2023-24 ACC Basketball Power Rankings: Week 18

Bailee Tucker gives her ACC basketball power rankings heading into week 18 of the 2023-24 season.

Matchup of the week: North Carolina vs. Duke (March 9 – 6:30 p.m.)

Sneaky good matchup of the week: Clemson vs. Syracuse (March 5 – 7 p.m.)

All games in EST.

1) North Carolina Tar Heels

Week 16 ranking: 2 (+1)

Record: 23-6 (15-3)

Last week: W vs. Miami (Fla.) (75-71), W vs. NC State (79-70)

Next week: vs. Notre Dame (March 5 – 7 p.m.), at #9 Duke (March 9 – 6:30 p.m.)

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

Bad losses: at Georgia Tech

There’s currently no one in the ACC that is as solid as UNC. They’re currently on a four-game win streak after a devastating loss on the road to Syracuse a few weeks ago. Just when they had the opportunity to crumble, they instead kicked it into high gear and shut down each of their last four opponents, one of which being a 10-point victory over Virginia. UNC is also the highest-ranked ACC team in the AP rankings coming in at #7. The road ahead might be rocky though as they face Duke on Saturday at Cameron Indoor where anything could happen.

2) Duke Blue Devils

Week 16 ranking: 1 (-1)

Record: 23-6 (14-4)

Last week: W vs. Louisville (84-59), W vs. Virginia (73-48)

Next week: at NC State (March 4 – 7 p.m.), vs. #7 North Carolina (March 9 – 6:30 p.m.)

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

Bad losses: at Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh

After a loss to Wake Forest on the road, Duke falls one spot in the ACC Basketball Power Rankings. Duke was able to bounce back this past week with wins over Louisville and Virginia, making them a clear-cut number two in the ACC. There’s a strong case for Duke as number one, but the head-to-head matchup with the Tar Heels is what keeps them in second. They’ll have an opportunity to reach the top again this Saturday when they take on UNC at home.

3) Clemson Tigers

Week 16 ranking: 7 (+4)

Record: 20-9 (10-8)

Last week: W vs. Pitt (69-62), L at Notre Dame (69-62)

Next week: vs. Syracuse (March 5 – 7 p.m.), at Wake Forest (March 9 – 6 p.m.)

Quality wins: at North Carolina, at Alabama, South Carolina, TCU, Boise State, Pitt

Bad losses: Georgia Tech, at Notre Dame

Although they lost on the road to Notre Dame, Clemson makes a great case for the third spot in the ACC power rankings. This is a team you should see later on in the month in the Big Dance. The Notre Dame loss stings, but a one-point loss to Virginia doesn’t necessarily mean the Cavs are the better team. Their next two games are against two teams who are their competition for the fourth seed in the ACC Tournament, making a win even more important.

4) Pittsburgh Panthers

Week 16 ranking: 4 (-)

Record: 19-10 (10-8)

Last week: L at Clemson (69-62), W at Boston College (90-65)

Next week: vs. Florida State (March 5 – 9 p.m.), vs. NC State (March 9 – 6:45 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Duke, at Virginia, at NC State, Wake Forest

Bad losses: Missouri

Pitt is currently on track to their second 20-win season in two years. Their 2-and-2 record out of the last four games is just a reflection of conference play, but to date, they’ve had a pretty successful season. Wins over Virginia and Duke boost their standing.

5) Virginia Cavaliers

Week 16 ranking: 3 (-2)

Record: 21-9 (12-7)

Last week: W at Boston College (72-68), L at #10 Duke (73-48)

Next week: vs. Georgia Tech Tech (March 9 – 8:30 p.m.)

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

Bad Losses: at Notre Dame

The Cavaliers are currently projected as a 10 seed for the Big Dance, but their upcoming game against Georgia Tech and their ACC Tournament performance could make or break that. Although they’re currently a projected three-seed in the ACC Tournament, they have two wins in their last six games. Granted two of those losses were against North Carolina and Duke, but both were by double digits which caused them to slip in the ACC Basketball Power Rankings.

