Sam Bass gives his ACC basketball power rankings heading into week 11 of the 2024-25 season.
Matchup of the week: Clemson vs. Pittsburgh (Jan. 18 – 12 p.m.)
Sneaky good matchup of the week: Notre Dame vs. Syracuse (Jan. 18 – 4 p.m.)
All games in EST.
1) Duke Blue Devils
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)
Record: 14-2 (6-0)
Last week: W vs. Pittsburgh (76-47), W vs. Notre Dame (86-78)
Next week: vs. Miami (Jan. 14 – 9 p.m.), at Boston College (Jan. 18 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Arizona, Auburn, at SMU, Pittsburgh
Bad losses: None
Duke is the best team in the conference by a wide margin, and it’s starting to look like one of if not the best team in the nation. Cooper Flagg erupted for 42 in the win over Notre Dame setting a new ACC freshman record. And before that, Duke defeated the presumed second best team in the conference by 29, making a statement. The only question for Duke remaining is will they even lose an ACC game this year?
2) Louisville Cardinals
Last week’s ranking: 6 (+4)
Record: 12-5 (5-1)
Last week: W vs. Clemson (74-64), W vs. Pittsburgh (82-78)
Next week: at Syracuse (Jan. 14 – 7 p.m.), vs. Virginia (Jan. 18 – 12 p.m.)
Quality wins: Indiana, West Virginia, North Carolina, Clemson, Pittsburgh
Bad losses: None
It was a great week for Louisville, winning two games, one handily over Clemson, and the other narrowly over Pitt on the road. Louisville is making the best case of any ACC team besides Duke to have an at-large bid, sitting at 12-5 with only one conference loss, including wins over two of the better teams in the league this week. Chucky Hepburn is also making a case for first team ACC with his scoring reaching a new level since transferring while still being an elite ball handler.
3) Pittsburgh Panthers
Last week’s ranking: 2 (-1)
Record: 12-4 (3-2)
Last week: L vs. Duke (76-47), L vs. Louisville (82-78)
Next week: at Florida State (Jan. 15. – 9 p.m.), vs. Clemson (Jan. 18 – 12 p.m.)
Quality wins: LSU, at Ohio State
Bad losses: None
Pitt had a rough week after a hot start, getting trounced by Duke and then falling to Louisville at home. Although they played two of the better teams in the league, Pitt needed at least one win to really make an at large case. Now, their backs are against the wall. Pitt has another opportunity to come up with a decent win when it hosts Clemson on Saturday.
4) Clemson Tigers
Last week’s ranking: 3 (-1)
Record: 13-4 (5-1)
Last week: L vs. Louisville (74-64), W vs. Florida State (77-57)
Next week: at Georgia Tech (Jan. 14. – 9 p.m.), at Pittsburgh (Jan. 18 – 12 p.m.)
Quality wins: San Francisco, Penn State, Kentucky
Bad losses: None
Clemson hit a bump in the road this week, falling to Louisville before beating Florida State by 20 at home. It’s still tough to tell if Clemson is good or just good in the ACC. At 13-4 with some good wins, it feels like the Tigers body of work, including success the rest of the season, could lead to an at large bid, but with the state of the conference, the Tigers might have to do something more to sneak in.
5) Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Last week’s ranking: 5 (-)
Record: 12-4 (4-1)
Last week: W vs. Miami (88-78)
Next week: vs. Stanford (Jan. 15 – 6:30 p.m.), at Virginia Tech (Jan. 18 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: Michigan, Minnesota
Bad losses: None
Wake handled business in their lone game this week, beating Miami in Coral Gables by 10. Although that game would be considered a tough one before the season, Wake did what they were expected to and improve to 12-4 and 4-1 in conference. They play host to Stanford Wednesday night before going to Blacksburg to face off with VT, and if all goes to plan, Wake should sit at 14-4 after the week.
6) North Carolina Tar Heels
Last week’s ranking: 7 (+1)
Record: 11-6 (4-1)
Last week: W vs. SMU (82-67), W vs. NC State (63-61)
Next week: vs. Cal (Jan. 15 – 7 p.m.), vs. Stanford (Jan. 18 – 2:15 p.m.)
