2023-24 ACC Basketball Power Rankings: Week 11

Sam Bass gives his ACC basketball power rankings heading into week 11 of the 2023 season.

Matchup of the week: Wake Forest vs. NC State (Jan. 16 – 7 p.m.)

Sneaky good matchup of the week: Florida State vs. Miami (Jan. 17 – 7 p.m.)

All games listed are EST.

1) North Carolina Tar Heels

Last week’s ranking: 1

Record: 13-3 (5-0)

Last week: W at NC State (67-54), W vs. Syracuse (103-67)

Next week: vs. Louisville (Jan. 17 – 9 p.m.), at Boston College (Jan. 20 – 2:15 p.m.)

Quality wins: Tennessee, Oklahoma, at Clemson, at Pitt, at NC State, Florida State, Arkansas

Bad losses: N/A

UNC is clearly the best team in the ACC, and an argument could be made to have them at number one in the country. With all the losing from the top 25, North Carolina has stacked the win column. They traveled to Raleigh and handled the Wolfpack before throttling Syracuse in Chapel Hill. If there is an ACC basketball team to make any sort of run, it looks like that school will be off of Tobacco Road. Barring an upset, the Tar Heels should improve to 15-3 and stay undefeated in conference play.

2) Duke Blue Devils

Last week’s ranking: 2

Record: 13-3 (4-1)

Last week: W at Pittsburgh (75-53), W vs. Georgia Tech (84-79)

Next week: vs. Pittsburgh (Jan. 20 – 8 p.m.)

Quality wins: Baylor, Michigan State

Bad losses: at Georgia Tech

Duke has really looked sharp since falling on the road to GT. The Blue Devils smoked Pitt on the road and then scraped by to avenge their loss to the Yellow Jackets. Duke will play Pitt again, this week at Cameron Indoor, and should prove to be an even bigger blowout against former Duke assistant Jeff Capel.

3) North Carolina State Wolfpack

Last week’s ranking: 5 (+2)

Record: 12-4 (4-1)

Last week: L vs. #7 North Carolina (67-54), W at Louisville (89-83)

Next week: vs. Wake Forest (Jan. 16 – 7 p.m.), vs. Virginia Tech (Jan. 20 – Noon)

Quality wins: Virginia

Bad losses: N/A

That’s how weird this week has been. NC State moves up two spots despite going 1-1 this week and losing at home. The Wolfpack have looked good, and faulting them for a loss against one of the best teams in the country would be criminal. Home wins over Wake and VT this week would really solidify their spot.

4) Clemson Tigers

Last week’s ranking: 4 (-)

Record: 12-4 (2-3)

Last week: L at Virginia Tech (87-72), W vs. Boston College (89-78)

Next week: vs. Georgia Tech (Jan. 16 – 9 p.m.), at Florida State (Jan. 20 – 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Alabama, TCU, South Carolina, Boise State, at Pittsburgh, Davidson

Bad losses: N/A

Clemson lost their third game in a row when they fell on the road to VT, but bounced back with a comfortable win over BC. The Tigers are not at that tier with Duke and Carolina, but they still are a solid team. PJ Hall is one of the best players in the conference. They need two wins this week to maintain their conference resume.

5) Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Last week’s ranking: 6 (+1)

Record: 12-4 (4-1)

Last week: L at Florida State (87-82), W vs. Virginia (66-47)

Next week: at NC State (Jan. 16 – 7 p.m.), vs. Louisville (Jan. 20 – Noon)

Quality wins: Florida, Miami (Fla), Virginia

Bad losses: LSU

Wake Forest continues to climb in these ACC Basketball Power Rankings. A loss at Florida State hurts, but the Seminoles have really turned it around, and a road game is hard to win against anyone. The Decs smoked Virginia at home, though, and Hunter Sallis is an incredible piece to have. Wake is becoming a top destination for transfers. A road win versus NC State would be huge for this team’s tournament chances.

6) Miami Hurricanes

Last week’s ranking: 3 (-3)

Record: 12-4 (3-2)

Last week: L vs. Louisville (80-71), W at Virginia Tech (75-71)

Next week: vs. Florida State (Jan. 17 – 7 p.m.), at Syracuse (Jan. 20 – Noon)

Quality wins: Kansas State, Clemson, at Virginia Tech, Georgia, UCF

Bad losses: Louisville

It was hard to leave Miami in the top 5 after losing at home to Louisville. The Hurricanes got the short end of Kenny Payne’s first road win at Louisville, taking a massive hit on Miami’s resume. They need to beat FSU and Syracuse this week to turn the ship back around.

7) Florida State Seminoles

Last week’s ranking: 11 (-4)

Record: 10-6 (4-1)

Last week: W vs. Wake Forest (87-82), W at Notre Dame (67-58)

Next week: at Miami-Fla (Jan. 17 – 7 p.m.), vs. Clemson (Jan. 20 – 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: Colorado, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech

Bad losses: South Florida, Lipscomb

FSU went from below .500 to starting ACC basketball play 4-1, good for second place in the conference. The Seminoles are quietly contending, and have not had many chances to really stir the pot. However, if they keep stringing together wins, FSU could be a sneaky threat.

