The Big Dance

Is it just me (I know it isn't), but is the ACC always overrated in basketball? Are they always guaranteed to be the top conference in the tournament committee's eyes? Duke had a down year (for them). NC State did as well. Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Florida State had below .500 conference records. Maryland started sluggish, but came on at the end, before losing to doormat Miami (Florida). Virginia and Virginia Tech were the two surprises of the conference. Carolina was solid. Wake Forest is down. In my opinion, the conference ranks as the third best of the majors, next to the Big East and the Pac-10, yet the ACC led all conferences with 7 teams being represented in the dance. Syracuse and West Virginia got snubbed from the Big East conference. Kansas State likewise from the Big XII. Syracuse and Kansas State won 10 games in conference play. Georgia Tech had a below .500 conference record, but made the tourney, for the simple fact they play in the ACC. Arkansas received a similar fate, finishing below .500 in the overrated SEC conference, yet still made the tourney due to their strong conference tournament showing. Well, I'm sure Jim Nantz and Billy Packer are satisfied with the field this year, as only 6 mid-majors were selected as at-large teams. The two bickered last year after 8 mid-majors were selected, one of them being George Mason, who went on to play in the Final Four. So, this year, I'm (as always) pulling for the underdogs (go mid-majors!), rooting against Duke, and come to think of it, rooting against the entire ACC and SEC. Let the chaos ensue! Please!