The longer conference season goes on, the more important it becomes to hold one’s home court. It is very hard to win on the road in the ACC, which is made even more true by the home records of some of the top teams — seven teams have no more than one loss at home, with three teams still undefeated there this season.
This week is a light one, as only 12 teams play during the week before another nine game slugfest on Saturday. How the teams fare at protecting home court, as well as finding ways to win on the road, will be key to their placement next week in these rankings.
So without further ado, here are this week’s ACC Men’s Basketball Power Rankings.
1. Duke Blue Devils (17-1, 6-0)
Last Game: won 80-50 against Stanford
Right now the Blue Devils are winning everywhere as they are 8-0 at home and 6-0 on the road, with their only loss being in Madison Square Garden to Texas Tech. Duke’s win over the Cardinal was easily their most impressive of the ACC season, as they won their third straight conference road game by double digits. The Blue Devils get the week off before welcoming in the Demon Deacons on Saturday.
Next Game: vs Wake Forest (1/24)
2. Virginia Cavaliers (16-2, 5-1)
Last Game: won 72-68 against SMU
The Cavaliers became the first team this season to beat the Mustangs at the Moody Center. It wasn’t easy, but Virginia did just enough to get the hard-earned conference road win. The Cavaliers will also get the week off before going for their sixth straight win in their home matchup against the Tar Heels.
Next Game: vs North Carolina (1/24)
3. Clemson Tigers (16-4, 6-1)
Last Game: lost against NC State 80-76 (OT)
The Tigers suffered their first home loss of the season with their overtime loss to the Wolfpack. Not only does the loss mar their perfect home record, but it also ends a nine-game winning streak for Clemson. The Tigers will look to get a new win streak going with their road trip to face the Yellow Jackets.
Next Game: at Georgia Tech (1/24)
4. SMU Mustangs (14-5, 3-3)
Last Game: won 91-79 against Wake Forest
The Mustangs responded to their first home loss by going on the road and beating Wake Forest for their first conference road win of the season. SMU has only lost to the top three teams of these rankings — by a total 15 points — and two of those came on the road against teams that are a combined 18-1 at home. The Mustangs will look to get back on their winning ways at home when they welcome the Seminoles this weekend.
Next Game: vs Florida State (1/24)
5. Virginia Tech Hokies (14-5, 3-3)
Last Game: won 89-76 against Notre Dame
The Hokies finally ended their four-game streak of one possession games with their double-digit home win over the Irish. Virginia Tech has now won two of their past three games, but will look to get their first conference road win of the season when they travel to take on the Orange.
Next Game: at Syracuse (1/21)
6. North Carolina Tar Heels (14-4, 2-3)
Last Game: lost against California 84-78
On the one hand, the Tar Heels looked really bad in the Golden State, losing both of their road games. On the other hand, all their losses in conference play have come on the road, and have come against quality opponents (all four of their losses are Q1). Of course, none of that will be true when North Carolina hosts the Fighting Irish on Wednesday (Notre Dame will count as a Q3 game). Lose that one, and the seat under coach Hubert Davis will only continue to warm as more questions will be raised about this team.
Next Game: vs Notre Dame (1/21)
7. NC State Wolfpack (13-6, 4-2)
Last Game: Won 80-76 against Clemson in OT
The Wolfpack followed up their humiliating home loss to Georgia Tech with their most impressive win of the season — on the road against a ranked Tiger team. The win against Clemson was NC State’s third win in four games, with all three coming on the road. The Wolfpack will look to make it four straight road wins when they travel to take on the Panthers on Saturday.
Next Game: at Pittsburgh (1/24)
8. Louisville Cardinals (13-5, 3-3)
Last Game: won 100-59 against Pittsburgh
The Cardinals continue to be up and down without their star guard Mikel Brown Jr, who has now missed their past 8 games. Regardless of where they are playing, Louisville is losing to ranked teams (0-3) while also doing enough to beat up on almost everyone else (4-1), as they did in their dominant win over the Panthers. Next up, the Cardinals get a week off before hosting the Hokies, who are not ranked but who still pose a threat as a quality opponent.
