ACC Depth on Display with 24-Place Scoring

Between the addition of teams and the increasing strength of the existing teams, the Atlantic Coast Conference has emerged as one of the deepest conferences - rivaling that of the Big Ten, and Pac 10.  This year's ACC Championships, beginning tomorrow, will reflect that with scoring extended to the top twenty-four returners. 

The change, while not likely to impact the race for first, will undoubtedly play out down the standings.  The Virginia (5-0), Florida State (3-0) and Notre Dame women finished atop the regular season standings with perfect conference records. The Cavaliers have won six straight ACC Championships and 11 in school history. Virginia enters the Championship under the guidance of first-year head Augie Busch. The  Seminoles, who are receiving votes in the latest poll, also enter the meet with a rookie head coach, as Frank Bradley has Florida State in search of its first league title since 2006.

North Carolina finished fourth in the regular season standings with a 3-1 record in ACC competition. The Tar Heels have won a conference-leading 16 championships, with the last coming in 2007.

NC State finished fifth in the regular season standings with a 4-3 record in ACC competition. The Wolfpack, who won the league’s first two titles in 1979 and 1980, are led by head coach Braden Holloway.

A live video stream of event finals will be available on theACC.com on Thursday through Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m., with Dean Linke handling play-by-play and Frank Comfort adding analysis.