ACC Basketball Power Rankings: A Tobacco Road Shakeup?

Both the Hoos and the Heels suffered disappointing losses this week, so the esteemed STL Power Ranking committee shook up the number 1 spot in this week’s rankings. Meanwhile, most of the bottom half of the conference have spent the early season losing to good teams and beating bad teams - making for a confusing lower tier.

1) Duke (8-1) Last week: 2

The Blue Devils beat a struggling Michigan State squad and played Maine for some reason. Tomorrow’s game against #21 Florida could solidify them as ACC favorites before conference play begins.

2) North Carolina (8-1) Last week: 1

The Heels looked like the best team in the country before their somewhat surprising loss on the road at IU. Our writers bumped their rivals up for it, but their next stretch against Davidson, Tennessee, and Kentucky could shoot them back to the top.

3) Virginia (7-1) Last week: 3

The Wahoos hold steady at number 3 even after dropping a home game to WVU. Maybe it’s because we’re homers, or maybe it’s because the rest of the ACC still doesn’t look as good as Tony Bennett.

4) Louisville (7-1) Last week: 4

The win over Purdue is definitely impressive, but it may take a win over UK on 12/21, or some more UVa losses, to see the Cardinals climb higher in the rankings.

5) Notre Dame (8-0)Last week: 6

Undefeated and yet only #5 in the eyes of Streaking the Lawn. When your best win is probably the four point game over Northwestern, you’ve still got a lot to prove, I suppose. Nonetheless, the Irish look like contenders early - and host Villanova this week.

6) Syracuse (5-2) Last week: 5

The Orange notched a six point win against something called UNF - probably a international charity or radio station. They dropped a spot because ND keeps winning.

7) tie - Florida State (7-1) Last week: 9

FSU beatdown GW at home and jumped a couple of places in our rankings. Coach Hamilton’s team has looked pretty strong...which seems like a familiar feeling for them headed towards conference play.

7) tie - Virginia Tech (6-1) Last week: 8

It’s time for the Buzz Williams terrible college application essay of the week!

9) Miami (6-2) Last week: 7

The Hurricanes won two games and dropped two spots this week. I guess Wofford and Rutgers failed to provide strong context as competition. They’ve got an ok win vs Stanford and two Ls to their top two opponents (Iowa St and Florida), so we won’t know much about the Canes...unless they drop more.

10) Clemson (5-2) Last week: 10

Squeaking by Nebraska and abusing Coppin State did little to move the Tigers up. Mercer and South Carolina State are unlikely to do so as well.

11) Pittsburgh (6-2) Last week: 11

Duquesne rushed the court after beating the Panthers, which I guess is fine because they’re Duquesne. It didn’t drop Pitt in our rankings though, which shows how highly we regard the ACC’s bottom teams.

12) Wake Forest (6-2) Last week: 13

Danny Manning’s team went into Richmond and took the Spiders’ stuff - winning 75-67 last week. The Deacs climbed a spot in our rankings for it.

13) NC State (6-2) Last week: 11

The Wolfpack beat Boston U by four points at home which is apparently less impressive than getting beat by Duquesne.

14) Georgia Tech (4-3) Last week: 14

Georgia Tech went on the road to Tennessee and got blown out. Naturally, look for the Yellow Jackets to win the ACC this season.

15) Boston College (4-3) Last week: 15

A win over Dartmouth wasn’t enough for our writers to get BC out of the cellar. The slapfight for last place in the ACC should be great entertainment this season.

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