6) Syracuse Orange

Week 16 ranking: 8 (+2)

Record: 20-10 (8-11)

Last week: W vs. Virginia Tech (84-71), W at Louisville (82-76)

Next week: at Clemson (March 5 – 7 p.m.)

Quality wins: North Carolina, Pitt (x2), Oregon, NC State (x2)

Bad losses: at Boston College, at Georgia Tech

Talk about getting hot at the right time. The Orange are currently on a four-game win streak, catapulting them to fourth in the ACC after this past weekend. Beating Clemson would give them a huge ACC Tournament boost, but there’s no guarantee they’d still get that double bye. Wake Forest’s performance will be the judge of that.

7) NC State Wolfpack

Week 16 ranking: 5 (-2)

Record: 17-12 (9-9)

Last week: L at Florida State (90-83), L at #9 North Carolina (79-70)

Next week: vs. #9 Duke (March 4 – 7 p.m.), at Pitt (March 9 – 7:45 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Clemson, Virginia, Wake Forest

Bad losses: N/A

NC State doesn’t have a single bad loss. But they have 12 of them, five of which coming in the last seven games. This week, the Wolfpack could turn the tables and beef up their ranking with wins against Duke and Pitt. These are possibly the best two games they could ask for in order to prepare them for the upcoming conference tournament. They, as well as the rest of the teams on this list, will need to cut down the nets in D.C. to punch their ticket to the Big Dance.

8) Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Week 16 ranking: 6 (-2)

Record: 18-11 (10-8)

Last week: L at Notre Dame (70-65), L at Virginia Tech (87-76)

Next week: vs. Georgia Tech (March 5 – 9 p.m.), vs. Clemson (March 9 – 6 p.m.)

Quality wins: Florida Virginia, Syracuse, NC State

Bad losses: LSU, at Notre Dame

When Wake had six games remaining, they still had a pretty good chance of getting into the tournament with an at-large bid. They started off hot with wins over Pitt and Duke, but losses to Notre Dame and Virginia Tech caused them to regress. Their upcoming matchup against Clemson could be their most important game of the season, and could determine the outcome of the ACC Tournament for other teams.

9) Florida State Seminoles

Week 16 ranking: 10 (+1)

Record: 15-14 (9-9)

Last week: W vs. NC State (90-83), L at Georgia Tech (85-76)

Next week: at Pitt (March 5 – 9 p.m.), vs. Miami (Fla.) (March 9 – 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Syracuse, Colorado, Wake Forest

Bad losses: Lipscomb, at Louisville, at Georgia Tech

FSU only has two wins in their last seven games, and overall are an average team in the ACC. This week, they take on Pitt and could really shift the tide in their less-than-remarkable season. Another win later in the week against Miami would even further improve their record.

10) Virginia Tech Hokies

Week 16 ranking: 9 (-1)

Record: 16-13 (8-10)

Last week: L at Syracuse (84-71), W vs. Wake Forest (87-76)

Next week: at Louisville (March 5 – 7 p.m.), vs. Notre Dame (March 9 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: Iowa State, Clemson, Virginia, at NC State, Wake Forest, Vermont

Bad losses: at Notre Dame, at Miami (Fla.)

Currently tenth in the ACC, the Hokies finish their season against Louisville and Notre Dame. Not a bad tune-up for the conference tournament, and they need all the wins they can get. They are 7-9 in the year 2024, and a confidence boost heading into D.C. is crucial.

11) Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Week 16 ranking: 13 (+2)

Record: 12-17 (7-11)

Last week: W vs. Wake Forest (70-65), W vs. Clemson (69-62)

Next week: at #7 North Carolina (March 5 – 7 p.m.), vs. Virginia Tech (March 9 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: Clemson, Virginia, at Virginia Tech, Wake Forest

Bad losses: The Citadel