Sam Bass gives his ACC basketball power rankings heading into week 9 of the 2023 season.
Matchup of the week: North Carolina vs. Clemson (Jan. 6 – Noon)
Sneaky good matchup of the week: Syracuse vs. Duke (Jan. 2 – 9 p.m.)
All games listed are EST.
1) Clemson Tigers
Last week’s ranking: 1
Record: 11-1 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. Radford (93-58)
Next week: @ Miami (Jan. 3 – 8 p.m.), vs. #8 North Carolina (Jan. 6 – Noon)
Quality wins: at Alabama, at Pittsburgh, South Carolina, TCU, Davidson
Bad losses: N/A
Clemson picked up a buy game win in their final non conference game of the year. The Tigers enter ACC play with just one loss and look like the most consistent team in the league. They will start the new year with quite the gauntlet, going to Coral Gables to play Miami and then turning around quickly to host North Carolina. Two wins would solidify them at the top of the league.
2) North Carolina Tar Heels
Last week’s ranking: 2
Record: 9-3 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. Charleston Southern (105-60)
Next week: @ Pittsburgh (Jan. 2 – 7 p.m.), @ #16 Clemson (Jan. 6 – Noon)
Quality wins: Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma
Bad losses: N/A
UNC throttled Charleston Southern in their lone contest this week. The Tar Heels will be on the road all of this week, going to Pitt and then south to Clemson. North Carolina has arguably the highest ceiling of anyone in the ACC, and a win at Clemson would bump them to the top of these power rankings.
3) Duke Blue Devils
Last week’s ranking: 4
Record: 9-3 (0-1)
Last week: W vs. Queens (106-69)
Next week: vs. Syracuse (Jan. 2 – 9 p.m.), @ Notre Dame (Jan. 6 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: Michigan State, Baylor
Bad losses: at Georgia Tech
After a streaky stretch, Duke seems to be back on track. The Blue Devils handled Queens with ease before the new year, setting them at 9-3 entering conference play. Duke hosts Syracuse on Tuesday to open up 2024, and the sizzling Orange could make that an interesting contest.
4) Miami Hurricanes
Last week’s ranking: 5
Record: 10-2 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. North Florida (95-55)
Next week: vs. #16 Clemson (Jan. 3 – 8 p.m.), @ Wake Forest (Jan. 6 – 2:15 p.m.)
Quality wins: Kansas State, UCF
Bad losses: N/A
Miami picked up a handsome 40 point victory last week over North Florida. Woogie Poplar gets most of the recognition for the Hurricanes, but Norchad Omier is having a stellar season, averaging 17.6 points and just below 10 boards per game. Miami is still without a ranked win, but host Clemson on Wednesday with the opportunity to change that.
5) Virginia Cavaliers
Last week’s ranking: 3
Record: 10-3 (1-1)
Last week: W vs. Morgan State (77-49), L vs. Notre Dame (76-54)
Next week: vs. Louisville (Jan. 3 – 7 p.m.), @ NC State (Jan. 6 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: Texas A&M, Florida
Bad Losses: at Notre Dame
Virginia looked absolutely lost in South Bend on Saturday. Notre Dame picked apart the Cavalier defense and Virginia really was never in the game. The bad loss was inevitable for Virginia, who has not looked the same since their final exam break. Tony Bennett’s team hopes to turn it around with a comfortable win against Louisville before a sneaky tough game in Raleigh.
6) North Carolina State Wolfpack
Last week’s ranking: 6
Record: 9-3 (1-0)
Last week: No Games
Next week: @ Notre Dame (Jan. 3 – 9 p.m.), vs. Virginia (Jan. 6 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: Saint Louis
Bad losses: N/A
After an off-week, NC State travels to Notre Dame before hosting Virginia. A win over the Cavaliers would be very nice for the Wolfpack, who are looking to crack the upper third of the conference.
7) Syracuse Orange
Last week’s ranking: 8
Record: 10-3 (0-1)
Last week: W vs. Pittsburgh (81-73)
Next week: @ #14 Duke (Jan. 2 – 9 p.m.)
