Has the ACC redeemed itself as one of the best conferences in basketball?

[The Madcap]

The problem with the ACC is its UNC/Duke and the 10 dwarves. UNC/Duke if they even have half-way decent teams end up playing the first two rounds in-state so you know why they have more Sweet Sixteen appearances than any other school. FSU seems like a whole new team from the one that was losing to Auburn because of awful jumpshooting. As crazy as it sounds, FSU got better when their best player stopped taking shots.

You're an idiot.

For one, Duke/UNC don't always play in NC. Frequently they've had to travel to Maryland or New York or New Jersey or Atlanta for their early round games. The pod system created to keep teams near home has only been around for a few years.

And playing in-state ain't an advantage anyway when 90% of that state hates you (Duke).

Anytime UNC/Duke play in the same building, the UNC fans will stick around just to mercilessly boo Duke. Remember when Duke lost to VCU a few years ago and the crowd was pulling so hard for VCU in crunch time? UNC fans.

And plenty of teams have had "in state" advantages. Florida has gotten to play early rounds in Tampa, UCLA/USC in LA, Purdue/IU in Indy, and Texas/A&M/TTech/Baylor have all gotten to play in Dallas or San Antonio or Houston.

Duke and UNC have the most Sweet 16 appearances because of coaching.

[fishmonger]

We need the bottom of the conference to step up. NCSU, Wake, and Virginia would be bottoms of any conference.