The ACC Baseball Tournament gets underway on Tuesday at Greensboro’s NewBridge Bank Park, and Wolfpack Baseball (32-22, 13-17 ACC) will be there. Having managed to do just enough down the stretch to get past the slumping Pitt Panthers, the Pack was able to claim the 10th and final seed.
Tournament Format
The 2014 tournament will once again feature round robin pool play, but with the expansion of the conference to 14 teams in baseball (get a clue ‘Cuse), 10 teams qualify for the tournament this year instead of just the top 8 as in past years.
A fortunate turn of events for the Pack (and GT too).
The top 6 seeds have already advanced to pool play, which begins on Wednesday May 21st. Seeds 7 thru 10 will have to earn their way into pool play in two elimination/play in games on Tuesday, May 20th.
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Final ACC Standings
| Conference | Overall | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | schools | W-L-T | PCT | W-L-T | PCT |
| 1. | Florida State | 21-9-0 | .700 | 41-14-0 | .745 |
| 2. | Maryland | 15-14-0 | .517 | 34-19-0 | .642 |
| 3. | Clemson | 15-14-0 | .517 | 34-22-0 | .607 |
| 4. | Wake Forest | 15-15-0 | .500 | 30-25-0 | .545 |
| 5. | NC State | 13-17-0 | .433 | 32-22-0 | .593 |
| 6. | Boston College | 10-20-0 | .333 | 22-33-0 | .400 |
| 7. | Notre Dame | 9-21-0 | .300 | 22-31-0 | .415 |
| Conference | Overall | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | schools | W-L-T | PCT | W-L-T | PCT |
| 1. | Miami | 24-6-0 | .800 | 40-15-0 | .727 |
| 2. | Virginia | 22-8-0 | .733 | 43-11-0 | .796 |
| 3. | Duke | 16-14-0 | .533 | 32-23-0 | .582 |
| 4. | North Carolina | 15-15-0 | .500 | 32-23-0 | .582 |
| 5. | Georgia Tech | 14-16-0 | .467 | 32-24-0 | .571 |
| 6. | Pitt | 11-19-0 | .367 | 22-30-0 | .423 |
| 7. | Virginia Tech | 9-21-0 | .300 | 21-31-1 | .406 |
ACC Tournament Seeding
- Miami 24-6
- FSU 21-9
- UVa 22-8
- Duke 16-14
- Clemson 15-14
- Maryland 15-14
- Carolina 15-15
- Wake 15-15
- GT 14-16
- NCSU 13-17
Pool A – (1)Miami, (4)Duke, (5)Clemson, (8)Wake/(9)GT
Pool B – (2)FSU, (3)UVa, (6)Maryland, (7)Carolina/(10)NCSU
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Pool A
(1)Miami Hurricanes
40-15 (24-6 ACC, 1st Coastal), RPI #11
Miami is back in familiar territory so far in 2014…the top of the heap. Head Coach Jim Morris has never missed the NCAA Tournament in his 21 year tenure. He’s taken his teams to Omaha 11 times, winning 2 CWS Championships. Miami will reach the NCAA tournament this year for a record 42nd straight year.
NCAA Tournament Status: IN, Regional Host.
An ACC Championship game appearance could push Miami into National Seed territory.
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(4)Duke Blue Devils
32-23 (16-14 ACC, 3rd Coastal), RPI #78
Duke is one of the surprise teams in the ACC this year. Their 16 conference wins in 2014 matches their highest ever, and this is their first ACC Tournament since 2009. The Devils haven’t made the NCAA Tourney field since 1961
NCAA Tournament Status: Bubble, Probably IN.
As one of the feel good stories in NCAA Baseball this year, and with a winning ACC record, if the Devils don’t completely screw the pooch in G’boro look for them to get the bid regardless of their high RPI number.
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(5)Clemson Tigers
34-22 (15-14 ACC, t2nd Atlantic), RPI #51
Clemson has missed the NCAA Tournament only once in the past 26 years. Head Coach Jack Leggett has taken his team to Omaha 6 times in his 21 year tenure.
NCAA Tournament Status: Bubble, Probably IN.
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(8)Wake Forest Demon Deacons
30-25 (15-15 ACC, 4th Atlantic), RPI #69
Wake hasn’t reached Omaha since they won it all in 1955, and the Deacs haven’t made the NCAA Tourney since 2009. If they don’t get past GT on Tuesday, both of those streaks will continue.
NCAA Tournament Status: Bubble, Probably OUT.
