2023-24 ACC Basketball Power Rankings: Week 14

Sam Bass gives his ACC basketball power rankings heading into week 14 of the 2023 season.

Matchup of the week: NC State vs. Wake Forest (Feb. 10 – 4 p.m.)

Sneaky good matchup of the week: Virginia vs. Florida State (Feb. 10 – 7:45 p.m.)

1) North Carolina Tar Heels

Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)

Record: 18-4 (10-1)

Last week: L at Georgia Tech (74-73), W vs. #7 Duke (93-84)

Next week: vs. Clemson (Feb. 6 – 7 p.m.), at Miami (Fla) (Feb. 10 – 4 p.m.)

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

Bad losses: at Georgia Tech

It was quite obvious what UNC’s priority was this week, as they might have lost focus traveling to Atlanta. Georgia Tech took immediate advantage, giving the Tar Heels their first conference loss this year. But, if you were going to ask a UNC fan which game they would rather lose this week, the resounding answer would be that midweek game. Because the sour taste from the loss did nothing but push UNC to further dominate their rival at home, all but solidifying themselves at the top of the league.

2) Duke Blue Devils

Last week’s ranking: 2 (-)

Record: 16-5 (7-3)

Last week: W at Virginia Tech (77-67), L at #3 North Carolina (93-84)

Next week: vs. Notre Dame (Feb. 7 – 9 p.m.), vs. Boston College (Feb. 10 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: Baylor, Michigan State, Clemson, at Virginia Tech

Bad losses: at Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh

Duke had a tricky road test on only one day of rest, going to Blacksburg, and despite a valiant Hokies effort, managed to squeak out a nice road win. However, in their second game away from Durham, they fell to their rival in Chapel Hill. This game might not hurt the Blue Devils resume, but beware. Armando Bacot and UNC exposed Duke a little for not being able to hold their own in physical games, so expect opponents of Duke to try similar approaches.

3) North Carolina State Wolfpack

Last week’s ranking: 6 (+3)

Record: 15-7 (7-4)

Last week: W vs. Miami (Fla) (74-68), W vs. Georgia Tech (82-76)

Next week: vs. Pittsburgh (Feb. 7 – 7 p.m.), at Wake Forest (Feb. 10 – 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: Virginia, Miami (Fla), Wake Forest

Bad losses: N/A

NC State has crept back up to the top part of the league after hitting a bump in the road. The Wolfpack are winners of two straight this week, both home games that were close, but in a league with so much parody, the W is all that matters. Miami came into Raleigh trying to reestablish themselves, but NC State had other plans, beating the Hurricanes by six.

4) Virginia Cavaliers

Last week’s ranking: 7 (+3)

Record: 17-5 (8-3)

Last week: W vs. Notre Dame (65-53), W at Clemson (66-65)

Next week: vs. Miami (Fla) (Feb. 5 – 7 p.m.), at Florida State (Feb. 10 – 7:45 p.m.)

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

Bad Losses: at Notre Dame

Virginia has quietly become scorching hot. Their defense has been the catalyst for their resurgence, with Reece Beekman and Ryan Dunn, the presumable top two DPOY vote getters, leading the charge. After a comfortable win over Notre Dame, UVA had a tough test in Clemson, and despite a gut-wrenching finish, they hung on for the win. Jake Groves has been on fire the last two as well, averaging 17.5 this week.

5) Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Last week’s ranking: 4 (-1)

Record: 14-7 (6-4)

Last week: L at Pittsburgh (77-72), W vs. Syracuse (99-70)

Next week: at Georgia Tech (Feb. 6 – 7 p.m.), vs. NC State (Feb. 10 – 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: Miami (Fla), Virginia, Florida, Syracuse

Bad losses: LSU, at Pittsburgh

Wake Forest really hurt their tournament chances with a loss to Pitt to start their week. They followed it up with a demolition of Syracuse, but the loss speaks a lot louder than the win, no matter the margin. Wake, who sits at 14-7, has some serious work to do now, and unfortunately, not even a home win against NC State guarantees a spot.

6) Clemson Tigers

Last week’s ranking: 3 (-3)

Record: 14-7 (4-6)

Last week: W vs. Louisville (70-64), L vs. Virginia (66-65)

Next week: at #3 North Carolina (Feb. 6 – 7 p.m.), at Syracuse (Feb. 10 – Noon)

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

Bad losses: Georgia Tech

I really want to continue to be high on Clemson, but the Tigers have made it so difficult to do so. After barely beating Louisville at home, they hosted Virginia who has had road woes all season. And yet, Clemson did not capitalize, remaining below .500 in the conference and dropping to 14-7. PJ Hall deserves a tournament run, but, as of right now, the Tigers are on the outside looking in.

7) Miami Hurricanes

Last week’s ranking: 8 (+1)

Record: 15-7 (6-5)

Last week: L at NC State (74-68), W vs. Virginia Tech (82-74)

Next week: at Virginia (Feb. 5 – 7 p.m.), vs. #3 North Carolina (Feb. 10 – 4 p.m.)

