With the first couple weeks of conference play in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take a look at the ACC Basketball Power Rankings. Here is a look at where each ACC basketball stands at the moment:
1. Duke Blue Devils
Coach K is entering his final season coaching his beloved Blue Devils. Despite a loss on Saturday to Miami, Duke has been playing some of the best basketball in the nation. The Blue Devils have been led by Freshman phenom Paolo Banchero and Junior Wendell Moore Jr. With the ACC being less dominant than in past years, the Blue Devils will look to make Coach K’s last season a memorable one.
2. Miami Hurricanes
The Miami Hurricanes are one of the hottest teams in college basketball currently. After being destroyed by Alabama, the Hurricanes have won 9 straight games. Fifth-year senior Kameron McGusty has been the driving force behind the ‘Canes, leading the team in points and rebounds. A game next Saturday against UNC should give a more clear picture of just how good the Miami Hurricanes are.
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame began the year looking like a bottom-tier ACC team. A win over Kentucky rose eyebrows, as the Wildcats were ranked 10th at the time. The Fighting Irish have won 3 straight conference games, including a win over UNC. Dane Goodwin’s improvement from the 3 point line has been a huge plus for the Irish. This coupled with the inside play of Nate Laszewski has made the Irish a formidable ACC team.
4. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
The Demon Deacons are a team that goes as their star player goes. Aldones Williams averages 20.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. In their 3 losses, Williams averages only 14.7 points per game. Wake Forest has started out conference play at a respectful 3-2. The next game against Duke will be a good test of how capable the Demon Deacons are at staying near the top of the ACC.
5. UNC Tar Heels
Even without a signature win to begin the year, UNC is still a well-balanced and dangerous team. The Tar Heels have beaten inferior teams, and lost to superior teams, for the most part, this season. Junior forward Armando Bacot might be one of the most intimidating players in college basketball right now. Bacot has averaged 25 points and 19 rebounds per game in the Tar Heels last two contests.
6. Louisville Cardinals
The Cardinals are a team of inconsistency. Despite an early-season loss to Furman, the Cardinals find themselves sitting at 4-1 in conference play. Louisville is one of the most balanced teams in the country as 9 players on their team average 16 minutes of play or more per game.
7. Virginia Cavaliers
A few years removed from their National Championship season, the Cavaliers are no longer a top-tier ACC team. A team known for their suffocating style of defense, Virginia has allowed 68.8 points per game in their last 4 games (10 points per game more than their average).
8. Florida State Seminoles
After a 2-2 start to conference play, the Seminoles have a tough stretch of games over the next two weeks. Florida State will play Miami twice and Duke once over their next 4 games. This will give a clearer look at how good the inconsistent Seminoles can be.
9. Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers like Florida State are hard to judge right now. With a 2-2 conference record, the remainder of ACC play should determine whether or not Clemson is an NCAA Tournament-worthy team. Clemson leans on 4 players who have all averaged 11.3 or more points per game.
10. Boston College Eagles
Boston College returned from their brief Covid pause this past week and struggled mightily. The Eagles are on a 4 game losing streak and will need to rebound this week as they play two bottom half of the conference teams this week.
11. NC State Wolfpack
The bottom half of the ACC is not what it used to be. NC State has dropped 6 of their last 7 games. NC State is led by sophomore guard Dereon Seabron who averages the most points, rebounds, and assists on the team.
12. Syracuse Orange
The Orange have been a bit of a disappointment this year. After being picked to finish 7th in the ACC, Syracuse sits near the bottom of the ACC. Head coach Jim Boeheim will look to his son Buddy to give the Orange a boost as ACC play continues.
13. Virginia Tech Hokies
Another team that experienced a week off of their season due to Covid, the Hokies are still looking for their first ACC win. If the Hokies hope to climb up the ACC standings, they will have to improve upon their dismal rebounding numbers. Currently, the Hokies are tied for 346th in the country in rebounding.
14. Pittsburgh Panthers
The Pittsburgh Panthers have lost their 3 ACC games by a combination of 5 points. After going 5-6 in non-conference play, the Panthers will look to finish games to compete in a dense conference.
15. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The Yellow Jackets’ signature win on the season is against a 5-10 Georgia Bulldogs team. As of now, Georgia Tech is clearly in the basement of the ACC.
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