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Notre Dame isn’t deciding their ACC Tournament seed

By Noah Strackbein

Feb 5, 2017; Greensboro, NC, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Matt Farrell (5) drives to the basket past North Carolina Tar Heels guard Nate Britt (0) during the first half at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Greensboro, NC, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Matt Farrell (5) drives to the basket past North Carolina Tar Heels guard Nate Britt (0) during the first half at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Notre Dame is a game and a half out of first place in the ACC. But they aren’t the deciding factor in their conference tournament future.

The Tar Heels still play Louisville, Virginia, and Duke remaining on their regular season schedule. Of the three teams remaining, they all play each other within the last four games of the season. With Notre Dame still left to play Louisville, the Irish still have some control in their ACC Tournament fate. But for the most part, their future is in the hands of the rest of the ACC.

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Louisville, Duke, North Carolina, and Notre Dame all sit within a game and a half of each other at the top of the conference. With four games left on UNC’s schedule, there’s more action left in these ACC rankings than there’s been all year.

With the thought that Notre Dame defeats Georgia Tech and Boston College – If North Carolina wins their remaining four games, beating Louisville and Duke, Notre Dame will move to third in the conference. Tied with Duke and a game a half back from UNC, the Irish will head into the tournament as the third seed considering they beat Louisville.

It’s not impossible for the Tar Heels to win their final four games. They’ve clearly done everything needed to get where they are so it’s not crazy to think they won’t continue to win. But there are plenty of scenarios.

If North Carolina defeats Duke and Louisville and loses to Virginia, they’d stay the top seed. Notre Dame would move to the third seed and Duke would move to the second. If the Tar Heels lose to Louisville and Virginia/Pitt, Notre Dame would need to defeat Louisville, and they would move to the second seed in the conference behind Duke.

This where it gets interesting. Duke still has to play Syracuse, Florida State, and UNC. All the Blue Devils would have to do in order for the Irish to move ahead of them is lose twice. It doesn’t matter who they lose to, as long as it’s two losses.

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So, saying all goes right. This would be the top four seeds heading into the tournament IF North Carolina lost to Louisville and Virginia and Duke lost to UNC and one of their other three games. Considering Notre Dame defeats Louisville and wins their final three games.

  • Notre Dame
  • Louisville
  • North Carolina
  • Florida State (depending on if they are one of Duke’s losses)

There is a lot of action left. Three games can decide the fate of four or five teams in the ACC. Nothing is set in stone, and Notre Dame’s future could go a few different ways. If everything falls into place, though, this could be how the Irish finish at top of the conference.