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(9)Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
32-24 (14-16 ACC, 5th Coastal), RPI #39
The Jackets have missed only 2 NCAA Tournaments in the past 29 years, reaching Omaha 3 times during that span.
NCAA Tournament Status: Bubble, Probably IN.
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Pool B
(2)Florida State Seminoles
41-14 (21-9 ACC, 1st Atlantic), RPI #3
2014 has been business as usual for FSU and will mark their 37th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The ‘Noles have never missed the NCAA tournament under head coach Mike Martin (35yrs). What’s missing from his resume? A CWS ring. Martin has guided the ‘Noles to Omaha 15 times during his tenure, but has never won it all.
NCAA Tournament Status: IN, National Seed
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(3)Virginia Cavaliers
43-11 (22-8 ACC, 2nd Coastal), RPI #1
In his 10 year tenure, head coach Brian O’Connor has never failed to guide his team to the NCAA Tourney, reaching Omaha twice.
NCAA Tournament Status: IN, National Seed
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(6)Maryland Terrapins
34-19 (15-14 ACC, t2nd Atlantic), RPI #28
The Terps haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since 1971. That will change this year in their final ACC season, under 2nd year head coach John Szefc.
NCAA Tournament status: IN, Likely #2 seed.
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(7)North Carolina Tar Heels
32-23 (15-15 ACC, 4th Coastal), RPI #43
The Heels have reached Omaha in 6 of the past 8 years, but are in mild danger of missing the NCAA Tourney cut for only the 2nd time since Mike Fox took over. But even a Tuesday loss to the Pack probably wouldn’t knock them out.
NCAA Tournament Status: Bubble, Probably IN.
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(10)NC State Wolfpack
32-22 (13-17 ACC, 5th Atlantic), RPI #53
No one who has followed NCSU Baseball this year is unaware of the Pack’s struggles. In the pre-season, players, fans and most of the media touted the ’14 Pack9 as a “can’t miss” for a 2nd straight trip to Omaha.
Then a funny thing happened…they had to play the games.
The Pack has been playing their best ball of the season down the stretch, but if not for some beaucoup help from Notre Dame on the final weekend, the Pack is watching the ACC Tourney on TV from Raleigh this year.
And as of now, their NCAA Tourney chances are still very much in doubt.
NCAA Tournament Status: Bubble, Probably OUT.
Currently, the Pack is on the bubble big time with respect to an NCAA Tourney bid, but if they can get past Carolina on Tuesday they’ll have their chance to up their resume by facing FSU (RPI #3), UVa (RPI #1) and UMd (RPI #28).
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Games Schedule
Tuesday, May 20th
- 11am – Game #1 – (7)Carolina vs (10)NCSU
- 3pm – Game #2 – (8)Wake vs (9)GT
Wednesday, May 21st
- 11am – Game #3 – (4)Duke vs (5)Clemson
- 3pm – Game #4 – (1)Miami vs (8)Wake/(9)GT Winner
- 7pm – Game #5 – (2)FSU vs (7)Carolina/(10)NCSU Winner
Thursday, May 22nd
- 11am – Game #6 – (3)UVa vs (6)UMd
- 3pm – Game #7 – (4)Duke vs (8)Wake/(9)GT Winner
- 7pm – Game #8 – (1)Miami vs (5)Clemson
Friday, May 23rd
- 11am – Game #9 – (2)FSU vs (6)UMd
- 3pm – Game #10 – (5)Clemson vs (8)Wake/(9)GT Winner
- 7pm – Game #11 – (3)UVa vs (7)Carolina/(10)NCSU Winner
Saturday, May 24th
- 11am – Game #12 – (1)Miami vs (4)Duke
- 3pm – Game #13 – (6) UMd vs (7)Carolina/(10)NCSU Winner
- 7pm – Game #14 – (2)FSU vs (3)UVa
Sunday, May 25th
- 1pm – Championship – Pool A Winner vs Pool B Winner
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TV Coverage
- Both play-in games and all pool play games will be covered by Regional Sports Networks, though coverage may vary depending upon where one lives (FoxSportsCarolinas will be carrying all games). Click here for game by game RSN coverage.
- All games will stream on ESPN3
- Sunday’s championship game coverage on ESPN2
- NewBridge Bank Park Info and Tickets
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And last but by no means least
A recent request from Pack78, for mojo purposes…
Yep…gigantic cat eats the players wearing red. Seems about right.
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Go Pack!!!
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