Sam Bass gives his ACC basketball power rankings heading into week 5 of the 2023 season.
Matchup of the week: North Carolina vs. UConn
Sneaky good matchup of the week: Syracuse vs. Georgetown
All games listed are EST.
1) North Carolina Tar Heels
Last week’s ranking: 3
Record: 7-1
Last week: W vs. #10 Tennessee (100-92), W vs. Florida State (78-70)
Next week: vs. #5 UConn (Dec. 5 – 9 p.m.)
Quality wins: Arkansas, Tennessee
Bad losses: N/A
UNC takes the top spot, and it should not even come as much of a surprise. With Duke and Miami falling this week, UNC climbs, but you could even justify them taking the top spot without the losses of the others. The Tar Heels dismantled Tennessee in the first half, and although the Vols made it close, UNC held on, and followed that up with a nice win over a sneaky FSU squad. North Carolina is very well rounded and is the most deserving of this top spot.
2) Clemson Tigers
Last week’s ranking: 5
Record: 7-0
Last week: W @ #17 Alabama (85-77), W @ Pittsburgh (79-70)
Next week: South Carolina (Dec. 6 – 8 p.m.), TCU (Dec. 9 – 4 p.m. – Toronto)
Quality wins: Davidson, UAB, @ Alabama, @ Pittsburgh
Bad losses: N/A
I told Clemson fans that I’d move them up if they had a good week. You’re welcome, Tigers. Clemson, my current sneaky pick to win the whole ACC, won handily at Alabama despite being 10 point underdogs. They then won another road test in Oakland versus Pitt, not an easy task at all. Clemson might have the most scoring threats of anyone in the league. Watch out for the Tigers.
3) Miami Hurricanes
Last week’s ranking: 1
Record: 6-1
Last week: L @ #16 Kentucky (95-73), W vs. Notre Dame (62-49)
Next week: Long Island (Dec. 6 – 7 p.m.), Colorado (Dec. 10 – 2 p.m. – Brooklyn)
Quality wins: Kansas State, UCF, Georgia
Bad losses: N/A
Miami took a hit in the SEC/ACC challenge, keeping Kentucky close in the first half in Lexington but getting absolutely boat raced in the second half to lose by 22. The Hurricanes bounced back at home, beating Notre Dame, but the loss to Kentucky hurts in terms of potential to build their resume. The Canes play a tricky neutral sited game on Sunday with the ability to pick up a potential Quad 1 win.
4) Virginia Cavaliers
Last week’s ranking: 4
Record: 5-1
Last week: W vs. #12 Texas A&M (59-47), W vs. Syracuse (84-62)
Next week: vs. NC Central (Dec. 5 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: Florida, Texas A&M
Bad Losses: N/A
After losing to Wisconsin and barely surviving West Virginia, UVA looks to have regain their footing. The Cavs put on a defensive clinic versus Texas A&M and then followed up by shooting the lights out against Syracuse. Isaac McKneely knocked down six trey balls to lead the team with 22 points in the win versus the Orange.
5) Duke Blue Devils
Last week’s ranking: 2
Record: 5-3
Last week: L @ Arkansas (80-75), L @ Georgia Tech (72-68)
Next week: Charlotte (Dec. 9 – 7:15 p.m.)
Quality wins: Michigan State
Bad losses: @ Georgia Tech
The good news for Duke is that Georgia Tech might just be really really good. But that’s about all the good news that Duke has gotten this week. Two road losses in their first two road games is not ideal for Jon Scheyer and co., but that is the reality. Duke plays some easy contests at home to hopefully get back on the horse before hosting Baylor a week from next.
6) North Carolina State Wolfpack
Last week’s ranking: 7
Record: 5-2
Last week: L vs. Ole Miss (72-52), W vs. Boston College (84-78)
Next week: Maryland-Eastern Shore (Dec. 6 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: Vanderbilt
Bad losses: N/A
NC State had a rather normal week, beating BC in overtime after falling to undefeated Ole Miss. The Wolfpack still do not have a primary scorer like last season, with Casey Morsell leading the way with 14 a game. DJ Burns needs to stay out of foul trouble to get more touches to let the perimeter shooters more open looks.
7) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Last week’s ranking: 15
Record: 2-2
Last week: W vs. #21 Mississippi State (67-59), W vs. #7 Duke (72-68)
Next week: @ Georgia (Dec. 5 – 7:30 p.m.), Alabama A&M (Dec. 9 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: UMass Lowell
I owe Georgia Tech a huge apology. I ripped them for the last three weeks in these rankings, so they went and picked up two ranked wins. I will give credit where credit is due, the Yellow Jackets earn a tip of my cap. Do I think they will run the table? Absolutely not. But maybe (most likely) I underestimated them. I’m very curious to see if those wins were flukes, or GT will continue to compete and make some noise in conference play.
