ACC Power Rankings: Week 11

Doing the ACC power ranking for basketball has now become way too similar to doing it for football.

The top couple spots are pretty easy, but after that, it was a lot of shrugging and saying “I guess they’ll go here?” If I sat down to do them right now, there’s a chance I have an entirely different order. So with that warning, here are this week’s ACC power rankings, I guess.

1. #3 Duke Blue Devils (15-1, 5-0 ACC)

As much as it pains me to say, we are a slightly mistimed Stephen F. Austin layup from the “craziest college basketball season ever” turning into to an undefeated Duke team steadily just sitting at #1 in the nation. Sigh.

Next: Tonight at Clemson

2. #9 Florida State Seminoles (14-2, 4-1 ACC)

FSU has not lost since December 3rd, and they’ve not all come against a bunch of cupcakes, as they took down Louisville on the road a little over a week ago.

Next: Tomorrow vs. Virginia

3. #11 Louisville Cardinals (13-3, 4-1 ACC)

The Cardinals have bounced back from their late December/early January swoon with two-straight wins. A big game against Duke this weekend will give someone an early edge in the conference regular season title race.

Next: Tonight at Pitt

4. Virginia Cavaliers (11-4, 3-2 ACC)

Not many teams embody the “weird college basketball season” more than Virginia. They’ve now lost two straight games to Boston College and Syracuse, but a the same time, it’s tough to drop them super far, because who else is there?

Next: Tomorrow at Florida State

5. Virginia Tech Hokies (12-4, 3-2 ACC)

They’re not as good as last season, but a pretty solid first year in Blacksburg for Mike Young continued with wins over Syracuse and NC State last week.

Next: Tonight at Wake Forest

6. Miami Hurricanes (10-5, 2-3 ACC)

A 2-3 ACC record isn’t particularly good, but Miami doesn’t have a really bad conference, or non-conference loss. There just really isn’t anyone else you can say that about. Yes, just not losing dumb games can vault you quite high.

Next: Tomorrow at NC State

7. NC State Wolfpack (11-5, 2-3 ACC)

They, too, know what it’s like to lose to Clemson.

Next: Tomorrow vs. Miami

8. Pittsburgh Panthers (11-5, 2-3 ACC)

It’s a while ago now, but their Florida State win to start the season looks better by the game.

Next: Tomorrow vs. Louisville

9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-6, 1-4 ACC)

Notre Dame played Louisville close but came up empty over the weekend. There’s not really any good wins on their record, but all by two of their losses were by single digits.

Next: Tomorrow at Georgia Tech

10. Syracuse Orange (9-7, 2-3 ACC)

The Virginia win was good, but at the same time, it was their first against major conference competition since December 7th.

Next: Tomorrow vs. Boston College

11. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (8-7, 1-4 ACC)

Losses to Florida State and Duke are nothing to be ashamed of, and prior to that they had won three-straight, including a win over a then ranked Xavier.

Next: Tonight vs. Virginia Tech

12. Clemson Tigers (8-7, 2-3 ACC)

The Tigers have gotten off to a good start in their tour of North Carolina schools, beating NC State and UNC. Now they get Duke. As annoying as it was to take that loss over the weekend, it’ll feel a teeny tiny bit better if Clemson build upon that win with another.

Next: Tonight vs. Duke

13. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-8, 3-3 ACC)

They don’t have any really good wins, but they’ve been picking up wins against similarly regarded competition of late, which is this least you can ask for in this mess of a season.

Next: Tomorrow vs. Notre Dame

14. North Carolina Tar Heels (8-8, 1-4 ACC)

Let’s look at Heels’ results of late: (404 file not found).

Look, I don’t want to put them here, but I’m not sure what else to do.

Next: Saturday at Pittsburgh

15. Boston College Eagles (9-7, 3-2 ACC)

The win over Virginia is pretty good, but a little devalued now, and good lord, look at what else they’ve done. Bookending that UVA win is losses to Duke and Georgia Tech by a combined 58 points.

Next: Tomorrow at Syracuse