8) Virginia Cavaliers

Last week’s ranking: 7 (-1)

Record: 11-5 (2-3)

Last week: L at Wake Forest (66-47)

Next week: vs. Virginia Tech (Jan. 17 – 7 p.m.), at Georgia Tech (Jan. 20 – 6 p.m.)

Quality wins: Texas A&M, Florida

Bad Losses: at Notre Dame

It is a tale of two tapes for Virginia, who is 9-0 at home and 0-4 on the road. The Cavaliers have lost every game on the road by at least 16. Meanwhile, they have not lost at home. They host in-state rival Virginia Tech and will look to flip the script on the road against struggling Georgia Tech.

9) Syracuse Orange

Last week’s ranking: 8 (-1)

Record: 11-5 (2-3)

Last week: W vs. Boston College (69-59), L at #7 North Carolina (103-67)

Next week: at Pittsburgh (Jan. 16 – 7 p.m.), vs. Miami-Fla (Jan. 20 – Noon)

Quality wins: Oregon, Pitt

Bad losses: N/A

Syracuse’s season almost mirrors their year last season. Perfectly mediocre. The Orange win the games they should but can never fill up their resume, always missing out on quality wins. They did not even compete in Chapel Hill. They host Miami this weekend, which would be a decent win, but not close to getting them in bubble conversation.

10) Virginia Tech Hokies

Last week’s ranking: 12 (+2)

Record: 10-6 (2-3)

Last week: W vs. #21 Clemson (87-72), L vs. Miami-Fla (75-71)

Next week: at Virginia (Jan. 17 – 7 p.m.), at NC State (Jan. 20 – Noon)

Quality wins: Iowa State, Clemson, Vermont

Bad losses: N/A

It was a nice week for the Hokies, who beat then ranked Clemson handily, and narrowly fell to Miami. Both games at home, VT now hits the road for two games. One against their struggling rival, the other against the upward trending Wolfpack. A win in either game would have the Hokies smiling back to Blacksburg.

11) Boston College Eagles

Last week’s ranking: 9 (+2)

Record: 10-6 (1-4)

Last week: L at Syracuse (69-59), L at #21 Clemson (89-78)

Next week: vs. Notre Dame (Jan. 15 – 7 p.m.), vs. #4 North Carolina (Jan. 20 – 2:15 p.m.)

Quality wins: St. John’s, Richmond

Bad losses: Loyola Chicago

BC looked like they could have been sneakily good, but, alas, they have hit a skid. They lost on the road twice this week to fall to 1-4 in conference play. They play host to Notre Dame and UNC this week in a chance to turn it around from this rough patch.

12) Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Last week’s ranking: 13 (+1)

Record: 7-10 (2-4)

Last week: W at Georgia Tech (75-68), L vs. Florida State (67-58)

Next week: at Boston College (Jan. 15 – 7 p.m.)

Quality wins: Virginia

Bad losses: Western Carolina, The Citadel

Notre Dame looks like a new squad, winning on the road in OT against Georgia Tech and holding their own against Florida State. The Fighting Irish are not good by any means but the season does not look like as big of a disaster as it seemed. The departure of Mike Brey not be felt for as long as expected.

13) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Last week’s ranking: 10 (-3)

Record: 8-8 (1-4)

Last week: L vs. Notre Dame (75-68), L at #11 Duke (84-79)

Next week: at Clemson (Jan. 16 – 9 p.m.), vs. Virginia (Jan. 20 – 6 p.m.)

Quality wins: Duke, Mississippi State, UMass

Bad losses: UMass Lowell, Notre Dame

Georgia Tech is back to the bottom after falling to Notre Dame. The Yellow Jackets almost made it two wins over Duke, but the Blue Devils escaped at home. Nonetheless, GT is back to .500 and 1-4 in ACC basketball play, needing a miracle to be given a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

14) Pittsburgh Panthers

Last week’s ranking: 14 (-)

Record: 10-6 (1-4)

Last week: L vs. #11 Duke (75-53)

Next week: vs. Syracuse (Jan. 16 – 7 p.m.), at #7 Duke (Jan. 20 – 8 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: N/A

Pitt got whooped by Duke in their only game this week. The Panthers just seem bad, they have the pieces but have yet to put them together in any way. They travel to Duke after hosting Syracuse, needing a win in either game to keep their season the slightest bit alive.

15) Louisville Cardinals

Last week’s ranking: 15 (-)

Record: 6-10 (1-4)

Last week: W at Miami-Fla (80-71), L vs. NC State (89-83)

Next week: at #4 North Carolina (Jan. 10 – 7 p.m.), at Wake Forest (Jan. 20 – Noon)

Quality wins: at Miami-Fla

Bad losses: Chattanooga, DePaul, Arkansas State

Kenny Payne picked up his first road win as a head coach, going to Coral Gables and beating the Hurricanes. Louisville is still last in the league, sharing that place in the standings with a couple of other teams. They have two road games this week, hoping to continue the newfound road winning.