Sam Bass gives his ACC basketball power rankings heading into week 7 of the 2023 season.
Matchup of the week: #22 Virginia vs. #23 Memphis (Dec. 19 – 7 p.m.)
Sneaky good matchup of the week: NC State vs. Saint Louis (Dec. 20 – 7 p.m.)
All games listed are EST.
1) Clemson Tigers
Last week’s ranking: 1
Record: 9-1
Last week: L vs. Memphis (79-77)
Next week: vs. Queens (Dec. 22 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Alabama, at Pittsburgh, South Carolina, TCU, Davidson
Bad losses: N/A
Clemson played a tough Memphis team well on the road, leading by as much as 10 before falling by two for their first loss of the year. PJ Hall continued his dominant play, notching 21 in the loss, but Joe Girard III only tallied eight points in the contest. Clemson hosts Queens on Friday to try and get back in the win column.
2) Virginia Cavaliers
Last week’s ranking: 3
Record: 9-1 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. Northeastern (56-54)
Next week: at Memphis (Dec. 19 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: Texas A&M, Florida
Bad Losses: N/A
It was an ugly win for Virginia, falling down by as much as 13 to the mid-major opponent. It took UVA until midway through the second half to hit their first three-pointer, but eventually, the Cavaliers fought back and won on a Reece Beekman runner with 5 seconds to play. UVA now has to wipe this game from memory, chalk up the rust to exams, and travel to Memphis for their first road game and possibly biggest test yet.
3) North Carolina Tar Heels
Last week’s ranking: 2
Record: 7-3 (1-0)
Last week: L vs. #14 Kentucky (87-83)
Next week: vs. #7 Oklahoma (Dec. 20 – 9 p.m., in Charlotte)
Quality wins: Tennessee, Arkansas
Bad losses: N/A
It has been a tough road for the Tar Heels, losing their last two contests to two top-tier opponents. Kentucky was the latest loss for Hubert Davis and co, losing by four on a neutral floor. UNC fell behind multiple times in the game, and when it looked out of reach, they managed to claw back in it, but to no avail. RJ Davis is still the favorite for ACC POTY, totaling 27 points in the loss. UNC has yet another test, playing Oklahoma in Charlotte, which is neutral but should feel like a home contest.
4) Miami Hurricanes
Last week’s ranking: 4
Record: 8-2 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. La Salle (84-77)
Next week: vs. Stonehill (Dec. 21 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: Kansas State, UCF
Bad losses: N/A
Miami did not trail in the second half of their win over La Salle, but the Explorers did their best to make the Hurricanes sweat, pulling in by as little as four points. Miami held on, though, getting back in the win column. The Hurricanes now host Stonehill, as they keep trying to rack up wins before conference play.
5) Duke Blue Devils
Last week’s ranking: 5
Record: 7-3 (0-1)
Last week: W vs. Hofstra (89-68)
Next week: vs. #10 Baylor (Dec. 20 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: Michigan State
Bad losses: at Georgia Tech
Hofstra definitely made the Blue Devils nervous, leading for most of the first half before Duke gained control of the contest to win handily. Duke might have been looking ahead to this week, which is a riveting contest against Baylor in Cameron Indoor. Duke needs this win, and it should be a fantastic game all around.
6) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Last week’s ranking: 7
Record: 6-3 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. Penn State (82-81)
Next week: vs. UMass (Dec. 21 – 9 p.m., in Hawaii)
Quality wins: Duke, Mississippi State, Penn State
Bad losses: UMass Lowell
What happened to the team that lost to UMass Lowell at home? Georgia Tech is playing some fantastic basketball right now, knocking off yet another Power 6 opponent on a neutral floor. Miles Kelly knocked down two free throws in overtime to give the Yellow Jackets the advantage over Penn State, which GT held on to, winning the thriller at Madison Square Garden.
7) North Carolina State Wolfpack
Last week’s ranking: 6
Record: 7-3 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. UT Martin (81-67), L vs. #12 Tennessee (79-70)
Next week: vs. Saint Louis (Dec. 20 – 7 p.m.), vs. Detroit Mercy (Dec. 23 – 1 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
NC State failed to turn heads against Tennessee, as the Vols handled NC State well. The Wolfpack now has two contests that should be two wins this week, but they are still looking for some quality wins on their resume. If the tournament were to start today, NC State would have nothing to show the committee and needs to have a very impressive conference play to be able to change that.
