Through seven conference games, the NC State men’s basketball team is 3-4. An impressive feat considering the Pack went 2-2 against then-No. 2 Duke, No. 19 Clemson, No. 3 Virginia and No. 25 Miami.
Head coach Kevin Keatts has exceeded expectations thus far in league play; however, there are no days of rest in the Atlantic Coast Conference. After a meeting in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, the Wolfpack faces a tough five-game stretch featuring UNC-Chapel Hill twice, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech and Syracuse.
Here is how the Pack measures up against the rest of the teams in arguably college basketball’s best conference:
1. No. 2 Virginia (18-1, 7-0 ACC)
The Cavaliers are not the most talented team in the ACC. Kyle Guy and Devon Hall are the only UVA players averaging double-digits in scoring this year — and that is okay with head coach Tony Bennett.
Virginia sticks to its game plan every time on the hardwood. Its slow-paced offense and suffocating defense might lull you to sleep, but it has led the Cavs to an undefeated start in the ACC.
2. No. 4 Duke (17-2, 5-2 ACC)
Outside of two defensive collapses against Boston College and the Wolfpack, the Blue Devils have looked as one of, if not the best team in the NCAA this season.
With Marvin Bagley III, Wendell Carter Jr., Gary Trent Jr., Trevon Duval and Grayson Allen on the floor, opposing defenses have their hands full.
3. No. 10 UNC-Chapel Hill (16-5, 5-3 ACC)
The Tar Heels only have one bad loss on their schedule in Wofford. Three have come at the hands of ranked opponents in Florida State, Virginia and Michigan State, and the other was on the road against a tough Virginia Tech team, which bodes well with their NCAA Tournament seeding.
After losing to UVA on Jan. 6, UNC went on a four-game winning streak that was snapped against the Hokies. Veterans Luke Maye and Joel Berry lead the team in scoring, averaging 17.8 and 17.3 points per game, respectively. As league play progresses, the Tar Heels’ experience will be the difference maker.
4. Louisville (15-4, 5-1 ACC)
The Cardinals have impressed early on in conference play as its only loss occurred on Jan. 6 to Clemson. According to the NCAA, Louisville has the 15th-best RPI this season. The Cards have good losses to No. 3 Purdue, Kentucky, Seton Hall and the Tigers.
Louisville has a favorable five-game stretch coming up where its only ranked opponent is No. 2 Virginia in Charlottesville.
5. No. 18 Clemson (16-3, 5-2 ACC)
The Tigers gained national attention and a ranking in the top 25 thanks to their 14-1 start and 10-game winning streak before losing to NC State in PNC Arena.
Though Clemson defeated Louisville earlier in the season, the Tigers will be missing a key piece as Donte Grantham tore his ACL and will miss the remainder of the season.
6. Florida State (14-5, 3-4 ACC)
The Seminoles put forth a great effort against the Blue Devils on Dec. 30 in Cameron Indoor, but could not outscore the star-studded squad on its home court.
Though FSU lost Dwayne Bacon and Jonathan Isaac to the NBA, the ‘Noles haven’t skipped a beat. At No. 10 in the country in rebounds per game, the Florida State big men are leading the team to another tournament berth.
7. Miami (14-4, 3-3 ACC)
The formerly ranked Hurricanes avoided a three-game losing streak thanks to its lights-out shooting performance on Sunday against the Pack, winning 86-81.
Miami simply hasn’t been able to put the ball in the hoop lately, ranking 11th in the ACC in scoring. Its free-throw percentage isn’t doing the Canes any favors either, ranking dead last in the conference.
8. Notre Dame (13-7, 3-4 ACC)
The Fighting Irish are dearly missing Bonzie Colson right now, as their star sits sidelined with an injury. Notre Dame is on a four-game losing streak since its 51-49 win over Syracuse on Jan. 6, including two heartbreakers to the Tar Heels and to the Cardinals in double overtime.
9. Syracuse (13-6, 2-4 ACC)
The Orange also found themselves losing four games straight before defeating lowly Pittsburgh by 14 points on Jan. 16.
Syracuse has three players scoring in double digits thanks to Tyus Battle, Frank Howard and Oshae Brissett; however, the Orange lacks depth with their next player averaging just 6.1 points per game.
10. NC State (13-7, 3-4 ACC)
The Wolfpack has had a surprisingly impressive start to conference play and benefited from its home court. All of the Pack’s ACC wins, versus Duke, Clemson and Wake Forest, have come at home.
The rise of sophomore center Omer Yurtseven has translated into the Pack’s competitiveness in PNC Arena. NC State has to find a way to win away from Raleigh if it is to preserve any hope of a tournament appearance.
11. Virginia Tech (14-6, 3-4 ACC)
Though the Hokies have 13 wins on the season, they hadn’t looked good in conference play until an upset of No. 10 UNC Monday night.
Their other wins are against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and Pitt. Virginia Tech has struggled on the defensive end, allowing 90-plus points to Florida State and Louisville.
12. Boston College (13-7, 3-4 ACC)
The Eagles, like the Pack, have been on upset watch this season. BC handed the Blue Devils their first loss of the year, lost to the Cavs by one point, fell to the Tigers by just four and defeated a respected Seminole team by six.
13. Georgia Tech (10-9, 3-3 ACC)
The Yellow Jackets stole wins from the Fighting Irish and then-No. 15 Miami early on, but their six non-conference losses have set them back a bit in these rankings. Besides good efforts against UCLA and Tennessee, Georgia Tech has lost to Wright State, Wofford, Grambling and Georgia.
14. Wake Forest (8-11, 1-6 ACC)
There’s a lot of tension swirling the Demon Deacon coaching staff. Losing John Collins to the NBA Draft should warrant a drop off, but not by this much.
Head coach Danny Manning’s team surrendered late-game leads to both NC State and UNC, increasing the season’s frustration. The squad’s five-game losing streak extends all the way back to a Jan. 3 win over Syracuse.
15. Pittsburgh (8-12, 0-7 ACC)
Pitt was projected to be the bottom feeder of the ACC in the 2017-18 season and the Panthers have proved that notion.
Outside of giving West Virginia a scare, Pittsburgh has had a forgettable season, losing to Duke twice by 35 and 27 points, respectively. Pitt ranks next to last in the ACC in field goal percentage, last in rebounds per game and last in scoring.