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

Bad losses: Louisville

Miami, unlike the two above, has a chance to make serious noise this week. After a 1-1 week and pretty much sticking in the middle of the pack, they face two superior opponents; one at home and one on the road. If Miami does one of breaking Virginia’s home winning streak or taking down the third-ranked Tar Heels, they will instantly be back in the mix of the top portion of the conference.

8) Florida State Seminoles

Last week’s ranking: 5 (-3)

Record: 12-8 (6-3)

Last week: L at Louisville (101-92)

Next week: at Boston College (Feb. 6 – 7 p.m.), vs. Virginia (Feb. 10 – 7:45 p.m.)

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

Bad losses: South Florida, Lipscomb, at Louisville

Florida State has had such a weird season. After looking awful in non-conference play, the Seminoles started ACC games red hot, eventually climbing as high as second in the conference. After cooling down, FSU still was in position to be in position, but it all crashed and hit rock bottom this week, losing to Louisville after having a week off. That loss all but knocks them out of tournament play, barring any sort of miracle.

9) Pittsburgh Panthers

Last week’s ranking: 11 (+2)

Record: 14-8 (5-6)

Last week: W vs. Wake Forest (77-72), W vs. Notre Dame (70-60)

Next week: at NC State (Feb. 7 – 7 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Duke, Wake Forest

Bad losses: Missouri

Jeff Capel and Pitt seem to have found their footing. On paper, Pitt should have been this good all year. Finally, the game’s scores reflect their on-floor abilities. After knocking off Duke, the Panthers picked up another two home wins, and now all of a sudden are back in the mix. Pitt could be dangerous going forward, especially if they click fully.

10) Syracuse Orange

Last week’s ranking: 9 (-1)

Record: 14-8 (5-6)

Last week: L at Boston College (80-75), L at Wake Forest (99-70)

Next week: vs. Louisville (Feb. 7 – 7 p.m.), vs. Clemson (Feb. 10 – Noon)

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

Bad losses: at Boston College

Syracuse was looking like they would find themselves on the all too familiar bubble, but a rough week pushed them further down the slippery slope. The Orange, in two road games, lost to BC and got throttled by Wake Forest, moving them to 5-6 in the ACC. They go back home for two this week, but need much more than that to reestablish their tournament hopes.

11) Virginia Tech Hokies

Last week’s ranking: 10 (-1)

Record: 13-9 (5-6)

Last week: L vs. #7 Duke (77-67), L at Miami (Fla) (82-74)

Next week: at Notre Dame (Feb. 10 – 5:30 p.m.)

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

Bad losses: N/A

VT had a tough week, losing two games that would have been a nice boost. Nonetheless, VT stays in the bottom part of the middle tier of the league with no real sign of moving anytime soon. Had Hunter Cattoor been healthy all year, things might have been different, but alas.

12) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Last week’s ranking: 13 (+1)

Record: 10-12 (3-8)

Last week: W vs. #3 North Carolina (74-73), L at NC State (82-76)

Next week: vs. Wake Forest (Feb. 6 – 7 p.m.), at Louisville (Feb. 10 – 6:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: North Carolina, Duke, Clemson, Mississippi State

Bad losses: UMass Lowell, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh

There has been no more interesting team than GT this season. In Damon Stoudamire’s first season, the Yellow Jackets record has not reflected how good he really has been. With a super young team, led by freshman floor general Nathan George, Georgia Tech has lost a bunch of close games. Although this year will not end in a tournament birth, the foundation is absolutely there in Atlanta, and that showed in the win over UNC.

13) Boston College Eagles

Last week’s ranking: 12 (-1)

Record: 13-8 (4-6)

Last week: W vs. Syracuse (80-75)

Next week: vs. Florida State (Feb. 6 – 7 p.m.), at #9 Duke (Feb. 10 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: St. John’s, Richmond, Syracuse

Bad losses: Loyola Chicago

Boston College had one game this week, escaping Syracuse and moving to 4-6. Two games this week will be challenging for the Eagles, hosting erratic FSU before traveling to Durham to square off with ninth-ranked Duke. BC should put up a good fight against the Blue Devils, as they match up well with Jon Scheyer’s team.

14) Louisville Cardinals

Last week’s ranking: 15 (+1)

Record: 7-15 (2-9)

Last week: L at Clemson (70-64), W vs. Florida State (101-92)

Next week: at Syracuse (Feb. 7 – 7 p.m.), vs. Georgia Tech (Feb. 10 – 6:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Miami (Fla), Florida State

Bad losses: Chattanooga, DePaul, Arkansas State

Louisville had a nice week, narrowly losing to Clemson on the road and taking down FSU over the weekend, pouring out 101 points in an offensive clinic. Kenny Payne has done a good job, with all said and done, with the roster he has. It would be interesting to see what he could do with a couple more years in Louisville.

15) Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Last week’s ranking: 14 (-1)

Record: 7-15 (2-9)

Last week: L at Virginia (65-53), L at Pittsburgh (70-60)

Next week: at #9 Duke (Feb. 7 – 9 p.m.), vs. Virginia Tech (Feb. 10 – 5:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: Virginia

Bad losses: The Citadel, at Pittsburgh

Notre Dame fell twice on the road, both by double digits. The Irish are having nothing short of a rough season, and that showed this week with two rough contests. The road ahead does not get any easier, traveling to Duke on Wednesday.