The ACC Baseball Tournament will conclude with a championship game between North Carolina and Clemson on Sunday. Both teams are set to enter the NCAA Tournament, but ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips expressed concerns regarding potential selections for the tournament from the conference.
During an ESPN2 broadcast, Phillips vocalized support for the Virginia Cavaliers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish, stating, “Listen, they really deserve to be in… This isn’t about some kind of gift.” He highlighted that these teams faced unique challenges this season, particularly mentioning the impact of the tragic events at Florida State University.
Virginia boasts a season record of 32-18 and 16-11 in ACC play. Historically, since 1999, any ACC team finishing five games over .500 has advanced to the NCAA Tournament, which adds weight to their candidacy, despite currently being listed in the First Four Out in projections.
Likewise, Notre Dame, with a record of 32-21 and 14-16 in the ACC, also finds itself among the First Four Out. Phillips praised their strong finish, noting that they won 10 of their last 12 games and secured victories against NCAA Tournament-bound teams. He argued, “On paper, 11 teams could be talked about and should be talked about for the NCAA Tournament in this conference.”
In the latest RPI rankings, Notre Dame is at 48th and Virginia at 64th, leaving no opportunity for them to enhance their resumes before selections are made. Currently, the ACC is projected to have nine teams in the NCAA Tournament, which is the second highest after the SEC, with three teams set to host. Phillips seeks to increase that number and believes Virginia and Notre Dame have compelling cases for inclusion.
The ongoing discussions reflect the competitive nature of ACC baseball and the impressive seasons by Virginia and Notre Dame, offering a hopeful outlook for these teams as they strive for tournament recognition in the face of tough competition.