8) Virginia Tech Hokies
Last week’s ranking: 6
Record: 6-3
Last week: L @ Auburn (74-57), W vs. Louisville (75-68)
Next week: vs. Valparaiso (Dec. 9 – Noon)
Quality wins: Iowa State
Bad losses: N/A
VT had a very expected week, although the loss was bigger and the win was smaller than the Hokies might have liked. Virginia Tech is a dangerous team, but with little to no quality wins and no opportunity to pick up a non-conference Q1 win left, VT has to run the table to make any sort of run at the tournament.
9) Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Last week’s ranking: 11
Record: 4-3
Last week: W vs. Florida (82-71)
Next week: vs. Rutgers (Dec. 6 – 6 p.m.), vs. NJIT (Dec. 9 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: Florida
Bad losses: N/A
Wake Forest was the only team in the ACC without a conference opener, but in their lone contest, the Demon Deacons knocked off Florida, who had seemed to be killing the ACC thus far. Wake slides up slightly in these rankings, and they play host to Rutgers this week, a chance at another quality win.
10) Syracuse Orange
Last week’s ranking: 8
Record: 4-2
Last week: W vs. LSU (80-57), L vs. Virginia (84-62)
Next week: Cornell (Dec. 5 – 8 p.m.), @ Georgetown (Dec. 9 – 11:30 a.m.)
Quality wins: LSU
Bad losses: N/A
Syracuse beat down on LSU and then proceeded to get a taste of their own medicine when they traveled to Virginia for the conference opener. Judah Mintz scored 33 in the win and 5 in the loss. That seems pretty self explanatory. Saturday is a trip to D.C. for a classic rivalry game that will be a can’t miss watch.
11) Pittsburgh Panthers
Last week’s ranking: 9
Record: 5-3
Last week: L vs. Missouri (71-64), L vs. Clemson (79-70)
Next week: @ West Virginia (Dec. 6 – 9 p.m.), Canisius (Dec. 9 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: Oregon State
Bad losses: N/A
Pitt suffered their second and third straight losses this week, losing to Mizzou and Clemson, both at home. It is tough to see a promising squad fall twice on their home floor in one week, especially with the opportunity to pick up a nice non-con win to boost their resume. They travel to Morgantown to renew an old rivalry and try to pick up a quality road win.
12) Florida State Seminoles
Last week’s ranking: 10
Record: 4-3
Last week: L vs. Georgia (68-66), L vs. #17 North Carolina (78-70)
Next week: vs. South Florida (Dec. 9 – 1:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: UNLV, Colorado
Bad losses: N/A
FSU picked up two losses in a tough week. They looked to have an edge on UNC in the first half but fell behind and lost the contest. They now face off with South Florida to hope to get back in the win column, but it looks to be another disappointing season for the Noles.
13) Boston College Eagles
Last week’s ranking: 12
Record: 5-3
Last week: W vs. Vanderbilt (80-62), L vs. NC State (84-78)
Next week: Central Connecticut State (Dec. 5 – 6 p.m.), vs. Holy Cross (Dec. 8 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: Richmond, Vanderbilt
Bad losses: Loyola Chicago
BC was an OT loss away from having a very nice week. Nonetheless, the Eagles went on the road and beat Vandy, not an easy task no matter the opponent. Quinten Post is averaging over 20 points per game for BC, and he can give a lot of teams trouble, as he stretches the floor well, shooting 48% from 3.
14) Louisville Cardinals
Last week’s ranking: 13
Record: 4-4
Last week: W vs. Bellarmine (73-68), L vs. Virginia Tech (75-68)
Next week: @ DePaul (Dec. 9 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: New Mexico State
Bad losses: Chattanooga
Louisville has officially matched their win total from last year! An expected loss to VT followed, but still reason to celebrate. The Cardinals travel to Chicago for an interesting matchup, and it could be Louisvilles first Power 6 win this year.
15) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Last week’s ranking: 15
Record: 3-4
Last week: L vs. South Carolina (65-53), L vs. #8 Miami (62-49)
Next week: Western Michigan (Dec. 5 – 7 p.m.), @ #8 Marquette (Dec. 9 – 9 p.m.)
Quality wins: Oklahoma State
Bad losses: Western Carolina
Notre Dame maintains their bottom spot after losing two this week. The Fighting Irish continue to struggle one year post Mike Brey, and it looks like the season will continue that way. However, that can change very quickly with a road upset over Marquette on Saturday. Likely? No. But it would be an instant signature win for ND.
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