MBB: Where things stand

[PonyPride]

The Mustangs were disappointed to lose Saturday — see head coach Andy Enfield's postgame press conference — but it wasn't as disastrous for the Mustangs' postseason changes as it could have been.

The loss dropped the Mustangs' record to 20-7, and more importantly, 11-5 in ACC games.

After winning 20 games, including 11 conference games, the fact that SMU has matched those totals in its first year in the much-tougher ACC is remarkable and can'd be viewed as anything but a success in the conference many consider the toughest basketball conference in the country.

SMU came into the game tied with Wake Forest for fourth place in the conference standings. The top four teams in the regular-season standings get a double bye in the ACC tournament, so Saturday's loss could have been very costly.

But the Demon Deacons also lost (to North Carolina State), so like the Ponies, they are 11-5 in conference standings.

But in order to get the double bye, SMU would have to jump ahead of Wake in the standings, because the Demon Deacons beat the Mustangs, 77-66, February 15, and therefore own the head-to-head tiebreaker.

SMU can still jump ahead of Wake Forest, but the chances are few in number. The Mustangs have four games remaining: At Cal Wednesday, at Stanford, home (March 4) against Syracuse and then the regular-season finale at Florida State. Wake also has four games remaining: home games against Virginia and Notre Dame, then a road game at Duke before closing out the regular season at home against Georgia Tech.

[Charleston Pony]

This SMU team hasn't been "upset" in a single game this season and has beaten all the teams they were supposed to. Can't say the same for Wake so I don't doubt Wake loses to Duke and could lose another game in upset fashion but UNC is lurking and they also own the tiebreaker against SMU. Bottom line is this team has to win out to have any hope of getting that 4th seed and that will be a really tall order with 3 road games...and I'm not sure there are that many people out there who think the ACC is the toughest basketball conference in the country. I think we are catching a break this year in what has been a down year for the ACC in both football and basketball but it really has been a good year for our program(s).

[Higher Authority]

They were upset Saturday by an NC State team that's now 4-12 in ACC games

[Higher Authority]

This SMU team hasn't been "upset" in a single game this season and has beaten all the teams they were supposed to. Can't say the same for Wake so I don't doubt Wake loses to Duke and could lose another game in upset fashion but UNC is lurking and they also own the tiebreaker against SMU. Bottom line is this team has to win our to have any hope of getting that 4th seed and that will be a really tall order with 3 road games...and I'm not sure there are that many people out there who think the ACC is the toughest basketball conference in the country. I think we are catching a break this year in what has been a down year for the ACC in both football and basketball but it really has been a good year for our program(s).

Agreed. We need to win out.

Sure would help to get Boopie Miller back. I wonder if they're going to hold him out in an effort to save him for the postseason.

[PonyPride]

Wake trails Virginia, 77-68, with 2:20 to go

[PonyPride]

Final: Virginia 83, Wake Forest 75