Streaking the Lawn’s ACC Men’s Basketball Power Rankings - 12/19/18

Season’s greetings, STL fam. While there hasn’t been too much ACC action during the exam break, we’ve had a few exciting results to review and use in our rankings. Were the Heels the only movers and shakers this week? Let’s take a look:

1. Duke Blue Devils (9-1, 0-0 - Last Week: 1)

Everyone saw ESPN play the five best Zion dunks from the Duke-Princeton game already right? No? Neither did we, but we assume they’ve spent three hours of air time on it already.

2. Virginia Cavaliers (9-0, 0-0 - Last Week: 2)

Your Virginia Cavaliers are on the road tonight to take on South Carolina - if you’re still upset about their out of conference schedule this year, you should check out the OOC schedules of most of the power 5...

3. North Carolina Tar Heels (8-2, 0-0 - Last Week: 4)

The Heels beat up on Gonzaga this week in convincing fashion at home - it was a pretty large statement to make after dropping some disappointing (but competitive) games earlier in the schedule. They’ve easily enough talent to compete for the ACC title, if they get it together.

4. Florida State Seminoles (9-1, 0-0 - Last Week: 3)

9-1 start for the Noles. Well done defeating Southeast Missouri. Up next? The North Florida Ospreys! Did you know the plural of osprey is ospreys? I think it should be osprey. Sounds better, yeah?

Exam week articles are difficult, y’all. (Eds. Note: We didn’t approve this copy.)

5. Virginia Tech Hokies (9-1, 0-0 - Last Week: 5)

BUZZ WILLIAMS INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

hmm

gross!

6. North Carolina State Wolfpack (9-1, 0-0 - Last Week: 7)

The Wolfpack beat Penn State which is technically an accomplishment. Remember - any time you talk about State you have to say “Kevin Keatts is a good coach.” It’s a requirement.

7. Louisville Cardinals (8-3, 0-0 - Last Week: 8)

The Cardinals took it to Kent State this week by seven after fending off a legit-good Lipscomb team by four. There’s no shame in collecting close wins...and they’ve still got Kentucky coming up later this month.

8. Syracuse Orange (7-3, 0-0 - Last Week: 6)

ODU - vanquishers of Hokies on the gridiron - walked out of the Carrier Dome with another big time upset this year. Things don’t get much easier against Buffalo - a game occurring before the time this was published but after it was written...it takes a lot of time and bandwidth to get these posts on the internet.

9. Clemson Tigers (7-3, 0-0 - Last Week: 9)

The Tigers faced the plucky Highlanders of Radford and pulled away late to avoid the upset that had befallen Texas and Notre Dame. Like the Hoos, they’ll play USC this week before ACC play starts.

10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-3, 0-0 - Last Week: 10)

Good on yah, Irish - beating Purdue in the cross-state showcase was a big time OOC victory. The injury to Rex Pflueger looms large, of course, but there’s potential momentum for the team now.

11. Miami Hurricanes (5-4, 0-0 - Last Week: 11)

The only news for the Canes this week wasn’t a game result - it was the confirmation that freshman forward Deng Gak will miss the rest of the year with injury.

12. Boston College Eagles (8-2, 0-0 - Last Week: 12)

The Eagles beat Fairfield this week - and have largely taken care of business in their non-ACC slate of games...they’re low in our rankings because they loss to IUPUI and their best win is over...Minnesota?

13. Pittsburgh Panthers (8-3, 0-0 - Last Week: 14)

Beating UM-Eastern Shore was a rebound win after the recent losses for the Panthers who have lost two players this week to announcements that they’ll be transferring.

14. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-4, 0-0 - Last Week: 13)

The Jackets lost to Gardner-Webb at home this week, so we’ve dropped them down in our rankings - not like “below Wake” levels yet, though, don’t worry.

15. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-3, 0-0 - Last Week: 15)

The Deacons beat Davidson! Maybe they’ll keep winning when they travel to Tennessee in a few days - I hear upsets are possible in basketball.