Sam Bass gives his ACC basketball power rankings heading into week 16 of the 2023-24 season.
Matchup of the week: North Carolina vs. Virginia (Feb. 24 – 4 p.m.)
Sneaky good matchup of the week: Pittsburgh vs. Wake Forest (Feb. 20 – 9 p.m.)
All games in EST.
1) Duke Blue Devils
Last week’s ranking: 2 (+1)
Record: 20-5 (11-3)
Last week: W vs. Wake Forest (77-69), W at Florida State (76-67)
Next week: at Miami (Fla) (Feb. 21 – 7 p.m.), at Wake Forest (Feb. 24 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: Baylor, Michigan State, Clemson, at Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
Bad losses: at Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh
Duke makes its return to the top after two convincing wins this week. With Carolina in a bit of a rough stretch, Duke leapfrogs their rivals despite falling to the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill a couple of weeks ago. The Blue Devils have two tough road tilts this week, and wins in both games will continue to give them the upper edge over their rival down Tobacco Road.
2) North Carolina Tar Heels
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-1)
Record: 20-6 (12-3)
Last week: L at Syracuse (86-79), W vs. Virginia Tech (96-81)
Next week: at Virginia (Feb. 24 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: Tennessee, Duke, at Clemson, Oklahoma, at NC State, at Miami (Fla)
Bad losses: at Georgia Tech, at Syracuse
UNC fell for the third time in three weeks, losing in Syracuse. However, they bounced back nicely at home against Virginia Tech. The Tar Heels have been struggling in their midweek games and thriving on the weekends. In a year where the ACC looked to be locked up by UNC, taking the foot off the gas might prove costly for Hubert Davis’ team. They play in perhaps the hardest arena to win as an away team this weekend in Charlottesville, but a week to prepare will help.
3) Virginia Cavaliers
Last week’s ranking: 3 (-)
Record: 20-6 (11-4)
Last week: L vs. Pittsburgh (74-63), W vs. Wake Forest (49-47)
Next week: at Virginia Tech (Feb. 19 – 7 p.m.), vs. #10 North Carolina (Feb. 24 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Clemson, Texas A&M, Florida, Wake Forest, NC State
Bad Losses: at Notre Dame
Virginia’s longstanding home winning streak was snapped by red-hot Pitt, knocking the Cavaliers out of the top 25 the week they reentered. Nonetheless, UVA won a scrappy matchup against Wake Forest over the weekend to maintain their rank. Virginia looks comfortably in the field of 68 as of now, but a win over UNC this weekend virtually guarantees a tournament birth.
4) Pittsburgh Panthers
Last week’s ranking: 7 (+3)
Record: 17-8 (8-6)
Last week: W at #21 Virginia (74-63), W vs. Louisville (86-59)
Next week: at Wake Forest (Feb. 20 – 9 p.m.), vs. Virginia Tech (Feb. 24 – 5:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Duke, at Virginia, at NC State, Wake Forest
Bad losses: Missouri
Pitt came out of nowhere, jolting all the way to fourth place in the ACC Basketball Power Rankings. Will the Panthers have a double-buy in the ACC Tournament? It is to be determined, but Blake Hinson is the frontrunner for league player of the year if they continue playing like this. Jeff Capel could also be considered for COTY for the second straight season. What a remarkable turnaround in Oakland.
5) NC State Wolfpack
Last week’s ranking: 6 (+1)
Record: 16-9 (8-6)
Last week: W at Clemson (78-77)
Next week: vs. Syracuse (Feb. 20 – 7 p.m.), at Boston College (Feb. 24 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Clemson, Virginia, Wake Forest
Bad losses: N/A
NC State had a huge road win in Clemson over the weekend to keep the slim tournament hopes alive. Although still a long shot, the thrilling victory down south could prove to be crucial for the Wolfpack. They host Syracuse and then travel to Chestnut Hill to face BC, two games NC State cannot afford to lose.
6) Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Last week’s ranking: 4 (-2)
Record: 16-9 (8-6)
Last week: L at #9 Duke (77-69), L at #21 Virginia (49-47)
Next week: vs. Pittsburgh (Feb. 20 – 9 p.m.), vs. #8 Duke (Feb. 24 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: Virginia, Florida, NC State, Syracuse
Bad losses: LSU, at Pittsburgh
Wake could not capitalize on two opportunities to boost their resume this week. Instead, losing two on the road, the Deacs sit at a mediocre 16-9 with a low tournament hope. Currently on the outside looking in, Wake needs to pick up some quality wins to get in the field. They host the hottest team and the best team in two games this week and need wins to keep their postseason hopes alive.
7) Clemson Tigers
Last week’s ranking: 5 (-2)
Record: 17-8 (7-7)
Last week: W vs. Miami (Fla) (77-60), L vs. NC State (78-77)
Next week: at Georgia Tech (Feb. 21 – 7 p.m.), vs. Florida State (Feb. 24 – 7:45 p.m.)
Quality wins: at North Carolina, at Alabama, South Carolina, TCU, Boise State, at Florida State
Bad losses: Georgia Tech
Clemson needed a win over NC State but fell short. Now, they continue to sit in the middle of the ACC, with a .500 record, and in dire need of a signature win. Unfortunately, they do not have any of those opportunities for the rest of the regular season. Clemson needs to win out and stir the pot in the ACC Tournament or else they will be an NIT team.
