The ACC is cutting its men's basketball schedule from 20 to 18 games, creating opportunities for teams to schedule important nonconference games to enhance their NCAA tournament bids. This decision comes as the conference experiences a decline in tournament selections, with only four bids in the previous season, its lowest since 2013. Commissioner Jim Phillips has addressed the struggle since the pandemic and coaching retirements that have hindered team performances, emphasizing the need for stronger schedules to improve the league's competitive standing.
The Atlantic Coast Conference is reducing its 20-game men's basketball schedule to 18, giving teams two more spots for marquee nonconference games in a bid to boost a league getting a dwindling haul of NCAA Tournament bids.
Commissioner Jim Phillips has been vocal about examining the conundrum of the ACC getting fewer bidsâdown to four this year, its lowest haul since 2013âdespite having teams regularly playing deep into March.
Going to 18 games could make room for schools to add quality nonconference matchups to help their schedule strengthâand therefore the ACC's stature, provided of course the league wins its share of measuring-stick games.
The league had seven bids during the bubbled 2021 tournament in Indiana, then fell to five for three straight seasons before sliding to four this year, its first as an expanded 18-team basketball conference.
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