ACC Power Rankings: Week of 2/4

Below is a table of this week's rankings (with a new column to include RPI) - further explanations follow. Not much to tweak this week - the Hoos swapped spots with UNC, and the conference bottom continues to shift as well. Drop your thoughts and disagreements down in the comments.

1. Miami

Reggie Johnson's tip-in with .8 seconds to win at NC State was just more evidence of what we already knew - Miami is good. They're a senior laden team with an elite defense and very little weaknesses to point at (their poor FT shooting?). The Hurricanes should be favored in the remainder of their games besides their rematch at Duke, and are on their way to a high NCAA seed.

This week: Tuesday @ Boston College. Saturday @ North Carolina

2. Duke

The Blue Devils are slowly adapting to life without Ryan Kelly, though their defense likely won't fully recover. They won on the road twice last week, and will have a chance to avenge an earlier loss and notch their first "signature" win since November when NC State visits Durham Thursday.

This week: Thursday vs. NC State. Sunday @ Boston College

3. NC State

While losses at JPJ and against Miami aren't anything to hang their heads about, Wolfpack fans can't be happy about an 0-2 week. This week's schedule doesn't get any easier. It is clear that the team isn't meeting lofty pre-season expectations, but CJ Leslie and Richard Howell are still a consistant and dangerous combination.

This week: Thursday @ Duke. Sunday @ Clemson

4. Virginia

The Hoos put themselves on the map against NC State this past week, but didn't help themselves out at Georgia Tech days later. UVA is playing like a top-of-the-conference team right now (most of the time)...but did they do too much damage earlier this year to overcome to make the tourney?

This week: Thursday vs. Clemson. Sunday @ Maryland

5. North Carolina

UNC may have won both of their games this week, but their overtime home victory against hapless Virginia Tech was unimpressive enough to lower their stock. Carolina has barely avoided bad losses, and they have no good wins to point to except for their home win against UNLV. The Heels have more opportunities against Duke, Miami, and UVA in the next two weeks.

This week: Tuesday vs. Wake Forest. Saturday @ Miami

6. Maryland

UVA fans may be up in arms about the team's road performance, but the Terps have yet to win away from the Comcast Center (albeit against tougher competition). Virginia gets their first look at Dez Wells, Alex Len and the Terps this weekend; it would be nice to have Darion Atkins back in time to help match up with Len.

This week: Thursday @ Virginia Tech. Sunday vs. Virginia

7. Florida State

Michael Snaer did it again this week, nailing a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to defeat Maryland. Unfortunately for the Seminoles, Snaer cannot play nor defend all 5 positions. It's surprising, considering Leonard Hamilton's history, that it's FSU's defense that is holding them back.

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

8. Wake Forest

Wake Forest stays at #8 based on their strangely impressive performances at home. They had already beaten NC State and Virginia, then almost downed Duke last week. These powers don't extend beyond Winston-Salem, as the Demon Deacons have been outscored by .24 points per possession on the road. (That's a lot).

This week: Tuesday @ North Carolina. Saturday vs. Florida State

9. Clemson

The Tigers are another team with a dramatic home-away shift: 4-1 at Littlejohn Colleseum and 0-4 away. The Hoos have a chance to avenge their early-season loss in Clemson this week at John Paul Jones Arena.

This week: Thursday @ Virginia. Sunday vs. NC State

10. Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech showed Sunday that they are definitely better than their 2-6 ACC record. We thought this was because of their defense, ranked in the 20 in efficiency. Did they turn a corner offensively against Virginia this weekend? Either way, look out for the Yellow Jackets to pull another upset or two at home as the season progresses.

This week: Tuesday vs. Florida State. Saturday vs. Virginia Tech