Glenn: Measuring ACC Schedules, Victories

With one week remaining in the ACC regular season, and with half of the league's teams still wondering about their postseason destinations, it's time for a look at two crucial factors that help to determine who goes where during March Madness.

These factors — (1) strength of schedule and (2) quality victories — help to explain why the ACC's sixth-place team (Miami) finds itself in a significantly stronger position than the league's fourth-place team (Virginia Tech).

The Hurricanes (20-8, 7-7 ACC) rank well above the Hokies (17-11, 8-6) in the Rating Percentage Index (RPI), a formula whose results are used by members of the NCAA Tournament selection committee when they determine at-large bids and seeds, and virtually every other major college basketball power rankings system.

"We feel very good about our record," Miami coach Frank Haith said. "We feel especially good about the fact that we've put that record together in the conference with the highest RPI ranking in the nation, and we've done it against a very strong schedule in and out of the conference."

Here's a breakdown of the top eight teams in the ACC standings:

1. North Carolina
Record: 27-2, 12-2 ACC
RPI: 3
Strength of Schedule: 6
Top-25 RPI Victories: 3 (Brigham Young, at Clemson, Clemson)
Other Top-50 RPI Victories: 3 (at Davidson, Kent State, at Miami)
NCAA Tournament Status: lock
Projected NCAA Seed: 1

2. Duke
Record: 25-3, 12-2 ACC
RPI: 4
Strength of Schedule: 13
Top-25 RPI Victories: 4 (Marquette, Wisconsin, Clemson, at UNC)
Other Top-50 RPI Victories: 2 (at Davidson, Miami)
NCAA Tournament Status: lock
Projected NCAA Seed: 1

3. Clemson
Record: 21-7, 9-5 ACC
RPI: 19
Strength of Schedule: 25
Top-25 RPI Victories: none
Top-50 RPI Victories: 3 (at Mississippi State, Purdue, Miami)
NCAA Tournament Status: lock
Projected NCAA Seed: 5

4. Miami
Record: 20-8, 7-7 ACC
RPI: 26
Strength of Schedule: 23
Top-25 RPI Victories: 2 (Clemson, Duke)
Other Top-50 RPI Victories: 2 (Virginia Commonwealth, at Mississippi State)
NCAA Tournament Status: likely needs another victory
Remaining Schedule: Boston College (Wednesday), at Florida State (Saturday)

5. Maryland
Record: 18-12, 8-7 ACC
RPI: 64
Strength of Schedule: 15
Top-25 RPI Victories: 1 (at North Carolina)
Other Top-50 RPI Victories: none
NCAA Tournament Status: more needed
Remaining Schedule: at Virginia (Thursday)

6. Virginia Tech
Record: 17-11, 8-6 ACC
RPI: 57
Strength of Schedule: 51
Top-25 RPI Victories: none
Top-50 RPI Victories: none
NCAA Tournament Status: more needed
Remaining Schedule: Wake Forest (Tuesday), at Clemson (Sunday)

7. Florida State
Record: 17-12, 6-8 ACC
RPI: 70
Strength of Schedule: 32
Top-25 RPI Victories: 1 (Clemson)
Other Top-50 RPI Victories: 2 (Alabama-Birmingham, at Miami)
NCAA Tournament Status: must finish 2-0 to have chance
Remaining Schedule: at North Carolina (Tuesday), Miami (Saturday)

8. Wake Forest
Record: 16-11, 6-8 ACC
RPI: 84
Strength of Schedule: 87
Top-25 RPI Victories: 2 (Brigham Young, Duke)
Other Top-50 RPI Victories: 1 (Miami)
NCAA Tournament Status: must finish 2-0 to have chance
Remaining Schedule: at Virginia Tech (Tuesday), N.C. State (Saturday)