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Below is a table of this week's rankings - further explanations follow. UVA moved up to third with a 2-0 week, while the bottom half of the conference continues to be in flux. Drop your thoughts and disagreements down in the comments.
Team | ACC Record | STL Ranking | Last | KenPom Rank | RPI Rank |
Miami | 10-0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 |
Duke | 8-2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
Virginia | 7-3 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 81 |
North Carolina | 6-4 | 4 | 5 | 46 | 36 |
NC State | 6-5 | 5 | 3 | 29 | 17 |
Maryland | 5-6 | 6 | 6 | 59 | 73 |
Florida State | 5-5 | 7 | 7 | 115 | 65 |
Georgia Tech | 3-7 | 8 | 10 | 71 | 120 |
Clemson | 4-7 | 9 | 9 | 97 | 151 |
Wake Forest | 4-7 | 10 | 8 | 134 | 127 |
Boston College | 2-8 | 11 | 12 | 120 | 140 |
Virginia Tech | 2-8 | 12 | 11 | 159 | 170 |
Games of the Week:
Mid-week: Wednesday, North Carolina @ Duke
Weekend: Saturday, Virginia @ North Carolina
1. Miami
The Hurricanes soared to #3 in the AP Poll after winning their 11th straight game and improving to 10-0 in the ACC. Could Miami run the table? Unlikely. They still travel to Durham and have to play Virginia at home too. KenPom gives UM a 12.4% chance of a perfect 18-0 conference season.
This week: Wednesday @ Florida State. Sunday @ Clemson
2. Duke
After scoring 98 points against NC State, Duke was lucky to escape with a win at Boston College; unsurprisingly, a couple late calls went their way. Assuming Duke wins its rivalry showdown with UNC this week, there's a good chance that the #1 team in the nation will visit JPJ on February 28th.
This week: Wednesday vs. North Carolina. Saturday @ Maryland
3. Virginia
UVA has won 6 of 7 to solidify themselves as the third best team in the ACC. The Hoos haven't always been the most consistent team...but nor have UNC and NC State. Bubble or not, Virginia continues to improve offensively and play the same stingy defense (if the Maryland performance was an aberration).
This week: Tuesday vs. Virginia Tech. Saturday @ North Carolina
4. North Carolina
Carolina is 0-4 against the top 5 teams in these rankings (and the conference standings) and 6-0 against the bottom 7. James Michael McAdoo has racked up stats in that latter category of games, but has shot 12 of 35 from the field and turned the ball over 8 times in three games against UVA and Miami.
This week: Wednesday @ Duke. Saturday vs. Virginia
5. NC State
It took a last second three-pointer from the ageless Scott Wood, but NC State narrowly avoided a 4-game losing streak against Clemson. Though their RPI makes them a virtual NCAA lock, the Wolfpack's unwillingness to play defense is putting them at serious risk of wasting their Richard Howell / CJ Leslie / Lorenzo Brown nucleus.
This week: Saturday @ Virginia Tech
6. Maryland
The Terps have a week to think about their loss to UVA. They'll be rewarded with a visit from Duke, where all eyes will be on the matchup between two of the league's best big men, Marshall Plumlee and Alex Len. It won't be easy for the Blue Devils to hold Len under 10 points, as the Hoos did.
This week: Saturday vs. Duke
7. Florida State
When Michael Snaer makes a game-winning shot, the Noles are a (unsurprisingly) perfect 3-0. When he doesn't, they are 2-5. He did it again at Georgia Tech last week. It's starting to get ridiculous.
This week: Wednesday vs Miami. Saturday vs. Boston College
8. Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets' 3-7 ACC record is heavily influenced by an unforgiving conference schedule. GT plays Miami, UVA, North Carolina, and NC State twice each this year. Their defense is ranked 9th in KenPom's efficiency rankings, but no one on the squad seems to be able to score.
This week: Thursday vs. Clemson. Saturday vs. Wake Forest
9. Clemson
After their 37 point loss in Charlottesville, Clemson got another gut punch in the form of a last second defeat to NC State. Devon Booker and Milton Jennings have been a dangerous interior duo, but the Tigers are susceptible to jump-shooting teams. Their defense has declined throughout ACC play, but recovered to hold NC State to 58 points in 67 possessions.
This week: Thursday @ Georgia Tech. Sunday vs. Miami
10. Wake Forest
Wake Forest's home/away split is getting absurd. At home, (4-1 with a close loss to Duke): they have a +.08 PPP efficiency margin. (They outscore opponents by a solid .08 points per possession). Away, (0-6) they have a -.26 efficiency margin. (This is basically disasterous). Stuff like this is why home teams have won two-thirds of ACC games thus far.
This week: Wednesday @ Boston College. Saturday vs. Georgia Tech
11. Boston College
BC and VT have been going back and forth for that spot in the ACC basement, and the Eagles escaped after almost taking down Duke at home. Ryan Anderson and Oliver Hanlan are going to have BC going places in the next couple years.
This week: Wednesday vs. Wake Forest. Saturday @ Florida State
12. Virginia Tech
The Hokies are in the midst of a six-game swoon, including four home losses by an average of 10 points each. The only game in that stretch in which Erick Green scored under 25 points was the team's overtime loss at UNC. Coincidence?
This week: Tuesday @ Virginia. Saturday @ NC State