2024-25 ACC Basketball Power Rankings: Week 3

Sam Bass gives his ACC basketball power rankings heading into week 3 of the 2024-25 season.

Matchup of the week: Duke vs. Arizona (Nov. 22 – 10:30 p.m.)

Sneaky good matchup of the week: Virginia vs. Tennessee (Nov. 21 – 9:30 p.m.)

All games in EST.

1) Duke Blue Devils

Last week‘s ranking: 1

Record: 3-1 (0-0)

Last week: L vs. Kentucky (77-72), W vs. Wofford (86-35)

Next week: at Arizona (Nov. 22. – 10:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: None

Bad losses: None

Duke had an opportunity to make a statement early on in the season with a game versus Kentucky at a neutral floor. In what turned out to be a great contest, Copper Flagg turned the ball over twice in the final minute of the game, and, after the Wildcats converted at the free-throw line, Kentucky came out victorious. Duke had a 9-point lead going into the break but Kentucky hung close and came back to win. Duke bounced back in a big way with a huge win over Wofford and has another big game this week when they travel to play Arizona.

2) North Carolina Tar Heels

Last week’s ranking: 2 (-)

Record: 2-1 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. American (107-55)

Next week: at Hawai’i (Nov. 23. – 12:30 a.m.)

Quality wins: None

Bad losses: None

UNC handily defeated American in a routine buy game. This week, they have an interesting lone contest in Hawai’i, an unusual road opponent for the Tar Heels. Although the talent gap should allow Carolina to win this game, the start time might affect them a little, so keep an eye out if the Tar Heels come out a bit flat in this one.

3) Miami Hurricanes

Last week’s ranking: 3 (-)

Record: 3-0 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Coppin State (93-63)

Next week: vs. Drake (Nov. 21. – 12 p.m.), vs. Oklahoma State/FAU (Nov. 22, time TBD), vs. VCU/Seton Hall/Vanderbilt/Nevada (Nov. 23, time TBD)

Quality wins: None

Bad losses: None

It has been an easy first two weeks for Miami, but this week in the Charleston Classic they will get somewhat of a real test. Although Miami should win this field on paper, there are some sneaky good teams in this tournament, including a VCU squad who had their way with ACC teams in secret scrimmages.

4) NC State Wolfpack

Last week’s ranking: 5 (+1)

Record: 3-0 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Coastal Carolina (82-70)

Next week: vs. Colgate (Nov. 18. – 7 p.m.), vs. William & Mary (Nov. 22, 7 p.m.)

Quality wins: None

Bad losses: None

The Wolfpack won their lone contest this week to remain undefeated on the year. They have yet to face any team that has given them a real challenge, and that trend should not end this week, when they face Colgate and William & Mary. Jayden Taylor has been fantastic thus far, most recently posting 22 points in the win over the Chaunts.

5) Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Last week’s ranking: 4 (-1)

Record: 4-1 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. SC Upstate (85-80), L vs. Xavier (75-60)

Next week: vs. West Carolina (Nov. 19. – 7 p.m.), vs. Detroit Mercy (Nov. 23 – 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: Michigan

Bad losses: None

Wake narrowly escaped a really tough game against SC Upstate, being tied with under 3 minutes to play and only winning the home contest by 5. They then traveled to Cincinnati to square off with Xavier and got a bit of a gut punch, losing to the Musketeers by 15. Hunter Sallis was the only double-figure scorer in the loss, and Cameron Hildreth only had 2 points. Wake Forest will win very few games with only one double-figure scorer. This week, Wake gets a bit of a reset in two buy games against weak opponents.

