Streaking the Lawn’s ACC Men’s Basketball Power Rankings - 3/1/19

1. Virginia Cavaliers (25-2, 13-2 - Last Week: 2)

The Hoos keep winning - and with Duke losing, they’ve jumped back to the top of our Power Rankings this week. A complete dismantling of Georgia Tech was nice to see at home and tomorrow’s game against Pitt presents a similar blowout opportunity. Next week’s games against Cuse and Louisville will determine whether they get the ACCT 1 seed (and potentially end up in the D.C. NCAAT regional).

2. Duke Blue Devils (24-4, 12-3 - Last Week: 1)

Having dropped two of their last three games, our writers were comfortable dropping the Devils below our beloved Hoos...but not against the teams that actually beat them recently. I think I heard somewhere that Duke’s got a star player out with an injury? Might have impacted things.

3. North Carolina Tar Heels (23-5, 13-2 - Last Week: 3)

UNC excellent recent run has them competing for the ACC title - but they still have games against Clemson and BC before the Tobacco Road Rematch on 3/9. They should enter that game with a chance to snag the ACC title...if the Wahoos stumble in the last week of games.

4. Virginia Tech Hokies (22-6, 11-5- Last Week: 6)

Virginia Tech beat Duke in Blacksburg for the 30th straight time, I think - a huge win for Buzz, whose twitter I will refrain from quoting this week.

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

A loss in Chapel Hill is no disaster and the Noles rebounded by beating Notre Dame. Hosting the Hokies this week will probably determine whether FSU locks up a double-bye in Charlotte or if they’ll have to play an extra game.

6. Louisville Cardinals (18-11, 9-7 - Last Week: 5)

Losing 5 of 6 certainly hurts - but losing to Boston College has to be especially painful for a team that looked like a top 4 conference squad a few weeks ago. Coach Mack may have a rough few weeks remaining in his first season with the team as his frustrations have been...clearly evident...on the sidelines.

7. Syracuse Orange (18-10, 9-6 - Last Week: 7)

Syracuse followed up their big win over Louisville with a pair of losses to Duke and UNC - which were to be expected, but Monday’s game hosting UVa present an enormous opportunity for the Orange to pick up another marquee win as we head into tournament season.

8. North Carolina State Wolfpack (20-8, 8-7 - Last Week: 8)

Tomorrow’s game in Tallahassee will serve as a good test to see whether the Wolfpack really have rebounded into the top half of the conference or have just been getting by recently by beating the worst teams in the ACC. Their following games against GT and BC will be less impressive wins, so they’ll need to potentially win a couple in Charlotte if they don’t trip up the Noles.

9. Clemson Tigers (17-11, 7-8 - Last Week: 9)

If Clemson can beat the Heels tomorrow, they’ll really help their chances at an NCAAT bid...but that’s certainly a huge ask. Were they to lose and manage to beat ND and Syracuse to finish the year, they would be 9-9 in conference play with a toss up 8/9 seed game in the ACCT. That screams “bubble.”

10. Miami Hurricanes (12-15, 4-11 - Last Week: 10)

Before the Canes start looking to the 2019-20 season, they’ve got Duke coming to town tomorrow. That would be a hugely fun bright spot for the slumping team - were they to pull off the upset. It would also be a hugely fun bright spot for America, who benefits whenever Duke loses.

10 (tie). Boston College Eagles (14-13, 5-10 - Last Week: 11)

BC’s win over Louisville bumps them up a spot in our rankings this week - and they’ve got another chance to play spoiler on Monday against UNC.

12. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (13-15, 3-12 - Last Week: 12)

The Irish finish the year with Louisville, Clemson, and Pitt - which certainly are plausible chances to finish the disappointing year with a positive stretch of games. They’ll probably be back next season to contend well in the ACC regardless.

13. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (12-17, 4-12- Last Week: 13)

You know who won’t be contending well in the ACC next year? Georgia Tech. Their recruiting class is so weak it doesn’t show up in the 247 rankings.

14. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (11-16, 4-11 - Last Week: 15)

Victors in two of their last three games, the Deacons have catapulted up our rankings this week to 14th!

15. Pittsburgh Panthers (12-16, 2-13 - Last Week: 14)

Pitt is very bad. Very very bad. They’ve lost 11 straight games. ELEVEN.