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ACC Basketball Power Rankings (1/2)

Originally posted on Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on SI
By Jackson Caudell | Last updated Jan 2, 2024 4:49 PM ET

ACC play is about to be in full swing and it is going to be one of the most interesting conference races in the country.

While teams like Duke, North Carolina, Clemson, and Miami are considered the favorites, there is room for some surprise teams to emerge. Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, NC State, and other teams are more than capable of pulling some upsets and causing chaos in the ACC Standings.

So who is at the top of the power rankings this week?

15. Louisville (5-7, 0-1 ACC)

This was an easy call. Louisville is having another dismal season under Kenny Payne and they look like they are going to be non-competitive in the ACC for another season. There is no reason for such a storied program to be this bad and irrelevant, but it is hard to say anything good about them right now.

14. Florida State (6-6, 0-1)

The Seminoles are coming off of a non-conference loss to Lipscomb and will resume ACC play at home on Wednesday against Georgia Tech. The Seminoles are another ACC program that is used to winning but looks to be heading towards another season where they are not very competitive in the conference.

13. Notre Dame (6-7, 1-1)

If you want a glimpse of how crazy the ACC season could be, Notre Dame is near the bottom of any advanced stats for the ACC teams, but won in a big way over Virginia in their last game. They face NC State, Duke, and Georgia Tech in their next three games. I still don't think this team is very good, but they have shown they can pull upsets.

12. Boston College (9-3, 0-1)

The Eagles were picked to finish near the bottom of the conference and although they are 9-3, they have not faced a hard schedule (though beating St. Johns is a strong win) and I don't think their record is going to hold up in conference play. They face Wake Forest tonight.

11. Pittsburgh (9-4, 0-2)

Pitt is 0-2 in the conference after their loss to Syracuse and they have a home date against North Carolina tonight. The Panthers were one of the surprises of the ACC last year, but are off to a rough start this season.

10. Syracuse (10-3, 1-1)

The Orange have won five in a row and knocked off Pitt for their first ACC of the year. The Orange have faced a tough schedule heading into ACC play, losing to Gonzaga and Tennessee in the non-conference and Virginia in their first conference game. This team could be one to watch and they have a huge opportunity against Duke tonight.

9. Virginia Tech (9-4, 1-1)

Virginia Tech is a team that I see in bracketology projections and I just am not seeing it yet. They have blowout losses to Wake Forest, Auburn, FAU, and a close loss to South Carolina. They also don't have many impressive wins. This team could turn it around, but they have not been impressive to me.

8. Georgia Tech (8-4, 1-0)

Georgia Tech has an impressive win vs Duke on their resume and with games against Florida State, Boston College, and Notre Dame on the horizon, there is a scenario where the Yellow Jackets are 4-0 in ACC play heading into back-to-back road trips to Duke and Clemson. This team can be inconsistent, but they also flash upside.

7. Virginia (10-3, 1-1)

Virginia might have the best coach in the conference, which means they will always be a tough team to play, but I can't figure out if this team is actually good or not after their blowout loss to Notre Dame. Outside of a win against Texas A&M, the Cavaliers don't have many impressive wins on the resume and will be a team to watch in conference play. Virginia feels like a high-ceiling but potentially low-floor team.

6. Wake Forest (9-3, 1-0)

Wake is a team that many analysts around college basketball feel could make a surprise run at the conference title. They have overcome losses to Utah and Georgia and have won six in a row, including a 23-point win over Virginia Tech. They travel to Boston College on Tuesday.

5. Miami (10-2, 1-0)

Miami has only played two tough teams this season and gotten blown out in both of them. They did not look good against Kentucky and Colorado and will have a chance to show they are more like the team that made a final-four run tomorrow night against Clemson.

4. NC State (9-3, 1-0)

The Wolfpack is a team to watch in ACC play this year and my dark horse to win the regular season title. They have played some good teams tough this year and travel to Notre Dame tomorrow night.

3. Duke (9-3, 0-1)

The Blue Devils have the most talented roster in the ACC but have not quite put it together consistently. They have won four in a row since losing to Arkansas and Georgia Tech, including beating Baylor. They face Syracuse tonight in their second ACC matchup.

2. North Carolina (9-3, 1-0)

If I had to pick the best team in the ACC right now, I would pick the Tar Heels to win it as of today. North Carolina has played a brutal schedule and done well to get to ACC play with a 9-3 record. They are on the road at Pitt tonight before a big matchup against Clemson.

1. Clemson (11-1, 1-0)

Do I think that Clemson is the best team in the ACC and will win the conference? No, I don't, but they deserve plenty of credit for earning an 11-1 record, which is the best in the ACC. They are going to have two early opportunities to prove how good they are against Miami and North Carolina.

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This article first appeared on Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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