When you are called the Atlantic Coast Conference bad weather basketball just comes with the territory and the ACC found a way to survive it this past weekend with some great contests. Oddly enough the continued
decision to play all their games on Saturday probably kept any games from being cancelled even if they had to move several into the noon slot to avoid that winter weather that hit the east coast so hard.
Well with the frost thawing it is time to get back to work and with that came the first Monday night game of the ACC season as the conference plays seven games over a three day period instead of the past two before yet another All ACC Saturday throwdown.
So without further ado, here are this week’s ACC Men’s Basketball Power Rankings.
1. Duke Blue Devils (19-1, 8-0)
Last Game: won 83-52 against Louisville
The Blue Devils most recent win was not only their eighth straight it was their fourth straight by at least 15 points. Duke who started off slow earlier this season, has seemed to round into form and is close to being a lock to win the ACC for the second season in a row as three of their four toughest conference games remaining are in Durham. But first they will need to keep it together on the road against a Hokies team that already has a big home win this season against a ranked Virginia.
Next Game: at Virginia Tech (1/31)
2. Clemson Tigers (17-4, 7-1)
Last Game: won 77-63 against Georgia Tech
The Tigers rebounded nicely from their first conference and home loss of the season by going down to Atlanta and getting a solid win against the Yellow Jackets. Clemson will have the week off before getting the Panthers on Saturday.
Next Game: vs Pittsburgh (1/31)
3. Virginia Cavaliers (17-3, 6-2)
Last Game: won 100-97 against Notre Dame in 2OT
The Cavaliers saw what North Carolina did to them on Saturday, erasing a 16-point deficit and coming away with the road win and said, “We can do better.” Virginia trailed Notre Dame by 19 in the first half on the road but fought back and forced not one, but two overtimes to finally come away with the victory. Virginia will look to make it two straight road wins, though maybe not as dramatically as this last one, when they travel to take on the Eagles this weekend.
Next Game: at Boston College (1/31)
4. North Carolina Tar Heels (16-4, 4-3)
Last Game: won 85-80 against Virginia
The Tar Heels rebounded nicely from their West Coast Nightmare by getting two big wins over Notre Dame and on the road against the Cavaliers. North Carolina also has the week off to prepare for their road trip to Atlanta, where the Yellow Jackets have given them fits in previous seasons.
Next Game: at Georgia Tech (1/31)
5. NC State Wolfpack (15-6, 6-2)
Last Game: won 88-68 against Syracuse
The Wolfpack’s win against the Orange was their third straight and sixth in their past seven games, with the loss being a home defeat to Georgia Tech. NC State will look to make it four in a row when they go for a sweep of the Demon Deacons in Winson Salem this weekend.
Next Game: at Wake Forest (1/31)
6. SMU Mustangs (15-5, 4-3)
Last Game: won 83-80 against Florida State
The Mustangs found a way to hang on against a feisty Seminoles team and win their second straight ACC game. SMU has so far only lost to the top three teams in these rankings and will look to add another quality win when they travel to face a Cardinals team in need of a quality win itself.
Next Game: at Louisville (1/31)
7. Louisville Cardinals (14-6, 4-4)
Last Game: lost against Duke 83-52
The Cardinals might’ve thought they had a punchers chance to beat the Blue Devils in Durham with the return of freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr. However, those thoughts were quickly dashed as Duke led by 10 at halftime and held Louisville to just 24 points in the second half as Brown Jr finished with just 7 points on 1-13 shooting. The Cardinals will look to rebound when they welcome in a Mustang squad who is in need of a quality conference road win.
Next Game: vs SMU (1/31)
8. Virginia Tech Hokies (16-6, 5-4)
Last Game: won 71-65 against Georgia Tech
The Hokies needed this win more than the Yellow Jackets did and were able to hang on to earn their 12th win at home. Virginia Tech will look to increase that number to 13 when they welcome in the Blue Devils on Saturday.