Quality wins: Dayton, UCLA, at NC State
Bad losses: at Louisville
UNC picked up two nice wins this week, stomping on SMU at home before narrowly edging out NC State on the road in a tough environment. The Tar Heels have looked shakey at times this season, but if they hit their stride, it would be huge for the conference. A league where Duke is the only favorite with no competition is not one that the ACC wants, so if North Carolina gets hot in time to square off with Duke, it is exactly what the ACC needs in a down year.
7) SMU Mustangs
Last week’s ranking: 4 (-3)
Record: 12-4 (3-2)
Last week: L vs. North Carolina (82-67), W vs. Georgia Tech (93-71)
Next week: at Virginia (Jan. 15. – 9 p.m.), at Miami (Jan. 18 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: Washington State, Virginia, LSU
Bad losses: None
SMU lost their second straight to UNC, and it was not a competitive contest. However, the Mustangs bounded back nicely with a comfortable win over sneaky Georgia Tech. SMU now enters the territory of middle of the pack with signs of improvement but still not quite at the top level. They have a rematch with ice cold Virginia followed by a trip to Miami, hoping to start a win streak.
8) Stanford Cardinal
Last week’s ranking: 8 (-)
Record: 11-5 (3-2)
Last week: W vs. Virginia Tech (70-59), W vs. Virginia (88-65)
Next week: at Wake Forest (Jan. 15 – 6:30 p.m.), at North Carolina (Jan. 18 – 2:15 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Santa Clara, at Cal
Bad losses: Grand Canyon, Cal Poly
Stanford beat both teams from Virginia pretty handily this week, winning both contests by double digits. Stanford is sneakily having a good season, unfortunately partly due to a lack of strength of schedule in non conference. The Cardinal now how a tough road trip, going to North Carolina to face off with Wake Forest and UNC.
9) NC State Wolfpack
Last week’s ranking: 10 (+1)
Record: 9-7 (2-3)
Last week: W vs. Notre Dame (66-65), L vs. North Carolina (63-61)
Next week: at Virginia Tech (Jan. 15. – 7 p.m.), vs. Cal (Jan. 18 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: Virginia
NC State played two close contests this week, escaping a subpar Notre Dame team by a point before narrowly falling to UNC. For the Wolfpack, it was a far from ideal week, especially dropping a rivalry game on its home floor by 2. The bigger concern, though, is only beating Notre Dame by 1 at home. Close games like this are not good for the Wolfpack, who will likely find themselves outside the top half of the league unless they start handling business against worst teams.
10) Florida State Seminoles
Last week’s ranking: 11 (+1)
Record: 11-5 (2-3)
Last week: W vs. Miami (80-65), L vs. Clemson (77-57)
Next week: vs. Pittsburgh (Jan. 15 – 9 p.m.), vs. Georgia Tech (Jan. 18 – 12 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Rice
Bad losses: None
FSU beat Miami on the road but fell to Clemson to make it a 1-1 week for the Seminoles. Florida State remains in the lower half of the league, with no quality wins just an 11-5 mark. They are tasked with Pitt and Georgia Tech this week, both at home, and a 2-0 upcoming week would be a dream for FSU.
11) Cal Golden Bears
Last week’s ranking: 12 (+1)
Record: 8-8 (1-4)
Last week: W vs. Virginia (75-61), L vs. Virginia Tech (71-68)
Next week: at North Carolina (Jan. 15 – 7 p.m.), at NC State (Jan. 18 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: at USC
Bad losses: Cornell, Virginia Tech
Cal picked up its first conference win over struggling Virginia before dropping a bad one to Virginia Tech on Saturday. Cal is clawing for a bid in the ACC Tournament, right now bordering the cut line. Losses to teams that will be with them on that line, like VT, can do nothing but hurt Cal. Now, they have another trip east with two tough games, hoping to go at least 1-1 on the trip.