Quality wins: Oregon
Bad losses: N/A
Syracuse remains one of the hottest teams in the ACC, beating Pitt in Syracuse in their only game of the week. ‘Cuse will be tasked with traveling to Duke this week, and a win in Durham will all but solidify the Orange as a legitimate ACC title contender.
8) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Last week’s ranking: 7
Record: 8-4 (1-0)
Last week: No Games
Next week: @ Florida State (Jan 3 – 7 p.m.), vs. Boston College (Jan. 6 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: Duke, Mississippi State, Penn State, UMass
Bad losses: UMass Lowell
Georgia Tech had an off week, which means they enter conference play at a solid 8-4. The Yellow Jackets now have to evade all talks of them picking up fraudulent wins, and instead, continue to win games in the ACC. To start, they travel to FSU and then host Boston College, both very winnable games.
9) Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Last week’s ranking: 10
Record: 9-3 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. Virginia Tech (86-63)
Next week: @ Boston College (Jan. 2 – 7 p.m.), vs. Miami (Jan. 6 – 2:15 p.m.)
Quality wins: Florida, Rutgers
Bad losses: N/A
Wake Forest easily handled Virginia Tech in Winston-Salem, beating the Hokies by 23. Wake has firmly cemented themselves in the middle portion of the conference. They still are on the outside looking in, but have a really nice opportunity to make some serious noise when they host Miami on Saturday.
10) Boston College Eagles
Last week’s ranking: 11
Record: 9-3 (0-1)
Last week: No Games
Next week: vs. Wake Forest (Jan. 2 – 7 p.m.), @ Georgia Tech (Jan. 6 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: St. John’s, Richmond
Bad losses: Loyola Chicago
BC is coming off an off week to enter the new year. They host Wake before traveling to Atlanta to square off with the popular Yellow Jackets. BC can make a leap in these rankings with a sweep of the week.
11) Virginia Tech Hokies
Last week’s ranking: 9
Record: 9-4 (1-1)
Last week: L vs. Wake Forest (86-63)
Next week: @ Florida State (Jan. 6 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: Iowa State
Bad losses: N/A
VT continues to fall, losing by 23 to Wake Forest. It seems like this might be a tough year in Blacksburg, as the Hokies do not have many good wins and have not been able to add much to their resume. They travel to Florida State and are on “upset” watch, if you can even consider it that at this point.
12) Pittsburgh Panthers
Last week’s ranking: 12
Record: 9-4 (0-2)
Last week: L vs. Syracuse (81-73)
Next week: vs. #8 North Carolina (Jan. 2 – 7 p.m.), @ Louisville (Jan. 6 – Noon)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Pitt fell at Syracuse in their only game this week. The Panthers kept it close but could not seal the deal, falling to a league worst 0-2 in conference play. Pitt needs to come as close to running the table as possible for a prayer at an at large bid with how empty their resume is right now.
13) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Last week’s ranking: 15
Record: 6-7 (1-1)
Last week: W vs. Virginia (76-54)
Next week: vs. NC State (Jan. 3 – 9 p.m.), vs. #14 Duke (Jan. 6 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: Virginia
Bad losses: Western Carolina, The Citadel
Notre Dame looked like a completely different team against Virginia. The Fighting Irish picked apart the backline defense and were so disruptive on the other end of the floor as well. If that continues, ND might be able to make a little noise in conference play.
14) Florida State Seminoles
Last week’s ranking: 13
Record: 6-6 (0-1)
Last week: L vs. Lipscomb (78-75)
Next week: vs. Georgia Tech (Jan. 3 – 7 p.m.), vs. Virginia Tech (Jan. 6 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: Colorado
Bad losses: South Florida, Lipscomb
Florida State lost a buy game to Lipscomb to bring them back down to .500 before ACC play. Their defense shows up on days they cannot score, and it stays home when they make shots. That is not a great formula for success.
15) Louisville Cardinals
Last week’s ranking: 14
Record: 5-7 (0-1)
Last week: No Games
Next week: @ Virginia (Jan. 3 – 7 p.m.), vs. Pittsburgh (Jan. 6 – Noon)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Chattanooga, DePaul, Arkansas State
Louisville had some time away from the bottom spot, but with ND beating Virginia handily, it is back to last for the Cardinals. However, Louisville could move on up with a win this week, especially if FSU continues to struggle.
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