1. No. 4 Duke (24-3, 11-3 ACC)
The ACC game of the year (and possibly NCAA game of the year) goes to Duke’s overtime win over UNC-Chapel Hill last Wednesday. The Blue Devils proved they won’t quit and they have the makeup of a team that can go deep in the tournament.
2. No. 2 Virginia (25-1, 13-1 ACC)
It’s a good thing this isn’t a beauty pageant because the Cavaliers would be dead last on this list (OK they’d be in front of Boston College), but Virginia’s methodical style works, and it was evident again this week in wins over Pittsburgh and Florida State.
3. No. 9 Notre Dame (24-4, 12-3 ACC)
The Fighting Irish continue to rack up points, beating lowly Wake Forest and Boston College and scoring 88 and 87 points in each. They have all but locked up a 2nd-round bye in the ACC Tournament.
4. No. 15 UNC-Chapel Hill (19-8, 9-5 ACC)
It was a week of heartbreak for the Tar Heels, which began when they were defeated by the Blue Devils in a game they probably should have won in Cameron Indoor and ended with a memorial service for the legendary Dean Smith.
5. No. 17 Louisville (22-6, 10-5 ACC)
The Cardinals are an infuriating team to watch and dropped another ACC contest last Wednesday against Syracuse. They have managed to stop the bleeding as of late with back-to-back wins over Miami before squeaking a victory out against Georgia Tech.
6. NC State (16-11, 7-7 ACC)
The theme of the week for the Wolfpack was not making mistakes. The team had only had one game, against Virginia Tech, and a loss would have effectively ended any tournament hopes. State can hang its hat on its first winning streak since December.
7. Pittsburgh (18-10, 7-7 ACC)
A huge road win over Syracuse has the Panthers squarely on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. Converting last Monday against Virginia would’ve been huge and there are no more opportunities for the Panthers to pick up quality wins during the regular season.
8. Syracuse (17-10, 8-6 ACC)
If the Orange hadn’t self-imposed a postseason ban due to NCAA infractions, Syracuse would be a bubble team with a chance to make a run at the Tournament. Instead they are attempting to play spoiler.
9. Miami (17-10, 7-7 ACC)
The Hurricanes are playing themselves off of the bubble right now, nearly giving away a game in Boston College before falling to Louisville in a crucial road tilt. North Carolina at home will provide a chance at a quality win.
10. Clemson (15-12, 7-8 ACC)
It’s been a rough week for the Tigers, as they dropped two games by double digits against teams on the opposite end of the ACC standings. First was Georgia Tech, who defeated the Tigers by 11, then Duke creamed Clemson by 22 to wrap up their week.
11. Florida State (15-13, 7-8 ACC)
The Seminoles came so close to pulling off the upset in Charlottesville Sunday but were suffocated in the end by the stifling Virginia defense. The Seminoles did pick up a win against Boston College, so overall it’s been a good week for them.
12. Wake Forest (12-15, 4-10 ACC)
It was a quiet week for the Demon Deacons. They only played one game and it was a loss on the road to Notre Dame, which was expected. We’ll see if they can make some noise when they host Virginia Wednesday.
13. Georgia Tech (12-16, 3-13 ACC)
Over the last month the Yellow Jackets had been in every game, looking like a competitive team in the ACC. And then Saturday happened. The Yellow Jackets lost to North Carolina 89-60 in a game that was never close and dropped a narrow 52-51 game to Louisville last night.
14. Boston College (9-17, 1-13 ACC)
So close again for the Eagles, who lost in double overtime to Miami last Monday. If Patrick Heckmann’s layup at the end of the first overtime falls we are looking at a different week for Boston College.
15. Virginia Tech (10-17, 2-12 ACC)
The Hokies have lost their last three games by double digits (road games at Clemson, Miami, and NC State). Fans in Blacksburg should start thinking about football season.
