Miami Hurricanes Stand as ACC's Last NCAA Tournament Hope
Pitt made a valiant effort in the second half against Xavier on Sunday afternoon, but fell short 84-73 in the end to the higher-seeded program.
Several games will tip between the Panthers and Musketeers, but none will feature ACC programs until Miami takes on Indiana in prime time (TV/streaming info here).
On Saturday, ACC Co-champion Duke fell to the SEC's Tennessee. NC State fell to Creighton in the First Round, of course the same layer of March Madness that the country watched Furman stun Virginia with that viral three-point dagger.
WHAT DID WE JUST WATCH?!?!?!?!?pic.twitter.com/TTT5RleYgD
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 16, 2023
Just five ACC teams made the men's Field of 68, anyway, with Pitt achieving a win during the play-in tilt versus Mississippi State. Since, the conference has just two more wins ahead of Miami trying to crack the Sweet 16 field.
The conference's five-team slate in the field, for the second straight year, reinforces somewhat of a new low for the prestigious group of teams relative to the tournament. It has had down years, of course, but not in such short order.
According to FiveThirtyEight, the previous 19 NCAA Tournaments featured only one-third of the league making the field a total of four times. Going back-to-back with just one contender remaining ahead of Sweet 16 play doesn't push the perceptional narrative that the ACC is the home to the nation's top basketball conference.
Still, Miami has a shot to at least stabilize the narrative, should it upset Indiana (seeded No. 4 compared to UM's No. 5 seed) on Sunday night. The opening round win versus Drake was hard-fought and certainly defensive laden for the Hurricanes, even with star big man Norchad Omier at less than 100 percent.
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