ACC Basketball Power Rankings: Week 7

NCAA Basketball: North Carolina at Duke

The ACC just continues to shine brightest. With so much talent, how does that affect this week’s power rankings?

As I have been mentioning for weeks, the Atlantic Coast Conference is loaded. To further prove my point, the NCAA released a sneak peak at the their top 16 teams.

The ACC represented five of those teams, or nearly one third of the top line. Only the Big 12 and Pac 12 came close with three teams each.

That means the rest of Division I had as many teams on the top line combined as the ACC did.

In fact the only thing stronger than the ACC right now is the UConn Women’s team who will that  for win 100 in a row Monday night.

So with that thought locked in, let’s delve into this week’s power rankings.

Note: all records and stats are as of 2/12/2017

Teams 11-15

NCAA Basketball: Boston College at Georgia Tech

15

Boston College Eagles

(9-17, 2-11)

Last week: Lost 65-54 to Georgia Tech
Last rank: 14th

Boston College drops a spot this week to reclaim the bottom spot that they held all of last season. Part of that has to do with still being the only team with an overall losing record. Part of it also has to do with being on a nine-game losing streak. The Eagles were actually 9-8 overall when the losing streak started. Against Georgia Tech, the team shot 32.8 percent from the field. Leading scorer Jerome Robinson did have 17 points and two assists for the Eagles. Boston College’s next game is Tuesday against Notre Dame.
Feb 11, 2017; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Maverick Rowan (24) shoots the ball against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second half at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Demon Deacons won 88-58. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Feb 11, 2017; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Maverick Rowan (24) shoots the ball against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second half at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Demon Deacons won 88-58. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

14

NC State Wolfpack

(14-12, 3-10)

Last week: Lost 88-58 to Wake Forest
Last rank: 13th

NC State also drops a spot this week after losing their fifth-straight game. The Wolfpack, along with the Eagles are the only two teams currently with double-digit ACC losses, the last two on the road by a combined 54 points. Against Wake Forest, the team shot 35.5 percent from the field. Leading scorer Dennis Smith Jr. did have 17 points and three assists for the Wolfpack. NC State’s next game is Wednesday against North Carolina, who won by 51 the last time the two teams met.
Feb 11, 2017; Durham, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Brad Brownell talks to Clemson Tigers guard Shelton Mitchell (4) as he comes off the floor in the first half of their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports

Feb 11, 2017; Durham, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Brad Brownell talks to Clemson Tigers guard Shelton Mitchell (4) as he comes off the floor in the first half of their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports

13

Clemson Tigers

(13-11, 3-9)

Last week: Lost 64-62 to Duke
Last rank: 12th

Clemson also falls a spot this week having lost their third-straight in a row (any one else seeing a trend here). However, the Tiger’s last two have come by a combined three points, including a two point loss at Duke. Against the Blue Devils, the team shot 37.9 percent from the field, climbing back from an 11 point halftime deficit. Leading scorer Jaron Blossomgame was held to only seven points for the Tigers, who got a huge game from sophomore Shelton Mitchell, who finished with 23, five more points than the team had in the first half. Clemson’s next game is Tuesday against Wake Forest.
Feb 11, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers forward Jamel Artis (1) and guard Cameron Johnson (23) celebrate a three point basket by Johnson against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Pittsburgh won 80-75. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Feb 11, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers forward Jamel Artis (1) and guard Cameron Johnson (23) celebrate a three point basket by Johnson against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Pittsburgh won 80-75. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

12

Pittsburgh Panthers

(14-11, 3-9)

