ACC Power Rankings: Week of 2/25

Below is a table of this week's rankings - further explanations follow. UVA moved back up to third with a solid week. The 7 through 10 spots were the toughest to figure out here. Drop your thoughts and disagreements down in the comments.

Team	ACC Record	STL Ranking	Last	KenPom Rank	RPI Rank
Miami	13-1	1	1	13	2
Duke	11-3	2	2	5	1
Virginia	9-5	3	4	17	73
North Carolina	9-5	4	3	31	22
NC State	8-6	5	6	46	24
Maryland	7-7	6	5	59	66
Wake Forest	5-9	7	10	118	147
Florida State	6-8	8	7	122	78
Georgia Tech	4-10	9	9	93	140
Clemson	5-9	10	8	95	148
Boston College	4-10	11	11	109	136
Virginia Tech	3-11	12	12	158	171

Games of the Week:

Mid-week: Thursday, Duke @ Virginia (also Game of the Century)

Weekend: Saturday, Miami @ Duke

1. Miami

It's hard to win on the road in the ACC. Doing so 9 times in a season is even harder, and the Hurricanes fell in road game #8. Playing Virginia Tech at home should be a fun way for them to right the ship.

This week: Wednesday vs Virginia Tech. Saturday @ Duke

2. Duke

After moseying by VT and BC last week by a combined 53 points, its put up or shut up time for Duke this week. Hopefully, they "shut up" in Charlottesville on Thursday. Ryan Kelly is eyeing a return in time for the ACC Tournament, which should improve Duke's fortunes.

This week: Thursday @ Virginia. Saturday vs. Miami

3. Virginia

The Hoos missed a big opportunity, falling on the road at Miami, but have another chance this week. There's too much to say about that game than could be confined in this space...but let's win it.

This week: Thursday vs. Duke. Sunday @ Boston College

4. North Carolina

Carolina avenged their earlier loss to the Wolfpack, picking up its first legitimately impressive win of the ACC season (and probably the entire regular season). Previously, they were 0-5 against the top 5 teams in these rankings and 8-0 against the bottom 7.

This week: Thursday @ Clemson. Sunday vs. Florida State.

5. NC State

The Wolfpack are lucky that their lofty RPI makes them an NCAA tourney lock. NC State has been mediocre in conference play since that early win at Duke, and couldn't change their fortunes in Chapel Hill this weekend. After high preseason expectations, the team is in danger of finishing outside the ACC's top 4, but has an easy finish to its conference schedule.

This week: Wednesday vs. Boston College. Sunday @ Georgia Tech.

6. Maryland

What NOT to do after beating Duke: Lose to BC. Virginia Tech did it during their star-crossed 2011 season, and Maryland pulled off the feat this week. Virginia, be warned.

This week: Wednesday @ Georgia Tech. Saturday @ Wake Forest

7. Wake Forest

Needless to say, there's a large drop-off in the conference after Maryland. I put Wake here because they are (somehow) so darn dangerous at home and proved it by blowing out Miami. They are 5-2 at the Joel, their two losses coming by a combined 6 points to Georgia Tech and Duke, while outscoring opponents by a solid .10 points per possession. On the road, they are 0-7, and have been outscored by a miserable .20 PPP margin.

This week: Tuesday @ Florida State. Sunday vs. Maryland

8. Florida State

I really would like to drop the Seminoles further after their loss to Virginia Tech, but nobody in the ACC basement has justified moving up. After 4 straight years of defenses ranked in KenPom's top 15 (and 9 of 10 in the top 55), Leonard Hamilton's signature unit is 151st in efficiency.

This week: Tuesday vs. Wake Forest. Sunday @ North Carolina

9. Georgia Tech

For the 6th straight game, the Yellow Jackets scored to score more than 1 PPP. After a nice 4-3 mid-season stretch, Georgia Tech is back to their losing ways.

This week: Wednesday vs. Maryland. Sunday vs. NC State.

10. Clemson

Speaking of losing ways, Clemson has lost 5 of 6 in a difficult mid-season stretch. Their defense looked tough earlier this year, but has slowly but surely broken down throughout the season, and now stands at the bottom half of the ACC in conference play.

This week: Thursday vs. North Carolina. Saturday @ Virginia Tech