8) Syracuse Orange
Last week’s ranking: 10
Record: 8-3 (0-1)
Last week: W vs. Oregon (83-63)
Next week: vs. Niagara (Dec. 21 – 5 p.m.)
Quality wins: Oregon
Bad losses: N/A
Syracuse is pretty hot right now, following up a win at Georgetown with a pounding of Oregon on a neutral floor. Judah Mintz had 18 in the win, and Malik Brown tallied 13 off the bench. This was a bit of a signature win for the Orange, who have had a notoriously tough time in the past getting quality wins. Syracuse has a buy game versus Niagara before starting the bulk of ACC basketball play next week.
9) Virginia Tech Hokies
Last week’s ranking: 9
Record: 8-3 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. Vermont (73-51)
Next week: vs. American (Dec. 21 – 5 p.m.)
Quality wins: Iowa State
Bad losses: N/A
Virginia Tech managed to pick up the biggest under-the-radar win of the week, beating Vermont at home quite easily. The Hokies have a tough road ahead in a couple of weeks, but with one more non-conference contest against American and ACC basketball games versus Wake and Florida State, the Hokies could host Clemson with an 11-3 record on January 10.
10) Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Last week’s ranking: 8
Record: 6-3 (0-0)
Last week: No Games
Next week: vs. Delaware State (Dec. 18 – 7 p.m.), vs. Presbyterian (Dec. 21 – 3 p.m.)
Quality wins: Florida, Rutgers
Bad losses: N/A
Wake Forest had a nice off week to prepare for two buy games this week. Wake should pick up two wins, slating them at 8-3 going into conference play.
11) Boston College Eagles
Last week’s ranking: 11
Record: 8-3 (0-1)
Last week: No Games
Next week: vs. Lehigh (Dec. 21 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: St. John’s, Richmond
Bad losses: Loyola Chicago
BC had a nice off week this week after knocking off St. John’s in NYC the week prior. The Eagles host Lehigh after exams and should be primed to bring a 9-3 record into conference play.
12) Pittsburgh Panthers
Last week’s ranking: 12
Record: 8-3 (0-1)
Last week: W vs. South Carolina State (86-50)
Next week: Purdue FW (Dec. 20 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Pitt picked up a nice win over SC State last week, winning by 36 at home. Blake Hinson led all scorers with 19 points, but Bub Carrington was quiet, notching only 5 points in 26 minutes. Pitt now hosts Purdue FW, where they should pick up another win in their final non-conference matchup of the year.
13) Florida State Seminoles
Last week’s ranking: 12
Record: 4-5 (0-1)
Last week: L vs. SMU (68-57)
Next week: vs. UNF (Dec. 19 – 8 p.m.), vs. Winthrop (Dec. 22 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: Colorado
Bad losses: South Florida
It has been tough sledding for Florida State, dropping four games since taking down Colorado in OT. It looked like FSU could have been a middle-of-the-pack team in the ACC early on, but it is looking otherwise now. They play host to UNF and Winthrop this week in hopes of getting back into the win column.
14) Louisville Cardinals
Last week’s ranking: 14
Record: 5-6 (0-1)
Last week: L vs. Arkansas State (75-63), W vs. Pepperdine (85-63)
Next week: vs. #9 Kentucky (Dec. 21 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Chattanooga, DePaul, Arkansas State
Louisville may have beaten their win total from last season, but make no mistake, this is not a good team. The Cardinals fell to Arkansas State at home to stay under .500. They play host to Kentucky this week, likely resulting in a blowout and sending Louisville to 5-7 entering ACC basketball play.
15) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Last week’s ranking: 15
Record: 4-6 (0-1)
Last week: L vs. Georgetown (72-68)
Next week: vs. The Citadel (Dec. 19 – 6 p.m.), vs. Marist (Dec. 22 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Western Carolina
Notre Dame fell again at home, this time in overtime to Georgetown. It will be fascinating to see ND and Louisville fight for the bottom spot in the ACC this season, but other than that, it will be a rather forgettable season in South Bend.
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