As for the men’s side only one team moves on in the NCAA Tournament and the door has been shut in the NIT for conference teams. Duke moves into the Sweet 16 with a win over TCU and will face St. John’s who nipped Kansas, 67-65. Basketball It’s been an amazing post-season run of basketball for both men and women with more than a fair share of close games, overtimes and upsets. You wouldn’t expect anything less at this time of year. Will and Jim take a look at a number of ACC teams and others playing for titles. The scores, some analysis and thoughts on how teams have and how they may perform moving forward. Listen, like and subscribe to ACC Nation podcast. The program is available on streaming radio and you can watch on our YouTube channel.

Will and Jim have more than one NCAA bracket to take a look at on this episode of ACC Nation. The guys start out with the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament and take a look at more than just the ACC teams that received bids. You’ll hear about the matchups that stand out and should offer some exciting action. The big question is, can anyone take out the No. 1 seed, UConn? Coach Geno has yet another monster of a squad that has proven themselves all year long. NCAA Printable Bracket – Women’s Next up is the NIT where we find both Wake Forest and California grabbing spots that may further fine-tune their potential for next season. There’s more than a handful of No. 1 seeds to worry about in this NCAA bracket. Will and Jim point out some teams that you should go out of your way to watch as action gets underway. NIT Printable Bracket NCAA Bracket When you talk about an NCAA bracket you’re sure to grab attention when you start in with the men. It’s a bit of a brutal setup that doesn’t appear to open up any easy doors to the championship game. You want it? You’re going to have to really work hard for it this year. NCAA Printable Bracket – Men’s There are several teams in both the men’s and women’s tournaments that will have to ‘earn’ it with play-in games. On the men’s side, NC State and SMU have challenging foes to face in Texas and Miami (OH). If they make it to the second game they’ll be in for battle. On the women’s side, Virginia won’t have an easy play-in with Arizona State and that second game will be nasty. With all sports, if you want it, ‘earn it’. We’ll soon see which teams have the goods and can deliver. It’s a free ride to subscribe to ACC Nation Podcast so come join us on your favorite platform or watch us on YouTube. We’re also available on ACC Nation Radio streaming 24/7 for ACC sports fans around the world.

Megan Gauer, Bracketologist with HerHoopStats.com joins Will and Jim to talk women’s basketball. We take a broad look at teams from across all conferences that Gauer projects getting bids to the NCAA Tournament. Conference tournaments tossed in some curves with No. 1 seeds moving around at the last moment and it didn’t stop there. ACC Baseball | Jackets Tops, ‘Hoos Enter Top 25 We look at teams that added to their resumes at the end of the season and during conference tournaments that may have moved them into more secure spots. We’ll find out soon as the selection committee lays it all out for us on Sunday, March 15. We’ll follow that up on Monday with our thoughts and analysis. Women’s Basketball How does ACC women’s basketball stack up this season? The conference is right behind the Big Ten and SEC when it comes to numbers and there are teams that are coming into their own at the right time. ’26 ACC Wrestling Championship | Hokies Dominate As always, Will asks, ‘who are the Cinderella teams’? Gauer has one or two up her sleeve that you may want to make note of when filling in your own brackets. Follow us on YouTube, subscribe to our podcast and listen to us on streaming radio for more ACC sports.

Who came away from a hard fought overtime game to win the women’s ACC Basketball Tournament? Will and Jim have the answer. Close games, fights to the finish and a wild ride in the title game but what more would you expect? Up next for teams it’s the NCAA women’s basketball tournament selection reveal on Sunday, March 15 at 8pm ET on ESPN. The First Four play March 18-19 with the First and Second Rounds March 20-23. When it comes to the NCAA Tournament ACC basketball is projected to have 9 teams in by Charlie Creme at ESPN. Clemson is among his Last 4 Byes, Virginia the Last 4 In and just missing the cut is Stanford. The ACC will be without two men’s coaches following their release this weekend. Boston College and Georgia Tech are moving on while the rumor mill is stirring up news about Pitt. ACC Basketball Will and Jim go over the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament Schedule that kicks off on Tuesday, March 10 at 2pm ET with No. 10 Stanford taking on No. 15 Pitt. The winner will face off with No. 7 NC State. Other First Round games include No. 11 SMU and No. 14 Syracuse and No. 12 Virginia Tech taking on No. 13 Wake Forest. The winners of those games face an uphill battle as they will take on No. 6 Louisville and No. 5 Clemson. Teams receiving byes and not playing until the Quarterfinals are No. 1 seed Duke, No. 2 seed Virginia, No. 3 seed Miami and No. 4 seed North Carolina. How are ACC softball and baseball teams fairing in the latest Top 25’s? Not too badly. Find out where you favorite team stands by subscribing and listening to the podcast, watch us on YouTube or choose streaming radio.