6) Virginia Cavaliers

Last week’s ranking: 7 (+1)

Record: 3-0 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Coppin State (62-45), W vs. Villanova (70-60)

Next week: vs. Tennessee (Nov. 21. – 9:30 p.m.), vs. Baylor/St. John’s (Nov. 22 – time TBD)

Quality wins: None

Bad losses: None

It is a bit weird that Villanova is no longer considered a “quality win,” but nonetheless, Virginia took advantage of a struggling Wildcat squad and knocked down a season high 14 three-pointers in the win. The offensive issues are still present at times, but more and more guys look comfortable with the ball as time goes on. Virginia has a tough task this week at the Bahamas Championship, potentially being the only unranked team in the field of four. Meaning, even with a loss to Tennessee, Virginia still has an opportunity to pick up at least one quality win.

7) Pittsburgh Panthers

Last week’s ranking: 8 (+1)

Record: 4-0 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Gardner-Webb (83-64), W vs. West Virginia (86-62)

Next week: vs. VMI (Nov. 18. – 7 p.m.), vs. LSU (Nov. 22 – 2:30 p.m.), vs. Wisconsin/UCF (Nov. 24, time TBD)

Quality wins: None

Bad losses: None

Pitt continues to steamroll lesser opponents, as the Panthers sit at 4-0, one of two 4-0 teams in the ACC. Their best win is against a really struggling West Virginia team at home, so before we can start putting Pitt in the top-of-the-league conversations, they need some resume help. Just what the doctor ordered, Pitt is tasked with LSU in the first round of the Greenbrier Tip-Off, and then plays either Wisconsin or UCF, both very capable squads.

8) Clemson Tigers

Last week’s ranking: 6 (-2)

Record: 3-1 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Eastern Kentucky (75-62), L vs. Boise State (84-71)

Next week: vs. Radford (Nov. 21. – 7 p.m.)

Quality wins: None

Bad losses: None

Clemson had a nice opportunity for a road win early in the season but was ambushed by Boise State. The Tigers never led in the second half and got trounced by 13. Although not a huge concern, it is a game that Clemson would like back, as now they fall to 3-1 and miss out on a potentially solid win. They have one game this week against Radford before they get ready for the Sunshine Slam starting Monday of next week.

9) Louisville Cardinals

Last week’s ranking: 8 (-1)

Record: 1-1 (0-0)

Last week: No games

Next week: vs. Bellarmine (Nov. 19 – 7 p.m.), vs. Winthrop (Nov. 22 – 7 p.m.)

Quality wins: None

Bad losses: None

Not much to mention about Louisville after an off week. They have two buy games this week, and two wins might shake them of their former reputation.

10) Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Last week’s ranking: 11 (+1)

Record: 3-0 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Buffalo (86-77), W vs. Georgetown (84-63)

Next week: vs. North Dakota (Nov. 19. – 7 p.m.), vs. Elon (Nov. 22 – 7:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: None

Bad losses: None

Notre Dame had a nice week to remain undefeated, beating Buffalo at home before smacking Georgetown on the road. The Irish could be sleepers in the ACC this season, as their offense looks very capable early on this season. Notre Dame has three scorers averaging over 15 a game, with Markus Burton leading the way with 17.7 a game. The Irish have a couple of buy games this week, and if they win both, they potentially face a ranked Rutgers squad at 5-0.

11) SMU Mustangs

Last week’s ranking: 10 (-1)

Record: 3-1 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. UNC Greensboro (81-68), L vs. Butler (81-70)

Next week: vs. Prairie View A&M (Nov. 18. – 8 p.m.), vs. Mississippi State (Nov. 22 – 8:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: None

Bad losses: None

The Mustangs could not pull out the quality win at Butler after handling UNCG at home. SMU’s offense was 0ff to an incredibly hot start, but the Bulldogs were able to contain them for the most part in the contest. SMU now has two home tilts this week with the opportunity for a quality win over Mississippi State on Friday.

12) Cal Golden Bears

Last week’s ranking: 13 (-)

Record: 3-1 (0-0)

Last week: L vs. Vanderbilt (85-69), W vs. USC (71-66)

Next week: vs. Air Force (Nov. 21. – 10 p.m.), vs. Sacramento State (Nov. 24 – 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: at USC

Bad losses: None

Despite falling to Vandy on the road, Cal bounced back in a big way with a road win over former conference foe USC. The Trojans are by no means a top-of-the-line program this season, but any road win over a Power Five school iso huge, especially for a team that had just lost one a couple nights before. Cal returns home to face even more in-state opponents, playing two winnable contests against Air Force and Sac State.

