ACC Basketball Power Rankings: Big Slide for the Hoos?

1) North Carolina (11-3, 23-5 Overall) Last Week: 1

UNC still has to wait a few weeks to avenge their one recent blemish against Duke. Until then, convincing blowouts over NCSU and UVa have them in our top spot - with #7 Louisville coming to town tomorrow night.

2) Duke (10-4, 22-5 Overall) Last Week: 2

Duke has won 7 straight games - which is pretty remarkable in this conference. They easily could’ve been #1 in our rankings, but a stretch of Syracuse, MIami, FSU, UNC is no cake walk to close out the season.

3) Louisville (10-4, 22-5 Overall) Last Week: 5

While the Cardinals haven’t figured out how to beat UVa (and probably would love a chance in Brooklyn to do so), they’ve had little trouble beating ever other team. Most of the wins have been close, but there are reasons Louisville is seen by some as the ACC’s best chance at a national title.

4) Florida State (10-5, 22-6 Overall) Last Week: 4

FSU has bounced back from a couple of losses by beating BC by 32. They lost pretty convincingly before that to Pitt and Notre Dame, but somehow remain at number 4 in our rankings.

5) Notre Dame (10-5, 21-7 Overall) Last Week: 6

Remember when the Irish lost 5 of 6? Well they’ve now won 4 straight - against FSU and some bottom-feeders. They’re right in the think of the ACC Top 4 race with games against GT, BC, and Louisville.

6) Miami (9-6, 19-8 Overall) Last Week: 9

Miami continued their streak of successful games by winning the worst college basketball game I’ve seen since UVA/Wisconsin way back when. They’re a good not great team, but should fee strong about their bubble chances.

7) Virginia Tech (7-7, 18-8 Overall) Last Week: 8

I’m too annoyed again to tease Buzz Williams about his twitter. The Hokies almost beat Louisville, but didn’t. They did however pair their 2OT win vs UVa with a close win on the road at Pitt. They should also be on the right side of the bubble come Selection Sunday.

8) Virginia (8-7, 18-9 Overall) Last Week: 3

Your guess is as good as mine, everyone. I don’t know why UVa can’t shoot all of the sudden. They were the best shooting team in the conference two weeks ago. Maybe everyone got secret-flu-mono-sars in Blacksburg.

9) Syracuse (8-7, 16-12 Overall) Last Week: 7

The Orange are tied with UVa in the ACC standings, having dropped 3 straight games of their own. They had looked poised to challenge for a double bye, but are now more likely to moderately sweat out NCAAT seeding with Duke, Louisville, and a GT rematch on the remaining schedule.

10) Georgia Tech (7-7, 16-11 Overall) Last Week: 11

No one thought this team would ever be 7-7 in the ACC this year. Josh Pastner for ACC COY, easily.

11) Wake Forest (6-9, 15-12 Overall) Last Week: 10

The Deacs took Duke to the wire this week in a close loss in Cameron. Pitt, Louisville, and VT present at least one (maybe 2) chances to close out a moderately successful rebuilding season. John Collins is a monster.

12) Clemson (4-10, 14-12 Overall) Last Week: 12

Clemson is 4-10 in the ACC and is in “First Four Out” territory from Lunardi. Anyone panicking about UVa’s NCAAT hopes is missing how mediocre the middle of Power 5 basketball is.

12) Pittsburgh (4-10, 15-12 Overall) Last Week: 13

Pitt jumps up to #12 in our rankings this week following a big win over FSU in Pittsburgh. They’re a sneak 3 of 4 headed into the final stretch of the year.

14) NC State (3-12, 14-14 Overall) Last Week: 14

NC State followed up blowout losses to FSU and Wake with losses to UNC and Notre Dame. Expert analysis: they are bad. They play GT tonight and host UVa this weekend. Here’s hoping they’ve given up on trying to win games for their lame duck coach.

15) Boston College (2-13, 9-19 Overall) Last Week: 15

Yikes.