Looking for a good counter to the groundhog’s prediction? ACC Nation podcast with Will and Jim take a look at the heat being generated by men’s basketball as we head into the short month of mayhem. Brackets are out (men) (women), the NET Rankings are taking on new meaning and teams are bringing out the grindstone as they target favorable seedings in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. Not Subscribed? It’s Easy As 1-2-3. This is possibly the last chance for teams to deliver the goods. On this episode of the podcast we look at men’s and women’s hoops, breakdown the extra football games (and interesting locations) that ACC teams will have this year and take a look at the preseason men’s and women’s lacrosse polls where Syracuse (men) sit at No. 2 and North Carolina (women) are at No. 1. Podcast The crossover from Winter to Spring sports is already underway with softball beginning this week and baseball in two weeks. There are three ACC Championships scheduled for this month – Swimming and Diving, February 15-21, Fencing, February 21-22 and Indoor Track and Field, February 26-28. In the front end of March we’ll have the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament, ACC Wrestling and then the Men’s Basketball Championship. Now, let’s see what we can do about those extra six weeks of nasty weather the groundhog is forecasting. ACC Nation podcast is available on your favorite platform, you can listen on streaming radio and also watch us on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe and follow us on social media including; Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, Facebook, Reddit, Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads and LinkedIn.

ACC Nation podcast with Will and Jim wraps up the football season with a look at the Miami CFP Championship run, transfer portal action, the final Top 25’s and ACC players in the first round of the NFL Mock Draft at this point. Tip of the hat to Pitt’s Olivia Babcock, a spectacular volleyball player who has won the Honda Sport Award for the sport and it’s her second straight season as the top finisher. Podcast The NCAA’s Andy Katz is projecting 8 ACC men’s basketball teams to make the tournament this year. That’s a significant improvement over the last few years. Katz has a No. 1 seed, a No. 4 seed, a No. 5 seed, two No. 6 seeds, two No. 8 seeds and a team playing in at No. 11. This episode of the podcast looks at the latest NCAA NET Rankings for men and women, recent games and how Quadrant 1 action can make or break teams across the board. Listen, like and subscribe now to ACC Nation podcast, be sure to catch us on Streaming Radio and also watch us on our YouTube channel.

What might it feel like living in 1970? On this episode of ACC Nation podcast we’re joined by special guest David Doda, a member of the Wake Forest football team that won their first conference championship since the school had helped form it in 1953. History books looking at 1970 are filled with things like the Vietnam war, the Beatles breaking up, Joe Frazier becoming the World Heavyweight Champion in boxing and the movie M*A*S*H premiering among others. But, in Winston-Salem a group of young men who were dismissed by sportswriters of the time came together under Coach Cal Stoll for a journey they’ll never forget and Doda shares his memories in his book, No Offense, No Defense, No Hope. Podcast The road to victory is seldom as smooth as imagined. The struggles as players, as young men living in a troubled world and personal loss often helps forge lasting relationships. Having an old school coach that holds your feet to the fire builds comradery and focuses you on things at hand rather than the whirling dervish outside of campus. Baseball | Preseason Top 25. Good For What Exactly? Doda’s book is available at Amazon and is a fascinating read for anyone who is into college football, interested in history and especially for Wake Forest alumni and fans. For more ACC sports follow us on ACC Nation podcast by subscribing, listen to us on ACC Nation streaming radio or watch each episode on our YouTube channel. Scroll to the top of the homepage and connect with us on social media.

Who among you had an ACC team in the CFP Championship game? ACC Nation podcast with Will Ojanen and Jim Quist take a look at Miami and their journey to the title game. Don’t let anyone tell you that the conference is weak or unable to compete against the assumed powerhouses because it’s obviously not true. With financial incentives being spread far and wide among college teams parity is kicking in and what once was is no longer. The guys jump into ACC men’s and women’s basketball. The men’s side has fallen on hard times the last few years but there is clearly a re-emergence underway and more teams than ever fighting for a spot in the top tier. The women have carried the prestige of the conference during the men’s falling off and at the beginning of the season experience their own stumble. It now appears as if they too are rising like the Phoenix. Podcast There’s no better time to begin a hot streak than now and through the ACC tournament. Teams need to collect, as they point out on the podcast as many Q1 wins (or even losses if it’s close) to improve their NCAA NET rankings (men – women). If you’re looking for ACC sports then be sure to subscribe to ACC Nation podcast, listen to our streaming radio or watch our YouTube channel. Get on board as the basketball train starts picking up steam.