Last week: Won 80-75 against Syracuse
Last rank: 15th

Pittsburgh moves up three spots this week despite early losses to both State and Clemson. Their two wins this past week not only ended an eight-game winning streak, but gave the team better wins than either NC State or Clemson. Pitt now holds quality wins against Virginia and Syracuse. Against the Orange, the team shot 48.1 percent from the field. Leading scoring duo Michael Young and James Artis finished with a combined 37 points, 12 rebounds, and sixteen assists for the Panthers, who also got 22 points on 6 for 8 shooting from behind the arc from Cameron Johnson. Pittsburgh’s next game is Tuesday against Virginia Tech.
Feb 11, 2017; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Mitchell Wilbekin (10) celebrates after scoring in the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Demon Deacons won 88-58. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Feb 11, 2017; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Mitchell Wilbekin (10) celebrates after scoring in the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Demon Deacons won 88-58. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

11

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

(15-10, 6-7)

Last week: Won 88-58 against NC State
Last rank: 10th

Wake Forest drops a spot this week due to a lack of quality wins. Though the Deacons do have wins over Miami and Georgia Tech, who both rank higher on this list, Wake is missing anything nearly as impressive as either of those other two teams have. Sorry beating NC State twice isn’t as impressive as it was in the ’90s. Against the Wolfpack, the team shot 54.1 percent from the field. Leading scorer John Collins led the way with 23 points and seven rebounds for the Demon Deacons. Wake Forest’s next game is Tuesday at Clemson.

Teams 7-10

Feb 11, 2017; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots against Miami (Fl) Hurricanes guard Bruce Brown (11) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Miami 71-66. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Feb 11, 2017; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots against Miami (Fl) Hurricanes guard Bruce Brown (11) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Miami 71-66. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

10

Miami Hurricanes

(16-8, 6-6)

Last week: Lost 71-66 to Louisville
Last rank: 11th

Miami moves up a spot this week, in a large part thanks to Pittsburgh’s improvement as a squad. That win coupled with the win over UNC looks slightly better than what Wake Forest has put together this season, even with the Deacon’s victory over these same Hurricanes. Against Louisville, the team shot 44.2 percent from the field as they squandered a seven-point halftime lead. Leading scorer Davon Reed was held to just seven points for the Hurricanes, who received most of their scoring from guards JaQuan Newton and Bruce Brown. Miami’s next game is Wednesday against Georgia Tech.

NCAA Basketball: Boston College at Georgia Tech

9

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

(15-10, 6-6)

Last week: Won 65-54 against Boston College
Last rank: 8th

Georgia Tech drops a spot this week despite going 2-0, including 1-0 in ACC play. However, that one win was against Boston College, ranked dead last, and the non conference win was against a Division II school that is 11-13 on the season. Against the Eagles, the team shot 40.7 percent from the field. Leading scorer Josh Okogie did have 12 points for the Yellow Jackets, though it was Junior Tadric Jackson who led the way with 29 points off the bench. Georgia Tech’s next game is Wednesday at Miami.

NCAA Basketball: Virginia at Virginia Tech

8

Virginia Tech Hokies

(17-7, 6-6)

Last week: Won 80-78 against Virginia
Last rank: 9th

Virginia Tech moves up a spot this week thanks in a large part to their double overtime victory against Virginia. The win against the Cavaliers did two things. First is added another quality win to the Hokies schedule (Duke playing well has also helped). Two it evened the playing field against Georgia Tech allowing the head-to-head tie breaker to take precedence. The win also ended a two game losing run for the Tech. Against Virginia, the team shot 44.1 percent from the field as they climbed out of a 14 point halftime hole. Leading scorer Zach LeDay was held to only 11 points for the Hokies, though luckily they had Seth Allen step up with 20 off the bench to carry the load. Virginia Tech’s next game is Tuesday at Pittsburgh.

NCAA Basketball: Syracuse at Pittsburgh

7

Syracuse Orange

(16-10, 8-5)

Last week: Lost 80-75 to Pittsburgh
Last rank: 5th

Syracuse drops two spots this week by going 1-1 on the road. The loss was to previously bottom dwelling Pittsburgh. Against the Panthers, the team shot 43.3 percent from the field. Leading scorer Andrew White III did have 20 points for the Orange, who saw a five-game winning streak come to an end. Syracuse’s next game is Monday against Louisville, meaning one of these losing streaks is coming to an end.

