ACC Hoops Power Rankings: Duke's still king
Miami headlined a light week in ACC hoops by taking apart a previously unbeaten Charlotte team last Friday night.
The Hurricanes hadn’t played in 13 days, but they looked well-drilled and ready to rock from the opening tip. Miami coach Jim Larranaga’s team, which throttled the 49ers 77-46, has five players averaging scoring in double figures. Here are this week’s rankings:
The Blue Devils didn’t play last week but should move up to No. 1 in the national rankings after Indiana lost to Butler on Saturday and Florida fell at the buzzer at Arizona.
The Hurricanes pummeled previously unbeaten Charlotte by 31 points last Friday. The victory came after a 13-day layoff for Miami, which was led by Kenny Kadji’s 17 points and 16 from Durand Scott. This is a very good basketball team that appears to be improving each time it plays.
A 71-38 rout of Monmouth marked the Terrapins’ week. They have now won nine straight games after losing to Kentucky in the opener, though their best wins are at Northwestern and over George Mason in D.C. Maryland is the No. 4 rebounding team in the nation.
As Lorenzo Brown improves learning how to manage a team and game, the Wolfpack will also move forward. Brown is playing well of late, and along with Richard Howell is giving State the gravitas and grit it needs.
While the Tar Heels have point guard issues, they still lead the nation in assists, and while they have rebounding issues, Roy Williams’ team is still 7th in the nation on the boards. Carolina can shoot, but it doesn’t defend well as it should and doesn’t get enough meaningful rebounds. Its only game was a 83-87 win over East Carolina, though UNC was more than six points better on the afternoon.
Losing at home to Georgia Southern on Saturday is no way to maintain your spot in any ranking, and it also basically cancels out at least the Iowa win. So the Hokies can’t afford to slip up anymore or once again VPI will plant itself on the fence and hope for a miracle.
The Wahoos didn’t play so they remain in this position. Interesting game versus Old Dominion in Richmond coming up this weekend for Tony Bennett’s squad.
A week after blowing a late lead to Arizona, the Tigers jumped all over Florida A&M in freshman Jordan Roper’s first career start. Roper led Clemson with 16 points, as the Tigers owned the glass 47-31.
No game this past week for the Yellow Jackets, though they have two this week and four more before ACC play begins. All four contests are at home in the new McCamish Pavilion and versus patsies.
FSU better get its act in gear before the Seminoles still have a few potentially tough nonconference games left before ACC play begins. Senior Michael Snaer needs to lead by example more than he has.
Wake didn’t play last week but BC did, and the Eagles offered no reasons why they should jump the Demon Deacons.
A 61-59 overtime victory over New Hampshire isn’t exactly the kind of win people notice in a good way.