Tightly bunched field promises competitive race to Greensboro

By Bud L. Ellis

With more than a month to go before the ACC tournament, there isn’t a clear-cut favorite.

In fact, when you look at the conference standings, it’s easy to deduct the conference games coming up the next five weeks will determine the seeding and the order of the tournament because, quite frankly, there isn’t a whole lot of separation between the top and the bottom.

Maryland leads the conference standings entering the weekend with a 4-1 ACC record. Miami is 1-5 overall, but just 3 ½ games out of first and two games out of the middle of the pack.

It’s been a very competitive year in the conference. Defending national champion North Carolina finds itself in next to last, but is only three games out of first. Five of the Tar Heels’ eight defeats have come in conference play.

The top seven teams in the league are separated by just 1 ½ games. While the Big East may boast more ranked teams, the ACC has been the most competitive and evenly matched league in the nation this season.

That will make the weeks leading up to Greensboro Coliseum and tourney time all the more interesting.

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Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 1:09 pm by bud

Tags: Atlantic Coast Conference, Big East, Greensboro Coliseum, Maryland, Miami, North Carolina