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Nine ACC teams were invited to the 2017 NCAA Tournament. A ranking of the teams as they try to get a spot in the Final Four in Phoenix.

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When the NCAA Tournament begins on Tuesday night with a couple of First Four games, the ACC will have nine teams represented in this year’s edition of the Big Dance. And that’s no surprise considering that John Swofford’s league has been the best in the nation throughout the 2016-17 season. Because of the conference’s strength, a number of teams could seriously contend for the national championship in Phoenix.

As we continue to break down the ACC’s presence in the 2017 NCAA Tournament, let’s power rank each team in the latest edition of The (Tobacco) Road To The Final Four.

Ranking ACC Teams In The NCAA Tournament

9. Wake Forest (South No. 11)

The Demon Deacons have the unfortunate task of having to win a First Four game just to get into the 64-team field. Danny Manning’s squad will face Kansas State on Tuesday night, with the winner advancing to a date with No. 6 Cincinnati in the South region. Sophomore big man John Collins has been the best star that America has likely been unfamiliar with throughout the 2016-17 college hoops season, so he’ll be on display in Dayton. The 6-foot-10 star averaged 18.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game this season while shooting 62.0 percent from the floor. If the Demon Deacons can get by the Wildcats, a defensive-minded Cincinnati team awaits. No matter what happens, Manning has done a very fine job thus far in Winston-Salem.

8. Virginia Tech (East No. 9)

The Hokies pose a dangerous first-round matchup for Wisconsin because Buzz Williams has been getting strong guard play all year, especially from Seth Allen, who is one of the more underappreciated players in the nation despite hitting multiple game-winning shots this season. For VT, though, the loss of do-everything forward Chris Clarke may finally be felt. It certainly will be if the Hokies earn a second round date with Villanova.

7. Miami (Midwest No. 8)

Jim Larrañaga’s Hurricanes don’t have an easy first-round matchup, but this is not your older brother’s Michigan State team. Of course, it is never smart to doubt Tom Izzo at this time of year, but the ‘Canes have Sweet 16 experience and the guard play to advance to a potential matchup with top-ranked Kansas on Sunday. Keep in mind that the ‘Canes have victories over both Duke and North Carolina this season, and a defensive-minded squad led by Davon Reed, budding freshman star Bruce Brown and Ja’Quan Newton could give the Jayhawks problems. Larrañaga took George Mason to the Final Four, so he won’t have his team intimidated in this year’s Dance.

6. Virginia (East No. 5)

Tony Bennett needed an infusion of offense to help out veteran London Perrantes, so fellow guards Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome have been given increased playing time as freshmen. And it’s helped the offense immensely. Still, low-scoring, grind-it-out, close games are to be expected whenever UVA is on the court. However, the Cavaliers are very rarely ever out of a game. Bennett has done a great job after losing four significant contributors from last year’s Elite Eight squad, and his team remains a threat in this Dance if it can dictate tempo.

5. Florida State (West No. 3)

The Seminoles can either go really far or get bounced out early. Since notching five wins in a six-game stretch against Top 25 teams earlier in conference play, Leonard Hamilton’s squad has been a bit inconsistent. Florida Gulf Coast could give the ‘Noles problems in the first round, but the athleticism, length and depth of the squad—led by 6-foot-7 sophomore guard Dwayne Bacon and 6-foot-10 freshman forward Jonathan Isaac, both future NBA players—make this team dangerous.

4. Notre Dame (West No. 5)

Mike Brey is one of the finest head coaches in America to not yet enjoy a trip to the Final Four, as he has led the Fighting Irish to back-to-back Elite Eight appearances. Junior Bonzie Colson has been one of the best big men in the country all season despite being an undersized 4. Point guard Matt Farrell knows how to run the offense, but players such as senior forward V.J. Beachem and senior guard Steve Vasturia need to help out in order for Brey to reach the holy grail. Few coaches are as good at building offenses as Brey, and his team has a chance for a deep run if it is connecting from downtown. This squad may also be Brey’s best defensive unit in his 17 seasons in South Bend.

3. Louisville (Midwest No. 2)

My pick to claim this year’s national championship has seemingly gone a bit overlooked since the bracket was released. Rick Pitino has advanced to the Final Four with three different squads (Providence, Kentucky and the Cardinals), so he’s comfortable within the March domain. The blown lead against Duke in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament likely left this squad very salty. That could be a real good thing for a team led by dynamic offensive and defensive guard Donovan Mitchell, who can carry the team to Phoenix. Kansas has shown that it is not invincible, while Oregon just suffered a key injury. That region could be The Ville’s for the taking if it can make its shots—because defense isn’t an issue.

2. Duke (East No. 2)

It took an entire season, but the Blue Devils finally started to resemble the national championship contender that most college basketball experts and fans expected them to be entering the 2016-17 season. Not fully coming together until they won four games in four consecutive days to claim the ACC Tournament crown made sense, though, as the Blue Devils weathered numerous injury issues as well as the absence of head coach Mike Krzyzewski during the trying year. Freshmen talents Jayson Tatum and Frank Jackson have really made a difference in supporting Luke Kennard and Grayson Allen, but Allen must maintain his aggressiveness and swagger. He may be a polarizing figure, but the Blue Devils need him at his best for a chance to return to the Final Four. It’s odd to see Allen as a sixth man now, but the insertion of true point guard Jackson into the starting lineup has yielded strong results. There’s no question that Duke is one of the hotter teams in the country after coming back from double-digit deficits in back-to-back days against Louisville and North Carolina and beating Notre Dame for the tourney title. Still, Coach K would prefer that his team doesn’t fall behind at all.

1. North Carolina (South No. 1)

The Tar Heels have everything a head coach would want in a team, but for some reason there is still, at times, a passivity with this squad. Star forward Justin Jackson needs to turn it up a notch and attack the rim more consistently, especially when he is not connecting on his jump shots. Joel Berry II remains the catalyst, and the team has plenty of frontcourt depth. But in order to advance to the Regional Final in Memphis and a potential rematch with Kentucky, Jackson has to play like a national player of the year. And Berry II needs to stay out of foul trouble, because his presence on the floor is mandatory.

MORE: The (Tobacco) Road To The Final Four – ACC Paths To Phoenix