8) Syracuse Orange
Last week’s ranking: 10 (+2)
Record: 16-10 (7-8)
Last week: W vs. #7 North Carolina (86-79), L at Georgia Tech (65-60)
Next week: at NC State (Feb. 20 – 7 p.m.), vs. Notre Dame (Feb. 24 – Noon)
Quality wins: North Carolina, Pitt (x2), NC State, Oregon
Bad losses: at Boston College, at Georgia Tech
Syracuse picked up their signature win during the week, upsetting UNC, but crashing hard, losing in Atlanta to GT. Right when their hopes were up, they got shot right back down. The win trumps the loss in the big picture, but for a team that needs to make as much noise as possible, a loss to a team below .500 shoots themselves in the foot.
9) Virginia Tech Hokies
Last week’s ranking: 11 (+2)
Record: 14-11 (6-8)
Last week: W vs. Florida State (83-75), L at #7 North Carolina (96-81)
Next week: vs. Virginia (Feb. 19 – 7 p.m.), at Pittsburgh (Feb. 24 – 5:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Iowa State, Clemson, at NC State, Vermont
Bad losses: at Notre Dame
Virginia Tech up a nice win over Florida State, but could not ride the momentum to a road upset at UNC. Nonetheless, the Hokies are playing better basketball as of late. They have a great opportunity tonight, facing off with their rivals in UVA. Virginia has had trouble winning in Blacksburg in the past, so the Hokies might be primed for an upset.
10) Florida State Seminoles
Last week’s ranking: 9 (-1)
Record: 13-12 (7-7)
Last week: L at Virginia Tech (83-75), L vs. #9 Duke (76-67)
Next week: vs. Boston College (Feb. 20 – 7 p.m.), at Clemson (Feb. 24 – 7:45 p.m.)
Quality wins: Colorado, Wake Forest, at Syracuse, at Miami (Fla)
Bad losses: South Florida, Lipscomb, at Louisville, at Virginia Tech
FSU is now flirting with falling below .500 after starting off ACC play on fire. The Seminoles returned to what most expected them to be as of late, losing all but one game in February thus far and not looking great in the lone win. They have two winnable games this week, but postseason play continues to slip further and further away.
11) Boston College Eagles
Last week’s ranking: 12 (+1)
Record: 15-10 (6-8)
Last week: W vs. Louisville (89-77), W vs. Miami (Fla) (85-77)
Next week: at Florida State (Feb. 20 – 7 p.m.), at NC State (Feb. 24 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: St. John’s, Richmond, Syracuse
Bad losses: Loyola Chicago
BC picked up two nice home wins this week, improving to 6-8 in ACC play and quietly climbing in the standings. They hit the road for two this week, hoping to create some noise and begin to make a case for any sort of postseason play.
12) Miami Hurricanes
Last week’s ranking: 8 (-4)
Record: 15-11 (6-9)
Last week: L at Clemson (77-60), L at Boston College (85-77)
Next week: vs. #8 Duke (Feb. 21 – 7 p.m.), vs. Georgia Tech (Feb. 24 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: Clemson, Kansas State, at Virginia Tech
Bad losses: Louisville, at Boston College
Miami has been nothing short of disappointing this season. After looking like a top-four team, the Hurricanes have been absolutely dreadful the past few weeks. They got blown out by Clemson and then fell to BC on the road. Jim Larrañaga looks defeated, and this team has no fight. It will wind up being a huge “what could have been” season in Coral Gables.
13) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Last week’s ranking: 15 (+2)
Record: 9-16 (4-10)
Last week: W vs. Georgia Tech (58-55)
Next week: at Louisville (Feb. 21 – 7 p.m.), at Syracuse (Feb. 24 – Noon)
Quality wins: Virginia, Virginia Tech
Bad losses: The Citadel
Notre Dame beat fellow bottom-tier team Georgia Tech in their only contest this week. The Irish currently sit at 9-16, and although the season is a wash, it does feel nice to not be the worst.
14) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Last week’s ranking: 14 (-)
Record: 11-15 (4-11)
Last week: L at Notre Dame (58-55), W vs. Syracuse (65-60)
Next week: vs. Clemson (Feb. 21 – 7 p.m.), at Miami (Fla) (Feb. 24 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: North Carolina, Duke, Clemson, Mississippi State, Syracuse
Bad losses: UMass Lowell, Notre Dame (x2)
Georgia Tech fell to Notre Dame for the second time this season but bounced back with a win against Syracuse. The Yellow Jackets are playing to their competition, winning games they shouldn’t and then losing games to teams at the bottom.
15) Louisville Cardinals
Last week’s ranking: 15 (-)
Record: 8-18 (3-12)
Last week: L at Boston College (89-77), L at Pittsburgh (86-59)
Next week: vs. Notre Dame (Feb. 21 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Miami (Fla), Florida State
Bad losses: Chattanooga, DePaul, Arkansas State, at Boston College
Louisville sits at the bottom for yet another week, losing to BC on the road and then getting absolutely blown out by Pitt. They faced off with two former Big East schools, a cruel reminder of the fall from grace Louisville has taken.
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