Teams 4-6

NCAA Basketball: Florida State at Notre Dame

6

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

(19-7, 8-5)

Last week: Won 84-72 against Florida State
Last rank: 7th

Notre Dame jumps a spot this week by going 2-0. The two wins not only ended a four game losing streak, but also gave the Irish revenge over the Seminoles for a three point loss earlier in Tallahassee. Against Florida State, the team shot 49.2 percent from the field. Leading scorer Bonzie Colson recorded yet another double double for the Irish by grabbing 13 boards and dropping in 33 points. Notre Dame’s next game is Tuesday at Boston College.

NCAA Basketball: Miami at Louisville

5

Louisville Cardinals

(20-5, 8-4)

Last week: Won 71-66 against Miami
Last rank: 4th

Louisville drops a spot this week by going 1-1 which included a second big loss to Virginia. Against Miami, the team shot 39.3 percent from the field clawing back from a halftime deficit to win by five. Leading scorer Donovan Mitchell did have 18 points and four assists for the Cardinals. Louisville’s next game is Monday at Syracuse.

NCAA Basketball: Virginia at Virginia Tech

4

Virginia Cavaliers

(18-6. 8-4)

Last week: Lost 80-78 to Virginia Tech
Last rank: 3rd

Virginia drops a spot this week by continuing it’s inconsistent play between road and home. In their last two home games, Virginia is 2-0 with an average margin of victory about 20. Meanwhile in their three road games, Virginia is 0-3, having blown halftime leads of 9, 12, and 14. Against Virginia Tech, the team shot 42.4 percent from the field. Leading scorer London Perrantes did have 22 points and three assists for the Cavaliers, who came up one basket short in double OT, including a shot that sat on the rim near the end of the first OT. Virginia’s next game is Wednesday against Duke.

Teams 2-3

NCAA Basketball: North Carolina at Duke

3

Duke Blue Devils

(20-5, 8-4)

Last week: Won 64-62 against Clemson
Last rank: 6th

Duke makes a three spot jump this week by going 2-0 at home and extending their winning streak to five. The Blue Devils seem to be getting their groove back, though the last three wins have all come in the confines of Cameron Indoor Stadium, but do re-enter the discussion for ACC champions. Against Clemson, the team shot 42 percent from the field. Leading scorer Luke Kennard saved the day with 25 points for the Blue Devils, who blew a huge halftime lead just to barely hold on. Duke’s next game is Wednesday at Virginia, the two teams only meeting and the first of four road games in their last six for the Blue Devils.

NCAA Basketball: Florida State at Notre Dame

2

Florida State Seminoles

(21-5, 9-4)

Last week: Lost 84-72 to Notre Dame
Last rank: 2nd

Florida State stays the course despite a 1-1 record this past week. The Seminoles are one of only two ACC teams with nine conference wins and are 3-1 in games against teams ranked in the top five of these rankings. Against Notre Dame, the team shot 47 percent from the field. Leading scorer Dwayne Bacon did have 12 points and six rebounds for the Seminoles. Florida State’s next game is Saturday at Pittsburgh.

Team 1

NCAA Basketball: North Carolina at Duke

1

North Carolina Tar Heels

(21-5, 9-3)

Last week: Lost 86-78 to Duke
Last rank: 1st

North Carolina maintains their top spot in these rankings despite losing their only game this week. This is due mainly to the thanks of Florida State and Virginia losing to Notre Dame and Virginia Tech respectively. Against Duke, the team shot 52.5 percent from the field, though they did allow Duke to hit nearly half of their three pointers. Leading scorer Justin Jackson did have 21 points to lead the Tar Heels, who missed eight free throws and were outscored by 27 from behind the arc. North Carolina’s next game is Wednesday against NC State.

Well that does it for this week’s rankings. As the season goes on teams keep getting stronger and for the ACC that just means watch out, the tournament is going to be amazing.

What did you think of this week’s rankings? Let us know in the comments below.

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