The ACC sent five teams to the NCAA Tournament but needed a conference tournament championship run from NC State in order to hit that mark. The 2024 edition of March Madness signals the third-straight postseason in which the proud league saw just five squads land in the bracket, extending a concerning trend after decades of dominance. Following Duke’s win over Vermont, though, the ACC completed the first round at 4-1, including a Wolfpack upset victory.
That early-tournament success, NC State coach Kevin Keatts said after his triumph over No. 6-seed Texas Tech, indicates that the conference should have received more bids on Selection Sunday. Given his league’s strong start to the postseason and the SEC’s relative struggles, Keatts’ argument may have credence.
“Think about this, now,” said Keatts. “You got 10 great programs and great coaches that are sitting at home that didn’t get a chance to go to the NCAA. And that’s just not really fair. Like, the ACC is — in my opinion, I’m very biased — the No. 1 conference in basketball, and we deserve more.”
North Carolina earned the West Region’s No. 1 seed to headline the ACC’s five tournament teams. Duke secured a No. 4 seed, Clemson landed on the No. 6 line, NC State slotted onto the No. 11 line and Virginia squeaked into the field as one of the First Four participants. But even with four of those teams reigning victorious this week, Keatts said the league’s success is unlikely to resonate with the selection committee.
“The unfortunate thing is it doesn’t really send a message,” said Keatts. “I mean, I hate it because you look at the magical run that we had last year from some of our teams, and I think we tried to tap down on that a little bit this year going into Selection Sunday, and it didn’t work. I think as a conference we gotta figure it out.”
If impressive March Madness winning percentages and deep tournament runs do not cause the selection committee to give the ACC the benefit of the doubt, stringing together stronger regular-season résumés is one of the only things in the conference’s power that can elevate its status come March.
“Now, we have to do our part,” said Keatts. “If the non-conference is what it’s about, then as coaches we gotta win more games, or we all have to figure out the NET. And some people figured out the NET and we haven’t, but I guess winning would solve a lot of problems. But I just think it’s disappointing because I would love to see more kids get an opportunity.”
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NC State returns to action Saturday when it meets a Cinderella hopeful in No. 14-seed Oakland, which toppled Kentucky in the first round. North Carolina opens the ACC’s second round action in a high-profile matchup against No. 9-seed Michigan State.
