About an hour before Duke's 72-66 victory against Georgia Tech Wednesday night, news broke that Syracuse had self-imposed a postseason ban this year as the NCAA continues its investigation into potential violations. The violations date back to 2007, and were self-reported by the university to the NCAA.
The Orange entered the day sitting uncomfortably on the NCAA tournament bubble, but after Wednesday's announcement will not participate in any postseason tournament, including the ACC tournament in Greensboro, N.C.
"We are fully supportive of Syracuse and its decision to self-impose sanctions by removing themselves from any men’s basketball postseason opportunities," ACC Commissioner John Swofford said in a statement. "They’ve been cooperative throughout the NCAA process, and I commend Chancellor Syverud and the Syracuse University leadership for taking this proactive step.”
The decision caused a slight modification to the ACC tournament bracket, and the conference released an updated edition Wednesday evening. The new version will have just two first-round games March 10. Those contests—featuring the bottom four teams in the league standings—function as play-in games to the second round, which will have four games, two of which will pit teams who did not play in the opening round.
Last year's tournament—the conference's first with 15 members—had three play-in games, with just one matchup in the second round between teams that each received a bye to that round.
The top four seeds in the tournament still receive double-byes into the quarterfinals.
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski—a long time friend of Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim—found out about the ban shortly before Wednesday's game, and was surprised to hear that the decision would bar the Orange from the ACC tournament.
"Has that been done before? I feel bad that that’s happening. I love Syracuse, I love Jim. You don’t want anything bad to happen to a conference member," Krzyzewski said when asked about the development postgame. "That’s kind of shocking news."
The Blue Devils play the Orange twice in a two-week span, heading to the Carrier Dome Feb. 14 before welcoming Boeheim's club to Cameron Indoor Stadium Feb. 28.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.