13) Syracuse Orange

Last week’s ranking: 12 (-1)

Record: 3-0 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Colgate (74-72), W vs. Youngstown State (104-95)

Next week: vs. Texas (Nov. 21. – 7 p.m.), vs. Texas Tech/St. Joseph’s (Nov. 22 – time TBD)

Quality wins: None

Bad losses: None

Syracuse has been playing with fire in their first three games. First, a narrow win over Le Moyne last week was a huge sigh of relief, but the next two games were even more nerve-inducing. The Orange beat Colgate by just 2 before Youngstown State took them to two overtimes. 3-0 is 3-0 no matter how you got there, but there should be a lot of cause for concern in Syracuse.

14) Florida State Seminoles

Last week’s ranking: 15 (+1)

Record: 3-1 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Tarleton State (72-52), L vs. Florida (87-74)

Next week: vs. Hofstra (Nov. 19 – 7 p.m.), vs. Temple (Nov. 22 – 5 p.m.), vs. UMass (Nov. 24 – 3:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Rice

Bad losses: None

Florida State had the opportunity to really make a statement against a ranked Florida team at home but got flat-out beat. Nothing to shake your head at if you are the Seminoles, but clearly there is work to be done if they want to contend in a pretty open ACC this season. They have two home contests this week, both winnable games, that should put them at a very respectable 5-1 before going to Springfield for the Basketball Hall-of-Fame tip-off.

15) Stanford Cardinal

Last week’s ranking: 16 (+1)

Record: 4-0 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Northern Arizona (90-64), W vs. UC Davis (79-65)

Next week: vs. Norfolk State (Nov. 20. – 10 p.m.), at Santa Clara (Nov. 23 – 10 p.m.)

Quality wins: None

Bad losses: None

Stanford is off to a really hot start, albeit a pretty easy schedule thus far. Nonetheless, the Cardinal have handled business very well for a team that was picked to finish 17th in the ACC preseason poll. Stanford has a real test on Saturday, traveling to Santa Clara for a tricky road contest.

16) Virginia Tech Hokies

Last week’s ranking: 14 (-2)

Record: 3-1 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Winthrop (58-52), L vs. Penn State (86-64)

Next week: vs. Jacksonville (Nov. 20. – 7 p.m.)

Quality wins: None

Bad losses: None

It was a rough week for VT, narrowly escaping Winthrop in an ugly contest before getting dismantled in Baltimore by a bottom-half Big Ten team in Penn State. It was no secret that there were underlying issues with this squad, but the Hokies desperately need to answer some questions especially on the offensive end. They have a lone matchup with Jacksonville which should serve as a nice bounce back from a tough week.

17) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Last week’s ranking: 17 (-)

Record: 2-2 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Texas Southern (81-62), L vs. Georgia (77-69)

Next week: vs. Cincinatti (Nov. 23. – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: None

Bad losses: North Florida

Georgia Tech could have pulled out a quality win after losing big to UNF the week before, but the Bulldogs handled business and sent the Yellow Jackets back to .500. There is definitely potential with this team but they have yet to put it all together in the two weeks of games. They host Cincinnati, another opportunity for a big win at home, on Saturday of this week.

18) Boston College Eagles

Last week’s ranking: 18 (-)

Record: 2-1 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Temple (72-69)

Next week: vs. Loyola Maryland (Nov. 19. – 6 p.m.), vs. Old Dominion (Nov. 24 – 7:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: None

Bad losses: None

BC pulled out a nice close win over Temple in their only game this week. Unfortunately for the Eagles, it seems as Temple is their perfect matchup, which does not bode well for the rest of their season. They host Loyola MD before playing Old Dominion in the Cayman Islands, both winnable games, but with this team, there is no guarantees.