Streaking the Lawn’s ACC Men’s Basketball Power Rankings - 3/8/19

The top four teams in the ACC tournament seeding have been determined, but there’s still a lot of potential for movement within that group. More importantly, the seeding for one seeds in the NCAA tournament is still up for grabs, as UVa, UNC, and Duke are battling for East or South regional placement. Meanwhile, a few ACC teams are squarely on the NCAAT with precious few opportunities left to impress:

1. Virginia Cavaliers (27-2, 15-2 - Last Week: 1)

The Hoos keep on keepin on - most recently showing an insane three point shooting display on the road at Syracuse. If they can beat Louisville on Senior Day tomorrow, they might have the D.C. NCAAT wrapped up before the ACCT even starts...

2. North Carolina Tar Heels (25-5, 15-2 - Last Week: 3)

The Heels have been a truly impressive team in the months following their January blowout loss at home to Louisville. A once disjointed-looking team has beaten every team in their path not named “UVa” and have a final statement-making chance at home against Duke tomorrow. They’re absolutely on track for a NCAAT one seed - but it might depend on how Saturday and next week’s conference tournament work out.

3. Duke Blue Devils (26-4, 14-3 - Last Week: 2)

Duke was SO CLOSE to dropping a home game this week to Wake Forest. With recent losses to VT and UNC, the Blue Devils has fallen behind UNC and UVa in the championship race...but there’s certainly a Zion-sized “what-if?” if Williamson does return to the team in the coming weeks.

4. Florida State Seminoles (24-6, 12-5- Last Week: 5)

The Noles OT win against the Hokies wrapped up the 4 seed for them in the ACC tournament and the all-important double bye that comes with it. If they take care of Wake Forest tomorrow they’ll enter the tournament having won 12 of their last 13 games.

5. Virginia Tech Hokies (22-7, 11-6 - Last Week: 4)

FUTURE TEXAS A&M COACH BUZZ WILLIAMS INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Nope!

6. Louisville Cardinals (19-11, 10-7 - Last Week: 6)

A win against Notre Dame got the Cardinals back in the win column this week - but a road trip to Charlottesville tomorrow will be the real key to ending their regular season with a positive note. They’ve lost 5 of 6 before the game against the Irish, so UL could really use some positivity heading into Charlotte.

7. Syracuse Orange (19-11, 10-7 - Last Week: 7)

Cuse is safely in the NCAAT it appears, but will want to take care of Clemson this weekend after the shellacking they took at the hands of the Hoos on Monday. They’ll also be on the opposite side of the ACCT bracket from UVa next week - with potential games against UNC and Duke ahead of them to bolster their NCAAT seeding.

8. Clemson Tigers (18-12, 8-9 - Last Week: 9)

Here lie the Clemson Tigers
The bubbliest of ACC bubble teams

They failed to beat anyone good

So goes CU’s bubble epitaph if Clemson drops their Saturday game against Syracuse and fails to pick up an upset in the ACCT.

9. North Carolina State Wolfpack (20-10, 8-9 - Last Week: 8)

Speaking of bubble teams, the Wolfpack’s loss to GT could be eventually devastating to their hopes. Their nonconference schedule was horribly weak and they’re currently 2-8 in “Quad 1” games...they might need to make a run in Charlotte.

10. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (14-17, 6-12 - Last Week: 13)

The Jackets are on their first two-game winning streak since the first week of January! They’ve got the ACCT ahead of them but it would take a miracle run to get to a .500 record this year as they currently sit at 14-17.

11. Miami Hurricanes (13-16, 5-12 - Last Week: 10)

Miami closes out their 2019 regular season tonight in Blacksburg - a road win could be a fun conclusion, but they’d still need two more wins in the ACCT to get to an even overall record...which is too big of an ask probably.

12. Boston College Eagles (14-15, 5-12 - Last Week: 11)

The Eagles, on the other hand, have a chance to get to 15-15 when they host the Wolfpack tomorrow. Finishing 6-12 would be a bit of an accomplishment for this roster, but for fifth-year coach Jim Christian, the state of this program has taken a big step back this season.

13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (13-17, 3-14 - Last Week: 12)

We can be more forgiving when looking at injury-depleted Notre Dame, who has been ridiculously and unusually awful this year. A close loss in Charlottesville was one of their stronger performances this year and most imagine this is more of a fluke year for Coach Brey rather than anything indicative of a trend for the program.

14. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (11-18, 4-13 - Last Week: 14)

The Deacs did almost everything they could to pull off a huge upset in Durham this week - and have Saturday’s game hosting FSU remaining to try and salvage a little good faith for Danny Manning. They’re not as bad as Pitt is, at least.

15. Pittsburgh Panthers (12-18, 2-15 - Last Week: 15)

Gross