2023-24 ACC Basketball Power Rankings: Week 13

Sam Bass gives his ACC basketball power rankings heading into week 13 of the 2023 season.

Matchup of the week: #7 Duke vs. #3 North Carolina (Feb. 3 – 6:30 p.m.)

Sneaky good matchup of the week: Virginia vs. Clemson (Feb. 3 – 2 p.m.)

All games listed are EST.

1) North Carolina Tar Heels

Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)

Record: 17-3 (9-0)

Last week: W vs. Wake Forest (85-64), W at Florida State (75-68)

Next week: at Georgia Tech (Jan. 30 – 7 p.m.), vs. #7 Duke (Feb. 3 – 6:30 p.m.)

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

Bad losses: N/A

North Carolina is clearly the most consistent and powerful team in the conference. The Tar Heels looked to be hiccuping against Wake Forest, trailing at half, but cruised to a comfortable 19-point win. They then traveled to Florida State and handled a very solid Seminoles squad for yet another impressive triumph.

2) Duke Blue Devils

Last week’s ranking: 2 (-)

Record: 15-4 (6-2)

Last week: W at Louisville (83-69), W vs. Clemson (72-71)

Next week: at Virginia Tech (Jan. 29 – 7 p.m.), at #3 North Carolina (Feb. 3 – 6:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: Baylor, Clemson, Michigan State

Bad losses: at Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh

Duke was a foul call away from losing their third conference game at home this season, but, alas, won a riveting contest over Clemson on Saturday evening. Duke has a tough contest Monday night, traveling to Blacksburg to try and take down Virginia Tech in one of the most hostile environments in all of college basketball.

3) Clemson Tigers

Last week’s ranking: 3 (-)

Record: 13-6 (3-5)

Last week: L at #12 Duke (72-71)

Next week: vs. Louisville (Jan. 30 – 9 p.m.), vs. Virginia (Feb. 3 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Alabama, TCU, South Carolina, Boise State, at Florida State

Bad losses: Georgia Tech

Clemson fell again in heartbreaking fashion in their lone contest this week. The Tigers played Duke tough in Cameron, falling just short on a questionable foul call in the closing seconds. Clemson needs to get back into the win column. The Tigers started red hot, but now sit at 3-5 in ACC play and are further and further from being a lock in the field of 68.

4) Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Last week’s ranking: 5 (+1)

Record: 13-6 (5-3)

Last week: L at #3 North Carolina (85-64)

Next week: at Pittsburgh (Jan. 31 – 7 p.m.), vs. Syracuse (Feb. 3 – 7:45 p.m.)

Quality wins: Miami (Fla), Virginia, Florida

Bad losses: LSU

Not much to say about Wake Forest this week. The Deacs looked primed to pick up the upset in Chapel Hill at the break, but fell from grace and hit their face on the floorboards at the bottom, getting trumped in the second half and not putting up much of a fight. This week, they travel north to Pitt before playing host to Syracuse, who is playing some quality basketball as of late.

5) Florida State Seminoles

Last week’s ranking: 6 (+1)

Record: 12-8 (6-3)

Last week: W at Syracuse (85-69), L vs. #3 North Carolina (75-68)

Next week: at Louisville (Feb. 3 – 8 p.m.)

Quality wins: Colorado, at Miami (Fla), Wake Forest, at Syracuse

Bad losses: South Florida, Lipscomb

The Seminoles looked really sharp in Syracuse during the week, and played UNC well at home, but fell just short. FSU is starting to make a legitimate case to at least be included in tournament discussion, as they look like one of the ACC’s most solid teams. In a year with so much parody, FSU could steal a bid.

6) North Carolina State Wolfpack

Last week’s ranking: 4 (-2)

Record: 13-7 (5-4)

Last week: L at Virginia (59-53), L at Syracuse (77-65)

Next week: vs. Maimi (Fla) (Jan. 30 – 9 p.m.), vs. Georgia Tech (Feb. 3 – 5:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: Virginia, Wake Forest

Bad losses: N/A

It was a tough week for the Wolfpack, losing in OT to Virginia after erasing a double-digit deficit, then falling to the Orange on the road to bring their conference record to 5-4. NC State’s struggles continue, now losers of three straight. Two wins this week is critical to keep postseason hopes alive.

7) Virginia Cavaliers

Last week’s ranking: 7 (-)

Record: 15-5 (6-3)

Last week: W vs. NC State (59-53), W at Louisville (69-52)

Next week: vs. Notre Dame (Jan. 31 – 7 p.m.), at Clemson (Feb. 3 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: Texas A&M, Florida, NC State

Bad Losses: at Notre Dame

Virginia is quietly coming back into the picture, beating NC State narrowly in a game they almost blew, following up with a pounding of Louisville on the road. Jordan Minor continues to contribute, and Ryan Dunn is finding his footing on offense. Most importantly, the defense is finally looking like itself, which is always the catalyst in any Tony Bennett success.

