Syracuse (21-0 overall, 9-0 ACC)
The No. 1 Orange’s dominance in the ACC continued Saturday night in a thrilling overtime victory, knocking off conference heavyweight Duke. ‘Cuse has the look of a justifiable national title contender, as it jumped over Arizona in the AP Poll to become the top-ranked team in the country.
Duke (17-5, 6-3 ACC)
With arguably one of the most talented rosters in the country, Duke continues to force feed its uber-talented forwards, freshman Jabari Parker and sophomore Rodney Hood. However, the lack of a legitimate post presence is a cause for concern down the road. But for now, Duke continues to limit its turnovers, make three pointers and win games.
Virginia (17-5, 8-1 ACC)
Surprisingly, UVa continues to fly under the radar in the ACC, but the Cavaliers’ thrilling win over then-No. 18 Pittsburgh at the buzzer Sunday may have quieted many doubters. Virginia has now won five straight games and is alone in second place in the ACC behind Syracuse. Led by pre-season first team All-ACC Joe Harris, the Cavs appear to be legitimate contenders in the ACC tournament and beyond.
Pittsburgh (18-4, 6-3 ACC)
Led by the steady play of sophomore guard James Robinson, Pittsburgh continues to play unselfish basketball, ranking 12th in the nation in assists per game. With a balanced scoring attack (five players averaging eight points per game or higher), the Panthers are not only looking to make the NCAA tournament, but to make some serious noise in it.
UNC-Chapel Hill (14-7, 4-4, ACC)
The Tar Heels are an enigma, with signature wins over Michigan State, Louisville and Kentucky diminished by losses to Belmont and UAB. But Carolina has taken advantage of beneficial scheduling over the last week, rattling off three straight wins against Clemson, Georgia Tech, and N.C. State after starting the ACC season with a 1-4 record.
N.C. State (14-8, 4-5 ACC)
N.C. State has experienced growing pains this year, as can be expected with a young, inexperienced roster. Sophomore forward T.J. Warren was invisible offensively for much of State’s loss to the Tar Heels Saturday, but gritty wins over Georgia Tech and Florida State in Raleigh will give Pack fans hope for a bright future.
Wake Forest (14-8, 4-5 ACC)
Wake Forest has slowly risen out of mediocrity; in large part due to the improvement of sophomore guard Codi Miller-McIntyre and sophomore forward Devin Thomas. But consecutive losses to Syracuse and Georgia Tech, along with the loss of Miller-McIntyre to an ankle injury against the Yellow Jackets, see the Deacons currently trending downward at the worst possible time, with difficult road trips to Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill looming in the not-too-distant future.
Florida State (13-8, 4-5 ACC)
Florida State continues to do what it does best: recruit tall, long athletes that can play hard-nosed defense. An ankle injury to its leading scorer, senior guard Ian Miller, is a big setback for the Seminoles, but two-time ACC Coach of the Year Leonard Hamilton will find a way shuffle the rotation in Miller’s short absence.
Clemson (14-6, 5-3 ACC)
Coming off a big win at Florida State Saturday, this Tigers team is currently enjoying a rare period of success. Led by junior forward K.J. McDaniels, the Tigers have built a respectable team this year, boasting a win over Duke Jan. 11. But the Tigers have their work cut out for themselves with upcoming games against No. 1 Syracuse and No. 20 Virginia.
Maryland (13-9, 5-4 ACC)
Maryland’s final season in the ACC has been somewhat of a disappointment. Junior guard Dez Wells continues to propel the Terps with his scoring (15 points per game), but Maryland’s NCAA tournament hopes could be dwindling after recent losses to N.C. State, Pittsburgh and Florida State.
Notre Dame (12-11, 3-7 ACC)
Head coach Mike Brey’s squad has not had a strong start to its first season in the ACC. But despite the loss of senior guard Jerian Grant, the team’s leader in points and assists, the Fighting Irish is a scrappy team that could challenge the ACC’s contenders with its three-point shooting.
Georgia Tech (12-10, 3-6 ACC)
Georgia Tech continues to struggle without freshman forward Robert Carter. However, a surprising victory Saturday against Wake Forest provided a glimpse of hope for the Yellow Jackets moving forward.
Miami (11-10, 2-6 ACC)
Miami lost 90 percent of its offensive output from last season, as its top six scorers from last years’ ACC Championship and Sweet 16 team are gone. This year is a rebuilding season in Coral Gables, Fla., but under head coach Jim Larranaga, the 2012-2013 AP Coach of the Year, the Hurricanes are sure to rebound from their recent struggles in the coming years.
Boston College (6-15, 2-6 ACC)
The Eagles are one of the more disappointing teams this year in the ACC. Sophomore guard Olivier Hanlan, last season’s ACC Rookie of the Year, has continued to impress, but he and junior forward Ryan Anderson cannot carry this team by themselves, as apparent by their disappointing record.
Virginia Tech (8-13, 1-8 ACC)
Replacing 2012-2013 ACC Player of the Year Erick Green was always going to be a difficult task for the Hokies, and sophomore forward Dorian Finney-Smith’s transfer to Florida has only compounded issues in Blacksburg, Va. However, it’s hard to understand how an ACC team can lose to lower-tier squads such as University of South Carolina Upstate and UNC-Greensboro.