12) Virginia Cavaliers
Last week’s ranking: 9 (-3)
Record: 8-8 (1-4)
Last week: L vs. Cal (75-61), L vs. Stanford (88-65)
Next week: vs. SMU (Jan. 15. – 9 p.m.), at Louisville (Jan. 18 – 12 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: at Cal, Stanford
Virginia is falling and doing so rather quickly. This team does not have any identity and might be the worst team in the conference away from their home court. These two losses out west feels like a bit of a nail in the coffin for Virginia’s postseason hopes, especially with two games this week against teams they have already faced and lost to this season.
13) Syracuse Orange
Last week’s ranking: 15 (+2)
Record: 8-8 (2-3)
Last week: W vs. Georgia Tech (62-55), W vs. Boston College (79-71)
Next week: vs. Louisville (Jan. 14. – 7 p.m.), vs. Notre Dame (Jan. 18 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: Notre Dame, at Florida State
Syracuse needed this week in the worst possible way. The Orange are officially in the win column in ACC play and cracked .500 with the wins this week. These games will not launch them into any sort of postseason discussion, however, it is always nice to win some. JJ Starling averaged 23.5 this week and he has been a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season.
14) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Last week’s ranking: 14 (-)
Record: 8-9 (2-4)
Last week: L vs. NC State (66-65), L vs. Duke (86-78), W vs. Boston College (78-60)
Next week: at Syracuse (Jan. 18 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: Elon, Georgia Tech
Notre Dame lost two close ones but bounced back with a convincing win over BC. The Irish really gave Duke its toughest test of the season, and despite allowing Cooper Flagg to drop 42, hung close for the majority of the contest. Now, ND travels east to Syracuse in a game that could be a lot of fun to watch.
15) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Last week’s ranking: 13 (-2)
Record: 8-9 (2-4)
Last week: L vs. Syracuse (62-55), L vs. SMU (93-71)
Next week: vs. Clemson (Jan. 14. – 7 p.m.), at Florida State (Jan. 18 – 12 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: North Florida, Syracuse
Georgia Tech returned to form this week, dropping back below .500 in ACC play and overall with losses to Syracuse and SMU. The Yellow Jackets showed signs the week before of potentially getting hot, but to no avail, dropping two games and not playing well in either of them.
16) Virginia Tech Hokies
Last week’s ranking: 17 (+1)
Record: 7-9 (2-3)
Last week: L vs. Stanford (70-59), W vs. Cal (71-68)
Next week: vs. NC State (Jan. 15. – 7 p.m.), vs. Wake Forest (Jan. 18 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: Jacksonville, Stanford
VT had a nice road win this week after losing to Stanford, staying on the west coast and narrowly beating Cal. VT now improves to 2-3 in conference, albeit not great wins. However, wins are all the same and Virginia Tech will take all they can get in a very down year. They have two tough contests upcoming, hosting NC State and then traveling to Winston-Salem to face Wake Forest.
17) Boston College Eagles
Last week’s ranking: 16 (-1)
Record: 9-8 (1-5)
Last week: L vs. Syracuse (79-71), L vs. Notre Dame (78-60)
Next week: vs. Duke (Jan. 18. – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: Boise State
Bad losses: Dartmouth, Georgia Tech
BC had a rough week, losing to Syracuse and then getting crushed by Notre Dame, falling to 1-5 in ACC play. The Eagles are desperate for a couple of wins strung together, as right now they are on the outside of the ACC tournament field looking in. That win streak will almost certainly not start this week, as they have to face Duke, the hottest team in the country.
18) Miami Hurricanes
Last week’s ranking: 18 (-)
Record: 4-12 (0-5)
Last week: L vs. Florida State (80-65), L vs. Wake Forest (88-78)
Next week: at Duke (Jan. 14. – 9 p.m.), vs. SMU (Jan. 18 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: Charleston Southern, Mount St. Mary’s, Virginia Tech
There is no more defense for this team. It is hard to imagine Miami winning a single conference game this year, and for a team picked to finish third in the preseason polls, this might go down as the most disappointing season in ACC history.
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