Next Game: vs Duke (1/31)
9. Miami Hurricanes (16-4, 5-2)
Last Game: won 85-76 against Syracuse
The Hurricanes ended a two-game losing skid with their road win over the Orange. Miami now has five conference wins, which is two more than last season, but all five have come against teams ranked in the bottom half of these rankings, with four of those five against teams in the bottom third. The Hurricanes will look to continue to add such wins when they take on the schools from California this week starting with the Cardinal on Wednesday.
Next Game: vs Stanford (1/28)
10. California Golden Bears (15-5, 3-4)
Last Game: won 78-66 against Stanford
The Golden Bears move up a spot this week thanks to their road win over fellow Golden State conference member Stanford. The win over the Cardinal is the first of two matchups between the two schools with the next being at California in late February. Up next for the Golden Bears is a showdown with the Sunshine State when they take on the Seminoles on Wednesday before heading south to take on Miami this weekend.
Next Game: at Florida State (1/28)
11. Stanford Cardinal (14-6, 3-4)
Last Game: lost against California 78-66
The Cardinal’s loss to the Golden Bears knocked Stanford down a peg as the two teams have similar records overall but now California has the early head to head win. The Cardinal will look to get things going back in a positive direction when they travel to take on the Hurricanes this week.
Next Game: at Miami (1/28)
12. Syracuse Orange (12-9, 3-5)
Last Game: lost against NC State 88-68
The Orange lost their fourth straight game with the road loss to the Wolfpack. Syracuse will look to get back on the winning track when they welcome in the Fighting Irish this Saturday.
Next Game: vs Notre Dame (1/31)
13. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11-10, 2-6)
Last Game: lost against Virginia Tech 71-65
The Yellow Jackets lost the battle of the Techs in Blacksburg. Georgia Tech trailed by double digits late in the second half but fought back to give the Hokies a scare before falling short on the road. The Yellow Jackets return home where they will look to take down their second North Carolina ACC school this season when they welcome in the Tar Heels.
Next Game: vs North Carolina (1/31)
14. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (11-10, 2-6)
Last Game: lost against Pittsburgh 80-76 in OT
The Demon Deacons lost their third straight game with the loss to the Panthers. Wake Forest will look to get back on the winning track when they look to avenge a conference season opening loss to the Wolfpack on Saturday.
Next Game: vs NC State (1/31)
15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-10, 2-6)
Last Game: lost against Virginia 100-97 in 2OT
The Fighting Irish had their chances to win their second straight game and get the big home win against the Cavaliers, but just kept coming up short. Give Notre Dame credit for fighting through and keeping it close through two overtime periods, but Virginia’s talent just outweighed theirs. The Irish will look to get back on track when they travel to play an Orange team in desperate need of a win.
Next Game: at Syracuse (1/31)
16. Boston College Eagles (9-11, 2-5)
Last Game: lost 68-64 against Notre Dame
The Eagles had a chance to win three games in a row for the first time this season, but blew an 11 point halftime lead to the Fighting Irish and instead lost for fifth time in their past seven games. Boston College gets the week off to figure things out before welcoming in a ranked Cavaliers team.
Next Game: vs Virginia (1/31)
17. Pittsburgh Panthers (9-12, 2-6)
Last Game: won 80-76 against Wake Forest in OT
The Panthers ended a three-game losing streak, their third of the year, with a huge overtime win over the Demon Deacons at home. Pittsburgh trailed by six at halftime but flipped the score in the second half (literally it was 36-30 in both halves) to force the extra period and get the win. The Panthers will look to avoid the start of another losing streak when they travel to take on the Tigers this weekend.
Next Game: at Clemson (1/31)
18. Florida State Seminoles (8-12, 1-6)
Last Game: lost against SMU 83-80
The Seminoles came close to winning their second ACC game in a row but just couldn’t do enough to steal the road win versus the Mustangs. Florida State will get two chances to get two more wins against the state of California, it beat Cal State Bakersfield by 30 earlier this season, when it welcomes in the Golden Bears on Wednesday before hosting the Cardinal on Saturday.
Next Game: vs California (1/28)
