Where does Virginia stand in the NET, bracketology?

By Jerry Ratcliffe

So where does Virginia stand in terms of computer rankings and bracketology following Monday night’s blowout loss at Virginia Tech and ahead of this Saturday’s huge home game against North Carolina?

Depends on where you shop, which computer you trust. You know the drill. The NCAA tournament selection committee uses these tools, but doesn’t rely strictly upon them when it makes its 68-team selections.

As of Wednesday night, ESPN had Virginia ranked as a No. 9 seed in the Midwest Region (Indianapolis), down from the No. 8 spot it held prior to the Tech loss.

ESPN had only four ACC teams in its 68-team field: UNC, a 2-seed in the East (Charlotte); Duke, a 3-seed in the West (Pittsburgh); and Clemson, a 5-seed in the West (Spokane). Wake Forest was listed in the “First 4 Out,” while Pitt was in the “Next 4 Out” category.

CBS’ bracketology was somewhat different, but again, with only four ACC teams in its field: Virginia, a No. 10 seed in the Midwest (Memphis); UNC, a 2-seed in the East (Charlotte); Duke, a 3-seed in the West (Brooklyn); and Clemson, a 6-seed in the South (Charlotte). No mention of Wake or Pitt.

The ACC isn’t getting much respect this season, even though both Wake and Pitt have been impressive over the past several weeks. Wake hammered Pitt, 91-58, on Tuesday night, only days after Wake scored only 47 against Virginia in a loss, and Pitt clobbered Virginia.

There are 362 teams in Division I basketball, and for the last three years, every team that finished in the NET’s top 35 made the NCAA Tournament.

Here are the NET rankings for ACC teams as of Wednesday night:

• 10 – North Carolina
• 16 – Duke
• 26 – Wake Forest
• 28 – Clemson
• 48 – Virginia
• 52 – Virginia Tech
• 56 – Pitt
• 77 – Miami
• 80 – NC State
• 84 – Syracuse
• 91 – Boston College
• 93 – Florida State
• 141 – Georgia Tech
• 153 – Notre Dame
• 195 – Louisville

Just for fun, here are the NET rankings for the ACC’s three newest members, which will be competing in the league next season: SMU (36), Stanford (103), Cal (119).