Here’s a good look at what to expect from this week’s ACC Baseball Tournament in Greensboro. After favorite Virginia, the field is pretty wide open and there should be some good games to see once the action gets going.
The ACC ended its regular season last weekend and eight teams prepared to continue playing. Or is that nine?
The uncertainty belongs to the North Carolina Tar Heels, who finished ninth in a conference that invites only eight teams to its conference tournament.
UNC took care of business over the weekend, sweeping Virginia Tech. But the Tar Heels needed some help that they didn’t get. N.C. State entered the final weekend one game ahead of Carolina and maintained the lead with a sweep of Duke. Boston College lost its first two games at home to Georgia Tech but pulled out the finale, 6-3.
That left BC and UNC tied for eighth place at 14-16. The teams didn’t play each other this season and they are in different divisions. The next tie-breaker was head-to-head against Virginia, the team with the ACC’s best record. Both were swept by the Cavs. But Georgia Tech, the league’s second-best team beat UNC three times and BC only twice. Tie-breaking 101.
Ironically, the Tar Heels may be in better shape for an NCAA Tournament bid than either the Eagles or the Wolfpack. Carolina has spent much of the season ranked in the 20s in the official RPI and will spend the next week keeping their fingers crossed, rooting for the absence of upsets in conference tournaments. Barring a rash of Cinderellas, Carolina should be cranking up for the NCAAs.
I get the feeling that Sumner gives NC State a puncher’s chance in the tournament, but the problem with the Wolfpack (as has been the case all year long) is inconsistent pitching.
The Wolfpack return to the ACC tournament after a one-year’s absence having won eight of their last ten. State is the only Big Four representative to make it that far. Will the State fan base turn out in sufficient numbers to make a difference?
State’s bats have led the way. This is a club that beat LaSalle 32-3 back in February and scored 22 against Maryland last month. Four State hitters are in double figures in homers and State’s 90 long balls trail only Georgia Tech in the ACC. Outfielder Drew Poulk has been scintillating over the last few weeks and enters the tournament batting .367, with 13 homers and 67 RBIs.
The Wolfpack’s weakness? State’s Friday starter Jake Buchanan (7-4) has been solid all season. But Saturday starter Cory Mazzoni has been erratic and the Sunday starter is an as yet unsolved mystery. State allowed 90 stolen bases and committed 89 errors – only Wake Forest was worse in those categories in the ACC. Mediocre pitching and poor defense does not a good recipe make.
One win in Greensboro might keep alive State’s season but two would help Elliott Avent sleep easier. State was the only team to take a series from Virginia this season, which should help the Wolfpack’s chances.
