The ACC is in serious trouble – it's time for a major comeback or risk being the ultimate joke among college basketball's elite conferences!
Imagine a powerhouse league that's been stumbling lately, failing to live up to the hype and leaving fans scratching their heads. That's the Atlantic Coast Conference we're talking about, which has delivered a string of disappointing seasons that fell short of preseason predictions. Since 2022, the ACC hasn't managed to send more than five teams to the NCAA Tournament in any single year, and just last season, they only secured four spots, with Duke standing out as the sole top-4 seed. For context, the NCAA Tournament is like the Super Bowl of college hoops – it's where the best teams battle it out for glory, and getting in means your program is performing at a high level. Duke has been the conference's steady rock in terms of tournament appearances over the past few years, but the imbalance in the 2025-26 season was almost comical. The Blue Devils dominated with a 19-1 record in conference games and even claimed the ACC Tournament title without their superstar player, Cooper Flagg, who was sidelined. Meanwhile, in the ACC/SEC Challenge – a friendly rivalry event pitting ACC teams against SEC squads – the results were brutal: ACC teams went just 2-14 over the two days, losing 11 of those games by double digits and five by 20 points or more. To make matters worse, they were only 2-6 even on their home courts. This insider is pleading for change to restore the ACC's credibility and end its embarrassing run.
But here's where it gets controversial – is the ACC's mediocrity a sign of deeper issues, or just a temporary slump that new leadership can fix?
College basketball expert Jon Rothstein shared his insights on what the ACC must achieve to shift how the nation views it compared to other top conferences. He posted on X (formerly Twitter) that for the league to truly progress and alter its reputation, it needs at least a third of its teams – that's six – to hear their names announced on Selection Sunday, the day the NCAA Tournament field is revealed. Rothstein believes this is realistic, pointing to the fresh coaching hires made during the offseason. Think of Selection Sunday as the thrilling reveal where dreams are made or dashed, and getting six teams in would signal a resurgence.
Several ACC programs are gearing up for strong rebounds. Will Wade, who previously coached at McNeese State, has taken over at NC State and assembled a talented group of transfers to elevate the team from its previous standing. Ryan Odom, fresh from VCU, is now at Virginia, bringing in new talent to build on past successes. And Jai Lucas, after leaving Duke, is coaching at Miami with a roster of skilled newcomers. These moves could lead to significant improvements, showing how smart recruiting and coaching changes can turn things around – for beginners, transfers are players who switch schools to chase better opportunities, often boosting a team's strength overnight.
And this is the part most people miss – the ACC's shift to an 18-game conference schedule might be the secret weapon.
At the ACC Basketball Tipoff event in 2025, Commissioner Jim Phillips discussed this change, which marks the first time the league has used an 18-game slate since the 2018-19 season. He explained that it allows for smarter nonconference scheduling, freeing up spots for tougher opponents or more rest days. But more importantly, Phillips emphasized that it's designed to help more teams qualify for the NCAA Tournament. In simpler terms, a longer conference schedule means more games against rivals, which can better prepare teams for the big dance and potentially increase their chances of earning a bid.
What do you think – can the ACC really bounce back with these changes, or is it fighting an uphill battle against tougher conferences like the SEC? Is the 18-game schedule a game-changer, or just a superficial fix that won't address deeper problems? And here's a controversial take: maybe the ACC's struggles are partly due to over-relying on star players like Duke's, rather than building balanced teams – do you agree, or is that unfair? Share your opinions in the comments and let's debate!
