Well week one in the ACC started off with a bang as 14 of the ACC schools found a way to win at least one game in the opening week. Of course, all that winning also means that a lot of schools also found a way to lose in the opening week as well. What does that mean? It means that the conference has a pretty muddled middle after one week of play.
Thankfully the season is more than a week long and a new week brings more chances for the cream to rise and the dregs to fall to the bottom. The week will
continue to see multiple teams take an early bye before all eighteen play this Saturday in a massive ACC nonuple header.
So without further ado, here are this week’s ACC Men’s Basketball Power Rankings.
1. Duke Blue Devils (14-1, 3-0)
Last Game: Won 84-73 against Louisville
The Blue Devils won their third straight conference game despite a slow start to each game. So far in the ACC Duke has been outscored 132-119 in the first half, but have come out strong in the second half outscoring their opponents 141-107. What is helping the Blue Devils? Free throw shooting. Duke has shot 88 free throws to just 41 for their opponents. The team from Durham will look to finally start strong and keep their “advantage” when they welcome in the Mustangs on Saturday.
Next Game: vs SMU (1/10)
2. North Carolina Tar Heels (13-2, 1-1)
Last Game: Lost against SMU 97-83
The Tar Heels drop from the top spot this week after their road loss to SMU as North Carolina just couldn’t keep up with the hot shooting Mustangs. It was the Tar Heel’s second road game of the season and their first trip to the Moody Center. North Carolina got the week off to regroup before welcoming the Demon Deacons to the Dean Dome on Saturday.
Next Game: vs Wake Forest (1/10)
3. Clemson Tigers (12-3, 2-0)
Last Game: Won 73-68 against Pittsburgh
The Tigers continued their strong start to the conference season by winning their second straight ACC road game. The win over the Panthers gave Clemson a 2-0 start to begin conference play for the second straight season. The Tigers will look to make it 3-0 when they welcome in a Mustang team coming off a huge home win.
Next Game: vs SMU (1/7)
4. SMU Mustangs (12-2, 1-0)
Last Game: Won 97-83 against North Carolina
The Mustangs rise up several spots this week thanks to a huge shooting effort led by guard Boopie Miller, who finished with a double-double in the win over North Carolina. SMU, who is now 10-0 at home, will go on the road for their next two games starting with a road contest against the Tigers who are also undefeated at home this season.
Next Game: at Clemson (1/7)
5. Louisville Cardinals (11-4, 1-2)
Last Game: Lost against Duke 84-73
The Cardinals fell to 1-2 on the season after losing their second straight game with their 11-point loss to Duke. Louisville led the Blue Devils by nine points at the half but could only manage 26 points in the second half as they blew the chance for a big home win. The Cardinals will look to get back on the winning side when they welcome in an Eagles team that is in desperate need of a signature win of their own.
Next Game: vs Boston College (1/10)
6. California Golden Bears (13-2, 1-1)
Last Game: Won 72-71 against Notre Dame
The Golden Bears responded to just their second loss this season with a one point win over Notre Dame. Cal will play a true road game for just the second time this season when they travel to play the Cavaliers on Wednesday.
Next Game: at Virginia (1/7)
7. Virginia Tech Hokies (12-3, 1-1)
Last Game: Lost against Wake Forest 81-78
The Hokies drop a couple spots this week after following up their triple OT home thriller against Virginia with a deflating road loss to the Demon Deacons. Virginia Tech returns home this week when they host both Golden State schools starting with the Cardinal on Wednesday.
Next Game: vs Stanford (1/7)
8. Virginia Cavaliers (12-2, 1-1)
Last Game: Won 76-61 against NC State
The Cavaliers rebounded well from their conference opening road loss to Virginia Tech by evening out their record with an impressive road win over NC State. Virginia led the Wolfpack by 20 at half and basically cruised to the double digit victory from there. The Cavaliers next game is against a Golden Bears squad looking for its second ranked win of the season.