Next Game: vs Virginia Tech (1/24)
9. Miami Hurricanes (15-4, 4-2)
Last Game: Lost against Florida State 65-63
The Hurricanes have now lost two straight since opening the conference season 4-0. The latest loss to the Seminoles was definitely the more damaging, as it not only gave Florida State their first ACC win of the season, but also gave Miami its first loss at home for the season. Miami will look to end this new losing streak when they travel to take on the Orange this weekend.
Next Game: at Syracuse (1/24)
10. Stanford Cardinal (14-5, 3-3)
Last Game: Lost against Duke 80-50
So far this conference season the Cardinal have conference wins against ranked teams in North Carolina and Louisville as well as low-scoring losses to Notre Dame and the Blue Devils. The kicker? All these games have happened at home, where Stanford has suffered four of their five losses this season. The Cardinal get the week off before facing the Golden Bears in the first of their two Golden State showdown games this season.
Next Game: vs California (1/24)
11. California Golden Bears (14-5, 2-4)
Last Game: won 84-78 against North Carolina
The Golden Bears came out of the gate and absolutely blitzed the Tar Heels before holding off a late rally for their second win against a ranked opponent this season. California, who also has the week off, will be looking for their first road win of the season when they travel across the Bay to take on the Cardinal this weekend.
Next Game: at Stanford (1/24)
12. Syracuse Orange (12-6, 3-2)
Last Game: lost against Boston College 81-73 in OT
The Orange have been hard to rank this season. They have a great win against Tennessee, but they also have two really bad losses, with the latest coming against the Eagles. Syracuse will have to rebound quickly as they return home to welcome in a Hokies team that is 0-2 on the road in conference play this season.
Next Game: vs Virginia Tech (1/21)
13. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (11-8, 2-4)
Last Game: lost against SMU 91-74
The Demon Deacons lost for the third time in their past four games, including their second straight at home. Wake Forest will have to figure things out quick as they travel to face the Blue Devils on Saturday.
Next Game: at Duke (1/24)
14. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11-8, 2-4)
Last Game: won 78-74 against NC State
The Yellow Jackets rebounded from a horrible home loss to Pittsburgh by going on the road to beat the Wolfpack. The win doubles their conference wins for the season, though they would be at .500 and on a two game winning streak if not for the blowout by the Panthers. Georgia Tech will now take the week to prepare for their matchup against a Tigers team that is really good at home.
Next Game: vs Clemson (1/24)
15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-8, 1-4)
Last Game: lost against Virginia Tech 89-76
The Fighting Irish lost for the fourth straight time, this time on the road in Blacksburg. Luckily for Notre Dame, their next game is against a Tar Heel team that has allowed double-digit threes in all of their games this season and at least 14 in four consecutive games.
Next Game: at North Carolina (1/21)
16. Florida State Seminoles (8-11, 1-5)
Last Game: Won 65-63 against Miami
The Seminoles ended their five-game losing streak with a two point road win over in-state rival Miami. Florida State will hope to keep those good road win feelings going when they travel to take on the Mustangs this weekend.
Next Game: at SMU (1/24)
17. Boston College Eagles (8-10, 1-4)
Last Game: won 81-73 against Syracuse in OT
The Eagles did just enough to get their first ACC win of the season and end their losing streak at four. Boston College will next take on the Panthers in a battle of the bottom of the ACC.
Next Game: vs Pittsburgh (1/21)
18. Pittsburgh Panthers (8-10, 1-4)
Last Game: lost against Louisville 100-59
The Panthers ended their own losing streak when they beat Georgia Tech earlier in the week, only to follow that up with a blowout loss at home to the Cardinals. Pittsburgh will look to get back on the winning track when they travel to take on the Eagles this Wednesday.
Next Game: at Boston College (1/21)