8) Miami Hurricanes

Last week’s ranking: 9 (+1)

Record: 14-6 (5-4)

Last week: W at Notre Dame (73-61), W vs. Pittsburgh (72-68)

Next week: at NC State (Jan. 30 – 9 p.m.), vs. Virginia Tech (Feb. 3 – Noon)

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

Bad losses: Louisville

Miami got back on track this week, winning on the road against Notre Dame and then narrowly escaping Pittsburgh at home to finish the 2-0 week. Miami still has a lot of work to do to regain relevance, but getting out of the losing column was a huge step.

9) Syracuse Orange

Last week’s ranking: 8 (-1)

Record: 14-6 (5-4)

Last week: L vs. Florida State (85-69), W vs. NC State (77-65)

Next week: at Boston College (Jan. 30 – 7 p.m.), at Wake Forest (Feb. 3 – 7:45 p.m.)

Quality wins: Oregon, Miami (Fla), Pitt (x2), NC State

Bad losses: N/A

Syracuse really could have made a serious jump in these rankings if they had beaten FSU. The Orange have a decent resume, but their path to the field relies on winning as many games as possible. With only one game against a ranked opponent remaining on their schedule, quality seems like a less realistic option than quantity for ‘Cuse.

10) Virginia Tech Hokies

Last week’s ranking: 10 (-)

Record: 13-7 (5-4)

Last week: W vs. Boston College (76-71), W vs. Georgia Tech (91-67)

Next week: vs. #7 Duke (Jan. 29 – 7 p.m.), at Miami (Fla) (Feb. 3 – Noon)

Quality wins: Iowa State, at NC State, Clemson, Vermont

Bad losses: N/A

Virginia Tech pushed their conference record to above .500 with wins over BC and GT this week. Though it might be dramatic, these two upcoming games for the Hokies could be the determining factor in their fate on Selection Sunday.

11) Pittsburgh Panthers

Last week’s ranking: 12 (+1)

Record: 12-8 (3-6)

Last week: W at Georgia Tech (72-64), L at Miami (Fla) (72-68)

Next week: vs. Wake Forest (Jan. 31 – 7 p.m.), vs. Notre Dame (Feb. 3 – 6 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Duke

Bad losses: N/A

Pitt knocked off Georgia Tech in Atlanta before traveling further south and falling to Miami over the weekend. After a big weekend knocking off Duke on the road, Pitt parlayed that with another road win, but was unable to make it three in a row. They now return home for a stretch, starting with Wake Forest on Wednesday.

12) Boston College Eagles

Last week’s ranking: 11 (-1)

Record: 12-8 (3-6)

Last week: L at Virginia Tech (76-71), W at Notre Dame (61-58)

Next week: vs. Syracuse (Jan. 30 – 7 p.m.)

Quality wins: St. John’s, Richmond

Bad losses: Loyola Chicago

BC narrowly lost to Virginia Tech on the road, and then narrowly escaped Notre Dame in South Bend. The Eagles, who sit at 3-6 in the conference, do not seem like they will make any sort of run at the league this season but remain a sneaky team that can provide some serious blemishes on a contenders resume.

13) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Last week’s ranking: 13 (-)

Record: 9-11 (2-7)

Last week: L vs. Pittsburgh (72-64), L at Virginia Tech (91-67)

Next week: vs. #3 North Carolina (Jan. 30 – 7 p.m.), at NC State (Feb. 3 – 5:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: Duke, Clemson, Mississippi State

Bad losses: UMass Lowell, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh

GT continues to struggle, falling to second-worst in the league at 2-7. Georgia Tech has not played awful basketball, but has not been able to finish games despite being competitive for most of the contests. Nonetheless, the Yellow Jackets fall remains fast and they look all but done in terms of this season.

14) Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Last week’s ranking: 14 (-)

Record: 7-13 (2-7)

Last week: L vs. Miami (Fla) (73-61), L vs. Boston College (61-58)

Next week: at Virginia (Jan. 31 – 7 p.m.), at Pittsburgh (Feb. 3 – 6 p.m.)

Quality wins: Virginia

Bad losses: The Citadel

Notre Dame had two winnable home contests last week that were not wins. Over the weekend, the Irish fought hard against BC but fell short. Now, ND leaves home for two road contests this week, hoping for their third conference win of the year.

15) Louisville Cardinals

Last week’s ranking: 15 (-)

Record: 6-14 (1-8)

Last week: L vs. #12 Duke (83-69), L vs. Virginia (69-52)

Next week: at Clemson (Jan. 30 – 9 p.m.), vs. Florida State (Feb. 3 – 8 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Miami (Fla)

Bad losses: Chattanooga, DePaul, Arkansas State

Louisville was the victim of two beatdowns last week at the hands of Duke and Virginia. The Cardinals will chalk this season up to a rebuilding year, and some say Kenny Payne is halfway out the door. Payne was not given an easy job at all, but two years seems abrupt. Hopefully, Louisville keeps him around a little longer to see what he can build.