Next Game: vs California (1/7)
9. Miami Hurricanes (12-2, 1-0)
Last Game: won 76-69 against Pittsburgh
If the Hurricanes line looks the same as it did last week, that’s because it is. Miami had an eight-day break between when it beat Pittsburgh before traveling to take on the Demon Deacons in Winston Salem. Hopefully the Canes show less rust than the Buckeyes did in their loss to the Miami football team.
Next Game: at Wake Forest (1/7)
10. Stanford Cardinal (12-3, 1-1)
Last Game: Won 80-76 against Louisville
The Cardinal make a three spot jump this week thanks to their impressive win over a ranked Louisville squad. The home win against the Cardinals is easily the best so far this season by Stanford who also has home losses to Seattle University, UNLV, and Notre Dame. The Cardinal will look to improve to 2-0 on the road this season when they travel to play the Hokies on Wednesday.
Next Game: at Virginia Tech (1/7)
11. NC State Wolfpack (11-5, 2-1)
Last Game: Won 79-71 against Boston College
The Wolfpack continue to win games they should but not necessarily the ones they need as they did in their home loss to Virginia and their road win against the Eagles. NC State will look to continue to win the ones they should when they travel to take on the Seminoles in Tallahassee this weekend.
Next Game: at Florida State (1/10)
12. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (10-5, 1-1)
Last Game: Won 81-78 against Virginia Tech
The Demon Deacons ended a two game losing streak with their win over the Hokies. The win was the first P5 win at home for Wake Forest who was 0-2 before that having been outscored 184-135. The Deacons will look to make it two in a row when they take on the Hurricanes this week.
Next Game: vs Miami (1/7)
13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-5, 1-1)
Last Game: Lost against California 72-71
The Fighting Irish went 1-1 on their little California road trip, beating Stanford but coming up short against the Golden Bears. Notre Dame gets a week to rest from their long journey before hosting a Tigers team that is 2-0 on the road in ACC play thus far.
Next Game: vs Clemson (1/10)
14. Syracuse Orange (10-5, 1-1)
Last Game: Won 82-72 against Georgia Tech
The Orange took the weekend off and then were able to even out their conference record with a road win over the Yellow Jackets. Syracuse took a 14-point lead into halftime and then held off a late rally by Georgia Tech in their first road game of the season. Syracuse will look to stay undefeated on the road when they travel to take on the Panthers.
Next Game: at Pittsburgh (1/10)
15. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (10-5, 1-2)
Last Game: Lost against Syracuse 82-72
The Yellow Jackets fell for the second time this early ACC season, with their 10 point home loss to the Orange. It was Georgia Tech’s second home loss of the season. The Yellow Jackets will next look to get their first road win of the season when they travel to play the Hurricanes who are undefeated at home this season.
Next Game: at Miami (1/10)
16. Florida State Seminoles (7-8, 0-2)
Last Game: Lost against Duke 91-87
The Seminoles followed up their conference opening loss to North Carolina with another valiant effort in a loss to the Blue Devils. Florida State hit 47% of their threes but couldn’t overcome a monster game from Isaiah Evans. The Seminoles also have the week off before welcoming in the Wolfpack for their third straight Triangle team to start the ACC season.
Next Game: vs NC State (1/10)
17. Pittsburgh Panthers (7-8, 0-2)
Last Game: Lost against Clemson 73-68
The Panthers returned home after opening the season with a loss on the road to lose again, this time to the Tigers. Pittsburgh also has the week off as it looks to avoid a 0-3 start with a home game against the Orange.
Next Game: vs Syracuse (1/10)
18. Boston College Eagles (7-8, 0-2)
Last Game: Lost against NC State 79-71
The Eagles started the ACC 0-2 for the third straight season with their most recent home loss to the Wolfpack. Boston College has found a way to win their third game the past two seasons but will have a tall task ahead of them to do that again this year with a road contest against the Cardinals.
Next Game: at Louisville (1/10)