What will it take for ACC basketball teams to make it to the Big Dance? ACC Nation podcast with Will and Jim take a look at both men and women as they’ve reached the midway point of the season. It isn’t all about adding Quadrant 1 wins and having a comfy ranking in the NCAA NET. Those wins are important but staying away from Q3 and 4 losses may be even more critical when the committee looks at the 37 At-Large Bids later this year. Of course, you could always shoot for winning the conference and get an Auto-Bid. The guys look at the most recent wins and losses, how they impact the overall conference and why some records at this point in the season aren’t all they’re made out to be. Podcast We’ve got the latest Wooden Award Midseason Watchlist players from the ACC, a look at some individual and team stats, the conference standings and those sweet, sweet NET numbers for all of you stat fiends. Basketball | ACC Working On A Good Thing In ’26 Be sure to visit our social media pages for special content, subscribe to the podcast, listen to streaming radio and jump on board our YouTube page.

Who gets lit up on the first ACC Nation podcast of 2026? Will and Jim talk conference football bowl performances, the transfer portal, changes in personnel (on and off the field) and wrap with an update on men’s and women’s basketball. Needless to say, you want the truth? You can’t handle the truth! Find out who gets torched. Thousands of Division I football players hit the Transfer Portal and for some it was a good decision. For far too many it wasn’t. Why? Welcome to the new reality of college sports. This ain’t your daddy’s turf anymore and those who aren’t treating it like the business that it is are destined for a rough landing. Podcast As Will and Jim discussed with Jason Carmello of Big Underdog the ACC men’s basketball picture is looking much better than it has in years. Can a couple of teams still trip up and face-plant on the court? Some seem to be working on it but it’s just the beginning of non-stop conference play. One request…don’t horse this up for everyone else in the conference if you want to crap the bed. Ready for a fun ride into the tournaments? We’ve got it for you along with some great guests over the weeks to come. Subscribe to the podcast and/or YouTube and listen on streaming radio. Don’t forget. We have exclusive content on social media and all of the aforementioned outlets. Jump on board!

With over a month and a half of (essentially) non-conference ACC men’s basketball under our belts who would have thought things would be looking up as much as they are? Special guest, Jason Carmello, the wizard behind Big-Underdog bracketology says there’s much to be happy with when it comes to the conference this season. ACC men’s basketball over the past few years has been less than stellar and pundits have been declaring an early death for the conference. Well, it appears that the slumber is over. Duke, Louisville, North Carolina and Virginia all hold spots in the latest Top 25’s. What might be even more telling is the teams that are getting attention and it’s a long list. Clemson, Cal, Notre Dame, Miami, SMU, Virginia Tech, NC State and if consistency jump into the mix then Wake Forest and Syracuse will be there, too. Basketball In Carmello’s first bracket of the season 8 ACC teams find a spot with four more just on the cusp. That’s simply the Phoenix rising. Yes, it’s an early projection but there’s far more stats to work with this season than in years past. All good signs. With a quick listen or watching ACC Nation on YouTube you’ll find out why we spend less time talking when Carmello joins us to talk basketball. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast, listen to us on streaming radio and watch on YouTube.

What’s up on this week’s ACC Nation podcast? Will and Jim look at the ACC Football Championship game between Virginia and Duke and are somewhere around 98% on the positivity regarding the performances of both teams. We don’t think most of you have any doubt about what we’re referring to in our headline. Yeah, the guys have opinions. The rundown of all the bowl games and how the matchups look plus thoughts on Miami vs. Texas A&M in the CFP. If teams bring it there will be plenty to talk about when all is said and done. That includes the huge impact on drawing portal players and recruiting will have on programs if they go full tilt. Podcast If you stand back a little you’ll see some improvement in ACC men’s basketball this season and it’s very encouraging. What was once a shining star for the conference has lost some luster over on the women’s side. A solid start has ended up being a mess. What’s happening? There’s no simple answer but a closer inspection is warranted. Subscribe to the podcast, listen to streaming radio or watch ACC Nation on YouTube.